2011年11月4日 星期五

讀孫子兵法學英文/手段高明 take the cake

【經濟日報╱朱文章】

2011.11.04 03:01 am


手段高明 take the cake

100年前(1911),羅浮宮名畫「蒙娜麗莎」遭竊。兩年後,竊賊裴路加將名畫帶到國外叫賣,隨即落網。但這件震驚藝術界的大竊案,內情其實並不單純。

根據專書《蒙娜麗莎失竊記》記載:羅浮宮漆匠裴路加受某神秘「先生」指使,拿了「前金」(layaway plan),夥同內應順利作案。得手後裴路加守著名畫,癡癡等「先生」攜來豐厚的酬金(fast buck),心想鉅款到手,便可手頭闊綽(as rich as Croesus),雖然等待時間難熬,但內心卻不禁狂喜(as pleased as Punch)。

奇怪的是,「先生」要裴洛加好好保管名畫,卻從此杳無蹤影。原來,唆使他偷竊名畫的是個巨騙,名叫伐爾菲諾,他找了擅製偽畫的蕭得隆,已經摹繪六幅假畫,更找定願意在蒙娜麗莎忽然神秘流入市場時收購珍藏的買主。竊案爆發,每個買主篤信自己擁有「蒙娜麗莎」真跡,可見手段何其高明(take the cake)。

果然,這狸貓換太子(to change the baby prince for a leopard cat)高招,讓每位付出30萬美元的買主成了冤大頭(splurge on themselves),也就是說半年內共有180萬美元的進帳,這還是百年前的幣值(時價約5,000萬美元)!

伐爾菲諾一手搞定(lock, stock, and barrel)所有關節:他找漆匠當內應,實現「不知山林、險阻、沮澤之形者,不能行軍;不用嚮導,不能得地利」兵法精髓趁勢撈錢。

他料定買主和竊賊不敢張揚,得手後奢華(Life of Riley)過日,把裴路加完全蒙在鼓裡,僅僅給蠅頭小利(chicken feed),這也是孫子「施無法之賞,懸無政之令。犯三軍之眾,若使一人。犯之以事,勿告以言;犯之以害,勿告以利。投之亡地然後存,陷之死地然後生。夫眾陷於害,然後能為勝敗」上乘兵法表現。

例:"Vincenzo Peruggia agreed to steal Mona Lisa and got paid on the layaway plan offered by a mysterious gentleman."「裴路加收下神秘人物訂金,答應竊取蒙娜麗莎名畫。」

“He tried to make a fast buck from the art theft case.”「他希望從這個藝術品竊案中大撈一筆。」

"He would do anything to fulfill his childhood dream of being as rich as Croesus."「他從小立志賺大錢,也願誓死達成目標。」

"Peruggia felt as pleased as Punch while waiting the further instructions from his business associate."「裴路加等待進一步指示,心中卻無限暢快。」

"It's the con masters in this art theft case that really took the cake."「整個案子手段最高的是那些主謀份子。」

"These collectors would splurge on themselves and bought the stolen portrait."「這些闊佬花錢找樂子,買下這幅失竊的名畫。」

"Eduardo de Valfierno offers a grand strategy which covers operational management aspects lock, stock and barrel."「伐爾菲諾策獨自搞定整個案子,完全不假他人。」

“The con master gave the painter a little chicken feed while he himself lived the life of Riley forever.”「巨騙給漆匠一點零頭,自己卻過著富埒王侯的生活。」

(作者任教陸軍官校,本專欄每周五刊登)

【2011/11/04 經濟日報】

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