第4章 老鹰 Eagle
老雕、鹞鹰和鸽子
The Hawk， the Kite， and the Pigeons
鸽子们非常害怕外表凶恶的鹞鹰，就向老雕寻求保护。老雕爽快地答应了。当鸽子们把老雕迎进门后，才明白他们这一次遭受的损失比鹞鹰一年带给他们的损失还要惨重。
这则寓言告诉我们讳疾忌医的后果。
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.
乌龟和老鹰
The Tortoise and the Eagle
一只乌龟在海边懒洋洋地晒太阳，并一直向海鸟抱怨自己命运的悲惨，因为没有谁能教她飞翔。这时，有一只老鹰在附近的天空盘旋，听到了乌龟的倾诉之后，就答应帮助她实现愿望，但是要求一定的回报。乌龟非常愉快地答应了，并允诺以红海中的一切财富作为报酬。于是老鹰用双爪把乌龟带到了空中，突然把她扔下，让她自己飞翔。结果，可怜的乌龟掉在石头上，落得粉身碎骨的下场。在临死之前，她后悔不已：我不应该存有奢望，我的生命中本不该有翅膀和云朵，我怎么可能离开地面呢？
如果一个人实现了所有的愿望，那么被毁灭的时刻也快来临了。
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.
病重的鹞鹰
The Sick Kite
鹞鹰病得很厉害，对他妈妈说：“噢，妈妈，请你不要再为我伤心了，你应该向上帝请求让我的生命更长一些才对！”妈妈回答说：“哎呀，我的孩子，你认为我应该向哪位天神祈祷呢？又有哪位天神桌上的供品没有被你偷拿过呢？”
如果我们想在患难中得到朋友的帮助，就应该在自己发达的时候对朋友好。
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.
老鹰和箭头
The Eagle and the Arrow
一只老鹰停留在一块突起的岩石上，专注地窥视着猎物——几只跑动的兔子。正要向他们扑过去的时候，冷不防，中了猎人一箭。锋利的箭头直扎入老鹰的身体，奄奄一息的老鹰瞥见了箭上带羽毛的一端。哀伤地说：“我现在感到加倍的疼痛，我竟然要死在带有自己羽毛的箭下。”
人们通常自掘坟墓。
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.
海鸥和鹞鹰
The Seagull and the Kite
海鸥从海里捉到一条大鱼，却被这条个头太大的鱼撑破了喉咙，气息奄奄地倒在了岸边。鹞鹰看到后对海鸥说：“你真是自讨苦吃啊！你生来是一只鸟，干嘛非要来海上寻找食物不可呢？"
每个人都应该满足于自己的领域。
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.
老鹰和寒鸦
The Eagle and the Jackdaw
老鹰从高高的悬崖上猛扑下来，在羊群中抓走了一只小羊羔。寒鸦看到老鹰这么容易就能抓到猎物，心里非常羡慕，就决定仿效他。于是，寒鸦大喊一声，就冲向羊群。不料羊毛把他的爪子缠住了，再也无法飞起来，只能徒劳地拍打翅膀。牧羊人一看就明白发生了什么事，立即赶来抓住了寒鸦。牧羊人把寒鸦的翅膀剪短，带回家给孩子当做玩伴。好奇的孩子们问：“这是什么鸟啊？”牧羊人回答说：“依我看，这是一只寒鸦，可是他把自己当做老鹰了！”
不自量力的结果是自取灭亡。
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.
农夫和老鹰
The Peasant and the Eagle
一个农夫看到一只被困在陷阱中的老鹰，非常同情他的遭遇，就大发善心把他放了。这只老鹰非常懂得“滴水之恩，当涌泉相报”的道理。当他看到农夫坐在一堵危墙下时，就赶快向农夫飞去，把农夫的包袱抓走了。有点生气的农夫马上起身去追赶老鹰。老鹰看到农夫已经离那段墙很远了，就把包袱还给了他。当农夫拿着包袱返回到原来的地方时，发现那段墙已经倒塌了。这时，他才理解老鹰报恩的行为，心中非常惊奇，更多的则是感激。
要懂得报恩的道理。
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.
鹞鹰和天鹅
The Kites and the Swans
在很久很久以前，鹞鹰也和天鹅一样拥有一副美妙的歌喉。可是至从他们听到了马嘶声之后，就深深地迷上了那雄厚的声音。于是，鹞鹰就拼命地模仿马的声音。到头来，马的声音没有学会，反而忘记了自己是如何唱歌的。
去追求那些遥不可及的东西往往会让你失去现在拥有的。
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.
