A CERTAIN MAN made a wooden image of Mercury and offered it for sale. —
有个人做了一个木制的水星雕像，并正在出售。 —

When no one appeared willing to buy it, in order to attract purchasers, he cried out that he had the statue to sell of a benefactor who bestowed wealth and helped to heap up riches. —
当无人愿意购买时，为了吸引购买者，他大声喊着，声称这是个能带来财富和积累财富的恩人的雕像。 —

One of the bystanders said to him, “My good fellow, why do you sell him, being such a one as you describe, when you may yourself enjoy the good things he has to give? —
一个旁观者对他说：“我的朋友，既然你说他是如此伟大的人，为什么要出售他呢？你自己不也可以享受他的好处吗？” —

’ “Why,” he replied, “I am in need of immediate help, and he is wont to give his good gifts very slowly.”
“哦，”他回答说，“我现在需要即时的帮助，而他通常会很慢才给予他的好处。”