老雕、鷂鷹和鴿子

The Hawk， the Kite， and the Pigeons

鴿子們非常害怕外表兇惡的鷂鷹，就向老雕尋求保護(hù)。老雕爽快地答應(yīng)了。當(dāng)鴿子們把老雕迎進(jìn)門后，才明白他們這一次遭受的損失比鷂鷹一年帶給他們的損失還要慘重。

這則寓言告訴我們諱疾忌醫(yī)的后果。

The Pigeons， terrified by the appearance of a Kite， called upon the Hawk to defend them. He at once consented.When they had admitted him into the cote， they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number of them in one day than the Kite could pounce upon in a whole year.

Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.

烏龜和老鷹

The Tortoise and the Eagle

一只烏龜在海邊懶洋洋地曬太陽，并一直向海鳥抱怨自己命運(yùn)的悲慘，因?yàn)闆]有誰能教她飛翔。這時(shí)，有一只老鷹在附近的天空盤旋，聽到了烏龜?shù)膬A訴之后，就答應(yīng)幫助她實(shí)現(xiàn)愿望，但是要求一定的回報(bào)。烏龜非常愉快地答應(yīng)了，并允諾以紅海中的一切財(cái)富作為報(bào)酬。于是老鷹用雙爪把烏龜帶到了空中，突然把她扔下，讓她自己飛翔。結(jié)果，可憐的烏龜?shù)粼谑^上，落得粉身碎骨的下場(chǎng)。在臨死之前，她后悔不已：我不應(yīng)該存有奢望，我的生命中本不該有翅膀和云朵，我怎么可能離開地面呢？

如果一個(gè)人實(shí)現(xiàn)了所有的愿望，那么被毀滅的時(shí)刻也快來臨了。

A Tortoise， lazily basking in the sun， complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate， that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle， hovering near， heard her lamentation and demanded what reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float her in the air."I will give you， "she said， "all the riches of the Red Sea.""I will teach you to fly then， "said the Eagle； and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go， and she fell on a lofty mountain， dashing her shell to pieces.The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death， "I have deserved my present fate； for what had I to do with wings and clouds， who can with difficulty move about on the earth？"

If men had all they wished， they would be often ruined.

病重的鷂鷹

The Sick Kite

鷂鷹病得很厲害，對(duì)他媽媽說：“噢，媽媽，請(qǐng)你不要再為我傷心了，你應(yīng)該向上帝請(qǐng)求讓我的生命更長(zhǎng)一些才對(duì)！”媽媽回答說：“哎呀，我的孩子，你認(rèn)為我應(yīng)該向哪位天神祈禱呢？又有哪位天神桌上的供品沒有被你偷拿過呢？”

如果我們想在患難中得到朋友的幫助，就應(yīng)該在自己發(fā)達(dá)的時(shí)候?qū)ε笥押谩?

A Kite， sick unto death， said to his mother， "O Mother！ do not mourn， but at once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged."She replied， "Alas！ my son， which of the gods do you think will pity you？Is there one whom you have not outraged by filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered up to them？"

We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in adversity.

老鷹和箭頭

The Eagle and the Arrow

一只老鷹停留在一塊突起的巖石上，專注地窺視著獵物——幾只跑動(dòng)的兔子。正要向他們撲過去的時(shí)候，冷不防，中了獵人一箭。鋒利的箭頭直扎入老鷹的身體，奄奄一息的老鷹瞥見了箭上帶羽毛的一端。哀傷地說：“我現(xiàn)在感到加倍的疼痛，我竟然要死在帶有自己羽毛的箭下?！?

人們通常自掘墳?zāi)埂?

An Eagle sat on a lofty rock， watching the movements of a Hare whom he sought to make his prey. An archer， who saw the Eagle from a place of concealment， took an accurate aim and wounded him mortally.The Eagle gave one look at the arrow that had entered his heart and saw in that single glance that its feathers had been furnished by himself."It is a double grief to me， "he exclaimed， "that I should perish by an arrow feathered from my own wings."

