书城童书伊索寓言(中英双语·百年纪念版)
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第23章

A wolf stole a lamb from the flock,and was carrying it off to devour it at his leisure when he met a Lion,who took his prey away from him and walked off with it.He dared not resist,but when the Lion had gone some distance he said,“It is most unjust of you to take what’s mine away from me like that.”The Lion laughed and called out in reply,“It was justly yours,no doubt!The gift of a friend,perhaps,eh?”

{中文阅读}

一次,狼从羊群中抢走一只羊,正叼着小羊往回走时,碰上了一只狮子。狮子立刻从狼口里抢走羊,大摇大摆地走了。狼不敢反抗,只好乖乖等着狮子走远了,才说:“你抢走属于我的猎物,太不正当了。”狮子笑着说:“那么,这东西是你正当获得的吗,无疑是朋友送给你的,对吗?”

THE SHEEP,THE WOLF,AND THE STAG

鹿、狼和羊

A Stag once asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat,saying that his friend the Wolf would be his surety.The Sheep,however,was afraid that they meant to cheat her;so she excused herself,saying,“The Wolf is in the habit of seizing what he wants and running off with it without paying,and you,too,can run much faster than I.So how shall I be able to come up with either of you when the debt falls due?”

Two blacks do not make a white.

{中文阅读}

一只鹿跑去请求羊借给他一斗麦子,并说他的朋友——狼可以作担保。然而,羊担心他们俩合伙欺骗自己,便找了个借口,说:“狼有个坏习惯,抢完他想要的东西后便跑了,从不归还;而你则跑得比我快多了,所以等到你们该还账时,我怎么能追得上你们呀?”

两黑不等于一白。

THE LION AND THE THREE BULLS

狮子和三头公牛

Three Bulls were grazing in a meadow,and were watched by a Lion,who longed to capture and devour them,but who felt that he was no match for the three so long as they kept together.So he began by false whispers and malicious hints to foment jealousies and distrust among them.This stratagem succeeded so well that ere long the Bulls grew cold and unfriendly,and ?nally avoided each other and fed each one by himself apart.No sooner did the Lion see this than he fell upon them one by one and killed them in turn.

The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes.

{中文阅读}

三头公牛住在一个草场里,窥探已久的一只狮子想要吃掉他们,可是只要公牛团结一致,狮子就无法得逞。于是,狮子便在公牛之中煽风点火,不怀好意地挑拨离间,令他们产生冲突和愤恨。狮子的计谋终于得逞了,三头公牛不如以前那么友好了,相互之间很冷淡,随后互不相见,各自到草场里吃草。这时,狮子轻而易举地依次吃掉了三头公牛。

朋友间的争吵,就是在给敌人制造机会。

THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER

马和骑手

A Young Man,who fancied himself something of a horseman,mounted a Horse which had not been properly broken in,and was exceedingly dif?cult to control.No sooner did the Horse feel his weight in the saddle than he bolted,and nothing would stop him.A friend of the Rider’s met him in the road in his headlong career,and called out,“Where are you off to in such a hurry?”To which he,pointing to the Horse,replied,“I’ve no idea:ask him.”

{中文阅读}

一个年轻人自诩为骑师,爬上了一匹并没有受过良好训练的马,而且这匹马极其难以驾驭。马一感受到背上的重量,就狂奔起来,什么也挡不住他。骑手的一个朋友在路上遇见了他,大声叫道:“你这是急着去哪里呀?”骑手指着马回答说:“我也不知道,你问他吧。”

THE GOAT AND THE VINE

母山羊与葡萄藤

A Goat was straying in a vineyard,and began to browse on the tender shoots of a Vine which bore several ?ne bunches of grapes.“What have I done to you,”said the Vine,“that you should harm me thus?Isn’t there grass enough for you to feed on?All the same,even if you eat up every leaf I have,and leave me quite bare,I shall produce wine enough to pour over you when you are led to the altar to be sacri?ced.”

{中文阅读}

一只母山羊在葡萄园里闲逛,她看到一株刚刚长出几串葡萄的葡萄藤,就过去吃起了它的嫩叶。葡萄藤对母山羊说:“我做过什么对不起你的事吗?难道地上没有青草吃了?即便你吃光了我所有的叶子,让我变成光秃秃的藤,当你被放在祭坛上作为祭祀品时,浇灌到你身上的葡萄酒也全是我产出来的。”

THE TWO POTS

两口锅

Two Pots,one of earthenware and the other of brass,were carried away down a river in flood.The Brazen Pot urged his companion to keep close by his side,and he would protect him.The other thanked him,but begged him not to come near him on any account:“For that,”he said,“is just what I am most afraid of.One touch from you and I should be broken in pieces.”

Equals make the best friends.

{中文阅读}

两口锅被洪水冲进了河里,一口是瓦锅,另一口是铜锅。铜锅催促同伴靠近他一些,这样才能保护他。可是,瓦锅却多谢铜锅的好意,并求他不要靠近自己。瓦锅说:“这正是我最担心的事情。只要你一碰我,我必定会粉身碎骨。”

水平相当的两者,才会成为好朋友。