寓言故事英语：半斤八两

Tweedledum and Tweedledee半斤八两

In the past, the grandson of a prime minister was a notorious spendthrift. He squandered all the family property and couldn't even afford his own meals, so he often borrowed rice from others.

Once he borrowed another bag of rice. He carried it half- way and couldn't go any further, so he rested by the roadside. At this moment, a poor man in rags happened to pass by. He called this poor man, set the pay and let the poor man carry the rice for him.

从前，有个宰相的孙子是有名的败家子。他把家产都败光了，连饭也吃不上，常常向别人家借米。

有一次，他又借到了一袋米，背到半路上背不动了，只好在路旁歇脚。这时候，恰巧前面走来一个穷人，穿着破衣破裤。他就叫住穷人，讲好了工钱后，让穷人为他背米。

Unexpectedly, after carrying the rice for some distance, the poor man also panted and couldn't walk any further. The grandson complained:

"I am the grandson of a prime minister. It is natural that I can neither lift with my hands nor carry on my shoulder anything heavy. But you are from a poor family. Why are you also so useless?"

不料，走了一段路程，穷人也气喘吁吁，走不动了。他就埋怨说:

“我是宰相的孙子，手不能提，肩不能挑，那是常事。你是穷人出身，为什么也这样不中用呢?”

Unwilling to give in, the poor man glared and retorted:

"How can you blame me? I am not from a poor family. I am the grandson of a prime minister, too."

那人不服气，翻翻白眼说:

“你怎么能怪我，我并不是穷人出身，我也是宰相的孙子呢!”