几则伊索寓言
[align=left][b]蚂蚁和蚱蜢[/b] [/align][align=left]原文：
On a cold, frosty day an ant was dragging out some of the corn which he had laid up in the summertime, to dry it .A grasshopper, half perished with hunger, besought the ant to give him a morsel of to preserve his life. "What were you doing, "said the ant, "this last summer ?""Oh,"said the grasshopper,"I was not idle .I kept singing all the summer long ."said the ant, laughing and shutting up his granary ."Since you could sing all summer, you may dance all winter."
Winter finds out what summer lays by.
译文：
在寒冷，结霜的天气，一只蚂蚁拖曳出一些夏天储存起来的玉米，想晾干。一只蚱蜢，饿的要死，恳求蚂蚁给他一些食物让他保住性命。蚂蚁说："那你整个夏天在干什么？"蚱蜢说："我并不闲着，我整个夏天都在歌唱。"蚂蚁笑着关闭了他的谷仓，说："你可以在整个夏天歌唱，那你也可能整个冬天都跳舞。"
冬天都找出夏天在干什么？
词汇：
laid up 储存
a morsel of 一些，些许
granary 谷仓
[b]狐狸和乌鸦[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A crow had snatched a goodly piece of cheese out of a window, and flew with it into a high tree, intent on enjoying her prize. A fox spied the dainty morsel, and thus he planned his approaches, "Oh, crow, "said he, "how beautiful are thy wings ! how bright thine eye! How graceful thy neck! Thy breast is the breast of an eagle ! thy claws-I beg pardon-thy talons, are a match for all the beasts for the field, oh, that such a bird should be dumb, and want only a voice."the crow, pleased with the flattery, and chuckling to think how she would surprise the fox with her caw, opened her mouth. Down dropped the cheese! Snapping it up, the fox observed, as he walked away, that whatever he had remarked of her beauty, he had said nothing yet of her brains.
Men seldom flatter without some private end in view, and they who listen to such music may expect to have to pay the piper.
译文：
一只乌鸦从一个窗户里叼出了一快相当大的干酪，飞上了一棵高数，一心想享享口福，吃掉她夺来的这快东西，一只狐狸发现了这块美味的食物，就计划去接近她，"哦，乌鸦"他说，"你的翅膀多么漂亮啊！你的眼睛多么明亮啊，你的脖子多么娇美！你的胸脯和鹰一样！你的爪子，请原谅我，你的铁爪足以和所有的野兽对抗，哦，多么可惜，这样一只鸟竟是一只哑巴，只缺少一副喉咙了！"乌鸦听了这甜言蜜语，心理很高兴，他得意地心里想，如果我哇哇地叫起来将使狐狸感到多么惊奇，于是他就张开了嘴。干酪拍地掉下去了！狐狸叼起干酪，一边走开，一边批评地说，不论他怎么吹嘘她的美貌，可是他还没谈论他的智慧。
谄媚人的人很少是没有自私打算的，而倾听这种音乐的人则势必要出钱。
词汇：
snatched 抢夺
a goodly piece of 相当大一块
spied 侦察出，发现
dainty morsel 好吃的东西
thy 你的（古语）
thine 你的（古语）
a match for ……的对手
flattery 奉承
chuckling 暗自得意
Snapping it up 猛地咬住
in view 企望
to pay the piper 负担费用，承担代价[/align]
[align=left][b]虚荣的八哥 [/b][/align]
[align=left]原文：
A jackdaw, as vain and conceited as jackdaw could be, picked up the feathers which some peacocks had shed, stuck them amongst his own, and despising his old companions, introduced himself with the greatest assurance into a flock of those beautiful birds .They, instantly detecting the intruder, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and falling upon him with their beaks sent him about his business .The unlucky jackdaw, sorely punished and deeply sorrowing, betook himself to his former companions, and would have flocked with them again as if nothing had happened .But they, recollecting what airs he had given himself, drummed him out of their society, while one of those whom he had so lately despised, read him this lecture ："Had you been contented with what nature made you, you would have escaped the chastisement of you r betters and also the contempt of you r equals。”
