经典英语寓言故事带翻译

2016-12-01

经典英语寓言故事：四个妻子

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

从前，有个商人，他有四个老婆。他最喜欢这小老婆，因此，他常常为她买来各种衣服，把她打扮得漂漂亮亮的，真可谓百般呵护。他对她如此疼爱，总是给她最好的。

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

他也非常喜欢这第三个老婆。他常常以她为荣，总是带她出入各种社交圈子。不过，商人有个心病，总是担心有一天她会和别的男人私奔。

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante.

他也喜欢这第二个老婆。这位夫人，善解人意，富有耐心，真可谓是商人的红颜知己。

Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

每当遇到困难，商人总是找她帮忙，她也总能献出锦囊妙计，帮助商人化险为夷。

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household.

话说商人的大老婆，她对商人忠心耿耿，不论在财务管理，商务经营，还是在家务料理方面，她的功劳很大。

However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

尽管如此，商人却不喜欢她。虽然她深深爱着商人，可商人几乎一点也不知情。

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself,

有一天，商人病倒了。不久，他知道他已来日不多。想到过去的奢华生活，商人不觉暗然神伤，独自感叹道：

"Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

“如今，我有四个老婆相伴左右，可一旦我死去，她们都将离我而去，我将是多么的孤独啊!”

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showed great care over you.

于是，他首先问这小老婆道：“我最喜欢你，总是给你最好的衣服穿，也非常疼爱你

Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company " "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

如今，我将不久于人世，你愿随我而去，永不分离吗?”“没门!”小老婆斩钉截铁地回答道，然后，二话没说，扭头便走。

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.

小老婆的话象尖刀一般戳进商人的心。

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company "

商人很难过，于是又找到这第三个老婆，问她：“我一生都非常喜欢你，如今，我将要死去，你愿意随我而去，永不分离吗?”

"No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

“办不到!”她也这般回答，一边又继续说：“人世的生活多美好!如果你死了，我会重新嫁人呢。”一听此话，商人的心一下凉了半截。

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out.

于是，他又问这第二个老婆：“每次遇到困难，我总是找你帮忙，而你也总能帮我走出困境。

Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company " "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "

如今，我想再一次请求你的帮助。如果我死了，你愿意随我而去，永不分离吗?”“真抱歉，这次，我帮不了你的忙了。”

At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

她回答道，一边又继续说：“这次，顶多，我也只能送你到墓前。”夫人的话犹如晴天霹雳，商人一下子懵了。

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."

正在这时，只听得有人声嘶力竭地说：“我愿随你而去，不论你到哪里。”

The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!"

商人抬头一看，是大老婆。只见她面容憔悴，瘦骨嶙峋，似乎好多天没怎么吃东西了。见此情景，商人悲从心头起，凄惨地说：“早知今日，何必当初。”

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives

一生中，其实，我们每个人都有四个老婆相伴左右。

The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

这小老婆就是我们的肉体。不管我们如何呵护它，一旦我们死去，它就会远离我们而去。

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

这第三个老婆就是我们的财产，地位和金钱。一旦我们死去，他们就会全归别人。

The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

这第二个老婆就是我们的家人和朋友。在世时，无论彼此关系如何亲密，一旦我们死去，他们顶多也只能止步于我们的墓前。

The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

这个大老婆呢，其实就是我们的灵魂。平常，在追求物质财富，满足感官享受的同时，我们常常忽视了它们。

Guess what It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament.

纵观所述，想一想，至亲者，谁?其实，至亲者，灵魂也!如今，一个不错的主意也许就是要善待我们的灵魂，而不是等到我们弥留之际再作无谓的叹息。

经典英语寓言故事：机智的美女

One day, a beautiful woman was walking in the street when a man started following her.

有一天，一个美女在街上走着，有一个男人紧跟着她。

The beauty turned around and asked him, "Mister, why are you following me?"

美女回过头来问他：¨这位先生，你为什么跟着我?”

"I have fallen in love with you, " he said. "Your beauty is matchless! "The beauty smiled at him and said,

¨我爱上你了¨，他说，¨你真是一位绝代佳人呀!" 美女对他笑了笑说：

"My sister is not far behind. She has big bright eyes. She is more beautiful than I! "

“我的妹妹在我后面，她的眼睛又大又亮，她可要比我美十倍!"

The man promptly went the opposite way to look for her sister However, he only found a doddering old lady on the road.

这个男人马上转身跑去找她妹妹。然而，他在路上只看见一个老态龙钟的老太婆。

He spitted and went back to the young beauty.

他恶狠狠地吐了一口唾沫，转身去追那个美女。

When he had caught up with her, he asked, "Why did you cheat me? "

男人追上了美女即问：¨你为什么要骗我?”

