The Duration of Life

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　When God created the world and was about to determine the duration of life for all the creatures, the donkey came and asked, "Lord, how long am I to live?"

　　"Thirty years," answered God. "Is that all right with you?"

　　"Oh, Lord," replied the donkey, "that is a long time. Think of my tiresome¹ existence carrying heavy loads from morning until night, dragging bags of grain to the mill so that others might eat bread, only to be cheered along and refreshed with kicks and blows! Spare me part of this long time."

　　So God had mercy and gave him eighteen years. The donkey went away satisfied, and the dog made his appearance.

　　"How long do you want to live?" said God to him. "Thirty years was too much for the donkey, but you will be satisfied with that long."

　　"Lord," answered the dog. "Is that your will? Just think how much I have to run. My feet will not hold out so long. And what can I do but growl² and run from one corner to another after I have lost my voice for barking and my teeth for biting?"

　　God saw that he was right, and he took away twelve years. Then came the monkey.

　　"Surely you would like to live thirty years," said the Lord to him. "You do not need to work like the donkey and the dog, and are always having fun."

　　"Oh, Lord," he answered, "so it appears, but it is different. When it rains porridge, I don't have a spoon. I am always supposed to be playing funny tricks and making faces so people will laugh, but when they give me an apple and I bite into it, it is always sour. How often is sorrow hidden behind a joke. I cannot put up with all that for thirty years!"

　　God had mercy and gave him ten years. Finally man made his appearance. Cheerful, healthy, and refreshed, he asked God to determine the duration of his life.

　　"You shall live thirty years," spoke³ the Lord. "Is that enough for you?"

　　"What a short time!" cried the man. "When I have built a house and a fire is burning on my own hearth⁴, when I have planted trees that blossom and bear fruit, and am just beginning to enjoy life, then I am to die. Oh, Lord, extend my time."

　　"I will add the donkey's eighteen years," said God.

　　"That is not enough," replied the man.

　　"You shall also have the dog's twelve years."

　　"Still too little."

　　"Well, then," said God, "I will give you the monkey's ten years as well, but you shall receive no more."

　　The man went away, but he was not satisfied.

　　Thus man lives seventy years. The first thirty are his human years, and they quickly disappear. Here he is healthy and happy; he works with pleasure, and enjoys his existence. The donkey's eighteen years follow. Here one burden after the other is laid on him; he carries the grain that feeds others, and his faithful service is rewarded with kicks and blows. Then come the dog's twelve years, and he lies in the corner growling⁵, no longer having teeth with which to bite. And when this time is past, the monkey's ten years conclude. Now man is weak headed and foolish; he does silly things and becomes a laughingstock for children.#p#副标题#e#

         　上帝创造了这个世界，准备给万物的生命，这时驴子走了过来问道：“主啊，我将活多少年？”“三十年，”上帝回答道，“你满意吗？”“啊！主呀，”驴子答道，“那够长了。想想我活得多苦呀！每天从早到晚背着沉重的负担，把一袋的谷子拖进作坊，而其他人可以吃麵包，他们只知用打我、踢我来的方式鼓舞我、振作我。请把我从这漫长的痛苦岁月中解放出来吧。”上帝很同情它，就减了它十八年的寿命。驴子心中宽慰地走了。接着狗又来了。“你想活多久？”上帝问，“三十年对驴来说太长了，但你会满意吧！”“主呀，”狗回答说，“这是你的意志吗？想想我将怎样狂奔，我的脚决不可能坚持那么久，当我一旦不能叫了，除了从一个角落跑到另一个角落，我还能干甚么呢？”上帝见它说得对，减了它十二年寿命。接着猴子来了。“你一定愿意活三十年吧？”上帝对它说，“你不必像驴和狗那样干活，却可以享受生活。”“啊！主呀，”它回答，“过去也许是这样，但现在已大不同了。如果天降小米粥，我可没有勺儿。我总是干些发笑的勾当，比如做做鬼脸逗人发笑。如果他们给我一个苹果吃，我就大咬一口，不过它是酸的。悲哀常常藏在欢笑之后！三十年我可耐不住。”上帝仁慈，减了它十年。

　　最后人类出现了，他是那样地开心、健康而又充满生命力，他请上帝指定他的寿命。“你将活三十年，”上帝说，“够长了吗？”“太短了，”人说，“当我刚建起我的房子、在自己的灶上烧火时，当我辛勤栽培的树木刚开花结果时，当我正准备享受生活时，我却要死了！哦，主呀，请延长我的生命吧！”“加上驴子的十八年。”上帝说。“那还不够。”人回答。“那再加上狗的十二年。”“还是太少了。”“那么，”上帝说，“我再给你猴子的十年，但不能再多了。”人走了，但还是不满意。

　　这样人活七十岁，起先三十年是他的本份，但瞬息即逝，这阶段他健康、快乐，高兴地工作，生活也充满了欢乐。接下来是驴子的十八年，这时候，生活的负担压在肩上，他得辛勤地劳作养活他人，他这种忠实的服务换来的却是拳打和脚踢。然后是狗的十二年，那时他失去了利齿，咬不动东西，只能躺在墙脚忿忿不平地低吼。这痛苦日子过后，猴子般的生活结束了他最后的一生。这时，他傻头傻脑，糊里糊涂，成了孩子们捉弄、嘲笑的对象。