There was, a man who came to the palace of the State of Chu and gave the guard a kind of medicine for immortality to be presented to the king.
As the guard held the medicine in both hands and walked towards the inner palace, he met an archer of the bodyguard. The archer asked him: "Is what you hold in hands edible?"
The guard answered: "Of course, it is."
Upon hearing this, the archer snatched the medicine, stuffed it into his mouth and swallowed it.
The King of Chu was very angry. He ordered to have the archer beheaded. The archer said:
"It is not my fault but the fault of the guard, because he told me 'It is edible.' "
Then he continued: "This is a medicine for immortal life. Now I have taken it, but I am going to be killed by Your Majesty. Then, the so-called medicine for immortal life will become `a medicine hastening death', won't it? The man who presented this medicine was trying to deceive Your Majesty."
Finally he said: "If today Your Majesty should kill me, an innocent man, then people would say: `The King would rather be deceived than believe his own bodyguard.'"
While the King of Chu heard this, he felt that there was something in what the archer said, so he let him go.
有一个人来到楚国王宫,把一种长生不死的药交给守卫官,请他敬献给国王。
守卫官捧着药朝内宫走去,迎面碰上卫队的一个弓箭手。弓箭手问他:“你手里捧的东西,人可以吃吗?”
守卫官回答:“人可以吃。”
弓箭手听了,一把夺过药,塞到嘴里就吞了下去。
楚王非常生气,下令将这个弓箭手斩首。弓箭手说:“这不是我的过错,而是守卫官的过错,因为他回答我‘人可以吃。”
又说:“这是不死之药,现在我吃了,反而要被大王处死;那么,这不死之药,不就成了‘催死之药了吗?这是献药的人在欺骗大王呀!”
最后说:“今天,如果大王杀了我这个无罪的人,那么众人就会说:‘大王宁愿被人欺骗,也不愿意相信自己的卫士。”
楚王听了,觉得这些话有点道理,就把弓箭手放了。
上一篇: 中国成语故事赏析:燕王学道
下一篇: 中国成语故事赏析:和氏献璧
国际英语资讯:IS claims deadly drive-by shooting in Yemens Aden
文在寅称慰安妇问题没完,日本提出抗议
寒潮侵袭!英国人如临大敌,却遭北欧加拿大网友无情嘲笑
双语两会:政府工作报告十大民生亮点
国际英语资讯:Indonesia, S.Korea conclude talks on bilateral trade deal
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China pursues world peace, common development in international agenda
国内英语资讯:Light show at major Budapest hotel for EU-China 2018 Tourism Year
涉嫌向总统大儿子寄白色粉末,一名男子被逮捕
体坛英语资讯:Dortmund held by Augsburg 1-1 in German Bundesliga
体坛英语资讯:Ronaldinho: Neymar to bring Brazil World Cup joy
体坛英语资讯:China win ITTF Team World Cup titles
国内英语资讯:China Focus: CPC issues decision on deepening reform of Party and state institutions
科普:为什么结婚戒指戴在左手上?
体坛英语资讯:Bayerns Coman sidelined several weeks
这组漫画高能了!中国姑娘让你秒懂中西方文化差异(组图)
A Boy Makes History 一个创造历史的男孩
体坛英语资讯:Domant FC head coach resigns
西方银行争抢“一带一路”蛋糕
创纪录!新漫威神作《黑豹》,票房首超《神奇女侠》!
When Opportunity Comes 当机会来临
国内英语资讯:Xinhua Headlines: China joins top ranks as development of 5G speeds up worldwide
Wearable tech aids stroke patients 可穿戴“电子皮肤”助中风病人康复
《水形物语》成奥斯卡最大赢家 科比拿下最佳动画短片奖
国际英语资讯:Macron, Merkel optimistic about endorsing Brexit accord at this weeks EU summit
科普:为什么结婚戒指戴在左手上?
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Lawmakers, political advisors gather for first sessions after Party congress
国际英语资讯:Syrian army airdrops leaflets over Eastern Ghouta to urge civilians to leave, rebels to surr
国内英语资讯:Government provides financial aid for 96 mln Chinese students in 2017
体坛英语资讯:Monchengladbach win, Hoffenheim held in German Bundesliga
国内英语资讯:Chinas new maglev train to roll off production line