12.The Miller of the Dee迪水河畔的磨坊主-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《西方老故事50篇Fifty Famous Stories Retold》

Fifty Famous Stories Retold 12.The Miller of the Dee Once upon a time there lived on the banks of the River Dee a miller,who was the happiest man in England.He was always busy from morning till night, and he was always singing as merrily as any lark.He was so cheerful that he made everybody else cheerful;and people all over the land liked to talk about his pleasant ways.At last the king heard about him. "I will go down and talk with this wonderful miller,"he said."Perhaps he can tell me how to be happy." As soon as he stepped inside of the mill,he heard the miller singing:- "I envy nobody-no,not I! For I am as happy as I can be; And nobody envies me.” "You're wrong,my friend,"said the king."You're wrong as wrong can be. I envy you;and I would gladly change places with you,if I could only be as lighthearted as you are." The miller smiled,and bowed to the king. "I am sure I could not think of changing places with you,sir,"he said. "Now tell me,"said the king,"what makes you so cheerful and glad here ·074· 西方老故事50篇 12.迪水河畔的磨坊主 ①miller[mila]n磨坊主 从前，迪水河畔有一位磨坊主，是全英格兰最快乐 的人。此人每天在磨坊里从早忙到晚，总像百灵鸟一样 ②lark [lak]n.百灵鸟 快乐地歌唱着。他不但自己快乐，还把快乐传递给其他人。 大家对此常常津津乐道，最后竟然连国王也听说了他。 “我要和这个神奇的磨坊主谈一谈。”国王说，“兴 许他能告诉我快乐的秘诀。” 国王刚走进磨坊，耳朵里就传来磨坊主的歌声： “我不美慕别人，啊，我也不妒忌别人 我如此欢乐， 也没有人会妒忌我。” “你唱得不对，我的朋友。”国王说，“你大错特错 了，我就妒忌你。如果能像你一样无忧无虑地生活，我 愿意拿王位和你交换。” 磨坊主微笑着向国王鞠了一躬。 “我怎敢和您交换王位，陛下！”磨坊主说。 “那你现在告诉我，”国王说，“是什么让你在这满 是灰尘的磨坊里也能如此快乐？我虽然贵为国王，却每 ·075· Fifty Famous Stories Retold in your dusty mill,while I,who am king,am sad and in trouble every day." The miller smiled again,and said,"I do not know why you are sad,but I can easily tell why I am glad.I earn my own bread;I love my wife and my children; I love my friends,and they love me;and I owe not a penny to any man.Why should I not be happy?For here is the River Dee,and every day it turns my mill; and the mill grinds the corn that feeds my wife,my babes,and me." "Say no more,"said the king."Stay where you are,and be happy still.But I envy you.Your dusty cap is worth more than my golden crown.Your mill does more for you than my kingdom can do for me.If there were more such men as you,what a good place this world would be!Goodbye,my friend!" The king turned about,and walked sadly away;and the miller went back to his work singing:- "Oh,I'm as happy as happy can be, For I live by the side of the River Dee!" ·076· 西方老故事50篇 天都在为烦恼忧愁而苦恼。” 磨坊主又笑了起来，说：“也许我不懂得您为什么 而忧愁，可我快乐的诀窍说起来却十分简单。我靠自己 的双手养家糊口，爱自己的妻子和孩子，爱我的朋友， 他们也爱我，我不欠别人一分钱。我为什么还要不快乐 呢？在这里，每天迪水河水让机器转动，机器磨出来的 ①grind[graind]v.磨碎 粮食养活了我和我的家人。” “不要再说了。”国王说，“你继续在这里快乐吧！ 我羡慕你，你的帽子上虽然沾满了灰尘，可是它比我的 金冠更宝贵，磨坊给予你的，整个王国也给不了我。如 果有更多像你这样的人，这个世界将会变成一片乐土。 再见了，我的朋友！” 说完，国王转过身失望地离去了。磨坊主又开始一 边工作一边歌唱： “啊！我是多么快乐呀」 因为我住在迪水河畔！” ·077·