We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

海鷗和鷂鷹

The Seagull and the Kite

海鷗從海里捉到一條大魚，卻被這條個(gè)頭太大的魚撐破了喉嚨，氣息奄奄地倒在了岸邊。鷂鷹看到后對(duì)海鷗說：“你真是自討苦吃?。∧闵鷣硎且恢圾B，干嘛非要來海上尋找食物不可呢？"

每個(gè)人都應(yīng)該滿足于自己的領(lǐng)域。

A Seagull having bolted down too large a fish， burst its deep gullet-bag and lay down on the shore to die. A Kite saw him and exclaimed， "You richly deserve your fate； for a bird of the air has no business to seek its food from the sea."

Every man should be content to mind his own business.

老鷹和寒鴉

The Eagle and the Jackdaw

老鷹從高高的懸崖上猛撲下來，在羊群中抓走了一只小羊羔。寒鴉看到老鷹這么容易就能抓到獵物，心里非常羨慕，就決定仿效他。于是，寒鴉大喊一聲，就沖向羊群。不料羊毛把他的爪子纏住了，再也無法飛起來，只能徒勞地拍打翅膀。牧羊人一看就明白發(fā)生了什么事，立即趕來抓住了寒鴉。牧羊人把寒鴉的翅膀剪短，帶回家給孩子當(dāng)做玩伴。好奇的孩子們問：“這是什么鳥??？”牧羊人回答說：“依我看，這是一只寒鴉，可是他把自己當(dāng)做老鷹了！”

不自量力的結(jié)果是自取滅亡。

An Eagle， flying down from his perch on a lofty rock， seized upon a lamb and carried him aloft in his talons. A Jackdaw， who witnessed the capture of the lamb， was stirred with envy and determined to emulate the strength and flight of the Eagle.He flew around with a great whir of his wings and settled upon a large ram， with the intention of carrying him off， but his claws became entangled in the ram's fleece and he was not able to release himself， although he fluttered with his feathers as much as he could.The shepherd， seeing what had happened， ran up and caught him.He at once clipped the Jackdaw's wings， and taking him home at night， gave him to his children.On their saying， "Father， what kind of bird is it？"he replied， "To my certain knowledge he is a Daw； but he would like you to think an Eagle."

Don't take on more than you can accomplish.

農(nóng)夫和老鷹

The Peasant and the Eagle

一個(gè)農(nóng)夫看到一只被困在陷阱中的老鷹，非常同情他的遭遇，就大發(fā)善心把他放了。這只老鷹非常懂得“滴水之恩，當(dāng)涌泉相報(bào)”的道理。當(dāng)他看到農(nóng)夫坐在一堵危墻下時(shí)，就趕快向農(nóng)夫飛去，把農(nóng)夫的包袱抓走了。有點(diǎn)生氣的農(nóng)夫馬上起身去追趕老鷹。老鷹看到農(nóng)夫已經(jīng)離那段墻很遠(yuǎn)了，就把包袱還給了他。當(dāng)農(nóng)夫拿著包袱返回到原來的地方時(shí)，發(fā)現(xiàn)那段墻已經(jīng)倒塌了。這時(shí)，他才理解老鷹報(bào)恩的行為，心中非常驚奇，更多的則是感激。

要懂得報(bào)恩的道理。

A Peasant found an Eagle captured in a trap， and much admiring the bird， set him free. The Eagle did not prove ungrateful to his deliverer， for seeing the Peasant sitting under a wall which was not safe， he flew toward him and with his talons snatched a bundle from his head.When the Peasant rose in pursuit， the Eagle let the bundle fall again.Taking it up， the man returned to the same place， to find that the wall under which he had been sitting had fallen to pieces； and he marveled at the service rendered him by the Eagle.

Return favors.

鷂鷹和天鵝

The Kites and the Swans

在很久很久以前，鷂鷹也和天鵝一樣擁有一副美妙的歌喉?？墒侵翉乃麄兟牭搅笋R嘶聲之后，就深深地迷上了那雄厚的聲音。于是，鷂鷹就拼命地模仿馬的聲音。到頭來，馬的聲音沒有學(xué)會(huì)，反而忘記了自己是如何唱歌的。

去追求那些遙不可及的東西往往會(huì)讓你失去現(xiàn)在擁有的。

The Kites of olden times， as well as the Swans， had the privilege of song. But having heard the neigh of the horse， they were so enchanted with the sound， that they tried to imitate it； and， in trying to neigh， they forgot how to sing.

