幸福人的襯衣

Aking had an only son that he thought the world of1. But this prince(王子) was always unhappy. He would spend days on end(連續(xù)地) at his window staring into space.

\"What on earth do you lack?\" asked the king. \"What's wrong with you?\" \"I don't even know myself， Father.\"

\"Are you in love?If there's a particular girl you fancy(喜歡)， tell me， and I'll arrange for you to marry her， no matter whether she's the daughter of the most powerful king on earth or the poorest peasant girl alive!\" \"No， Father， I'm not in love.\"

The king tried in every way imaginable2 to cheer him up， but theaters， balls， concerts， and singing were all useless， and day by day the rosy hue(顏色) drained3 from the prince' s face.

The king issued a decree (法令)， and from every coner of the earth came the most learned (博學(xué)的) philosophers， doctors， and professors.The king showed them the prince and asked for their advice. The wise men withdrew to think， then returned to the king.\"Majesty (陛下)， we have giventhematter close thoughtandwehave studied the stars. Here's what you must do. Look for a happy man，a man who's happy through and through4，and exchange your son's shirt for his.\"

That same day the king sent ambassadors to all parts of the world in search of the happy man. A priest （神父）was taken to the king. \"Are you happy?\" asked the king. \"Yes， indeed， Majesty.\"

\"Fine. How would you like to be my bishop（主教）？\" \"Oh， Majesty， if only5 it were so!\"

\"Away with you!Get out of my sight！I'm seeking a man who's happy just as he is， not one who's trying to better（改善）his lot.\"

Thus the search resumed （重新開始）， and before long the king was told about a neighboring king， who everybody said was a truly happy man. He had a wife as good as she was beautiful and a whole slew （許多，大量）of children. He had conquered all his enemies，and his country was at peace.Again hopefully，the king immediately sent ambassadors to him to ask for his shirt.

The neighboring king received the ambassadors and said， \"Yes， indeed， I have everything anybody could possibly want.But at the same time I worry because I'll have to die one day and leave it all. I can't sleep at night for worrying about that!\" The ambassadors thought it wiser to go home without this man's shirt.

At his wit' s end（智窮計盡），the king went hunting. He fired at a hare（野兔） but only wounded it， and the hare scampered（奔跑）away on three legs.The king pursued it，leaving the hunting party far behind him.Out in the open field he heard a man singing a refrain （疊歌）.The king stopped in his tracks. \"Whoever sings like that is bound to be happy!\"The song led him into a vineyard (葡萄園)，where he found a young man singing and pruning(修剪) the vines.

\"Good day， Majesty，\" said the youth. \"So early and already out in the country?\"

\"Bless you! Would you like me to take you to the capital? You will be my friend.\"

\"Much obliged (十分感謝)，Majesty，but I wouldn't even consider it. I wouldn't even change places with the Pope(教皇).\" \"Why not? Such a fine young man like you...\"

\"No， no， I tell you. I'm content with just what I have and want nothing more.\" \"A happy man at last!\" thought the king. \"Listen， young man. Do me a favor.\"

\"With all my heart， Majesty， if I can.\" \"Wait just a minute，\" said the king， who， unable to contain his joy any longer， ran to get his retinue(隨從). \"Come with me! My son is saved! My son is saved!\" And he took them to the young man. \"My dear lad(小伙子)，\" he began. \"I'll give you whatever you want! But give me... give me...\"

\"What， Majesty?....My son is dying! Only you can save him. Come here!\"

The king grabbed him and started unbuttoning the youth's jacket. All of a sudden he stopped， and his arms fell to his sides.The happy man wore no shirt.

