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
上帝創(chuàng)造了騾子,對(duì)他說(shuō):“你將是騾子,從早到晚不停地干活,背上馱著沉沉的東西。你以草為食,沒(méi)有智力。你將活40年。”騾子回答說(shuō):“照這樣活40年可受不了。請(qǐng)最多讓我活20年吧。”于是就這樣定了。
接著,上帝創(chuàng)造了狗,對(duì)他說(shuō):“你將負(fù)責(zé)給人看家。你是人類(lèi)最好的伙伴。你吃他的殘羹剩飯,活25年。”狗回答說(shuō):“上帝,狗活25年可受不了。請(qǐng)最多讓我活10年吧。”于是就這樣定了。
上帝又創(chuàng)造了猴子,對(duì)他說(shuō):“你是猴子。你要在樹(shù)間跳來(lái)蕩去,像個(gè)傻瓜,你滑稽好笑,活20年。”猴子回答說(shuō):“上帝,人間小丑活20年可受不了。請(qǐng)上帝最多讓我活10年吧。”于是就這樣定了。
最后,上帝創(chuàng)造了人,對(duì)他說(shuō):“你是人,地球上惟一具有理性的生物。你將用你的聰明才智統(tǒng)治世間萬(wàn)物。你將主宰地球,活20年。”人回答說(shuō):“上帝,人只活20年太少了。請(qǐng)上帝把騾子拒絕的20年、狗拒絕的15年和猴子拒絕的10年都賜給我吧。”于是就這樣定了。于是,上帝讓人像人一樣活上20年,然后結(jié)婚,像騾子一樣再活20年,辛勤勞作,背上重負(fù)不堪。然后,人有了孩子,要像狗一樣活上15年,守衛(wèi)著自己的家,孩子吃完飯,他才去吃他們的殘羹剩飯。再后,年老了,又要像猴子一樣活上10年,像個(gè)小丑去哄逗孫子孫女們開(kāi)心。
NOTE 注釋 :
mule [mju:l] n. 騾
dusk [dQsk] n. 薄暮, 黃昏
dawn [dC:n] n. 黎明, 拂曉
vigilance [5vidVilEns] n. 警戒, 警惕
scrap [skrAp] n. 殘余物
dominate [5dCmineit] v. 支配, 占優(yōu)勢(shì)
pantry [5pAntri] n. 食品室; 配膳室