英語童話故事：達蒙和皮西厄斯

　　A young man whose name was Pythias had done something which the tyrant Dionysius did not like. For this offence he was dragged to prison, and a day was set when he should be put to death. His home was far away, and he wanted very much to see his father and mother and friends before he died.

　　一個生輕人名叫皮西厄斯，做了一件暴君迪奧尼修斯不喜歡的事情。因為對暴君的冒犯，皮西厄斯被投進了監(jiān)獄，還確定了被處死的日期。因為離家很遠，他非常想在臨死之前去看看父母和朋友們。

　　"Only give me leave to go home and say good-by to those whom I love," he said, "and then I will come back and give up my life."

　　“就讓我回去辭別我愛的人吧，”他說，“然后我會回來終結我的生命。”

　　The tyrant laughed at him.

　　暴君嘲笑他。

　　"How can I know that you will keep your promise?" he said. "You only want to cheat

　　me, and save yourself."

　　“我怎么知道你會信守諾言?”他說。“你只想欺騙我.救你自己。”

　　Then a young man whose name was Darmon spoke and said.

　　這時一位名叫達蒙的年輕男子開口說:

　　"O king! Put me in prison in place of my friend Pythias, and let him go to his own country to put his affairs in order, and to bid his friends farewell. I know that he will come back as he promised, for he is a man who has never gone back on his word. But if he is not here on the day which you have set, then I will die in his stead."

　　“噢，國王!把我送進監(jiān)獄，讓我代替我的朋友皮西厄斯，讓他回自己的國家，處理好事務，與他的朋友們告別吧。我知道他一定會信守諾言回來的，因為他是一個從不食言的人。但是，如果在你設定的那天，他沒有回到這里，我愿替他去死。”

　　The tyrant was surprised that anybody should make such an offer. He at last agreed to let Pythias go, and gave orders that the young man Damon should be shut up in prison.

　　暴君很驚，竟然有人提出這樣的請求。他終于同意讓皮西厄斯回去，并下令把達蒙關進監(jiān)獄。

　　Time passed, and by and by the day drew near which had been set for Pythias to die;and he had not come back. The tyrant ordered the jailer to keep close watch upon Darnon, and not let him escape. But Damon did not try to escape. He still had faith in the truth and honor of his friend. He said, "If Pythias does not come back in time, it will not be his fault.It will be because he is hindered against his will."

　　時間流逝，日子一天天過去，離皮西厄斯的死期越來越近，而他還沒有回來。暴君命令獄吏嚴密監(jiān)視達蒙，不讓他逃跑、但是達蒙并沒有試圖逃跑，他仍然相信他朋友的真誠和名譽。他說:“如果皮西厄斯沒有按時回來，那也不是他的錯，肯定是他受到了阻礙，違背了他的意愿。”

　　At last the day came, and then the very hour. Damon was ready to die. His trust in his friend was as firm as ever; and he said that he did not grieve at having to suffer for one whom he loved so much.

　　這一天最終降臨，行刑的時間到了。達蒙準備接受死刑，但他對朋友的信任一如既往地堅定，他說他為一個他深愛的朋友遭受痛苦，他并不感到悲傷。

　　Then the jailer came to lead him to his death; but at the same moment Pythias stood in the door. He had been delayed by storms and shipwreck, and he had feared that he was too late. He greeted Damon kindly, and then gave himself into the hands of the jailer. He was happy because he thought that he had come in time, even though it was at the last moment.

　　獄卒準備帶他去行刑臺，但就在這時，皮西厄斯出現(xiàn)在了門口。風暴和船舶失事使他延誤了行程.他害怕回來得太晚。他友好地向達蒙問候，之后把自己交到獄卒手中。他很高興，因為他認為他準時回來了，雖然是在最后一刻。

　　The tyrant was not so bad but that he could see good in others. He tell that men who loved and trusted each other, as did Damon and Pythias, ought not to suffer unjustly.And so he set them both free.

　　暴君并非十分邪惡，他還能看到他人身上的美德。他感到人們彼此愛護，相互信任，像達蒙和皮西厄斯一樣，不應該受到不公正的對待。于是他讓兩人都獲得了自由。

　　I would give all my wealth to have one such friend," he said.

　　“我愿意用我所有的財富去換取這樣一位朋友，”他說。