Jehdi and Hassan were two merchants who were very close friends. Jehdi was a cheerful person, whereas Hassan was very serious, perhaps too cautious and careful. But an unbreakable bond of friendship tied them together and this made their journey in business a happy one, for they never had any disputes.
杰迪和哈桑都是生意人,同時(shí)也是非常親密的朋友。杰迪性情豪爽,而哈桑嚴(yán)肅認(rèn)真,甚至有些過于謹(jǐn)小慎微。但堅(jiān)不可摧的友誼將他們緊緊聯(lián)系在一起,兩人從來沒有發(fā)生過爭執(zhí),這讓他們?cè)谏鈭?chǎng)上一帆風(fēng)順。
One time they started together toward the city of Touria.
一次,兩人結(jié)伴前去陶里亞城。
They arrived at the outskirts of a forest where the big trees, moist rocks and cool shade invited them to take a well-deserved rest. Within a minute Jehdi fell asleep.
他們到達(dá)一片森林的邊緣,這里巨木參天,山石濕潤,樹蔭清涼,讓他們不禁想好好地歇息一陣。不到一分鐘,杰迪便酣然入睡了。
Hassan looked at his friend with a sigh and told himself, "He sleeps peacefully in nature as if he were in his own house. I am afraid of someone robbing me. Even though the thief might get very little, I am too apprehensive and I prefer to be cautious. After all, one never knows what might happen."
哈桑望著他的朋友,嘆了口氣,自語道:“在荒郊野外他竟然能睡得這樣安穩(wěn),就像在自己家一樣。我就會(huì)擔(dān)心有人搶劫。雖然強(qiáng)盜搶不走什么值錢的東西,可我心里卻惴惴不安,還是小心為妙。畢竟,誰知道會(huì)有什么事情發(fā)生呢?”
Hassan was ruminating over his anxiety when suddenly he saw a wasp coming out of Jehdi's left nostril. Its enigmatic dance surprised him. It flew toward a single pine tree standing on a rock, circled the tree three times, and then returned to the sleeping Jehdi and disappeared into his right nostril.
哈桑正憂心忡忡地胡思亂想,突然看到一只黃蜂從杰迪的左鼻孔里爬了出來。黃蜂跳起神秘的舞蹈,讓哈桑驚訝不已。接著,黃蜂朝生長在巖石上的一棵松樹飛去,繞樹三圈,又飛回酣睡中的杰迪身邊,消失在他的右鼻孔里。
Just at that moment Jehdi woke up, sat up laughing, and said, "Hassan, you will never believe me. I just had a marvelous dream. Just imagine that there is a big pine tree standing on a high rock, exactly like the one you see there. A wasp droned around the trunk and it swings buzzed as if to say, 'You must dig in this place! You must dig in this place!' I started digging and found a big pot full of gold coins. I have never in my life seen so much money!"
就在那時(shí),杰迪醒了。他坐起身,笑著說:“哈桑,你肯定不會(huì)相信,我剛剛做了一個(gè)不可思議的夢(mèng)。設(shè)想一下,在高高的巖石上生長著一棵巨大的松樹。你看,就和那邊的那棵松樹一模一樣。一只黃蜂繞著樹干飛了幾圈,振動(dòng)著翅膀嗡嗡作響,好像在說:‘你一定要在這里挖一挖!你一定要在這里挖一挖!’于是我開始挖起來,結(jié)果挖到了一個(gè)裝滿金幣的罐子。我這一生還從來沒有見過那么多的錢!”
Yes, truly it is a strange dream, replied Hassan. "If I were in your place, I would have dug around the pine tree there."
“哦,真是一個(gè)奇怪的夢(mèng),”哈桑答道,“如果是我做了這樣的夢(mèng),我就去那松樹周圍挖一挖?!?br />
My poor friend, how naive you are. I would never take a dream seriously. It is so hot here. To dig would be torture! Please, let us continue our journey ...