The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings.

寒鴉和鴿子

The Jackdaw and the Doves

一只寒鴉看到住在籠子里的鴿子有充足的食物，于是他就把自己裝扮成鴿子的樣子去分享他們的食物。只要寒鴉不開口說話，鴿子也分辨不出寒鴉是異類，因此他過了一段非常舒適的日子。

直到有一天，寒鴉忘記自己的身份，開始和鴿子們閑聊。這樣，鴿子就發(fā)現(xiàn)了他的真實(shí)面目，把他趕出了籠子。無處可去的寒鴉只能回到自己的同伴中間。可是，外表已經(jīng)改變的寒鴉也被同伴拒之門外。結(jié)果，寒鴉成了兩邊都不接受的小可憐。

兩邊的利益都想得到，最后只能是“竹籃打水一場(chǎng)空”。

A Jackdaw， seeing some Doves in a cote abundantly provided with food， painted himself white and joined them in order to share their plentiful maintenance. The Doves， as long as he was silent， supposed him to be one of themselves and admitted him to their cote.

But when one day he forgot himself and began to chatter， they discovered his true character and drove him forth， pecking him with their beaks. Failing to obtain food among the Doves， he returned to the Jackdaws.They too， not recognizing him on account of his color.expelled him from living with them.So desiring two ends， he obtained neither.

He that trims between two interests， loses himself with both， but is true to neither.

老鷹和狐貍

The Eagle and the Fox

老鷹和狐貍是非常親密的伙伴，他們決定比鄰而居，以為這樣友情就會(huì)更加牢固。于是，老鷹帶著他的孩子們飛到一棵高高的大樹上筑了巢，狐貍領(lǐng)著她的孩子們?cè)跇湎碌墓嗄緟仓邪擦思?。誰知一天，老鷹沒有食物喂養(yǎng)孩子，又恰逢狐貍外出覓食，于是就飛到樹下把小狐貍抓到了樹上美美地飽餐了一頓。狐貍返回家，看到發(fā)生的一切，悲痛欲絕。更讓他難過的是，他無法抓住能在天上飛行的老鷹，為孩子們報(bào)仇雪恨。

不久之后，報(bào)應(yīng)就降臨到老鷹身上了。原來有一天，人們?cè)诮纪庠籽颢I(xiàn)祭，老鷹覬覦鮮美的羊肉，抓住了幾根燃燒著的羊腸就往回飛。不料，一陣狂風(fēng)吹來，羊腸上的火星點(diǎn)燃了鳥窩里的干草。還沒學(xué)會(huì)飛翔的小鷹驚慌逃走，結(jié)果全部摔死在地上。在樹下守候的狐貍抓住時(shí)機(jī)，一個(gè)箭步躥上來在老鷹的面前把小鷹全部吃掉了。

上帝才是最終的審判官。

An Eagle and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided to live near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a tall tree， while the Fox crept into the under-wood and there produced her young.Not long after they had agreed upon this plan， the Eagle， being in want of provision for her young ones， swooped down while the Fox was out， seized upon one of the little cubs， and feasted herself and her brood.The Fox on her return， discovered what had happened， but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them.

A just retribution， however， quickly fell upon the Eagle. While hovering near an altar， on which some villagers were sacrificing a goat， she suddenly seized a piece of the flesh， and carried it， along with a burning cinder， to her nest.A strong breeze soon fanned the spark into a flame， and the eaglets， as yet unfledged and helpless， were roasted in their nest and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree.There， in the sight of the Eagle， the Fox gobbled them up.

God is the ultimate judge.

老鷹和獵人

The Eagle and His Captor

有個(gè)人抓到一只老鷹，馬上就剪短了他的翅膀，把他關(guān)在自家院子里，和一群雞生活在一起。失去自由的老鷹，每天垂頭喪氣，拒絕進(jìn)食，像是牢房里的囚犯。后來，一位鄰居從老鷹主人的手里將他買去，他讓老鷹翅膀自由生長(zhǎng)，又精心為他療傷。老鷹飛起來之后，抓到一只兔子，并作為禮物送給新主人。狐貍看到后對(duì)老鷹說：“你最好不要把兔子送給你現(xiàn)在的主人，而該送給原先的主人，以免日后你再次被他抓住時(shí)仍把你的翅膀剪掉?！?

