英語寓言故事：有裂痕的罐子
摘要：我早就注意到了你的裂縫，我就是利用這一點，在你這側的路邊種上花籽。每天，我們從小溪回來時，你就給它們澆了水。這兩年，我就採這些漂亮的花朵來裝點僱主的桌子。
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carriedacross his neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a fullportion of water.
印度有一個挑水工，他有兩個大罐子，分別掛在肩上的扁擔兩頭。
其中一個罐子做工精細，從不漏水，另一個上面則有一道裂縫。
有裂痕的罐子
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrivedonly half full.
每當挑水工回到僱主家時，罐子裏的水就只剩一半了。
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full ofwater to his master's house.
這樣過了整整兩年，這個挑水工每天挑到僱主家的水僅有一罐半。
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which itwas made.
當然，那個完好的罐子爲自己的成就甚感自豪。
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it wasable to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
而那個可憐的有裂縫的罐子卻因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已，爲自己只能裝一半水而痛苦不堪。
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one dayby the stream.
痛苦了兩年後，一天，那個有裂縫的罐子在小溪邊對挑水工說：
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
“我很慚愧，想向你道歉。”
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
“爲什麼?”挑水工問，“你羞愧什麼呢?”
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack inmy side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.
“爲這兩年來只能讓你挑回一半的水。因爲我身上的這個裂縫，每次你回僱主家的路上，水都在漏，到家時就只剩下半罐了。
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from yourefforts," the pot said.
正是我的裂縫，你不得不多挑幾次水，這樣就浪費了你的部分勞動價值。”罐子說道。
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said,
挑水工對這個有裂痕的舊罐子感到很抱歉，他同情地說道：
"As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
“當我們返回僱主家時，我希望你能留心路旁那些美麗的花朵。”
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming thebeautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
的確如此，當他們上山時，這個有裂縫的舊罐子注意到了路旁的野花，它們沐浴在陽光中非常漂亮。
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again itapologized to the bearer for its failure.
它感到了一絲快樂，但到僱主家時，它又爲自己漏了一半水而難過起來，於是，它再次爲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 yourpath, but not on the other pot's side?
挑水工對罐子說：“你注意到了嗎?你這邊沿路都有花，而另一邊就沒有?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.
我早就注意到了你的裂縫，我就是利用這一點，在你這側的路邊種上花籽。
I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from thestream, you've watered them.
每天，我們從小溪回來時，你就給它們澆了水。
For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.
這兩年，我就採這些漂亮的花朵來裝點僱主的桌子。
Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
倘若你不漏水，他就沒有這麼美麗的鮮花來裝飾屋子了。”
在沙漠中的小花
This happened many many summers ago.
這個故事發生在很多很多個夏天以前。
There was a young flower in the desert where all was dry and sad was growing ying every day...
在一個周圍充滿着乾燥與衰落景象的沙漠中，有一朵小花正綻放着……她孤單地生長着……快樂地過着每一天……
and saying to the sun "When shall I be grown up"? And the sun would say "Be patient"---Eachtime I touch you, you grow a little"...
太陽回答說：“不要着急——我的光芒每接觸你一次，你就會長大一點兒……”她對太陽說：“我什麼時候才能長大呀?”
And she was so pleased. Because she would have a chance to bring beauty to this corner ofsand...
小花聽了非常高興。因爲她有機會爲這片沙漠增添一處絢麗的景色了……
And this is all she wanted to do---bring a little bit of beauty to this world.
這就是她夢寐以求的——爲這個世界帶來一點兒美麗。
One day the hunter came by---and stepped on her.---
一天，一個獵人經過這裏——並從她身上踏了過去。——
She was going to die---and she felt so sad. Not because she was dying ---but because shewould not have a chance to bring a little bit of beauty to this corner of the desert.
她即將死了——她感到十分悲傷。她悲傷的原因，並不是因爲她將要死去，而是因爲她再也沒有機會爲這片沙漠增添一處絢麗的景色了。
The great spirit saw her, and was listening.---Indeed, he said should be hereached down and touched her---and gave her life.
一個偉大的精靈看到了她，並聽到了她的哭訴。——事實上，他說……她應該活下去……於是，他來到沙漠上撫摸着她，並賦予了她生命。
And she grew up to be a beautiful this corner of the desert became so beautifulbecause of her.
後來，她終於長大成了一朵美麗的花兒……這片沙漠也因她的存在而變得格外美麗。
