The Old Man Who Lost His Horse

There was once an old man who lived with his only son at the border of the state. They were fond of horses and often let them graze freely in the meadow.

One time a servant reported to the old man, "A horse is missing! It must have gone into the neighbouring state."

His friends felt sorry for him, but the old man was not bothered at all by the loss. As a matter of fact, he said, "Who knows! The loss may bring us good fortune!"
a few months later, a strange thing happened. Not onl did the missing horse return home safely, it also brought back with it a fine horse from the neighbouring state.

When his friends heard the new, they congratulated the old man on his good luck. But the old man said, "Who knows! This may bring us ill fortune!"
One day, when the old man's son was riding the fine horse, he accidentally fell off the horse, broke his leg, and was crippled.

Many friends came to comfort the old man, but the old man was njot the least disturbed by the accident. "Who knows! This may bring us good fortune after all!" he said.

A year later, when the neighbouring state sent troops across the border, all the young and strong men were drafted to fight the invaders, and most of them got killed. The old man's son was not drafted because he was crippled and so his life was spared.

塞翁失馬

從前在邊界的地方，住了一個老人與他的獨生子。他們喜歡馬匹，常常讓他們的馬四處吃草。

有次，僕人回報老人說：「有匹馬逃走了，相信是跑到鄰國去。」
老人的朋友都替他感到可惜，但老人並沒有為此事而煩惱。並說：「天曉得！說不定這會給我們帶來好運。」

過了幾個月，有件奇怪的事發生，老人失去的馬不僅平安回家，而且帶了一匹鄰國的駿馬回來。朋友知道了，都來道賀，但老人說：「天曉得！說不定這會給我們帶來厄運。」

一天，當他的兒子騎著駿馬到處馳騁時，不慎墜馬斷腿，成了跛子。
朋友都來慰問他，但老人一點也沒有把此事放在心上，並說：「天曉得，說不定這會因禍得福呢！」

過了一年，鄰國舉兵入侵，所有壯丁都被徵去應戰，十之八九都陣亡。老人的兒子，因為殘廢沒有被徵，因而得以平安無事。