伊索寓言:风和太阳(The wind and the sun)
The wind and the sun were disputing who was the stronger.
Suddenly they saw a traveler coming down the road. The sun said, "Whoever can make the traveler take off his coat will be the stronger."
So the sun hid behind a cloud, and the wind began to blow as hard as it could. As the wind blew harder, the traveler wrapped his coat more closely around himself.
Then the sun came out. He shone on the traveler. The traveler soon felt quite hot, and took off his coat.
Mouse and Cat in Partnership
英汉对照
A certain cat had made the acquaintance of a mouse, and had said so much to her about the great love and friendship she felt for her, that at length the mouse agreed that they should live and keep house together. But we must make a provision for winter, or else we shall suffer from hunger, said the cat, and you, little mouse, cannot venture everywhere, or you will be caught in a trap some day. The good advice was followed, and a pot of fat was bought, but they did not know where to put it. At length, after much consideration, the cat said, I know no place where it will be better stored up than in the church, for no one dares take anything away from there. We will set it beneath the altar, and not touch it until we are really in need of it. So the pot was placed in safety, but it was not long before the cat had a great yearning for it, and said to the mouse, I want to tell you something, little mouse, my cousin has brought a little son into the world, and has asked me to be godmother, he is white with brown spots, and I am to hold him over the font at the christening. Let me go out to-day, and you look after the house by yourself. Yes, yes, answered the mouse, by all means go, and if you get anything very good to eat, think of me, I should like a drop of sweet red christening wine myself. All this, however, was untrue, the cat had no cousin, and had not been asked to be godmother. She went straight to the church, stole to the pot of fat, began to lick at it, and licked the top of the fat off. Then she took a walk upon the roofs of the town, looked out for opportunities, and then stretched herself in the sun, and licked her lips whenever she thought of the pot of fat, and not until it was evening did she return home. Well, here you are again, said the mouse, no doubt you have had a merry day. All went off well, answered the cat. What name did they give the child. Top off, said the cat quite coolly. Top off, cried the mouse, that is a very odd and uncommon name, is it a usual one in your family. What does that matter, said the cat, it is no worse than crumb-stealer, as your God-children are called.
Before long the cat was seized by another fit of yearning. She said to the mouse, you must do me a favor, and once more manage the house for a day alone. I am again asked to be godmother, and, as the child has a white ring round its neck, I cannot refuse. The good mouse consented, but the cat crept behind the town walls to the church, and devoured half the pot of fat. Nothing ever seems so good as what one keeps to oneself, said she, and was quite satisfied with her days work. When she went home the mouse inquired, and what was this child christened. Half-done, answered the cat. Half-done. What are you saying. I never heard the name in my life, Ill wager anything it is not in the calendar.
The cats mouth soon began to water for some more licking. All good things go in threes, said she, I am asked to stand godmother again. The child is quite black, only it has white paws, but with that exception, it has not a single white hair on its whole body, this only happens once every few years, you will let me go, wont you. Top-off. Half-done, answered the mouse, they are such odd names, they make me very thoughtful. You sit at home, said the cat, in your dark-gray fur coat and long tail, and are filled with fancies, thats because you do not go out in the daytime. During the cats absence the mouse cleaned the house, and put it in order but the greedy cat entirely emptied the pot of fat. When everything is eaten up one has some peace, said she to herself, and well filled and fat she did not return home till night. The mouse at once asked what name had been given to the third child. It will not please you more than the others, said the cat. He is called all-gone. All-gone, cried the mouse, that is the most suspicious name of all. I have never seen it in print. All-gone, what can that mean, and she shook her head, curled herself up, and lay down to sleep.
From this time forth no one invited the cat to be godmother, but when the winter had come and there was no longer anything to be found outside, the mouse thought of their provision, and said, come cat, we will go to our pot of fat which we have stored up for ourselves - we shall enjoy that. Yes, answered the cat, you will enjoy it as much as you would enjoy sticking that dainty tongue of yours out of the window. They set out on their way, but when they arrived, the pot of fat certainly was still in its place, but it was empty. Alas, said the mouse, now I see what has happened, now it comes to light. You are a true friend. You have devoured all when you were standing godmother. First top off then half done, then -. Will you hold your tongue, cried the cat, one word more and I will eat you too. All gone was already on the poor mouses lips, scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang on her, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way of the world.
