laugh out of the other side of your mouth

 

　　樂極生悲

 

　　Chunyu Kun(淳于髡)lived in the state of Qi(齊國)during the Warring States Period(戰國,475-221 BC).He was wise,humorous and eloquent.He skillfully advised the king on many occasions and successfully went to many states as an envoy.

 

　　戰國時期，齊國有個叫淳于髡的人。他幽默機智，能說會道，給齊威王出過許多好主意，并且成功出使了許多其他的國家。

 

　　In the year 349 BC,the State of Chu(楚國)dispatched a large force to attack Qi.

 

　　公元349年，楚國派出大批軍隊攻打齊國。

 

　　The king of Qi sent Chunyu Kun to the state of Zhao(趙國)to ask for help,with a lot of valuable gifts.

 

　　齊王派淳于髡去趙國尋求幫助，于是他帶著許多貴重的禮品去了趙國。

 

　　The king of Zhao accpeted the gifts gladly and sent a hundred thousand troops to help Qi.

 

　　趙王見了禮物十分高興，派了十萬士兵去援助齊國。

 

　　The king of Chu withdrew his army that very night as soon as he got the news.

 

　　那天晚上，楚王得到這消息，馬上撤回了自己的軍隊。

 

　　The king of Qi was released and pleased with Chunyu Kun.He set a banquet for celebration.

 

　　齊威王松了一口氣，十分滿意淳于髡的表現，并決定設宴為他慶功。

 

　　During the meal,the king asked Chunyu Kun,"How much wine can you drink before you're drunk,Sir?"

 

　　在宴會上，齊威王問淳于髡：“先生你喝多少酒會醉?”

 

　　Knowing the king had a bad habit of drinking all night,Chunyu Kun decided to take this chance to admonish the king.So he replied,"I get drunk when I drink ten litres or hundred."

 

　　他幽默地回答說：“我有時喝一升酒就會醉，有時喝一百升酒才會醉。”

 

　　Puzzled,the king askked,"Since you are drunk after ten litres,how can you finish another ninty litres?"

 

　　齊威王聽了很奇怪。他問：“你喝一升已經醉了，怎么還會有喝一百升的道理呢?”

 

　　Chunyu Kun then explained that he could drink different amounts of wine under different conditions.He said,"This occurs to me that when you drink to your limit,you get so drunk that you lose your sense;once joy reaches its height,then it's sorrow's turn.This is the rule for everything.Whatever you do,you are bound to end up in the opposite direction when you exceed the limits."