雙語·《伊索寓言》 燒炭工和漂洗工

THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER

There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: “We shall get to know one another better that way,” he said, “and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished.” The Fuller thanked him, but replied, “I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal.”

燒炭工和漂洗工

從前，有一個(gè)燒炭工，他一個(gè)人生活，自力更生。有一個(gè)漂洗工碰巧搬到了他家附近，兩個(gè)人熟了起來，燒炭工覺得漂洗工很好相處，于是便提出建議，問他是否愿意搬到他家，兩個(gè)人同住。“這樣子我們就能夠更熟識(shí)，日常開支也能夠省掉很多。”漂洗工表示感謝，但是拒絕了他的提議。“先生，我可真不覺得那樣好。啊呀，我費(fèi)盡力氣洗干凈的東西，全都會(huì)立刻被你的煤炭弄成黑色的。”