那些給我智慧和勇氣的寓言故事84：陳年老酒

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

從前，有個(gè)富翁，不無理由地以他的酒窖和窖藏美酒自豪。其中有一瓶遠(yuǎn)年陳葡萄酒，是他珍藏著留作盛會(huì)用的，究竟是什么盛會(huì)，可只有他自己知道。

The governor of the state visited him, and he bethought him and said, "That jug shall not be opened for a mere governor."

地方官來拜訪他，他心中尋思道："不過是地方官罷了，不必為他開這瓶酒。"

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."

教區(qū)的主教來拜訪他，可他跟自己說道："不，我不愿為他開這瓶酒。他不會(huì)懂得這酒的價(jià)值，這酒的香味地也聞不出來。"

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

王國的王子來臨，和他一同進(jìn)餐。但是他想："他不過是個(gè)小小的王子，不配喝那么高貴的美酒。"

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

甚至在他自己的侄兒結(jié)婚的時(shí)候，他也對(duì)自己說道："不，那瓶酒可不拿出來給那些客人們喝。"

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

歲月流逝，這老頭兒終于死了，埋了，像種子和橡實(shí)一樣。

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

他下葬的那天，那瓶遠(yuǎn)年陳葡萄酒和其它的酒都拿出來了，被農(nóng)民和鄰居們分著喝掉了。沒有一個(gè)人辨別出這瓶酒是遠(yuǎn)年陳酒。

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

對(duì)他們說來，凡是倒進(jìn)酒杯里的，都不過是酒罷了。