烏鴉和天鵝

The Raven and the Swan

烏鴉夢想自己也能擁有和天鵝一樣潔白美麗的羽毛。他猜想，天鵝的羽毛之所以那么潔白，一定是常常洗澡的原因。于是，他決定離開賴以生存的祭壇，搬到江湖邊居住。他每天清洗自己的羽毛，可是不僅羽毛沒有洗白，反而因為缺少食物而餓死了。

天生的東西是不會隨生活方式的改變而改變的。

A Raven saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan's splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam， the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living， and took up residence in the lakes and pools.But cleansing his feathers as often as he would， he could not change their color， while through want of food he perished.

Change of habit cannot alter Nature.

小燕子和烏鴉

The Swallow and the Crow

小燕子和烏鴉在爭論誰的羽毛最美。烏鴉說道：“你的羽毛只有在春天暖和的時候才是美麗的，而我的羽毛卻能幫助我抵御寒冷的冬天。”

對朋友諂媚是毫無意義的。

The Swallow and the Crow had a contention about their plumage. The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying， "Your feathers are all very well in the spring， but mine protect me against the winter."

Fair weather friends are not worth much.

徒勞的寒鴉

The Vain Jackdaw

朱庇特決定要給鳥類指派一個國王，他定下日子，要求所有的鳥兒都要來參加。他要選擇最漂亮的鳥當國王。

寒鴉知道自己的長相丑陋不堪，于是就去搜集同伴們掉在地上的羽毛，并用它們來裝扮自己，希望能成為最漂亮的鳥。

預定的日子到了，鳥兒們都把自己打扮得漂漂亮亮，來到朱庇特面前。朱庇特發現寒鴉的羽毛非常漂亮，打算任命他為國王。鳥兒們非常憤慨，將寒鴉團團圍住，把他身上屬于自己的羽毛都拔了下來。結果，寒鴉恢復了本來面目，依舊丑陋不堪。

外表不能代表一切。

Jupiter determined， it is said， to create a sovereign over the birds， and made proclamation that on a certain day they should all present themselves before him， when he would himself choose the most beautiful among them to be king.

The Jackdaw， knowing his own ugliness， searched through the woods and fields， and collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his companions， and stuck them in all parts of his body， hoping thereby to make himself the most beautiful of all.

When the appointed day arrived， and the birds had assembled before Jupiter， the Jackdaw also made his appearance in his many feathered finery. But when Jupiter proposed to make him king because of the beauty of his plumage， the birds indignantly protested， and each plucked from him his own feathers， leaving the Jackdaw nothing but a Jackdaw.

A fine bird is more than fine feathers.

口渴的鴿子

The Thirsty Pigeon

有只鴿子口渴得很厲害，看到一幅畫著一盆水的畫，誤以為是真的，就大叫一聲，振翅向這幅畫飛去，不料重重地撞到了貼畫的木板上，頭破血流，翅膀也折斷了，跌倒在地，變成了別人的囊中之物。

做事沖動，只能自取滅亡。

A Pigeon， oppressed by excessive thirst， saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture， she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard， jarring herself terribly.Having broken her wings by the blow， she fell to the ground， and was caught by one of the bystanders.

Zeal should not outrun discretion.

孔雀和仙鶴

The Peacock and the Crane

一只孔雀得意洋洋地展示自己無比美麗的羽毛，看到正好經過的鶴，就嘲弄他那灰不溜秋的羽毛：“你看我的羽毛，就像是國王的一件禮服，采擷了天上彩虹的顏色。”鶴回答說：“你說得確實不錯。但是我可以在高空翱翔，讓星星聽到我的歌聲，而你呢，卻只會像公雞一樣在地上行走。”

外在的美麗并不是一切。

A Peacock spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane that passed by， ridiculing the ashen hue of its plumage and saying， "I am robed， like a king， in gold and purple and all the colors of the rainbow； while you have not a bit of color on your wings."

