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一天，国王阿克巴问伯巴尔，如果在公正和一个金币之间选择，他会选哪一样。 “金币。"伯巴勒说道。 阿克巴大吃一惊。 “你选择金币而不选公正？"国王感到难以置信。 “是的。”伯巴尔说道。 其他大臣听他说出这么愚蠢的话都感觉很吃惊。几年来他们费尽心机让国王不再信任他，但都没有成功，现在他自毁形象！他们不敢相信机会来了。 "即使最低等的仆人这样讲，我也会感觉灰心失望的，”国王继续说道，“但是从你嘴里说出来，真是……真是让人太吃惊——太难过了。我不知道你竟然这么鄙俗!” “一个人缺什么就会需要什么，陛下！”伯巴尔平静地回答， "你已经注意到了，在我们国家里每个人都得到了公正,所以我已经拥有了公正。我经常缺钱，所以我说我会选金币。" 国王听了伯巴尔的回答转怒为喜，给了他不止一个金币，而是一千个金币。 BirbaFs Choice One day Emperor Akbar asked Birbal what he would choose if he were given a choice between justice and a gold coin. "The gold coin,” said Birbal. Akbar was taken aback. "You would prefer a gold coin to justice?” he asked, incredulously. "Yes,” said Birbal. The other courtiers were amazed by Birbal，s display of idiocy. For years they had been trying to discredit Birbal in the emperor' s eyes but without success and now the man had gone and done it himself! They could not believe their good fortune. “I would have been dismayed if even the lowliest of my servants had said this," continued the emperor. “But coming from you it’s... it’s shocking — and sad. I did not know you were so debased!” "One asks for what one does not have, Your Majesty!" said Birbal, quietly. "You have seen to it that in our country justice is available to everybody. So as justice is already available to me and as I’m always short of money I said I would choose the gold coin. ’’ The emperor was so pleased with Birbal，s reply that he gave him not one but a |
