中國寓言故事雙語版 第6期:景公求雨
One year it did not rain for a long time in the State of Qi, and there was an extremely severe drought.
有一年，齊國很長時間沒有下雨，發生了特大旱災。Jing Gong, the King of Qi, was very worried.
國王齊景公心裏非常焦急。He wanted to offer sacrifices to the mountain deity to pray for rain.
他想去祭祀山神求雨。
His prime minister Yan Zi said to him:"Your Majesty, don't do that.
宰相晏子對他說:“大王，不要去。It is no use to beg the mountain deity for mercy.
求山神沒有用處。The stones in the mountains are like his bones and sinews;
山上的石頭，就好像山的筋骨;the soil in the mountains is like his muscle; the grass and trees in the mountains ane like his hair.
山上的泥土，就好像山的肌肉;山上的草木，就好像山的毛髮。When it doesn't rain for a long time, the hair of the mountain deity will wither and his muscles will be seared in the sun.
長久不下雨，山神的毛髮也枯死了，肌肉也曬焦了。Won't the mountain deity be anxious for rain too?
山神難道就不着急要雨嗎?If he could make it rain, it would have rained long ago."
如果山神能夠使天下雨，那麼雨早已下了。”Jing Gong said: "All right, we won't beg the mountain deity. Then how about begging Hebo (the river deity)?"
景公說:“不求山神也罷，那麼去求河伯吧!"Your Majesty, it's no use either," replied Yan Zi. "
晏子又說:“大王，不行。Water is the territory of I-Iebo.
水是河伯的國土。Fish and soft-shelled turtles are his subjects.
魚鱉是河伯的百姓。When it hasn't rained for a long time, the water in the river will dry up, which means that Hebo will lose his territory;
天不下雨，河裏的水乾了，就等於河伯的國土喪失了;his subjects like fish and soft-shelled turtles will all die of thirst.
河伯的百姓，像魚呀，鱉呀，也統統要乾死了。If Hebo could make it rain; it would have rained long ago.
如果河伯能夠叫天下雨，那麼雨早就下了。What is the use of praying to Hebo?"
去祈求河伯又有什麼用呢?”Convinced by Yan Zi's words, Jing Gong no longer prayed to the deities for rain.
景公聽了晏子的這番話，就不再去向神求雨了。
