The Story of Creation
God created the mule1) and told him,"You will be Mule,working constantly from dusk2) to dawn3),carrying heavy loads on your back.You will eat grass,and you lack intelligence.You will live for 40years."The mule answered,"To live like this for 40years is too much.Please,give me no more than 20."And it was so.
Then God created the dog and told him,"You will hold
vigilance4) over the dwellings of Man.To him you will be his greatest companion.You will eat his table scraps5) and live for25years."The dog responded,"Lord,to live 25years as a dog is too much.Please,no more than 10years."And it was so.
God then created the monkey and told him,"You are Monkey.You shall swing from tree to tree,acting like an idiot.You will be funny,and you shall live for 20years."The monkey responded,"Lord,to live 20years as the clown of the world is too much.Please,Lord,give me no more than 10years."And it was so.
Finally,God created Man and told him,"You are Man,the only
rational being that walks the earth.You will use your intelligence to have
mastery over the creatures of the world.You will
dominate6) the earth an d live for 20years."The man responded,"Lord,to be Man for only 20years is too little.Please,Lord,give me the20years the mule refused,the 15years the dog refused,and the ten years the monkey rejected."And it was so.So God made Man to live20years as a man,then marry and live 20years like a mule,working and carrying heavy loads on his back.Then,Man is to have children and live 15years as a dog,guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the
pantry7).Then,in his old age,to live 10years as a monkey,acting like a clown to amuse his grand children.
上帝造物的故事
上帝创造了骡子,对他说:"你将是骡子,从早到晚不停地干活,背上驮着沉沉的东西。你以草为食,没有智力。你将活40年。"骡子回答说:"照这样活40年可受不了。请最多让我活20年吧。"于是就这样定了。
接着,上帝创造了狗,对他说:"你将负责给人看家。你是人类最好的伙伴。你吃他的残羹剩饭,活25年。"狗回答说:"上帝,狗活25年可受不了。请最多让我活10年吧。"于是就这样定了。
上帝又创造了猴子,对他说:"你是猴子。你要在树间跳来荡去,像个傻瓜,你滑稽好笑,活20年。"猴子回答说:"上帝,人间小丑活20年可受不了。请上帝最多让我活10年吧。"于是就这样定了。
最后,上帝创造了人,对他说:"你是人,地球上惟一具有理性的生物。你将用你的聪明才智统治世间万物。你将主宰地球,活20年。"人回答说:"上帝,人只活20年太少了。请上帝把骡子拒绝的20年、狗拒绝的15年和猴子拒绝的10年都赐给我吧。"于是就这样定了。于是,上帝让人像人一样活上20年,然后结婚,像骡子一样再活20年,辛勤劳作,背上重负不堪。然后,人有了孩子,要像狗一样活上15年,守卫着自己的家,孩子吃完饭,他才去吃他们的残羹剩饭。再后,年老了,又要像猴子一样活上10年,像个小丑去哄逗孙子孙女们开心。
NOTE 注释 :
1. mule n. 骡
2. dusk n. 薄暮, 黄昏
3. dawn n. 黎明, 拂晓
4.
vigilance n. 警戒, 警惕
5. scrap n. 残余物
6.
dominate v. 支配, 占优势
7.
pantry n. 食品室; 配膳室
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