(单词翻译:单击)
“Upon my word,’ said the Miller, ‘you are very lazy.
“我得说，’磨坊主说，‘你实在是很懒，
Really, considering that I am going to give you my wheelbarrow, I think you might work harder.
想一想我就要把我的小推车送给你，你本该工作得更勤奋才对。
Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don’t like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish.
懒情是一件大罪，我当然不喜欢我的朋友是个懒汉了。
You must not mind my speaking quite plainly to you. Of course I should not dream of doing so if I were not your friend.
你当然不会怪我对你讲了这一番直言，假如我不是你的朋友，我自然也不会这么做的。
But what is the good of friendship if one cannot say exactly what one means?
但是如果人们不能坦诚地说出自己的心里话，那么友谊还有什么意思可言。
Anybody can say charming things and try to please and to flatter, but a true friend always says unpleasant things,
任何人都可以说漂亮话，可以取悦人，也可以讨好人，然而真正的朋友才总是说逆耳的话，
and does not mind giving pain. Indeed, if he is a really true friend he prefers it, for he knows that then he is doing good.’
而且不怕给人找苦头吃。的确，只要一位真正的忠实的朋友乐意这么做的话，那么原因就在于他知道他正在做好事。’
“I am very sorry,’ said little Hans, rubbing his eyes and pulling off his night-cap,
“很对不起，’小汉斯一面说，一面揉着自己的眼睛，脱下他的睡帽，‘
‘but I was so tired that I thought I would lie in bed for a little time, and listen to the birds singing.
不过我真是太累了，我想的只是再睡一小会儿，听听鸟儿的歌声。
Do you know that I always work better after hearing the birds sing?’
你知道吗，每当我听过鸟儿的歌声我会干得更起劲的？’
“Well, I am glad of that,’ said the Miller, clapping little Hans on the back,
“好，这让我很高兴，’磨坊主拍拍小汉斯的肩膀说，
‘for I want you to come up to the mill as soon as you are dressed, and mend my barn-roof for me.’
‘我只想让你穿好衣服立即到我的磨房来，给我修补一下仓房顶。’
“Poor little Hans was very anxious to go and work in his garden, for his flowers had not been watered for two days,
“可怜的小汉斯当时很想到自己的花园里去干活，因为他的花草已有两天没浇过水了，
but he did not like to refuse the Miller, as he was such a good friend to him.
可他又不想拒绝磨坊主，磨坊主是他的好朋友哇。