"True， "replied the Crane， "but I soar to the heights of heaven and lift up my voice to the stars， while you walk below， like a cock， among the birds of the dunghill."

Fine feathers don't make fine birds.

烏鴉和渡鴉

The Crow and the Raven

烏鴉非常嫉妒渡鴉，因為渡鴉被人們稱為靈鳥，能夠預言未來吉兇，因此人們總是把關注的目光投向渡鴉。不服氣的烏鴉決定也要為自己爭取這份榮譽。一天，他看到路上有幾個人，就在樹上停下，呱呱地大聲叫起來。過路人聽到聲音就回頭看，正要靠近看時，被他的同伴攔住了。同伴說：“咱們還是趕快離開吧！你沒聽說過烏鴉啼叫代表將要發生不吉利的事情嗎？”

不自量力只能給別人留下笑柄。

A Crow was jealous of the Raven， because he was considered a bird of good omen and always attracted the attention of men， who noted by his flight the good or evil course of future events. Seeing some travelers approaching， the Crow flew up into a tree， and perching herself on one of the branches， cawed as loudly as she could.The travelers turned towards the sound and wondered what it foreboded， when one of them said to his companion， "Let us proceed on our journey， my friend， for it is only the caw of a crow， and her cry， you know， is no omen."

Those who assume a character which does not belong to them， only make themselves ridiculous.

狐貍和鶴

The Fox and the Crane

狐貍邀請鶴共進晚餐，然而他并沒有真心誠意地為客人準備什么精美的飯菜，只是用豆子做了一點湯，并把湯放在一個很淺的石盤子中。鶴要費很大的勁才能把湯喝到嘴里，可是湯又會馬上從他的長嘴中流出來。看著鶴笨拙的樣子，狐貍非常開心。后來，鶴回請狐貍吃晚餐。他把食物放在了一只長頸小口的瓶子里，自己可以很容易地吃到食物，而狐貍卻只能眼睜睜地看著。狐貍受到了應得的回報。

惡有惡報。

A Fox invited a Crane to supper and provided nothing for his entertainment but some soup made of pulse， which was poured out into a broad flat stone dish. The soup fell out of the long bill of the Crane at every mouthful， and his vexation at not being able to eat afforded the Fox much amusement.The Crane， in his turn， asked the Fox to sup with him， and set before her a flagon with a long narrow mouth， so that he could easily insert his neck and enjoy its contents at his leisure.The Fox， unable even to taste it， met with a fitting requital， after the fashion of her own hospitality.

One bad turn deserves another.

烏鴉和水罐

The Crow and the Pitcher

一只烏鴉口渴難忍，看到一只水罐，就興沖沖地飛過去了。可是飛到水罐旁邊，烏鴉才發現水罐的水少得可憐。烏鴉絞盡腦汁，想了很多辦法，可是依然喝不到水。這時，烏鴉已經筋疲力盡了。偶然間，他看到水罐旁邊有很多小石頭，烏鴉終于想到了一條妙計。他用嘴銜住小石頭，然后將它們一顆顆地放進水罐里，這樣石頭就會占據水的空間，水面自然上升了。就這樣烏鴉如愿以償地喝到了水。

自我需要是成功的動機。

A Crow perishing with thirst saw a pitcher， and hoping to find water， flew to it with delight. When he reached it， he discovered to his grief that it contained so little water that he could not possibly get at it.He tried everything he could think of to reach the water， but all his efforts were in vain.At last he collected as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with his beak into the pitcher， until he brought the water within his reach and thus saved his life.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

寒鴉和狐貍

The Jackdaw and the Fox

一只饑腸轆轆的寒鴉停在一棵無花果樹上。無花果樹上結了很多果實，但是還沒有成熟。寒鴉決定呆在那里等到果實成熟了再慢慢享用。狐貍看到寒鴉在樹上停留了很長時間，就向他詢問是怎么回事。狐貍得知事情的經過后，對寒鴉說：“朋友，你不要再自欺欺人了。你的希望一定會落空的。拿這種希望來填飽肚子是無論如何也辦不到的。”

不要欺騙自己。

A half-famished Jackdaw seated himself on a fig-tree， which had produced some fruit entirely out of season， and waited in the hope that the figs would ripen. A Fox seeing him sitting so long and learning the reason of his doing so， said to him， "You are indeed， sir， sadly deceiving yourself； you are indulging a hope strong enough to cheat you， but which will never reward you with enjoyment."

