正文
One cold night the King called Nasreddin to him and said, “If you're able to spend this night in the courtyard with only your shirt on, I will give you one hundred gold coins!”
一個寒冷的夜晚，國王把阿凡提叫來，對他說：“今天晚上，你要是能只穿一件汗衫就在院子裡待一晚上，我就給你一百塊金幣！”
In the courtyard Nasreddin saw a stone mill. He began to push it around, faster and faster. When dawn came, he was sweating all over himself. The King got up and was surprised to see Nasreddin in high spirits.
阿凡提在院子裡看到一方石磨，他開始推磨，越推越快。到天亮的時候，他出了一身汗。 國王起床後看到阿凡提推磨推得很起勁，吃了一驚。
The King hated to lose one hundred gold coins, so he asked, “Was there a moon last night?” “Yes.” “Then our bargain is off,” said the King. “If there was a moon, it was warm. In that case even I could have spent the night outside!”
國王不想白白損失一百塊金幣，就問：“昨晚月亮出來了嗎？” “出來了。” “那我們之前說的就不算。”國王說，“昨晚要是有月亮的話，天氣一定很暖和。那樣的話，連我都能在外面待上一晚上了！”
A few months later, the King and his men went hunting. It was hot summer and at the edge of the desert it was like a furnace（火爐）.
幾個月後，國王帶著隨從去打獵。炎炎夏日，沙漠邊上熱得像火爐一樣。
The King and his men were dying of thirst. They turned toward Nasreddin's house in the hope of getting some water. Nasreddin was sitting on the edge of his well when he heard the voice of the King, “Nesreddin, bring some fresh water! Be quick and serve us!”
國王一眾都快渴死了。 他們去阿凡提家找水喝。阿凡提正坐在井邊上，這時，他聽到國王喊：“阿凡提，拿水來！快點兒給我們端水來！”
“Please make yourself at home,” said Nasreddin. “Where is the water?” cried the King. “Right here, Your Majesty, you see?” Nasreddin pointed to the well. “You only show me the water but don't give me a drink!” fumed（惱怒） the King.
“請隨便喝，別拘束。”阿凡提說。 “水呢？”國王叫道。 “就在這兒啊，陛下，您看見了嗎？”阿凡提指著井說。 “你竟敢只讓看不讓喝？”國王怒了。
“Your Majesty, if the rays（光線） of the moon can warm a person, the sight of water can satisfy his thirst.”
“陛下，如果人曬月光就能驅寒的話，看到水也可以解渴。”
“Nasreddin” 是土耳其語，意為“宗教的勝利”，指的是一位活躍在阿拉伯世界(特別是西起摩洛哥，東至新疆突厥諸民族)的著名傳說人物，其形象是倒騎毛驢的中年男子，大智若愚，才辯超群。不同地區的傳說中往往以智者或者導師的頭銜來稱呼他，如“那速列丁”“納斯爾丁·阿凡提”“納斯爾丁·霍加”“毛拉·納斯爾丁”等，而漢語世界把他稱為“阿凡提”。 關於他的故事常有幽默意味和教育意義。雖說關於是否確有其人，以及此人的活動地區和生卒年月眾說紛紜，難以考證，但傳說他生活在13世紀，今土耳其境內。每年的7月5—10日，國際納斯列丁·霍加狂歡節(The International Nasreddin Hodja Festival)都在“Nasreddin”傳說中的家鄉科尼亞(Konya)舉行。
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