Three Wishes of Alexander The Great  亚历山大帝三个愿望

Map of Alexander the Great's empire  亚历山大帝的帝国地图

      There is very instructive incident involving the life of Alexander, the great Greek king. Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.

     伟大希腊国王亚历山大的生命中，具有非常启发性的事件。亚历山大征服了许多王国后。在回国途中，他病倒进入了临终。当死亡凝视着他的面孔，亚历山大意识到他征服的土地，强大的军队，锋利的宝剑和所有的财富都是没有意义的。

      He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit Him to reach his distant homeland. So, the mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail." 

      他现在渴望回家看着他母亲的脸，对她嘱咐最后的告别。但是必须接受事实，他那严重的健康情况，已经不允许他返回那遥远的故乡。至此，威武的征服者脸色苍白地趴躺着，奄奄一息了。他告诉他的将军们说：“不久我将离开这个世界，我有三个愿望，请务必遵照执行。”

      With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

      大家脸颊流着眼泪，将军们同意遵从他们国王的遗愿。

      "My first desire is that," said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin."

“第一个愿望是，”亚历山大说，“我的棺材必须由我的医师单独运送回去。”

       After a pause, he continued, "Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury."  

      暂停了一下他继续说，“第二，我期望我的棺材抬往墓地时，通往墓园的道路要铺撒我收集的金银和宝石。”

     The king felt exhausted after  saying this. He took a minute's  rest and continued. " My third  and last wish is that both my  hands be kept dangling out of my coffin."

      说完这些国王已经感到筋疲力尽。他休息了一分钟继续说：“我的第三个也是最后一个愿望，就是把我的双手悬空放在棺材外面。”

      The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes.But no one dare bring the question to their lips. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

      围聚在他身边的人对国王奇怪的愿望都很好奇，但是没有人敢发问。亚历山大最喜爱的将军吻着他的手，将手放回到他的胸前。“喔！国王陛下，我们向你保证，一定会完全遵照实行。但请告诉我们为什么会有这样奇怪的愿望？”

      At this Alexander took a deep breath and said : I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.

      亚历山大深吸了一口气说：“我要让世人知道我刚刚学到的3个教训。”让医师运送我的棺材，是因为人们应该体认到，没有医生能真正治愈任何身体的疾病，从死亡魔掌中救人他们是无能为力的。因此希望人们要懂得珍爱生命。

      The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me.  Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

      第二个愿望在墓园道路上铺撒黄金，白银和其余的财宝，就是要告诉人们，没有一点黄金我带得走。我终身收集财富，但是什么也带不走。让人们意识到追逐财富纯粹是在浪费时间。

      And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world.

      至于第三个愿望把我的双手悬空放在棺材外面，是希望人们知道，我空手而来到这个世界上，空手而归离开这个世界。

      With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.

      说完这些话，国王闭上了眼睛。不久他咽下了最后一口气。