第2章 小鸟 Birds
乌鸦和天鹅
The Raven and the Swan
乌鸦梦想自己也能拥有和天鹅一样洁白美丽的羽毛。他猜想，天鹅的羽毛之所以那么洁白，一定是常常洗澡的原因。于是，他决定离开赖以生存的祭坛，搬到江湖边居住。他每天清洗自己的羽毛，可是不仅羽毛没有洗白，反而因为缺少食物而饿死了。
天生的东西是不会随生活方式的改变而改变的。
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.
小燕子和乌鸦
The Swallow and the Crow
小燕子和乌鸦在争论谁的羽毛最美。乌鸦说道：“你的羽毛只有在春天暖和的时候才是美丽的，而我的羽毛却能帮助我抵御寒冷的冬天。”
对朋友谄媚是毫无意义的。
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.
徒劳的寒鸦
The Vain Jackdaw
朱庇特决定要给鸟类指派一个国王，他定下日子，要求所有的鸟儿都要来参加。他要选择最漂亮的鸟当国王。
寒鸦知道自己的长相丑陋不堪，于是就去搜集同伴们掉在地上的羽毛，并用它们来装扮自己，希望能成为最漂亮的鸟。
预定的日子到了，鸟儿们都把自己打扮得漂漂亮亮，来到朱庇特面前。朱庇特发现寒鸦的羽毛非常漂亮，打算任命他为国王。鸟儿们非常愤慨，将寒鸦团团围住，把他身上属于自己的羽毛都拔了下来。结果，寒鸦恢复了本来面目，依旧丑陋不堪。
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.
口渴的鸽子
The Thirsty Pigeon
有只鸽子口渴得很厉害，看到一幅画着一盆水的画，误以为是真的，就大叫一声，振翅向这幅画飞去，不料重重地撞到了贴画的木板上，头破血流，翅膀也折断了，跌倒在地，变成了别人的囊中之物。
做事冲动，只能自取灭亡。
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.
孔雀和仙鹤
The Peacock and the Crane
一只孔雀得意洋洋地展示自己无比美丽的羽毛，看到正好经过的鹤，就嘲弄他那灰不溜秋的羽毛：“你看我的羽毛，就像是国王的一件礼服，采撷了天上彩虹的颜色。”鹤回答说：“你说得确实不错。但是我可以在高空翱翔，让星星听到我的歌声，而你呢，却只会像公鸡一样在地上行走。”
外在的美丽并不是一切。
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.
乌鸦和渡鸦
The Crow and the Raven
乌鸦非常嫉妒渡鸦，因为渡鸦被人们称为灵鸟，能够预言未来吉凶，因此人们总是把关注的目光投向渡鸦。不服气的乌鸦决定也要为自己争取这份荣誉。一天，他看到路上有几个人，就在树上停下，呱呱地大声叫起来。过路人听到声音就回头看，正要靠近看时，被他的同伴拦住了。同伴说：“咱们还是赶快离开吧！你没听说过乌鸦啼叫代表将要发生不吉利的事情吗？”
不自量力只能给别人留下笑柄。
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.
狐狸和鹤
The Fox and the Crane
狐狸邀请鹤共进晚餐，然而他并没有真心诚意地为客人准备什么精美的饭菜，只是用豆子做了一点汤，并把汤放在一个很浅的石盘子中。鹤要费很大的劲才能把汤喝到嘴里，可是汤又会马上从他的长嘴中流出来。看着鹤笨拙的样子，狐狸非常开心。后来，鹤回请狐狸吃晚餐。他把食物放在了一只长颈小口的瓶子里，自己可以很容易地吃到食物，而狐狸却只能眼睁睁地看着。狐狸受到了应得的回报。
恶有恶报。
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.
