亞歷山大帝三個願望 (Three Wishes of Alexander The Great)

Map of Alexander the Great's empire  亞歷山大帝的帝國地圖

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.

偉大希臘國王亞歷山大的生命中，具有非常啟發性的事件。亞歷山大征服了許多王國後。在回國途中，他病倒進入了臨終。當死亡凝視著他的面孔，亞歷山大意識到他征服的土地，強大的軍隊，鋒利的寶劍和所有的財富都是沒有意義的。

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."

他現在渴望回家看著他母親的臉，對她囑咐最後的告別。但是必須接受事實，他那嚴重的健康情況，已經不允許他返回那遙遠的故鄉。至此，威武的征服者臉色蒼白地趴躺著，奄奄一息了。他告訴他的將軍們說，「不久我將離開這個世界，我有三個願望，請務必遵照執行。」

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

大家臉頰流著眼淚，將軍們同意遵從他們國王的遺願。

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

「第一個願望是」亞歷山大說，「我的棺材必須由我的醫師單獨運送回去。」

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."

暫停了一下他繼續說，「第二，我期望我的棺材抬往墓地時，通往墓園的道路要鋪撒我收集的金銀和寶石。」

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."

說完這些國王已經感到筋疲力盡。他休息了一分鐘繼續說「我的第三個也是最後一個願望，就是把我的雙手懸空放在棺材外面」

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?"

圍聚在他身邊的人對國王奇怪的願望都很好奇，但是沒有人敢發問。亞歷山大最喜愛的將軍吻著他的手，將手放回到他的胸前。「喔！國王陛下，我們向你保證，一定會完全遵照實行。但請告訴我們為什麼會有這樣奇怪的願望？」

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.

亞歷山大深吸了一口氣說：「我要讓世人知道我剛剛學到的3個教訓。」

讓醫師運送我的棺材，是因為人們應該體認到，沒有醫生能真正治愈任何身體的疾病，從死亡魔掌中救人他們是無能為力的。

因此希望人們要懂得珍愛生命。

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.

第二個願望在墓園道路上鋪撒黃金，白銀和其餘的財寶，就是要告訴人們，沒有一點黃金我帶得走。我終身收集財富，但是什麼也帶不走。

讓人們意識到追逐財富純粹是在浪費時間。

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.

至於第三個願望把我的雙手懸空放在棺材外面，是希望人們知道，我空手而來到這個世界上，空手而歸離開這個世界。

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

說完這些話，國王閉上了眼睛。不久他嚥下了最後一口氣。