章节正文
| 124. The Bird catcher, The Partridge, And The Cock A Bird catcher was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs, when his friend unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quite empty, as he had caught nothing. He proceeded to kill a pied Partridge, which he had tamed for a decoy. He entreated thus earnestly for his life: "What would you do without me when next you spread your nets? Who would chirp you to sleep, or call for you the covey of answering birds?" The Bird catcher spared his l ife, and determined to pick out a fine young Cock just attaining to his comb. He thus expostulated in piteous tones from his perch: "If you kill me, who will announce to you the appearance of the dawn? Who will wake yo u to your daily tasks? or tell you when it is time to visit the bird-trap in the morning?" He replied, "What you say is true. You are a capital bird at telling the time of day. But I and the friend wh o has come in must have our dinners." Necessity knows no law. | 124. 捕鸟人、鹧鸪和公鸡 一个捕鸟的人，正要坐下来吃简单的午餐，忽然来了一个朋友。 可是此时捕鸟机完全空空如也，没有捕捉到任何一只鸟。 他便要动手去杀一只鹧鸪，而这鹧鸪是他驯养起来做诱鸟用的。 鹧鸪便哀求他说：「如果没有我，你下次张起鸟网时，你将怎么办呢？ 谁来唱歌伴你入睡呢？谁来为你呼唤整群的鸟儿呢？」 捕鸟的人就饶了鹧鸪的性命，决定选那只恰巧长成的公鸡来替代。 公鸡从它的鸡窝里出来，以哀怜的声调请求说：「如果你杀了我，有谁向你啼叫天明呢？ 早上谁来叫醒你去做日常的工作呢？或者告诉你去看捕鸟机呢？」 捉鸟的人回答说：「你说得很对。 在『报时』这一点上面，你是只最重要的鸟儿。 但是我和刚才进来的朋友，还是要有午餐吃啊。」 有需要时是不顾法律的。 |
章节正文
京公网安备 11011202003401号
