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战争期间,有位士兵对自己的战马悉心照料，给它吃最好的燕麦，喝最干净的水。马身上湿了，他就给它擦干;在寒冷的冬夜,他给它盖上温暖的毯子。因此,这匹马很健壮,跑得很快,屡屡驮着自己的主人安全脱险 战争结束了，士兵却把马拉到长满蓟的野地里，只给它一点儿发霉的干草吃。马厩是间破旧不堪的茅草屋，屋顶是漏的，地是泥土地，只有篱笆下的小沟里才有水。白天，士兵让马在农场里干重活，又是驮木头，又是拉重的货车。 过了一段时间，战争又爆发了。士兵拿出沉重的胸铠和靴子，拿上手枪，戴上头盔，去野地里牵马。他匆匆地刷了刷马身上的蓟，放上皮马鞍,往长癣的马耳朵上套上笼头,跨上了马背。 可过了很大一会儿,马还是站在原地一动不动,随后慢慢地倒在了地上。接着，马用责备的目光看着士兵。 它说道：“主人啊！你这回得徒步去打仗了。自上次战争结束以来，你让我像骡子那样干活儿，却像喂山羊那样喂我。我不可能再如你所期望的，在一瞬间变成一匹强壮的战马了。” 人应以诚信为本，待人接物要从—而终，不可像这位士兵对待自己的战马那样因时、因事而异。 The Soldier and His Horse During the wars a soldier looked after his horse with the greatest care. He gave it the best oats to eat and the clearest water to drink. He rubbed it down when it got wet and covered it with a warm blanket on cold winter nights. As a result, the horse was strong and swift and carried its master safely out of the dangers of war. When peace came, however, the soldier changed. He put the horse out in a field full of thistles and gave it only a little moulds hay to eat. The stable was a broken- down hut with a leaking roof and a floor made of mud. The only water was in a ditch under the hedge. During the day the soldier made the horse work hard on his farm, carrying loads of wood and pulling heavy wagons. After some time war broke out again. The soldier took out his heavy breastplate and boots，strapped on his pistols and helmet and went to the field to catch his horse. Hastily brushing the thistles from its coat，he laid the leather saddle on its back， pulled the bridle over its mangy ears and heaved himself up. For a moment the horse stood motionless. Then gradually its thin legs began to bend and it sank slowly to the ground. The horse gave the soldier a look of reproach. “Master,’’it said，“You，11 have to fight on foot this time. You have made me work like a mule and fed me like a goat. I cannot change back into a horse in an instant just because you want me to. ” |
