37～38猫和鸟、猫和公鸡-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《伊索寓言(精选)Aesop'sFables(Selections)》

Aesopfs Tabfes (Selections 二七) 猫和鸟 猫听说伺养场里的鸟病了,就乔装改扮成医生,拿着医生用的手杖和提 包,跑到伺养场来。他敲敲鸟舍的门,询问鸟的病情,说自已很愿意为生病 的鸟治病。里面的鸟回答说:“我们现在很好,以后也会过得不错,只要你 识相点,快走开。” XXXVII The Cat and the Birds A Cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary{①} were ailing dressed himself up as a physician{②, and, taking his cane③ and a bag of instruments④ becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates}how they all did. saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe{} for them and cure them. They replied,"We are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, and leave us as we are.” ① aviary/eiviari/n. 大鸟笼,鸟舍 ② physician /fi'zifon/n. 内科医生 ③cane /kein/n. 手杖 ④ instrument /instrumant/ n. 仪器 inmate /inmeit/n. 同住者 prescribe /pris'kraib/v. 开药方 .O50· 伊索寓言(精选) {② 二八 猫和公鸡 猫抓住了一只公鸡,想找一个正当的借口吃了他,就指责公鸡在半夜里 叫,打扰人们睡觉。公鸡辩解说,自已啼叫是为了唤醒人们起床去干一 天的工作,是为了大家好。猫答道:“凭你有再多冠冕堂皇的理由,也不能 让我饿肚子。”于是就把公鸡吃了。 xxxVIlI The Cat and the Cock A Cat caught a Cock, and pondered①} how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused{② him of being a nuisance{③ to men by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting④ them to sleep The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the benefit of men, that they might rise in time for their labors. The Cat replied. “Although you abound^*} in specious^{②} apologies^{③}, I shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of him. ①ponder/ponda/v.沉思,考虑 ② accuse of 控告 nuisance/niu:sns/n. 讨厌的东西,讨厌的人 ④permit /po'mit/v. 允许,许可 defend /di'fend/ v. 辩护 abound /s'baund/ v.富于,充满 specious/spi:fas/a. 似是而非的,华而不实的 ⑧ apology /o'polad3i/n.辩角,辩护 ·051·