浮华背后14：Miser吝啬鬼
时间：2018-12-18 作者：英语课 分类：2018年NPR美国国家公共电台8月
One day, an old beggar went to the village. He knocked at the door of a rich man to beg for food. This was a big house and at the side was built a granary with a big padlock. The owner of the house was a miser 1 and he was known for never helping 2 anyone.
一天，一个老乞丐来到一个熟悉的村子里。他敲上了一个富人家的门，想跟他讨点儿东西吃。这是一座又高又大的房子，旁边有一个很大的谷仓，门上挂着一把大铁锁。这户人家的主人是个吝啬鬼，他从来不肯帮助别人。他的吝啬在方圆几百里内是出了名的。
The beggar was aware of his reputation but still pleaded, "Will you give me a bit of butter or milk?"
乞丐也知道他这种吝啬的狼藉名声，但还是乞求他：“您能不能给我一点黄油或牛奶？”
The miser said impatiently, "No! Go away at once!"
吝啬鬼不耐烦地说：“不行！快给我滚开！”
"Perhaps you can sweep out for me a bit of grain or beans," the hungry beggar continued.
“或许，您还能扫出一把麦子或黄豆呢？” 饥饿的乞丐又说道 。
"There isn't anything in my house!"
“我家里什么也没有！”
"How about a little bit of bread?" the beggar insisted. "Only a mouthful of food and I will be very grateful."
“那就请您给我一小块面包吧，”乞丐坚持道，“哪怕是给我一口饭吃，我都会对您感激不尽的。”
"Go away! I don't have bread!"
“滚开！我没有面包！”
"How about some water? I am thirsty."
“那给我一口水喝，行吗，我太渴了！”
"I don't have water."
“我没有水！”
The beggar then said sadly to him, "My friend, why are you here? You should go to some kind-hearted folk to beg for food because you are poorer than anybody else."
然后，乞丐悲哀地对这个吝啬鬼说：“我的朋友，那你还呆在这里干什么？你应该去找一些善良的人们讨些饭吃吧，因为你比谁都要穷！”
The miser in this story is really wealthy in a material sense, but he is extremely poor in a moral sense. Rich people without compassion 3 and conscience are not welcome in the society. They are likely to maintain temporary wealth but not everlasting 4 wealth. So at the same time we feed our stomach, don't forget to feed our soul.
故事中的吝啬鬼在物质方面确实是富有的，但在精神方面却是穷得可怜。没有同情心和良知的富人在社会中是不会受到欢迎的。或许他们会赢得一时的财富，但这种财富最终昙花一现，不会长久。所以，在填饱肚子的同时，一定别忘了丰实我们的心灵。
- The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
- The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
- He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
- Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
- These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
- He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。