Historical Tales
历史故事
To Quench One’s Thirst by Thinking of Plums
望梅止渴
The allusion comes from By Means of Cheat in New Stories and Folk Tales.
这则典故出自《世说新语》。
“Once the Emperor Wu Di of the Wei Dynasty commanded his troops in a long march.
“有一次，魏武帝命令他的军队进行了长途跋涉。
There were no waters along their routes and the soldiers got terribly thirsty.
途中没有水，士兵们因此非常口渴。
The emperor said :‘Beyond us there is a large plum garden ，the sweet and sour fruits can quench our thirsty. ’
武帝说：‘前面就有一大片梅林，又甜又酸的果实可以用来解渴。’
On hearing his words the soldiers all slobbered.
士兵们听了他的话嘴里都留了口水。
Spurred, they hurried their march and reached the water resource.”
他们拍马扬鞭，加快了行进速度，到达了有水源的地方。”
Later this phrase is used to mean the fantastic, unfeasible hope one cherishes for consoling oneself.
后来，这则典故被用来比喻愿望无法实现，用空想安慰自己。
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