貪心的男孩
Sam and Tom were identical twins. They were so identical that even their mother found it difficult to distinguish one from the other, at least during their initial days on earth.
薩姆和湯姆是同卵雙胞胎。它們長得太像了,甚至連它們的母親都很難把它們區(qū)分開來,至少在它們剛出生的時候是這樣。
However, they were very different from each other when it came to everything other than their appearance. Sam had no friends, while Tom was a great friendship maker. Sam loved sweets, but Tom loved spicy food and detested sweets. Sam was mommy’s pet and Tom was daddy’s pet. While Sam was generous and selfless, Tom was greedy and selfish!
然而,除了外表之外,他們在其他方面都有很大的不同。山姆沒有朋友,而湯姆是一個偉大的友誼締造者。山姆喜歡吃甜食,但湯姆喜歡吃辣的,討厭吃甜食。薩姆是媽媽的寵物,湯姆是爸爸的寵物。山姆慷慨無私,而湯姆貪婪自私!
As Sam and Tom grew up, their father wanted to share his fortune equally amongst them. However, Tom did not agree and he argued that whoever proved to be more intelligent and strong would have to get a bigger share of the wealth.
隨著薩姆和湯姆的長大,他們的父親想在他們中間平分他的財產(chǎn)。然而,湯姆并不同意,他認為,無論誰能證明更聰明、更強壯,都能獲得更大的財富份額。
Sam agreed. Their father decided to organize a competition between the two. He asked the two sons to walk as long as they could, and return home before sunset. The wealth would be divided in proportion to the distance covered. As a rule of the competition, they were not permitted to carry a watch to keep track of the time.
山姆同意了。他們的父親決定組織一次兩人之間的比賽。他讓兩個兒子盡可能地走,在日落之前回家。財富將按路程的比例分配。根據(jù)比賽規(guī)則,他們不允許攜帶手表來記錄時間。
The following day, Sam and Tom set out to walk. It was a rather sunny day. Sam walked slowly and steadily, while Tom broke into a sprint as he was bent on winning the race and also winning a greater portion of his father’s wealth.
第二天,薩姆和湯姆出發(fā)去散步。這是一個相當晴朗的日子。薩姆走得又慢又穩(wěn),湯姆一心想要贏得比賽,也想贏得他父親更多的財產(chǎn),就開始沖刺起來。
Sam knew that it would be ideal to walk as far as possible till noon and start for home at noon as it would take the same amount of time to walk back home. Knowing this, Sam decided to turn back for home at noon so as reach home on time.
薩姆知道,最好是步行到中午,中午就開始回家,因為回家的時間和來時是一樣的。薩姆記住了這一點,決定中午回家,以便準時到家。
However, Tom, with his greed to earn more wealth, did not attempt to return home even after mid-noon. He walked twice as long as Sam, and thought he would still be able to return home before sunset. He hurried back when he saw the sun turn orange. Unfortunately, he could not even make it half way home as the sun started to set. Slowly darkness engulfed his path and he had to drag his tired feet back home.
然而,湯姆貪婪地想要更多的錢,在中午過后也不打算回家。他走的路是薩姆的兩倍長,他想他還能在日落前回家。當他看到太陽變成橘黃色時,他匆匆往回趕。不幸的是,當太陽開始下山時,他甚至連回家的路都走不了一半。
He had lost the race. Only because of his greed.
最終因為貪婪,他輸了比賽。