A wealthy old lady who lived near Dr. Swift used to send him presents occasionally by her servant. Dr. Swift took her presents but never gave the boy anything for his trouble. One day as Swift was busy with his writing, the boy rushed into his room, knocked some books out of their place, threw his parcel on the desk and said, my mistress has sent you two of her rabbits.
在斯威夫特博士家附近,有一位富有的老婦人,她時常打發(fā)仆人給他送禮物。斯威夫特博士接受她的禮物,但從不給小廝任何酬謝。一天,斯威夫特博士正忙著寫東西,小廝沖進了他的房間,把書一扒拉,將一個包裹扔在書桌上,說道:我的女主人送給你兩只兔子。
Swift turned round and said, My boy, that is not the way to deliver your parcel(包裹) . Now, you sit in my chair, watch my way of doing it and learn your lesson.
斯威夫特轉過身來說:孩子,包裹可不是這樣送法呀。現(xiàn)在,你坐在我的椅子上,看看我是怎么送的,并要記取這個教訓。
The boy sat down. Swift went out, knocked on his door and waited. The boy said, Come in. The doctor entered, walked to his desk and said, If you please sir, my mistress sends her kind regards and hopes you will accept these rabbits which her son shot this morning in her fields.
小廝坐了下來,斯威夫特走出去,敲了敲門,等待回音。小廝說進來。博士進了門,走到桌旁說道:先生,我的女主人向您致以親切的問候,并希望您收下這些兔子,這是她兒子今天早晨在地里打的。
The boy answered, Thank you, my boy, Give your mistress and her son my thanks for their kindness and here is two shillings for yourself.
小廝回答說:謝謝你,我的孩子。向你的女主人和她的兒子致謝,謝謝他們的關心。這兩個先令是送給你本人的。
The Doctor laughed, and after that, Swift never forgot to give the boy his tip.
博士笑了,打那以后,斯威夫特從沒忘記送小費給小廝。