古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。
Ancient fables were originally folk oral creations and a literary genre. A story with allegorical or obvious lesson significance. Its structure is short. The protagonist can be a human, an animal, or an inanimate object. The difference between Western fables and Western fables lies in the use of metaphorical techniques to convey meaningful themes or profound truths in simple stories, while also requiring one’s own understanding and contemplation.
《古代寓言·要钱不要命》
永之氓，咸善游。一日水暴甚，有五六氓乘小船，绝湘水中济，船破皆游。其一氓尽力而不能寻常。
其侣曰：“汝善游最也，今何后焉？”
曰：“吾腰千钱得，是以后。”曰：“何不去之？”
不应，摇其首。有倾，益怠。
已济者立岸上，呼且号曰：“汝愚之甚，蔽之甚，身且死，何以货为？”
又摇其首，遂溺死。
《柳河东集》
The Man Who Liked Money Better Than Life
In Yongzhou there were many good swimmers. One day, the river swelled suddenly. Braving the danger, about half a dozen people started across in a small boat. While they were still in midstream, the boat capsized. Whereupon, they started to swim. One, though using his arms vigorously, seemed to make small progress.
“You’re a better swimmer than any of us, why are you lagging behind?” asked his companions.
“I have a thousand coins tied around my loin,” said the man.
“Why don’t you throw them away?” urged the others.
He made no answer, shaking his head, although he was clearly in difficulties.
The others reached the shore and shouted out to him: “Off with the coins, you fool! What’s the use of the money to you when you are drowning?”
Still the man shook his head. In a few moments he was drowned.
Collected Works of Liu Zongyuan
