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有个旅客想到城里去，可是路途太遥远了，他想租一只驴来代步。 刚好，有个人愿意将驴出租给他。旅客也同意驴主提出的租费。 驴主对旅客说：“我的驴很懒，我必须时时刻刻拿着棍子在它身旁赶着，它才肯走。否则，它走五步，停三步，误了你的时间就不好。所以，我建议跟你一块走，你骑在驴背上，由我在后赶它。到了城里，我又可骑着它回来。” 双方都同意了。然后他们开始上路。 太阳高挂。旅客骑驴，驴主赶驴，一路相安无事。 到了中午，由于太热了，他们都想停下来休息一会儿。 旅客下了驴，坐在驴子的影子里，躲避阳光。 “噢，不行，”驴主说，“这是我的驴子，所以它的影子只可遮我一个人。” “可是这驴子是我租下的啊！ ”旅客说，“所以我才有权利坐在它的影子里。” 驴主却说：“没错，驴子是你租下，可是你没有租下它的影子！这影子还是属于我的！ ” 二人争论不休，甚至大打出手。他们纠缠在一起互相殴斗，完全不理会身在尘土飞扬的路上、烈日当空的正午时分。 他们争了好久，驴感到厌烦了。它静静地吃了一些草。不久，驴见他们还在继续争论，便自个儿跑掉 了。 驴子越跑越远，终于离开了旅客和主人的视线。 现在，它的影子不属于任何人，只有它和自己的影子一同上路。 故事哲理： 因为争论，让驴子跑掉了。主人损失了驴子，旅客則要走路，二人都损失惨重。为什么不用协商的方式，二人轮流共享影子呢？为了争夺一时对自己有利的东西，却忽略了更重要的东西，这就是自私的害处了！ The Donkey and His Shadow A traveller wanted to hire a donkey to go to town which was quite a distance away. It so happened that someone was willing to hire out a donkey, and the trav-eller agreed to the offer. The owner of the donkey said to the traveller, This animal is very lazy. I have to rush it with a stick all the time to make sure it moves. I suggest that we go together. You can ride on the donkey’s back while I fol-low behind. When we arrive at the town, I can ride it home.” Both parties agreed to the arrangement and they started off on the journey. The weather was hot but the plan went well with the traveller riding on the donkey and owner himself following behind. At noon, they couldn’t stand the heat anymore, so they decided to stop and have a rest. The traveller alighted from the donkey and sat in its shadow to stay away from the sunlight. “Oh，no，，’ said the owner, “this is my donkey. You are not allowed to sit in its shadow.” “But I hired it from you，” argued the traveller, “so I deserve the right to sit in its shadow•” The owner said, “You hired the donkey all right, but you did not hire its shadow! The shadow belongs to me!” Both men ended up quarrelling at the dusty road under the scorching heat of high noon. Bored by their fight, the donkey ate some grass and then ran off, leav-ing the two men behind. Making a fair deal could save both sides from Being losers. |