译文：
一只自负到极点的八哥鸟，捡起了一些孔雀脱落下来的羽毛，插在自己的羽毛中，于是就看不起自己的老伙伴了，满怀信心地走到了那些美丽的鸟群中。他们立刻发觉了这个闯进来的家伙，拔掉了他身上捡来的羽毛，并且用嘴啄他，把他赶了出去，不幸的八哥受到了严重的惩罚，感到非常难过，于是又去投奔自己的老伙伴，满想若无其事地又和他们混在一起，但是他们想起了过去他那副骄傲自大的神气就把他从队伍中轰了出来，不久以前曾受过他轻视的一个伙伴教训他说："如果你过去满足于你自己的天生模样，你就不会受到比你美的人的惩罚，也不会受到跟你相同的人的鄙视了。"
词汇：
vain 虚荣的，徒劳的
jackdaw 八哥，寒鸦
peacock 孔雀
with the greatest assurance 满怀信心地
falling upon 攻击
sent him about his business 把他赶出去
drummed...out 逐出
read him this lecture 教训他
chastisement 惩罚
[b]狐狸和山羊[/b][/align]
[align=left]原文：
A fox had fallen into a well, and had been casting about for a long time how he should get out again, when at length a goat came to the place, and wanting to drink, asked Reynard whether the water was good, and of there was plenty of it .The fox, dissembling the real danger of his case, replied :"come down, my friend, the water is so good that I can not drink enough of it, and so aboundant that it can not be exhausted ."Upon this the goat without any more ado leaped in, when the fox, taking advantage of his friend's horns, as nimbly leaped out, and coolly remarked to the poor deluded goat :"if you had half as much brains as you have beard, you would have looked before you leaped."
译文：
一只狐狸掉在一口井里，转了很久怎样再跳上去，最后一只山羊来到这里，他正想喝水，便问狐狸这水好不好，还多不多，狐狸掩饰起他的真实危险处境，回答说："下来吧，我的朋友，这水好得使我喝不够，而且多的用不完。"于是山羊立刻跳了井里，狐狸踩着他朋友的角，敏捷地跳了上去，并且冷淡地对受了骗的可怜的山羊说："如果你的脑子有你胡子一半多，你就会先思而后行了。"
词汇：
casting about 来回走，想方设法
at length 最后
Reynard 狐狸的通称
without any more ado 不费吹灰之力
taking advantage of 利用
look before you leap 三思而后行[/align]
[align=left][b]狮子和牛[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
Three bulls fed in a field together in the greatest peace and amity .A lion had long watched them in the hope of making prize of them, but found that there was little chance for him so long as they kept all together .He therefore began secretly to spread evil and slanderous reports of one against the other ,till he had formented a jealousy and distrust amongst them . No sooner did the lion see that they avoided one another ,and fed each by himself apart ,than he fell upon them ,and so made an easy prey of them all.
The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes.
译文：
有三头牛，他们极其友好和睦地在一起在野外吃草，一头狮子窥视了很久，想逮住他们，但是觉得只要他们聚在一起，就得不到机会。因此他开始暗地里散布流言蜚语，说这一个跟另一个作对，直到他们之间制造了妒忌和不信任。狮子一看到他们各奔东西、分头吃草的时候，就马上向他们一个一个的进攻了。这样他就轻而易举地把他们全吃光了。
朋友间的不知，就是敌人进攻的机会。
词汇：
making prize of 逮住
fell upon them 向他们攻击
豹和狐狸
原文：
A Leopard and a fox had a contest which was the finer creature of the two ,the leopard put forward the beauty of its numberless spots ,but the fox replied: "It is better to have a versatile mind than a variegated body.
译文：
一只豹和一只狐狸在争论谁好谁不好，豹提出他有数不尽的美丽斑点，而狐狸回答说："有多方面的智力比有多种颜色的身体强。
词汇：
Leopard 猎豹
versatile 多方面的
variegated 多彩的
[b]熊与狐狸[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A bear used to boast of his excessive love for man.saying that he never worried or mauled him when dead .The fox observed .with a smile :"I should have thought more of profession if you never eaat him alive ."
