雙語詩歌翻譯|《古代寓言·借光》

大意：在江上的眾多女子中，有一個家貧無燭的女子。女子們在一起商量，要把家貧無燭的趕走。家貧無燭的女子準備離去了，她對女子們說：“我因為沒有燭，所以常常先到，一到便打掃屋子，鋪席子。你們何必愛惜照在四壁上的那一點余光呢？如果賜一點余光給我，對你們又有什么妨礙呢？我自認為對你們還是有用的，為什么一定要趕我走呢？”女子們商量以后，認為她說的對，就把她留下來了。

《古代寓言·借光》

江上之處女，有家貧而燭者。

處女相與語，欲去之。

家貧無燭者將去矣，謂處女曰：“妾以無燭故，常先至掃室布席。何愛余明之照四壁者，幸以賜妾，何妨于處女？妾自以有益于處女，何為去我？”

處女相語，以為然而留之。

——《戰(zhàn)國策》

Borrowing the Light

A girl in one of the workshops by the river was too poor to buy oil for the lamp; so the other girls decided to drive her away. As the poor girl was leaving she said to the others:

“Because I couldn't afford to pay for the light, I always arrived first to sweep the room and put down the mats. Your light shines on all four walls: Why grudge me a share in it? It doesn't hurt you to let me borrow your light, and I make myself useful to you. Why should you drive me away?”

Realizing the truth of what she said, they let her stay after all.

--Warring States Anecdotes