古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。
《古代寓言·半日闲》
有贵人游僧舍,酒甜,诵唐人诗云:“因过竹院逢僧话,又得浮生半日闲”。僧闻而笑之。贵人问僧何笑?僧曰:“尊官得半日闲,老僧却忙了三日。”
——《谭概》
A Moment of Idleness
A high official paid a visit to a monastery. The monk in charge, having been notified of this previously, had made meticulous preparations for this occasion. After several drinks, the official recited a Tang poem:
Passing by the monastery I drop in to have a chat with the monk;
Out of this busy life a moment of idleness I enjoy.
The monk laughed. When asked why he laughed, he replied, “Your Worship has enjoyed a moment of idleness, but I’ve been busy for three days.”
Tan Gai
(杨宪益、戴乃迭 译)