乌鸦和水罐
The Crow and the Pitcher
一只乌鸦口渴难忍，看到一只水罐，就兴冲冲地飞过去了。可是飞到水罐旁边，乌鸦才发现水罐的水少得可怜。乌鸦绞尽脑汁，想了很多办法，可是依然喝不到水。这时，乌鸦已经筋疲力尽了。偶然间，他看到水罐旁边有很多小石头，乌鸦终于想到了一条妙计。他用嘴衔住小石头，然后将它们一颗颗地放进水罐里，这样石头就会占据水的空间，水面自然上升了。就这样乌鸦如愿以偿地喝到了水。
自我需要是成功的动机。
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.
寒鸦和狐狸
The Jackdaw and the Fox
一只饥肠辘辘的寒鸦停在一棵无花果树上。无花果树上结了很多果实，但是还没有成熟。寒鸦决定呆在那里等到果实成熟了再慢慢享用。狐狸看到寒鸦在树上停留了很长时间，就向他询问是怎么回事。狐狸得知事情的经过后，对寒鸦说：“朋友，你不要再自欺欺人了。你的希望一定会落空的。拿这种希望来填饱肚子是无论如何也办不到的。”
不要欺骗自己。
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.
孝顺的百灵鸟
The Lark Burying Her Father
根据古老的传说，百灵鸟在地球出现之前就已经存在了。她的父亲生病去世了，由于当时地球还没有出现，她找不到地方来埋葬父亲。就这样她父亲的尸体在外面停放了五天，到了第六天，无可奈何的百灵鸟把父亲葬在了自己的头上。从此之后，百灵鸟的头上就有了冠毛，人们传说那就是她父亲的坟墓。
年轻人的第一责任是孝敬父母。
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.
鸟兽和蝙蝠
The Birds， the Beasts， and the Bat
鸟类和野兽相互争斗，双方各有胜负。蝙蝠害怕争斗会危及自己，因此总是依附胜利的一方。当鸟类和野兽宣告停止争斗、和睦相处的时候，大家才看清了蝙蝠的本性，对他的欺骗行为感到非常气愤。因此，蝙蝠遭到了双方的谴责，被驱逐出日光之外。从此之后，蝙蝠白天就躲在黑暗的地方，只有到了晚上才独自出来活动。
两面三刀的人是不会有朋友的。
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.
鸽子和乌鸦
The Dove and the Crow
一只被关在笼子里的鸽子不断地吹嘘自己养育了这么多孩子，是多么劳苦功高。乌鸦正好飞过，听到了他的话就对他说：“我的好朋友，您不要再吹牛了。你的家族成员越多，你应该感到更加悲哀才是啊！因为这意味着将有更多的成员失去自由，被关在这牢房一样的笼子里啊！”
养育很多孩子是一件幸福的事情，如果他们其中的几个非常出色，那将是更大的幸福。
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.
挥霍者和燕子
The Spendthrift and the Swallow
有一个年轻人，在很短的时间内就把祖辈留给他的东西都挥霍一空了，只剩下身上的一件外套。一天，他碰巧看到了一只提前从暖和的地方飞回的燕子，就误以为是春天到了，于是就把身上唯一的外衣也卖掉了。不久之后，气温骤然下降，冻得他无处躲藏，正好在路上看到冻死的燕子，便对他说道：“不幸的家伙！你为什么要提前回来呢？不仅害死了你自己，也把我连累了啊！”
不要根据单一的现象就下结论。
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.
斗鸡和鹌鹑
The Gamecocks and the Partridge
一个人在自己家里养了两只斗鸡。一天，一个偶然的机会，这个人在市场上看到一只非常温顺的鹌鹑。他马上把鹌鹑买下来并带回家，和斗鸡养在一起。刚开始的时候，斗鸡经常和鹌鹑争斗，因此鹌鹑觉得非常委屈，认为自己是新来的所以才会遭受这样的待遇。不久之后，鹌鹑就发现这两只斗鸡经常彼此打斗，除非有一个受了重伤，否则他们是不会分开的。这时，他才恍然大悟：“我实在不应该为自己遭受攻击而压抑了，因为他们只是为争斗而奋斗。”
有些人只是为了争吵而争吵。
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.
