50

I HAD gone a-begging from door to door in the village path, when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous dream and I wondered who was this King of all kings!

My hopes rose high and me thought my evil days were at an end, and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.

The chariot stopped where I stood. Thy glance fell on me and thou earnest down with a smile. I felt that the luck of my life had come at last. Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand and say “What hast thou to give to me?”

Ah, what a kingly jest was it to open thy palm to a beggar to beg! I was confused and stood undecided, and then from my wallet I slowly took out the least little grain of corn and gave it to thee.

But how great my surprise when at the day’s end I emptied my bag on the floor to find a least little grain of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.

50

我在村路上沿门乞求的时候，

你的金辇像一个华丽的梦从远处出现，

我在猜想这万王之王是谁！

我的希望高升，我觉得我苦难的日子将要告终，

我站着等候你自动地施与，

等候那撒掷在尘埃里的财宝。

车辇在我站立的地方停住了。

你看到我，微笑着下车。

我觉得我的运气到底来了。

忽然你伸出右手来说：

“你有什么给我呢？”

啊，这开的是什么样的帝王的玩笑，

向一个乞丐伸手求乞！

我糊涂了，犹疑地站着，

然后从我的口袋里慢慢地拿出一粒最小的玉米献上给你。

但是我吃惊不小。

当我在晚上把口袋倒在地上的时候，

在我乞讨来的粗劣东西之中，我发现了一粒金子。

我痛哭了，恨我没有慷慨地将我所有的都献给你。