The Dervise and the Four Robbers
托钵僧和四个贼
Richard Doddridge Blackmore
理查德·多德里奇·布莱克默
A Dervise had once made a purchase of a fine fat sheep, intending to offer it up in sacrifice; and having tied a cord about its neck, was leading it to his home, when four thieves perceived him, and instantly made up their minds to steal the sheep. They knew the Dervise to be an honest, inoffensive man, and one who thought of no more harm in others than he had in himself. They dared not, however, take the sheep away from the Dervise by force, for they were too near the city; therefore they made use of this stratagem: they first parted company, and then accosted the Dervise, as if they had come from several distinct parts.
有一次，一个托钵僧买了一头硕大的肥羊，打算用它作祭品。正当他用绳子缚住了羊的脖子，牵着它回家的时候，四个贼看见了他，就立刻决定要把这头羊偷到手。他们知道这个托钵僧是一个老老实实、与世无争的人，是一个自己心中从不想伤害别人而且认为别人也跟他-'样没有恶意的人。尽管如此，这四个贼还是不敢从他手中强夺这头羊，因为当时他们离城太近了，因此，他们采用了这样一个计策;首先，四人各自分散，然后走上前去与托钵僧搭讪，好象他们来自几个不同的地方。
The first thief, who had contrived to meet him full- face, said, "My good old man, whither are you leading this dog?"
第一个贼设法从他正面迎上去，跟他说："好心的老人，您牵着这条狗上哪儿去呀?"
At this instant the second robber, coming from another quarter, cried to him, "Venerable old man, I hope you have not so far forgot yourself as to have stolen this dog;" and immediately after him, the third coming up, asked him, "Whither are you going with that handsome greyhound?"
这时候，第二个贼从另一个方向走过来，向他喊道："尊敬的老人，我希望您不至于糊涂到偷了这条狗吧!"紧接着，第三个贼走上前来，问道："您带着这条漂亮的猎狗到哪儿去呀?"
- 拓展学习：小词详解 | venerable
The poor Dervise began to doubt whether the sheep which he had was a sheep or not. But the fourth robber put him quite beside himself by approaching him and asking what the dog cost him.
可怜的托钵僧开始怀疑自己买的那头羊是否真的是羊了。但是第四个贼走到他跟前问他花了多少钱买这条狗，这把他完全弄糊涂了。
The Dervise, absolutely persuaded that four men, coming from four several directions, could not all be deceived, verily believed that the grazier who had sold him the sheep was a conjurer, and had bewitched his sight; inasmuch that, no longer giving credit to his Own eyes, he began to be firmly convinced that the sheep he was leading was a dog. In full persuasion of this, the Dervise went back to the market to demand his money of the grazier, leaving the wether with the felons, who made off with it.
托钵僧因为绝对相信四个来自不同方向的人不可能全都搞错了，就确实认为那个卖这头羊给他的牧人是个魔术师，迷了他的眼，于是，他不再相信自己的眼睛，确信自己所牵着的那头羊是一条狗了。托钵僧完全信以为真，于是就回到市场去向牧人讨钱，而把那头阉羊交给了这些坏蛋，他们就牵着羊逃走了。
