白蛇
A long time ago there lived a king who was famed for his wisdom through all the land. Nothing was hidden from him， and it seemed as if news of the most secret things was brought to him through the air. But he had a strange custom， every day after dinner， when the table was cleared， and no one else was present， a trusty servant had to bring him one more dish. It was covered， however， and even the servant did not know what was in it， neither did anyone know， for the king never took off the cover to eat of it until he was quite alone. This had gone on for a long time， when one day the servant， who took away the dish， was overcomeovercome vt.战胜， 克服， 胜过， 征服 with such curiositycuriosity n.好奇心 that he could not help carrying the dish into his room. When he had carefully locked the door， he lifted up the cover， and saw a white snake lying on the dish. But when he saw it he could not deny himself the pleasure of tasting it， so he cut off a little bit and put it into his mouth. No sooner had it touched his tongue than he heard a strange whispering of little voices outside his window. He went and listened， and then noticed that it was the sparrowssparrow n.[鸟］麻雀 who were chattering together， and telling one another of all kinds of things which they had seen in the fields and woods. Eating the snake had given him power of understanding the language of animals. 很久很久以前，有一个以智慧闻名全国的国王。他无所不知，无所不晓，似乎就连最秘密的事情，他都能得到消息。国王有一个奇怪的习惯：每天中午，餐桌已经收拾干净，其他人全下席走了，一名亲信的侍从就给他送来一碗食物。因为碗是盖着的，侍从自己也不知道里面装的什么，也没有任何别的人知道——要知道餐厅里仅仅剩下国王一个人，才揭盖吃。这样过了很久，终于有一天，来端碗的侍从再也抵挡不住自己的好奇心，于是把碗端进了他的房中。他先小心锁上房门，然后揭开碗盖一看，里面原来盘着一条白蛇。看见那白生生的蛇肉，他忍不住想尝一尝，便割下一块来送进嘴里。哪晓得舌头刚一碰着，他突然就听见窗前有一些纤细声音在窃窃私语，那情形很奇怪。他走过去侧耳细听，发现原来是一群麻雀在聊天，讲述着他们田野和森林里的所见所闻。就因为吃了白蛇肉，他现在能听懂鸟兽的语言啦！ Now it so happened that on this very day the queen lost her most beautiful ring， and suspicion of having stolen it fell upon this trusty servant， who was allowed to go everywhere. The king ordered the man to be brought before him， and threatened with angry words that unless he could before the morrow point out the thief， he himself should be looked upon as guiltyguilty adj.犯罪的， 有罪的， 心虚的 and executedexecute vt.执行， 实行， 完成， 处死， 制成， [律］经签名盖章等手续使（证书）生效。 In vain he declared his innocence， he was dismisseddismiss vt.解散， 下课， 开除， 解职， 使（或让）离开 with no better answer. In his trouble and fear he went down into the courtyardcourtyard n.庭院， 院子 and took thought how to help himself out of his trouble. Now some ducks were sitting together quietly by a brook and taking their rest， and， whilst they were making their feathers smooth with their bills， they were having a confidential conversation together. The servant stood by and listened. They were telling one another of all the places where they had been waddlingwaddle v.蹒跚而行 about all the morning， and what good food they had found， and one said in a pitiful tone， “Something lies heavy on my stomach， as I was eating in haste I swallowed a ring which lay under the queens window.” The servant at once seized her by the neck， carried her to the kitchen， and said to the cook， “Here is a fine duck， pray， kill her.” “Yes. ”said the cook， and weighedweigh vt.称……重量， 称 her in his hand， she has spared no trouble to fatten herself， and has been waiting to be roasted long enough. So he cut off her head， and as she was being dressed for the spit， the queens ring was found inside her. The servant could now easily prove his innocence， and the king， to make amendsamends n.（对毁坏， 损坏的）赔偿， 赔礼 for the wrong， allowed him to ask a favor， and promised him the best place in the court that he could wish for. 事有凑巧，王后刚好在那一天丢失了最漂亮的戒指，因为侍从哪儿都可以去，偷戒指的嫌疑便落在了他身上。国王把他叫去大骂一通，威胁说要是明天他还指不出小偷是谁，那就当他是小偷儿，将他处决。他怎么保证清白无辜都没用，被国王严厉地赶了出去。他心烦意乱，忧心忡忡，走到院子里考虑来考虑去，想着怎样才能脱离困境呢？这时，在院里的小溪旁边安安静静地坐着一群鸭子，它们一边用喙儿梳理自己身上的羽毛，一边亲亲热热地交谈。侍从停住脚步，仔细听鸭子们在讲，它们今天早上都逛过哪些地方，找到了什么好吃的东西。这时，只听一只鸭子抱怨：“我胃里真难受啊，都怪自己慌里慌张，把掉在王后窗下的一枚戒指也吞下去了。”侍从立刻抓住这只鸭子的脖颈，把它拎进厨房，对厨师说：“宰掉这家伙，它已养得挺肥！”“好的，”厨师掂了掂它的重量，回答：“这家伙很会吃，早等着进烤炉啦。”说着就砍掉鸭脖子，掏出鸭内脏，王后的那枚戒指果然在它的胃里。这下侍从就对国王证明了自己的清白。国王感到对不起他，就允许他提出一个请求，并答应赐给他希望在宫中得到的最显赫的职位。