Four Wives
[align=left][color=#ff0000][size=3][color=blue]中国文化中有很多发人深省的小故事，它们教给我们很多做人的道理。英语文化中也有很多这样的小故事，从这些故事中我们不仅可以学到地道的英文表达，更可以获得一些生活的启迪。[/color][/size][font=Times New Roman][size=5][color=green] Four Wives
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[size=3][font=Times New Roman][color=black]There was a rich [color=red][i]merchant[/i][/color] who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"
Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !"
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives
a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.
b. Our 3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.
c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament .
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有一个富商，他有四个老婆。他最爱第四个老婆，给她穿富人的衣服，给她吃美味的食物。他对她呵护备至，把所有最好的都给了她。他也很爱自己的第三个老婆。他以她为荣，并且常常喜欢向他的朋友们炫耀。但是，富商一直都害怕她有一天会和其他男人跑了。
他也很爱他的第二个老婆。她是一个很善解人意的人，总是很耐心而且实际上是富商的红颜知己。每次当富商遇到什么问题的时候，他总是去找他的第二个老婆，而她总是会帮助他度过难关。现在说说富商的第一个老婆。第一个老婆是一个很忠诚的伴侣，不仅对于维持富商的家产及生意作出了很大贡献，她还要照顾家里。但是，富商根本不爱这个第一个老婆，尽管她深深地爱着他，他却几乎从来没有注意过她！一天，富商生病了，他知道他马上就要死了。他回想自己奢华的一生，对自己说，“现在，我有四个老婆。但是如果我死了，我就会一个人了。我会多寂寞啊！”
于是，他问他的第四个老婆，“我最爱你，给予你最好的衣着并且对你体贴备至。现在我要死了，你愿意和我一起来陪着我么？”“没门儿！”第四个老婆回答道，然后再没说一句话就走开了。
这个答案像一把尖刀一样插进了富商的心里。悲伤的富商去问第三个老婆，“我一生都如此爱你。现在我要死了，你愿意和我一起陪着我么？”“不！”第三个老婆回答。“生活如此美好！你死后我会再嫁给别人！”富商的心沉了下去并且变冷。之后他问第二个老婆，“我总是寻求你的帮助而你也总是会帮助我走出困境。现在我又需要你的帮助了。我死了以后，你愿意和我一起陪着我么？”“对不起，这次我帮不了你！”第二个老婆回答。“最多，我可以送你进坟墓。”这个答案如同一声惊雷，富商身心交瘁。
这时，一个声音出现了：“我会和你一起。无论你到哪里我都会跟着你。”富商抬头看着他的第一个老婆。她那么瘦，几乎营养不良。富商非常痛苦地说，“我本应该在可以的时候对你更好一点儿。”
事实上，我们生命中都有四个老婆！
a, 第四个老婆就是我们的身体。无论我们花费多少时间和精力去美化它，它都会在我们死去的时候离开我们。
b，我们的第三个老婆？是我们的产业，地位和财富。我们死去的时候，它们都归了别人。
c，第二个老婆是我们的家人和朋友。无论我们生前多亲密，他们最远也只能陪我们走到进入坟墓的那一刻。
d，第一个老婆是我们的灵魂，经常在我们追逐物质财富和感观愉悦的过程中被忽略。知道么？这才是唯一能够永远跟随我们的东西。 也许我们该在此时此刻去培养它强化它，而不要等到垂死的时候才悲叹连连。[/color][/align]
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