《鹤立鸡群》成语英译与典故

二十一、鹤立鸡群

晋朝有个人叫嵇绍，

生得仪表堂堂身材高。

晋惠帝名叫司马衷，

很喜欢嵇绍的美仪表。

更难得嵇绍最忠诚，

这一点惠帝更知晓。

只因为内部争权又夺利，

互相攻杀把矛盾闹，

晋朝的局势难安定，

惠帝时时心焦躁。

有一次，司马氏兄弟合兵来攻城，

随惠帝出兵迎战的是嵇绍。

由于众寡悬殊敌势猛，

惠帝阵中死的死来逃的逃。

只有嵇绍护惠帝，

出生入死把主保。

敌方飞箭雨点般，

数箭射中勇嵇绍。

嵇绍负伤鲜血洒，

溅了惠帝满战袍。

护主伤重身先死，

感动惠帝哭号啕。

战斗结束回去后，

惠帝难以忘嵇绍。

有人要洗去战袍血污迹，

惠帝不允还劝道：

嵇侍中耿耿忠心难忘怀，

这血染战袍要永存保。

当时有人夸嵇绍，

赞他是卓卓野鹤天下少。

鹤立鸡群鸡难比，

勇献身，当时首先推嵇绍。

到后来，“鹤立鸡群”作成语，

形容人，有出众的学问、品质或仪表。

Like a Crane Standing Among the Chickens

In the Jin Dynasty（265—420A.D.），there was a man named Ji Shao who was quite well endowed with appearances.Jin's Emperor Hui，whose name was Si⁃ma Zhong，adored Ji Shao's smartness，and Ji Shao was accordingly loyal to him，about which the emper⁃or was quite well aware.

At that time，the court was in discord.The impe⁃rial brothers was fighting each other for the throne.The Jin Dynasty was at odds.So Emperor Hui was worried from time to time.One day，his imperial brothers became allied and attacked him.Emperor Hui was out of the city，and Ji Shao led the fight back.Because the enemy were many and they were few，they were defeated completely.Many died and many ran away.

Only Ji Shao kept Emperor Hui company，and protected His Majesty from being hurt.The enemy's arrows were like rain，and several of them stabbed in⁃to Ji Shao's chest.Ji Shao was severely wounded and shed much blood that soaked the emperor's battle uni⁃form.

For His Majesty，Ji Shao died a brave death.The emperor was moved and cried and howled.Then when the fighting ended，Emperor Hui could not for⁃get Ji Shao's loyalty.When someone offered to wash the blood stains off the battle uniform，the emperor wouldn't allow it to be done：“Leave it alone and let it bear Ji Shao's loyalty，and this blood⁃soaked battle uniform I'll keep forever.”

People then praised Ji Shao，saying that he was a great crane.A crane was standing among chickens and chickens couldn't compare with it.Talking of brave⁃ry，at that time only Ji Shao counted.

Because of this，“Like a Crane Standing Among the Chickens”turned into an idiom.It takes the meaning of praising someone's outstanding knowledge or moral excellency or good complexion.