英语美文：The Beggar and the Miser

 One day, an old beggar went to the village. He knocked at the door of a rich man to beg for food.

    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。

    This was a big house and at the side was built a granary with a big padlock.

    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。

    The owner of the house was a miser¹ and he was known for never helping² anyone. 

    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！”。”

乞丐和吝啬鬼The Beggar and the Miser寓意：

   小故事的寓意很多，从每个人的角度看有不同的寓意。欢迎大家自己发挥留下你的观点，寓教自己，启迪他人。

    The miser in this story is really wealthy in a material sense, but he is extremely poor in a moral sense. Rich people without compassion³ and conscience are not welcome in the society. They are likely to maintain temporary wealth but not everlasting⁴ 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。

1 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• 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。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• 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。

3 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• 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。

4 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• 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。