一个士兵在路上碰见了一个老巫婆

【故事简介】“钱”在人世间所起的作用。那个兵士一有了钱，就“有华美的衣服穿，交了很多朋友。这些朋友都说他是一个稀有的人物，一位豪侠之士。”但他一旦没有钱，他就不得不从那些漂亮房间里搬出来，住到顶层的一间阁楼里去。“……他的朋友谁也不来看他了，因为走上去要爬很高的梯子。”这现象在世界各地都很普遍——今天还是如此。

A SOLDIER came marching along the high road: “Left, right—left, right.” He had his knapsack on his back, and a sword at his side; he had been to the wars, and was now returning home.As he walked on, he met a very frightful-looking old witch in the road. Her under-lip hung quite down on her breast, and she stopped and said, “Good evening, soldier; you have a very fine sword, and a large knapsack, and you are a real soldier; so you shall have as much money as ever you like.”

公路上有一个兵在开步走—一，二！一，二！他背着一个行军袋，腰间挂着一把长剑，因为他已经参加过好几次战争，现在要回家去。他在路上碰见一个老巫婆；她是一个非常可憎的人物，她的下嘴唇垂到她的奶上。她说：“晚安，兵士！你的剑真好，你的行军袋真大，你真是一个不折不扣的兵士！现在你喜欢要有多少钱就可以有多少钱了。” 

老巫婆要给士兵腰上系一根绳子

“Thank you, old witch,” said the soldier.“Do you see that large tree,” said the witch, pointing to a tree which stood beside them. “Well, it is quite hollow inside, and you must climb to the top, when you will see a hole, through which you can let yourself down into the tree to a great depth. I will tie a rope round your body, so that I can pull you up again when you call out to me.” 

“谢谢你，老巫婆！”兵士说。“你看见那棵大树吗？”巫婆说，指着他们旁边的一棵树。“那里面是空的。如果你爬到它的顶上去，就可以看到一个洞口。你从那儿朝下一溜，就可以深深地钻进树身里去。我要你腰上系一根绳子，这样，你喊我的时候，便可以把你拉上来。”

老巫婆要士兵到树底下去取钱

“But what am I to do, down there in the tree?” asked the soldier.“Get money,” she replied; “for you must know that when you reach the ground under the tree, you will find yourself in a large hall, lighted up by three hundred lamps; you will then see three doors, which can be easily opened, for the keys are in all the locks. On entering the first of the chambers, to which these doors lead, you will see a large chest, standing in the middle of the floor, and upon it a dog seated, with a pair of eyes as large as teacups. 

“我到树底下去干什么呢？”兵士问。“取钱呀，”巫婆回答说。“你将会知道，你一钻进树底下去，就会看到一条宽大的走廊。那儿很亮，因为那里点着100多盏明灯。你会看到三个门，都可以打开，因为钥匙就在门锁里。你走进第一个房间，可以看到当中有一口大箱子，上面坐着一只狗，它的眼睛非常大，像一对茶杯。

如果士兵想取得钱，就得走进第二个房间

But you need not be at all afraid of him; I will give you my blue checked apron, which you must spread upon the floor, and then boldly seize hold of the dog, and place him upon it. You can then open the chest, and take from it as many pence as you please, they are only copper pence; but if you would rather have silver money, you must go into the second chamber.  

可是你不要管它！我可以把我蓝格子布的围裙给你。你把它铺在地上，然后赶快走过去，把那只狗抱起来，放在我的围裙上。于是你就把箱子打开，你想要多少钱就取出多少钱。这些钱都是铜铸的。但是如果你想取得银铸的钱，就得走进第二个房间里去。

另一个房间里还有只狗 眼睛有水车轮那么大

Here you will find another dog, with eyes as big as mill-wheels; but do not let that trouble you. Place him upon my apron, and then take what money you please. If, however, you like gold best, enter the third chamber, where there is another chest full of it. The dog who sits on this chest is very dreadful; his eyes are as big as a tower, but do not mind him. If he also is placed upon my apron, he cannot hurt you, and you may take from the chest what gold you will.”

不过那儿坐着一只狗，它的眼睛有水车轮那么大。可是你不要去理它。你把它放在我的围裙上，然后把钱取出来。可是，如果你想得到金子铸的钱，你也可以达到目的。你拿得动多少就可以拿多少——假如你到第三个房间里去的话。不过坐在这儿钱箱上的那只狗的一对眼睛，可有‘圆塔’①那么大啦。你要知道，它才算得是一只狗啦！可是你一点也不必害怕。你只消把它放在我的围裙上，它就不会伤害你了。你从那个箱子里能够取出多少金子来，就取出多少来吧。”

接下来的故事更精彩，敬请期待哟\(^o^)/~

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