中國寓言故事雙語版 第50期:殺豬教子
Zeng Zi was one of Confucius' disciples.
曾子是孔子的一個學生。
One day, Zeng Zi's wife wanted to go to market.
有一天，曾子的妻子要上街。
Their son wanted to go together with her.
兒子吵着要跟媽媽一起去。
He made a row, crying and fussing without stop.
又哭又鬧，吵個不停。
His wife could do nothing but bend down to humour him, saying:
妻子沒有辦法，只好彎腰哄他，說:
"My darling, go home now. Mama will be back soon.
“我的小寶貝，回家去吧!
When I'm back, I'll kill the pig to make a meal for you."
媽媽去了就回來，一回來就殺豬給你吃。”
When the son heard this, he went home happily.
兒子聽了，高高興興地回家去了。
Not long after, the wife returned home from the market.
過了不久，妻子從街上回到了家。
Zeng Zi tied up their fat pig, took out a shining sharp knife and prepared to kill it.
曾子就把家裏的肥豬捆住，拿出雪亮的尖刀，準備殺豬。
When his wife saw this, she hurriedly held Zeng Zi by the hand and said:
妻子看見了就急忙拉住曾子的手，說:
"What's the matter with you? I was only trying to humour the child."
“你這是怎麼了?我只不過是哄哄小孩的。”
Zeng Zi said seriously: "How can you cheat a child?
曾子嚴肅地說:“你怎麼能夠哄騙孩子呢?
The child is still small and doesn't understand things.
現在，孩子還小，不懂事。
He only follows the example of his parents.
他只會照着父母的樣子去做。
Now you cheat him, then he will follow your example and cheat others.
你現在哄騙孩子，孩子就會學你的樣子，去哄騙別人。
Furthermore, when a mother cheats her child, the child will no longer trust his mother.
做母親的哄騙兒子，做兒子的就不會再信任母親。
Then, how can you educate the child well?"
這樣，怎麼能教育好孩子呢?”
Having said this, Zeng Zi raised his knife and killed the fat pig.
曾子話一說完，就一刀宰了肥豬。
