提要
俗話說：「拿人的手短、吃人的嘴軟」，如果拿了別人送的禮物、吃了別人的食物，態度就不由得軟化，不得不採低姿態與人互動；也就是說，對方略施小惠，就吃定你了。最好「無功不受祿」，才不致於喪失原則、任人擺布。
One day a king came out from his palace for the morning walk surrounded by his soldiers. A traveling man who was standing outside the palace wanted to meet the king. The king's soldiers took him to the king . The king asked " Why did you want to meet me？''
"Oh respected king , you are so lucky for me. I have gambled in your name and I have won a big amount of money, so I bought a chicken for you please accept it, my heart will break if you will not take it." King was flattered by what the man said about him and he accepted the gift ( the chicken ).
After few days after that man again came to the king and said, '' Oh my king how lucky you are for me, today I have again gambled in your name and I won a very big amount of money, I am so grateful to you and I want to give you a goat. The king was very happy and accepted the goat.
The very next day the gambler came crying and said ,"Oh mighty king yesterday I gambled in the name of you and I lost my cow. What do I do now？ I get my earnings by selling cow's milk. Now my wife and children will die with hunger, please kindly help me''.
The King had to behave like a king, so he gave the man a cow, but he learned a lesson that never get flattered by any one's sweet talks and never accept a gift from a gambler.
解 說
有一天早晨，國王在層層士兵簇擁下，走出宮殿活動筋骨。一個旅人站在宮門外表示想見國王，御前士兵們把他帶到國王面前，「要見我有什麼事？」國王問。
「哦，尊敬的國王，您讓我非常幸運，我以您之名賭博，贏得了大筆金錢，所以我買了一隻雞獻給您，請您收下吧，如果您不收它，我會心碎的。」國王對這人的曲意奉承感到受寵若驚，於是接受了禮物雞。
幾天後，賭徒再次跑到國王的面前說，「噢，我的王，對我來說，您是多麼的幸運啊，今天我又以您之名賭博，又一次贏得了大筆金錢，我很感激您，我想獻給您一隻山羊。」國王非常開心，又接受了賭徒送的山羊。
又過了一天，賭徒跑來哭訴：「哦，偉大的國王，昨天我以您之名賭博，輸掉了我的牛。現在該怎麼辦呢？我的收入全靠賣牛奶。現在，我的妻子孩子都必須挨餓了，請您幫幫我。
國王不得不「表現得像個國王」，所以只好給了賭徒一頭牛，但他記取了教訓，千萬別因為任何人的甜言蜜語而沾沾自喜，也永遠不要接受一個賭徒的禮物。
WOW!
原來如此
flattered
flattered是「過份誇獎」，或「阿諛奉承」，例如：
「Some men are flattered by young women's attention.」（部分男性會因為年輕女性的關注而「飄飄然」。）
「Amy likes to make flattering remarks.」（愛咪喜歡說奉承話。）
「They're flattered and honoured to receive this Award. 」（能夠獲獎，他們深感光榮與受寵若驚。）
「This is a flattering picture of Gina. 」（這張照片拍得比吉娜本人好看。）
mighty
mighty是「強大、巨大的」，例如：
「British was once a mighty empire that ruled the world.」（英國一度是統治世界的強大帝國。）
Heading toward the north pole, a mighty iceberg come into view. （航向北極途中，一個巨大的冰山映入眼簾。）
mighty也是「非常的」，例如：
「She thought herself mighty clever. 」（她自以為聰明得不得了。）
「We think you're a bit too high and mighty yourself. 」（我們認為你自視過高，甚至盛氣凌人。）