Better save a man from dying than slalve him when dead.
译文： [/align][align=left] 一只熊总喜欢夸耀自己很爱人，他说人死了之后，他从来不咬他或伤害他，狐狸笑着说："假如你从来不吃活人的话，我就会更重视你所说的话了。"
拯救一个人使他不死，胜过在他死后说些安慰的话。[/align]
[align=left][b]青蛙和牛[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
An ox, grazing in a swampy meadow, chanced to set his foot among a parcel of young frogs, and crushed nearly the whole brood to death .One that escaped ran off to his mother with the dreadful news."and ,oh ,mother !"said he ,"it was a beast -such a big four footed beast!-that did it .""Big?" quoth the old frog , "How big? Was it as big" -- and she puffed herself out to a great degree-"as big as this ?""oh!"said the little one ,"a great deal bigger than that .""well, was it so big ?"and she swelled herself out yet mere ."Indeed ,mother ,but it was ,and of you were to burst yourself you would never reach half its size."provoked at such a disparagement of her powers, the old frog made one more trial ,and burst herself indeed.
So men are ruined by attempting greatness to which they have no claim.
译文：
一头牛在一快泥泞的草地上吃草，偶然把脚踏在一堆小青蛙当中，几乎把所有的幼蛙踩死。脱险的一个带着这可怕的消息跑到他母亲那里去了。"啊，母亲！"他说"是一只野兽-那样一只有四只脚的大野兽-踩的。""大吗？"老青蛙说。"多大？"她股足了气把自己胀得大大的说："他像这样的吗？""啊！"小 青蛙说，"比那大多了。""哦，有这么大吗？"她鼓着气胀地更大了。"真的，母亲，但确实如此，即使你胀破了自己，也不够他一半大。"老青蛙看到自己的力气受到轻视很是激怒，于是又鼓了一下气，果然这次胀破了自己。
妄自尊大的人必将自取灭亡的。
词汇：
grazing 吃草
a parcel of 一群
brood 一窝
quoth 说（古代）
puffed herself out 鼓气把自己吹大
disparagement 轻视
[b]狼 与 鹤[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A Wolf had got a bone stuck in his throat and in the greatest agony ran up and down, beseeching every animal he met to relieve him, at the same time hinting at a very handsome reward to the successful operator. A Crane, moved by his entreaties and promises, ventured her long neck down the Wolf's throat, and drew out the bone. She then modestly for the promised reward. To which the Wolf, grinning and showing his teeth, replied with seeming indignation: "Ungreateful creature! to ask for any other reward than that you have put you head into a wolf's jaws and brought it safe again!"
Those who are charitable only in the hope of a return must not be surprised if in their dealings with evil men, they meet with more jeers than thanks.
词汇：
in the great agony 极其痛苦
with seeming indignation 充满怒气
hinting at 暗示
[b]老 鬣 狗[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A Hound, who had been excellent one in his time, and had done good service to his master in the field, at length become worn out with the weight of years and trouble. One day, when hunting the wild boar, he seized the creature by the ear, but his teeth giving way, he was forced to let go his hold, and the boar escaped. Upon this the huntsman, coming up, severely rate him. But the feeble Dog replied: "Spare your old servant! it was the power not not the will that failed me. Remember rather what I was, than abuse me for what I am.
词汇：
in his time 想当年
at length 后来，最后
worn out 累垮了
the weight of years and trouble 长年劳累
seized ... by the ear 咬住 ... 的耳朵
give way 让步[/align]
[align=left][b]鹅 与 鹤[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
Some Geese and some Cranes fed together in the same field. One day the sportsmen came suddenly down upon them. The Cranes being light of body, flew off in a moment; but the geese, weighted down by their fat, were all taken.
In civil commotions, they fare best who have least to fetter them.
