画蛇添足·狐假虎威·郑人买履·8-10.docVIP

8. 画蛇添足The “Finishing” Touch 楚有祠者，赐其舍人卮酒。舍人hangers-on/retainer/trencherman/clansman相谓曰：“数人饮之不足，一人饮之有余，请画地为蛇，先成者饮酒。”In the state of Chu, an aristocrat, after offering sacrifices to his ancestors, bestowed a flask of wine on the gentlemen who worked for him. They discussed among themselves. “The wine is not enough for several yet adequate for one person. Let us each draw a snake on the floor and the one that first finishes his drawing drinks the wine.” 一人蛇先成，引酒且饮之，乃左手持卮，右手画蛇，曰：“吾能为之足。” A man finished his drawing first. He took the wine and was about to drink it when, with the flask in his left h