文言文--口诵乘船法喻的寓意

中国文化博大精深，尤其古文化更是有韵味，值得去思考、去品味。

昔有大长者子，共诸商人入海采宝。此长者子善诵入海捉船方法，若入海水漩洑洄流矶激之处，当如是捉，如是正，如是住。语众人言：“入海方法，我悉知之。”

Once upon a time, there was a young man from a respectable family who went to the sea with some merchants to look for pearls. He had read all about sailing such as to know how to steer the boat, how to take the right direction and how to hold in good position when they had to face whirlpools, countercurrents, or rocks during the, journey. To everybody aboard, he said, "I know all about sailing."

众人闻已，深信其语。既至海中，未经几时，船师遇病，忽然便死。时长者子即便代处。至洄洑驶流之中，唱言当如是捉，如是正。船盘回旋转，不能前进，至于宝所。举船商人没水而死。

Everyone believed him. It was not long before the captain of the boat fell ill and died soon after. He then took charge of the boat. When they came to whirlpools and rapid currents, he recited what he had read without knowing how to put those instructions into practice. The boat that was strolling and going round could not advance to the pearls place