The Two Mules
A free B2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A proud mule hauling the tax silver looks down on his humble companion carrying only oats — until robbers appear on the road and only one mule's burden becomes a curse.
There were two heavily-laden mules making a journey together. One was carrying oats and the other bore a parcel of silver money collected from the people as a tax upon salt. This, we learn, was a tax which produced much money for the government, but it bore very hard upon the people, who revolted many times against it.
Havia duas mulas fortemente carregadas fazendo uma viagem juntas. Uma carregava aveia e a outra levava um pacote de moedas de prata recolhidas do povo como imposto sobre o sal. Esse, sabemos, era um imposto que rendia muito dinheiro ao governo, mas pesava muito sobre o povo, que se revoltou contra ele várias vezes.
The mule that carried the silver was very proud of his burden, and would not have been relieved of it if he could. As he stepped out he took care that the bells upon his harness should jingle well as became a mule of so much importance.
A mula que carregava a prata tinha muito orgulho de sua carga, e não gostaria de ser aliviada dela, se pudesse escolher. Enquanto caminhava, cuidava para que os sinos de seu arreio tilintassem bem, como convinha a uma mula de tanta importância.
Suddenly a band of robbers burst into the road, pounced upon the treasure mule, seized it by the bridle, and stopped it short. Struggling to defend itself the unhappy creature groaned and sighed as it cried: "Is this then the fate that has been in store for me: that I must fall and perish whilst my fellow traveller escapes free from danger?"
De repente, um bando de ladrões irrompeu na estrada, avançou sobre a mula do tesouro, agarrou-a pelo freio e a fez parar. Lutando para se defender, a infeliz criatura gemeu e suspirou, exclamando: — Será este então o destino que me reservaram: cair e perecer, enquanto minha companheira de viagem escapa livre do perigo?
"My friend," exclaimed the mule that carried only the oats, and whom the robbers had not troubled about, "it is not always good to have exalted work to do. Had you been like me, a mere slave to a miller, you would not have been in such a bad way now!"
— Minha amiga — exclamou a mula que carregava apenas aveia, e de quem os ladrões não se importaram —, nem sempre é bom ter um trabalho tão nobre a cumprir. Se você fosse como eu, uma simples serviçal de um moleiro, não estaria agora nesta situação tão ruim!