對(duì)恩人應(yīng)該以德報(bào)德。

An Eagle was once captured by a man， who immediately clipped his wings and put him into his poultry-yard with the other birds， at which treatment the Eagle was weighed down with grief. Later， another neighbor purchased him and allowed his feathers to grow again.The Eagle took flight， and pouncing upon a hare， brought it at once as an offering to his benefactor.A Fox， seeing this， exclaimed， "Do not cultivate the favor of this man， but of your former owner， lest he should again hunt for you and deprive you a second time of your wings."

Favor those who do you kindness.

老雕和夜鶯

The Hawk and the Nightingale

在高高的橡樹上，夜鶯像往常一樣在放聲高歌。已經(jīng)很久沒有吃東西的老雕在空中看到夜鶯后，就俯沖下來抓住了他。夜鶯知道自己命不久矣，就苦苦哀求老雕饒命。夜鶯說：“我現(xiàn)在還太小，都填不飽您的肚子。如果您餓極了，可以去捕捉那些大一些的鳥兒??！”蒼鷹打斷他的話，反駁道：“如果我丟下已經(jīng)到手的，而去冒險(xiǎn)追求那些還沒見到的東西，那我才是真正沒有見識(shí)呢！”

不要為了得到更多遙不可及的東西而放棄到手的東西。

A Nightingale， sitting aloft upon an oak and singing according to his wont， was seen by a Hawk who， being in need of food， swooped down and seized him. The Nightingale， about to lose his life， earnestly begged the Hawk to let him go， saying that he was not big enough to satisfy the hunger of a Hawk who， if he wanted food， ought to pursue the larger birds.The Hawk， interrupting him， said， "I should indeed have lost my senses if I should let go food ready in my hand， for the sake of pursuing birds which are not yet even within sight."

A bird caught is better than more uncaught.

老鷹和鷂鷹

The Eagle and the Kite

老鷹和鷂鷹一起停在樹枝上。鷂鷹看見老鷹神情沮喪，就問他的同伴：“你為什么一副垂頭喪氣的樣子??？”老鷹回答說：“我一直在尋找一個(gè)合適的配偶，可是我一直找不到?！柄_鷹說：“你可以選擇我??！我的力量比你強(qiáng)大。”“你？你可以用你的爪子來保證我的生活嗎？”“當(dāng)然沒有問題，我甚至可以抓起一只鴕鳥?！?

老鷹相信了鷂鷹的話，接納鷂鷹為自己的配偶。婚后不久，老鷹對(duì)她的丈夫說：“現(xiàn)在你就向我展示你的實(shí)力吧！按照你的許諾，給我?guī)Щ匾恢圾r鳥吧！”于是，鷂鷹飛到空中開始尋找獵物。一會(huì)兒之后，鷂鷹給老鷹帶回了一只瘦骨嶙峋的老鼠。老鷹指著老鼠說：“這就是你的承諾？”鷂鷹回答說：“為了能與你結(jié)伴，我可以做任何事情，盡管我很清楚自己無法兌現(xiàn)諾言?！?

有些人愿意做任何事來得到他們想要的東西。

An Eagle， overwhelmed with sorrow， sat upon the branches of a tree in company with a Kite."Why， "said the Kite， "do I see you with such a rueful look？""I seek， "she replied， "a mate suitable for me， and am not able to find one.""Take me， "returned the Kite， "I am much stronger than you are.""Why， are you able to secure the means of living by your plunder？""Well， I have often caught and carried away an ostrich in my talons."

The Eagle， persuaded by these words， accepted him as her mate. Shortly after the nuptials， the Eagle said， "Fly off and bring me back the ostrich you promised me."The Kite， soaring aloft into the air， brought back the shabbiest possible mouse， stinking from the length of time it had lain about the fields."Is this， "said the Eagle， "the faithful fulfillment of your promise to me？"The Kite replied， "That I might attain your royal hand， there is nothing that I would not have promised， however much I knew that I must fail in the performance."

Some people will do anything to get what they want.