东方朔·《东方朔自荐书》英译

臣朔少失父母，长养兄嫂。年十三学书，三冬文史足用。十五学击剑。十六学《诗》《书》，诵二十二万言。十九学孙吴兵法，战阵之具，钲鼓之教，亦诵二十二万言。凡臣朔固已诵四十四万言。又常服子路之言。

臣朔年二十二，长九尺三寸，目若悬珠，齿若编贝，勇若孟贲，捷若庆忌，廉若鲍叔，信若尾生。若此，可以为天子大臣矣。臣朔昧死，再拜以闻。

Self-Recommendation

Tung-Fang So

I lost my parents while still a child, and grew up in my elder brother’s home. At twelve I learnt to write and within the year I was well advanced in history and composition. At fifteen, I learnt sword exercise; at sixteen, to repeat the Odes and the Book of History—220,000 words in all. At nineteen, I studied the tactics of Sun Wu, the accoutrements of battle array, and the use of the gong and drum, also 220,000 words in all, making a grand total of 440,000 words. I also carefully laid to heart the sayings of the bold Tzu Lu.

I am now twenty-two years of age. I am nine feet three inches in height. My eyes are like swinging pearls, my teeth like a row of shells. I am as brave as Meng Fen, as prompt as Chi’ing Chi, as pure as Pao Shu, and as devoted as Wei Sheng. I consider myself fit to be a high officer of State; and with my wife in my hand, I await your Majesty’s reply.（ Herbert A. Giles 译）