中文 / A2
画蛇添足
楚国有个人给几个替他做事的人一杯酒。几个人一起喝，不够；一个人喝，还有多的。
他们说：「我们在地上画蛇吧。谁先画好，谁就喝酒。」
一个人很快画好了。他拿起酒杯，准备喝，又说：「我还能给蛇画上脚！」
他左手拿杯子，右手继续画。脚还没画完，另一个人也画好了蛇。
那个人拿走他的杯子，说：「蛇本来就没有脚，你怎么能给它画脚呢？」
说完，那个人喝了酒。最先画好蛇的人，因为多画了脚，最后没有喝到酒。
English summary · includes the ending
A man in the ancient state of Chu gives some wine to the people serving him. They agree that there is not enough for everyone to share, although there is more than enough for one person. They decide to draw snakes on the ground. Whoever finishes first will drink the wine.
One man completes his snake before the others and takes the cup. Instead of drinking immediately, he holds it in his left hand and continues drawing with his right. He announces that he can add feet to the snake.
Before he finishes the feet, another man completes his own snake. He takes the cup away, pointing out that snakes have no feet, and drinks the wine.
The first man loses what he had already gained. The extra drawing does not improve his result. It adds something that does not belong there and costs him the reward he had already secured.
Adapted for Lejrbål from the credited source.
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