幾個(gè)人合作開(kāi)了一家店,做著誠(chéng)實(shí)守信的買賣,賺了一筆小錢。此時(shí),賬目都結(jié)算好了,每個(gè)人都估算著各自的收益。
For few is sharing up an undiluted pleasure, and while the argument gets higher still and higher, an eighbour rushes in and bellows,“House on fire.”
由于在分紅上有了分歧,他們的爭(zhēng)吵聲越來(lái)越大,這時(shí),一個(gè)鄰居沖進(jìn)來(lái)嚷道:“房子著火了!”
“Make haste, make haste, and save the house and stores!”cries partner Brown,“Come out of doors! The accounts at present we can leave.”
“快,快,搶救房子和貨物!”一個(gè)合伙人吼道,“快出去!先不算這些賬了。”
“All very well, if first my hundred I receive!”John Davies shouted,“I shall not leave this house without it!”
“先不算也好,只是我要先把我的那份拿到手。”另一個(gè)喊道,“拿不到錢,我絕不走出這間屋子!”
“Two hundred’s due to me. The accounts are clear as day!”cries partner Jones.
“我應(yīng)得二百,賬目上說(shuō)得清清楚楚!”又有一個(gè)嚷著。
The rest won’t have it anyway. It’s“Why?”It’s“How?”It’s“No! You’re wrong!”
其余的合伙人也都不讓步。這個(gè)說(shuō):“為什么?”那個(gè)說(shuō):“怎么樣?”還有人說(shuō):“那不行,你錯(cuò)了!”
The fire is treated as a joke. These silly fellows keep it up so long, the fumes their angry voices choke, and they, their spoils, their broils all vanish into smoke.
所有的人都把火災(zāi)當(dāng)做兒戲。這些蠢貨沒(méi)完沒(méi)了地吵,最后,他們憤怒的聲音被濃煙所湮沒(méi)。于是,他們、他們的紅利及憤怒,都化成了灰燼。
寓意:
原本應(yīng)聯(lián)合起來(lái)對(duì)付共同危急的合伙人,卻為了一己私利而爭(zhēng)執(zhí)不休,結(jié)果,所有的當(dāng)事人都走向了毀滅?,F(xiàn)實(shí)生活中,這一類的人存在不少,因過(guò)分注重個(gè)人利益,致使團(tuán)體分裂,公司倒閉,甚至親人之間反目成仇