Week 1 - 越石父

齊國的宰相晏子出使晉國完成公務返國的途中,路過趙國的中牟,遠遠的瞧見有一個人頭戴破氊帽,身穿反皮衣,正從背上卸下一捆柴草,停在路邊歇息。走近一看,晏子覺得此人的神態、氣質、舉止都不像個粗野之人,為什麼會落到如此寒傖的地步呢?於是,晏子並親自下車詢問:“你是誰?是怎麼到這兒來的?”
那人如實相告:“我是齊國的越石父,三年前被賣到趙國的中牟,給人家當奴僕,失去了人身自由。”
晏子又問:“那麼,我可以用錢物把你贖出來嗎?”越石父說:“當然可以。”於是,晏子就用自己車左側的一匹馬作代價,贖出了越石父,並同他一道回到了齊國。
到家以後,晏子沒有跟越石父告別,就一個人下車徑直進屋去了。這件事使越石父十分生氣,他要求與晏子絕交。晏子百思不得其解的說:“我過去與你並不相識,你在趙國當了三年奴僕,是我將你贖了回來,使你重新獲得了自由。應該說我對你已經很不錯了,為什麼你這麼快就要與我絕交呢?”
越石父回答說:“一個自尊而且有真才實學的人,受到一般粗人的輕慢,是不必生氣的;可是,他如果得不到知書答禮的朋友真誠相待,他必然會憤怒!任何人都不能自以為對別人有恩,就可以不尊重對方;同樣,一個人也不必因受惠而卑躬屈膝,喪失尊嚴。您用自己的財產贖我出來,是您的好意。在回國的途中,您一直沒有給我讓座,我以為這不過是一時的疏忽,沒有計較;現在到家了,您卻只管自己進屋,竟連招呼也不跟我打一聲,這不說明您依然把我當奴僕看待嗎?因此,我還是去做我的奴僕好,請您再次把我賣了吧!”
晏子聽了越石父的這番話,趕緊向越石父道歉並誠懇的說:“我在中牟時只是看到了您不俗的外表,現在才真正發現了您非凡的氣節和高貴的內心。請您原諒我的過失,不要棄我而去,行嗎?”從此,晏子將越石父尊為上賓,以禮相待,漸漸的,兩人成了相知甚深的好朋友。



English: Once the Prime Minister encountered a working man on the side of the road. The man looked very educated, so the Prime Minister asked him why he was working. He replied that he'd be sold into slavery.  The Prime Minister bought him and brought him back home. The man was very upset when the Prime Minister walked past him without saying a word. He said that if he was not going to treat him with respect, he might as well have been sold back into slavery. The Prime Minister realized that he was in fact an educated man and the two became close friends.

Chinese Summary: :你如果想別人尊敬你, 你就要仙尊敬別人.

Simplified


齐国的宰相晏子出使晋国完成公务返国的途中,路过赵国的中牟,远远的瞧见有一个人头戴破氊帽,身穿反皮衣,正从背上卸下一捆柴草,停在路边歇息。走近一看,晏子觉得此人的神态、气质、举止都不像个粗野之人,为什么会落到如此寒伧的地步呢?于是,晏子并亲自下车询问:“你是谁?是怎么到这儿来的?”
那人如实相告:“我是齐国的越石父,叁年前被卖到赵国的中牟,给人家当奴僕,失去了人身自由。”
晏子又问:“那么,我可以用钱物把你赎出来吗?”越石父说:“当然可以。”于是,晏子就用自己车左侧的一匹马作代价,赎出了越石父,并同他一道回到了齐国。
到家以后,晏子没有跟越石父告别,就一个人下车径直进屋去了。这件事使越石父十分生气,他要求与晏子绝交。晏子百思不得其解的说:“我过去与你并不相识,你在赵国当了叁年奴僕,是我将你赎了回来,使你重新获得了自由。应该说我对你已经很不错了,为什么你这么快就要与我绝交呢?”
越石父回答说:“一个自尊而且有真才实学的人,受到一般粗人的轻慢,是不必生气的;可是,他如果得不到知书答礼的朋友真诚相待,他必然会愤怒!任何人都不能自以为对别人有恩,就可以不尊重对方;同样,一个人也不必因受惠而卑躬屈膝,丧失尊严。您用自己的财产赎我出来,是您的好意。在回国的途中,您一直没有给我让座,我以为这不过是一时的疏忽,没有计较;现在到家了,您却只管自己进屋,竟连招唿也不跟我打一声,这不说明您依然把我当奴僕看待吗?因此,我还是去做我的奴僕好,请您再次把我卖了吧!”
晏子听了越石父的这番话,赶紧向越石父道歉并诚恳的说:“我在中牟时只是看到了您不俗的外表,现在才真正发现了您非凡的气节和高贵的内心。请您原谅我的过失,不要弃我而去,行吗?”从此,晏子将越石父尊为上宾,以礼相待,渐渐的,两人成了相知甚深的好朋友。


English: Once the Prime Minister encountered a working man on the side of the road. The man looked very educated, so the Prime Minister asked him why he was working. He replied that he'd be sold into slavery.  The Prime Minister bought him and brought him back home. The man was very upset when the Prime Minister walked past him without saying a word. He said that if he was not going to treat him with respect, he might as well have been sold back into slavery. The Prime Minister realized that he was in fact an educated man and the two became close friends.

Chinese Summary: :你如果想别人尊敬你, 你就要仙尊敬别人.
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