伯牙絕弦
原文(古漢語)
伯牙善鼓琴，鍾子期善聽。伯牙鼓琴，志在高山，鍾子期曰：「善哉，峨峨兮若泰山！」志在流水，鍾子期曰：「善哉，洋洋兮若江河！」
伯牙所念，鍾子期必得之。伯牙曰：「善哉，子之聽夫志也！吾於何逃聲哉？」
鍾子期死，伯牙破琴絕弦，終身不復鼓。世稱知音絕矣。
白話文 (現代漢語)
伯牙擅長彈琴，而鍾子期善於聆聽琴音。伯牙彈琴時，內心想到高山，鍾子期便說：「好啊！巍峨壯麗，就像泰山一樣！」當伯牙心中浮現流水，鍾子期便說：「好啊！浩浩蕩蕩，就像江河一樣！」
伯牙心裡所想的，鍾子期都能準確領會。伯牙感嘆道：「你真是懂我的心聲啊！我還能將琴聲藏匿到哪裡去呢？」
後來，鍾子期去世，伯牙悲痛不已，摔破琴、折斷琴弦，終身不再彈奏。世人認為，真正的知音就此斷絕了。
English Translation
Bo Ya was highly skilled at playing the qin, while Zhong Ziqi was an exceptional listener. When Bo Ya played his qin with thoughts of towering mountains, Zhong Ziqi exclaimed, “How wonderful! It is as lofty as Mount Tai!” When Bo Ya played with the image of flowing water in mind, Zhong Ziqi said, “How magnificent! It flows like a mighty river!”
Whatever Bo Ya had in mind, Zhong Ziqi could always understand. Bo Ya sighed and said, “How remarkable! You truly understand my heart. Where else can I hide my music?”
After Zhong Ziqi passed away, Bo Ya was overwhelmed with sorrow. He smashed his qin, broke its strings, and never played again. People later lamented that the true understanding between kindred spirits had vanished from the world.