有一只猫认识了一只老鼠,便对它大谈特谈自己是多么喜欢老鼠,原意和它交朋友,弄得老鼠终于同意和猫住在一起,共同生活。“我们得准备过冬的东西了,不然我们到冬天会挨饿的,”猫说,“至于你嘛,我的小老鼠,哪里也不要去,我真怕你会被什么老鼠夹子夹住。”老鼠接受了猫的好建议,于是它们买来了一罐猪油,然而两个人都不知道该把猪油放在什么地方。它们左思考右思考,最后猫说:“我觉得这猪油放在教堂里是再合适不过的了,因为谁也不敢偷教堂里的东西。我们把猪油藏在祭坛下,不到万不得已的时候决不动它。”猪油罐就这样被放到了安全的地方。可是没过多久,猫开始想吃猪油了,便对老鼠说:“小老鼠,我想跟你说点事。我的表姐刚刚生了一个小宝宝,还请我当小宝贝的教母。那小宝贝全身雪白,带着一些褐色的斑点。我要抱着它去接受洗礼,所以今天要出去一下,你一个人在家看家,好吗?”“好的,好的,”老鼠说,“你尽管去吧。要是有什么好吃的东西,千万要记着我。我很想尝一点洗礼时用的红葡萄酒。”这一切当然都不是真的,因为猫并没有表姐,也没有被请去当教母。它直接去了教堂,偷偷爬到猪油罐那里,开始舔呀舔,把顶上一层猪油舔得精光。然后,它在城里的屋顶上散了散步,想碰碰别的运气;接着便躺下来晒太阳。每当想起那罐猪油,它都情不自禁地舔舔自己的嘴唇。它一直等到天黑才回家。“啊,你终于回来了,”老鼠说,“这一天肯定过得很开心吧?”“一切顺利。”猫答道。“你们给那孩子起了什么名字?”“没了顶层!”猫冷淡地说。“没了顶层!”老鼠叫了起来,“这个古怪的名字可不多见。你们家常取这样的名字吗?”“那有什么?”猫说,“不比你的那些教子叫什么偷面包屑的更糟吧?”
没过多久,猫又想吃猪油了。它对老鼠说:“你得帮我一个忙,再一个人看一次家。又有人请我当教母了,而且这个孩子的脖子上有一道白圈,我实在无法推辞。”好心的老鼠同意了。猫从城墙后面溜进教堂,一口气吃掉了半罐猪油。“什么东西也没有比吃到自己的嘴里更好,”它说,心里对这一天的收获感到很满意。等它到家时,老鼠问道:“这个孩子起的什么名字呀?”“吃了一半,”猫回答。“吃了一半!你在说什么呀?我长这么大了还从来没有听说过这样的名字。我敢打赌,就是年历上也不会有这样的名字!”
不久,猫的嘴巴又开始流口水了,想再去舔一舔猪油。“好事成三嘛,”它说,“又有人请我去当教母了。这个孩子除了爪子是白色的,浑身黑黝黝的,连一根白毛都没有。这是好几年才会碰上的事情,你当然会同意我去的,是吗?”“没了顶层!吃了一半!”老鼠回答,“这些名字真怪!我实在弄不明白。”“你白天又不出门,”猫说,“整天穿着深灰色的皮袄,拖着长长的尾巴,坐在家里胡思乱想,当然弄不明白啦!”趁着猫不在家,老鼠把屋子打扫了一下,把东西放得整整齐齐。可是那只馋猫把剩下的猪油吃得干干净净。“人只有把东西吃得干干净净才能放心,”它自言自语地说。它吃得饱饱的,直到天黑了才挺着圆圆的肚子回家。老鼠看到它回来,立刻问它这第三个孩子起的什么名字。“你也不会喜欢这个名字,”猫说,“它叫吃得精光。”“吃得精光!”老鼠叫了起来,“这个名字太令人费解了!我从来没有在书上见过。吃得精光!这是什么意思呢?”它摇摇头,蜷缩起身子,躺下睡着了。
从此,猫再也没有被邀请去当教母。可是冬天来到了,外面再也找不到任何吃的东西。老鼠想到了它们准备的过冬的东西,便说:“走吧,猫!我们去取储存的猪油吧。我们可以美美吃上一顿。”“是的,”猫回答,“那准会把你美得就像把你那尖尖的舌头伸到窗外去喝西北风一样。”它们动身去教堂,可它们到达那里后,看到猪油罐倒是还在那里,里面却是空的。“天哪!”老鼠说,“我现在终于明白是怎么回事了!你可真是个好朋友!你在去当什么教母的时候,把这猪油全吃光了!先是吃了顶上一层,然后吃了一半,最后……”“你给我住嘴!”猫嚷道,“你要是再罗嗦,我连你也吃了!”“……吃得精光,”可怜的老鼠脱口而出。它刚把话说完,猫就扑到了它的身上,抓住它,把它吞进了肚子。这世界就是这样!
