中國寓言故事雙語版 第144期:天帝賜酒
The Emperor of Heaven Bestows Wine
One day, deities from various places came to pay homage to the Emperor of Heaven.
一天，各路神仙都來朝拜天帝。The emperor gave his minister in charge of wine cups the following order:
天帝命令司筋大臣說:
"Register the names of the deities first, then bestow wine upon them."
“先把他們的名字登記好，再賜給他們酒喝。”The minister registered the names of the deities on bamboo slips, and prepared to bestow wine.
司筋大臣拿着竹簡，登記各路神仙的姓名，準備賜酒，But he kept on working for 3, 000 years and had not finished the registration yet.
可是登記了三千年，還沒登記完。The emperor inquired:"Why haven't you finished registering?"
天帝查問:“你爲什麼還沒有登記完？"The minister reported:"All the deities have brought their sedan-chair carriers."
司筋大臣報告說:“各路神仙都帶着轎伕。”The emperor ordered:"Then register the sedan-chair carriers as well."
天帝下令:“轎伕，也登記上吧!”7, 000 years passed and the registration was still not done.
結果，又登記了七千年，還是沒有登記完。When the emperor inquired again, the minister had no way out but reported:
當天帝再次查問的時候，司筋大臣無可奈何地報告說:"The sedan-chair carriers of the deities have brought their own carriers too."
“各路神仙的轎伕，又都帶着自己的轎伕啊!”So the wine was not bestowed after all.
賜酒一事，最終還是沒有成功。The Emperor of Heaven remained silent for a long time and then heaved a deep sigh.
天帝沉默了半天，長長地嘆息了一聲。
