YanZiwasafamousprimeministeroftheStateofQiduringtheSpringandAutumnPeriod.
晏子是春秋时期齐国有名的相国。
Oneday,YanZiwentoutinacarriagedrivenbyhiscoachman.
一天,晏子坐着马车外出。一位车夫为他赶车。
Thecoachman'swifehadneverseenYanZibeforeandwishedtohavealookathim.Shepeepedfrombehindthedoor."Ah,herecomesYanZi!"ShegottheimpressionthatthoughhewastheprimeministeroftheStateofQi,hetalkedandbehavedwithgreatmodesty.
车夫的妻子从来没见过晏子,很想看看。她就从门缝中偷偷地观看:“呵,晏子出来了!”她得到的印象是:晏子身为齐国相国,但是言谈举止显得非常谦虚。
Butherownhusband?Haughtyandarrogant,hesatunderthebigcanopydrivingthecarriageforYanZi,yetconsideringhimselfunexcelledintheworld.Shewasmuchashamedofherhusband.
可是,自己的丈夫呢?他坐在车上的大伞下为晏子驾驭马车,却趾高气扬,不可一世。妻子看了十分羞愧。
Assoonasthecoachmanreturnedhome,hiswifeaskedforadivorce.Thecoachmanwasbaffled,unabletomakeheadortailofthis,andaskedangrily:
车夫一进家门,妻子就提出要和他离婚。车夫一时莫名其妙,摸不着头脑,便生气地问:
"Adivorce?Whatisyourreason?"
“要离婚?你的理由是什么?”
Thewifeanswered:
妻子回答:
"YanZiis}lessthan6chi(Chineseunitoflength,1/3metre)
tall,buthisheartisfilledwithaspirationsandhismindwithknowledge.Thoughheistheprimeminister,heiscourteousand
treatspeopleprudentlywhenhegoesout.Butwhataboutyou?Youarefully8chitall,butyouforgetthatyouareonlyacoachman.
Bythesideoftheprimeminister,youdaretolooksococky,consideryourselfalwaysintheright,andbrandishthewhiptourgethehorseoninuttercomplacency.YouaresoimmodestthatIcan'tlivewithyouanylonger."
“晏子虽然身高没有六尺,但是他胸怀大志,满腹经纶。他身为相国,外出时,对人彬彬有礼,谦虚谨慎。你呢?身高足有八尺,可是你忘了,你不过是个车夫,却在相国身旁神气十足,自以为是,挥鞭催马,得意忘形。你这样不知谦逊,我不能再和你生活下去了。”
Uponhearinghiswife'swords,thecoachmanfeltmuchashamed.Thereafterhebecameverycarefulandprudentindoingthingsandtreatedpeoplemodestly.
车夫听了妻子的话,觉得很惭愧。从此,他做事小合谨慎,待人谦逊。
YanZinoticedthebigchangeinthecoachman'sbehaviorandcouldn'tunderstandwhy.Soheaskedthecoachman.
晏子看到车夫变化很大,不知为什么,就询问车夫。
ThecoachmantoldYanZihiswife'scriticismindetail.At
this,YanZiwasdeeplymoved.LaterYanZirecommendedhimtobeadafu(aseniorofficial).
车夫把妻子对自己的批评一五一十地告诉了晏子。晏子听了,感叹不已。后来,晏子推荐这位车夫出任大夫。