Xi Shi was a famous beauty of the State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period.

 

Among Xi Shi's neighbours there was a very ugly woman whom everyone disliked and called "Dong Shi".

 

Dong Shi was very jealous of Xi Shi's beauty, but there was nothing she could do about it. She could only imitate Xi Shi in every way.

 

One day, Xi Shi felt pain in her heart, and called a doctor for treatment. Having taken the medicine, Xi Shi went out of her house for a stroll. After taking a few steps, she felt a spasm¹ of pain in her heart. Quickly pressing her bosom², she sat down with knitted brows in a chair in the garden.

 

Dong Shi saw Xi Shi after long expectation, but she didn't know Xi Shi was ill. She only felt that Xi Shi looked exceptionally beautiful that day. 'Therefore, she imitated Xi Shi by pressing her bosom and deliberately³ knitting her brows to attract people's attention.

 

Seeing her ugly and grotesque⁴ appearance, all the passers-by gave her a wide berth⁵.

 

西施是春秋时期越国有名的美女。

 

西施的邻居中有一个长得很丑的女人，大家都讨厌她，叫她“东施”。

 

东施看到西施很美，非常嫉妒。可是，又没有办法，她只好模仿西施，时时处处学西施的样子。

 

有一天，西施患了心痛病，请医生来医治。西施服药以后，走出屋子，在外边散步。刚走了几步，她就觉得一阵心痛。西施连忙按着胸口，皱着眉头，扶坐在花园的椅子上。

 

东施好不容易盼到了西施，但是不知道西施生病，只觉得今天的西施显得格外娇美。于是，她学着西施的模样，故意按着胸口，紧锁双眉，想引起人们对她的注意。

 

可是，来来往往的行人见到她这副丑相怪样子，都远远地避开了。

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