本领高强的四弟兄
There was once a poor man who had four sons， and when they were grown up， he said to them， “My dear children， you must now go out into the world， for I have nothing to give you， so set out， go abroad and learn a trade， and see how you can make your way.” So the four brothers took their sticks， bade their father farewell， and went through the towngate together. When they had traveled about for some time， they came to a crossroadscrossroad n.十字路， 十字路口， 歧途 which branched off in four different directions. Then said the eldest， “Here we must separate， but on this day four years hencehence adv.因此， 从此， we will meet each other again at this spot， and in the meantime we will seek our fortunes.” 从前一个穷人有四个儿子。孩子们长大了，父亲对他们说：“亲爱的孩子们，你们现在得到世界上去啦，我一无所有，没什么好给你们。走吧，去外边学一样手艺，看看你们都能怎么样！”于是，哥儿四个各拿一根手杖，告别自己的父亲，一块儿出了城门。走了一些时候，他们来到一个岔路口，面前有四条路通四个不同的方向。这时候老大说：“咱们得在这儿分手啦；四年后的今天，我们要再来这里相聚。在这之前，我们各人寻找自己的人生之路吧！”
Then each of them went his way， and the eldest met a man who asked him where he was going， and what he was intending to do. “I want to learn a trade.” he replied. Then the other said， “come with me，” and be a thief. “No，” he answered， “that is no longer regarded as a reputablereputable adj.著名的 trade， and the end of it is that one has to swing on the gallows.” “Oh，” said the man， “you need not be afraid of the gallows， I will only teach you to get such things as no other man could ever lay hold of， and no one will ever detectdetect vt.察觉， 发觉， 侦查， 探测 you.” So he allowed himself to be talked into it， and while with the man became an accomplished thief， and so dexterousdexterous adj.灵巧的， 惯用右手的 that nothing was safe from him， if he once desired to have it. The second brother met a man who put the same question to him—what he wanted to learn in the world. “I dont know yet.” he replied. “Then come with me， and be an astronomerastronomer n.天文学家， there is nothing better than that， for nothing is hid from you.” He liked the idea， and became such a skillful astronomer that when he had learnt everything， and was about to travel onwards， his master gave him a telescopetelescope n.望远镜 and said to him， “With that you can see whatsoever takes place either on earth or in heaven， and nothing can remain concealedconceal vt.隐藏， 隐蔽， 隐瞒 from you.” A huntsman took the third brother into training， and gave him such excellent instruction in everything which related to huntsmanshiphuntsmanship n.狩猎术，狩猎本领 that he became an experienced hunter. When he went away， his master gave him a gun and said， “It will never fail you， whatsoever you aim at， you are certain to hit.” The youngest brother also met a man who spoke to him， and inquired what his intentions were. “Would you not like to be a tailor？” said he. “Not that I know of，” said the youth， “sitting doubled up from morning till night， driving the needle and the goose backwards and forwards， is not to my taste.” “Oh， but you are speaking in ignoranceignorance n.无知， 不知。” answered the man. “With me you would learn a very different kind of tailoring， which is respectablerespectable adj.可敬的， 有名望的， 高尚的， 值得尊敬的 and proper， and for the most part very honorablehonorable adj.可敬的， 荣誉的， 光荣的。” So he let himself be persuaded， and went with the man， and learnt his art from the very beginning. When they parted， the man gave the youth a needleneedle n.针， and said， “With this you can sew together whatever is given you， whether it is as soft as an egg or as hard as steel， and it will all become one piece of stuff， so that no seam will be visiblevisible adj.看得见的， 明显的， 显著的。” 哥儿四个便各走各的路。老大走着走着碰见一个人，这人问他从哪儿来，打算去哪儿。他回答说：“我打算学一门手艺。”那人说道：“跟我去学当小偷吧！”“不，”他回答，“这算不得正当的职业，而且，到头来会吊在绞架下当钟摆呀！”“哎，”那人说，“你不用担心，我只想教你取别人得不到的东西，而且在谁都不会察觉的情况下。”老大终于被说动了，跟那人学会了当小偷，手艺精得一旦想要什么，什么就逃不出他的手心。老二也碰见一个人，这人向他提出同样的问题，想知道他打算学什么手艺。他回答：“我还不知道喽。”“那就跟我去学当星象家吧。这职业再好不过，没什么瞒得过一个星象家！”老二挺高兴，成了一名很在行的星象家，在出了师打算继续漫游的时候，师傅给他一副望远镜，说：“用它你可以看见人间和天上发生的一切，什么也逃不过你的眼睛。”老三被一位猎人收为了徒弟。猎人认真教他，传授给他狩猎的一切技能，使他成了一名干练的猎手。临别时，师傅送他一支猎枪，说：“这支枪棒极了，你用它将会百发百中！”最小的兄弟同样碰见一个人。这人招呼他，问他有什么打算。“你有兴趣当一个裁缝吗？”“我没有，”他回答，“从早到晚低头弯腰坐在那儿，一个劲儿把针锥来锥去，还有烧熨什么的，都不合我的想法。”“哎，什么呀！”那人说。“你讲的只是你心目中的裁缝。跟着我，你会学到一种完全不同的缝纫手艺，一种体面的、在相当程度上非常荣耀的手艺。”老四被说服了，跟那人去学做裁缝，把本领学得十分扎实。临别时，师傅送他一根针，说：“用它你可以缝拢想缝的一切，不管是脆得像蛋还是硬得像钢，而且缝后会完全成为一个整体，不再见得着任何接缝。”