五月里的一天，欢乐和哀愁在湖边相遇。她们互相招呼，在靠近湖水的地方坐下谈话。
欢乐谈到大地上的美丽事物，谈到山间林中日常生活的奇趣，谈到早晨和黄昏听见的歌声。
接着是哀愁说话，欢乐所说的种种她都同意；因为哀愁懂得光阴的魔力以及此中的美丽。
哀愁说到五月的田野和山间景象时，她也是滔滔不绝的。
欢乐和哀愁一起谈了好久，她们对她们所见识到的一切事物，观点都是一致的。
却说这时在湖水那一边走过两个猎人。猎人越过湖水遥望，其中一人说："我不知道这两个人是谁。"第二个猎人道："你说是两个人？我只看见一个人嘛。"
第一个猎人说："确实有两个人。"第二个猎人道："我看得见的，只有一个人；湖里也只有一个人的倒影。"
"不，有两个人，"第一个猎人道："平静湖水里也是两个人的倒影。"
可是第二个猎人又说：我只看见一个人。"第一个猎人又道："可是我明明白白看见两个人。"
直至今日，第二个猎人说第一个猎人眼花了，看一物而见两形，而第一个猎人则说道："我的朋友是多少有点儿盲目的。"
The Two Hunters
Upon a day in May, Joy and Sorrow met beside a lake. They greeted one another, and they sat down near the quiet waters and conversed.
Joy spoke of the beauty which is upon the earth, and the daily wonder of life in the forest and among the hills, and of the songs heard at dawn and eventide.
And sorrow spoke, and agreed with all that Joy had said; for Sorrow knew the magic of the hour and the beauty thereof. And Sorrow was eloquent when he spoke of may in the fields and among the hills.
And Joy and Sorrow talked long together, and they agreed upon all things of which they knew.
Now there passed by on the other side of the lake two hunters. And as they looked across the water one of them said, "I wonder who are those two persons?" And the other said, "Did you say two? I see only one."
The first hunter said, "But there are two." And the second said, "There is only one that I can see, and the reflection in the lake is only one."
"Nay, there are two," said the first hunter, "and the reflection in the still water is of two persons."
But the second man said again, "Only one do I see." And again the other said, "But I see two so plainly."
And even unto this day one hunter says that the other sees double; while the other says, "My friend is somewhat blind."