双语阅读：中国古代四大美女的政治胭脂

谁是中国古代最美的女人?约定俗成的答案是：西施、王昭君、貂蝉、杨贵妃，赫赫有名的四大美女。可是，上下五千年，漫漫历史长河，难道美人如此稀缺?当然不是。那么在姹紫嫣红的女人大观园里，为何被推到顶尖地位的，就这四位呢?是她们真就绝对美貌无瑕、艳压群芳?答案是否定的。

西施

西施身处一个风云际会的历史时代，群雄纷争，各家都在绞尽脑汁玩转政治以立于不败之地，天生丽质的美女自然也成为权谋桌上的筹码，而她，也当仁不让地肩负起拯救自己国家于水深火热的重担。这在当时，不被讴歌还能怎样?特别是这个故事的结局又像戏剧一样具有传奇效果和功成名就的圆满。自然，作为政治“间谍的美人，受到了人们普遍的称颂，以文授义的儒家知识分子当然要极尽心智来美化她了。

There is no doubt that Xishi was famous due to her contribution to the country in the wartime. What's more, she shoulder the burden to defense the country bravely and did her part to save the country. Certainly, her image impressed countless people.

王昭君

王昭君比起西施更有过之而无不及。身为宫女的她能以大局为上，忍辱负重，请缨出塞，背井离乡去一个遥远而未知的地方，以一个柔弱女子的双肩去承载两个民族的和平大业，而且的确又神奇地达到了“不战而屈人之兵的奇妙效果。想想，其实王昭君不过是千千万万民女中选秀而来的宫女，天资美丽自不在话下，但诗家之所谓“仪态由来画不成，当时枉杀毛延寿，稍加分析就知道此誉有拔高之嫌。后人之言她气质、韵味无可比拟，大抵还是因为她在政治舞台上扮演了特殊角色和立下不朽功劳。

Compared with Xishi, Wang Zhaojun is a beauty, who went to a strange country for the peace of the two nations. Also, her arrival to the other country did save the two nations from the war. Nowadays, people often refer her to a perfect beauty, it is to some extent due to her contribition to the politics.

貂蝉

貂蝉因为长相美貌而被几个政客把握周转，凭她自己的出色表演与周旋，机智巧妙地完成了主人交给的政治使命，功德不浅，自被夸赞。但是，《三国演义》本身是一部小说，为了增加故事的精彩和可读性，作者尽可以把那个女子写得无比的美艳。再者，中国文学本身就喜欢英雄与美人的搭台唱戏，而且读者也很需要这种口味。于是，那故事中的女主角不美出“沉鱼落雁“闭月羞花之效果，能行吗?

Being a beauty, Diaochan was meditated among important politicians, however, she can always complete her political tasks. So, undoubtedly, she was honoured as well.