偶尔看到这篇文章，唐代名臣张说的小品文， 估计是闲来随笔， 寥寥数语， 通俗易懂， 不但把钱的本质说个透彻， 还给自己描了一副俏皮老头的自画像， 这古人皮起来，也是没谁了。 问世间钱为何物， 直叫人生死相许。
看得我拍案叫绝， 不禁动了歪脑筋， 翻成现代汉语， 再翻成英语， 搏诸君一笑。 想来老先生应该不会入梦来找我要版权费吧。
《钱本草》
张说
钱，味甘，大热，有毒。偏能驻颜采泽流润，善疗饥寒，解困厄之患立验。能利邦国、污贤达、畏清廉。贪者服之，以均平为良；如不均平，则冷热相激，令人霍乱。其药，采无时，采之非理则伤神。此既流行，能召神灵，通鬼气。如积而不散，则有水火盗贼之灾生；如散而不积，则有饥寒困厄之患至。一积一散谓之道，不以为珍谓之德，取与合宜谓之义，无求非分谓之礼，博施济众谓之仁，出不失期谓之信，入不妨己谓之智。以此七术精炼，方可久而服之，令人长寿。若服之非理，则弱志伤神，切须忌之。
现代文翻译
钱， 有甜味， 性大热， 有毒。 可以保持青春， 养颜护肤， 也能治疗饥饿寒冷， 即时解决困境。 钱对国家有利， 也能污损贤达人的德行， 但钱害怕清廉的人。 对贪婪的人， 最好只取小量， 否则容易出现冷热不均， 好像得了霍乱。 这个药， 没有特定的采摘季， 如果非理性采摘容易伤神。 钱一旦流通起来， 可以召唤神灵， 驱使鬼役。 如果积累太多而不用， 容易引起水灾火灾， 招引盗贼。 如果全部花光而不积累， 则会有饥寒困顿的隐患。 怎么积累， 如何使用都大有讲究， 不把钱当珍宝， 是德行好； 用合理的方法赚取，是有义气； 不过分攥取， 是有节制；能够花钱做慈善， 是仁心善意； 有借有还，是信用好； 不会在钱里迷失自己，是有智慧。 只有熟练掌握这七种方法， 才能保障长期安全的使用钱， 且延年益寿。 如果不理性的使用， 则会削弱志向， 损害精神， 必须尽量避免。
Money, tastes sweet, has feverous heat, is poisonous. It helps retain the youth and beauty; keeps people warm and well fed; and it is a quick solution to life hardships. Money is good for a country’s development, but can corrupt a wise man easily, and the only thing that it is scared of is honesty. For greedy people, it is better to take a small dosage; otherwise, it could cause clash of cold and heat, and show the symptoms of cholera. Money does not have a specific harvest season. When it gets picked by a wrong method, it could hurt people spiritually. As soon as the money gets into circulation, it could release the mighty power as it can summon both god and ghost. When too much money is accumulated, it will cause catastrophes such as flood and fire, and also attract the thieves and robbers. If all the money gets spent without any saving, then there will be potential risk for hunger, cold and hardships. It takes great wisdom to know how to keep the subtle balance between saving and spending. It is the high standard of morality not to over treasure money. Making money decently is called righteousness. Not being obsessed by money is called moderation. Willing to spend money for charity is called benevolence. Repaying debt on time is called reliable. Do not lose yourself for money is called wisdom. Only mastering the seven methodologies mentioned above, money not only can be used safely in long term, but also help to prolong the lifespan of the owner. What should be avoided at all costs is using money the wrong way, which will weaken a person’s mental power and harm his/her spirit.
