雙語散文:快樂
【英文原文】
I am in desperate need of help -- or I'll go crazy. We're living in a single room -- my wife, my children and my in-laws. So our nerves are on edge, we yell and scream at one another. The room is a hell."
"Do you.promise to do whatever I tell you?" said the Master gravely.
"I swear I shall do anything."
"Very well. How many animals do you have?"
"A cow, a goat and six chickens."
"Take them all into the room with you. Then come back after a week."
The disciple was appalled. But he had promised to obey! So he took the animals in. A week later he came back, a pitiable figure, moaning, "I'm a nervous wreck. The dirt! The stench! The noise! We're all on the verge of madness!"
"Go back," said the Master, "and put the animals out."
The man ran all the way home. And came back the following day, his eyes sparkling with joy. "How sweet life is! The animals are out. The home is a Paradise, so quiet and clean and roomy!"
【中文譯文】
快樂
我急需幫助，否則我會發瘋。我們住在一間房子裏 —— 妻子、孩子和親戚們。因此，我們神經緊繃，衝着彼此喊叫。房子簡直是個地獄。
“你答應按我說的做嗎？”主鄭重地說。
“我發誓去做任何事情。”
“好極了。你養了多少家畜？”
“一頭牛、一隻羊和六隻雞。”
“把它們全帶到房間去。一週後再來找我。”
門徒大吃一驚。但是，他已經承諾服從！所以，他把牲畜們牽進屋。一週後，他回來時，神情悽楚，不停抱怨，“我要神經崩潰了。污穢！惡臭！噪音！我們就要瘋了！”
“回去，”主說“把動物牽出去。”
男人一路跑回家。第二天回來時，他的眼裏閃耀着喜悅。“生活多麼美妙！動物們都離開了。家成了天堂，如此安寧、乾淨、寬敞！”
