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一位王公得知一个以阿谀奉承为生的人要来他的宫殿。 “小心，陛下。”他的谋臣提醒道，“这个人因奉承而受到王公贵族的喜爱，从而得到价值不菲的礼物和土地。” "我很清醒，才不会被这样的诡计所骗呢。”王公说，"让他进来吧。” 那个人进来后,朗诵了一首赞美王公的诗，拜倒在他脚下。 “我能跟最伟大的君王同处一室是多么荣幸啊！"他吟诵道：“您美丽的光芒、高贵的举止、非凡的魅力，您的风度、您的优雅……让我眼花缭乱。” 他这样赞美了大约二十分钟。当他停下来喘口气时，一个谋士抓住机会迅速跟王公说话。 "我们不是提醒您了吗，陛下。’’谋士说，“他是一个花言巧语的家伙。” "不要怕，”王公说，“我告诉过你,要骗我并不容易。他只要开口奉承我,我就把他扔出去。但到目前为止，他说的只不过是事实。" Immune to Flattery A raja was told that a man who had made a career of flattery was conning to the pal¬ace. “Be on your guard, Your Majesty,” warned his advisers. “This fellow wins the favor of the high and mighty through flattery, and then gets them to part with costly gifts or grants of land. ” “I’m too hard-headed to fall for such tricks,” said the raja. “Let him come.” When the man came he recited a verse in the ruler’s honor and fell at his feet. “ How honored I am to be in the same room as the mightiest of monarchs，” he intoned. “I find my¬self blinded by the radiance of your beauty, the glory of your presence, your divine charm, your grace, your elegance... ” He went on in this fashion for about twenty minutes. When he paused for breath, one of the advisers seized the opportunity to have a quick word with his royal master. “Didn’t we warn you, Your Majesty,” he said. “He is a glib talker.” “Have no fear,” replied the raja. “As I told you it’s not easy to trick me. The mo¬ment he starts to flatter me I’ll have him thrown out. But so far he has spoken nothing but the truth. ” |
