大意：有一个慢性子的人，冬天与别人围炉取暖，见别人衣服的边角被火烧着了，于是慢吞吞地对那人说：“有一件事，我早就发现了，想对您说，又怕您沉不住气；不对您说，又怕您损失太多，那么到底是说好呢还是不说好呢？

”那人问到底是什么事。

回答说：“火烧着您的衣服边了。

”那人于是赶快把火灭了，对他吼道：“既已发现，为什么不早告诉我？

”慢性子人说：“我说您会性急的吧，果不其然！

” 火烧裳尾　有人性宽缓，冬日共人围炉，见人裳尾为火所烧，乃曰：“有一事，见之已久，欲言之，恐君性急；不言，恐君伤太多，然则言之是耶，不言之是耶？

”人问何事，曰：“火烧君裳。

”隧收衣火灭，大怒曰：“见之久，何不早道？

”其人曰：“我言君性急，果是。

”--宋无名氏籍川笑林>>A Fiery TemperA group of people were sitting around a stove on a wintry day when one man of phlegmatic temperament suddenly announced to one of those present: “I have noticed something going on for some time now, but have hesitated to tell you, since I know you are hot-tempered.

Yet should I fail to inform you before long, I fear you may sustain bodily injury.

Shall I go ahead and tell you or not?

”“Well, be out with it, man!

” the hot-tempered fellow exclaimed.

Consequently, the first man shouted: “Your robe is on fire, sir!

” The victim of the blaze immediately ripped off his own robe and stamped out the flames.

Enraged, he cursed the other, saying: “Since you already knew for some time that my clothing was burning, why the devil didn’t you tell me earlier?

” “You see!

” the first man chortled.

“Just as I have said, I knew you’d get angry no matter what I did!

”【双语诗歌翻译|火烧裳尾　查看网站：[db:时间]】