Ayoungman,astudentinoneofouruniversities,wasonedaytakingawalkwithaprofessor,whowascommonlycalledthestudents’friend,forhiskindnesstothosewhowaitedonhisinstructions.
一天,我们大学里一个年轻的学生和一位教授一起散步。这位仁慈的教授常称呼学生为朋友,他对那些急切希望得到指教的学生非常友善。
Astheywentalong,theysawlyinginthepathapairofoldshoes,whichtheysupposedtobelongtoapoormanwhowasemployedinafieldcloseby,andwhohadnearlyfinishedhisday’swork.
散步途中,他们看到一双旧鞋放在路边,便猜测鞋子可能是某个在附近田地里劳作的穷人的,他们想他一天的劳动也该结束了。
Thestudentturnedtotheprofessor,saying,“Letusplaythemanatrick:wewillhidehisshoes,andconcealourselvesbehindthosebushes,andwaittoseehisperplexity1whenhecannotfindthem.”
学生转过头对教授说:“我们捉弄他一下吧。先把他的鞋藏起来,然后躲到灌木丛后面,等着看他找不到鞋子时会是怎样困惑的表情。”
“Myyoungfriend,”answeredtheprofessor,“weshouldneveramuse2ourselvesattheexpenseofthepoor.Butyouarerich,andmaygiveyourselfamuchgreaterpleasurebymeansofthepoorman.Putacoinintoeachshoe,andthenwewillhideourselvesandwatchhowthediscoveryaffectshim.”
“年轻的朋友,”教授答道,“我们永远不该以损害穷人为代价,来换取自己的快乐。如果你富有,就应该去帮助穷人,那样会让你获得更大的快乐。我们在每只鞋里各放一枚硬币,然后躲起来看他对这一意外发现有何反应。”
Thestudentdidso,andtheybothplacedthemselvesbehindthebushescloseby.
学生按教授说的做了,然后他们躲到附近的灌木丛中。
Thepoormansoonfinishedhiswork,andcameacrossthefieldtothepathwherehehadlefthiscoatandshoes.Whileputtingonhiscoatheslippedhisfootintooneofhisshoes;butfeelingsomethinghard,hestoopeddown3tofeelwhatitwas,andfoundthecoin.
很快,那个穷人劳动结束了,他从田地走出来,来到放外套和鞋子的小路上。他边穿外套,边把一只脚伸到鞋子里,感觉到鞋里有硬东西,他便弯下腰摸摸看是什么东西,结果他摸到了那枚硬币。
Astonishment4andwonderwereseenuponhiscountenance.Hegazedupon5thecoin,turneditround,andlookedatitagainandagain.Hethenlookedaroundhimonallsides,butnopersonwastobeseen.Henowputthemoneyintohispocket,andproceededtoputontheothershoe;buthissurprisewasdoubledonfindingtheothercoin.
他吃惊地看着那枚硬币,翻转过去又看了看。然后,他扫视了一下周围,一个人影都看不到。他把这枚硬币装进口袋,又去穿另一只鞋。结果又发现了另一枚硬币,他更惊讶了。
Hisfeelingsovercamehim;hefelluponhisknees,lookeduptoheavenandutteredaloudafervent6thanksgiving,inwhichhespokeofhiswife,sickandhelpless,andhischildrenwithoutbread,whomthetimelybounty7,fromsomeunknownhand,wouldsavefromperishing.
他感动极了,双膝跪地,仰望上苍,大声地表达着自己的感激之情,正是陌生人的解囊相助使他患病无助的妻子和食不果腹的孩子有了新的希望。
Thestudentstoodtheredeeplyaffected,andhiseyesfilledwithtears.“Now,”saidtheprofessor,“areyounotmuchbetterpleasedthanifyouhadplayedyourintendedtrick?”
那个学生被深深地感动了,他的眼里饱含着泪水。“喏,”教授说,“这难道不比搞恶作剧更令你快乐吗?”
Theyouthreplied,“YouhavetaughtmealessonwhichIwillneverforget.Ifeelnowthetruthofthosewords,whichIneverunderstoodbefore:‘Itismoreblessed8togivethantoreceive.’”
年轻人答道:“您给我上的这堂课我将永生难忘。现在我终于明白了那句我一直都不理解的话:‘给予比接受更幸福。’” |