寓言是一種歷史悠久而生命力強大的古老文體,雖多形制短小,卻有豐厚的內(nèi)涵。中國古代寓言大多數(shù)以人物故事為載體,說理深刻透辟,包含許多人生智慧。中國先秦時期寓言創(chuàng)作最為興盛,不少寓言作者是世界一流的思想家?!肚f子》、《列子》中的寓言,想象飛馳,語言富麗,表現(xiàn)了道家重道、貴虛、齊物、逍遙的思想;《韓非子》中的寓言,文字簡潔準(zhǔn)確,表現(xiàn)了法家因時變法、嚴(yán)刑峻法的主張;《戰(zhàn)國策》中的寓言,手法鋪張,氣勢宏偉,針對外交、內(nèi)政、軍事方面的大事,隨機應(yīng)變,往往能夠收到化險為夷的效果?!洞笾腥A文庫·中國古代寓言選(漢英對照)》從這些先秦著名典籍中編選了許多寓言,同時還收錄了后世其他寓言佳作,共選取121篇作品。它們流傳廣,飽含智慧,對文學(xué)創(chuàng)作和語言的發(fā)展影響很大?!洞笾腥A文庫·中國古代寓言選(漢英對照)》英譯者為著名文學(xué)翻譯家楊憲益、戴乃迭先生?!熬鸾鸩灰娙恕北扔鳛榱藵M足個人的欲望而不顧一切。
《古代寓言·攫金不見人》
昔齊人有欲金者。清旦,衣冠而之市,適鬻金者之所,因攫其金而去。
吏捕得之,問曰:“人皆在焉,子攫人之金何?”對曰:“取金之時,不見人,徒見金。”
——《列子》
The Man Who Saw Nobody
There was a man in the state of Qi who wanted some gold. One morning he dressed himself smartly and went to the market. Arriving at the god-dealer's stall, he seized a piece of gold and made off.
The officer who caught him asked him: "Why did you steal gold in front of so many people?"
"When I took the gold," he answered, "I saw nobody. All I saw was the gold."
Lie Zi