英语智慧背囊 05-得不偿失
 音频下载[点击右键另存为][00:03.81]Too Dear for the Whistle得不偿失[00:06.88]When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. [00:14.34]I went at once to a shop where they sold toys for children. [00:18.69] Being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I had seen by the way, [00:22.87]in the hands of another boy, [00:24.93]I handed over all my money for one. [00:27.55] I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, [00:31.92] much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. [00:36.19] My brothers and sisters and cousins, [00:39.00] when I told of the bargain I had made, [00:41.66]said I had given four times as much as the whistle was worth. [00:46.00] They put me in mind of what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money, [00:51.28]and laughed at me so much for my folly that I cried with vexation. [00:55.88]Thinking about the matter gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure. [01:01.34]This, however, was afterwards of use to me, [01:04.86]for the impression continued on my mind, [01:07.80]so that often, when I was tempted to buy something I did not need, [01:12.07]I said to myself, “Don’t give too much for the whistle,” and I saved my money. [01:17.86] As I grew up, came into the world, [01:20.70]and observed the actions of men, [01:22.78]I thought I met with many, very many, who “gave too much for the whistle”. [01:28.25]If I knew a miser who gave up every kind of comfortable living, [01:33.00]all the pleasure of doing good to others, [01:35.91]all the esteem of his fellow citizens and the joys of friendship, [01:40.50]for the sake of gathering and keeping wealth—“Poor man,” said I, [01:45.30]“you pay too dear for your whistle.” [01:48.16] When I met a man of pleasure, [01:50.13]who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time, [01:56.58] perhaps neglecting his health, [01:58.47]“Mistaken man,” said I, [02:00.52]“you are providing pain for yourself, [02:02.92]instead of pleasure; [02:04.35]you are paying too dear for your whistle.” [02:06.86]If I saw someone fond of appearance [02:09.81]who had fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine earrings, all above his fortune, [02:16.82]and for which he had run into debt, [02:19.44]“Alas,” said I, “he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.” [02:24.25] In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their putting a false value on things [02:31.61]—to giving “too much for their whistles”. |
