江上之處女，有家貧而燭者。

　　處女相與語，欲去之。

　　家貧無燭者將去矣，謂處女曰：“妾以無燭故，常先至掃室布席。何愛余明之照四壁者，幸以賜妾，何妨于處女?妾自以有益于處女，何為去我?”

　　處女相語，以為然而留之。

　　——《戰(zhàn)國策》

　　Borrowingthe Light

　　Agirl in one of the workshops by the river was too poor to buy oil for the lamp;so the other girls decided to drive her away. As the poor girl was leaving shesaid to the others:

　　“BecauseI couldn’t afford to pay for the light, I always arrived first to sweep theroom and put down the mats. Your light shines on all four walls: Why grudge mea share in it? It doesn’t hurt you to let me borrow your light, and I makemyself useful to you. Why should you drive me away?”

　　Realizingthe truth of what she said, they let her stay after all.

　　Warring States Anecdotes