New Words and Expressions 生词和词组
1. acquaintance n. 认识
2. provision n. 准备,供应品
3. yearning n. 渴望,怀念
4. consent v. 同意,许可
5. calendar n. 日历,日程表
6. suspicious a. 可疑的,令人费解的
7. curl up 卷起
8. dainty a. 优美的,讲究的
9. verily ad. 真正的,真实的
这个国家里最大的绿叶子,无疑要算是牛蒡的叶子了。你拿一起放在你的肚皮上,那么它就像一条围裙。如果你把它放在头上,那么在雨天里它就可以当做一把伞用,因为它是出奇的宽大。牛蒡从来不单独地生长;不,凡是长着一棵牛蒡的地方,你一定可以找到好几棵。这是它最可爱的一点,而这一点对蜗牛说来只不过是食料。
在古时候,许多大人物把这些白色的大蜗牛做成“碎肉”;当他们吃着的时候,就说:“哼,味道真好!”因为他们认为蜗牛的味道很美。这些蜗牛都靠牛蒡叶子活着;因此人们才种植牛蒡。
现在有一个古代的公馆,住在里面的人已经不再吃蜗牛了。所以蜗牛都死光了,不过牛蒡还活着,这植物在小径上和花畦上长得非常茂盛,人们怎么也没有办法制止它们。这地方简直成了一个牛蒡森林。要不是这儿那儿有几株苹果树和梅子树,谁也不会想到这是一个花园。处处都是牛蒡;在它们中间住着最后的两个蜗牛遗老。
它们不知道自己究竟有多大年纪。不过它们记得很清楚:它们的数目曾经是很多很多,而且都属于一个从外国迁来的家族,整个森林就是为它们和它们的家族而发展起来的。它们从来没有离开过家,不过却听说过:这个世界上还有一个什么叫做“公馆”的东西,它们在那里面被烹调着,然后变成黑色,最后被盛在一个银盘子里。不过结果怎样,它们一点也不知道。此外,它们也想象不出来,烹调完了以后盛在银盘子里,究竟是一种什么味道。那一定很美,特别排场!它们请教过小金虫、癞蛤蟆和蚯蚓,但是一点道理也问不出来,因为它们谁也没有被烹调过或盛在银盘子里面过。 那对古老的白蜗牛要算世界上最有身份的人物了。它们自己知道森林就是为了它们而存在的,公馆也是为了使它们能被烹调和放在银盘子里而存在的。
它们过着安静和幸福的生活。因为它们自己没有孩子,所以就收养了一个普通的小蜗牛。它们把它作为自己的孩子抚育。不过这小东西长不大,因为它不过是一个普通的蜗牛而已。但是这对老蜗牛——尤其是妈妈——觉得她能看出它在长大。假如爸爸看不出的话,她要求他摸摸它的外壳。因此他就摸一下;他发现妈妈说的话有道理。
有一天雨下得很大。
“请听牛蒡叶子上的响声——咚咚咚!咚咚咚!”蜗牛爸爸说。
“这就是我所说的雨点,”蜗牛妈妈说。“它沿着梗子滴下来了!你可以看到,这儿马上就会变得潮湿了!我很高兴,我们有我们自己的房子;小家伙也有他自己的①。我们的优点比任何别的生物都多。大家一眼就可以看出,我们是世界上最高贵的人!我们一生下来就有房子住,而且这一堆牛蒡林完全是为我们而种植的——我倒很想知道它究竟有多大,在它的外边还有些什么别的东西!”
①在丹麦文里,蜗牛的外壳叫做“房子”(huus。
“它的外边什么别的东西也没有!”蜗牛爸爸说。“世界上再也没有比我们这儿更好的地方了。我什么别的想头也没有。”
“对,”妈妈说,“我倒很想到公馆里去被烹调一下,然后放到银盘子里去。我们的祖先们都是这样;你要知道,这是一种光荣呢!”
