早晨，我在石铺的路上走时，我叫道：“谁来雇用我呀。”
"COME and hire me," I cried, while in the morning I was walking on the stone-paved road.
皇帝坐着马车，手里拿着剑走来。
Sword in hand, the King came in his chariot.
他拉着我的手，说道：“我要用权力来雇用你。”
He held my hand and said, "I will hire you with my power."
但是他的权力算不了什么，他坐着马车走了。
But his power counted for nought, and he went away in his chariot.
正午炎热的时候，家家户户的门都闭着。
In the heat of the midday the houses stood with shut doors.
我沿着屈曲的小巷走去。
I wandered along the crooked lane.
一个老人带着一袋金钱走出来。
An old man came out with his bag of gold.
他斟酌了一下，说道：“我要用金钱来雇用你。”
He pondered and said, "I will hire you with my money."
他一个一个地数着他的钱，但我却转身离去了。
He weighed his coins one by one, but I turned away.
黄昏了，花园的篱上满开着花。
It was evening. The garden hedge was all aflower.
美人走出来，说道：“我要用微笑来雇用你。”
The fair maid came out and said, "I will hire you with a smile."
她的微笑黯淡了，化成泪容了，她孤寂地回身走进黑暗里去。
Her smile paled and melted into tears, and she went back alone into the dark.
太阳照耀在沙地上，海波任性地浪花四溅。
The sun glistened on the sand, and the sea waves broke waywardly.
一个小孩坐在那里玩贝壳。
A child sat playing with shells.
他抬起头来，好像认识我似的，说道：“我雇你不用什么东西。”
He raised his head and seemed to know me, and said, "I hire you with nothing."
从此以后，在这个小孩的游戏中做成的买卖，使我成了一个自由的人。
From thenceforward that bargain struck in child's play made me a free man.
（完）
(THE END)