The Miller His Son And The Ass
磨坊主和他的儿子，以及可怜的驴
by Aesop
出自《伊索寓言》
One day, a long time ago, an old Miller and his Son were on their way to market with an Ass which they hoped to sell. They drove him very slowly, for they thought they would have a better chance to sell him if they kept him in good condition. As they walked along the highway some travelers laughed loudly at them.
很久很久的某一天，一个老磨坊主和他的儿子正在路上赶着一头驴去集市上卖。他们走得很慢，希望以此能够让这头驴有个好的状态，卖出去的几率就更高。当他们走在公路上时，好些个旅行者就高声地嘲笑他们。
"What foolishness," cried one, "to walk when they might as well ride. The most stupid of the three is not the one you would expect it to be."
“真笨，”其中一个叫嚷到，“他们宁愿走路也不愿骑驴。这三个当中最笨的那一个，可不是你所想的那个。”
The Miller did not like to be laughed at, so he told his son to climb up and ride.
这个老磨坊主可不想看到被人嘲笑，就叫他的儿子骑着驴继续赶路。
They had gone a little farther along the road, when three merchants passed by.
沿着这条路才走了没多远，就遇到了三个商人。
"Oho, what have we here?" they cried. "Respect old age, young man! Get down, and let the old man ride."
“嚄，瞧瞧这里？”他们一齐大喊道。“小伙子，要尊敬老人！还不赶快下来，让老人骑上去。”
Though the Miller was not tired, he made the boy get down and climbed up himself to ride, just to please the Merchants.
尽管老磨坊主并不累，可是为了取悦那些商人，就叫自己的儿子下来，自己骑到了驴背上。
At the next turnstile they overtook some women carrying market baskets loaded with vegetables and other things to sell.
父子俩在下一个十字转门处，赶上了几个妇人，妇人的篮子里装着一些拿去卖的蔬菜以及其他物品。
"Look at the old fool," exclaimed one of them. "Perched on the Ass, while that poor boy has to walk."
“瞧瞧那个老笨蛋，”其中一人惊叹道。“自己骑在驴背上休息，却让那个可怜的孩子走路。”
The Miller felt a bit vexed, but to be agreeable he told the Boy to climb up behind him.
老磨坊主感觉到有点儿困惑了，但为了迎合那几个妇人的话，他就叫自己的儿子挨在他后面骑到了驴背上。
They had no sooner started out again than a loud shout went up from another company of people on the road.
他们刚准备再次出发，路上的另一群人就大声喊叫起来。
"What a crime," cried one, "to load up a poor dumb beast like that! They look more able to carry the poor creature, than he to carry them."
“真是作孽啊，”一人说道，“把那个可怜的驴累成那样！比起让驴背着他们，让他们扛着驴看起来更轻松嘛。”
"They must be on their way to sell the poor thing's hide," said another.
“他们肯定是赶着去卖掉那头倒霉驴的皮，”另一个说。
The Miller and his Son quickly scrambled down, and a short time later, the market place was thrown into an uproar as the two came along carrying the Donkey slung from a pole. A great crowd of people ran out to get a closer look at the strange sight.
老磨坊主和他的儿子赶紧爬了下来，把驴绑在一根扁担上，一前一后抬着驴赶去集市上，可等他们到了集市上，人们一瞧见他们的模样，就忍不住哄堂大笑了。好多好多的人都跑过来只为一睹这桩奇事。
The Ass did not dislike being carried, but so many people came up to point at him and laugh and shout, that he began to kick and bray, and then, just as they were crossing a bridge, the ropes that held him gave way, and down he tumbled into the river.
那头驴可一点都不喜欢被人扛着，但是那么多人的人过来指着它大喊大笑，它就开始又踢又叫，突然，就在父子俩经过一座桥的时候，那绑着驴的绳子松掉了，驴就顺势滚到了河里。
The poor Miller now set out sadly for home. By trying to please everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass besides.
可怜的磨坊主现在只好伤心地回家了。他试图讨好每一个人，却没有让任何人满意，而且还失去了自己的驴。
If you try to please all, you please none.
正所谓：众口难调。（直译为：如果你想讨好所有人，那你谁也讨好不了。）
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