书城童书伊索寓言(中英双语·百年纪念版)
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第29章

Two Frogs were neighbours.One lived in a marsh,where there was plenty of water,which frogs love:the other in a lane some distance away,where all the water to be had was that which lay in the ruts after rain.The Marsh Frog warned his friend and pressed him to come and live with him in the marsh,for he would ?nd his quarters there far more comfortable and—what was still more important—more safe.But the other refused,saying that he could not bring himself to move from a place to which he had become accustomed.A few days afterwards a heavy waggon came down the lane,and he was crushed to death under the wheels.

{中文阅读}

两只青蛙比邻而居。一只住在青蛙们钟爱的湿地里,另一只却住在稍微远一点的一条小路上,只有下过雨后,那里才能形成一个小水洼。住在湿地里的青蛙提醒并督促自己的朋友,尽快搬到湿地这边来住,因为这里十分舒适,更重要的是,这里更安全。可是,另一只青蛙却拒绝了,说自己不想离开已经习惯了的地方。结果,没过几天,一辆载着重物的货车经过小路,而这只青蛙不幸被车轮碾死了。

THE COBBLER TURNED DOCTOR

修鞋匠行医

A very unskilful Cobbler,?nding himself unable to make a living at his trade,gave up mending boots and took to doctoring instead.He gave out that he had the secret of a universal antidote against all poisons,and acquired no small reputation,thanks to his talent for puf?ng himself.One day,however,he fell very ill;and the King of the country bethought him that he would test the value of his remedy.Calling,therefore,for a cup,he poured out a dose of the antidote,and,under pretence of mixing poison with it,added a little water,and commanded him to drink it.Terri?ed by the fear of being poisoned,the Cobbler confessed that he knew nothing about medicine,and that his antidote was worthless.Then the King summoned his subjects and addressed them as follows:“What folly could be greater than yours?Here is this Cobbler to whom no one will send his boots to be mended,and yet you have not hesitated to entrust him with your lives!”

{中文阅读}

一个手艺不怎么样的鞋匠发现自己无法靠修鞋来维持生计,便放弃了补鞋的活,改行做起了医生。他对外宣称自己有一个可祛百毒的解药秘方,因为出色的吹牛本领,他骗取了人们的信任,赢得了好名声。然而,有一天,他自己得了重病。国王想借此试验一下他的药效,因此便叫人拿来一个杯子,倒了一点他的解药,然后加了些水,谎称这是毒药,随后又命令他喝下去。补鞋匠担心会中毒,便承认自己并不懂什么医药知识,而那个解药也一无是处。国王便召集起所有臣民,对他们说:“你们简直都愚笨至极,这就是那个没人愿意让他给补靴子的修鞋匠,而你们竟然毫不犹豫地将自己的性命托付给他!”

159

THE ASS,THE COCK,AND THE LION

驴、公鸡和狮子

An Ass and a Cock were in a cattle-pen together.Presently a Lion,who had been starving for days,came along and was just about to fall upon the Ass and make a meal of him when the Cock,rising to his full height and flapping his wings vigorously,uttered a tremendous crow.Now,if there is one thing that frightens a Lion,it is the crowing of a Cock:and this one had no sooner heard the noise than he ?ed.The Ass was mightily elated at this,and thought that,if the Lion couldn’t face a Cock,he would be still less likely to stand up to an Ass:so he ran out and pursued him.But when the two had got well out of sight and hearing of the Cock,the Lion suddenly turned upon the Ass and ate him up.

False con?dence often leads to disaster.

{中文阅读}

一头驴和一只公鸡在牛圈里一起生活。不久,一只饿了好几天的狮子走过来,想要逮一头驴当饭吃。这时,公鸡站起来,扑腾着翅膀大叫了起来。假如真有什么东西能使狮子害怕的话,那一定是公鸡扑腾着翅膀的大叫声。而驴却因此而洋洋自得,心想如果狮子都不敢面对一只小公鸡,那就更不敢面对一头驴了。于是,他立即跑出去追赶狮子。然而,等他们跑远了,听不到公鸡的叫声时,狮子猛然转过身来,把驴吃掉了。

盲目的自信通常会导致失败。

THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS

胃和体内的各器官