精美英文欣赏:如何看待财富

编者按:

爱惜财富，是对自己劳动的尊重；如果把财产看得终于一切，高于一切，那就是让财产占有了自己。当一个人，被财产占有时，他就没有了世人的情感和爱心，没有了由爱而来的幸福。人们只会说：看，这个有钱人真可怜。 

One day, an old beggar went to the village. He knocked at the door of a rich man to beg for food. This was a big house and at the side was built a granary with a big padlock.

The owner of the house was a miser¹ and he was known for never helping² anyone. The beggar was aware of his reputation but still pleaded, "Will you give me a bit of butter or milk?"

The miser said impatiently, "No! Go away at once!" 

"Perhaps you can sweep out for me a bit of grain or beans," the hungry beggar continued. 

"There isn't anything in my house!"

"How about a little bit of bread?" the beggar insisted. "Only a mouthful of food and I will be very grateful."

"Go away! I don't have bread!"

"How about some water? I am thirsty."

"I don't have water."

The beggar then said sadly to him, "My friend, why are you here? You should go to some kind-hearted folk to beg for food because you are poorer than anybody else." 

The miser in this story is really wealthy in a material sense, but he is extremely poor in a moral sense. Rich people without compassion³ and conscience are not welcome in the society. They are likely to maintain temporary wealth but not everlasting⁴ wealth. So at the same time we feed our stomach, don't forget to feed our soul.

乞丐和吝啬鬼

一天，一个老乞丐来到一个熟悉的村子里。他敲上了一个富人家的门，想跟他讨点儿东西吃。 

这是一座又高又大的房子，旁边有一个很大的谷仓，门上挂着一把大铁锁。这户人家的主人是个吝啬鬼，他从来不肯帮助别人。他的吝啬在方圆几百里内是出了名的。 

乞丐也知道他这种吝啬的狼藉名声，但还是乞求他：“您能不能给我一点黄油或牛奶？” 

吝啬鬼不耐烦地说：“不行！快给我滚开！” 

“或许，您还能扫出一把麦子或黄豆呢？” 饥饿的乞丐又说道 。 

“我家里什么也没有！” 

“那就请您给我一小块面包吧，”乞丐坚持道，“哪怕是给我一口饭吃，我都会对您感激不尽的。” 

“滚开！我没有面包！” 

“那给我一口水喝，行吗，我太渴了！” 

“我没有水！” 

然后，乞丐悲哀地对这个吝啬鬼说：“我的朋友，那你还呆在这里干什么？你应该去找一些善良的人们讨些饭吃吧，因为你比谁都要穷！” 

故事中的吝啬鬼在物质方面确实是富有的，但在精神方面却是穷得可怜。没有同情心和良知的富人在社会中是不会受到欢迎的。或许他们会赢得一时的财富，但这种财富最终昙花一现，不会长久。所以，在填饱肚子的同时，一定别忘了丰实我们的心灵。

1 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

4 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。