Author: CHUNG Yoon Ngan
Date: 01-02-12 19:49
塞翁失馬
成語故事
從前, 有一個住在國境邊界的人, 以養馬為生. 有一天, 他發覺自己所養的馬, 有
一匹竟然離群跑到鄰國去, 當時知道這件事的人, 都認為可惜. 只有養馬者的父親
, 對這件事毫不介意, 反認為失了一匹馬, 說不定會帶來好處.
幾個月後, 怪事發生了, 從前走失的那匹馬, 不但認路從鄰國跑回來, 而且也把鄰
國的駿馬引了來. 人們知道了這件事, 紛紛跑來向養馬的人致賀, 但養馬者的父親
即說, 這件好事說不定會帶來災禍也未可知.
有一次, 養馬人騎馬奔馳, 一不小心, 竟從馬上墜下, 跌斷了一條腿, 於是人們都
來慰問, 但養馬的父親對兒子跌斷了腿也不介意, 反認為兒子斷了腿後會帶來好處
也未可知.
經過一年以後, 鄰國出兵侵略, 養馬者居住的地方, 戰事連連, 年輕力壯的人, 均
須入伍作戰, 而且十之八九都戰死. 養馬者則因為斷退殘廢, 得免服兵役, 所以保
全了性命.
*****************
Old Sai loses his horse
Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise
A long time ago a horse breeder living near the border of his country discovered
that one of his horses had galloped off into the neighbouring country. It
was a noble steed. His friends, coming to know about the incident, all came
and said to him,
We are sorry to know that one of your
fine horses has galloped off from you.
However, the horse-breeder's father thought nothing of the loss and considered
that the loss of that horse might bright his son a good fortune.
A few months later, a strange thing happened. The horse-breeder's missing
horse found its way home, bringing with it many other fine horses from the
neighbouring country. All the neighbours got wind of the horse-breeder's
windfall and came to congratulate him. However, the father of the horse-breeder
said to them,
It is uncertain that this good fortune might bring my son a disaster. Who
knows?
One day, on a beautiful sunny morning, the horse-breeder went for a ride
on a fine steed. The horse suddenly went on a fast gallop and unsaddled
the unsuspecting horse-breeder. The fall caused him to break a leg and walk
with a pronounced limp. All his friends felt sorry for him and came to express
their sympathy. However, his father told them,
You never know. It could be a blessing in disguise.
One year later, the neighbouring country sent troops to attack the country.
Thousands upon thousands of young men in the country were compulsorily recruited
into the army, and many of them died on the battlefield. Due to his broken
leg the horse-breeder was exempted from the conscription. Thus he remained
handicapped but lived peacefully.
*****************
Have you experienced or do you know of
such reversals of the situation?
Do you think it is a realistic attitude?
Why? Why not?
———————————————————————————————
Source:
淮南子: Huai Nan Zi:
[塞上叟失馬,人弔之。]
[Sai shang sou shi ma, ren diao zhi]
Posted to Overseas Chinese Forum at asiawind.com
By CHUNG Yoon-Ngan (鄭永元)
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