I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper
or heaviest burden.
私はあなたの一番の協力者にもなれば,
I will push you onward
or drag you down to failure.
私はあなたの背中を押して前に進めもすれば,
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do
you might just as well turn over to me,
and I will be able to do them quickly, correctly.
あなたがやることの半分は
私に任せた方がいいと思いますよ。
私なら素早く正確にできますから。
I am easily managed
-you must merely be firm with me.
私の扱いは簡単で,
Show me exactly how you want something done,
and after a few lessons
I will do it automatically.
何をどうしてほしいかはっきり教えてもらったら,
あとは何度か練習するだけで
I am the servant of all great people;
and alas,
of all failures as well.
私はあらゆる偉人たちのしもべ。
ところが残念なことに,
Those who are failures,
I have made failures.
だめな人たちは,
I am not a macine,
though I work with all the precision of a machine
plus the intelligence of a human being.
私は機械ではありませんが,
機械並みの正確さに加えて,
You may run me for a profit
or turn me for ruin
-it makes no difference to me.
私を使って大もうけすることもできますが,
破産することもありますよ。
Take me, train me, be firm with me,
and I will place the world at your feet.
私を厳しく躾ければ,
Be easy with me
and I will destroy you.
でも甘やかしたら,
Who am I? 私は誰でしょう?
Anonymous 作者不明