Tolstoy's English original and three problems in its translation.

There was once a king who wanted to get the answers to three questions, because he thought that as long as these three questions were solved, nothing in the world would be difficult for him. These three questions are:

When is the best time to do anything?

Who is the most important working partner in the world?

What is the most important thing in every moment?

The king told the people all over the country that as long as he could figure out the answer, he would get great wealth and honor.

When people learned the news, they went to the palace in succession.

One person suggested that the king first draw up a timetable, including the details of the annual and monthly outline affairs, detailing what should be done every day or even every hour, and then finish things according to the set timetable.

However, it seems that only he thinks so.

Another man told the king that it was impossible to plan the next step and the king could not try to know when and what to do.

Others insist that it is difficult for the king himself to predict the future development, let alone to correctly decide when and what to do. He suggested that the king set up a parliament to decide things according to people's thoughts and things.

In addition, some people say that some things need to be done quickly, and there is no time to wait for public discussion before making a decision. If it's urgent, you should ask a warlock for divination.

The answer to the second question is different.

One man replied to the king that the most important partner in his work was the administrative staff who could trust the king completely, but another man thought he was a priest or a monk. Of course, some people prefer philosophers, while others prefer soldiers.

Regarding the answer to the third question, there are many people's views: some people think that it is urgent to study science, some people insist that religion is the most important foundation for a country to govern the world, and there is a voice that supports national defense equipment and skills.

The king was not satisfied with all the answers, so no one was rewarded.

A few days later, the king planned to go to the mountains to consult a hermit, who was said to be a noble and wise man. However, he will only meet the poor and helpless weak and refuse to meet the powerful or the rich. So the king disguised himself as a simple farmer, told his followers to wait at the foot of the mountain and went up the mountain alone to find the legendary wise man.

When he arrived at the hermit's residence, the king saw that he was building a garden in front of his house. Seeing a stranger visiting, the hermit nodded his welcome and went on working.

The king went to tell the hermit that he came here to get the answers to three questions. After listening, the hermit patted the king on the shoulder and continued to dig.

Every time he shovels dirt to another place, he is exhausted and breathless. This kind of work is obviously too hard for the elderly.

The king said, "You must be tired. Let me help you. " The hermit thanked him, handed the shovel to the king, and then sat down on the ground to rest.

The king worked for a while, then stopped to ask the hermit the three questions he had just asked.

The hermit still did not answer. He got up and said to the king, "why don't you have a rest?" It's my turn. "

But the king still didn't stop working. Time flies, one hour, two hours. ...

The sun is setting. Finally, the king said, "I want to ask you three questions this time." Please tell me if you can't answer me. I think I should go back. "

The hermit didn't answer his question, but looked up and asked the king if he heard anyone passing by.

The king turned to look. At this moment, an old man with a long white beard appeared in the Woods. He ran as fast as he could, holding down his bleeding wound. When he ran to the king, he lost consciousness and fell to the ground. His moaning voice is still clear.

They uncovered the old man's clothes and found that he had a deep wound. The king cleaned his wound, took off his clothes and put them on him. But soon, the clothes were completely soaked with blood like a column of water. He had to wash and dress again until the bleeding stopped.

Finally, the injured man regained consciousness and asked for water. The king went to the river and scooped a ladle of water for him.

After a while, the sun went down and the coolness of the night came. The hermit and the king carried the injured man into the house to rest him. The man lay quietly and closed his eyes.

The king went up the mountain to find a hermit and dug up dirt to kill the whole day. He was so tired that he fell asleep by the door.

When he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. At this moment, he suddenly forgot where he was and why he came here. He looked around and saw the injured man looking at himself in confusion. The injured man stared at the king intently and whispered guiltily, "Please forgive me."

The king asked inexplicably, "What did you do wrong and want me to forgive you?"

The injured man replied, "Xia Lu, you don't remember me, but I remember you." I am your sworn enemy. In the last war, you killed my brother and occupied my property. I heard that you wanted to go up the mountain alone, so I decided to plot against you on your way back, but I didn't see you anywhere, so I gave up the ambush and came out to find you.

"Unexpectedly, your bodyguard found and recognized my identity, and they came after me all the way. Fortunately, I escaped. But if I hadn't met you, I might have died.

"I wholeheartedly want to kill you, I didn't expect to get your saving his life. I feel unspeakable shame and gratitude. If I can really escape from the door of death this time, I swear to be your loyal follower for the rest of my life. Similarly, I will ask my son and grandson to do the same to repay your kindness. Please forgive me! "

The king was overjoyed. He didn't expect to make peace with the enemy so easily. He not only promised to forgive him, but also returned all his property to him, asked a doctor to treat him and ordered his entourage to take care of him until he recovered.

When the entourage sent the injured man back to his hometown, the king came to look for the hermit again. He still didn't give up trying to get the answers to these three questions. He saw hermits remove seeds from the land they had dug before.

The hermit replied to the king, "You have got the answer to this question."

The king was puzzled and asked, "What can I say?"

"Yesterday, if you didn't sympathize with my old age and help me dig mud, I'm afraid I was attacked on your way home, and you'll regret not staying with me. Therefore, when you are digging, it is the most important moment; And I am the most important person, and the most important thing is to help me.

"After a while, when the injured man came forward to meet us, you covered his wound with your own clothes, which became the most important moment, because if you don't help him, he may die, and you also lost a chance to make peace with the enemy. In this way, the injured person becomes the most important person, and under your careful care of his injury, it becomes the most important thing. Remember, the only important moment is now, now.

"The present is the only moment we can grasp: the most important person is the person who is with you now, not the person in front of you, because no one knows who you will be with in the future; The most important thing is to make people around you, that is, people in front of you feel happy, because the pursuit of life is nothing more than happiness. "