Summary: Among the many women on the river, there is a woman from a poor family without candles. The women discussed together to drive away those who were poor and without candles. The woman from a poor family without candles was about to leave. She said to the women, “I often arrive first because I don’t have candles. As soon as I arrive, I clean the house and lay a mat. Why do you cherish the little light shining on the walls? If you give me a little light, what harm will it do to you? I think it’s still useful to you, why do you have to drive me away?” After discussing, the women thought she was right and left her behind.
大意：在江上的众多女子中，有一个家贫无烛的女子。女子们在一起商量，要把家贫无烛的赶走。家贫无烛的女子准备离去了，她对女子们说：“我因为没有烛，所以常常先到，一到便打扫屋子，铺席子。你们何必爱惜照在四壁上的那一点余光呢？如果赐一点余光给我，对你们又有什么妨碍呢？我自认为对你们还是有用的，为什么一定要赶我走呢？”女子们商量以后，认为她说的对，就把她留下来了。
《古代寓言·借光》
江上之处女，有家贫而烛者。
处女相与语，欲去之。
家贫无烛者将去矣，谓处女曰：“妾以无烛故，常先至扫室布席。何爱余明之照四壁者，幸以赐妾，何妨于处女？妾自以有益于处女，何为去我？”
处女相语，以为然而留之。
——《战国策》
Borrowing the Light
A girl in one of the workshops by the river was too poor to buy oil for the lamp; so the other girls decided to drive her away. As the poor girl was leaving she said to the others:
“Because I couldn’t afford to pay for the light, I always arrived first to sweep the room and put down the mats. Your light shines on all four walls: Why grudge me a share in it? It doesn’t hurt you to let me borrow your light, and I make myself useful to you. Why should you drive me away?”
Realizing the truth of what she said, they let her stay after all.
–Warring States Anecdotes
