是与否的故事

向红

In a small kingdom， a boy named Yes lived in a small village. Yes was good at many things. He was the best， smartest and most liked person in the village.

在一个小王国里，有一个住在小村庄里名叫“是”的男孩。是擅长做很多事情。他是这个村庄里面最好、最聪明也是最受人喜爱的人。

Yes had a brother， and his name was No. No was jealous1 of his brother because he was not much good at anything himself. Whenever the villagers asked No for help， he says no because he didnt like people very much. Whenever someone asked Yes for a help， he would happily help， and he didnt know that it make No unhappy when he did.

是有一个弟弟，名叫“否”。否嫉妒他的哥哥，因为他自己什么也不擅长。不管何时村民们找否寻求帮助的时候，他都会拒绝，因为他不喜欢这些人。但是当村民们向是寻求帮助的话，他会很乐意帮助他们。他并不知道当他这样做的时候，否会不高兴。

One day， Yes and Nos father， Okay， went on a long journey and he left his two sons take care of all the animals. Yes took good care of the duck， the monkey， and the three-toed dog. No didnt want to do the boring things like taking care of the animals. So， No went down to the lake and threw2 stones into the water， not helping his brother.

有一天，是和否的父亲，好，要出门远行。他把所有的动物交给两个儿子照顾，是照顾一只鸭子、一只猴子，还有一只三趾小狗。否不愿意做这些照顾动物的无聊工作，所以他并没有帮助哥哥做这些，而是坐在湖边，向里面扔石头。

A few days after his father left， Yes asked his brother to watch the three-toed dog while he went to find some food to eat. Not doing what Yes had asked， No went to bed， closed his eyes， and forgot about the dog.

父亲离开后的几天，是让弟弟帮他照看那只三趾的小狗，因为他要出去找些吃的回来。不管是跟他交代了什么，否依旧躺在床上，闭上眼睛，完全忘记了小狗的事情。

The King had a personal3 road nearby， and he traveled on it often. That day， the three-toed dog walked onto the road. The Kings carriage4 was passing by and had to turn to avoid5 hitting it. The King was thrown from the carriage and was badly injured6.

国王在附近有一条私人的道路，而且他经常在上面驰骋。那天，这只三趾小狗跑到这条路中间去了，国王的马车刚好经过，为了不撞到这只小狗，马车不得不急转弯。国王从马车上摔下来了，受了很严重的伤。

The King wanted to know why a three-toed dog had been on his road alone and he asked all the villagers for an explanation7. Yes was always honest8， so he told the King the story.

國王想知道为什么会有一只三趾小狗独自出现在他的路上，就问当地的村民要个说法。是很诚实，就把整件事告诉了国王。

The King thought for a minute， and then he came up with an idea that he was quite happy with. Yes and No were to work in the castle9 as his personal servants10 as punishment11.

国王想了想，然后想出了一个他觉得很好的主意：让是和否都去他的城堡里给他做仆人，以示惩罚。

The King needed help with many things around the castle because a King cannot be bothered12 with things of a kingdom. However， soon after his idea about the two brothers， the King knew that only Yes would be of any use to him as a servant.

城堡里的国王需要人帮他做很多事情，因为一个国王不能在治理国家的时候被打搅。然而，在那两兄弟给他当仆人之后，国王很快就知道只有是才是真正有用的仆人。

Whenever the King asked No to bring him anything， it would get thrown away or broken， without exception13. The King was quite sure that No was the worst servant in the world.

每当国王叫否去拿东西的时候，那东西一定会被弄丢或者损坏，无一例外。国王非常肯定否是这个世界上最糟糕的仆人。

For the brothers the most important thing was to help pick the food for a great party. Cooks from all over the kingdom at the castles door were to give the King their food for the party. Of course， the King could not go and take the food himself， so he asked Yes and No to do it for him.

这两兄弟最重要的任务就是帮忙为一个盛大的宴会挑选食物。来自这个国家各地的厨师会为国王的这个宴会献上自己做的食物。当然，国王自己肯定不会亲自去做这件事，所以他让是和否替他做。

The first cook came up to the door and said， “I bring my delicious strawberry pie for King！” The King heard this and thought that strawberry pie would be good for such an party. And he knew that he would love to eat. So， the King yelled14 “Yes！” and then asked him to take it.

第一个厨师走到大门前，说：“我给国王带来了美味的草莓馅饼。”国王听见后，他觉得草莓馅饼很适合这个宴会，他知道自己很喜欢吃。所以，国王喊了一声：“是！”然后叫他把这道菜取过来。

The next cook was close to the door. “I offer the King fish soup！” he said. The King didnt like fish soup very much. “No！” he yelled and then sent No out to take away the soup. No took away the soup before the King could even smell15 it.

第二个厨师离门口很近，他说：“我给国王带来了鱼汤！”国王非常不喜欢鱼汤。“否！”他叫道，然后叫否把汤拿走。否在国王闻到味道之前就把汤拿走了。

This went on for hours. If the King liked a dish， he would yell “Yes！” and it would be in the nights party. If he did not， everyone would hear a “No！” and the dish would be taken away by a servant with a very bad mood16.

这个过程持续了好几个小时。如果国王喜欢一道菜，他会叫“是！”然后这个菜就会被选入今晚的宴会。如果他不喜欢，大家就会听见他喊“否！”然后这道菜就会被一个脾气很不好的侍从拿走。

Pretty soon this started to be popular around the kingdom. If a king does something， his servants are never far behind. If the villagers didnt want some potatoes， they would say， “No.” And if they liked what someone gives， they would say， “Yes.” And ever since that day in a small village in a small kingdom， Yes has meant17 yes， and No has meant no.

這种情况在这个国家开始流行起来，因为国王喜欢这个件事情，他的侍从们自然也不会落后。如果村民们不想要土豆了，他们也会说：“否。”如果他们想要某人给的什么东西，他们就会说：“是。”自此以后，在这个小王国的小村庄里面，是就代表了要，否就代表了不要。

（英语原文选自： freechildrenstories.com）