Introduction to Literary Chinese - Lesson 5, Text 1
Adapted from the 1927 book by J. Brandt
押忽大珠
A Ya-hu Pearl
西域賈人。有奉珠求售於尚文者。索價六十萬。
Among traders in the western regions, there was one who held a pearl and sought to sell it to Shang-wen, demanding a price of six hundred thousand.
識者曰。此所謂押忽大珠也。六十萬酬之。不爲過矣。
A connoisseur said, "It is the so-called Ya-hu Pearl. To pay six hundred thousand for it would not be excessive."
一坐傳觀。爭以爲奇。
The whole company looked at it passing it round and vied to regard it as wonderful.
文問曰。此寶作何用。
Shang-wen asked, "What is the use of this gem?"
其人曰。含之可不渴。
The man said, "By keeping it in the mouth one can have no thirst,"
文曰。一人含之。十萬人不渴。則誠寶也。
Shang-wen said, "If one man kept it in the mouth, so that a hundred thousand men would not thirst, then it would have been a gem indeed.
若一珠只濟一人。爲用已微矣。
But if one pearl will only help one man, its utility is then insignificant."
吾之所謂寶者。米粟是也。
As for what I would call a gem, rice would be it.
一日不食則飢。三日不食則疾。七日不食則死。
One day without eating it and one grows hungry; three days without eating it and one falls ill; seven days without eating it and one dies.
有則百姓安。無則天下亂。
If they have it, then the masses are quiet; if they don't have it, then the country revolts.
以功用較之。豈不愈於彼乎。
If we compare them by their utility, how is it not greater than that pearl?"