成语双语故事：乐极生悲

 

　laugh out of the other side of your mouth
　　乐极生悲
　　Chunyu Kun (淳于髡) lived in the state of Qi (齐国) during the Warring States Period (战国，475-221 BC).He was wise， humorous and eloquent. He skillfully advised the king on many occasions and successfully went to many states as an envoy.
　　战国时期，齐国有个叫淳于髡的人。他幽默机智，能说会道，给齐威王出过许多好主意，并且成功出使了许多其他的国家。
　　In the year 349 BC， the State of Chu (楚国) dispatched a large force to attack Qi.
　　公元349年，楚国派出大批军队攻打齐国。
　　The king of Qi sent Chunyu Kun to the state of Zhao (赵国) to ask for help， with a lot of valuable gifts.
　　齐王派淳于髡去赵国寻求帮助，于是他带着许多贵重的礼品去了赵国。
　　The king of Zhao accpeted the gifts gladly and sent a hundred thousand troops to help Qi.
　　赵王见了礼物十分高兴，派了十万士兵去援助齐国。
　　The king of Chu withdrew his army that very night as soon as he got the news.
　　那天晚上，楚王得到这消息，马上撤回了自己的军队。
　　The king of Qi was released and pleased with Chunyu Kun. He set a banquet for celebration.
　　齐威王松了一口气，十分满意淳于髡的表现，并决定设宴为他庆功。
　　During the meal， the king asked Chunyu Kun， “How much wine can you drink before you‘re drunk， Sir？”
　　在宴会上，齐威王问淳于髡：“先生你喝多少酒会醉？”
　　Knowing the king had a bad habit of drinking all night， Chunyu Kun decided to take this chance to admonish the king. So he replied， “I get drunk when I drink ten litres or hundred.”
　　他幽默地回答说：“我有时喝一升酒就会醉，有时喝一百升酒才会醉。”
　　Puzzled， the king asked， “Since you are drunk after ten litres， how can you finish another ninty litres？”
　　齐威王听了很奇怪。他问：“你喝一升已经醉了，怎么还会有喝一百升的道理呢？”
　　Chunyu Kun then explained that he could drink different amounts of wine under different conditions. He said， “This occurs to me that when you drink to your limit， you get so drunk that you lose your sense； once joy reaches its height， then it’s sorrow‘s turn. This is the rule for everything. Whatever you do， you are bound to end up in the opposite direction when you exceed the limits.”
　　淳于髡就告诉齐王，在不同的情况下他的酒量是不一样的。他说：“喝酒让我想到一句古话：人喝酒到了自己的极限，烂醉之后就没了理智，一旦开心过了头，就会发生悲惨的事。所有的事情都是这个道理。不论你做什么，超过了限度，往往就会适得其反。”
　　Realizing Chunyu Kun was advising him， the king answered， “You are right. I will take your advice.”
　　齐威王知道淳于髡在劝诫他，回答说：“你说得对，我会接受你的建议的。”
　　From then on， the king of Qi gave up his bad habit of drinking and playing all night.
　　从那以后，齐威王改掉了整晚饮酒作乐的坏习惯。
　　“乐极生悲”是有相对的美国俚语的，那就是“laugh out of the other side of your mouth”，有点“高兴得太早了”的意味，“高兴早了”并且过了头，就“乐极生悲”了。
　　我们来看一下例句：
　　Bill thought he got a real bargain because the car was half the normal price. Now he’s laughing out of the other side of his mouth. The police came to tell him the car was stolen. So he loses both the car and the money.
　　比尔以半价买了辆车，他以为自己捡了个大便宜。但是他高兴得太早了，警察后来找上门告诉他那是辆黑车，所以他现在车、款两空！