Long, long ago, King Wei of the State of Chu trusted Song Yu very much, but he often heard others say bad things against Song Yu.

很早很早以前，楚国的楚威王很信任宋玉，可是他又经常听到别人讲宋玉的坏话。

One day, King Wei of Chu asked Song Yu: "Have you ever done anything unfitting¹ to your position?

有一天，楚威王问宋玉:“先生是不是做过一些不得体的事情呢?

Otherwise, why do officials and people say bad things against you?"

不然，为什么官员与老百姓都说你的坏话呢?”

Song Yu quickly kowtowed and said:"Yes, it may be so.

宋玉连忙磕头说:“是的，也许会有吧。

I hope Your Majesty² will forgive my wrongdoings and allow me to finish what I have to say."

希望大王原谅我的罪过，让我把话说完。”

Then he continued: "I hear that there is a singer who often sings in the capital.

接着，他说:“我听说，有一位歌唱家，经常在国都演唱。

In the beginning, he always sings the "Song of the Rustic³ Poor", and several thousand people sing with him.

一开始他总是唱‘下里巴人’，能跟着他一起唱的有几千人。

When he sings the song "Picking Vetches at Yangling", several hundred people sing with him;

然后，他再唱一支‘阳陵采薇’，能跟着他一起唱的有几百人。

when he sings the song "Spring Snow", only over ten people sing with him.

当他唱‘阳春白雪’的时候，能跟着他一起唱的就只有十几个人。

Finally, when he sings an even more refined⁴ song, only very few people in the whole state can sing with him.

最后，当他唱起一种更加高雅的乐曲时，全国能跟着他一起唱的人就寥寥无几了。

Therefore, the more refined the song he sings, the fewer people can join him."

所以，乐曲越高雅，能和着一起唱的人就越少。”