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故事说的是一个听风就是雨的洗衣工。他没有儿女，这令他备受折磨，他总觉得生活缺了点儿什么。一天，为了送衣服，他去镇长家。正听到镇长责备他的一个门生说道：“不久前，你还是只蠢驴，现在我让你成人了。"洗衣工等不及镇长说完，就飞快地跑回家。他告诉妻子他的发现，觉得应该立刻着手了。‘‘亲爱的，’’他说道，"镇长能把驴变成人。我们干吗还为要孩子烦恼？只要把咱家驴牵去，求求镇长，让他变出一个孩子不就行了。”刚说完没多久,夫妻俩就牵着驴上路了，准备去镇长家。 洗衣工夫妻俩几乎磨破了嘴皮，狡猾的镇长看到有利可图就答应了他们的请求,保证说一年后把他们的驴变成人。而洗衣工为了表示酬谢，愿意在这期间无偿为镇长劳动。 夫妻俩在等待和喜悦的期盼中度过了一年。 约好的那天终于来了，洗衣工和妻子去找镇长。 镇长把他们带到一边，指着他的门生中的一个壮年轻人。"在那，"他小声对洗衣工说，“那就是你的驴。看到了吧，他变成人了。这会儿你去劝劝他，把他带回家吧。”夫妻俩飞奔向他们新变出来的儿子。他们费尽唇舌，准备先给儿子个拥抱，再进一步拉近关系。那个年轻人看到两个粗俗的人莫名其妙的举动，不禁惊讶万分。他开始躲着他们，但夫妻俩锲而不舍，终于把他惹火了。 年轻人拂袖而去，洗衣工的妻子却想出了个好主意。她转头对她丈夫说:“你去把栓他的木桩、绳子和粮食袋拿来，可能会帮他记起来以前他是谁。”洗衣工马不停蹄赶回家，把这些东西都拿来了。但是好像让情况更糟了。他把这些东西一样一样拿到年轻人眼前给他看，用最循循善诱的口吻说道：“回家吧，儿子。难道你忘了你原来是我的驴子？这是我以前拴你的木桩，这是绳子。这是你的饭袋。回家吧！"这时，越来越多的人来围观，都嘲笑这个年轻人，这让他怒不可遏。于是他回过身来，狠狠地给了洗衣工一顿好揍，可怜的洗衣工从来没受过这份儿罪。他只好回家去,这下总算相信命中注定没有子女是没办法的事儿。这次的教训算是对他轻信他人的惩罚。 The Washerman and the Donkey A story is told of an over-credulous washerman who was childless. This preyed upon his mind very much and was a permanent cause of unhappiness. One day, in the course of his work, he went to the house of the town kazi (or magistrate). He heard the kazi reproaching one of his pupils in this wise, “Not long ago you were a jackass； I made a man of you。” The washer-man did not wait to hear the rest. He hastened home with all speed and told his wife that he had made a discovery which they were to lose no time in utilizing. “The kazi, my dear,” said the washerman, “can make a man of a donkey. Why should we fret any longer for a child? Let us take our donkey to him and beg of him to transform him. ’’ The washerman and his wife, with their donkey, were shortly after this conversation on their way to the kazi. Their mission being explained with many supplications, the kazi, quick-sighted, and with an eye to business，accepted the charge, and promised to effect the metamorphosis in a year. The washerman on his part promised to give his services free for that period. A year passed in waiting and in happy hopes. On the appointed day the washerman and his companion presented themselves before the kazi. The kazi took them aside and pointed out a strong young man among his pupils. “There,” he whispered to the washerman, “is your donkey. You see the change, Now persuade him and take him home.” The washerman and his wife flew to their newly created son, and with many endearing terms prepared to embrace him and made other affectionate advances. Amazed at this unaccountable conduct of these low people, the lad resisted at first, but as they persisted, he grew furious. After receiving many a cuff from the lad, a happy idea struck the washerman's wife. She turned to her husband said, “Go you and fetch his peg, rope, and grain-bag； per¬haps they may remind him of what he was once. ” The washerman in hot haste went home and fetched them. But it seemed to make matters worse. The washerman held up each of these articles to the young man's view, and said, in the most persuasive tone he could command, “come home, my son. Do you forget the day you were my donkey? This was the peg to which I would tether you, this your tether rope, and this your food- bag；come to your home!，，By this time a jeering crowd had gathered round the young man, and this so infuriated him that he turned to and gave the washerman the soundest thrashing he had ever received in his life. The washerman went home thoroughly con¬vinced that what fate had ordained it was useless to fight against, looking upon his pun¬ishment as a just return for his presumption. |
