《剪下一方暖和--喻道小故事》

被拍卖的女孩 A Girl to Be Sold

The story is told from ancient Rome of a young girl who was placed on the public auction block. She was to be sold to the highest bidder. The girl was forced to turn around, front and back, that the audience might see and make an estimate. The bids came in rapid succession, for she was young and strong. Finally one man outbid all the others; he bought the girl. He immediately put down the money and took possession of his property. Then he turned to the slave girl and said, “You are free. I have bought you free. You may go your way.”

She looked at him with her eyes wide open, with fear and apprehension. She did not understand, “Free,” he said. “You may go; you are free. I have given you your freedom.” The sincerity of his tone and the love in his eyes told her it was true. She fell at his feet, and, seized by gratitude, said, “Please, I don’t want to be free. I want to serve you. Let me serve you not as a slave but as a friend.”

..

字汇
auction block拍卖台。
bidder出价人，投标人，竞买人。
succession连续，接连。
outbid出高于…的价钱。
apprehension不安。


故事是从古罗马传下来的，说一个年轻女孩被人放在公开的拍卖台上。出价最高的人就可以把她买走。女孩被迫前前后后转身，使围观的人可以看清楚而出个价钱。因为女孩又年轻又强壮，喊价一个接一个持续而快速。最后，出价最高的人买了女孩。他马上付了钱取得了他的所有。然后转向女奴隶说，「你自由了，我买了你使你自由了，你可以走了。」

女孩张大眼睛看着他，充满惧怕和不安。她不明白怎么回事，但他说「自由了，你可以走了，你自由了，我把你的自由给你了。」他声调的真诚，眼中的爱，让女孩知道这是真的。她在他脚前仆倒，充满感激地说，「求求你，我不要自由，我想服事你。让我不以奴仆而以朋友的身份来服事你吧。」

思考与应用

1. 那女孩刚刚离开了一个主人，为什么会愿意投身到另一个主人手下？

2. 我有主人吗？或者我以为自己是自由之身？

about 【剪下一方暖和】专栏译者：顾美芬