THE HORSE AND THE ASS
马和驴
A Horse,proud of his ?ne harness,met an Ass on the high-road.As the Ass with his heavy burden moved slowly out of the way to let him pass,the Horse cried out impatiently that he could hardly resist kicking him to make him move faster.The Ass held his peace,but did not forget the other’s insolence.Not long afterwards the Horse became broken-winded,and was sold by his owner to a farmer.One day,as he was drawing a dung-cart,he met the Ass again,who in turn derided him and said,“Aha!you never thought to come to this,did you,you who were so proud!Where are all your gay trappings now?”
{中文阅读}
一匹马对自己精美的马具感到自豪,他在一条小路上遇到了一头满载货物的驴。驴因货物太重,只能慢慢地走,而无法让马先过去。马不耐烦地说恨不得踢他一脚,让他快点走。驴默不作声,但是没有忘记马的傲慢无礼。不久,那匹马患了气喘病,被主人卖到了农场。有一天,当马正拉着粪车时,又遇到了驴,驴反而讥笑他说:“哈!你从没想到会来这里干这种活吧,不是吗,你那么傲慢!现在,你那华丽的马具到哪里去了?”
THE DOG CHASING A WOLF
追赶狼的狗
A Dog was chasing a Wolf,and as he ran he thought what a ?ne fellow he was,and what strong legs he had,and how quickly they covered the ground.“Now,there’s this Wolf,”he said to himself,“what a poor creature he is:he’s no match for me,and he knows it and so he runs away.”But the Wolf looked round just then and said,“Don’t you imagine I’m running away from you,my friend:it’s your master I’m afraid of.”
{中文阅读}
一条狗正在追赶一只狼,他边跑边想,自己是一条多么好的狗呀,腿多么健壮,跑得又是多么的快。狗自言自语道:“现在,看看这只狼,多么可怜呀,他根本不是我的对手,他很有自知之明,所以才会逃跑。”然而,狼却回过头来对他说:“朋友,不要以为我因为惧怕你才逃跑,让我害怕的是你身后的主人。”
GRIEF AND HIS DUE
悲伤和他被指派的份额
When Jupiter was assigning the various gods their privileges,it so happened that Grief was not present with the rest:but when all had received their share,he too entered and claimed his due.Jupiter was at a loss to know what to do,for there was nothing left for him.However,at last he decided that to him should belong the tears that are shed for the dead.Thus it is the same with Grief as it is with the other gods.The more devoutly men render to him his due,the more lavish is he of that which he has to bestow.It is not well,therefore,to mourn long for the departed;else Grief,whose sole pleasure is in such mourning,will be quick to send fresh cause for tears.
{中文阅读}
朱庇特正在给不同的神灵指派特权,恰巧悲伤没有到场。但是,当所有神灵都得到了指派的份额后,悲伤进来了,也声称想要他应得的份额。朱庇特有点不知所措,因为什么都没有留给他。然而,朱庇特最后决定,悲伤应该属于为亡人而流下的泪水。因此,悲伤与其他神灵一样,也得到了属于自己的份额。越发虔诚地回报给悲伤,悲伤就会越发大方地赋予你属于他的份额。所以,长久地为逝者而悲伤并不好。悲伤的唯一乐趣就在这样的哀悼中,否则,他会迅速为泪水寻找新的原因。
THE WOMAN AND THE FARMER
女人和农夫
A Woman,who had lately lost her husband,used to go every day to his grave and lament her loss.A Farmer,who was engaged in ploughing not far from the spot,set eyes upon the Woman and desired to have her for his wife:so he left his plough and came and sat by her side,and began to shed tears himself.She asked him why he wept;and he replied,“I have lately lost my wife,who was very dear to me,and tears ease my grief.”“And I,”said she,“have lost my husband.”And so for a while they mourned in silence.Then he said,“Since you and I are in like case,shall we not do well to marry and live together?I shall take the place of your dead husband,and you,that of my dead wife.”The Woman consented to the plan,which indeed seemed reasonable enough:and they dried their tears.Meanwhile,a thief had come and stolen the oxen which the Farmer had left with his plough.On discovering the theft,he beat his breast and loudly bewailed his loss.When the Woman heard his cries,she came and said,“Why,are you weeping still?”To which he replied,“Yes,and I mean it this time.”
{中文阅读}
有一个女人刚刚失去了丈夫,她每天都要到丈夫的坟上痛哭一场。有一个农夫在不远处耕地,一直观察着这个女人,想娶她为妻。于是,农夫放下自己的犁,来到她身边坐下,也痛哭起来。女人问他为什么哭,农夫回答说:“我的妻子最近也死了,她和我非常恩爱,也许眼泪能够减轻我的悲伤。”女人说:“我丈夫也是刚刚去世。”两人就这样默然哀伤了一阵子。接着,农夫说:“既然你我遭遇相同,我们为何不结为夫妻,在一起生活呢?我替代你死去的丈夫,而你则替代我死去的妻子。”这个想法听起来的确很有道理,那女人高兴地同意了。这时候,有一个贼偷走了农夫丢下的公牛。看到自己的牛被偷了,农夫不禁捶胸顿足地悲叹自己的损失。此刻,女人听见了他的哭声,走过来问道:“为什么,你还在哭吗?”农夫回答:“是的!这一次是真心的。”
PROMETHEUS AND THE MAKING OF MAN
普罗米修斯与造人
At the bidding of Jupiter,Prometheus set about the creation of Man and the other animals.Jupiter,seeing that Mankind,the only rational creatures,were far outnumbered by the irrational beasts,bade him redress the balance by turning some of the latter into men.Prometheus did as he was bidden,and this is the reason why some people have the forms of men but the souls of beasts.
{中文阅读}