昔有人得一鳖，欲烹而食之，不忍当杀生之名，乃炽火使釜自沸，横筱为桥，与鳖约曰：“能渡此则活汝。” 鳖知主人以计取之，勉力爬沙，仅能一渡。 主人曰：“汝能渡桥甚善，更为渡一遭。”
——《程史》
The Compassionate Man
A
compassionate man once caught a turtle. He wanted to make it into soup, but
unwilling to be accused of taking life, he boiled a panful of water and,
placing a rod over the pan, said to the turtle, “If you can get across the pan,
I will set you free.” The
turtle was in no doubt as to the intentions of the man. But he did not want to
die. So, summoning up all his will, he accomplished the impossible. “Well
done!” said the man. “But please try it again!”
Cheng Shi （杨宪益、戴乃迭 译） |
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