The Thirsty Pigeon口渴的鸽子
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.
有只鸽子口渴得很难受,看见画板上画着一个水瓶,以为是真的.他立刻呼呼地猛飞过 去,不料一头碰撞在画板上,折断了翅膀,摔在地上,被人轻易地捉住了.
这是说,有些人想急于得到所需的东西,一时冲动,草率从事,就会身遭不幸.
风和太阳(The Wind And The Sun)
One day the wind said to the sun, “Look at that man walking along the road. I can get his cloak off more quickly than you can.”
“We will see about that,” said the sun. “I will let you try first.”
So the wind tried to make the man take off his cloak. He blew and blew, but the man only pulled his cloak more closely around himself.
“I give up,” said the wind at last. “I cannot get his cloak off.” Then the sun tried. He shone as hard as he could. The man soon became hot and took off his cloak.
(有一天风跟太阳说: “看看那个沿着路上走的人.我可以比你快让他把披风脱下来.)
(“我们等着看吧,”太阳说, “我让你先试.)
(因此风尝试让那个人把披风脱下来.他用力地吹,可是那个人把披风拉得更紧.)
(“我放弃了,”风最后说, “我无法让他把披风脱下来.”然后由太阳试试看.他尽可能地晒他.不久,那个人很热就把披风脱下来了.)
Little Robert
Little Robert asked his mother for two cents.
"What did you do with the money I gave you yesterday?"
"I gave it to a poor old woman," he answered.
"You're a good boy," said the mother proudly. "Here are two cents
more. But why are you so interested in the old woman?"
"She is the one who sells the candy."
好孩子
小罗伯特向妈妈要两分钱.
“昨天给你的钱干什么了?”
“我给了一个可怜的老太婆,”他回答说. “你真是个好孩子,”妈妈骄傲地说.“再给你两分钱.可你为什么对那位老太太那么感兴趣呢?”
“她是个卖糖果的.”
Belling the cat
long ago,there was a big cat in the house.He caught many mice while they were stealing food.
One day the mice bad a meeting to talk about the way to deal with
their common enemy.Some said this,andsome said that.
At last a young mouse got up,and said that he had a good idea.
“We could tie a bell around the neck of the cat.Then when he comes near,we can hear the sound of the bell,and run away.”
Everyone approved of this proposal,but an old wise mouse got up and said,“That is all very well,but who will tie the bell to the cat?”The mice looked at each other,but nobody spoke.
给猫挂铃铛
很久以前,房子里有只大猫.他抓住了许多偷吃粮食的老鼠.一天,老鼠们开会讨论对付猫的办法.有的说这样,有有的说那样.最后一只小老鼠站起来,说他有一个好办法：我们给猫的脖子上拴一个铃当,当猫走近的时候,我们就可以听到铃声,就可以逃跑了.每个老鼠都同意这个建议,但是一只老老鼠站起来说：那谁去给猫戴上铃当呢?老鼠们你看我,我看你,没人出声了.