“我可憐的朋友,你未免也太天真了吧!我從來都不把夢(mèng)當(dāng)回事。這兒這么悶熱,要去挖地的話,簡直就是自找罪受。拜托,我們還是繼續(xù)趕路吧……”
But Hassan insisted, "Jehdi, a dream like this surely has a meaning. If you do not want to dig, I will try instead. Do you know what I propose to you? Sell your dream to me."
但哈桑堅(jiān)持說:“杰迪,這樣的一個(gè)夢(mèng)肯定含有某種暗示。如果你不想挖,我倒想試一試。你明白我的意思嗎?把你的夢(mèng)賣給我吧?!?br />
Jehdi began laughing loudly. "This is a good piece of business for me! How much will you pay?"
杰迪哈哈大笑起來:“對(duì)我來說,這倒是一樁好買賣!你給我多少錢?”
You have said that there is a big pile of gold coins. I am your friend and I do not want to wrong you. You tell me how much you estimate to be the price of your dream.
“你剛才說過,這里埋著一大堆金幣。我是你的朋友,不想坑騙你。你說說,你估計(jì)這個(gè)夢(mèng)值多少錢?”
After a brief discussion, they agreed to the sum of 300 coins.
經(jīng)過一番簡短的討論,他們同意這個(gè)夢(mèng)以300枚金幣成交。
Never have I made such a business deal. So much money for a simple dream of no value. How gullible you are, Hassan!
“我還從來沒有做過一樁這樣的買賣。一個(gè)簡單且毫無價(jià)值的夢(mèng)竟然賣了這么多錢。哈桑,你也太容易上當(dāng)了吧!”
The two friends then went under the pine tree which the wasp had shown in the dream. Jehdi was amused to see Hassan perspiring profusely and breaking his back with the shovel. He continued on until the shovel made a dull sound as if it had struck something hard.
然后這兩個(gè)朋友來到夢(mèng)中黃蜂指示的那棵松樹下??吹焦:沽鳑驯车仄疵鼡]鍬,杰迪覺得十分可笑。哈桑持續(xù)不斷地挖,直到鐵鍬發(fā)出一聲沉悶的聲響,好像碰到了什么堅(jiān)硬的東西。
What a surprise for the two merchants when they uncovered an earthen pot full of gold coins! Before breaking it, Hassan noted an inscription near the handle: "The first of seven."
這兩個(gè)生意人都驚呆了:他們挖出了一個(gè)裝滿金幣的陶罐!在打破罐子之前,哈桑發(fā)現(xiàn)靠近陶罐柄的地方寫著幾個(gè)字:“第一個(gè),共七個(gè)。”
The first of seven. That means there should be six more pots buried, Jehdi understood, starting to regret the deal he had concluded too quickly.
“七個(gè)中的第一個(gè),也就是說下面還埋著六個(gè)呢?!苯艿厦靼琢?, 他開始對(duì)這樁倉促成交的買賣感到后悔。
This time both of them dug with energy and, sure enough, they found the six pots, one after another, each one filled to the brim with gold coins.
這一次,兩人都奮力挖起來,果然,一個(gè)接一個(gè)地,他們挖出了另外六個(gè)陶罐,每一個(gè)都裝滿了金幣。
Hassan built a huge inn in the city and named it The Bulgy Pot. He lived as a rich and satisfied man until his death.
哈桑在城里建了一間大旅店,并把旅店命名為“滿罐”。他的生活富足而幸福,直到去世。
When Hassan was alive, Jehdi often came to visit him and greeted his friend with the words, "Well, Hassan, how are you? I have come to see what has happened to my dream." And then the two comrades patted each other on the back laughing. But every time Jehdireturned home sadder, for he knew that he could never buy back his dream.
哈桑在世的時(shí)候,杰迪經(jīng)常來看望他。一見面,杰迪便說:“嗨,哈桑,你好嗎?我已經(jīng)看到我的夢(mèng)如何變成了現(xiàn)實(shí)?!比缓筮@兩位朋友互相拍拍對(duì)方的后背,笑一笑。但杰迪每一次回到家后, 便會(huì)更加傷心。因?yàn)樗溃肋h(yuǎn)不可能再把他的夢(mèng)贖回來。