Aesop's fable
伊索寓言
Lesson 34
狐狸與河
THE FOXES AND THE RIVER
一群狐狸聚集在河畔,想要喝河裡的水。但是,河裡的水流很急,而河水似乎又很深、很危險,於是,他們都不敢下去喝水,只是站在河邊,鼓動其他不害怕的狐狸下去喝水。其中有一隻狐狸,嘲笑同伴們太膽小,為顯示自己的勇敢,他說道:“我才不害怕呢!看吧,我馬上就走進河裡去!”他剛步入河中,就被湍急的河水沖得站不穩腳跟。眼看他就要被河水沖到下游去了,站在河邊的其他狐狸朝他大喊:“別走呀,不要留下我們!快回來,告訴我們從哪裡可以安全地下去喝水。”然而,被水沖走的狐狸卻回答說:“恐怕我不能回去了,我想到海邊去,河水會帶我過去的。等我回來後,再告訴你們吧。”
【狐狸與河的故事寓意】
狐狸與河的寓言故事告訴了我們:我們不應該像狐狸那樣已經預見了危險,為了自己的尊嚴而不求救,在生活中我們應該實事求是。
THE FOXES AND THE RIVER
Several Foxes assembled on the bank of a river and wanted to drink, but the current was SO strong and the water looked so deep and dangerous that they didn’t dare to do so, but stood near the edge encouraging one another not to be afraid. At last one of them, to shame the rest, and show how brave he was, said “I am not a bit frightened See. I’ll step right into the water!”He had no sooner done so than the current swept him off his feet. When the others saw him being carried downstream they cried, “Don’t go and leave us! Come back and show us where we too can drink with safety.”But he replied.“I’m afraid I can’t yet: I want to go to the seaside, and this current will take me there nicely. When I come back I’ll show you with pleasure.”