第一日，神創造了狗，並對牠說：「你要在家門口坐守整日，且要對任何一個進門或經過的人發出吠聲。為此，我將賜與你二十年的生命。」
狗說：「要吠這麼長的時間我可吃不消。神啊，不如這樣吧，只要十年就好，我把另外那十年還給您。」
神於是應允了牠。
第二日，神創造了猴子，並對牠說：「你要取悅眾人，耍把戲，將歡笑帶給他們。為此，我將賜與你二十年的生命。」
猴子說：「耍二十年的猴戲？未免也太久了吧！我也願像狗那樣把十年的生命還給您，不知您意下如何？」
神於是應允了牠。
第三日，神創造了牛，並對牠說：「你必跟從農人進入稻田，在烈日下受苦整日，繁衍後代並且將乳汁供應農人一家。為此，我將賜與你六十年的生命。」
牛說：「神啊，這聽起來就是一個極其艱苦的六十年呢。不如二十年就好，我將其餘的四十年還給您。」
神於是也應允了牠。
第四日，神創造了人，並對他說：「吃，睡，玩樂，結婚，享受你的一生。為此，我將賜與你二十年的生命。」
但人卻說：「蛤...只有二十年？在我的這二十年之外，不知道您是否可以再賞賜我牛還給您的四十年，猴子還給您的十年，還有狗還給您的十年，一共八十年？」
「好吧。」神說，「這是你自己要求的。」（←英文的語意中隱含『這是你自找的』之意）
這就是為甚麼我們人吃、睡、玩樂、享受人生的前二十年。
接下來的四十年，我們如同奴隸般揮汗工作，餵養我們的家庭。
再接著的十年，我們耍猴戲來取悅孫兒孫女。
最後的十年，我們就坐在房子的前廊（←美式住屋），對每個人亂吼。
人的一生現在已經為你講明。
----
英文原文：
On the first day, God created the dog and said:
'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or
walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years
and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a
twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time
to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
'You must go into the field with the farmer a ll day long and suffer under
the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this,
I will give you a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty
years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said:
'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you
twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the
forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog
gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy
ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our
family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the
grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark
at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.
---
在蟻妹妹的網誌上看到這篇文章，覺得很有意思，
英文是蟻妹妹自己翻的，和原文對照覺得很流暢。
引用如上。
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