the Ear of Grain麥穗的故事

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

　　Ages ago， when God himself walked upon earth， the ground's fertility was much GREater than it now is. At that time the ears did not return fifty or sixty-fold， but rather four to five hundred-fold. The kernels grew from the bottom to the top of the stalk. However long the stalk was， that was also the length of the ear. But it is the way of humankind， that when they have a surplus they do not value the blessings that come from God， but instead become indifferent and frivolous.

　　One day a woman was walking along a grain field， and her little child， who was jumping along beside her， fell into a puddle and got his clothes dirty. The mother tore off a handful of the beautiful ears of grain and cleaned his clothes with them.

　　the Lord was just then passing by， and when he saw her doing this， he became angry and said， “From this time forth the grain-stalk shall bear no more ears of grain. Humans are not worthy of this heavenly gift.”

　　the bystanders who heard this were horrified， fell to their knees， and begged him to leave at least something on the grain-stalk， even if they did not deserve it， at least for the sake of the innocent chickens， who otherwise would starve to death.

　　the Lord， foreseeing the misery that would come， took pity on them and granted their wish. Thus the ear at the top of the stalk remained， just as it grows today.

遠古時代，當上帝親自巡視大地時，土地的產量比現在高得多。那時，麥穗不只結五六十粒，而是四五百粒，麥稈從頭到腳長滿了麥粒，稈有多長，穗就有多長。然而人類是如此的淺俗，他們生活豐裕時，就不再珍惜上蒼的恩賜，以致變得漫不經心、大手大腳。一天，一位婦女路經一片麥地，她的小孩在她身邊跑著，一下跌進了泥坑里，弄髒了小衣服。

　　於是，這位母親扯下一把漂亮的麥穗，用它擦凈了衣服。

　　碰巧上帝從這兒經過，見到這情形他非常生氣，說：“從此麥稈不再結穗，人類不配再獲得上蒼的賜予。”周圍的人聽到這話嚇壞了，紛紛跪下，祈求上帝仍留些麥穗於稈上，即使人類不配這一恩賜，但是為了那些無辜的家禽，求上帝開恩，否則它們就會餓死。上帝預見到人類的苦難，可憐他們，答應了這一請求。於是麥穗留了下來，就像現在生長的這樣子。