中國寓言故事雙語版 第48期:濫竽充數
During the Warring States Period, King Xuan of the State of Qi loved to listen to the yu (an ancient wind instrument), especially in the ensemble.
戰國時期齊國的齊宣王喜歡欣賞吹竿，特別愛聽合奏。
In the palace, there was a band of fully 300 yu players.
王宮裏，專門有個吹竿的樂隊，足足有三百人。
King Xuan of Qi often ordered this band to play for him.
齊宣王常常叫這個三百人的樂隊爲他演奏。
A man named Nan Guo could not play the yu.
有一個名叫南郭的人，不會吹竿。
But when he learned of King Xuan's hobby, he volunteered his service and bragged about how well he could play.
但是，當他了解了齊宣王的這個嗜好以後，就毛遂自薦，吹噓自己吹竿吹得如何好。
He asked for permission to play for the king with other players.
請求跟別的樂師一道爲大王演奏。
King Xuan was very glad to hear this and granted his request.
齊宣王聽了非常高興，批准了他的要求。
Thereupon, in each performance he would mingle with others, put on an act, play at random, and swindled the same amount of remuneration as paid to others.
於是，每次演奏時，他混在裏面，裝模作樣，胡亂地吹奏一番，卻騙得了跟別人同樣的報酬。
In this way, he drifted along till King Xuan of Qi died.
就這樣，他一直混到齊宣王去世。
After King Xuan of Qi died, King Min succeeded to the throne.
齊宣王死後，滑王繼位。
Under his father's influence, King Min also loved to listen to the yu.
齊洛王受父親的影響，也喜歡欣賞吹竿。
The only difference was that he liked to listen to solos, not ensembles.
不同的是，齊滑王只愛聽獨奏，不愛聽合奏。
King Min proclaimed that the players must perform one by one for him.
滑王宣佈，吹竿的樂師必須一個一個地爲他演奏。
When Nan Guo heard of this, he was afraid.
南郭先生一聽就害怕了。
He knew he could not drift along any longer, so he sneaked away that very night.
知道自己再也混不下去，只好連夜溜走了。
