從前，有個人買了一隻鸚鵡，讓牠在房子裡自由自在地生活。這隻鸚鵡欣喜若狂，高興地飛上了壁爐架，盡情地叫著。一隻貓正在壁爐前的地毯上睡覺，鸚鵡的吵鬧聲驚擾了她。看著這個剛來的入侵者，貓問道：“你是誰，從哪裡來的？”鸚鵡回答道：“你的主人剛剛買了我，帶我來到這個房子裡。”“你這個放肆無禮的家夥，”貓說，“怎麼剛到這裡就這麽吵鬧呢？我可是在這裡出生的，而且一直住在這個家裡。但即便如此，如果我冒險喵喵地叫幾聲，主人就會朝我扔東西，到處追著趕我出去。”鸚鵝回答說：“喂，你最好趕快閉上嘴。我的聲音多麽悅耳動聽呀，他們可都喜歡；而你的叫聲，實在是一種噪音。”

 

【鸚鵡和貓的故事寓意】

 

　　鸚鵡和貓這篇提供的寓言故事告訴了我們：在生活中人和人事和事在很多情況下是無法對比的。

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THE PARROT AND THE CAT

　　A Man once bought a Parrot and gave it the run of his house. It reveled in its liberty, and presently flew up onto the mantelpiece and screamed away to its heart’s content. The noise disturbed the cat which was asleep on the hearthrug. Looking up at the intruder, she said，“Who may you be，and where have you come from?”The Parrot replied，“Your master has just bought me and brought me home with him.” You impudent bird,” said the Cat,“how dare you, a newcomer, make a noise like that? Why I was born here, and have lived here all my life, and yet. If I venture to meow, they throw things at me and chase me all over the place.” Look here! Mistress,” said the Parrot, “you just hold your tongue. My voice they delight in；but yours—yours is a perfect nuisance.”