Chapter 50

I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path, when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance like a gorgeous¹ 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 scattered² 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。

1 gorgeous   

adj.华丽的，灿烂的，美丽的，宜人的，棒的

参考例句：

• The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。
• What a gorgeous day it is today!今天天气多好啊！

2 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。