中國經(jīng)典英語寓言故事閱讀：厄丁解牛
King Hui of Liang watched the cook dissecting an ox. Up went his hand, down went the knife, cutting it just right with dexterous movements. The King praised:
梁惠王看厄丁解牛，手起刀落，動(dòng)作利索，恰到好處，連聲夸獎(jiǎng)?wù)f
“Your skill is excellent!”
“你的技術(shù)真是太好了!”
The cook answered:
厄丁答道:
"1 can do it so dexterously because I am familiar with the physiological structure of the ox. I see perfectly well each and every part of the ox which is no longer a whole ox to me. I have a clear mental picture of where its joints and main and collateral channels are, and know exactly where to start cutting and how much force is needed."
“我所以能干得這樣利索，是因?yàn)槭煜づ５纳斫Y(jié)構(gòu)?，F(xiàn)在，我看到的牛已經(jīng)不是一頭全牛了:哪里是關(guān)節(jié)?哪里有經(jīng)絡(luò)?從哪里下刀?需要用多大的力氣?我胸中有數(shù)，眼前清清楚楚?！? The cook continued:
厄丁接著說:
"The knives of others become blunt after being used for a short time, whereas I have used my knife for 19 years and slaughtered nearly 1,000 oxen, and it is still as sharp as a new one. However, when I come across a complicated structure, I would be cautious and conscientious and dare not be the least negligent. I cut swiftly but lightly with great concentration and care.
“別人的牛刀，用不了多久就會(huì)鈍掉，而我這把刀已經(jīng)用了十九年，宰了上千頭牛，但是還同新刀一樣鋒利。不過，如果碰到錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜的結(jié)構(gòu)，我還是兢兢業(yè)業(yè)，絲毫不敢怠慢，動(dòng)作很快，下刀卻很輕，聚精會(huì)神，小心翼翼?！? After hearing this, King Hui of Liang said:
梁惠王聽后說:
"What you said is wonderful!From you I have learned the way of cultivating my mind and developing my character."
“你說得好極了!我從你這里悟到了修身養(yǎng)性的道理?！? 中國經(jīng)典英語寓言故事閱讀：邯鄲學(xué)步
Handan was the capital of the State of Zhao during the Warring States Period.
邯鄲，是戰(zhàn)國時(shí)期趙國的首都。
A young man in the State of Yan heard that the State of Zhao was more powerful than the State of Yan, so he was much interested in the State of Zhao. Consequently, he crossed over mountain after mountain by himself and got to Handan.
燕國有個(gè)青年聽說趙國比燕國強(qiáng)大，對(duì)趙國很感興趣。于是，他一個(gè)人翻山越嶺，來到了邯鄲。
Upon arrival at Handan, he felt that the State of Zhao was indeed more stable than the State of Yan. Even the way of walking of the people of the State of Zhao looked better than that of the people of the State of Yan. He made up his mind to learn how the people of the State of Zhao walked in Handan, so that in the future the people of the State of Yan could walk as gracefully as them.
到了邯鄲，他覺得趙國確實(shí)比燕國安定，連趙國人走路的姿勢(shì)都比燕國人好看。他決定在邯鄲學(xué)會(huì)趙國人走路，將來讓燕國人走路也能像趙國人一樣好看。
Yet, that was easier said than done. No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to learn the gait of the people of the State of Zhao. On the contrary, he even forgot completely how he walked in the State of Yan. In the end, he had no alternative but to crawl back from the State of Zhao to the State of Yan.
可是，說起來容易做起來難。這個(gè)青年怎么學(xué)也沒有學(xué)會(huì)趙國人走路的姿勢(shì)，反而連自己在燕國時(shí)如何走路也忘得干干凈凈。最后，池沒有辦法，只好爬著離開趙國回燕國去了。
中國經(jīng)典英語寓言故事閱讀：安心草
A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withered and dying.
這個(gè)故事是這樣的：一個(gè)國王清晨走迸花園，發(fā)現(xiàn)所有的草 木已經(jīng)枯萎，奄奄一息了。
He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was.
于是，他問門邊的橡樹究竟發(fā)生了什么事。
He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine.
原來是它們消極 厭世、一心求死，因?yàn)橄饦溆X得自己不如松樹般高大、秀麗：
The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine.
而松樹為自己不如葡萄藤那般結(jié)滿豐碩的果實(shí)而沮喪：
The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree.
葡萄藤則為自己無法直立，并且無法像桃樹那樣結(jié)出上好的果實(shí)而想結(jié)束生命
The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac…and so on all through the garden.
天竺葵也焦躁不安，因?yàn)樗X得自己不如紫丁香那樣修長(zhǎng)、 芳香……于是，整個(gè)花園都了無生氣。
Coming to a heart's-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever.
國王走到一株心安草面前，發(fā)現(xiàn)它仍然神采奕奕，如從前般歡樂。
"Well, heart's-ease, I'm glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the (east disheartened."
¨你好，心安草，我感到非常高興，所有的草木都對(duì)自己失去 了信心，只有你能勇敢地生活，沒有絲毫氣餒。¨
"No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if You wanted an oak, or a pine, or a vine, or a peach tree, or a geranium, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a heart's-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart's-ease that I can.
¨雖然我并沒有什么值得驕傲的東西，但我想，如果你想要一 棵橡樹，或松樹、葡萄，或桃樹、天竺葵、丁香，你就會(huì)去種它 們，而我知道你想要一株心安草，所以我決心盡我所能做一株最 好的心安草。"