聪明的奴隶

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A long time ago there lived a poor slave whose name was Aesop. He was a small man with a large head and long arms. His face was white, but very homely. His large eyes were bright and snappy1.

When Aesop was about twenty years old his master lost a great deal of money and was obliged2 to sell his slaves. To do this, he had to take them to a large city where there was a slave market.

The city was far away, and the slaves must walk the whole distance. A number of bundles3 were made up for them to carry. Some of these bundles contained the things they would need on the road; some contained clothing; and some contained goods which the master would sell in the city.

"Choose your bundles, boys," said the master. "There is one for each of you."

Aesop at once chose the largest one. The other slaves laughed and said he was foolish. But he threw it upon his shoulders and seemed well satisfied4. The next day, the laugh was the other way. For the bundle which he had chosen had contained the food for the whole party. After all had eaten three meals from it, it was very much lighter. And before the end of the journey Aesop had nothing to carry, while the other slaves were groaning5 under their heavy loads.

"Aesop is a wise fellow," said his master. "The man who buys him must pay a high price."

A very rich man, whose name was Xanthus, came to the slave market to buy a servant. As the slaves stood before him he asked each one to tell what kind of work he could do. All were eager to be bought by Xanthus because they knew he would be a kind master. So each one boosted6 of his skill in doing some sort of labor. One was a fine gardener; another could take care of horses; a third was a good cook; a fourth could manage a household7.

"And what can you do, Aesop?" asked Xanthus.

"Nothing," he answered.

"Nothing? How is that?"

"Because, since these other slaves do everything, there is nothing left for me to perform," said Aesop.

This answer pleased the rich man so well that he bought Aesop at once, and took him to his home on the island of Samos.

In Samos the little slave soon became known for his wisdom and courage. He often amused8 his master and his master's friends by telling droll9 fables10 about birds and beasts that could talk. They saw that all these fables taught some great truth, and they wondered how Aesop could have thought of them.

Many other stories are told of this wonderful slave. His master was so much pleased with him that he gave him his freedom. Many great men were glad to call him their friend, and even kings asked his advice and were amused by his fables.

很久以前,有一个贫穷的奴隶,名叫伊索。他个子不高,但头大臂长。他的脸很白皙,但相貌平平。他的大眼睛很明亮,炯炯有神。

当伊索大约二十岁时,他的主人输了一大笔钱,被迫要卖掉奴隶。于是,他不得不把这些奴隶带到一个有奴隶交易市场的大城市去卖了。

那个城市很远,但奴隶们必须徒步走完全程。此外,他们还必须搬运许多捆行李。有的行李里装着途中需要的东西,有的装着衣服,有的装着主人欲在城市出售的商品。

“你们自己选要搬运的行李吧,”主人说,“每人都有一份。”

伊索立即选择了最大的那捆。其他奴隶都大笑,说他太蠢了。但伊索将行李一甩,挎在了肩上,看起来挺满意。第二天,其他奴隶就笑不出来了。因为伊索选的行李装着所有人需要的食物。当人们吃完一日三餐时,他的行李就轻多了。当旅程即将结束,伊索已没什么要搬的了。而其他奴隶却被重物压得喘不过气来。

“伊索是个聪明的家伙,”主人说道,“有人想买他的话,得出个高价。”

一个叫赞瑟斯的富人去了奴隶交易市场买仆人。当奴隶在他面前站好了,他问起每个奴隶都能干些什么活儿。奴隶们都巴望着赞瑟斯买自己,因为他们知道赞瑟斯会是个善良的主人。所以每个人都夸耀自己做某类劳动活儿的技能。一个说自己是个出色的花匠,另一个说自己会养马,第三个说自己是个优秀的厨师,第四个说自己能很好地掌管家务等。

“你会做些什么,伊索?”赞瑟斯问。

“什么也不会,”他回答道。

“什么也不会?怎么会呢?”

“因为,由于其他奴隶什么都会做,没什么剩下我可做的了,”伊索说道。

这个回答让富人感到很满意,于是他立即买下伊索,并将他带到了萨摩斯岛的家中。

在萨摩斯岛这个小奴隶很快因他的智慧和胆量而出了名。他经常向主人以及主人的朋友讲一些关于会说话的鸟或野兽的离奇可笑的寓言,以此逗他们笑。而他们发现这些语言也蕴含着一些深刻的道理,并想知道伊索是如何能想出来的。

在这个了不起的奴隶身上还流传着许多故事。主人对这个仆人十分满意,于是便给了伊索自由。许多大人物都乐意与伊索为友,甚至国王也征询他的意见,并被他的寓言逗笑了。

注释

①snappy adj.爽快的

②oblige vt.迫使

③bundle n.捆,束,包

④satisfied adj.感到满意的

⑤groan vi.vt.着说n.,叹息

⑥boast v.自夸,以有……而自豪

⑦household n.一家人,家庭

⑧amuse vt.使发笑,使愉快

⑨droll adj.好笑的,滑稽的,逗趣的n.小丑,小闹剧

⑩fable n.寓言,神话