English Original
In olden times, when the Lord himself still walked among men, he grew tired one evening before reaching an inn. On the road stood two houses facing each other: one large and beautiful, belonging to a rich man; the other small and poor, belonging to a poor man.
The Lord thought, "I shall be no burden to the rich man," and decided to seek lodging there. When the rich man heard knocking, he opened his window. Seeing a traveler in common clothes, he shook his head. "No," he said, "my rooms are full. If I lodged everyone, I'd soon be begging myself." He shut the window, leaving the Lord outside.
So the Lord went to the small house. The poor man opened his door at once. "Stay the night," he said, "it is too dark to travel further." The Lord was pleased and entered. The poor man's wife welcomed him warmly, offering their humble meal of potatoes and goat's milk with all their hearts. That night, they insisted the weary traveler take their own bed while they slept on straw.
The next morning, after sharing breakfast, the Lord prepared to leave. At the door, he turned and said, "For your kindness, you may have three wishes, and I will grant them."
The poor man wished for eternal happiness, lifelong health, daily bread, and, when prompted, a new house to replace their old hut. The Lord granted all and blessed them before departing.
Later, the rich man awoke and saw a fine new house across the way. Astonished, he sent his wife to inquire. Learning the truth, he was filled with regret. "That traveler came to us first, and I turned him away!" he cried. His wife urged him to pursue the Lord and claim three wishes for himself.
The rich man galloped after the Lord and, with flattering words, begged for the same boon. The Lord warned him it would not be to his advantage but finally agreed: "Ride home. The next three wishes you form shall be fulfilled."
Riding home, the rich man pondered his wishes. His horse grew restless, disturbing his thoughts. In a fit of anger, he cried, "I wish your neck was broken!" The horse fell dead instantly, wasting his first wish. Miserly, he cut off the harness to carry it himself.
Now on foot under the hot sun, the saddle chafed his back. He grew irritable, thinking of his wife relaxing at home. Without thinking, he exclaimed, "I wish she were sitting on this saddle and couldn't get off!" The saddle vanished from his back—his second wish fulfilled.
He ran home to plan his final wish carefully, only to find his wife trapped on the saddle in their parlor, weeping. She called him a fool and demanded he free her. Forced, he used his last wish to release her from the saddle.
Thus, the rich man gained nothing but vexation, trouble, abuse, and the loss of his horse. Meanwhile, the poor couple lived happily, quietly, and piously all their days.
中文翻译
古时候，当主还行走在人间时，有一晚他在抵达旅店前感到了疲倦。路旁有两座相对的房子：一座大而华丽，属于一个富人；另一座小而破旧，属于一个穷人。
主心想：“我不会成为富人的负担。”便决定去富人家借宿。富人听到敲门声，打开了窗户。他看见一个衣着普通的旅人，便摇了摇头。“不行，”他说，“我的房间都堆满了东西。如果我收留每个敲门的人，自己很快就要去乞讨了。”他关上窗户，将主留在外面。
于是主走向那座小房子。穷人立刻打开了门。“请在这里过夜吧，”他说，“天太黑了，您没法再赶路了。”主很高兴地进了屋。穷人的妻子热情地欢迎他，诚心诚意地端上他们简陋的晚餐——土豆和羊奶。当晚，他们坚持让这位疲惫的旅人睡在他们的床上，而自己则睡在稻草上。
第二天早晨，一起用完早餐后，主准备离开。在门口，他转身说道：“为了你们的善心，你们可以许三个愿望，我将实现它们。”
穷人许愿得到永恒的快乐、终身的健康、每日的食物，并在主的提示下，要了一座新房子来代替他们的旧茅屋。主实现了所有这些愿望并祝福了他们，然后离开了。
后来，富人醒来，看到路对面出现了一座漂亮的新房子。他大吃一惊，派妻子去打听。得知真相后，他满心懊悔。“那个旅人先来找我们的，我却把他赶走了！”他叫道。他的妻子催促他快去追主，为自己也要三个愿望。
富人骑马飞奔追上了主，用花言巧语恳求得到同样的恩惠。主警告他这不会对他有利，但最终同意了：“骑马回家吧。你接下来形成的三个愿望将会实现。”
在骑马回家的路上，富人仔细盘算着他的愿望。他的马变得焦躁不安，扰乱了他的思绪。一气之下，他喊道：“我真希望你的脖子断掉！”马立刻倒地而死，浪费了他的第一个愿望。出于吝啬，他割下马具自己背着。
现在，他顶着烈日步行，马鞍磨痛了他的背。他想到妻子在家悠闲自在，变得烦躁易怒。未经思索，他脱口而出：“我真希望她正坐在这马鞍上，下不来！”马鞍从他背上消失了——他的第二个愿望实现了。
他跑回家，想仔细规划最后一个愿望，却发现妻子正困在客厅的马鞍上哭泣。她骂他是傻瓜，要求他把她弄下来。迫不得已，他用了最后一个愿望让她从马鞍上解脱。
就这样，富人除了烦恼、麻烦、辱骂和失去马匹之外，一无所获。而那对贫穷的夫妇，从此过着幸福、安宁、虔诚的生活，直到安详离世。