The Oyster and the Pleaders
A free B2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Two pilgrims spot an oyster on the beach and can't agree who gets to eat it, so they take their squabble to a judge — with a verdict neither of them expected.
One day two pilgrims espied upon the sands of the shore an oyster that had been thrown up by the tide. They devoured it with their eyes whilst pointing at it with their fingers; but whose teeth should deal with it was a matter of dispute.
Un día, dos peregrinos divisaron en la arena de la playa una ostra que la marea había arrojado a la orilla. La devoraron con los ojos mientras la señalaban con los dedos; pero a quién le correspondían los dientes que se ocuparan de ella era motivo de disputa.
When one stopped to pick up the prey the other pushed him away saying: "It would be just as well first to decide which of us is to have the pleasure of it. He who first saw it should swallow it, and let the other watch him eat."
Cuando uno se detuvo a recoger la presa, el otro lo empujó diciendo: «Sería mejor decidir primero cuál de los dos tendrá el placer de comerla. Quien la vio primero debe tragársela, y que el otro lo mire comer.»
"If you settle the affair that way," replied his companion, "I have good eyes, thank God."
«Si arreglas el asunto así,» respondió su compañero, «yo tengo buenos ojos, gracias a Dios.»
"But my sight is not bad either," said the other, "and I saw it before you did, and that I'll stake my life upon."
«Pero mi vista tampoco es mala,» dijo el otro, «y la vi antes que tú, y en eso me jugaría la vida.»
"Well, suppose you did see it, I smelt it."
«Bueno, supongamos que la viste, yo la olí.»
During this lively interlude Justice Nincompoop arrived on the scene, and to him they appealed to judge their claims. The justice very gravely took the oyster, opened it, and put it into his mouth, whilst the two claimants looked on. Having deliberately swallowed the oyster, the justice, in the portentous tones of a Lord Chief Justice, said, "The court here awards each of you a shell, without costs. Let each go home peaceably."
Durante este animado intercambio llegó al lugar el Juez Necio, y a él acudieron para que juzgara sus reclamos. El juez, muy solemnemente, tomó la ostra, la abrió, y se la llevó a la boca, mientras los dos reclamantes miraban. Habiendo tragado deliberadamente la ostra, el juez, con el tono grandilocuente de un Lord Presidente del Tribunal, dijo: «El tribunal aquí concede a cada uno de vosotros una concha, sin costas. Que cada uno vuelva a casa en paz.»
Reckon what it costs to go to law in these days. Then count what remains to most families. You will see that Justice Nincompoop draws all the money and leaves only the empty purse and the shells to the litigants.
Calculad lo que cuesta ir a juicio en estos días. Luego contad lo que le queda a la mayoría de las familias. Veréis que el Juez Necio se lleva todo el dinero y deja solo la bolsa vacía y las conchas a los litigantes.
