閱讀資料：奇文共賞 上帝造物的故事(英語)

　　閱讀資料：奇文共賞 上帝造物的故事(英語)

　　上帝造物的故事

　　上帝創造了騾子，對他說：“你將是騾子，從早到晚不停地干活，背上馱著沉沉的東西。你以草為食，沒有智力。你將活４０年。”騾子回答說：“照這樣活４０年可受不了。請最多讓我活２０年吧。”于是就這樣定了。

　　接著，上帝創造了狗，對他說：“你將負責給人看家。你是人類最好的伙伴。你吃他的殘羹剩飯，活２５年。”狗回答說：“上帝，狗活２５年可受不了。請最多讓我活１０年吧。”于是就這樣定了。

　　上帝又創造了猴子，對他說：“你是猴子。你要在樹間跳來蕩去，像個傻瓜，你滑稽好笑，活２０年。”猴子回答說：“上帝，人間小丑活２０年可受不了。請上帝最多讓我活１０年吧。”于是就這樣定了。

　　最后，上帝創造了人，對他說：“你是人，地球上惟一具有理性的生物。你將用你的聰明才智統治世間萬物。你將主宰地球，活２０年。”人回答說：“上帝，人只活２０年太少了。請上帝把騾子拒絕的２０年、狗拒絕的１５年和猴子拒絕的１０年都賜給我吧。”于是就這樣定了。于是，上帝讓人像人一樣活上２０年，然后結婚，像騾子一樣再活２０年，辛勤勞作，背上重負不堪。然后，人有了孩子，要像狗一樣活上１５年，守衛著自己的家，孩子吃完飯，他才去吃他們的殘羹剩飯。再后，年老了，又要像猴子一樣活上１０年，像個小丑去哄逗孫子孫女們開心。

　　                      The Story of Creation

　　God created the mule1) and told him，“You will be Mule，working constantly from dusk2) to dawn3)，carrying heavy loads on your back．You will eat grass，and you lack intelligence．You will live for ４０years．”The mule answered，“To live like this for ４０years is too much．Please，give me no more than ２０．”And it was so．

　　Then God created the dog and told him，“You will hold vigilance4) over the dwellings of Man．To him you will be his greatest companion．You will eat his table scraps5) and live for２５years．”The dog responded，“Lord，to live ２５years as a dog is too much．Please，no more than １０years．”And it was so．

　　God then created the monkey and told him，“You are Monkey．You shall swing from tree to tree，acting like an idiot．You will be funny，and you shall live for ２０years．”The monkey responded，“Lord，to live ２０years as the clown of the world is too much．Please，Lord，give me no more than １０years．”And it was so．

　　Finally，God created Man and told him，“You are Man，the only rational being that walks the earth．You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world．You will dominate6) the earth an d live for ２０years．”The man responded，“Lord，to be Man for only ２０years is too little．Please，Lord，give me the２０years the mule refused，the １５years the dog refused，and the ten years the monkey rejected．”And it was so．So God made Man to live２０years as a man，then marry and live ２０years like a mule，working and carrying heavy loads on his back．Then，Man is to have children and live １５years as a dog，guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry7)．Then，in his old age，to live １０years as a monkey，acting like a clown to amuse his grand children．

　　NOTE 注釋 ：

　　1. mule n. 騾     2. dusk n. 薄暮, 黃昏    3. dawn n. 黎明, 拂曉    4. vigilance n. 警戒, 警惕  

　　5. scrap n. 殘余物    6. dominate v. 支配, 占優勢     7. pantry n. 食品室; 配膳室