南北朝时期(420-589)有一个叫江淹的读书人。他小的时候爸爸就死了。小江淹勤奋好学,年轻时就能写优美的诗词文章,很受当时文人的重视,大家称他为江郎。
然而好的名声和高的地位阻止了江淹继续进步。他年老时作的诗文大不如以前,无法再写出有价值的作品。当时的人都说他“才尽”了。
名声 fame 地位 position 阻止 stop 有价值的 valuable 勤奋好学 work hard and eager to learn 重视 pay attention to,think highly of
Mr. Jiang has used up his literary talent-At one's wit's end
During the period of Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589), there was a man of letters named Jiang Yan, whose father died young. Little Jiang Yan was strenuous and diligent, capable of writing beautiful poems and essays at his early age. He, who was thought highly of by those men of letters of that time, was called Mr. Jiang.
However, the great fame and high position prevent him from go on making progress. His articles and poems written later were not a match to his earlier ones. People said that he was at his wit's end.