中國寓言故事雙語版 第45期:一鳴驚人

It had been three years since King Zhuang of Chu ascended the throne, but he had neither issued a decree nor dealt with any state affairs.

楚莊王即位已經三年了，可是他還沒有頒佈過一項法令，沒有處理過一件政事。

Furthermore, there were no deeds worth mentioning.

更談不上有什麼作爲。

All the civil and military officials of the court couldn't understand what was the matter.

朝廷中的文武百官都弄不懂這是怎麼回事。

One day, a military official quietly asked King of Chu in the carriage:

一天，右司馬在馬車裏悄悄地問楚王:

"Your Majesty, I heard that in the south, there was a big bird dwelling in the hills.

“大王，我聽說南方有一隻大鳥棲息在山上。

Three years passed, it neither flew nor cried.

三年過去了，既不飛，也不鳴。

Could Your Majesty tell me the reason?"

請問大王，這是什麼原因呢?”

King Zhuang of Chu smiled and answered:"It didn't spread its wings to fly for three years in order to grow full-fledged.

楚莊王笑了一笑，回答說:“三年不展翅飛翔，是爲了讓羽翼長得更加豐滿;

It didn't cry for three years in order to carefully observe the conditions of the people in the world.

三年不鳴，是在細心觀察天下的民情。

This bird, once it flies, will soar high into the sky;

這隻鳥，不飛則已，一飛沖天;

once it cries, it will startle the world with a single cry."

不鳴則已，一鳴驚人。”

Another half a year passed before King Zhuang of Chu began to personally administer state affairs.

又過了半年，楚莊王開始親自處理政事。

He abolished ten outmoded rules and regulations, issued nine new policies, sentenced five ministers to death for their evil deeds and promoted six persons with real talents.

他廢除了十項舊的規章制度;頒佈了九項新的政策;處決了五個專幹壞事的大臣;還提拔了六個真正有才能的人。

From then on, the State of Chu became stronger and stronger.

從此，楚國終於強大起來了。