CASTLE-BUILDING
1.ALNASCHAR，says the fable，was a very idle fellow，who never would set his hand to any business during his father‘s life.His father，dying，left to him the value of a hundred drachmas①in Persian money.Alnaschar，in order to make the best of it，laid it out in glasses，bottles，and the finest earthenware.These he piled up in a large open basket，and having made choice of a very little shop，placed the basket at his feet，and leaned his back upon the wall，in expectation of customers.As he sat in this posture，with his eyes upon the basket，he fell into a most amusing train of thought，and was overheard by one of his neighbors，as he talked to himself.“This basket，”says he，“cost me at the wholesale merchant’s a hundred drachmas，which is all I have in the world.
2.“I shall quickly make two hundred of it，by selling it in retail.These two hundred drachmas will in a little while rise to four hundred，which，of course，will amount in time to four thousand.Four thousand drachmas can not fail of making eight thousand.As soon as by this means I am master of ten thousand，I will lay aside my trade of a glass-man，and turn jeweler.I shall then deal in diamonds，pearls，and all sorts of rich stones.When I have got together as much wealth as I can well desire，I will make a purchase of the finest house I can find.I shall then begin to enjoy myself and make a noise in the world.I will not，however，stop there，but still continue my traffic，till I have got together a hundred thousand drachmas.
3.”When I have thus made myself master of a hundred thousand drachmas，I shall naturally set myself on the footing of a prince，and will demand the Grand Vizier‘s①daughter in marriage，after having represented to that minister the information which I have received of the beauty，wit，discretion，and other high qualities，which his daughter possesses.I will let him know，at the same time，that it is my intention to make him a present of a thousand pieces of gold on our marriage night.As soon as I have married the Grand Vizier’s daughter，I will make my father-in-law a visit with a grand train and equipage；and when I am placed at his right hand，where I shall be，of course，if it be only to honor his daughter，I will give him the thousand pieces of gold which I promised him，and afterward，to his great surprise，will present him another purse of the same value，with some short speech，as，‘Sir，you see I am a man of my word；I always give more than I promise.’
4.“When I have brought the princess to my house，I shall take particular care to cause her duly to respect me.To this end，I shall confine her to her own apartment，make her a short visit，and talk but little to her.Her women will represent to me that she is inconsolable by reason of my unkindness，and beg me with tears to notice her，and let her sit down by me；but I shall still remain inexorable；and will turn my back upon her.Her mother will then come and bring her daughter to me，as I am seated upon my sofa.The daughter，with tears in her eyes，will fling herself at my feet，and beg of me to receive her into my favor.Then will I，to imprint in her a thorough veneration for my person，draw up my legs and spurn her from me with my foot，in such a manner that she shall fall down several paces from the sofa.”
5.Alnaschar was entirely swallowed up in this chimerical vision，and could not forbear acting with his foot what he had in his thoughts.So that，unluckily striking his basket of brittle ware，which was the①Vizier‘s；chief minister or ruler.
foundation of all his grandeur，he kicked his glasses to a great distance from him into the street，and broke them into ten thousand pieces.
（FROM ADDISON ）
中文阅读
1.一篇寓言里讲到，奥纳斯查尔是个游手好闲之人。在他父亲活着的时候，他从来没有做过任何生意。他父亲死后，给他留下了一百波斯德拉克马币。奥纳斯查尔为了更大限度地发挥这些钱的作用，就用这笔钱买了玻璃杯、瓶子，还有一些做工精良的陶器。他把这些瓶瓶罐罐放到一个敞口大篮子里，选择了一家小店铺，把篮子放在脚边，斜靠在墙上等待着顾客上门。他就这样靠着墙，看着篮子里的东西，不知不觉陷入了一连串的有趣的遐想。当他自言自语的时候，无意间被邻居听到了：“这个篮子里的东西花了我一百德拉克马，这是我的全部财产。
2.”我要很快把它们都零售出去，这样就能赚到二百块。不多久，这二百就会变成四百，然后慢慢积累到四千，四千变成八千。这样我就会拥有一万元。有了这一万元，我就不干这份工作了，转行去当珠宝商，去买卖钻石、珍珠还有各种各样值钱的宝石。当我赚到我期望的那么多的时候，我就去买一套我能找到的最好的房子。那时候我就能享受生活了，在世界上也能弄出点动静了。但是我不能满足于此，我要继续赚钱之旅，直到我拥有十万德拉克马。
3.“当我有了十万德拉克马时，很自然地就要去当个亲王。在得知了尊贵的大臣的女儿是如此美丽、聪明、谨慎，还有其他优点后，我就去向尊贵的大臣的女儿求婚。同时，我还会告诉这位大臣，在我们结婚的当晚，我会给他一千块金子做礼物。当我和他女儿结婚后，我会带着豪华的车队和随从去拜见我的岳父。当我被安排在他的右侧时，他的女儿只能感到骄傲，把我答应给他的一千块金子给他。之后，我会出乎他的意料，再给他一千块金子，放在钱包里给他，然后对他说句简短的话，比如’岳父大人，我是个说话算数的人，我通常给的数量要比我答应的多‘。
4.”我把公主带回家以后，我要格外着意教会她举止得体，对我毕恭毕敬。为了达到这个目的，我只允许她待在家里，很少去看她，跟她说的话也很少。她的女仆会向我说因为我不理她而使她郁郁寡欢，哭着祈求我要我关注她，让她坐到我身旁，但是我不为所动，还是不理睬她。然后她的母亲会过来，把她带来见我。我坐在沙发上，她眼里含着泪哭倒在我脚下，祈求我接受她。我呢，为了让她彻底臣服于我，抬起脚踹她，用的力度要让她摔倒在离沙发几步远的地方。“5.奥纳斯查尔完全沉浸在幻想中，下意识地做了一个向前踹的动作。不幸的是，他一脚踢到了那满是易碎品的篮子，这可是他全部辉煌的基础。他的这一脚把所有的瓶瓶罐罐都踢到了远远的大街上，这些东西全部都摔成了千万个碎片。
（艾迪生）