Godfather Death
死神教父
A poor man had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world， he knew not what to do in his trouble， but ran out into the great highway， and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather. The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart， and said to him， poor man， “I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening（christening n.洗礼仪式）， and will take charge oftake （charge of 负责， 看管） it and make it happy on earth.” The man said， “Who are you.” “I am God.” “Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather，” said the man， “you give to the rich， and leave the poor to hunger.” Thus spoke the man， for he did not know how wisely（wisely adv.聪明地， 精明地） God apportions（apportion v.分配） riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord， and went farther. Then the devil came to him and said， “What do you seek. If you will take me as a godfather for your child， I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well.” The man asked， “Who are you.” “I am the devil.” “Then I do not desire to have you for godfather，” said the man， “you deceive（deceive v.欺骗， 行骗） men and lead them astray（astray adv.迷途地， 入歧途地）.” He went onwards， and then came death stridingstride v.大步走(过)， 跨过， 大步行走 up to him with withered legs， and said， “Take me as godfather.” The man asked， “Who are you.” “I am death， and I make all equal.” Then said the man， “You are the right one， you take the rich as well as the poor， without distinction， you shall be godfather”. Death answered， “I will make your child rich and famous， for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing.” The man said， “Next sunday is the christening， be there at the right time.” Death appeared as he had promised， and stood godfather quite in the usual way.
一个穷人养了十二个孩子。仅仅为了他们有面包吃，他就得夜以继日地干活儿。如今第十三个孩子又出世了，他愁得没有办法，就跑到大路上去，想第一个碰见谁就请谁当孩子的教父。他碰见的第一个人是仁慈的上帝。上帝知道他的心事，对他说：“贫穷的人啊，我怜悯你，愿意抱着你的孩子受洗礼，关照他，使他在人世间过得幸福。”穷人问：“你是谁？”“我是仁慈的上帝。”“那我不要你当我孩子的教父，”那人说，“你把东西都赐给富人，却让我们穷人挨饿！”他说这话是因为不了解，上帝在分配贫富时是多么英明。这样子，他便离开了上帝，继续往前走。迎面走来魔鬼对他说：“你在找什么？要是你愿意让我做你孩子的教父，我会给他许多许多金子，还让他获得世上的所有欢乐。”穷人间：“你是谁？”“我是魔鬼。”“那我不要你做我孩子的教父了，”他说，“你总是欺骗人，诱惑人！”说完继续往前走。这时瘦骨嶙峋的死神冲他走过来，说：“让我当孩子的教父。”那个人说：“你是谁？”“我是死神，我对谁全一个样儿。”“你是公正的，你不分穷富抓走所有的人，”穷人于是说，“请你当我孩子的教父吧！”死神回答：“我要把你的孩子变得又有钱又有名，因为谁拿我当朋友，谁就该过美满丰足的日子。”穷人说：“下个礼拜天行洗礼，请你准时来吧！”死神真的如期而至，并且像模像样地让孩子受了洗礼。
When the boy had grown up， his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest， and showed him a herb which grew there， and said， “Now you shall receive your godfather"s present. I make you a celebrated（celebrated adj.著名的） physician（physician n.医师， 内科医师）. When you are called to a patient， I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man， you may say with confidence that you will make him well again， and if you give him of this herb he will recover， but if I stand by the patient"s feet， he is mine， and you must say that all remedies（remedy n.药物， 治疗法， 补救， 赔偿） are in vainin （vain adv.徒然）， and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb（herb n.药草， 香草） against my will， or it might fare ill with you.”
男孩渐渐长大了，有一天教父来叫他一块儿出去。他把孩子带进森林里，指给他看一种长在林中的草，说：“现在该让你得到教父的礼物啦。我要把你变成一位名医。每次有人请你看病，我都会为你显形。我要是站在病人脑袋旁边，你就可以大胆地说，你决心把他治好，然后你再给他服一点这种草，他便会恢复健康，可是，我要是站在他脚旁边，那他已经归我所有，你必须说，一切治疗都是枉然，世界上再没任何医生救得了他。切记一定按我的意思使用这药草，不然你会倒霉的！”