雙語詩歌翻譯|《古代寓言·象箸》

譯文：當年紂王使用象牙筷子，箕子見了覺得害怕。因為箕子認為，用了象牙筷子，必然會不用陶杯，改用犀角做的杯子；用了象牙筷子，玉杯，必然不會吃粗糧菜蔬，而是去吃山珍海味；山珍海味必然不能穿著粗布短衣，坐在茅屋中吃，一定要穿著華貴的衣服，坐在寬廣的屋子，高高的亭臺上吃。我怕那個結局，所以在看到開始的時候感到恐懼。過了五年，紂王造了酒池肉林，設了炮烙的酷刑，并因此而亡國。所以說箕子看見象牙筷子便知道天下將有大禍降臨。所以說：“能從小處看出以后的發(fā)展的人是可以稱之為聰明的?！边@則寓言通過箕子從紂王使用象牙筷子的事件里，擔憂他會發(fā)展得越發(fā)不可收拾，以至于發(fā)生商紂滅亡的故事，揭示了一個見微而知著（或：見微知著）預見性強的深刻道理。

《古代寓言·象箸》

昔者紂為象箸，而箕子怖。以為象箸必不加于土鉶，必須犀玉之杯。象箸玉杯必不羹菽藿，則必旄豹胎。旄象豹胎，必不衣短褐而食于茅屋之下，則錦衣九重，廣室高臺。吾畏其卒，故怖其始。居五年，紂為肉圃，設炮烙，登糟邱，臨酒池，紂遂以亡。故箕子見象箸以知天下之禍。故曰，見小曰明。
——《韓非子》

Ivory Chopsticks
When King Zhou ordered chopsticks made of ivory, Ji Zi was most perturbed. For he feared that once the king had ivory chopsticks he would not be content with earthenware, but would want cups of rhinoceros horn and jade; and instead of beans and vegetables, he would hardly be willing either to wear rough homespun or live under a thatched roof, but would demand silks and splendid mansions.
"It is fear of what this will lead to," said Ji Zi, "that upsets me."
Five years later, indeed, King Zhou had a garden filled with meat, tortured his subjects with hot irons, and caroused in a lake of wine. And so he lost his kingdom.
Han Fei Zi