Don't deceive yourself.

孝順的百靈鳥

The Lark Burying Her Father

根據古老的傳說，百靈鳥在地球出現之前就已經存在了。她的父親生病去世了，由于當時地球還沒有出現，她找不到地方來埋葬父親。就這樣她父親的尸體在外面停放了五天，到了第六天，無可奈何的百靈鳥把父親葬在了自己的頭上。從此之后，百靈鳥的頭上就有了冠毛，人們傳說那就是她父親的墳墓。

年輕人的第一責任是孝敬父母。

The Lark(according to an ancient legend)was created before the earth itself， and when her father died， as there was no earth， she could find no place of burial for him. She let him lie uninterred for five days， and on the sixth day， not knowing what else to do， she buried him in her own head.Hence she obtained her crest， which is popularly said to be her father's grave-hillock.

Youth's first duty is reverence to parents.

鳥獸和蝙蝠

The Birds， the Beasts， and the Bat

鳥類和野獸相互爭斗，雙方各有勝負。蝙蝠害怕爭斗會危及自己，因此總是依附勝利的一方。當鳥類和野獸宣告停止爭斗、和睦相處的時候，大家才看清了蝙蝠的本性，對他的欺騙行為感到非常氣憤。因此，蝙蝠遭到了雙方的譴責，被驅逐出日光之外。從此之后，蝙蝠白天就躲在黑暗的地方，只有到了晚上才獨自出來活動。

兩面三刀的人是不會有朋友的。

The Birds waged war with the Beasts， and each were by turns the conquerors. A Bat， fearing the uncertain issues of the fight， always fought on the side which he felt was the strongest.When peace was proclaimed， his deceitful conduct was apparent to both combatants.Therefore being condemned by each for his treachery， he was driven forth from the light of day， and henceforth concealed himself in dark hiding-places， flying always alone and at night.

He that ia neither one thing nor the other has no friends.

鴿子和烏鴉

The Dove and the Crow

一只被關在籠子里的鴿子不斷地吹噓自己養育了這么多孩子，是多么勞苦功高。烏鴉正好飛過，聽到了他的話就對他說：“我的好朋友，您不要再吹牛了。你的家族成員越多，你應該感到更加悲哀才是啊！因為這意味著將有更多的成員失去自由，被關在這牢房一樣的籠子里啊！”

養育很多孩子是一件幸福的事情，如果他們其中的幾個非常出色，那將是更大的幸福。

A Dove shut up in a cage was boasting of the large number of young ones which she had hatched. A Crow hearing her， said， "My good friend， cease from this unseasonable boasting.The larger the number of your family， the greater your cause of sorrow， in seeing them shut up in this prison-house."

Many children are a great blessing； but a few good ones are a greater.

揮霍者和燕子

The Spendthrift and the Swallow

有一個年輕人，在很短的時間內就把祖輩留給他的東西都揮霍一空了，只剩下身上的一件外套。一天，他碰巧看到了一只提前從暖和的地方飛回的燕子，就誤以為是春天到了，于是就把身上唯一的外衣也賣掉了。不久之后，氣溫驟然下降，凍得他無處躲藏，正好在路上看到凍死的燕子，便對他說道：“不幸的家伙！你為什么要提前回來呢？不僅害死了你自己，也把我連累了啊！”

不要根據單一的現象就下結論。

A Young Man， a great spendthrift， had run through all his patrimony and had but one good cloak left. One day he happened to see a Swallow， which had appeared before its season， skimming along a pool and twittering gaily.He supposed that summer had come， and went and sold his cloak.Not many days later， winter set in again with renewed frost and cold.When he found the unfortunate Swallow lifeless on the ground， he said， "Unhappy bird！ what have you done？By thus appearing before the springtime you have not only killed yourself， but you have wrought my destruction also."

