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从前，有一对合伙人——布鲁因和雷纳德，他们共同拥有一块土地。这是一小块林中的空地,第一年他们在上面种黑麦。 “我们一定要公平合理地分配庄稼的收成,现在我们就要约定好。”雷纳德说，"如果你要庄稼的根部，那我就要庄稼的顶部。” 布鲁因赞同这样分配，他们一拍即合。但是收割庄稼时，雷纳德得到了所有麦粒，布鲁因只得到了麦根和一堆烂柴，他很不高兴，很不满意。但雷纳德坚持说他们当初约定好这样分配的。 "今年我收获了不少，”雷纳德说，“下一年该你收成了。你收获庄稼顶部，我只好收获庄稼根部了。” 春天来了，又到了播种的季节，雷纳德就问布鲁因今年种芜菁怎么样。 "好啊，好啊！”布鲁因说，“芜菁比黑麦好吃多了。"雷纳德也这样认为。收获的时间到了，雷纳德得到了芜菁最好吃的根部，而布鲁因只得到了芜菁的地上部分，几片叶子。布鲁因对雷纳德恨得咬牙切齿，马上断绝了与他的合作关系。 Bruin and Reynard Partners Once upon a time Bruin and Reynard owned a field in common. They had a little clearing up in the wood, and the first year they sowed rye. “Now we must share the crop as is fair and right,” said Reynard. “If you like to have the root, I’ll take the top.” Yes, Bruin was ready to do that； but when they had threshed out the crop, Reynard got all the corn, but Bruin got nothing but roots and rubbish. He did not like that at all; but Reynard said that was how they had agreed to share it. “This year I have the gain," said Reynard, “next year it will be your turn. Then you shall have the top, and I shall have to put up with the root. ’’ But when spring came, and it was time to sow, Reynard asked Bruin what he thought of turnips. “Aye, aye!” said Bruin, “that’s better food than rye,” and so Reynard thought. But when harvest time came Reynard got the roots, while Bruin got the turnip-tops. And then Bruin was so angry with Reynard that he put an end at once to his partnership with him. |