"Actually, mister, you are the one who has cheated me.

¨不，这位先生，是你骗我。

lf you loved me, you would not go searching for another one " The man felt embarrassed and walked away.

如果你真的爱我，就不会跑去找别的女人了l” 这个男人羞愧难当，只好走开了。

经典英语寓言故事：点不亮的蜡烛

A man had a little daughter—an only and much-loved child. He lived for her—she was his life.

一个男人有一个可爱的女儿，那是他唯一的孩子，他深深地爱着她，女儿就是他的全部。

So when she became ill, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.

因此，当女儿生病时，他像疯了一般竭尽全力想让她恢复健康。

His best efforts, however, proved unavailing and the child died.

然而，他所有的努力都无济于事，女儿还是死了。

The father became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a dream.

这位父亲从此变得痛苦遁世，避开很多朋友，拒绝参加一切能使他恢复平静、回到自我的活动。但在一天夜里，他做了一个梦。

He was in heaven, witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in a line passing by the Great White Throne.

梦里他到了天堂，目睹了小天使们的盛会。小天使们排成一队经过一个白色的大宝座。所有的小天使都身穿白色天使衣，手里拿着一支蜡烛。

Every white-robed angelic child carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl.

他注意到有一个小天使的蜡烛没有点亮。随后，他认出那个拿着没有点亮的蜡烛的小天使竟然是自己的女儿。

Rushing to her, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked,“How is it, darling, that your candle alone is unlighted?”“Daddy, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out.”

他狂奔过去，一把将女儿抱在怀里，亲切地爱抚着她，然后问道：“宝贝儿，为什么只有你的蜡烛没有点亮呢?”“爸爸，他们经常重新帮我点亮蜡烛，可总是让你的眼泪给熄灭。”

Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate.

就在这时，他猛地惊醒了过来。这个梦给他上了一课，这一课像水晶般透明，而且有立竿见影的效果。

From that hour on he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears.

从那时起，他不再消极遁世，而是自由自在、兴高采烈地回到以前的朋友和同事中间。而宝贝女儿的蜡烛再也没有被他那无用的眼泪熄灭过。

经典英语寓言故事：天使的故事

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guestroom.

两个旅行中的天使到一个富有的家庭借宿。这家人对他们并不友好，并且拒绝让他们在舒适的客人卧室过夜，

Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

而是在冰冷的地下室给他们找了一个角落。当他们铺床时，较老的天使发现墙上有一个洞，就顺手把它修补好了。

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "things aren't always what they seem."

年轻的天使问为什么，老天使答到：“有些事并不象它看上去那样。”

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

第二晚，两人又到了一个非常贫穷的农家借宿。

After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

主人夫妇俩对他们非常热情，把仅有的一点点食物拿出来款待客人，然后又让出自己的床铺给两个天使。

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

第二天一早，两个天使发现农夫和他的妻子在哭泣--他们唯一的生活来源，一头奶牛死了。

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

年轻的天使非常愤怒，他质问老天使为什么会这样，第一个家庭什么都有，老天使还帮助他们修补墙洞，第二个家庭尽管如此贫穷还是热情款待客人，而老天使却没有阻止奶牛的死亡。

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "when we stayed in the basement of the mansion, i noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.

“有些事并不象它看上去那样。”老天使答道，“当我们在地下室过夜时，我从墙洞看到墙里面堆满了金块。

Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, i sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

因为主人被贪欲所迷惑，不愿意分享他的财富，所以我把墙洞填上了，他也就再也找不到这些黄金了。

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

“昨天晚上，死亡之神来召唤农夫的妻子，我让奶牛代替了她。所以有些事并不象它看上去那样。”

经典英语寓言故事：北风和太阳

The North Wind and the Sun disputed as to which was the most powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could strip a wayfaring man of his clothes.

北风和太阳为谁的威力更大而争执不下。它们一致同意，谁若是能够让过路人脱下衣服谁就是胜利者。

The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the North Wind called upon the Sun to see what he could do.

北风首先一显身手，用劲全力刮了起来，可是，它刮得越猛裂，过路人把斗蓬裹得越紧，最后只得放弃了获胜的希望。于是，北风只好请太阳一试身手。

The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.

太阳突然释放出它全部的温暖。过路人感受到了它亲切的光芒，一件一件地脱掉衣服，最后终于抵挡不住炎热，脱光衣服，到路边的小溪里游泳去了。

"I think that proves who is strongest," said the Sun. But the North Wind had crept away to hide.

太阳说：“我想，这足以证明谁更强大了吧。”此时，风早已悄悄地溜走，藏了起来。