每天讀一點英文之那些給我智慧和勇氣的寓言故事（寓言篇）

59 The Four Wives 四個妻子

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.
從前，有個商人，他有四個老婆。他最喜歡這小老婆，因此，他常常為她買來各種衣服，把她打扮得漂漂亮亮的，真可謂百般呵護。他對她如此疼愛，總是給她最好的。
 
He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
他也非常喜歡這第三個老婆。他常常以她為榮，總是帶她出入各種社交圈子。不過，商人有個心病，總是擔心有一天她會和別的男人私奔。

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante.
他也喜歡這第二個老婆。這位夫人，善解人意，富有耐心，真可謂是商人的紅顏知己。

Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
每當遇到困難，商人總是找她幫忙，她也總能獻出錦囊妙計，幫助商人化險為夷。

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household.
話說商人的大老婆，她對商人忠心耿耿，不論在財務管理，商務經營，還是在家務料理方面，她的功勞很大。

However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
盡管如此，商人卻不喜歡她。雖然她深深愛著商人，可商人幾乎一點也不知情。

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself,
有一天，商人病倒了。不久，他知道他已來日不多。想到過去的奢華生活，商人不覺暗然神傷，獨自感嘆道：

"Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"
“如今，我有四個老婆相伴左右，可一旦我死去，她們都將離我而去，我將是多么的孤獨啊！” Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showed great care over you.
于是，他首先問這小老婆道：“我最喜歡你，總是給你最好的衣服穿，也非常疼愛你

Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company " "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
如今，我將不久于人世，你愿隨我而去，永不分離嗎？”“沒門！”小老婆斬釘截鐵地回答道，然后，二話沒說，扭頭便走。

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart.
小老婆的話象尖刀一般戳進商人的心。

The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company "
商人很難過，于是又找到這第三個老婆，問她：“我一生都非常喜歡你，如今，我將要死去，你愿意隨我而去，永不分離嗎？”

 "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.
“辦不到！”她也這般回答，一邊又繼續說：“人世的生活多美好！如果你死了，我會重新嫁人呢。”一聽此話，商人的心一下涼了半截。

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out.
于是，他又問這第二個老婆：“每次遇到困難，我總是找你幫忙，而你也總能幫我走出困境。

Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company " "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "
如今，我想再一次請求你的幫助。如果我死了，你愿意隨我而去，永不分離嗎？”“真抱歉，這次，我幫不了你的忙了。”

At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
她回答道，一邊又繼續說：“這次，頂多，我也只能送你到墓前。”夫人的話猶如晴天霹靂，商人一下子懵了。

Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."
正在這時，只聽得有人聲嘶力竭地說：“我愿隨你而去，不論你到哪里。”

The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!"
商人抬頭一看，是大老婆。只見她面容憔悴，瘦骨嶙峋，似乎好多天沒怎么吃東西了。見此情景，商人悲從心頭起，凄慘地說：“早知今日，何必當初。”

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
一生中，其實，我們每個人都有四個老婆相伴左右。

The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
這小老婆就是我們的肉體。不管我們如何呵護它，一旦我們死去，它就會遠離我們而去。

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
這第三個老婆就是我們的財產，地位和金錢。一旦我們死去，他們就會全歸別人。

The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
這第二個老婆就是我們的家人和朋友。在世時，無論彼此關系如何親密，一旦我們死去，他們頂多也只能止步于我們的墓前。

The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.
這個大老婆呢，其實就是我們的靈魂。平常，在追求物質財富，滿足感官享受的同時，我們常常忽視了它們。

Guess what  It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament. 
縱觀所述，想一想，至親者，誰？其實，至親者，靈魂也！如今，一個不錯的主意也許就是要善待我們的靈魂，而不是等到我們彌留之際再作無謂的嘆息。

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