原文作者：子昊

　one gloomy2） day， the clock on a church steeple3）， looking down on a sundial， said， "how stupid it is in you to stand there all the while like a stock4）.
 　　"you never tell the hour till a bright sun looks forth from the sky and gives you leave5）. i go merrily round， day and night， in summer and winter the same， without asking his leave.
 　　"i tell people the time to rise， to go to dinner， and to come to church.
　　"hark6）！ i am going to strike now； one， two， three， four. there it is for you. how silly you look！ you can say nothing."[论文网]
 　　the sun， at that moment， broke forth from behind a cloud， and showed by the sundial， that the clock was half an hour behind the right time.
 　　the boasting clock now held his tongue7）， and the dial only smiled at his folly8）.
 　　一个阴天，教堂钟塔上的时钟很鄙视地对日晷说道：“你整天都像个木头桩子似的杵在那儿，多蠢哪。www.11665.cOm
　　“如果没有明媚的阳光从天空照下来给你指示，你根本就无法显示时间。我却在快乐地走着，从早到晚，无论冬夏，不需要向太阳请示。
　　“我告诉人们什么时候该起床、吃饭，什么时候来教堂。
　　“听着！我马上就要报时了。一，二，三，四。听见了吧？你看起来可真傻！什么话都不会说。”
　　就在这时，太阳破云而出，在日晷上显示的时间证明时钟慢了半个小时。
　　这下，自吹自擂的时钟不吱声了，而日晷对时钟的愚蠢只是一笑了之。