雙語詩歌翻譯|《戰(zhàn)國策·畫蛇添足》

畫蛇添足，語出《戰(zhàn)國策·齊策二》。原意為畫蛇時給蛇添上腳。后比喻做了多余的事，非但無益，反而不合適。這個故事諷刺了那些做事多此一舉，反而得不償失的人。后以“畫蛇添足”比喻做多余的事有害無益。

《畫蛇添足》

楚有祠者，賜其舍人卮酒，舍人相謂曰：“數(shù)人飲之不足，一人飲之有余。請畫地為蛇，先成者飲酒?！币蝗松呦瘸?，引酒且飲之，乃左手持卮，右手畫蛇，曰：“吾能為之足?！蔽闯?，一人之蛇成奪其卮,曰：“蛇固無足，子安能為之足？”遂飲其酒。為蛇足者終亡其酒。

Adding Feet to a Snake While Drawing It

A native of Chu after worshiping his ancestors gave his retainers a pot of wine. One of the retainers said: "It's insufficient for all of us, but too much for one of us. I suggest, therefore, that we draw snakes on the ground, and the one who first finishes drawing the snake will win the pot of wine." When one retainer had completed his drawing, he took the pot to drink. As he held it in his left hand, he continued to draw the snake with his right hand, saying: "I can add feet to it." While he was adding feet to his snake, another man who had then drawn his snake snatched the pot from his hand, protesting: "No snake has feet. How can you add feet to it?" Then he drank the wine. The man who added feet to the snake lost his prize at last.