5. The Thief Of Cathay

    It was the birthday of an honored man, and his sons and servants were busy receiving messengers who came with gifts and congratulations.  A thief, who knew that among the presents there were articles of value, slipped in and secreted himself by lying face downward on a tie-beam in the roof of the great hall where a banquet was to be served in the evening.  From this corner he overlooked the opening of parcels of silk, fade and jewels, and took note where they were put, intending to take them away after the guests had left and the family gone to sleep.

    The master of the house arranged his birthday gifts for the inspection of his relatives, and received the donors in the evening at a magnificent feast.  Late at night, when the guests had all taken leave, and the servants had retired, the host stayed to put away some of the presents.  As he leaned over a drawer, with his back toward the thief, the latter looked over the beam to take a final look of the room before the lights should be put out.  And as he did so his head cast a shadow on the floor.

    The host betrayed no sign of having observed the moving shadow, but he called a servant and bade him bring the choicest food and lay the table for a single guest.  When this was done, he dismissed the servant for the night.  Then turning toward the beam on which the thief lay, and making obeisance as to a noble guest, he said, "Will the gentleman who is on the roof-beam now come down and have a meal."

    As there was nothing else he could reasonably do, the thief descended, and was led to the table by his host who served him while he ate.  When he had finished his meal, his host gave him a bag of silver coins, begged him to make good use of them, and dismissed him politely from his door.

    Tens of years passed, and brought the eightieth birthday of the host.  His honors had increased, and his descendants were many.  During the day costly gifts were sent to him by friends who were all invited to eat with him that evening.  His grandson received the presents at his door and brought them to his apartment.  Towards nightfall his grandson came to him with a priceless gem, and said that it had been brought by a stranger who would not tell his name but insisted upon seeing the master of the house.

    The stranger was admitted to the old man's room, where he expressed great joy in seeing his host alive and in health.  The host did not recognize his guest, and excusing himself by a plea of failing sight, asked his name.  The guest replied that he was a sincere friend, an honest man, and rich enough to bring many such gifts as the priceless gem.  The host replied that he could not accept gifts unless he knew his name, and he could not invite him to eat with him that evening in the great hall.

    Then the visitor suggested that his host might invite him by saying, "Will the gentleman who was on the roof-beam have a meal?"  And he told how he, the thief, had, under the influence of his host's gentleness, repented of evil.  He had used the coins given to him for foreign trade and he had prospered, practicing truth and mercy.

    He stayed to banquet with the other guests, and among them all, none were more happy than he and his benevolent host. 

5. 樑上君子

    今天是大老爺的生日。他的兒子和僕人忙著接待從各地來的使者，這些使者帶來很多的禮物和祝賀的話。這時候，有一個小偷知道禮物中有許多是值錢的東西，於是他就偷偷地溜進屋裡藏在大廳的屋樑上，然後臉朝下地等著。因為今晚的宴會，將在大廳裡舉行。小偷從樑上俯瞰一個個被打開的包裹，裡面都是絲綢、翡翠和珠寶。那個小偷就記住包裹放置的地方，打算等客人走了，屋裡的人也睡了的時候，才把那些禮物偷走。

    大老爺把生日禮物分好，以便讓他的親屬清點。他在盛大的晚宴上接待所有的客人。當夜深了，客人陸陸續續告別，家中的僕人也去休息了，只剩下那個大老爺還待在大廳裡整理禮物。他背對著小偷準備打開抽屜時，小偷從屋樑上探出頭來，想趁大廳的燈還亮著時，再一次把大廳的環境看清楚。就在小偷探出頭來時，他的頭在大廳的地板上投下一個影子。

    大老爺看見地板上移動的影子後，他很鎮定，不動聲色。他把僕人叫來，要僕人準備最好的飯菜，餐桌擺上一個人用的餐具。一切都備妥後，他就叫僕人退下。然後，他轉身面向小偷藏身的屋樑，就像在接待貴賓一樣，他深深地一鞠躬，說：「樑上君子，可否下來吃頓飯？」

    小偷沒有辦法，只好從屋樑上下來。那位大老爺就引領他坐在餐桌旁，伺候那個小偷又吃又喝。吃完後，主人又給小偷一袋銀元，要他好好的運用這些錢，然後很有禮貌地送他出門。

    幾十年過去，到了大老爺要過八十大壽的日子。現在他的社會地位更加備受尊崇，而且是兒孫滿堂了。親朋好友白天來送禮，晚上就留下來吃飯。他的孫子站在門口接受賀禮，然後再送到大老爺的房裡。到了傍晚的時候，他的孫子送進一顆價值連城的寶石，說是一位不願留下姓名的客人送的。

    那位陌生的客人被請進大老爺的房間，他看見大老爺還健在，而且身體很硬朗，非常高興。但是大老爺認不出這位客人，便推托自己的視力不好，問客人貴姓。那位陌生的客人就回答說，自己是大老爺最誠摯的朋友，是一個誠實的人。家裡很有錢，送這樣的寶石不算什麼。但是大老爺堅持要知道他的姓名，否則便不接受他的賀禮，也不會邀請他參加大廳裡的晚宴。

    因此，那位客人就暗示說，如果大老爺您說：「樑上君子，可否下來吃頓飯。」那麼，我應該會被邀請參加晚宴的。然後他又告訴大老爺，從前有一個小偷因為受到大老爺仁慈的感召，已經痛改前非，善用大老爺所賞賜的銀元做貿易生意，不僅賺了錢，也施捨助人。

    他被邀請和其他的客人一起參加宴會。在酒席間，他和仁慈的大老爺是最愉快的人。