Don't draw a conclusion based on a single observation.

斗雞和鵪鶉

The Gamecocks and the Partridge

一個人在自己家里養了兩只斗雞。一天，一個偶然的機會，這個人在市場上看到一只非常溫順的鵪鶉。他馬上把鵪鶉買下來并帶回家，和斗雞養在一起。剛開始的時候，斗雞經常和鵪鶉爭斗，因此鵪鶉覺得非常委屈，認為自己是新來的所以才會遭受這樣的待遇。不久之后，鵪鶉就發現這兩只斗雞經常彼此打斗，除非有一個受了重傷，否則他們是不會分開的。這時，他才恍然大悟：“我實在不應該為自己遭受攻擊而壓抑了，因為他們只是為爭斗而奮斗。”

有些人只是為了爭吵而爭吵。

A Man had two Gamecocks in his poultry-yard. One day by chance he found a tame Partridge for sale.He purchased it and brought it home to be reared with his Gamecocks.When the Partridge was put into the poultry-yard， they struck at it and followed it about， so that the Partridge became grievously troubled and supposed that he was thus evilly treated because he was a stranger.Not long afterwards he saw the Cocks fighting together and not separating before one had well beaten the other.He then said to himself， "I shall no longer distress myself at being struck at by these Gamecocks， when I see that they cannot even refrain from quarreling with each other."

Some people quarrel just for sake of quarrelling.

畫眉鳥和捕鳥人

The Thrush and the Fowler

一只畫眉鳥在紫薇花樹上吃東西，因為樹上的漿果實在太美味了，因此久久不愿離開。一個捕鳥人在旁邊觀察了很久，于是抓住時機舉起粘鳥竿一下子就把畫眉鳥抓住了。臨死的畫眉鳥傷心地說道：“哦，我是多么愚蠢啊！竟然為了幾個好吃的漿果而斷送了自己的性命。”

當人們意識到自己的失敗時，才是他們最沮喪的時刻。

A Thrush was feeding on a myrtle-tree and did not move from it because its berries were so delicious. A Fowler observed her staying so long in one spot， and having well bird-limed his reeds， caught her.The Thrush， being at the point of death， exclaimed， "O foolish creature that I am！ For the sake of a little pleasant food I have deprived myself of my life."

Men feel worst when they contribute to their own undoing.

百靈鳥和她的孩子們

The Lark and Her Young Ones

早春時節，百靈鳥帶著她的孩子們在嫩綠色的麥田里安了家。夏天到了，小百靈鳥們的羽毛逐漸豐滿了，力氣也越來越大了。一天，麥田的主人來到田地里看到麥子已經成熟了，就說：“是時候收割麥子了，我回去請我的鄰居和朋友來幫忙。”一只小百靈鳥聽到農夫的話后，急忙回去告訴她媽媽，并尋問他們應該搬到什么地方去。百靈媽媽說：“孩子，咱們不用急著搬家。因為他并不是真的著急要收割，要不然不會只是想請他的朋友來幫忙的。”幾天之后，農夫又來到田野里，看到麥子已經熟透了，這才真的著急了，說道：“明天我一定要幫工和所有可能雇到的人來收割。”百靈鳥聽到這些話后，對她的孩子們說：“孩子們，現在是我們應該搬家的時候了，因為主人這一次是真的下決心要收割麥子了。他不再依靠別人的幫忙，要自己親自動手干了。”

自己是自己最好的幫手。

A Lark had made her nest in the early spring on the young green wheat. The brood had almost grown to their full strength and attained the use of their wings and the full plumage of their feathers， when the owner of the field， looking over his ripe crop， said， "The time has come when I must ask all my neighbors to help me with my harvest."One of the young Larks heard his speech and related it to his mother， inquiring of her to what place they should move for safety."There is no occasion to move yet， my son， "she replied， "the man who only sends to his friends to help him with his harvest is not really in earnest."

