中國寓言故事雙語版 第49期:買犢還珠
In the past, a man of the State of Chu intended to go to the State of Zheng to sell pearls.
從前，有個楚國人準備到鄭國賣珍珠。
First he used rare lily magnolia to make a small exquisite case which he fumigated with the delicate fragrance of osmanthuses and Chinese prickly ashes.
他先用名貴的木蘭做了一隻精巧的小匣子，又用幽香的牡桂和花椒把匣子薰了一下。
Furthermore, the case was inlaid with emerald-green jadeite, and adorned with attractive rosy jade.
並且在匣子上面鑲了碧綠的翡翠，還嵌上引人注目的玫瑰石。
The whole case was decorated in an extremely exquisite way.
整個匣子裝演得十分考究。
A man of the State of Zheng saw this exquisite case and liked it very much.
有個鄭國人看到這隻精美的匣子，非常喜歡。
He bought it with a great deal of money, but he returned the pearl in the case to the man of Chu.
就用重金買了下來。但是，他卻把匣子裏的珍珠退還給了那個楚國人。
Later, people ridiculed the man of Chu by saying that he was good at selling cases, but not good at selling pearls.
後來，人們都嘲笑這個楚國人，說他很善於賣匣子，卻不善於賣珍珠。
To go too far in the pursuit of form just like letting a presumptuous guest usurp the host's role, which brings about opposite results.
過分追求形式，反而會喧賓奪主，效果適得其反。
