There was a man of the State of Song who liked to curry favour with others.

    宋國有一個(gè)人，喜歡奉承別人。

    One day, he got a piece of uncarved jade and went to present it to Zi Han, a minister of the State of Song, with the intention to ingratiate himself with the official.

    有一天，他得到了一塊未經(jīng)雕琢的玉石，便去獻(xiàn)給宋國大臣子罕，想討好一番。

    Zi Han adamantly refused to accept it.

    子罕執(zhí)意不受。

    Thereupon, this man said in honeyed words:

    于是，那人便花言巧語地說:

    'This is a piece of rare jade. I regard it as a treasure suitable for a gentleman's utensil. If it gets into the hands of an old gentleman like you, to be worn by you or put on your dining table, that would be most suitable and fitting. I am an unrefined man, not deserving such a valuable treasure.'

    “這是一塊珍奇的玉石啊!我把它當(dāng)做寶貝，適宜于做君子的器皿。要是落在老先生你的手中，掛在你的身上，放在你的餐桌上，是最相稱、最適合的。我是一個(gè)粗人，不配使用這種貴重的寶物?！?/p>

    'You may regard this piece of jade as a treasure,' said Zi Han, 'but I do not accept other's fawning, nor do I regard this kind of conduct a treasure.'

    子罕回答說:

    The man of Song felt he had asked for a snub and sneaked away.
 

    “你把這塊玉石當(dāng)做寶貝，我卻不接受別人巴結(jié)奉承，并且不把這種行為當(dāng)做寶貝。”

    那個(gè)宋國人自討沒趣，溜了。

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