中英文讲故事：《杀鸡焉用牛刀》.docxVIP

春秋末期，孔子周游列国后返鲁，门下弟子纷纷出仕。

LateintheSpring-and-Autumnperiod,afterConfuciushadtraveledthevariousstatesandreturnedtoLu,hisdisciplesbegantotakeoffice.

其中有一位叫言偃，字子游，比孔子小四十五岁，以“文学”见称，被派到鲁国最小的县邑——武城做“宰”。

AmongthemwasYanYan,styledZiyou,forty-fiveyearsyoungerthantheMaster;renownedfor“literaryaccomplishments,”hewassenttogovernWucheng—thesmallestcountyofLu.

武城弹丸之地，居民不过千户。

Wuchengwasatinyplace,withnomorethanathousandhouseholds.

按当时惯例，小县只需维持治安、收税即可。

Bythecustomofthetime,suchasmallcountymerelyneededtokeeporderandcollecttaxes.

子游却把礼乐教化整套“高配”搬了进去。

YetZiyoutransplantedthefull“premiumpackage”ofritesandmusicintoit.

清晨，县衙鼓瑟吹笙，百姓闻乐而起。

Atdawntheyamenresoundedwithzithersandpipes,andthevillagersrosewiththemusic.

傍晚，乡校书声琅琅，儿童诵《诗》习礼。

Atduskthevillageschoolechoedwithreadingvoices,aschildrenrecitedtheBookofSongsandpracticedrituals.

乡饮酒礼、射礼按周制举行，连老农都能哼几句“关关雎鸠”。

Archeryritesandvillagewine-ceremonieswereheldaccordingtotheZhouprotocol;evenoldfarmerscouldhum“Guan-guancrytheospreys…”

某日，孔子带弟子路过武城，远远听见琴瑟钟磬之声。

OnedayConfucius,passingbywithhisdisciples,heardfromafarthesoundofzithers,stone-chimesandbells.

忍不住莞尔，对随行的子贡、冉有说：“割鸡焉用牛刀？”

HecouldnothelpsmilingandremarkedtoZi-gongandRanYou,“Tocarveachicken,whyuseanox-cleaver?”

弟子们哄笑，觉得老师调侃得妙。

Thedisciplesburstintolaughter,thinkingtheremarkacleverjest.

子游闻讯赶来，当众引用孔子原话反击。

Hearingoftheremark,Ziyouhurriedoverand,inpublic,quotedtheMaster’sownwordsbacktohim.

“昔者偃也闻诸夫子：‘君子学道则爱人，小人学道则易使。’”

“OnceIheardyousay,Master:‘WhenthesuperiormanlearnstheWayhelovesothers;whenthecommonmanlearnsitheiseasytogovern.’

“武城虽小，难道就不配用礼乐教化吗？”

IfWuchengissmall,doesitthereforenotdeserveritesandmusic?”

孔子当场被弟子“打脸”，却不恼。

Confuciuswasopenly“corrected”byhisdisciple,yetshowednoannoyance.

反转身对其他人说：“二三子！偃之言是也！前言戏之耳。”

Turningtotheothershesaid,“Myyoung