31.`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that bound you?'
31“囚人,告诉我,谁把你捆起来的?”
`It was my master,' said the prisoner. `
“是我的主人,”囚人说。
I thought I could outdo everybody in the world in wealth and power, and I amassed in my own treasure-house the money due to my king.
“我以为我的财富与权力胜过世界上一切的人,我把我的国王的钱财聚敛在自己的宝库里。
When sleep overcame me I lay upon the bad that was for my lord, and on waking up I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.'
我昏困不过,睡在我主的床上,一觉醒来,我发现我在自己的宝库里做了囚人。”
`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that wrought this unbreakable chain?'
“囚人,告诉我,是谁铸的这条坚牢的锁链?”
`It was I,' said the prisoner, `who forged this chain very carefully.
“是我,”囚人说,“是我自己用心铸造的。
I thought my invincible power would hold the world captive leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.
我以为我的无敌的权力会征服世界,使我有无碍的自由。
Thus night and day I worked at the chain with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.
我日夜用烈火重锤打造了这条铁链。
When at last the work was done and the links were complete and unbreakable, I found that it held me in its grip.'
等到工作完成,铁链坚牢完善,我发现这铁链把我捆住了。”