词汇：
geese 鹅（复数)
crane 鹤
come suddenly down upon 突然袭击
weighted down 过重而坠
have least to fetter> 最少牵挂
[b]母狮子[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
There was a great stir made among all the Beasts, which could boast of largest family. So they came to the Lioness. "And how many," said , "do you have at a birth?" "One," said she, grimly, "but that one is a lion."
Quality comes before quantity.
译文：
一场大比拼在所有野兽中展开了，看看谁敢夸耀自己的家族最大。众野兽来到母狮子跟前，问道：“你一胎能生产几个？”“一个”，狮子凶横地说，“但那是一头狮子”。
质量重于数量。
词汇：
stir 轰动，骚动
boast of 自夸
at a birth 一胎
grimly 冷酷地，可怕地
[b]鹰和箭[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A Bowman took aim at an Eagle and hit him in the heart. As the Eagle turned his head in the agonies of death, he saw that the Arrow was winged with his own feathers. "How much sharper," said he, "are the wounds made by weapons which we ourselves have supplied!"
词汇：
bowman 弓箭手
took aim at 瞄准
in the agonies of death 疼得死去活来
was winged 配箭翎
sharper （疼痛）更剧烈[/align]
[align=left][b]大山分娩[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
In days of yore, a mighty runmbling was heard in a mountain. It was said to be in labor, and multitudes flocked together, from far and near, to see what it would produce. After long expectation and many wise conjectures from the by-standers -- out popped a Mouse!
The story applies those magnificent promises end in a paltry performance.
译文：
古时候，在一座山里发出了一阵隆隆巨响，据说这是大山要临产了。人群从四面八方聚集起来，观看大山会生出什么后代。大家企盼了许久，并且作了许多聪明的推测，结果从那里跳出一只老鼠。
这个故事说的是，雷声大，雨点小。
词汇：
In days of yore 古时候
in labor 临产
multitudes flocked together 人群聚集
by-standers 旁观者
out popped 跳出
paltry 微不足道的
[b]树和斧子[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A Woodman came into a forest to ask the Trees to give him a handle for Ax. It seemed so modest a request that the principal tree at once agreed to it, and it was settled among them that the plain, homely Ash should furnish what was wanted. No sooner had the Woodman fitted the staff to his purpose ,than he began laying about him on all side. felling the whole matter too late, whispered to the Cedar: "the first concession has lost all ;if we has not a sacrificed our humble neighbor, we might have yet stood for ages ourselves."
译文：
有一个樵夫来到森林里，要求树给他一跟斧柄，看来他的请求非常谦虚，立刻得到了树的首领的同意。他们决定由平凡而朴素的白杨树来提供所需要的东西。樵夫刚按好斧柄，就开始到处乱砍，森林里最高的树都砍倒了，树林现在察觉大势已去，就小声对衫树说："第一次的让步已失去了一切。如果我们不牺牲我们的小小的邻居，我们自己还可以活无数年呢。"
词汇：
the principal tree 领头树
was settled among them 大家商定
no sooner...than... 一……就……
laying about him 向他四周乱砍
might have yet stood for ages 也许还能活几百年
[b]旅行者和熊[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
Two friends were traveling on the same road together, when they met with a bear .The one, in great fear, without a thought of his companion, climbed up into a tree, and hid himself .The other, seeing that he had on chance single-handed against the bear, had nothing left but to throw himself on the ground and feign to be dead, for he had heard that the bear will never touch a dead body .A s he thus lay, the bear came up to his head, muzzling and snuffing at his nose, and ears, and heart, but the immovably held his breath, and the beast, supposing him to be dead, walked away .When the bear was fairly out of sight, his companion came down out of the tree, and asked what it was that the bear whispered to him-"for"says he, "I observed he put his mouth very close to your ear . ""why,"replies the other, "it was no great secret, he only bid me have a care how I kept company with those who, when they get into a difficulty, leave their friends in a lurch."
