泰西50軼事(三十三)忘恩負義的客人 江銘輝 五夢網
泰西50軼事(Fifty Famous Stories Retold)，是永恆的短篇故事，它收集的故事：包括浩瀚歷史的著名英雄和他們的羅曼史，故事內容有勇氣、毅力和情感。故事人物包括拿破崙、羅賓漢，喬治華盛頓、成吉思汗等人。這些故事都是老少咸宜的故事，我將它逐篇翻譯，並配合圖畫，供大家欣賞。
泰西50軼事(三十三)忘恩負義的客人
原文及翻譯如下：
The Ungrateful Guest
忘恩負義的客人
A MONG the soldiers of King Philip there was a poor man who had done some brave deeds. He had pleased the king in more ways than one, and so the king put a good deal of trust in him.
在菲力浦國王的士兵中有一個窮人，他曾有過一些英勇的事跡。他處處都討國王喜歡，因此深得國王的信任。
One day this soldier was on board of a ship at sea when a great storm came up. The winds drove the ship upon the rocks, and it was wrecked. The soldier was cast half-drowned upon the shore; and he would have died there, had it not been for the kind care of a farmer who lived close by.
一天，這個士兵乘船在海上行駛時，一陣狂風暴雨襲來，把船吹到了礁石上，船被撞壞了。那士兵被淹得半死地沖到了岸上；要不是附近的一個農夫細心照料，他就要死在那兒了。
When the soldier was well enough to go home, he thanked the farmer for what he had done, and promised that he would repay him for his kindness.
But he did not mean to keep his promise. He did not tell King Philip about the man who had saved his life. He only said that there was a fine farm by the seashore, and that he would like very much to have it for his own. Would the king give it to him?
當那士兵已經康復到可以回家時，他向農夫感謝他的照顧，並承諾他將報答他的仁慈。
但他沒有打算遵守這個諾言。他沒有告訴菲力浦國王關於那個人救了他。他只說在海邊有一個肥沃的農場，很想據為己有。國王能否賞給他呢？(圖1)
圖1：士兵說：“在海邊有一個肥沃的農場，很想據為己有。國王能否賞給他呢？”
“Who owns the farm now?”asked Philip.
“Only a churlish farmer, who has never done anything for his country,”
said the soldier.
“現在那農場是誰的呢？”菲利普問。
“只有一個粗鄙的農夫，他從沒為國家盡過什麼力，”士兵說。
“Very well, then,”said Philip.“You have served me for a long time, and you shall have your wish. Go and take the farm for yourself.”
“那麼，很好！”菲利普說，“你為我效力了很久，你將實現這個願望。去吧，那個農場歸你了。”
And so the soldier made haste to drive the farmer from his house and home.
He took the farm for his own.
於是，士兵就把那農夫趕出了家園，把那農場據為己有了(圖2)。
圖2：士兵把恩人趕出了家園，把那農場據為己有。
The poor farmer was stung to the heart by such treatment. He went boldly to the king, and told the whole story from beginning to end. King Philip was very angry when he learned that the man whom he had trusted had done so base a deed.
可憐的農夫被這樣的報答傷透了心。他大膽地跑到國王那裡，將整個故事從頭到尾全部說出。當菲力浦國王得知自己信任的人竟然做出這麼卑鄙的事，非常生氣。
He sent for the soldier in great haste; and when he had come, he caused these words to be burned in his forehead:“The ungrateful guest.”
他馬上派人去叫來那個士兵。當士兵來了之後，他的額頭上被烙下了幾個字：“忘恩的客人。”
Thus all the world was made to know of the mean act by which the soldier had tried to enrich himself; and from that day until he died all men shunned and hated him.
於是，全世界都知道了這個士兵為了使自己富有而做出卑鄙的行為。從那一天起直到他死去，所有的人都回避他，討厭他。
忘恩負義的客人之簡介：
忘恩負義的客人是馬奇其頓的士兵，他經常用他的勇氣得到菲力普的青睞和認可。他曾經遭到猛烈的風暴，被拋到岸上幾乎喪失生命。
在這種情況，他被居住在海岸附近的一個陌生人發現，他很有人性，帶他回到他的家裡療傷，免費供給他食住40天。
士兵從死亡中被解救出來，他不斷的再三感謝。
這個恩人並湊了一筆錢給士兵作為他的旅費，他離開了他的仁慈的主人，但很快的這個遇難的士兵回來了，他帶著菲力普賜給他的「恩人的土地」，他立即將恩人驅出住家。
這個可憐的恩人，被如此無忘恩負義的欺騙，他寫信給菲力普國王，以生動的方式寫出自己的慷慨和士兵的忘恩負義，引起菲力普國王的同情。
國王火大，發怒了。他下令法官應立即恢復這個可憐人的財產，抓住這個士兵，在他的額頭烙上「負心的客人」，使他遺臭在每一個時代和每個國家，特別是希臘。