有官人性贪，而示人以廉。初仕，向神发誓曰：“左手要钱，烂了左手；右手要钱，烂了右手。” 久之，有以百金行贿者，欲受之而疑前誓。左右为解曰：“请以此金纳官人袖中，便烂也只烂了袖子。” 官人然其言，辄纳之。
——《雪涛小书》
Honesty
A
corrupt official wanted to show that he was pure and honest. So, before
assuming office, he took an oath in public, saying, “If my right hand accepts
bribes, let it fester; if my left hand accepts bribes, let it fester, too.” After
some time, a person offered him a hundred taels of silver as a bribe. He wanted
to accept but feared that the oath might take effect. To
help him out of his quandary, the runner said, “Why not place the money in Your
Honour’s sleeve so that it, and it only, if rot it must!” The
official thought it was a sound idea and accepted the money.
Notes of Xue Tao （杨宪益、戴乃迭 译） |
/1 
