中國二十四孝經(jīng)典民間故事20：孟宗哭竹生筍(中英)

20:Tears That Brought Bamboo-shoots From the Frozen Earth: Meng Zong 哭竹生筍：孟宗

Meng Zong lived during the Three Kingdoms Period of China's past. His father died when he was young, and he and his mother struggled to survive.

孟宗，三國時江夏人，少年時父亡，母親年老病重.

One winter his mother was stricken with a serious illness, and craved some bamboo-shoot broth as medicine.

冬天，母親病重，沒有鮮筍為母親做藥。

But in the depths of winter, with snow and ice blanketing the ground, where was anyone to find fresh bamboo shoots, shoots that emerge only in the warm months?

適值嚴冬，冰雪覆蓋，找不到新鮮的竹筍，竹筍只有在溫暖的季節(jié)才發(fā)芽。

Nonetheless, Meng Zong, to avoid disappointing his mother, bravely fetched his shovel and went out into the white landscape in search of bamboo shoots.

然而，孟宗無計可施，獨自一人跑到竹林里，扶竹哭泣。

In the thicket he found only frosted leaves and green stalks coated with snowflakes and ice.

在灌木叢，他發(fā)現(xiàn)有磨砂綠莖葉和涂有雪花和冰。

Look as he might, there were simply no fresh shoots growing in the winter. The thought of his poor mother lying sick on her bed, waiting for bamboo-broth medicine, made his heartache.

看了看，沒有新鮮竹筍在冬天生長。一想到躺在床上病重的母親，正在等著新鮮的竹筍做藥來治病。

Uncontrollably, tears began to fall in rivers to the ground beneath the tall, emerald canes. Even now, as his tears flowed down, he kept a light of faith in his heart. If he was truly sincere in his search, perhaps....

不幸的是，淚如泉涌。盡管這樣，他仍然充滿了信心，如果他一直這樣誠心的話。。。。

Just then Meng Zong nearly tripped and fell over a sharply protruding lump of earth. He quickly knelt down and knocked aside the dirt with his trembling fingers.

這時，孟宗被一塊地面突出絆了一下,摔倒了。他躺在了地上，膝蓋臟了，手也在顫抖。

How uncanny! Underneath his frozen hands he discovered a bed of fresh, tender bamboo shoots! Overjoyed, he gathered up a coatful and carried them back home. The broth that he quickly set stewing in the pot soon cured his mother's illness.

少頃，他忽然聽到地裂聲，只見地上長出數(shù)莖嫩筍。他采回做湯，母親喝了后果然病愈。

The neighbors, hearing the story, exclaimed that it was the strength of his sincere, unselfish, filial resolve that inspired heaven and earth to respond, and to bring up, out of season, the fresh shoots that cured his mother's disease.

鄰居們聽到這事，紛紛議論說，怎么可能有這事，孝順的心感動了天帝，將季節(jié)交替，以至于能長出竹筍，可以治愈母親的病。

Before Meng Zong's prayers generated this miracle, it was normally considered impossible for bamboo shoots to grow in the winter. After the nmiracle took place, however, people were able to gather and to eat bamboo shoots all year round. The winter variety that existed hereafter became known as "winter shoots."

孟宗的祈禱出現(xiàn)了奇跡，竹筍在冬季是通常被認為不可能成長的。這奇跡發(fā)生后，人們在每年的冬天都能吃到新鮮的竹筍了。各種各樣的食物，在冬天也能存留被稱為東芽。

The villagers were deeply influenced by Meng Zong's courage and devotion. They renamed the spot where the event took place, "Meng Zong's Bamboo Grove". We can now enjoy bamboo sprouts during the winter as well, and as we do so, it is fitting to recollect Meng Zong's outstanding example of filial respect, and reflect on our conduct as sons and daughter of our parents.

村民們敬佩孟宗的勇氣和奉獻精神。他們給那地方重新取了個名字，叫：“孟宗的筍”。現(xiàn)在的冬天，我們依然能夠吃到新鮮的竹筍，就是這么來的，充滿了孟宗對母親的一片敬意，影響著一代又一代。