双语·《伊索寓言》 墨丘利和雕塑家

MERCURY AND THE SCULPTOR

Mercury was very anxious to know in what estimation he was held by mankind; so he disguised himself as a man and walked into a Sculptor's studio, where there were a number of statues finished and ready for sale. Seeing a statue of Jupiter among the rest, he inquired the price of it. “A crown,” said the Sculptor. “Is that all?” said he, laughing; “and” (pointing to one of Juno) “how much is that one?” “That,” was the reply, “is half a crown.” “And how much might you be wanting for that one over there, now?” he continued, pointing to a statue of himself. “That one?” said the Sculptor, “Oh, I'll throw him in for nothing if you'll buy the other two.”

墨丘利和雕塑家

墨丘利很好奇人类怎么看待自己，于是他变身成人，来到一个雕塑家的作坊，那里有一些做好的塑像正在出售。他看到了一个朱庇特的塑像，便询问那个塑像的价钱。雕塑家说：“一个克朗。”墨丘利听了大笑，道：“才这么点？”然后他指着一个朱诺的塑像问：“这个多少钱？”“半个克朗。”“那么，那一个多少钱呢？”他指着一个自己的塑像问。雕塑家回答说：“那一个？噢，如果你买了这两个，那一个就免费送给你。”