词汇：
single-handed 独自一人，孤立无援
lurch 危难[/align]
[align=left][b]一捆木柴[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A Husbandman who had a quarrelsome family ,after having tried in vain to reconcile them by words ,thought he might more readily prevail by an example .So he called his sons and bid them lay a bundle of sticks before him .Then ,having tied them into a fagot, he told the lads ,one after the other ,to take it up and break it .They all tied ,but tried in vain .Then untying the fagot ,he gave them the sticks to break one by one .This they did with the greatest ease .Then said the father:"Thus you ,my sons ,as long as you remain united ,are a match for all you enemies ;but differ and separate ,and you are undone."
Union is strength.
译文：
一个农夫，家庭不和睦，用言语劝告大家和好，总是无效，最后他想，用实际例子可能容易说服他们。于是他把儿子都叫来，吩咐他们抱一捆火柴放在他的面前。他把火柴捆成一捆，接着叫这些孩子挨次拿起来折断它，一个个都试过了，但都没有折断，接着他解了捆，一根一根地给他们折，他们都轻而易举地折断了。这时父亲说："孩子们，只要我们团结一致，你们就能对付一切敌人；但是如果意见不合，各自东西，那么你们一定要失败。"
团结就是力量。
词汇：
Husbandman 农夫
fagot 一捆
a match for ……的对手
[b]守财奴[/b][/align][align=left]
原文：
A Miser, to make sure of his property, sold all that he had had converted it into a great lump of gold, which he hid in a hole in the ground, and went continually to visit and inspect it. This roused the curiosity of one of his workmen, who, suspecting that there was a treasure, when his master's back was turned went to the spot and stole it away. When the Miser returned and found the place empty, he wept and tore his hair. But a neighbor who saw him in this extravagant grief, and learned the cause of it, said: "Fret thyself no longer, but take a stone and put it in the same place, and think that it is your lump of gold; for, as you never meant to use it, the one will do you as much gold as the other."
The worth of money is not in its possession, but in its use.
译文：
一个守财奴，为了确保他的财产，卖掉所有家当换成了一大块金子，埋在一个地洞里，并且不时地去查看，这引起了手下一个雇工的好奇。雇工猜测那里肯定有宝贝，趁主人离开之际，他来到埋藏地点，把金子偷走了。当守财奴回来发现金子不翼而飞，便痛哭流涕，乱撮头发。一个邻人见状问明原由后说“你也别太痛苦了，拿一块石头再埋在原地，就当是那块金子好了，因为既然你永远不想用它，那么两者不是一回事吗”。
金钱的价值不在于拥有，而在于使用。
词汇：
extravagant 过分的
thyself = yourself
[b]人与赛特[/b] [/align][align=left]
原文：
A Man and a Satyr having struck up an acquaintance, sat down together to eat. The day being wintry and cold, the Man put his fingers to his mouse and blew opon them. "What's that for, my friend?" asked the Satyr. " My hands are so cold," said the Man, "I do it to warm them." In a little while some hot food was placed before them, and the Man, raising the dish to his mouse, again blew opon it. "And what's the meaning of that, now?" said the Satyr. "Oh," replied the Man, "my porridge is so hot, I do it to cool it." "Nay, then," said the Satyr, "from this moment I renounce your friendship, for I will have nothing to do with one who blows hot and cold with the same mouse."
译文：
一个人与赛特偶然相识，坐在一起吃东西。正值冬季，天气很冷，那人把手放在嘴边哈气。赛特问道“我的朋友，那是干吗？”这人说“我的手太冷了，这是为了取暖”。过了一会儿，热腾腾的食物端上来了，那人把碟子举到嘴边又吹了起来，赛特问“这又是干吗？”，那人说“哦，我的粥太烫了，我把他吹凉些”。赛特说“从现在起，我要与你绝交，因为我不想和一个反复无常的人做朋友”。
词汇：
atyr 赛特(希腊神话中半人半羊的神)
strike up an acquaintance 偶然成为朋友
porridge 粥 renounce 拒绝，放弃[/align] 这么深的夜，楼主真的辛苦了 这样的文章挺合适的,呵呵,楼主辛苦了....
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