第39章 石榴

從前有一個人，他的果園裡種了許多石榴樹。有好幾個秋天，他總是把石榴盛在他的住宅外邊兒的幾個銀盤裡，盤上還放了一塊他親手寫的招牌："務請取用一個。不勝歡迎。" 然而，來往經過的人們，竟沒有一個人取用那果實。 這人左思右想，於是在某～年秋天，他就不把石榴盛在住宅外的銀盤裡了，卻高懸著用大字寫的招牌："此間備有人世最佳石榴，但其售價較任何其他石榴昂貴。" 瞧瞧吧，附近的男男女女都跑來搶購石榴了。 The Pomegranates There was once a man who had many pomegranate trees in his orchard. And for many an autumn he would put his pomegranates on silvery trays outside of his dwelling, and upon the trays he would place signs upon which he himself had written, "Take one for aught. You are welcome."

But people passed by and no one took of the fruit. Then the man bethought him, and one autumn he placed no pomegranates on silvery trays outside of his dwelling, but he raised this sign in large lettering: "Here we have the best pomegranates in the land, but we sell them for more silver than any other pomegranates."

And now behold, all the men and women of the neighbourhood came rushing to buy.