寒鸦和鸽子
The Jackdaw and the Doves
一只寒鸦看到住在笼子里的鸽子有充足的食物，于是他就把自己装扮成鸽子的样子去分享他们的食物。只要寒鸦不开口说话，鸽子也分辨不出寒鸦是异类，因此他过了一段非常舒适的日子。
直到有一天，寒鸦忘记自己的身份，开始和鸽子们闲聊。这样，鸽子就发现了他的真实面目，把他赶出了笼子。无处可去的寒鸦只能回到自己的同伴中间。可是，外表已经改变的寒鸦也被同伴拒之门外。结果，寒鸦成了两边都不接受的小可怜。
两边的利益都想得到，最后只能是“竹篮打水一场空”。
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.
老鹰和狐狸
The Eagle and the Fox
老鹰和狐狸是非常亲密的伙伴，他们决定比邻而居，以为这样友情就会更加牢固。于是，老鹰带着他的孩子们飞到一棵高高的大树上筑了巢，狐狸领着她的孩子们在树下的灌木丛中安了家。谁知一天，老鹰没有食物喂养孩子，又恰逢狐狸外出觅食，于是就飞到树下把小狐狸抓到了树上美美地饱餐了一顿。狐狸返回家，看到发生的一切，悲痛欲绝。更让他难过的是，他无法抓住能在天上飞行的老鹰，为孩子们报仇雪恨。
不久之后，报应就降临到老鹰身上了。原来有一天，人们在郊外宰羊献祭，老鹰觊觎鲜美的羊肉，抓住了几根燃烧着的羊肠就往回飞。不料，一阵狂风吹来，羊肠上的火星点燃了鸟窝里的干草。还没学会飞翔的小鹰惊慌逃走，结果全部摔死在地上。在树下守候的狐狸抓住时机，一个箭步蹿上来在老鹰的面前把小鹰全部吃掉了。
上帝才是最终的审判官。
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.
老鹰和猎人
The Eagle and His Captor
有个人抓到一只老鹰，马上就剪短了他的翅膀，把他关在自家院子里，和一群鸡生活在一起。失去自由的老鹰，每天垂头丧气，拒绝进食，像是牢房里的囚犯。后来，一位邻居从老鹰主人的手里将他买去，他让老鹰翅膀自由生长，又精心为他疗伤。老鹰飞起来之后，抓到一只兔子，并作为礼物送给新主人。狐狸看到后对老鹰说：“你最好不要把兔子送给你现在的主人，而该送给原先的主人，以免日后你再次被他抓住时仍把你的翅膀剪掉。”
对恩人应该以德报德。
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.
老雕和夜莺
The Hawk and the Nightingale
在高高的橡树上，夜莺像往常一样在放声高歌。已经很久没有吃东西的老雕在空中看到夜莺后，就俯冲下来抓住了他。夜莺知道自己命不久矣，就苦苦哀求老雕饶命。夜莺说：“我现在还太小，都填不饱您的肚子。如果您饿极了，可以去捕捉那些大一些的鸟儿啊！”苍鹰打断他的话，反驳道：“如果我丢下已经到手的，而去冒险追求那些还没见到的东西，那我才是真正没有见识呢！”
不要为了得到更多遥不可及的东西而放弃到手的东西。
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.
老鹰和鹞鹰
The Eagle and the Kite
老鹰和鹞鹰一起停在树枝上。鹞鹰看见老鹰神情沮丧，就问他的同伴：“你为什么一副垂头丧气的样子啊？”老鹰回答说：“我一直在寻找一个合适的配偶，可是我一直找不到。”鹞鹰说：“你可以选择我啊！我的力量比你强大。”“你？你可以用你的爪子来保证我的生活吗？”“当然没有问题，我甚至可以抓起一只鸵鸟。”
老鹰相信了鹞鹰的话，接纳鹞鹰为自己的配偶。婚后不久，老鹰对她的丈夫说：“现在你就向我展示你的实力吧！按照你的许诺，给我带回一只鸵鸟吧！”于是，鹞鹰飞到空中开始寻找猎物。一会儿之后，鹞鹰给老鹰带回了一只瘦骨嶙峋的老鼠。老鹰指着老鼠说：“这就是你的承诺？”鹞鹰回答说：“为了能与你结伴，我可以做任何事情，尽管我很清楚自己无法兑现诺言。”
有些人愿意做任何事来得到他们想要的东西。
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.