English Original
Once upon a time, a man named Ji Shengzi raised fighting cocks for the king.
Every ten days, the king would ask if the cock was ready.
Ji Shengzi replied each time:
- "Not yet. It is still coxcombical, proud, and arrogant."
- "Not yet. It still reacts to the crow or sight of other cocks."
- "Not yet. Its gaze is still swift, and its spirit is still high."
Forty days later, he said, "Now it is almost ready. It may still crow, but shows little reaction or change, like a wooden cock. It now possesses all the qualities of a true fighter. When other cocks see it, they dare not fight but turn and flee."
中文翻译
从前，有个叫纪渻子的人为国王驯养斗鸡。
每隔十天，国王就会问他鸡是否已经驯养好。
纪渻子分别回答道：
- "还没有。它现在还表现得虚浮、骄傲、矜持。"
- "还没有。它听到别的鸡叫或看到别的鸡，还是有反应。"
- "还没有。它看东西依然迅速，意气仍然旺盛。"
四十天后，他说："现在差不多了。鸡虽然还会鸣叫，但已几乎没有反应和变化，好像木鸡一样。它已具备了斗鸡的全部品质。别的鸡见到它，肯定不敢应战，一定会掉头就跑。"