“公馆也许已经塌了,”蜗牛爸爸说,“或者牛蒡已经在它上面长成了树林,弄得人们连走都走不出来。你不要急——你老是那么急,连那个小家伙也开始学起你来。你看他这三天来不老是往梗子上爬么?当我抬头看看他的时候,我的头都昏了。”
“请你无论如何不要骂他,”蜗牛妈妈说。“他爬得很有把握。他使我们得到许多快乐。我们这对老夫妇没有什么别的东西值得活下去了。不过,你想到过没有:我们在什么地方可以为他找个太太呢?在这林子的远处,可能住着我们的族人,你想到过没有?”
“我相信那儿住着些黑蜗牛,”老头儿说,“没有房子的黑蜗牛!不过他们都是一帮卑下的东西,而且还喜欢摆架子。不过我们可以托蚂蚁办办这件事情,他们跑来跑去,好像很忙似的。他们一定能为我们的小少爷找个太太。”
“我认识一位最美丽的姑娘!”蚂蚁说,“不过我恐怕她不成,因为她是一个王后!”
“这没有什么关系,”两位老蜗牛说。“她有一座房子吗?”
“她有一座宫殿!”蚂蚁说。“一座最美丽的蚂蚁宫殿,里面有七百条走廊。”
“谢谢你!”蜗牛妈妈说:“我们的孩子可不会钻蚂蚁窟的。假如你找不到更好的对象的话,我们可以托白蚊蚋来办这件差事。他们天晴下雨都在外面飞。牛蒡林的里里外外,他们都知道。”
“我们为他找到了一个太太,”蚊蚋说。“离这儿一百步路远的地方,有一个有房子的小蜗牛住在醋栗丛上。她是很寂寞的,她已经够结婚年龄。她住的地方离此地只不过一百步远!”
“是的,让她来找他吧,”这对老夫妇说。“他拥有整个的牛蒡林,而她只不过有一个小醋栗丛!”
这样,它们就去请那位小蜗牛姑娘来。她足足过了八天才到来,但这是一种很珍贵的现象,因为这说明她是一个很正经的女子。
于是它们就举行了婚礼。六个萤火虫尽量发出光来照着。
除此以外,一切是非常安静的,因为这对老蜗牛夫妇不喜欢大喝大闹。不过蜗牛妈妈发表了一起动人的演说。蜗牛爸爸一句话也讲不出来,因为他受到了极大的感动。于是它们把整座牛蒡林送给这对年轻夫妇,作为遗产;并且说了一大套它们常常说的话,那就是——这地方是世界上最好的一块地方,如果它们要正直地,善良地生活和繁殖下去的话,它们和它们的孩子们将来就应该到那个公馆里去,以便被煮得黝黑、放到银盘子上面。
当这番演说讲完了以后,这对老夫妇就钻进它们的屋子里去,再也不出来。它们睡着了。
年轻的蜗牛夫妇现在占有了这整座的森林,随后生了一大堆孩子。不过它们从来没有被烹调过,也没有到银盘子里去过。因此它们就下了一个结论,认为那个公馆已经塌了,全世界的人类都已经死去了。谁也没有反对它们这种看法,因此它们的看法一定是对的。雨打在牛蒡叶上,为它们发出咚咚的音乐来。太阳为它们发出亮光,使这牛蒡林增添了不少光彩。这样,它们过得非常幸福——这整个家庭是幸福的,说不出地幸福!
