古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。
《古代寓言·两只眼睛》
昔有二人共评主者:
一人曰:“好”,一人曰:“丑”。
久而不决;二人各曰:“尔可求人,吾目中则好丑分矣”。
士有定形,二人察之有得失,非苟相反,眼睛异耳。
——《万机论》
Two Pairs of Eyes
Two men were discussing the appearance of their master.
"How handsome he is!" said one.
"How ugly!" said the other.
They argued for a long time and no conclusion could be reached. Finally each said to the other, "Get someone else to look at him and he will tell you that I'm right!"
—One's features cannot be changed by other people's comments. That the two men should have different views is not because they want to oppose each other, but because each sees through his own eyes.
--Wan Ji Lun
(杨宪益、戴乃迭 译)
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