從前,一個(gè)住在山里的人家有一座雕像,是古代的一位大師雕刻的。雕像臉朝下倒在門前,他根本沒在意。
One day there passed by his house a man from the city, a man of knowledge, and seeing the statue he inquired of the owner if he would sell it.
一天,從城里來了一位學(xué)識(shí)淵博的人,在經(jīng)過他家門前時(shí),看見了雕像,便問主人愿不愿意將它賣掉。
The owner laughed and said, "and pray who would want to buy that dull and dirty stone?"
主人笑著說:“請問是誰要買這塊又臟又硬的石頭呀?"
The man from the city said, "I will give you this piece of silver for it." And the other man was astonished and delighted.
城里人說:“我愿意給你一塊銀元買下它。“
The statue was removed to the city, upon the back of an elephant.
山里人驚訝之余,不禁喜出望外
And after many months the man from the hills visited the city, and as he walked the streets he saw a crowd before a shop, and a man with a loud voice was crying, "
雕像被一頭大象背到了城里。幾個(gè)月后,山里人迸城,當(dāng)他在大街上閑逛時(shí),看見一群入圍在一個(gè)小店前。有一個(gè)人大聲吆喝道:
Come in and behold the most beautiful, the most wonderful statue in all the world. Only two silver pieces to look upon this most marvelous work of a master. "
“進(jìn)來吧,請進(jìn)來欣賞全世界最漂亮、最神奇的雕像。只需花兩塊銀元,就可以參觀大師手下最不可思議的杰作。”
There upon the man from the hills paid two silver pieces and entered the shop to see the statue that he himself had sold for one piece of silver.
于是,山里人付了兩塊銀元進(jìn)店里參觀,發(fā)現(xiàn)這個(gè)雕像正是他以一塊銀元賣掉的那個(gè)。