可惜了的陈年佳酿

　　THE OLD, OLD WINE

　　可惜了的陈年佳酿

　　Once there lived a rich man who was justly proud of his cellar and the wine therein . Andthere was one jug of ancient vintage kept for some occasion known only to himself.

　　The governor of the state visited him, and he bethought him and said, “That jug shall not beopened for a mere governor.”

　　And a bishop of the diocese visited him, but he said to himself, “Nay, I will not open that jug.

　　He would not know its value, nor would its aroma reach his nostrils.”

　　The prince of the realm came and supped with him. But he thought, “It is too royal a wine fora mere princeling.”

　　And even on the day when his own nephew was married, he said to himself, “No, not to theseguests shall that jug be brought forth.”

　　And the years passed by, and he died. As an old man, he was buried like every seed.

　　And upon the day that he was buried the ancient jug was brought out together with other jugsof wine, and it was shared by the peasants of the neighborhood. And none knew its great age.

　　To them, all that is poured into a cup is only wine.

　　从前，一个有钱人为自己的酒窖和窖内的葡萄酒由衷地感到自豪。只有他知道酒窖里有一大罐陈年美酒，等重要场合才会开封。

　　州长来访，他提醒自己：“区区一个州长，不值得开罐。”

　　主管教区的主教登门，他自言自语道：“不行，我不会开罐的。他又不懂陈酿的珍贵，他的鼻孔不配闻到酒香。”

　　王子驾到，与他共进晚餐。他想：“这王子不过是个毛头小子，这等好酒未免太铺张了。”

　　甚至在自己亲侄子结婚那天，他还是暗自思忖：“不行，我才不要把这罐美酒便宜了那帮宾客呢。”

　　多年以后，有钱人年迈离世，终归还是入了土。

　　下葬那天，那罐陈酿和好多罐酒一起被抬了出来，被街里街坊的农民们分着喝光了。

　　没人知道他们喝的是陈年佳酿。

　　对他们而言，倒在杯中的不过是平常的葡萄酒而已。

 

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