《鸡鸣狗盗》成语英译与典故

二十七、鸡鸣狗盗

战国时齐国的田文人称孟尝君，

家里养着一帮人，

这些人生活开支他提供，

他们就专门侍奉孟尝君。

有一次孟尝君带他们在秦国遭囚禁，

秦昭王想暗中杀死这伙人。

此时若想得活命，

能讲情的只有一个人，

就是昭王宠爱的小老婆，

孟尝君便派人去见她。

那婆娘要送她一领狐白裘，

才能去说情保释这伙人。

孟尝君确有一领狐白裘，

可惜已献给昭王穿在身。

没有皮裘（qínɡ）等死？

孟尝君心里好烦闷。

这时候有人来到他面前，

愿替主人把忧分。

他说能潜进秦宫偷皮袄，

临走还叮咛主人放宽心。

他果然从昭王那儿偷来白狐裘，

献给秦王宠爱人。

那女人枕边几句热烘话，

秦昭王果然放了孟尝君。

孟尝君带人连夜逃出秦都去，

刚离开昭王又生后悔心。

于是就派人紧紧去追赶，

追那逃命的一伙人。

孟尝君带人逃到函谷关，

门官说不到鸡叫不开门。

孟尝君手下有人会学鸡叫，

一声声鸡鸣假胜真。

一声鸡鸣百鸡应，

守关的只好开关门。

待到昭王追兵至，

哪里还有孟尝君？

这一个“鸡鸣狗盗”老故事，

常用来，赞美那

小技能，作大用，

却往往出自卑微的人。

To Imitate the Rooster's Crow and the Dog's Snatch

During the time of the Warring States（475—221B.C.）in the State of Qi，there was a man named Tian Wen，also called Meng Changjun，who raised a group of followers.He provided them with food and lodgings and other daily supplies and they served him whole⁃heartedly.

Once Meng Changjun took them to the State of Qin and they were detained there.Qin's King Zhao wanted to put them to death.At that time，the only way to be safe and sound was to ask a go⁃between to dissuade Zhao.It should be none other than Zhao's favourite concubine.So Meng Changjun sent one of his followers to do it.The shrewd woman extorted from them a bribe of a white fox fur coat.And only if they granted this could she do the favour.Meng did possess a fox⁃fur coat，but the pity was that he had already given it to King Zhao.

Did they have to wait for death without the fur coat？Deep in Meng's heart，there was a disturbing upset.Just then another of his followers came up to him，and resolved to share the bad luck.He said that he could sneak to the palace and snatch the coat.

On leaving he simply asked his master to stay at ease.As luck had it，he did get the fox⁃fur coat，and gave it to the king's favourite concubine.The woman whispered a few words on the pillow to King Zhao，and immediately Meng Changjun and his followers were set free.

He led his men to escape from the capital city.Later King Zhao，however，regretted the letting go of Meng and sent his guards to run after the fleeing gang.When Meng and his followers reached Hangu Pass，the custodians said they wouldn't open the gate till roosters crowed.

One of Meng's followers could imitate the rooster's crow，“Oh，ohhhh...”it was vivid and life⁃like，just resembling a real one.When one rooster crowed a hundred more accorded.The gate⁃keepers had to open the gate.When the king's soldiers arrived there，Meng and his men were already out of sight.

This old story of imitating the rooster's crow and the dog's snatch carries an idiomatic meaning of prais⁃ing those practical skills and they are usually done by some of the humble people.