[이솝우화] 군인과 말 🐴 THE SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE 🐴 兵士と馬

 

한 군인이 전쟁 중에는 자신의 말을 정성껏 돌보았습니다.
좋은 귀리로 먹이고, 위험한 전장을 달릴 수 있도록 건강하게 키웠지요.

하지만 전쟁이 끝나자, 그는 말을 아무렇게나 부렸습니다.
무거운 짐을 싣고 잡일을 시키며, 먹이는 겨밖에 주지 않았어요.

세월이 흐르고 다시 전쟁이 일어났습니다.
군인은 다시 갑옷을 입고, 말에 안장을 얹고 올라탔습니다.
하지만 말은 주저앉으며 이렇게 말했어요.

"이번엔 걸어서 가셔야겠군요.
당신은 나를 말에서 당나귀로 만들어 놓고, 다시 말로 되돌릴 순 없는 일이지요."

💡 교훈: 
필요할 때만 잘해주는 건 진정한 배려가 아니다.

 

THE SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE

A Soldier gave his Horse a plentiful supply of oats in time of war, and tended him with the utmost care, for he wished him to be strong to endure the hardships of the field, and swift to bear his master, when need arose, out of the reach of danger. 

But when the war was over he employed him on all sorts of drudgery, bestowing but little attention upon him, and giving him, moreover, nothing but chaff to eat. 

The time came when war broke out again, and the Soldier saddled and bridled his Horse, and, having put on his heavy coat of mail, mounted him to ride off and take the field. 

But the poor half-starved beast sank down under his weight, and said to his rider, 

"You will have to go into battle on foot this time. Thanks to hard work and bad food, you have turned me from a Horse into an ass; and you cannot in a moment turn me back again into a Horse."

 

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🐴 兵士と馬

ある兵士が戦争のとき、自分の馬にたっぷりとオート麦を与え、
丁寧に世話をしました。戦場での苦労に耐え、敵から逃げるために強くいてほしかったからです。

しかし平和になると、その馬は重い荷を運ぶ労働に使われ、
わずかな藁しか与えられず、ほとんど世話もされなくなりました。

やがて再び戦争が始まり、兵士は馬に鞍と手綱をつけ、重い鎧を身につけてまたがりました。

すると、すっかりやせ細った馬はその場に崩れ落ち、こう言いました。

「今度は歩いて戦場へ行くしかありませんね。
あなたのせいで私は馬からロバになりました。
一瞬でロバをまた馬に戻すことはできませんよ。」

💡 教訓: 
必要なときだけ大切にしても、信頼は戻らない。