The Interpretation of A Dream
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Duke Jing of Qi fell ill with edema, a disease caused by an excess of body fluid. He had a dream one night in which he was beaten by two suns in a fight.
The following morning he told his prime minister Yan Ying about his dream and asked whether it was not an omen of his death.
"Your Highness should consult a dream interpreter," said Yan Ying. "Let me get you one."
When the dream interpreter came, Yan Ying met him at the entrance of the palace and told him about the duke's dream.
"I have to go home and consult my book." the dream interpreter said.
Yan Ying stopped him. "No, it's not necessary. The duke's illness is caused by too much body fluid. Body fluid is water; water represents yin. He was defeated by two suns in his dream. The sun is the source of light and heat; it represents yang. Now yin was defeated by yang in his dream. So the duke should get well soon. Just tell him that."
The dream interpreter thought Yan Ying's explanation made perfect sense and so he told the duke as much. A few days later the duke recovered. He wanted to reward the dream interpreter.
"No, I don't deserve a reward," the man said. "Your Highness should reward Yan Ying because it was he who told me how to interpret your dream."
But Yan Ying would not accept the reward. "Although the interpretation was mine," he said, "if I had told Your Highness myself, you wouldn't have believed it. It was the dream interpreter who convinced you. So I don't think I should take the credit."
The duke rewarded both men.
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Wise Proverbs
- Standers-by see more than gamesters.
- 当局者迷，旁观者清。
- All that ends well is well.
- 结果好，就一切都好。
- A wise head makes a close mouth.
- 真人不露相，露相非真人。
Editor Says:
The messenger is as important as the message.