评论
打印
One year it did not rain for a long time in the State of Qi, and there was an extremely severe drought.
有一年，齐国很长时间没有下雨，发生了特大旱灾。
Jing Gong, the King of Qi, was very worried.
国王齐景公心里非常焦急。
He wanted to offer sacrifices to the mountain deity to pray for rain.
他想去祭祀山神求雨。
His prime minister Yan Zi said to him:"Your Majesty, don't do that.
宰相晏子对他说:“大王，不要去。
It is no use to beg the mountain deity for mercy.
求山神没有用处。
The stones in the mountains are like his bones and sinews;
山上的石头，就好像山的筋骨;
the soil in the mountains is like his muscle; the grass and trees in the mountains ane like his hair.
山上的泥土，就好像山的肌肉;山上的草木，就好像山的毛发。
When it doesn't rain for a long time, the hair of the mountain deity will wither and his muscles will be seared in the sun.
长久不下雨，山神的毛发也枯死了，肌肉也晒焦了。
Won't the mountain deity be anxious for rain too?
山神难道就不着急要雨吗?
If he could make it rain, it would have rained long ago."
如果山神能够使天下雨，那么雨早已下了。”
Jing Gong said: "All right, we won't beg the mountain deity. Then how about begging Hebo (the river deity)?"
景公说:“不求山神也罢，那么去求河伯吧!
"Your Majesty, it's no use either," replied Yan Zi. "
晏子又说:“大王，不行。
Water is the territory of I-Iebo.
水是河伯的国土。
Fish and soft-shelled turtles are his subjects.
鱼鳖是河伯的百姓。
When it hasn't rained for a long time, the water in the river will dry up, which means that Hebo will lose his territory;
天不下雨，河里的水干了，就等于河伯的国土丧失了;
his subjects like fish and soft-shelled turtles will all die of thirst.
河伯的百姓，像鱼呀，鳖呀，也统统要干死了。
If Hebo could make it rain; it would have rained long ago.
如果河伯能够叫天下雨，那么雨早就下了。
What is the use of praying to Hebo?"
去祈求河伯又有什么用呢?”
Convinced by Yan Zi's words, Jing Gong no longer prayed to the deities for rain.
景公听了晏子的这番话，就不再去向神求雨了。
