EXTRAVAGANT WISHES
1.WHEN the plains of India were burned up by a long continuance of drought，Hamet and Raschid，two neighboring shepherds，faint with thirst，stood at the common boundary of their grounds，with their flocks and herds panting round them，and in the extremity of their distress prayed for water.On a sudden，the air was becalmed，the birds ceased to chirp，and the flocks to bleat.They turned their eyes every way，and saw a being of mighty stature advancing through the valley，whom they knew，upon his nearer approach，to be the Genius of Distribution.In one hand，he held the sheaves of plenty，and in the other，the saber of destruction.
2.The shepherds stood trembling，and would have retired before him；but he called to them with a voice gentle as the breeze that plays in the evening among the spices of Sab？a：“Fly not from your benefactor，children of the dust！I am come to offer you gifts which only your own folly can make vain.You here pray for water，and water I will bestow；let me know with how much you will be satisfied；speak not rashly；consider that，of whatever can be enjoyed by the body，excess is no less dangerous than scarcity.When you remember the pain of thirst，do not forget the danger of suffocation.Now，Hamet，tell me your request.”
3.“O，being kind and beneficent，”says Hamet，“let thine eye pardon my confusion.I entreat a little brook，which in summer shall never be dry，and in winter never overflow.”“It is granted，”replied the genius；and immediately he opened the ground with his saber，and a fountain，bubbling up under their feet，scattered its rills over the meadows；the flowers renewed their fragrance，the trees spread a greener foliage，and the flocks and herds quenched their thirst.
4.Then turning to Raschid，the genius invited him likewise to offer his petition.“I request，”says Raschid，“that thou wilt turn the Ganges through my grounds，with all his waters，and all their inhabitants.”Hamet was struck with the greatness of his neighbor‘s sentiments，and secretly repined in his heart that he had not made the same petition before him，when the genius spoke：“Rash man，be not insatiable！Remember，to thee that is nothing which thou canst not use；and how are thy wants greater than those of Hamet？”Raschid repeated his desire，and pleased himself with the mean appearance that Hamet would make in the presence of the proprietor of the Ganges.
5.The genius then retired toward the river，and the two shepherds stood waiting the event.As Raschid was looking with contempt upon his neighbor，on a sudden was heard the roar of torrents，and they found by the mighty stream，that the mounds of the Ganges were broken.The flood rolled forward into the lands of Raschid，his plantations were torn up，his flocks overwhelmed；he was swept away before it，and a crocodile devoured him.
（FROM JOHNSON ）
中文阅读
1.当印度平原遭遇长时间持续的干旱的时候，有两个牧羊人站在他们的土地的交界处。他们是哈米特和拉斯奇德，两人的牧场相邻。他们在这样的困境中向上天祈祷给他们些水，周围他们的畜群因干热而喘息着。忽然，周围安静了下来，鸟儿停止了鸣叫，畜群也停止了叫声。两个牧羊人朝四周看了看，看到一个高大的身影穿过山谷朝这边走了过来。当他走近时，他们发现他原来是分配之神。他一手拿着作物，一手拿着用来破坏的军刀。
2.两个牧羊人哆哆嗦嗦，想在他过来之前逃跑。但是分配之神叫住了他们，那声音就像沙巴夜晚的微风一样温和：“不要从你们的恩人面前逃跑，大地的孩子们。我是来给你们礼物的，只有愚蠢的人才得不到。你们在这里祈求水，我可以给你们水。告诉我你们想要多少才满意。不要轻易地说出来，请考虑好，到底多少就能满足了，太多的水和缺水是同样危险的。当你们想着口渴的痛楚时，请不要忘记被水淹而窒息的危险。现在，哈米特，说出你的请求。”
3.“哦，感谢你的和善与仁慈，”哈米特说，“请原谅我的狼狈相。我请求赐予我一条小溪，它夏天不会干枯，冬天也不会暴涨。”“我恩准你的愿望。”分配之神说着，拿起他的军刀割裂大地，从地下涌出一座喷泉，在他们脚下开始冒出水来。喷出的水流向草地，花朵重新绽放，树上又布满了绿叶，畜群也因此得以解渴。
4.接下来轮到拉斯奇德了，分配之神让他也说出他的请求。“我请求，”拉斯奇德说，“让恒河通过我的土地吧。我要它所有的水和一切。”哈米特被他邻居的愿望震惊了，悄悄地在心里抱怨没有在他之前说出这样的愿望。神说：“草率的人，要知足啊！别忘了，这么多的水你无法一人用完，这样来说它们对你完全没有用处。你要一个比哈米特稍大一点的愿望不好吗？”拉斯奇德不为所动，重复了他的愿望。看到哈米特现在面对着恒河主人的表情，他感到十分高兴。
5.分配之神朝河的方向走去，两个牧羊人站在那里等待着这一愿望的实现。正当拉斯奇德轻蔑地看着他的邻居时，忽然听到一声巨响，恒河的大坝被水冲塌了。洪水向着拉斯奇德的土地冲了过来，他的作物被水淹了，畜群也被水冲走了。而他，在被大水卷走之前被鳄鱼活活吞了下去。
CHILDREN OF THE POOR