英语沙龙：上帝造物的故事

The Story of Creation

God created the mule¹ and told him，“You will be Mule，working constantly from dusk todawn，carrying heavy loads on your back．You will eat grass，and you lack intelligence．Youwill live for ４０years．”The mule answered，“To live like this for ４０years is toomuch．Please，give me no more than ２０．”And it was so．

Then God created the dog and told him，“You will hold vigilance over the dwellings² ofMan．To him you will be his greatest companion．You will eat his table scrapsand live for２５years．”The dog responded，“Lord，to live ２５years as a dog is too much．Please，no morethan １０years．”And it was so．

God then created the monkey and told him，“You are Monkey．You shall swing from tree totree，acting like an idiot．You will be funny，and you shall live for ２０years．”The monkeyresponded，“Lord，to live ２０years as the clown of the world is too much．Please，Lord，giveme no more than １０years．”And it was so．

Finally，God created Man and told him，“You are Man，the only rational being that walks theearth．You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world．You willdominate the earth an d live for ２０years．”The man responded，“Lord，to be Man for only ２０years is too little．Please，Lord，give me the２０years the mule refused，the １５years thedog refused，and the ten years the monkey rejected．”And it was so．So God made Man to live２０years as a man，then marry and live ２０years like a mule，working and carrying heavyloads on his back．Then，Man is to have children and live １５years as a dog，guarding hishouse and eating the leftovers³ after they empty the pantry．Then，in his old age，to live １０years as a monkey，acting like a clown to amuse his grand children.

上帝造物的故事

上帝创造了骡子，对他说：“你将是骡子，从早到晚不停地干活，背上驮着沉沉的东西。你以草为食，没有智力。你将活４０年。”骡子回答说：“照这样活４０年可受不了。请最多让我活２０年吧。”于是就这样定了。

接着，上帝创造了狗，对他说：“你将负责给人看家。你是人类最好的伙伴。你吃他的残羹剩饭，活２５年。”狗回答说：“上帝，狗活２５年可受不了。请最多让我活１０年吧。”于是就这样定了。

上帝又创造了猴子，对他说：“你是猴子。你要在树间跳来荡去，像个傻瓜，你滑稽好笑，活２０年。”猴子回答说：“上帝，人间小丑活２０年可受不了。请上帝最多让我活１０年吧。”于是就这样定了。

最后，上帝创造了人，对他说：“你是人，地球上惟一具有理性的生物。你将用你的聪明才智统治世间万物。你将主宰地球，活２０年。”人回答说：“上帝，人只活２０年太少了。请上帝把骡子拒绝的２０年、狗拒绝的１５年和猴子拒绝的１０年都赐给我吧。”于是就这样定了。于是，上帝让人像人一样活上２０年，然后结婚，像骡子一样再活２０年，辛勤劳作，背上重负不堪。然后，人有了孩子，要像狗一样活上１５年，守卫着自己的家，孩子吃完饭，他才去吃他们的残羹剩饭。再后，年老了，又要像猴子一样活上１０年，像个小丑去哄逗孙子孙女们开心。

1 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

2 dwellings   

n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The development will consist of 66 dwellings and a number of offices. 新建楼区将由66栋住房和一些办公用房组成。
• The hovels which passed for dwellings are being pulled down. 过去用作住室的陋屋正在被拆除。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 leftovers   

n.剩余物，残留物，剩菜

参考例句：

• He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers.他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。
• She made supper from leftovers she had thrown together.她用吃剩的食物拼凑成一顿晚饭。