英語童話：半斤八兩

　　In the past, the grandson of a prime minister was a notorious spendthrift. He squandered all the family property and couldn't even afford his own meals, so he often borrowed rice from others.

　　從前，有個(gè)宰相的孫子是有名的敗家子。他把家產(chǎn)都敗光了，連飯也吃不上，常常向別人家借米。

　　Once he borrowed another bag of rice. He carried it half- way and couldn't go any further, so he rested by the roadside. At this moment, a poor man in rags happened to pass by. He called this poor man, set the pay and let the poor man carry the rice for him.

　　有一次，他又借到了一袋米，背到半路上背不動(dòng)了，只好在路旁歇腳。這時(shí)候，恰巧前面走來一個(gè)窮人，穿著破衣破褲。他就叫住窮人，講好了工錢后，讓窮人為他背米。

　　Unexpectedly, after carrying the rice for some distance, the poor man also panted and couldn't walk any further. The grandson complained:

　　不料，走了一段路程，窮人也氣喘吁吁，走不動(dòng)了。他就埋怨說:

　　"I am the grandson of a prime minister. It is natural that I can neither lift with my hands nor carry on my shoulder anything heavy. But you are from a poor family. Why are you also so useless?"

　　“我是宰相的孫子，手不能提，肩不能挑，那是常事。你是窮人出身，為什么也這樣不中用呢?”

　　Unwilling to give in, the poor man glared and retorted:

　　那人不服氣，翻翻白眼說:

　　"How can you blame me? I am not from a poor family. I am the grandson of a prime minister, too."

　　“你怎么能怪我，我并不是窮人出身，我也是宰相的孫子呢!”

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