Chapter 38 The Miser（吝啬鬼）

A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. — 一个守财奴卖掉了他的所有东西，买了一块金块，将其埋在一堵老墙旁的地洞里，并每天去看一眼。 —

One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. — 他的一名工人注意到他频繁去那个地方，决定观察他的动向。 —

He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. — 他很快发现了隐藏财宝的秘密，挖下去，找到了金块，并偷走了它。 —

The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. — 财迷在下一次来的时候，发现地洞空了，开始撕扯头发，大声哀悼。 —

A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “Pray do not grieve so; — 一位邻居看到他因悲伤而不可自拔，了解到原因后说：“请不要如此伤心； —

but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. — 去拿一块石头，放在洞里，并想象金块仍然躺在那里。 —

It will do you quite the same service; — 它将起到完全相同的效果； —

for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it.” 因为当金块还在的时候，你并没有拥有它，因为你根本没有利用它。”