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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 methought 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 camest 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 gram of gold among the poor heap. I bitterly wept and wished that I had had the heart to give thee my all.
我在村路上沿门求乞,你的金辇像一个华丽的梦从远处出现,我在猜想这位万王之王是谁!
我的希望高升,我觉得我苦难的日子将要告终,我站着等候你自动的施与,等候那散掷在尘埃里的财宝。
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?”
呵,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。
但是我一惊不小,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都献给你。
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