金溪民方仲永，世隸耕。仲永生五年，未嘗識書具，忽啼求之。父異焉，借旁近與之，即書詩四句，并自為其名。其詩以養父母、收族為意，傳一鄉秀才觀之。自是指物作詩立就，其文理皆有可觀者。邑人奇之，稍稍賓客其父，或以錢幣乞之。父利其然也，日扳仲永環謁于邑人，不使學。

Fang Zhongyong, a resident of Jinxi county, was born to a family engaging in farming for generations.  Up until he was five years old, he hadn't recognized any instruments related to reading and writng.  One day Zhongyong suddenly whined and asked for them.  His father was surprised by his act and then borrowed some from a neighbor.  In no time, Zhongyong jotted down four lines of verse and signed his name after writing. The motif of the verses related to caring for one's parents and strengthening kinship. His father showed his verses off to all the intellectuals around the county.  Henceforth, Zhongyong could create a poem on whatever topic assigned to him right away, and all of his writings captured literary grace and expressed subtle undertones.  His ability astonished the folks around the county, and his father slowly became an honored guest in the neighborhood.  Some people started to ask for Zhongong's works in exchange for pecuniary gifts.  The father thought it would be a lucrative endeavor, so he introduced Zhongyong to different people around the county, but ignored to help Zhongyong elavate himself to a higher place by learning.      

余聞之也久。明道中，從先人還家，于舅家見之，十二三矣。令作詩，不能稱前時之聞。又七年，還自揚州，復到舅家問焉。曰：“泯然眾人矣。“

I have heard of Zhongyong's story for years.  During Mingdao era, I came back to my hometown with my late father, and met Zhongyong at my uncle's when the boy was in his early adolescence.  I asked him to write some poems and found the level of his work couldn't match his previous reputation. Another seven years passed when I came from Yangzhou to my uncle's again, I asked how about Zhongyong.  My uncle replied to me that the boy had been consigned to obscurity.    

王子曰：仲永之通悟，受之天也。其受之天也，賢于材人遠矣。卒之為眾人，則其受于人者不至也。彼其受之天也，如此其賢也，不受之人，且為眾人；今夫不受之天，固眾人，又不受之人，得為眾人而已耶？

Hereby I give my comments.  Zhongyong's flash of insight and brilliant talent were gifts bestowed upon him by Heaven; he had been much more blessed than ordinary people. But the lack of education made him ordinary at last.  Innate talent made Zhongyong a genius, being born smarter than anybody else; whereas lack of education brought him mediocrity.  If those born without gifted talent are destined to be ordinary, then what kinds of people will they become if they don't acquire something from education?   

P.S.  It is said the article is among the selection of 40 pieces of Chinese classics taught in junior high schools at China's Mainland.  Can you imagine that?  BTW, "傷仲永" has become an idiom used by Mainlanders, referring to any talents who own themselves some innate skills and stand out conspicuously in early days, but eventually an oblivious figure to the public.