河伯

黄河的河伯因此得意洋洋，自以为是天下最伟大的了。

The River deity Hebo was therefore immensely proud and considered himself the greatest in the world .

河伯顺着黄河来到了北海，朝东一望，望不见海的尽头，再看看自己才觉得自己很渺小。

Hero followed the Yellow River to the North Sea . Then he looked at himself and felt he could not see the bounds of the sea . Then he looked at himself and felt he was so tiny and insignificant .

景公说：“不求山神也罢，那么去求河伯吧！”

Jing Gong said : " All right , we won 't beg the mountain deity . Then how about begging Hebo （ the river deity ） ? " " Your Majesty , it 's no use either , " replied Yan Zi .

河伯顺着黄河来到了北海。

Hebo followed the Yellow River to the North Sea .

去祈求河伯又有什么用呢？”

What is the use of praying to Hebo ? "

河伯兴高采烈地顺着水势向东游去，一直游到了大海。

The delighted He Bo swims downstream eastward until he enters the sea .

如果河伯能够叫天下雨，那么雨早就下了。

If Hebo could make it rain ; it would have rained long ago .

水是河伯的国土。

Water is the territory of I-Iebo .

那人说：“别说一条黄河，就是几条黄河的水流进北海，也装不满它。”河伯固执地说：“我没见过北海，我不信。”

He Bo said obstinately ," I don 't believe it , for I have never been to the North Sea . "

相传很久很久以前，黄河里有一位河神，人们叫他河伯。

Tradition has it that many , many years ago , there lived on the Yellow River a river god known as He Bo .

随着人类意识的逐渐觉醒，河神的形象逐步向人靠拢，并最终完成人格化，代表形象为河伯；其功能侧重于自然生产生活，河神是人们祈求生命安全和生活安全的愿望体现。

With the awakening of human consciousness , the images of the River God gradually move closer to the people , and ultimately complete his personification .

景公说：“不求山神也罢，那么去求河伯吧！

Jing Gong said : " All right , we won 't beg the mountain deity . Then how about begging Hebo ( the river deity ) ? "

天不下雨，河里的水干了，就等于河伯的国土丧失了；

When it hasn 't rained for a long time , the water in the river will dry up , which means that Hebo will lose his territory ;

楚人祭祀不在其境内的黄河之神河伯，与“祭不越望”的祭祀原则矛盾。

The ceremony of people in Chu kingdom sacrificing Hebo , the god of Yellow River which is outside Chu kingdom was paradoxical with the principle of " sacrificing is not beyond border " .