嫦娥奔月的故事(英中对照)

One day, when Houyi was out, Chang'e secretly swallowed the potion（一剂） in the hope that she would become immortal. The result was quite unexpected: she felt herself becoming light, so light that she flew up in spite of herself, drifting and floating in the air, until she reached the palace of the moon.
She is regarded by later generations as the goddess of the moon.
This beautiful story has always been liked by the Chinese and provides a favourite allusion（暗示） for poets and writers.
Chairman Mao Zedong's poem in memory of his martyred（有牺牲精神的） wife Yang Kaihui has these well - known lines:
The lonely moon goddess spreads her ample sleeves
To dance for these loyal souls in infinite space.
Here, in the Chinese original, the name Chang'e is used instead of "moon goddess".
The figure of Chang'e, a beauty dressed in the elegant garments of a bygone（过去的） age floating towards the moon, naturally supplies unending inspiration for painters and sculptors.
传说古代天空中有10个太阳同时出来，大地被烤成焦土，后羿为民除害射掉了9个太阳，西天的王母娘娘奖赏他长生不老的仙药。他的妻子嫦娥趁后羿不注意时偷吃了这些药，突然她就成仙飞向天宫，王母娘娘惩罚她，让她在广寒宫里思过。
【典故】羿请不死之药于西王母，姮娥窃以奔月，怅然有丧。西汉·刘安《淮南子·览冥训》