英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

從前有個很喜歡千里馬的國王，願意用千金來買匹千里馬，可是等了三年，仍未能如願以償。

有個侍從知悉後，對國王表示樂意替他效勞。國王點頭答允，並送他上路。

過了三個月，侍從終于找到一匹千里馬，可是已經死掉。侍從花五百金買下死馬的頭帶回來。

國王生氣地說：「我要的是活馬！為甚麼卻浪費五百金買匹死馬？」
侍從回答說：「要是人們知道大王連死馬都肯花五百金買下，他們就會相信大王是真的喜歡千里馬。不多久，他們便會帶千里馬來參見大王了。」

果然，不到一年，國王得了三匹千里馬。

Paying A Handsome Price For A Swift Steed

There was once a King who had a great love for swift steeds. He was willing to pay a thousand pieces of gold for a swift steed. All the same, after three years, he was still waiting.

When an attendant heard about it, he offered his services. The King nodded in approval.

After three months, the attendant finally found a swift steed, but it was dead, He paid five hundred pieces of gold for the head which he brought back to the King.

The King flew into a rage. "I want a live swift steed!" he thundered. "Why on earth did you waste five hundred pieces of gold on a dead one?"

"If people know that you're willing to pay a handsome price even for a dead swift steed," replied the attendant, "they will believe that you reallly love swift steeds. Very soon they will flock to you with their swift steeds."

Indeed, before the year was over, the King had acquired three swift steeds.