During the Warring States Period， a man was willing to teach the King of Yan the ways to attain immortality.

戰(zhàn)國(guó)時(shí)，有一個(gè)人愿意教給燕王一套長(zhǎng)生不老的方法。

The King of Yan was very glad when he heard of this， and quickly sent someone to acknowledge the man as master and learn from him.

燕王知道后，非常高興，連忙派人前去拜師學(xué)習(xí)。

But before the man he sent had a chance to learn， that man died.

可是，派去學(xué)習(xí)的人還沒(méi)來(lái)得及學(xué)習(xí)，那個(gè)自稱會(huì)長(zhǎng)生不老術(shù)的人就死了。

The man he sent could only return dejectedly.

派去的人只好垂頭喪氣地回來(lái)了。

At this the King of Yan flew into a rage.

燕王見(jiàn)了大發(fā)雷霆。

He rebuked the man for walking too slowly to get there in time， and ordered to have him killed.

燕王竟責(zé)怪去學(xué)習(xí)的人走路太慢，沒(méi)能及時(shí)到達(dá)學(xué)習(xí)，并且命令立即將他殺了。

The King of Yan never realized that the man who boasted himself as an immortal was deceiving him， but instead， he blamed the man he sent for walking too slowly.

然而，燕王沒(méi)有醒悟到那個(gè)自稱長(zhǎng)生不老的人是在欺騙他，相反，他反而怪罪派去學(xué)習(xí)的人走得太慢。

（沐 光 摘編）