The Brothers of Hutian Village

　　In Hutian Village there lived a family named Hu. Two brothers went into the mountains to gather firewood and ventured deep into a secluded valley. There they encountered a giant python. The older brother, who was walking in front, was seized and swallowed by the snake.

　　The younger brother was terrified at first and wanted to flee. But when he saw his brother being devoured, fury took hold of him. He raised his woodcutter's axe and struck the python on the head. The snake's head was wounded, yet it kept on swallowing. By then the older brother's head had already gone in, but luckily his shoulders were too wide for the snake to get down. The younger brother was frantic and at his wit's end. He grabbed his brother's feet with both hands and pulled with all his might against the snake—and somehow dragged his brother out. The python, also in pain, slithered away.

　　He looked at his brother. His nose and ears had both dissolved. He was barely breathing, at death's door. The younger brother carried him on his back and headed for home. On the way, he had to rest more than ten times before finally reaching the house. His brother received medical care and was nursed back to health. Only after half a year did he recover. To this day, his face is covered with scars, and in place of his nose and ears, there are only holes.

　　Ah! Among simple country folk—to think there could be a younger brother like this! Some say, "The python did not finish devouring the older brother because it was moved by the younger brother's virtue and righteousness." That must be true!




中文如下:

　　斫蟒

　　【原文】

　　胡田村胡姓者，兄弟采樵，深入幽谷。遇巨蟒，兄在前，为所吞。弟初骇欲奔，见兄被噬，遂奋怒出樵斧，斫蟒首。首伤而吞不已。然头虽已没，幸肩际不能下。弟急极无计，乃两手持兄足，力与蟒争，竟曳兄出。蟒亦负痛去。视兄，则鼻耳俱化，奄将气尽。肩负以行，途中凡十馀息，始至家。医养半年，方愈。至今面目皆瘢痕，鼻耳处惟孔存焉。

　　噫！农人中，乃有弟弟如此者哉！或言：“蟒不为害，乃德义所感。”信然！

　　【翻译】

　　胡田村有家姓胡的人，兄弟两人砍柴，走进了一个幽深的山谷里。他们遇见了一条大蟒蛇，哥哥走在前面，被蟒蛇吞咬住。弟弟起初吓得想要逃跑，看到哥哥被蟒蛇吞咬，于是愤怒地拔出砍柴斧子，向蟒头砍去。巨蟒虽然头部受了伤却还是不停地吞吃。眼见哥哥的头已经被蟒蛇吞下去了，所幸双肩卡在蟒蛇嘴边吞不下去。弟弟万分焦急却又没有别的办法，就两手抓住哥哥的双脚，用力与蟒相争，竟然把哥哥拉了出来。蟒蛇也带着伤痛逃走了。再一看哥哥，只见他的耳朵、鼻子都已经化掉，奄奄一息，快要断气了。弟弟就背着哥哥往家走，一路上歇了十几次，才回到家中。哥哥经过医治休养，半年之后才得以痊愈。至今哥哥脸上都是疤痕，鼻子、耳朵只有孔洞留下来。

　　啊！山野农夫当中，竟然有如此敬事兄长的弟弟！有人说：“蟒蛇没有吞掉哥哥，是因为被弟弟的道德仁义所感动了。”真的是这样啊！