江上之处女，有家贫而烛者。

　　处女相与语，欲去之。

　　家贫无烛者将去矣，谓处女曰：“妾以无烛故，常先至扫室布席。何爱余明之照四壁者，幸以赐妾，何妨于处女?妾自以有益于处女，何为去我?”

　　处女相语，以为然而留之。

　　——《战国策》

　　Borrowingthe Light

　　Agirl in one of the workshops by the river was too poor to buy oil for the lamp;so the other girls decided to drive her away. As the poor girl was leaving shesaid to the others:

　　“BecauseI couldn’t afford to pay for the light, I always arrived first to sweep theroom and put down the mats. Your light shines on all four walls: Why grudge mea share in it? It doesn’t hurt you to let me borrow your light, and I makemyself useful to you. Why should you drive me away?”

　　Realizingthe truth of what she said, they let her stay after all.

　　Warring States Anecdotes