伊索寓言：老人與死神 (The old man and Death )

An old man was gathering sticks in a forest. 
　　

●有個(gè)老人在森林中砍了不少柴，十分吃力地挑著走了很遠(yuǎn)的路。

At last he grew very tired and hopeless. He threw down all the sticks and cried out, "I cannot bear this life any longer. Ah, I wish Death would come and take me!"

●一路上他累極了，實(shí)在挑不動(dòng)了，便扔下柴擔(dān)，叫喊起來(lái)："這種日子我受不了了，死神啊，帶我走吧。

"As he spoke, Death appeared, and said to him, "What would you do, old man? I heard you call me."
　　

●這時(shí)，死神來(lái)了，對(duì)他說(shuō)："老頭，你想做什么，我聽(tīng)見(jiàn)你叫我?"
　

　"Please, sir," replied the old man, "would you help me lift this bundle of sticks up to my shoulder?"
　　　　

●"先生，"老人說(shuō)，"您能幫忙將那擔(dān)子放在我的肩上嗎?"
　　

寓意: 即使生活不幸，人們?nèi)孕钀?ài)惜生命。