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once upon a time, there was a man named ji shengzi who raised fighting-cocks for the king.
*ry ten days the king asked him whether the cock has finished training.
ji shengzi answered correspondingly, "not yet, he is still coxcom*cal(虚浮的), proud, arrogant1, and self-conceited." "not yet, when he hears other cocks sing, or sees other cocks, he still has some reaction." "not yet. he still look at things quickly, and is still high-spirited."
forty days later, he said, "now he is almost ready. he still sings but has little reaction and few changes, like a wooden cock. now he has all the qualities of a fighting-cock. when other cocks see him, they wouldn't dare to fight him but turn around and run away."
从前,有个叫纪渻子的人为国王驯养斗鸡。
每隔十天,国王就问鸡是否已经驯养好。
纪渻子分别回答说:“还没有。现在它还表现得虚浮、骄傲、矜持、自持。”“还没有,现在它听到别的鸡的叫声,看到别的鸡的影子还是有反应。”“现在它看东西依然迅速,意气仍然旺盛,还没驯好。”
四十天后,他说:“差不多了,鸡现在虽然还鸣叫,但已经没有什么反应和变化,好像木鸡一样了,斗鸡的品质已经具备,别的鸡见到它肯定不敢应战, 一定会掉头就跑。”
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