呼振璞
1. Once there was a king who felt humdrum in the Imperial Palace. One day,thd King took his officials to a village outside the city. He wanted to play there. 從前,有個(gè)國王在皇宮里感到很無聊。有一天,他帶著大臣來到城外的一個(gè)村子,想在那兒玩玩。
2. As soon as he came into the village,he saw a donkey pulling millstones,a small bell hung around its neck. The bell rang as the donkey went. 剛進(jìn)村,國王就看到一頭毛驢在拉磨。毛驢的脖子上掛著一個(gè)鈴鐺,那鈴鐺隨著毛驢的行走發(fā)出叮叮當(dāng)當(dāng)?shù)捻懧暋?/p>
3. The King was curious. Then he came up and asked the owner of the donkey,“Why do you hang a bell around the donkeys neck?” 國王很好奇,就上前問驢子的主人:“你為什么要在毛驢的脖子上掛個(gè)鈴鐺呢?”
4. The owner of the donkey said,“If Im not here,I can know whether the donkey is working or not by listening to the sound of the bell. If I cant hear the sound,I know the donkey is lazy.” 驢子的主人說:“如果我不在跟前時(shí),可以憑我的聽覺來判斷毛驢是否在干活。如果聽不到鈴聲,就知道毛驢是在偷懶?!?/p>
5. At this moment an official who thought himself clever shook the bell,and said,“If the donkey stands,but only moves his head and doesnt work,how do you know that?” 這時(shí),一個(gè)自作聰明的大臣晃著毛驢脖子上的鈴鐺說:“如果毛驢在那兒站著不走,光搖頭不拉磨,你能知道嗎?”
6. The farmer laughed,“Please tell me,where can I find a clever donkey like you?” The official felt too ashamed to show his face. 農(nóng)夫哈哈大笑:“請(qǐng)問,哪兒有像你這樣聰明的驢子啊?”大臣羞得無地自容。