四个妻子

有一位富有的商人，他有四个妻子。他最心爱的是第四个妻子，他送她昂贵的裙子并小心翼翼的呵护着她。他对她照顾得无微不至，什么都给她最好的。

他也很爱第三个妻子。他为拥有她而感到无比骄傲，经常想在朋友面前炫耀她。但是，商人总是很担心她会跟别人私奔。

同样，他也爱他的第二个妻子。她是个心思细密的人，总是很有耐心，实际上她是商人的红颜知己。每当商人遇到问题，他总是会求助于第二个妻子，她也总是能给他得力的帮助，将他从难题中解救出来。

除此之外，商人的第一个妻子是他忠实的伴侣，是对他积累财富和成就事业贡献最大的一个人，也是照顾家事最得力的不二人选。但是，商人并不爱他的第一个妻子，虽然她对他爱之深，情之切，他甚至很少能注意到她。

有一天，商人得了重病。很快，他便知道自己已经不久与人世。他回想自己奢侈的生活，心想道：“我现在有四个妻子陪着我，可当我死了以后，我就会变得很孤独，唉！多孤独啊！”

于是他问第四个妻子：“我最爱的就是你，给你最美的衣服，给你最温暖的关怀。现在我就要死了，你会跟我一起去，陪着我吗？”第四个妻子说：“没门！”然后她头也不回的走了。

这无情的回答像一把尖刀插在商人的心上。悲伤的商人又问第三个妻子：“我一生都很爱你。现在我就要死了，你会跟我一起陪伴我吗？”“不！”第三个妻子说：“生活多么美好啊，你死后我会改嫁的。”商人的心一沉，感到彻骨的冰冷。

他又问第二个妻子：“我总是找你寻求帮助，你总是能化解困难。现在我又需要你的帮助了。等我死了，你会跟我在一起陪伴着我吗？”“对不起，这次我不能帮你了。”第二个妻子回答说：“最多我也只能送你到坟墓。”这回答如同五雷轰顶，商人心痛欲绝。

这时候，有一个声音说：“我跟你一起走，不管你去哪，我都跟着你。”商人抬起头，那是他的第一个妻子。她形容憔悴，仿佛是患了营养不良一样。商人感到一阵心酸，他说：“在我有能力的时候，我应该好好的照顾你。”

实际上，我们每个人生活中都有四个妻子。

第四个妻子是我们的身体。不管我们花多少时间和精力来让它显得健康强壮，当我们死去，他还是要离开我们。

第三个妻子是财产，地位和金钱。当我们死去，它们都成了别人的。

第二个妻子是是我们的家人和朋友。不管活着的时候与我们有多么亲密，他们最终也只能将我们送到坟墓而已。

第一个妻子实际上是我们的灵魂。在我们追求物质，金钱和感官享受的时候，总会忽略它。

原文：

THE 4 WIVES

There was a rich merchant 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 is 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.