The owner of the field came again a few days later and saw the wheat shedding the grain from excess of ripeness. He said， "I will come myself tomorrow with my laborers， and with as many reapers as I can hire， and will get in the harvest."The Lark on hearing these words said to her brood， "It is time now to be off， my little ones， for the man is in earnest this time； he no longer trusts his friends， but will reap the field himself."

Self-help is the best help.

鵪鶉和捕鳥人

The Partridge and the Fowler

一個捕鳥人抓到一只鵪鶉，想要把他殺掉。鵪鶉苦苦哀求道：“主人，你就饒了我吧。作為回報，我會幫您捕到更多的鵪鶉。”捕鳥人回答說：“聽了你的話，我可以毫無顧忌地取你的性命了，因為你不惜以同伴和朋友的性命來換取自己的自由。”

背叛者是整個社會的蛀蟲。

A Fowler caught a Partridge and was about to kill it. The Partridge earnestly begged him to spare his life， saying， "Pray， master， permit me to live and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me."The Fowler replied， "I shall now with less scruple take your life， because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying your friends and relations."

A traitor undermines the foundations of society.

烏鴉和羊

The Crow and the Sheep

一只討厭的烏鴉賴在羊背上不走。羊非常不情愿地帶著她走了很長一段路，實在忍受不住了，就對烏鴉說：“如果你站在狗背上，早就嘗到銳利牙齒的厲害了。”烏鴉聽了之后回答說：“我看不起弱者，屈從于強者。我知道應該奉承誰，可以欺負誰。這也正是我延長生命一直到老的手段。”

學會選擇你的敵人。

A troublesome Crow seated herself on the back of a Sheep. The Sheep， much against his will， carried her backward and forward for a long time， and at last said， "If you had treated a dog in this way， you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth."To this the Crow replied， "I despise the weak and yield to the strong.I know whom I may bully and whom I must flatter； and I thus prolong my life to a good old age."

Pick your enemies.

貓頭鷹和鳥

The Owl and the Birds

從前，有一只非常聰明的貓頭鷹給了其他鳥兒很多建議。他要他們在櫟樹剛開始發芽的時候就要把它連根拔起，以免它繼續生長，因為櫟樹會長出用來制造粘鳥膠（人們捕鳥的主要工具）的槲寄生。接著，貓頭鷹又建議鳥們要把人們種植的亞麻種子拿走，因為這種植物對于鳥兒來說是不好的預兆。最后，貓頭鷹看到一個弓箭手，就鄭重其事地對鳥兒們說：“你們要千萬小心這個人，因為他會發射帶有羽毛的武器。這種武器飛行的速度比我們快多了。”可是，鳥兒們卻對貓頭鷹的警告毫不在意，認為他是瘋了才會胡言亂語。

但是不久之后，鳥兒就發現貓頭鷹的話是正確的，因此他們一致認為貓頭鷹在鳥類中最有知識和智慧，也是無所不知的。但是，貓頭鷹沒有再給他們任何建議，只是在哀悼他們的愚蠢。

要毀滅掉邪惡的種子，否則它長大后將會后患無窮。

An Owl， in her wisdom， counseled the Birds that when the acorn first began to sprout， to pull it all up out of the ground and not allow it to grow. She said acorns would produce mistletoe， from which an irremediable poison， the bird-lime， would be extracted and by which they would be captured.The Owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax， which men had sown， as it was a plant which boded no good to them.And， lastly， the Owl， seeing an archer approach， predicted that this man， being on foot， would contrive darts armed with feathers which would fly faster than the wings of the Birds themselves.The Birds gave no credence to these warning words， but considered the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad.

But afterwards， finding her words were true， they wondered at her knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds. Hence it is that when she appears they look to her as knowing all things， while she no longer gives them advice， but in solitude laments their past folly.

Destroy the seed of evil， or it will grow up to your ruin.