注釋：

1．think the world of[口]?？粗?或喜愛、欽佩)

2.imaginable adj.[與all，every，only等連用時，常放在被修飾的名詞后]可想像的，想得到的

3．drain vt．消耗，漸漸耗盡

4．through and through完全，徹底

5．if only要是…多好

從前有個國王，他有個獨生兒子，視若掌上明珠。可是，這個王子總是悶悶不樂，每天坐在窗口凝視蒼天，消磨日子。

“你到底缺什么呢？”國王問道，“哪兒不舒服嗎？”“爸爸，我自己也搞不清楚?！?/p>

“你戀愛了？如果你特別喜歡哪個姑娘的話，告訴我，我會為你操辦，讓你跟她結(jié)婚。不論她是最強大國家國王的公主，還是世上最貧寒的農(nóng)家姑娘，我都可以辦到！”“不，爸爸，我沒在戀愛?！?/p>

國王想盡一切辦法試圖使兒子快活起來，可是，讓他看戲，舉辦舞會、音樂會和演唱會都無濟(jì)于事，而王子玫瑰色的臉龐卻一天天在消瘦、干癟。

國王發(fā)布了一份求賢公告；于是，一些最博學(xué)的哲學(xué)家、醫(yī)生、教授從世界各地紛至沓來。國王讓他們看了王子，征求他們的意見。這些富有智慧的學(xué)者看過王子以后，回去思考了一陣子，回來對國王說：“陛下，我們已深入細(xì)致地考慮了王子情況，還研究了星相，認(rèn)為您眼下必須做這樣一件事：找個幸福的人，一個完完全全幸福的人，把您兒子的襯衣跟他的調(diào)換一下?！?/p>

當(dāng)天，國王就派使者到世界各地去搜尋幸福的人。一個神父被召來見國王?！澳阈腋?？”國王問道?！笆堑模掖_實很幸福，陛下?！?/p>

“很好，你做我的主教怎么樣？”“啊，陛下，我求之不得！”

“滾開！你給我滾得遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)的！我要找的是自身就感到幸福的人，而不是一個得寸進(jìn)尺的人。”

于是，又重新開始搜尋。不久，國王聽說有位鄰國國王，人們都說他是個真正幸福的人。他有個賢惠、美麗的妻子，而且兒女滿堂。他征服了全部敵手，國家康泰安寧。于是，國王又滿懷希望，馬上派使者去見鄰國國王，請求他贈送一件他的襯衣。

這位鄰國國王接見了使者，說：“不錯，世上人們想要的東西，我的確都有了。不過，與此同時，我也滿懷憂慮，因為總有一天，我不得不離開人世，撇下這一切。我正在為這些事情發(fā)愁，夜不能寐呢！”使者們考慮了一下，認(rèn)為不帶這位鄰國國王的襯衣回去，才是更明智的。

國王智窮計盡，便去打獵。他開槍打一只野兔，但只打傷了它。這只野兔僅靠三條腿奔跑著。國王追趕著野兔，把他的隨行人員遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地拋在了后面。在樹林外面的曠野里，國王聽到有個人在唱疊歌，便收住腳步?！斑@樣唱歌的人一定是很幸福的！”歌聲把他引到了一座葡萄園。在那兒，他發(fā)現(xiàn)一個小伙子唱著歌兒在修剪葡萄枝。

“您好哇，陛下，”小伙子說，“這么早就到鄉(xiāng)下來啦?”“你好!我把你帶到都城去怎么樣?你將成為我的朋友。”

“多謝您了，陛下，這種事兒我根本不想，就算教皇跟我換個位子，我也不干。”“為什么不干呢？像你這樣能干的小伙子……”

“不，不，跟您說吧，我對我現(xiàn)有的一切感到心滿意足，別無他求了。”“終于找到了一個幸福的人!”國王心想?！拔梗』镒?，幫幫我的忙吧?！?/p>

“只要我能做到的，陛下，盡力效勞?！薄暗纫粫??！眹醺吲d得心花怒放，連忙跑回去找到他的隨行人員說：“跟我來!我的兒子有救了!我的兒子有救了!”他帶著他們來到小伙子身邊?！拔业暮眯』镒?，”他說，“無論你想要什么，我都會給你的，但你得給我……給我……”

“給您什么，陛下?”“我的兒子快要死了!只有你才能救他?？爝^來吧！”

國王拽住他，開始解開小伙子的上衣扣子。突然，他停住了，雙臂垂了下來。這個幸福的人沒穿襯衣。