大意:有一個(gè)慢性子的人,冬天與別人圍爐取暖,見(jiàn)別人衣服的邊角被火燒著了,于是慢吞吞地對(duì)那人說(shuō):“有一件事,我早就發(fā)現(xiàn)了,想對(duì)您說(shuō),又怕您沉不住氣;不對(duì)您說(shuō),又怕您損失太多,那么到底是說(shuō)好呢還是不說(shuō)好呢?”那人問(wèn)到底是什么事?;卮鹫f(shuō):“火燒著您的衣服邊了?!蹦侨擞谑勤s快把火滅了,對(duì)他吼道:“既已發(fā)現(xiàn),為什么不早告訴我?”慢性子人說(shuō):“我說(shuō)您會(huì)性急的吧,果不其然!”
《火燒裳尾》
有人性寬緩,冬日共人圍爐,見(jiàn)人裳尾為火所燒,乃曰:“有一事,見(jiàn)之已久,欲言之,恐君性急;不言,恐君傷太多,然則言之是耶,不言之是耶?”人問(wèn)何事,曰:“火燒君裳?!彼硎找禄饻纾笈唬骸耙?jiàn)之久,何不早道?”其人曰:“我言君性急,果是?!?/p>
--宋無(wú)名氏<<籍川笑林>>
A Fiery Temper
A group of people were sitting around a stove on a wintry day when one man of phlegmatic temperament suddenly announced to one of those present: “I have noticed something going on for some time now, but have hesitated to tell you, since I know you are hot-tempered. Yet should I fail to inform you before long, I fear you may sustain bodily injury. Shall I go ahead and tell you or not?”
“Well, be out with it, man!” the hot-tempered fellow exclaimed. Consequently, the first man shouted: “Your robe is on fire, sir!” The victim of the blaze immediately ripped off his own robe and stamped out the flames. Enraged, he cursed the other, saying: “Since you already knew for some time that my clothing was burning, why the devil didn’t you tell me earlier?” “You see!” the first man chortled. “Just as I have said, I knew you’d get angry no matter what I did!”