“Do you think it would be unfriendly of me if I said I was busy?’ he inquired in a shy and timid voice.
“如果我说我很忙,你会认为我不够朋友吗?’他又害羞又担心地问道。
“Well, really,’ answered the Miller, ‘I do not think it is much to ask of you,
“噢,说实在的,’磨坊主回答说,‘我觉得我对你的要求并不过分,
considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow; but of course if you refuse I will go and do it myself.’
你想我就要把我的小推车给你,不过当然如果你不想干,我就回去自己动手干。’
“Oh! on no account,’ cried little Hans and he jumped out of bed, and dressed himself, and went up to the barn.
“啊!那怎么行,’小汉斯嚷着说。他从床上跳下来,穿上衣服,往仓房去了。
“He worked there all day long, till sunset, and at sunset the Miller came to see how he was getting on.
“他在那儿干了整整一天,直到夕阳西下,日落时分磨坊主来看他干得怎么样了。
“Have you mended the hole in the roof yet, little Hans?’ cried the Miller in a cheery voice.
“小汉斯,你把仓顶上的洞补好了吗?’磨坊主乐不可支地高声问道。
“It is quite mended,’ answered little Hans, coming down the ladder.
“全补好了。’小汉斯说着,从梯子上走了下来。
“Ah!’ said the Miller, ‘there is no work so delightful as the work one does for others.’
“啊!’磨坊主说,‘没有什么比替别人干活更让人快乐的了。’
“It is certainly a great privilege to hear you talk,’ answered little Hans, sitting down, and wiping his forehead,
“听你说话真是莫大的荣幸,’小汉斯坐下身来,一边擦去前额的汗水,一边回答说,
‘a very great privilege. But I am afraid I shall never have such beautiful ideas as you have.’
‘莫大的荣幸,不过我担心我永远也不会有你这么美好的想法。’
“Oh! they will come to you,’ said the Miller, ‘but you must take more pains.
“啊!你也会有的,’磨坊主说,‘不过你必须得更努力些才行。
At present you have only the practice of friendship; some day you will have the theory also.’
现在你仅仅完成了友谊的实践,今后有一天你也会具备理论的。’
“Do you really think I shall?’ asked little Hans.
“你真的认为我会吗?’小汉斯问。
“I have no doubt of it,’ answered the Miller,
“我对此毫不怀疑,’磨坊主回答说,
‘but now that you have mended the roof, you had better go home and rest, for I want you to drive my sheep to the mountain tomorrow.’
‘不过既然你已经修补好了仓顶,你最好还是回去休息,因为我明天还要你帮我赶山羊到山上去。’