In ancient times, there was a man who sold spears as well as shields.

　　古時候，有一個人，他既賣矛又賣盾。

　　One day, he hawked his wares at the market and was very pleased with himself. He held up a shield and said: "My shield is very strong. No matter how sharp a spear is, it cannot pierce my shield."

　　一天，他在集市上叫賣，非常得意。他舉起他的盾說:“我的盾非常堅固，無論怎樣好的矛，都戳不穿它!”

　　After that, he held up his spear and bragged: "My spear is very sharp. No matter how strong a shield is, my spear can pierce it.

　　說完，他又舉起他的矛夸口說:“我的矛非常鋒利，無論怎樣堅固的盾都能戳進(jìn)去!”

　　When the people standing by heard this, they laughed up their sleeves. One of them asked him:

　　站在旁邊的人聽了，都暗暗地發(fā)笑。有人問他:

　　"According to what you said, your spear is the sharpest. No matter how strong a shield is, your spear can pierce it. Your shield is also the strongest. No matter how sharp a spear is, it cannot pierce your shield. Now, if I poke your shield with your spear, what will be the result?"

　　“照你這樣說，你的矛是最鋒利的，無論怎樣硬的盾都戳得進(jìn)去;你的盾又是最堅固的，無論怎樣鋒利的矛，也別想戳進(jìn)去。那么，現(xiàn)在我用你的矛來戳你的盾，看看結(jié)果會怎樣呢?”

　　The man was so embarrassed that he could not utter a single word.

　　那個人窘得連一句話也答不上來。