奇妙的裁决

A poor chimney-sweeper, who had not enough money to buy a meal, stopped one hot summer day at noon before an eating-house, and remained regaling his nose with the smell of the food.

有一个贫穷的扫烟囱工人，穷得连一顿饭也吃不起,一个炎热的夏天的中午，他在一家餐馆前停了下来，站在那儿用鼻子贪婪地嗅着食物的香味。

The master of the shop told him several times to go away, but the sweeper could not leave the savory smell, though unable to purchase the taste of the food.

餐馆老板几次叫他走开，他都舍不得离开这令人垂涎欲滴的香味，尽管他没有能力买来食物尝尝。

At last the cook came out of the shop, and taking hold of the sweep, declared that, as he had been feeding upon the smell of his food, he should not go away without paying half the price of a dinner.

最后，厨师从店堂内走了出来，一把抓住那个扫烟囱工人，说他闻饱了菜肴的香味，硬要他付一半饭钱，不然，就不放他走。

The poor fellow said that he neither could nor would pay, and that he would ask the first person who should pass, whether it was not an unreasonable and unjust demand.

那个穷汉子说他既付不起也不愿意付，并且提出要请第一个过路人来评一评厨师这样的要求是否合理。

The case was referred to a policeman, who happened to pass at that moment.

这时候，一个警察碰巧从旁边经过，这事就告到了他那里。

He said to the sweeper: