English Original
In ancient times, a giant was traveling on a highway when a stranger suddenly appeared before him and commanded, "Halt! Not one step farther!"
"What!" cried the giant. "A creature I could crush between my fingers dares to block my way? Who are you to speak so boldly?"
"I am Death," replied the stranger. "No one resists me, and you too must obey." But the giant refused and began to struggle with Death.
After a long and violent battle, the giant gained the upper hand and struck Death down with his fist, leaving him weak and defeated by a stone. The giant went on his way.
Death lay there, thinking, "If I stay here, no one will die. The world will become so crowded that people won't have room to stand."
Soon, a strong and healthy young man came along, singing and glancing around. Seeing the faint figure, he compassionately helped Death up, gave him a strengthening drink from his flask, and waited for him to recover.
"Do you know who I am, whom you have helped?" asked the stranger as he rose.
"No," answered the youth.
"I am Death," he said. "I spare no one, and cannot make exceptions. But to show my gratitude, I promise I will not take you unexpectedly. I will send my messengers before I come for you."
"Well," said the youth, "it's something to know when you will come. At least I am safe until then." He went on his way light-hearted, enjoying life without a care.
But youth and health did not last. Soon, sickness and sorrow tormented him day and night.
"I shall not die yet," he told himself, "for Death will send his messengers first. I just wish these wretched days were over." As soon as he felt better, he returned to his merry life.
One day, someone tapped his shoulder. He turned and saw Death standing behind him. "Follow me," said Death. "Your time has come."
"What!" replied the man. "Will you break your word? Did you not promise to send messengers before coming yourself? I have seen none!"
"Silence!" answered Death. "Have I not sent messenger after messenger? Did fever not smite and shake you? Did dizziness not bewilder your head? Did gout not twitch your limbs? Did your ears not ring? Did toothache not bite your cheeks? Was it not dark before your eyes? And has not my brother Sleep reminded you of me every night? Did you not lie at night as if already dead?"
The man could not answer. He yielded to his fate and went away with Death.
中文翻译
古时候，一个巨人正在大路上行走，一个陌生人突然出现在他面前，命令道：“站住！一步也不许再走！”
“什么！”巨人喊道。“一个我手指一捏就碎的家伙，竟敢挡我的路？你是谁，竟敢如此大胆地说话？”
“我是死神，”陌生人回答。“无人能反抗我，你也必须服从。”但巨人拒绝了，并开始与死神搏斗。
经过一场漫长而激烈的战斗，巨人占了上风，一拳将死神击倒在地，使他虚弱无力地倒在一块石头旁。巨人径自离开了。
死神躺在那里，心想：“如果我躺在这里不动，世界上就没人会死。世界会变得拥挤不堪，人们将无处立足。”
不久，一个身强力壮的年轻人路过，他唱着歌，四处张望。看到这个虚弱的身影，他怜悯地扶起死神，从自己的水壶里倒出提神的饮料给他喝，并等他恢复过来。
“你知道我是谁吗？你帮助的是谁？”陌生人起身时问道。
“不知道，”年轻人回答。
“我是死神，”他说。“我从不放过任何人，也不能为你破例。但为了表示我的感激，我承诺不会突然带走你。在来带你走之前，我会先派我的信使来通知你。”
“好吧，”年轻人说，“能知道你何时会来也算是个收获。至少在那之前我是安全的。”他轻松愉快地继续上路，无忧无虑地享受生活。
但青春与健康并未持久。很快，疾病和忧愁日夜折磨着他。
“我还不会死，”他告诉自己，“因为死神会先派信使来。我只是希望这些痛苦的日子快点结束。”一旦感觉好转，他又恢复了快乐的生活。
一天，有人拍了拍他的肩膀。他转过身，看到死神站在身后。“跟我来，”死神说。“你离开这个世界的时候到了。”
“什么！”那人回答。“你要食言吗？你不是承诺在亲自来之前会派信使吗？我一个也没见到！”
“住口！”死神答道。“难道我不是派了一个又一个信使吗？高烧没有袭击你、让你颤抖倒下吗？头晕没有让你头脑混乱吗？痛风没有让你四肢抽搐吗？你的耳朵没有鸣响吗？牙痛没有啃咬你的脸颊吗？你眼前没有发黑吗？此外，我的兄弟‘睡眠’难道不是每晚都在提醒你我的存在吗？夜里躺着时，你不就像死了一样吗？”
那人无言以对。他屈服于命运，跟着死神离开了。