The 1st wife is in fact our soul， often neglected in our pursuit of material， wealth and sensual pleasure.
The Four Wives
There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much. Hes very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However， the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.
至于第一个妻子，她就是我们的灵魂。当我们沉迷于追求物质、金钱或感官享受时，她常会被遗弃在一边。
一生中的四位爱人
从前有一位富商娶了四个妻子。他最爱他的第四个妻子，给她买了华丽的衣服和美味佳肴。他对她体贴入微，把最好的东西全都给了她。
商人也很爱第三个妻子。他为她感到自豪，并经常把她作为在朋友面前炫耀的资本。但他同时也常常担忧，怕她和其他的男人私奔了。
He too， loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerateconsiderate adj.考虑周到的 person， always patient and in fact is the merchants confidanteconfidante n.知己的女友 . Whenever the merchant faced some problems， he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.
Now， the merchants 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However， the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply， he hardly took notice of her.
One day， the merchant fell ill. Before long， he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxuriousluxurious adj.奢侈的， 豪华的 life and told himself， “Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die， Ill be alone. How lonely Ill be！”
当然商人也爱他的第二个妻子，她既善解人意又很有耐心。事实上，她是商人的红颜知己。每当遇到困难，他就会来找她，而她也总会助他走出困境，挺过难关。
至于第一个妻子，她是一个忠诚的伴侣，替他照管生意、打理家务，忙个不停，可谓劳苦功高。可是，尽管她爱得如此之深，商人却偏偏不钟情于她，甚至没有把她放在心上。
一天，商人得了重病，他自知不久之后将离开尘世。当他回首自己奢华的一生，不禁心中怅然：“现在我虽然有四个妻子相伴，但死后却要孤单一人。多么寂寞啊！”
Thus， he asked the 4th wife， “I loved you most， and owed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that Im dying， will you follow me and keep me company？” “No way！” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchants heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife， “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that Im dying， will you follow me and keep me company？”
“No！” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here！ Im going to remarry when you die！” The merchants heart sank and turned cold.
He then asked the 2nd wife， “I always turned to you for help and youve always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die， will you follow me and keep me company？”
于是他问第四个妻子：“我最疼爱你，给你买最美丽的衣服，还对你呵护周到。现在我就要离开这个世界了，你愿意陪我而去，与我作伴吗？”“绝不可能！”她丢下一句话，独自走开了。
小妻子的回答像一把尖刀一样插在了商人心上。伤心的商人随却去问第三个妻子：“我一直对你备加宠爱。如今我不久于人世，你愿意陪我而去，与我作伴吗？”
“不！”她拒绝道，“人世生活多么美好啊！你死后我会嫁给他人！”商人的心倏地下沉，渐渐变冷。
他再转向第二个妻子，问道：“我过去常求助于你，你也总会为我排忧解难。现在我想再请你帮我一次。我死后，你愿意陪我而去，与我作伴吗？”
“Im sorry， I cant help you out this time！” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most， I can only send you to your gravegrave n.墓穴， 坟墓 .” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.
Then a voice called out： “Ill leave with you. Ill follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinnyskinny adj.皮的， 似皮的， 膜状的， 小的 ， almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved， the merchant said， “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have！”
Actually， we all have 4 wives in our lives.
The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good， itll leave us when we die.
Our 3rd wife is our possessions， status and wealth. When we die， they all go to others.
“很遗憾，这一次我帮不了你了，”她说，“我至多只能让你入土为安。”这句话如同晴天霹雳，商人彻底绝望了。
这时候，旁边传来了一个声音：“我愿意随你一起离去。无论你到哪里，我都会陪着你。”商人抬起头，看到是自己的大妻子。她是那么瘦弱，一副营养不良的样子。商人万分悲痛，他说：“我过去就该好好地珍惜你啊！”
其实，我们每个人的一生都有四位爱人相陪伴。
第四个妻子代表了我们的身体。无论我们花费多少的时间与精力想去打扮她，我们死后它终会离弃我们而去。
第三个妻子代表财产、地位与金钱。一旦我们撒手人寰，它终究会投向别人。
The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when were alive， the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
The 1st wife is in fact our soul， often neglected in our pursuitpursuit n. 追求， 追击 of material， wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what？ It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps its a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until were on our deathbed to lamentlament vi.悔恨， 悲叹vt.哀悼n.悲伤， 哀悼， 恸哭， 挽诗， 悼词 .
第二个妻子则代表了我们的家人与朋友。我们活着时，无论他们与我们如何亲近，死后他们至多也只能到墓前送我们最后的一程。
至于第一个妻子，她就是我们的灵魂。当我们沉迷于追求物质、金钱或感官享受时，她常会被遗弃在一边。
结果呢？她才是惟一与我们相伴终生的。也许从现在开始，我们就应悉心照顾好她，而不是等到临死之前才悔恨不已。
正如文中所讲，我们每个人的一生都有四位爱人相伴。实质是一种人生的态度。而我们最倾心拥有的应该是自己的灵魂，一个人灵魂高尚如否，直接影响到这个人的一生。因此，我们要不断充实自己的心灵，让她不至于干枯。说到底，就是我们的精神世界。
