提 要

在英文中，沒有對應「孝順」的單字，但不表示西洋人不在乎父母的養育之恩，所以對爸爸媽媽可以「considerate」（體貼）、「grateful」（感激），最起碼的，也要「記得」（remember）。

One day Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother（one of the most distant Stars you see far up in the sky）waited alone for her children's return.

Now both Sun and Wind were greedy and selfish. They enjoyed the great feast that had been prepared for them, never cross their minds of saving any of it to take home to their mother—but the gentle Moon did not forget her. Of every dainty dish that was brought round, she placed a small portion under one of her beautiful long finger-nails, that Star might also have a share in the treat.

On their return, their mother, who had kept watch for them all night long with her little bright eye, said, “Well, children, what have you brought home for me？" Then Sun（who was eldest）said, "I have brought nothing home for you. I went out to enjoy myself with my friends—not to fetch a dinner for my mother!" And Wind said, "Neither have I brought anything home for you, mother. You could hardly expect me to bring a collection of good things for you, when I merely went out for my own pleasure." But Moon said, "Mother, fetch a plate, see what I have brought you." And shaking her hands she showered down such a choice dinner as never was seen before.

Then Star turned to Sun and spoke thus, “Because you went out to amuse yourself with your friends, and feasted and enjoyed yourself, without any thought of your mother at home—you shall be cursed. Henceforth, your rays shall ever be hot and scorching, and shall burn all that they touch. And men shall hate you, and cover their heads when you appear.”

（And that is why the Sun is so hot to this day.）

Then she turned to Wind and said, “You also who forgot your mother in the midst of your selfish pleasures—hear your doom. You shall always blow in the hot dry weather, and shall parch and shrivel all living things. And men shall detest and avoid you from this very time.”

（And that is why the Wind in the hot weather is still so disagreeable.）

But to Moon she said, “Daughter, because you remembered your mother, and kept for her a share in your own enjoyment, from henceforth you shall be ever cool, and calm, and bright. No noxious glare shall accompany your pure rays, and men shall always call you BLESSED.”

（And that is why the moon's light is so soft, and cool, and beautiful even to this day.）

解 說

有一天，太陽、月亮，和風出門與他們的雷叔叔、電阿姨聚餐。他們的母親（遠在天空中最遙遠的恆星之一）在家等待她的孩子。

太陽與風這兩個，都是既貪婪又自私的傢伙。他們很享受為他們準備的豐盛筵席，絲毫沒想到要帶回家給他們的母親，但是，溫柔的月亮並沒有忘記她。每樣精緻的點心送到面前時，她都用她的美麗的長手指，留下一部分準備帶回家給媽媽，讓那遙遠的恆星也可以分享。

當他們返家，他們的母親、整晚用晶亮眼睛守望著他們的星星說：「孩子們，你們帶了什麼回家給我嗎？」排行老大的太陽說：「我什麼都沒給妳帶，我享受和我的朋友們聚餐，不是去給母親帶晚餐！」風接著說：「我也什麼都沒給妳帶，媽媽。你很難指望我帶東西給妳啊，我只是出去自我享樂。」但月亮說：「媽媽，拿盤子來，看看我給妳帶了些什麼。」說著搖晃她的手，抖落許許多多的精緻點心—前所未見的晚餐組合。

隨後，星星對太陽說：「因為你出去與朋友娛樂自己，獨享你自己的快樂時光，完全沒有想過在家裡的母親，你將被詛咒。從今以後，你的光芒將永遠是赤熱炎炎，觸及之處像要燃燒；人們恨你，當你出現時，他們會遮蓋自己的頭。」

（這就是為什麼，太陽一整天都這麼熱。）

然後她轉向風說：「你忘了你自己的母親，只顧你的自私樂趣，聽聽你的後果，你將永遠在炎熱乾燥的天氣吹動，使萬物乾涸枯萎，人們必因此憎惡、躲著你。」

（這就是為什麼在炎熱的天氣，風還是那麼不討喜。）

但是看到月亮，她說：「女兒，因為妳記掛母親，不停地努力讓她也感受妳嘗到的幸福滋味，所以從今以後，你會永遠冷靜、沉穩，而且皎潔明亮，沒有眩光妨礙妳純真的光芒，人們將永遠叫妳「受祝福的」。

（這就是為什麼月亮的光芒是如此柔和，清爽美觀，直到今天）。