老大臣的难题

字幕原文

After a while, 过了一阵子，

the Emperor wanted to see how the cloth was coming along. 皇帝想去看看布织得怎么样了。

But he felt a little uneasy. 但他心里又有点犯嘀咕。

What if he couldn't see it himself? 万一连自己也看不见呢？

"I'll send my honest old minister," he decided. “还是派我那位诚实的老大臣去吧，”他拿定了主意。

"No one is better at his job." “论干本职工作，没人比他更称职了。”

So the old minister went into the room where the swindlers sat at their empty looms. 于是老大臣走进了房间，那两个骗子正坐在空荡荡的织机前。

"Heaven help me," he thought, opening his eyes very wide. “老天爷呀，”他把眼睛瞪得老大，心想，

"I can't see anything at all!" “我怎么什么都瞧不见啊！”

But he didn't say so. 但他可没把这话说出口。

"Isn't the pattern lovely, sir?" “大人，您瞧这花纹美吧？”

said the swindlers. 骗子们说道。

"And the colors?" “还有这颜色呢？”

The poor old man stared and stared. 可怜的老人瞪圆了眼睛，看来看去。

Am I stupid? 难道我很笨？

he thought. 他心想。

Am I unfit for my job? 难道我不称职吗？

Nobody must ever find out. 这可千万不能让人发现。

Fear of looking foolish has made more people foolish than anything else. 越是怕显得丢人愚蠢，反而越容易让人犯傻。

"Oh, it's charming," he said. “哎呀，太迷人了，”他开口说道。

"Quite enchanting. “简直令人陶醉。

I'll tell the Emperor at once." 我这就去回禀皇上。”