伊索寓言9
The Thirsty Pigeon口渴的鴿子
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.
有只鴿子口渴得很難受，看見畫板上畫著一個水瓶，以為是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飛過 去，不料一頭碰撞在畫板上，折斷了翅膀，摔在地上，被人輕易地捉住了。
這是說，有些人想急于得到所需的東西，一時沖動，草率從事，就會身遭不幸。
The Raven and the Swan烏鴉和天鵝
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.
烏鴉非常羨慕天鵝潔白的羽毛。他猜想天鵝一定是經常洗澡，羽毛才變得如此潔白無 瑕。于是，他毅然離開了他賴以生存的祭壇，來到江湖邊。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一 點都沒洗白，反而因缺少食物饑餓而死。
這故事是說，人的本性不會隨著生活方式的改變而改變。
The Goat and the Goatherd 山羊與牧羊人
A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain； the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone， and breaking its horn， begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied， “Why， you silly fellow， the horn will speak though I be silent.”
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.
很多山羊被牧羊人趕到羊圈里。有一只山羊不知在吃什么好東西，單獨落在后面。牧羊 人拿起一塊石頭扔了過去，正巧打斷了山羊的一只角。牧羊人嚇得請求山羊不要告訴主人， 山羊說：“即使我不說，又怎能隱瞞下去呢？我的角已斷了，這是十分明顯的事實。”
這故事說明，明顯的罪狀是無法隱瞞的。
The Miser守財奴
A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold， which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure， and digging down， came to the lump of gold， and stole it. The Miser， on his next visit， found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor， seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause， said， “Pray do not grieve so； but go and take a stone， and place it in the hole， and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service； for when the gold was there， you had it not， as you did not make the slightest use of it.”
有個守財奴變賣了他所有的家產，換回了金塊，并秘密地埋在一個地方。他每天走去看 看他的寶藏。有個在附近放羊的牧人留心觀察，知道了真情，趁他走后，挖出金塊拿走了。 守財奴再來時，發現洞中的金塊沒有了，便捶胸痛哭。有個人見他如此悲痛，問明原因后， 說道：“喂，朋友，別再難過了，那塊金子雖是你買來的，但并不是你真正擁有的。去拿一 塊石頭來，代替金塊放在洞里，只要你心里想著那是塊金子，你就會很高興。這樣與你擁有 真正的金塊效果沒什么不同。依我之見，你擁有那金塊時，也從沒用過。”
這故事說明，一切財物如不使用等于沒有。
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