majesty

Therewas,amanwhocametothepalaceoftheStateofChuandgavetheguardakindofmedicineforimmortalitytobe

prentedtotheking.

有⼀个⼈来到楚国王宫，把⼀种长⽣不死的药交给守卫官，请他奉献给国王。

erpalace,hemetanarcherofthe

heraskedhim:”Iswhatyouholdinhanddible.”

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：“你⼿⾥捧着的东西，⼈可以吃吗？”

Theguardanswered:”Ofcour,itis.”

守卫官回答：“⼈可以吃。”

Uponhearingthis,thearchersnatchedthemedicine,stuffedinintohismouthandswallowedit.

⼸箭⼿听了，⼀把夺过药，塞到嘴⾥就吞了下去。

hersaid: ＂Itisnotmy

faultbutthefaultoftheguard,becauhetoldme‘Itidible.’＂

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’”

Thenhecontinued:“vetakenit,butIamgoingtobekilledbyyourMajesty.

Then,theso-calledmedicineforimmortallifewillbecome‘amedicinehasteningdeath’,won’tit?Themanwhoprented

thismedicinewastryingtodeceiveYourMajesty.”

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！”

Finallyhesaid:“IftodayyourMajestyshouldkillme,aninnocentman,thenpeoplewouldsay:‘

wouldratherbedeceivedthanbelievehisownbodyguard.’”

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。”

WhiletheKingofChuheardthis,hefeltthattherewassomethinginwhatthearchersaid,sohelethimgo.

楚王听了，觉得这些话有点道理，就把⼸箭⼿放了。