在中国古代的神话传说中，《干将莫邪》是一个流传甚广的故事，它不仅展现了古代工匠的高超技艺，还蕴含了忠贞与复仇的主题。以下为故事的原文及其翻译，让我们一同感受这段充满传奇色彩的文字。

原文：

楚干将、莫邪为楚王作剑，三年乃成。王怒，欲杀之。莫邪曰：“剑之所以不早成者，王有妇人之心也。”王即遣使往视之。使者报言：“剑有雌雄。”王取雌剑斩将头，令铸金以祭。剑自跃入水中，化龙而去。后三年，其子眉间尺年已十五，思父报仇。母告之曰：“汝父昔为王铸剑，三年乃成，王杀汝父，投其首于金冶中，今汝能报父仇乎？”眉间尺泣曰：“儿虽幼弱，愿代父志。”母乃授以父所遗雌剑，嘱其勿忘父仇。

眉间尺持剑行至山中，遇一客，自称能助其复仇。眉间尺见其貌奇伟，遂信之。客曰：“汝但割吾首，投于水，吾自能化龙，助汝复仇。”眉间尺犹豫，客曰：“此乃天意，毋庸迟疑。”眉间尺遂挥剑断其首，投于水，果化龙腾空而起。眉间尺亦随之赴水，化龙相会，共击楚王。

翻译：

In ancient times, the blacksmiths Gan Jiang and Mo Ye were commissioned by King Chu to forge a pair of swords. After three years of diligent work, the swords were finally completed. However, the king grew impatient and threatened to kill them both. Mo Ye explained: "The delay in completing the swords was due to Your Majesty's lack of steadfastness." The king sent an envoy to inspect the swords, who reported back that there was indeed a male and female sword. The king took the female sword and beheaded Gan Jiang, ordering the goldsmiths to cast his head into the molten metal as an offering. Unexpectedly, the sword leaped into the water and transformed into a dragon, vanishing from sight. Three years later, their son Mei Jianchi, now fifteen years old, resolved to avenge his father. His mother told him: "Your father once served the king as a blacksmith, spending three years forging these swords. Yet, the king killed him and threw his head into the furnace. Can you fulfill your father's wish for vengeance?" Mei Jianchi wept and said: "Though I am young and weak, I am determined to avenge my father." His mother then handed him the female sword left behind by his father, urging him never to forget his duty.

Mei Jianchi carried the sword into the mountains where he encountered a mysterious stranger who claimed he could help him exact revenge. Seeing something extraordinary about this man, Mei Jianchi trusted him. The stranger said: "If you cut off my head and throw it into the water, I will transform into a dragon and assist you in your quest for vengeance." Hesitant, Mei Jianchi was encouraged by the stranger: "This is fate; do not hesitate." Thus, Mei Jianchi drew his sword and severed the stranger's head, throwing it into the water, which immediately transformed into a dragon ascending skyward. Following suit, Mei Jianchi also plunged into the water, merging with the dragon, and together they attacked King Chu.

以上是《干将莫邪》的故事原文及其翻译，希望读者能够从中体会到中国古代文化的深厚底蕴以及其中蕴含的智慧与哲理。