벙어리 거지

A beggar thought he would pretend to be dumb. One day a gentleman who had known the beggar by sight passed by. He went up to the beggar and asked him suddenly: "How long have you been dumb?" The beggar was taken by surprised and quite forgot that he was 'dumb'. He answered quickly: "Oh, ever since I was born, sir."

한 거지가 벙어리인 체 하기로 마음을 먹었다. 어느날 거지의 얼굴만 알고 있는 신사가 지나가다가 거지에게 다가가서 갑자기 물었다. "벙어리가 된지 얼마나 되었소?" 거지는 불시에 질문을 받아 자기가 벙어리 노릇을 하고 있다는 것을 잊고 재빨리 대답을 했다. "오, 선생님, 제가 태어난 때부터였습니다."