英语智慧背囊 14-乞丐和吝啬鬼

[00:01.99]The Beggar and the Miser 乞丐和吝啬鬼
[00:05.60]One day, an old beggar went to the village.
[00:08.78] He knocked at the door of a rich man to beg for food.
[00:12.49] This was a big house and at the side was built a granary with a big padlock.
[00:18.40]The owner of the house was a miser and he was known for never helping anyone.
[00:23.87]The beggar was aware of his reputation but still pleaded,
[00:28.43]“Will you give me a bit of butter or milk?”
[00:31.52]The miser said impatiently, “No! Go away at once!”
[00:35.90]“Perhaps you can sweep out for me a bit of grain or beans,” the hungry beggar continued.
[00:42.46]“There isn’t anything in my house!”
[00:45.08]“How about a little bit of bread?” the beggar insisted.
[00:49.35]“Only a mouthful of food and I will be very grateful.”
[00:52.85]“Go away! I don’t have bread!”
[00:56.02]“How about some water? I am thirsty.”
[00:59.30]“I don’t have water.”
[01:01.27]The beggar then said sadly to him,
[01:04.33]“My friend, why are you here?
[01:06.85]You should go to some kind-hearted folk to beg for food because you are poorer than anybody else.”
[01:14.07]The miser in this story is really wealthy in a material sense,
[01:18.88]but he is extremely poor in a moral sense.
[01:22.49] Rich people without compassion and conscience are not welcome in the society.
[01:28.07] They are likely to maintain temporary wealth but not everlasting wealth.
[01:34.08] So at the same time we feed our stomach, don’t forget to feed our soul