The poor man was immediately released from confinement, his accounts returned, and the mistake pointed out.
倒霉的税务官很快从监狱里释放出来,他的账目亦已返还,他的错误自然得到纠正。
During his imprisonment, which lasted two days, he had neither eaten, drunk, nor taken any repose;
前后两天关押期间,他不吃、不喝,甚至没打过一个盹。
and when he appeared, his countenance was as pale as death.
从监狱释放出来后,康拉德面如死灰。
On receiving his accounts, he was a long time silent;
拿到他的账本后,他长时间保持沉默;
then suddenly awaking, as if from a trance, he repeated, "Once one is two."
突然间,他似乎从恍惚中苏醒过来,嘴里依然振振有词,“一一得二。”
He appeared to be entirely insensible of his situation; would neither eat nor drink, unless solicited; and took notice of nothing that passed around him.
看来,可怜的税务官完全失去了自主意识,他还是不吃不喝,除非有人央求他。他对周围所有事情茫然无知,
While repeating his accustomed phrase, if anyone corrected him by saying, "Once one is one," his attention was arrested for a moment, and he said, "Ah, right, once one is one;"
只是不停地念叨那句话。如果有人试图纠正他,告诉他“一一得一”,他留心片刻,随即改口说,“哦,不错,一一得一。”
and then resuming his walk, he continued to repeat, "Once one is two."
然后,又开始来回踱步,嘴里还是继续念叨,“一一得二。”
He died shortly after the traveler left Berlin.
那位旅游者离开柏林不久,康拉德,死了。
This affecting story, whether true or untrue, obviously abounds with lessons of instruction.
这故事无论真假,让人唏嘘不已,故事蕴涵深刻,不乏指导意义。
Alas! how easily is the human mind thrown off its balance;
唉,人心如此容易失衡,
especially when it is stayed on this world only, and has no experimental knowledge of the meaning of the injunction of Scripture, to cast all our cares upon Him who careth for us, and who heareth even the young ravens when they cry.
尤其当今世道,完全不再具备《圣经》里警示训诫做人的基本常识。将人类所有忧虑不安寄予上帝,她对众生心怀悲悯;哪怕一只雏鸦嘶鸣哭泣,那万能的主亦能听见。