伊索寓言 14父親、兒子和他們的驢子 The Father, His Son, and their Donkey
A Father and his Son are going to the market to sell their Donkey. On the way, two girls walk behind them.
Silly: Look there, Susan! How foolish they are!
Susan: What do you mean?
Silly: It’s a hot day, right?
Susan: Yes, it’s very hot.
Silly: Well then, why are they walking? They have a Donkey. Why don’t they ride it?
Susan: Hey, you’re right. They are very foolish. Ha, ha, ha!
The two girls keep laughing. The Father hears the two girls. He thinks they are right. He puts his Son on the Donkey.
Father: It’s a hot day today, Son. You must be tired. Get on the Donkey. Ride it to the market.
Son: Thank you, Father. But, how about you?
Father: I’m fine, Son. Don’t worry about me. Let’s just hurry. We’ll be late.
The Father and the Son go only a few meters. They pass by a group of old men who are resting under the shade.
Old man1: Everyone, look there! The Father is walking. And the Son is riding on the Donkey.
Old man2: What an ungrateful Son!
Old man 3: Young people, these days… They don’t respect the elderly.
Old man1: Poor man. Look at him sweat. He looks tired.
Old man2: Why is the Son riding the Donkey? He is young. He should walk.
Old man3: He must be a bad Son.
The Father hears the old men. He thinks they are right. He tells his Son to get off the Donkey.
Father: Get off, Son. It’s my turn. I’ll ride the Donkey now.
Son: Yes, Father. You must be tired.
Father: Let’s go, Son.
Now the Father is riding the Donkey. Then a Mother with her child sees them.
Mother: Tsk, tsk. What a terrible Father! He rides the Donkey. And his little Son walks. The poor boy looks tired. He is also sweating. The man must be a bad Father. Tsk, tsk.
The Father hears this. He thinks she is right. He tells his Son to climb up on the Donkey with him.
Father: Son, come up here with me. You must be tired, too. Let’s ride the Donkey together.
Son: That’s okay, Father. I don’t mind walking.
Father: Just get on, Son. People will think I am a bad Father.
Son: Okay, Father, if you insist.
The Son gets on the Donkey behind his Father.
Father: Come on, Donkey. Giddy up, giddy up. Let’s go faster. We are late.
The two pass by a field. A Farmer sees them.
Farmer: Look at that poor Donkey! It looks so pale. How selfish those two are! They have strong legs. Why don’t they just walk? They should be ashamed.
Father: He is right, Son. The Donkey does look pale. We were too selfish. Let’s carry the Donkey from here, Son.
The Father and Son tie the Donkey’s legs to a pole and carry it together on their shoulders.
Father: Let’s cross that bridge quickly. The market is right across the river, Son.
Son: Yes, Father. But this Donkey is getting heavy. And I am getting tired.
As they cross the bridge, people on the other side of the bridge see the Father, the Son, and the Donkey. They start laughing.
Man: Look over there!
Woman: Why are they carrying the Donkey?
Man: Who knows? But it looks silly.
Woman: You’re right. It really does look silly. Ha, ha, ha!!!(loud laughter)
The Donkey gets frightened by their loud laughter. The Donkey tries to free himself.
Donkey: Hee-haw! Hee-haw!
Father: Stay still, Donkey!!! We are almost there!
Son: I can’t hold on any longer, Father! The Donkey is too strong!
Just then…(Hee-haw! Hee-haw!) The Donkey falls into the water.
Father: Oh no! He fell in! Jump in and get him, Son!
Son: But Father, the water is too deep! And I can’t swim!
Father: Look!Look! It’s drifting away! Poor Donkey!
Son: What are we going to sell now, Father?
MORAL
You can’t please everyone.
