Story Brief

The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass

A miller and his son were driving their ass to a neighboring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of girls returning from the town, talking and laughing. “Look there!” cried one of them, “did you ever see such fools, to be trudging along the road on foot, when they might be riding!”

The old man, hearing this, quietly bade his son get on the ass, and walked along merrily by the side of him. Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. “There!” said one of them, “it proves what I was saying. What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle young rogue riding, while his old father has to walk? Get down, you scapegrace! And let the old man rest his weary limbs.”

Upon this the father made his son dismount and got up himself. In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children. “Why, you lazy old fellow!” cried several tongues at once, “how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?”

The good-natured miller stood corrected and immediately took up his son behind him. They had now almost reached the town. “Pray, honest friend,” said a townsman, “is that ass your own?” “Yes,” said the old Man. “Oh! One would not have thought so,” said the other, “by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you!” “Anything to please you,” said the old man; “we can but try.”

So, alighting with his son, they tied the ass’ legs together and by the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge that led to the town. This was so entertaining a sight that the people ran out in crowds to laugh at it, till the ass, not liking the noise or his situation, kicked asunder the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river.

Upon this the old man, vexed and ashamed, made his way home, convinced that by endeavoring to please everybody he had pleased nobody and lost his ass in the bargain.

 

被抬着的驴子

一天，磨坊主和他的儿子牵着一头小毛驴去集市上卖。

没走多远，他们遇上一群聊天的妇女，一个妇女突然指着他们叫到。。。

Reading The Paragraphs!

Explanation Now

Meaning of Words

词语	华文解释	英文解释
话音刚落	指话刚说完的时刻。 例句：话音刚落, 一只雪白的大狗突然从黄兔的身后窜了出来。	even as the sound of one’s voice died away
哄笑	带嘲讽的大笑。 例句：看到他那痴痴的表情，同学们哄笑成一团。	guffaw
年迈	意思是指年老；年岁大。 例句：年迈的祖父依然坚持劳作，每天都去照料果园里的果树。	old
不孝	不孝敬父母。 例句：不孝父母、忘恩负义的人会被每一个有良心的人唾弃。	unfilial
负担	一指费用或开支。二指承受的责任。三指承当 [责任、工作、费用等]。 例句：我所负担的苦，实在是太重了。	charge; burden; bear
干脆	指爽快；利索。副词，表示动作行为直截了当，不拖泥带水。 例句：我知道志明的脾气，办事干脆，说一不二。	simply; directly; bluntly