Culture

The Snipe and the Clam Grapple

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 [古] 赵且伐燕，苏代为燕谓惠王曰：“今者臣来过易水，蚌方出曝，而鹬啄其肉，蚌合而拑其喙。鹬曰：‘今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌。’蚌亦谓鹬曰：‘今日不出，明日不出，即 有死鹬。’两者不肯相舍，渔者得而并禽之。今赵且伐燕，燕赵久相支以弊大众，臣恐强秦之为渔父也。愿王之熟计之也。”惠王曰：“善。”乃止。（《燕策》二）

[今]  赵国将要进攻燕国，苏代替燕国到赵国去劝阻。他对赵惠文王说：“今天我来的时候经过易水，看见一个大蚌正出来晒太阳，一只鹬鸟飞去啄它的肉；大蚌合拢两片蚌壳，夹住了鹜鸟的嘴巴。鹜 鸟说：‘今天不下雨，明天不下雨。就会晒死你。’大蚌对鹬鸟说：‘今天不放你出去，明天不放你出去，就会憋死你。’双方都不肯放开。打 鱼的人看见就把它们一起捉走了。现 在赵国将要进攻燕国，t 打 起来燕、赵 两国交会长期相持不下，弄得老百姓疲惫不堪。我担心那强大的秦国要象那位渔人一样，乘机来收拾你们呢。希望大王慎重考虑。”越 惠文王听了，说：“你说得对。”于 是就停止了进攻。

The State of Zhao planned to launch an attack against the State of Yan. Su Dai went to the State of Zhao on behalf of Yan to stop the violence. He said to the duke of Hui Wen in the State of Zhao, “When I came along the River of Change today, I saw a big clam coming out of the water to bask in the sun. A snipe flew over, pecked its inside, and was clamped by the clam shell. The snipe said, 'If it doesn't rain today, and it doesn't rain tomorrow, and it goes like that, very soon you will be baking.' The clam answered, 'You won't be let out today, and you won't be let out tomorrow, and if it continues, you will very soon be stuck.'

Neither would let go. A fisherman came by and saw it, and got them both as his harvest. Now the State of Zhao is going to attack the State of Yan. Once you start the battle, I am afraid that you will be locked in a stalemate. The wide community of both states will be extremely exhausted. And the kingdom of Qin, which is most powerful, will take this opportunity and settle on us both. Shall Your Majesty give it some second thoughts?” The duke of Hui Wen took it in, and said, "What you said is true,"and stopped the attack.  



Source: Selected Chinese Legends and Fables(《中国古代神话寓言选读》), Produced by ChineseSavvy.

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