在森林里,有一个小小的房子,房子门楣的匾额上写着:月亮巫婆的剪纸店。月亮巫婆就住在里面。为什么叫她月亮巫婆呢?原来呀,这个巫婆喜欢在有月亮的晚上才开门营业,所以,林子里的小动物们都叫她月亮巫婆。
月亮巫婆的手儿可巧了,剪出来的小动物活灵活现的。据说,她只要往剪纸上吹一口气,剪纸上的小动物立刻就活了。
月亮巫婆的剪纸当然是要卖的,只要林子里的居民们拿来一朵鲜嫩的花儿、一块光滑的小石头,或是一只熟透的小果子什么的,就可以“买”走一枚精美的剪纸了。自从营业以来,月亮巫婆已经用光滑的小石头在门前铺就了一条小路;那些花朵儿呢,月亮巫婆是用来装点屋子的;小果子呢,自己吃不了,就放在窗前,留给过往的路人解渴。
这天晚上,天上的月亮圆圆的',月亮巫婆又打开门,开始营业了。
一只小兔子,从很远的地方跑来了,进门就喊:“婆婆,快帮帮我吧!一天前,我和妈妈出门远行,哪里料到,半路上遭到了猎人的袭击,只听‘嘭’的一声,我妈妈就倒在了血泊里。我吓得钻进了草丛,等我出来找妈妈的时候,只看到地上的血迹,妈妈不见了。我想妈妈……”小兔子哭哭啼啼。
“好孩子,别难过了,你先讲讲***妈的样子吧。”
小兔子开始描绘妈妈的长相。月亮巫婆根据小兔子的讲述,很快就剪出了小兔子妈妈的样子。
“妈妈……”小兔子拿着妈妈的剪纸,激动不已。
“婆婆,您能让我的妈妈复活吗?我给您拿来了一袋子蘑菇。”小兔子说着,将蘑菇放在了柜台上。
月亮巫婆摇摇头,说:“我怎么能要你的蘑菇呢。但让你的妈妈复活,很难的,婆婆试试吧。”
月亮巫婆说着,开始往兔子妈妈的剪纸上吹气。月亮巫婆吹了一口又一口,累得气喘吁吁,还是没有将兔子妈妈变回来。
“婆婆,不行的话,您就放弃吧。”小兔子很心疼月亮巫婆。
“我再试试啊。”月亮巫婆拼命吹了一口气,奇迹出现了,剪纸不见了,兔子妈妈从月亮巫婆的手中跳了下来。
“妈妈——”小兔子和妈妈紧紧抱在了一起。
娘俩亲昵过后,谢过了月亮巫婆,离开了这里。
月亮巫婆累坏了,沏了一杯薰衣草茶,慢慢品尝,恢复体力。
月亮巫婆的体力刚恢复过来,就听到门前一阵喧哗。原来是小猴子、小鹿、小马、小猪他们来了。他们有的拿来了鲜艳的花朵,有的拿来了刚摘下的果子。
小猴子代表大家说:“婆婆,老狮子王死后,新来的狮子王总是欺负我们小动物,我们每天都过着提心吊胆的生活。您能让老狮子王复活吗?”
“让狮子王复活?”月亮巫婆觉得很为难,但她不想让大家失望,还是点了点头。根据他们的描述,剪出了老狮子王的样子,然后,开始给老狮子王的剪纸吹气。
月亮巫婆吹啊,吹啊。吹到早晨太阳快出来了,还是没有把老狮子王吹活。很多小动物都困得睡着了。
小猴子说:“婆婆,您休息一会儿,要不,明天再吹吧。”
月亮巫婆摇摇头说:“明天还有明天的事情要做呢。”
月亮巫婆又开始吹起气来。终于,在太阳升起来的时候,月亮巫婆将老狮子王吹活了。小动物们谢过月亮巫婆,簇拥着老狮子王离开了。
月亮巫婆真的累坏了,关上门,躺在床上就呼呼睡着了。
月亮巫婆睡啊睡啊,整整睡了一个月才醒来。这时候,正是夜里。她看了看窗外那轮挂在空中的圆月,心情一下子好了许多。
月亮巫婆点亮了灯,打开了门,然后坐在了柜台后面,心里想:今晚还会来哪些顾客呢?
不一会儿,就听到外面响起了杂乱的脚步声。一群动物找来了,为首的正是老狮子王。
老狮子王代表大家说:“婆婆,不好了,森林的外面来了一群人,正在砍伐树木,放火开荒。这些日子,我们天天来找您,看到您在睡觉,没敢打扰您。”
“什么,连森林也要毁掉?”月亮婆婆说着,从窗口飞了出去,来到了空中。
真的,林子边的机器在轰鸣着,树木被伐倒了;远处原野上,火还在燃烧。
月亮婆婆回到了小屋里。
“婆婆,我们该怎么办啊?”
月亮巫婆叹了口气说:“没想到,人的心布满了灰尘。”
“那怎么办呢?”
“我试试,给他们换颗洁净的心吧。”月亮巫婆开始剪纸,剪出了一颗颗洁净的心。
月亮巫婆捧着这些剪纸的心,飞到了空中,开始对着心吹气,将这些心吹向人类居住的地方。
月亮巫婆不停地剪,不停地吹,直到有一次,她飞到了天上,再也没有力气下来了。她的身体,渐渐变为了月光的一部分。
“婆婆,你下来啊!”动物们在下边喊。
“我下不来了,我的生命已经变成了月光的一部分,就让我的月光来温暖人的心吧,让人心变得更加纯洁!”
月亮巫婆再也没有回来过,但她的小房子还保存在森林里,每天都有小动物去打扫。
© 2022 xuexicn.net,All Rights Reserved.