◎  译 / 玉兰花开

       alexander the great is known as the most powerful military leader and conqueror of the ancient world. before he turned 30 years old, he conquered an empire stretching over 3,000 miles from greece to india. he was born in 356 b.c. in macedonia, known today as northern greece.
　　alexander the great, 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.
　　he now longed to reach home to see his mother's face before he died. but, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit him to reach his distant homeland.
　　the mighty conqueror called his generals and said, "i will depart from this world soon. i have three wishes. please carry them out without fail."
　　with tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.
　　"my first desire is that," said alexander, "my physicians alone must carry my coffin."
　　after a pause, he continued, "secondly, i desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard should be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which i have collected in my treasury."
　　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."
　　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 hands 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?"
　　at this alexander the great, 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 cannot save a person from the clutches of death. so let not people take life for granted.
　　the second wish of strewing gold, silver and precious stones 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.
　　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.”
　　with these words, the king closed his eyes. soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last.

        亚历山大大帝被公认为是古代最强大的军事领袖和征服者。他还不到30岁，就已经征服了一个从希腊到印度，绵延三千多英里的庞大帝国。亚历山大大帝于公元前356年出生在马其顿，也就是今天的希腊北部。
　　在征服了许多王国后，亚历山大大帝荣归故里。然而，在归途中，他生了病并病入膏肓。在死神虎视眈眈的时候，亚历山大才意识到，他的无数次征服、他强大的军队、他锋锐的宝剑以及他所有的财富有多么无足轻重。
　　他现在只渴望在临死前能回到家见母亲最后一面。但他不得不接受事实，病情的恶化已经不允许他回到遥远的故土。
　　这位强大的征服者召集来他的将军们并对他们说：“我即将离开这个世界。我有三个遗愿。请务必做到。”

　　将军们泪流满面，答应一定达成国王最后的愿望。

   “我的第一个愿望是，” 亚历山大说，“必须由我的医生们亲自抬运我的灵柩。”
　　停顿一会儿后，他继续说：“我的第二个愿望是，我希望我的灵柩在被抬往墓地的时候，通向墓地的路上要撒满我在国库里珍藏的黄金、白银和宝石。”
　　说完这句，亚历山大大帝感到筋疲力尽。他休息了片刻，继续说：“我的第三个，也是最后一个遗愿是我的双手要垂放在棺材外。”

　　聚集在亚历山大大帝病榻前的人们对这些奇怪的遗愿感到莫名其妙，但没有人胆敢发问。亚历山大最喜爱的一名将军亲吻了他的双手，然后将它们放在自己的胸前说：“噢，陛下，我们向您保证，您所有的遗愿都会实现。但请您告诉我们，为什么您要立下这些奇怪的遗愿呢？”
　　亚历山大大帝听后，深吸了一口气说：“我想让世人了解我刚懂得的三个道理：

　　我要我的医生们抬运我的灵柩，因为人们应该意识到，没有任何一个医生可以真的包治百病，他们无法起死回生。所以请大家不要把生命当作是理所当然的，要珍惜生命。

　　第二个让你们在通往墓地的路上撒满黄金、白银和宝石的愿望是要告诉人们，没有一丁点黄金会随我而去。我用一生来赚取财富，但最终却什么也带不走。我要让人们意识到，追逐财富纯属是浪费时间。

　　至于我第三个要让双手垂在棺材外的遗愿，我是希望人们知道我双手空空来到这个世界，又两手空空离开这个世界。”
　　说完，亚历山大大帝闭上了眼睛。很快他就被死亡征服，停止了呼吸。