THE CRYING APE

　　猿猴的哭泣

　　Long， long ago， a file of chariots rumbled quickly across the plain late one spring. The soldiers wore sparkling armor. Banners fluttered in the breeze.

　　很久以前的一個晚春， 一隊戰車轟隆隆地在平原上疾馳而 過。戰士們穿著閃亮的盔甲，旌旗在風中飄揚。

　　Following them came several generals with their swords and spears. They were followed by a beautiful chariot. Sitting in the chariot was the great King of Chu.

　　車隊后面跟著幾個持劍和矛的將軍。 在他們的身后是一輛漂亮的戰車。坐在車上的是偉大的楚國國君。

　　Every year the King took a trip through his kingdom to inspect his land， to hunt， to train his troops， and to get out of his stuffy old palace.

　　每年國王都要啟程視察他的國土，打打獵或訓練他的軍隊以躲避他乏味的宮廷生活。

　　The King had a general called Yang Youchi who is very famous for his archery. Even now， over two thousand years later， people still remember what a good shot he was. He never missed. The King trusted him. During the great hunt the rabbits and deer and all the wild animals ran here and there in panic， but nowhere was safe from the arrows of General Yang Youchi. If he shot one hundred times， he hit his aim one hundred times.

　　國王有位將軍名叫楊有持，此人以箭術聞名。即使兩千年以后的現在，人們仍然記得他是一個多么出色的射擊手。他百發百中。國王很信任他。在那次大的狩獵中，兔子啊 、鹿啊， 所有的野獸都驚惶失措，四散逃走，卻找不到 一個安全地方躲避楊守持的箭。如果他射擊一百次，他就擊中一百次。

　　On the plain was a huge old tree. As they passed， the soldiers heard a noise. They saw an ape in the branches above their heads. It jumped up and down disrespectfully， mocking the hunting soldiers. It threw a nut at them.

　　平原上有一顆很大的樹。他們經過的時候，聽到一陣騷亂。他們看到一個猿猴在他們頭頂的樹枝上。他無禮地上下跳來跳去，戲弄士兵們，還朝他們扔果核。

　　"Okay， pretty boy， I'll teach you a lesson，" said an archer as he aimed at the ape. But as he shot his arrow， the ape dodged， and the arrow hissed harmlessly through the branches. A shout of laughter went up from the troops.

　　"好家伙，我來教訓教訓你，" 一個射手瞄準猿猴說。但當他射出箭后，猿猴躲過了。箭嗖搜地空穿過樹枝。 隊伍中發出一陣 哄笑 .

　　"Lucky，" snorted the soldier. "Take that！"

　　" 算你走運，"士兵哼了一聲，"看箭！"

　　He shot another arrow， and this time the ape didn't dodge ―― it snatched the arrow out of the air！ Then it sniffed the arrow contemptuously before breaking it in two.

　　他又射了一箭，這次猿猴沒有躲，他在空中接住了箭！它輕蔑地用鼻子發出嗤嗤聲，然后將箭折成兩段。

　　Now the soldiers were mad. They shot arrows at it， but the ape was so clever and so quick that it caught their arrows in midair and mocked them even more.

　　這下士兵惱了。他們朝它射箭，但猿猴聰明又靈敏，他在空中抓住了他們射的箭， 嘲笑他們更厲害了。

　　When the King saw how disrespectful the ape was， he ordered General Yang to go shoot down that smart aleck ape.

　　國王看到猿猴如此放肆，他命令楊將軍去把自作聰明的猿猴射下來。

　　The ape seemed to understand， because as soon as General Yang rode toward the tree， the ape began to cry. Tears rolled down its face， and it sobbed and howled very piteously.

　　猿猴好像明白，因為當楊將軍騎向樹時，它哭了起來。眼淚順著他的臉嘩嘩地淌，它可憐兮兮地哀號起來。

　　The King asked， "Why is the ape crying？"

　　國王問道，"猿猴哭什么呀？"

　　Yang Youchi answered， "It must know that my arrows never miss， so no matter how cunning it may be， it must die now， at your highness' command. That is why it is crying."

　　楊有持答道，"它肯定知道我箭不虛射，不管它多狡猾，在陛下的命令下，它現在也得死了。這是它為什么哭的原因。

　　The King hung his head in thought. How sad the ape was！ All the other animals must be suffering， too. His royal heart filled with mercy. He told General Yang to put away his weapons， and called off the hunt， so that no more animals would be hurt.

　　國王沉思起來。猿猴好傷心啊，其他的動物也肯定很痛苦。他尊貴的心里充滿了慈悲。他叫楊將軍放下武器，取消打獵，以避免傷害更多的動物。

　　When he returned to his capital ahead of schedule， all the people there found out that the King had been moved by an ape's tears. The people of Chu were all very happy to have such a kind and loving King， so they worked very hard for their country， and from then on， Chu was strong and powerful for hundreds of years.

　　當他提前返回都城時，那里所有的人都知道國王被一只猿猴得眼淚打動了。楚國人非常高興擁有這樣一位善良又仁慈的國王，他們工作更加勤奮了。此后幾百年，楚國一直很強大。

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