中國寓言故事雙語版 第86期:仕數不遇
There was a scholar in the Zhou Dynasty who had tried several times in his life to seek for an official post, but failed again and again till his temples turned white.
周朝有個讀書人，一生中幾次謀求做官，可是直到兩鬢斑白仍然沒有做成。
One day, as he was walking on the road, he looked back upon the past and shed tears of sorrow.
一天，他走在路上，回首往事，傷心地掉下了眼淚。
Someone asked him: "Why are you weeping?"
有人問道: “您爲什麼哭泣呢?”
He replied: "Several times I have failed to win recognition.
他回答說: “我幾次都得不到賞識。
Now I am old and no longer have any opportunity. That is why I am weeping."
現在年紀大了，再也沒有機會了，因此哭泣。”
The man asked again: "Then how is it that you have never won recognition?"
那人又問: “那您怎麼一次都得不到賞識呢?”
He replied: "When I was young, I studied the classics hard and had all the literary qualifications.
他回答說:“我少年時苦讀經書，文才兼備。
When I sought for an official post, unexpectedly the king liked to appoint old men.
去求官，不料君王喜歡任用老年人。
After the king died, his successor liked to appoint warriors.
君王死後，繼位的君王又喜歡任用武士。
I made a determined effort to learn martial arts, but when I had learned the military skills, the king who liked martial arts passed away.
我發憤改學武藝，誰知武功剛學成，好武的君王又死去了。
Now the new king likes to appoint young men, but I am already old.
現在新立的君王卻喜歡任用年輕人，而我已經老了。
Thus I have never won recognition in my whole life and have never held an official post."
就這樣，我終生不曾得到一次賞識，也沒有做過一次官。”
