雙語詩歌翻譯|《古代寓言·泥人和木偶》

《戰(zhàn)國策》，西漢劉向編訂的國別體史書。主要記述了戰(zhàn)國時期的縱橫家（游說之士）的政治主張和策略，展示了戰(zhàn)國時代的歷史特點和社會風(fēng)貌，是研究戰(zhàn)國歷史的重要典籍。作者并非一人，成書并非一時，書中文章作者大多不知是誰。西漢末劉向編訂為三十三篇，書名亦為劉向所擬定。

《古代寓言·泥人和木偶》

孟嘗君將入秦，止者千數(shù)而弗聽，蘇秦欲止之。孟嘗君曰：“人事者吾已盡知之矣，吾所末聞獨鬼事耳?！碧K秦曰：“臣之來也，固不取言人事也，固且以鬼事相見君?！泵蠂L君見之。謂孟嘗君曰：“今者臣來，過于淄上，有土偶人與桃梗相與語。桃梗謂土偶人曰：‘子，西岸之土也，挺子以為人，至此八月，降雨下，淄水至，則汝殘矣。'土偶曰：‘不然，吾西岸之土也，吾殘，則覆西岸耳。今子，東國之桃梗也，刻削子之為人，降雨下，淄水至，流子而去，則子漂漂者將何如耳？'今秦四塞之國，譬若虎口，而君入之，則臣不知君所出矣?！泵蠂L君乃止。

——《戰(zhàn)國策》

The Clay Figure and the Wooden Image

When Lord Mengchang decided to leave his native land—the state of Qi—to take office in the state of Qin, hundreds of men tried to dissuade him from going. But he would not listen to them. Then Su Jin, the rhetorician, wanted to reason with him.

“I have heard all the arguments men can think of,” said Lord Mengchang. “All that's lacking is some supernatural reasoning.”

“I came here with no intention of discussing human affairs,” replied Su Jin. “I am asking for an audience to speak of the supernatural.”

Then the lord admitted him, and Su Jin told the following story:

“Passing the River Zi on my way here, I heard a clay figure and a peach-wood image talking together.

“‘You used to be a piece of clay on the west bank,' jeered the wooden image. ‘Now you have been made into a figure. But during the big rains in the eighth month, when the river rises, you are sure to be destroyed.'

“‘What of it?' retorted the clay figure. ‘I come from the west bank, and when I am destroyed I shall become part of it again. But you are made of peach wood from the east country, carved into an image. When the great rains come and the river rises, you will be swept away, and then what will you do?'

“The state of Qin has strong passes on every side, so to enter it is like entering a tiger's mouth! Once you go to Qin, I fear you will never come back.”

Then the lord gave up his plan.

--Warring States Anecdotes