155、英語小故事(英漢對照)“漏水的罐子”

正文

A water bearer(搬運工) in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

印度有個挑水工,他有兩個大罐子。他肩扛一根扁擔,扁擔兩端各掛著一個罐子。其中一個罐子裂了條縫,另一個完好無損,能裝滿滿一罐水。

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house.

挑水工從小溪走到主人家得走很長一段路。等到家的時候,破罐子里的水能漏半罐。 足足有兩年,每天挑水工只能往主人家挑回一罐半的水。

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable(痛苦的) that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

當然了,沒有裂縫的罐子對自己的成績感到很驕傲,覺得自己是個稱職的罐子??墒瞧频舻墓拮訁s因為自己不完美而感到慚愧,它覺得自己只能完成一半的使命,痛苦萬分。

After two years of what it perceived(認為) to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

兩年來它一直覺得自己是個辛酸的失敗者,終于有一天在小溪邊,它對挑水工說:“我都為自己感到難為情,我要向你道歉?!?“為什么呀?”挑水工問,“你有什么可難為情的?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws(缺陷), you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

“過去這兩年里,因為我的邊上有個口子,回主人家的路上,我的水能漏一路,我只能裝半罐水回去。因為我有瑕疵,卻讓你受這份罪,不值啊?!逼乒拮诱f。

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

挑水工覺得這個又舊又破的罐子很可憐,心生憐憫地對它說:“咱們回主人家的路上,我要讓你看看路邊的美麗花朵?!?/p>

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

其實,他們爬坡的時候,這個罐子就注意到了路邊的野花沐浴在陽光里,嬌艷動人,這讓它稍稍打起了精神??墒亲咄耆痰臅r候,它又難過起來,因為它又漏了半罐水,于是它再次因為自己的失敗向挑水工道歉。

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

挑水工對它說:“你注意到了嗎?一路上只有你在的這一邊有花,那個罐子的一邊卻沒有?這是因為我早就知道你有瑕疵,故意利用了你的這個特點。我在你這邊種下花種,每天我們從小溪走回來的路上,是你澆灌了它們。

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

兩年來,我總能摘到漂亮的花裝飾主人的餐桌。要不是因為你就是你,主人家也不會如此美麗啦?!?/p>

劣勢若得巧妙利用,也會帶來驚喜收獲。

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