画眉鸟和捕鸟人
The Thrush and the Fowler
一只画眉鸟在紫薇花树上吃东西，因为树上的浆果实在太美味了，因此久久不愿离开。一个捕鸟人在旁边观察了很久，于是抓住时机举起粘鸟竿一下子就把画眉鸟抓住了。临死的画眉鸟伤心地说道：“哦，我是多么愚蠢啊！竟然为了几个好吃的浆果而断送了自己的性命。”
当人们意识到自己的失败时，才是他们最沮丧的时刻。
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.
百灵鸟和她的孩子们
The Lark and Her Young Ones
早春时节，百灵鸟带着她的孩子们在嫩绿色的麦田里安了家。夏天到了，小百灵鸟们的羽毛逐渐丰满了，力气也越来越大了。一天，麦田的主人来到田地里看到麦子已经成熟了，就说：“是时候收割麦子了，我回去请我的邻居和朋友来帮忙。”一只小百灵鸟听到农夫的话后，急忙回去告诉她妈妈，并寻问他们应该搬到什么地方去。百灵妈妈说：“孩子，咱们不用急着搬家。因为他并不是真的着急要收割，要不然不会只是想请他的朋友来帮忙的。”几天之后，农夫又来到田野里，看到麦子已经熟透了，这才真的着急了，说道：“明天我一定要帮工和所有可能雇到的人来收割。”百灵鸟听到这些话后，对她的孩子们说：“孩子们，现在是我们应该搬家的时候了，因为主人这一次是真的下决心要收割麦子了。他不再依靠别人的帮忙，要自己亲自动手干了。”
自己是自己最好的帮手。
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.
鹌鹑和捕鸟人
The Partridge and the Fowler
一个捕鸟人抓到一只鹌鹑，想要把他杀掉。鹌鹑苦苦哀求道：“主人，你就饶了我吧。作为回报，我会帮您捕到更多的鹌鹑。”捕鸟人回答说：“听了你的话，我可以毫无顾忌地取你的性命了，因为你不惜以同伴和朋友的性命来换取自己的自由。”
背叛者是整个社会的蛀虫。
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.
乌鸦和羊
The Crow and the Sheep
一只讨厌的乌鸦赖在羊背上不走。羊非常不情愿地带着她走了很长一段路，实在忍受不住了，就对乌鸦说：“如果你站在狗背上，早就尝到锐利牙齿的厉害了。”乌鸦听了之后回答说：“我看不起弱者，屈从于强者。我知道应该奉承谁，可以欺负谁。这也正是我延长生命一直到老的手段。”
学会选择你的敌人。
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.
猫头鹰和鸟
The Owl and the Birds
从前，有一只非常聪明的猫头鹰给了其他鸟儿很多建议。他要他们在栎树刚开始发芽的时候就要把它连根拔起，以免它继续生长，因为栎树会长出用来制造粘鸟胶（人们捕鸟的主要工具）的槲寄生。接着，猫头鹰又建议鸟们要把人们种植的亚麻种子拿走，因为这种植物对于鸟儿来说是不好的预兆。最后，猫头鹰看到一个弓箭手，就郑重其事地对鸟儿们说：“你们要千万小心这个人，因为他会发射带有羽毛的武器。这种武器飞行的速度比我们快多了。”可是，鸟儿们却对猫头鹰的警告毫不在意，认为他是疯了才会胡言乱语。
但是不久之后，鸟儿就发现猫头鹰的话是正确的，因此他们一致认为猫头鹰在鸟类中最有知识和智慧，也是无所不知的。但是，猫头鹰没有再给他们任何建议，只是在哀悼他们的愚蠢。
要毁灭掉邪恶的种子，否则它长大后将会后患无穷。
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.