中文 / C1
画蛇添足
楚国有个人举行祭祀，赐给手下办事的人一杯酒。几个人商议，这些酒若分着喝便不够，若由一人独饮，却还有余量。于是，他们决定在地上画蛇，以先完成者为饮酒的人。
一人率先画成，拿过酒杯，正要饮用，却又有了多添几笔的举动。他左手持杯，右手继续作画，说：「我还能给它添上脚。」
脚尚未画完，另一人的蛇已经完成。那人夺过酒杯，质问道：「蛇本来就没有脚，你又怎能替它添脚？」说罢，便饮了杯中的酒。
替蛇添脚的人，最终失去了那杯酒。按照先前的约定，他原本已是完成者，甚至连杯子都已握在手中；但事情并未停在这里，他又给蛇加上了本不该有的部分。
他多画的并非取胜所必需的东西，恰恰是蛇原本没有的脚。于是，后来完成蛇的人反倒有了夺杯饮酒的理由。画蛇的人没有败在画得太慢，而是在完成之后仍然添画，以致失去了已经到手的酒。
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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