英文童話(huà)故事：視石為寶（雙語(yǔ)）

　　In ancient times, a man of the State of Song picked up a stone in Linzi. He examined it over and over and regarded it as a treasure. He quickly took it home, wrapped it up in dozens of silk layers, then put it in a leather box. But he still felt uneasy, so he covered the box with dozens of boxes.

　　When a man who could identify treasures heard of this, he went at once to this man and asked to have a look at the treasure.

　　To be prudent1, this man of Song took a bath, burned incense2, cleansed3 his mind, calmed his mood, and went in for self- cultivation4 for seven days. Then be put on ceremonial robes, respectfully took out the box, and carefully took the stone out of the box.

　　When the man who knew about treasures saw it, he nearly burst into laughter, but quickly covered his mouth with his hand. He whispered close to the other's ear: "This is a piece of stone, as worthless as a tile."

　　The man of Song thought the man who knew about treasures was envious5 of him and trying to cheat him. Much displeased6, he said: "Merchants always say others' wares7 are worthless, and doctors always say patients' illnesses are very serious, so that they themselves can make more money. I will not be fooled!"

　　Thereafter, he treasured this stone even more, and kept it in a very safe place.

　　古代，宋國(guó)有個(gè)人在臨淄拾到了一塊石頭。他左看右看，認(rèn)為這是一件寶貝，急忙拿回家去，用絲絹包了起來(lái)。包了一層又一層，一連包了幾十層，才把它放進(jìn)皮匣子。但是，他還不放心，在匣子外面又套上匣子，一連套了幾十只。

　　有個(gè)識(shí)寶的人，一聽(tīng)到這個(gè)消息，就馬上到他那里，請(qǐng)求看一看這件寶貝。

　　那個(gè)宋國(guó)人，為了慎重起見(jiàn)，熏香沐浴，清心靜氣，修養(yǎng)了七天，然后穿上大禮服，恭恭敬敬地請(qǐng)出匣子，小心翼翼地把那塊石頭從匣子里取出來(lái)。

　　那個(gè)識(shí)寶的人看了，差一點(diǎn)兒笑出聲來(lái)，連忙用手捂住了嘴巴，貼近他的耳朵，輕輕地告訴他說(shuō):“這是一塊石頭，跟瓦片一樣一錢(qián)不值!”

　　宋國(guó)人認(rèn)為這個(gè)識(shí)寶的人嫉妒他，在騙他，心里很不高興，他說(shuō)：“做生意的人，總是把別人的貨色說(shuō)得一錢(qián)不值;做醫(yī)生的人，總是把病人的毛病說(shuō)得非常危險(xiǎn)。這都是為了自己可以多賺幾個(gè)錢(qián)。我可不上這個(gè)當(dāng)!”

　　從此，他反而更加珍愛(ài)這塊石頭，把它保管得嚴(yán)嚴(yán)實(shí)實(shí)。