Aesop’s Fables, THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE-TREE

THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE-TREE

A Peasant had an Apple-tree growing in his garden, which bore no fruit, but merely served to provide a shelter from the heat for the sparrows and grasshoppers which sat and chirped in its branches. Disappointed at its barrenness he determined to cut it down, and went and fetched his axe for the purpose. But when the sparrows and the grasshoppers saw what he was about to do, they begged him to spare it, and said to him, "If you destroy the tree we shall have to seek shelter elsewhere, and you will no longer have our merry chirping to enliven your work in the garden." He, however, refused to listen to them, and set to work with a will to cut through the trunk. A few strokes showed that it was hollow inside and contained a swarm of bees and a large store of honey. Delighted with his find he threw down his axe, saying, "The old tree is worth keeping after all." Utility is most men's test of worth.

THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE-TREE الفلاح وشجرة التفاح

A Peasant had an Apple-tree growing in his garden, which bore no fruit, but merely served to provide a shelter from the heat for the sparrows and grasshoppers which sat and chirped in its branches. كان لدى أحد الفلاحين شجرة تفاح تنمو في حديقته، لم تكن تحمل أي ثمار، ولكنها كانت تعمل فقط على توفير مأوى من الحرارة للعصافير والجراد التي كانت تجلس وتغرد على أغصانها. Un paysan avait dans son jardin un pommier qui ne portait pas de fruits, mais servait simplement à abriter de la chaleur les moineaux et les sauterelles qui s'asseyaient et gazouillaient dans ses branches. Disappointed at its barrenness he determined to cut it down, and went and fetched his axe for the purpose. لقد شعر بخيبة الأمل بسبب عقمها، فقرر قطعها، وذهب وأحضر فأسه لهذا الغرض. Déçu par sa stérilité, il décida de l'abattre et alla chercher sa hache à cet effet. But when the sparrows and the grasshoppers saw what he was about to do, they begged him to spare it, and said to him, "If you destroy the tree we shall have to seek shelter elsewhere, and you will no longer have our merry chirping to enliven your work in the garden." ولكن عندما رأى العصافير والجراد ما كان مزمعًا أن يفعله، توسلت إليه أن يحفظه، وقالت له: "إذا دمرت الشجرة فسوف نضطر إلى البحث عن مأوى في مكان آخر، ولن تتمكن بعد الآن من سماع زقزقتنا المبهجة لإحياء عملك في الحديقة". Mais les moineaux et les sauterelles, voyant ce qu'il allait faire, le supplièrent de l'épargner et lui dirent : "Si tu détruis l'arbre, nous devrons chercher un abri ailleurs, et tu n'auras plus notre joyeux gazouillis pour égayer ton travail dans le jardin." He, however, refused to listen to them, and set to work with a will to cut through the trunk. ولكنه رفض الاستماع إليهم، وبدأ العمل بكل إرادته لقطع الجذع. Mais il refuse de les écouter et se met au travail avec la volonté de couper le tronc. A few strokes showed that it was hollow inside and contained a swarm of bees and a large store of honey. وأظهرت بعض الضربات أنها كانت مجوفة من الداخل وتحتوي على سرب من النحل ومخزون كبير من العسل. Delighted with his find he threw down his axe, saying, "The old tree is worth keeping after all." كان مسرورًا جدًا بما وجده، فألقى بفأسه قائلًا: "الشجرة القديمة تستحق الحفاظ عليها بعد كل شيء". Utility is most men's test of worth. المنفعة هي الاختبار الذي يحدد قيمة معظم الرجال. L'utilité est le critère de valeur de la plupart des hommes.