中國寓言故事雙語版 第16期:望洋興嘆

When autumn came, all the water in the large and small Rivers rose higher and flowed into theYellow River.

一到秋天，大河、小河裏的水都漲了起來，流入黃河。

The surface of the River at once appeared much wider.

河面頓時顯得非常寬廣。

On one side of the bank, one couldn't see the cattle and sheep on the opposite side.

在河岸的這邊，一眼望不見對岸的牛羊。

The River deity Hebo was therefore immensely proud and considered himself the greatest in the world.

黃河的河伯因此得意洋洋，自以爲是天下最偉大的了。

Hebo followed the Yellow River to the North Sea.

河伯順着黃河來到了北海。

Looking to the east, he could not see the bounds of the sea.

朝東一望，望不見海的盡頭。

Then he looked at himself and felt he was so tiny and insignificant.

再看看自己才覺得自己很渺小。

He sighed and said to Hairuo, the deity of the North Sea:

他嘆了口氣，對北海之神海若說:

"As the saying goes, a person who has gained a little learning tends to regard himself as the wisest person under the sky.

“俗話說得好，有了一點學問，就以爲老子天下第一。我就是這種人。

I am just that kind of person. Seeing how broad and great you are today, I have come to realize how insignificant and ignorant I am.

今天，我看到你這樣寬廣、這樣偉大，才發覺自己如此渺小、如此無知。

If I didn't meet you, I'm afraid I would always be laughed at by people with knowledge."

如果今天沒遇見你，我恐怕永遠會被有見識的人所譏笑。”

Hairuo said: "We cannot talk about the sea with a frog at the bottom of a well,

海若說: “我們不能同井底的青蛙談海，

for the frog is restricted by its dwelling place; we cannot talk about ice with a small insect of summer,

是因爲青蛙受到住處的限制;不能同夏天的小蟲談冰，

for the insect is restricted by the seasons; we cannot talk about profound learning with superficial persons,

是因爲小蟲受到季節的限制;不能同淺薄的人談論高深的學問，

for they have too little knowledge.

是因爲他們的知識太少。

Now you have come out of a small river to the North Sea, seen the greatness of it and realized your own insignificance.

現在，你走出小河，來到北海，看到海的偉大，知道了自己的渺小。

Since you have taken such a modest attitude, I can then talk with you about profound learning."

有了這種謙虛的態度，我就可以和你談論高深的學問了。”