Tian Rao had served Ai Gong, King of the State of Lu, for many years, but he was never appointed to any important position.
田饒雖然服侍魯哀公多年，但是仍然沒有受到重用。
One day, Tian Rao said to Ai Gong of Lu:
有一天，田饒對魯哀公說:
"I am going to leave Your Majesty, and fly high and far to distant places like the swan goose."
“我要離開大王，像鴻雁那樣遠(yuǎn)走高飛。”
"What do you mean?" asked Ai Gong.
魯哀公說:“你這是什么意思?”
Tian Rao replied:
田饒回答說:
"Haven't Your Majesty seen a rooster before? It has a red cockscomb on its head and looks very elegant. It has sharp claws on its feet and is of martial bearing. When facing enemies, it is very brave and vigorous and fights to the bitter end. When it fords food, it will call its pals to enjoy together, and is very kind. It keeps watch during the night and crows at dawn, never bungles matters and is very honest. Though the rooster has these five merits, Your Majesty still order your subordinates to cook it for food. Why is that so? Because it is near to Your Majesty."
“大王難道沒有見過雄雞嗎?它頭上戴著紅冠，非常文雅;腳上有鋒利的爪子，格外英武;面對敵人敢打敢拼，十分勇猛;看見食物就呼喚同伴一道享用，多么仁義;晚上守夜，黎明報曉，從來不會誤事，極其誠實(shí)!雄雞雖然有這五種長處，可是大王還是命令手下人把它煮了吃。為什么會這樣呢?因?yàn)樗驮诖笸跎磉叞?”
Tian Rao paused and then continued:
田饒頓了頓，接著說:
"As to the swan goose, its one flight covers I，000 li. Sometimes it stops by Your Majesty's pools, and eats your fish and soft-shelled turtles. Sometimes it stops in Your Majesty's fields and pecks your beans and grains. Though it does not have the merits of the rooster, Your Majesty still regard it highly because it is far away from you. Therefore, please permit me to fly high and far to distant places like the swan goose."
“至于那鴻雁，一飛就是千里，有時停在大王的水池邊，吃大王的魚鱉;有時停在大王的田園里，啄大王的豆類和谷物。盡管它沒有雄雞的長處，可是大王還是很器重它。這是因?yàn)樗x大王遠(yuǎn)啊，所以請?jiān)试S我也像鴻雁一樣遠(yuǎn)走高飛了吧!”