AND WHAT THEN
1.A STORY is told of a good man who was living at a university，when a young man，whom he had known as a boy，ran up to him with a face full of delight，and told him that what he had long been wishing above all things in the world was at length fulfilled；his parents having just given him leave to study law；and thereupon he had come to the law school at his university on account of his great fame，and meant to spare no labor or pains in getting through his studies as quickly and as well as possible.In this way he ran on a long time；and when at last he came to a stop，the holy man，who had been listening to him with great patience and kindness，said：“Well，and when you have got through your course of studies，what do you mean to do then？”
2.“Then I shall take my doctor‘s degree，”answered the young man.“And what then？”asked he.“And then，”continued the youth，“I shall have a number of difficult and knotty causes to manage，shall catch people’s notice by my eloquence，my zeal，my acuteness，and gain a great reputation.”“And what then？”repeated the holy man.“And then，”replied the youth，“there can‘t be a question，I shall be promoted to some high office or other，besides I shall make money and grow rich.”“And what then，”repeated the good man.“And then，”pursued the young lawyer，“then I shall live comfortably and honorably in wealth and dignity，and shall be able to look forward quietly to a happy old age.”“And what then？”“And then，”said the youth，“then I shall die.”
3.Here the holy man again asked，“And what then？”Whereupon the young man made no answer，but cast down his head and wentaway.The last，And what then？had pierced like a flash of lightning into his soul，and he could not get clear of it.Soon after he forsook the study of law，and gave himself up to the ministry of Christ，and spent the remainder of his days in godly words and works.
4.The question which was put to the young lawyer，is one which we should put frequently to ourselves.When we have done all that we are doing，all that we aim at doing，all that we dream of doing，even supposing that all our dreams are accomplished，that every wish of our heart is fulfilled，still we may ask，what will we do，what will be then？Whenever we cast our thoughts forward，never let them stop short on this side of the grave；let them not stop short at the grave itself；but when we have followed ourselves thither，and have seen ourselves laid therein，still ask ourselves the searching question，And what then？
中文阅读
1.这个故事的主人公是一个心地善良的人，他住在一所大学里。一天，一个年轻人来找他，面露喜色。这个年轻人小的时候他就认识，年轻人说他一直梦想着的，他在这世界上最想做的事终于实现了：他的父母允许他去学法律了，于是他就来到了这所当地知名的高等学府。他决心竭尽全力尽快地完成学业，尽可能做到最好。就这样，他滔滔不绝地说了很久，最后停了下来。这个心地纯洁善良的人一直非常耐心、非常慈祥地听他把话说完，然后问：“那么，就算你已经完成了学业，接下来你打算做什么呢？”
2.“接下来，我要取得博士学位。”年轻人回答说。“取得博士学位之后呢？”他又问。“之后，”年轻人继续说，“我要处理一些疑难案件，我的口才、我的热情、我的敏锐会吸引公众的注意，我将获得显赫的声誉。”“之后呢？”这个心地纯洁的人重复道。“之后，”年轻人回答，“毫无疑问，我将会被提拔到重要岗位上，此外，我还会赚钱发财。”“之后呢？”这个心地善良的人重复着。“之后，”年轻人继续说，“我将高贵而体面地活着，过得富有而舒适，然后安度晚年。”“然后呢？”“然后……”年轻人说，“最后我会死去。”
3.听到这里，这个心地纯洁的人再一次问道：“那么，之后呢？”年轻人回答不上来了，沮丧地低头离开了。最后会怎么样呢？这个问题就像一道闪电穿透了年轻人的灵魂，让他不知所措。很快，他放弃了学习法律，投身到基督教的“社会福音”事业中，他的后半生在虔诚的信念中度过。
4.摆在这个年轻人面前的问题，也是我们应当经常自省的问题。当我们完成了自己计划要做的一切，即我们的所有目标、我们的所有梦想，假设我们的所有梦想都实现了，我们心中的所有愿望都达成了，我们仍然会问：我们还要做什么？下一件该做的事是什么？无论什么时候，我们都会把自己的想法付诸实践，不会让它早早夭折；可是，当我们坚持下来，并且看到自己已经到达彼岸时，我们仍然要自问这个发人深省的问题：接下来要做什么呢？
THE PRODIGAL SON
