中國寓言故事雙語版 第47期:老馬識途

One spring, Guan Zhong and Xi Peng followed Huan Gong, King of the State of Qi, in an expedition against the State of Gu Zhu.

有一年春天，管仲、曝朋跟隨齊桓公討伐孤竹國。

The war didn't come to an end until winter.

戰爭持續到冬天才結束。

On their way back, they lost their way.

返回時，他們迷路了。

Guan Zhong said: "Old horses are wise animals who know their way.

管仲說:“老馬是一種有智慧的動物，能認路。

Let them lead the way for us!"

讓老馬來給我們帶路吧!”

Thereupon, they let several old horses lead in front and the army followed behind.

於是，他們就讓幾匹老馬走在前面，軍隊尾隨在後。

Finally they found their way home.

終於踏上了歸途。

When the army entered the hills, they ran out of water.

軍隊走進山裏，水沒有了。

Then Xi Peng said: "In winter, the ants stay on the south side of a hill, and in summer, on the north side.

這時限朋說:“螞蟻冬天住在向陽坡，夏天住在背陰坡。

There is sure to be water source under their nest."

螞蟻窩的下面一定有水源。”

Thereupon, the soldiers exerted strenuous efforts to dig the ground.

於是，士兵們奮力挖土。

Sure enough, they found water under the ants' nest.

果然在螞蟻窩的下面挖到了水。

Men of great learning like Guan Zhong and Xi Peng, when coming across difficulties, would also seek help from horses and ants of lower intelligence than human beings to find a way out.

像管仲、矚朋這樣學識淵博的人，在遇到困難時，也會求助於智慧不及人類的馬和螞蟻來解決問題。