LESSON 22
第22課
decide
決定
buckled
扣
mountain
山
shelter
避難所
party
部分
dispute
爭端
succeed
成功
forcibly
強行
mantle
地幔
oven
烤箱
THE WIND AND THE SUN
風和太陽
A dispute once arose between the Wind and the Sun, as to which was the stronger.
有一次,風和太陽起了爭執(zhí),雙方都在強調(diào)自己更厲害。
To decide the matter, they agreed to try their power on a traveler.
為了解決這個問題,風和太陽都同意在一個旅行者身上施展威力。
That party which should first strip him of his cloak,was to win the day.
最先讓他脫掉斗篷的一方,就是當天的勝利者。
The Wind began. He blew a cutting blast, which tore up the mountain oaks by their roots, and made the whole forest look like a wreck.
風先開始,它發(fā)動了猛烈地攻擊,甚至把山上的橡樹都連根拔起來了,整個森林一片狼藉,似乎全都遭到了嚴重破壞。
But the traveler, though at first he could scarcely keep his cloak on his back,
但是,這個旅行者起先盡管差點沒能保住自己背上的斗篷,
ran under a hill for shelter, and buckled his mantle about him more closely.
但他很快就跑到一個小山丘下尋求庇護,并且迅速緊緊地扣好了身上的斗篷。
The Wind having thus tried his utmost power in vain, the Sun began.
風幾乎用盡了全部力氣,依然徒勞無功,接下來輪到了太陽進攻。
Bursting through a thick cloud, he darted his sultry beams so forcibly upon the traveler's head, that the poor fellow was almost melted.
太陽光沖破厚厚的云層噴薄而出,猛烈地向旅行者的頭頂照射強光,這個可憐的家伙都快被融化了。
"This," said he, "is past all bearing. It is so hot, that one might as well be in an oven."
他自言自語地說:“再也受不了了,實在太熱了,就像在烤箱中一樣備受煎熬。”
So he quickly threw off his cloak, and went into the shade of a tree to cool himself.
于是,他快速脫掉了自己的斗篷,走到一片樹陰下乘涼。
This fable teaches us, that gentle means will often succeed where for cible ones will fail.
這則寓言告訴我們,溫柔的手段往往會成功,而強硬的手段往往都會失敗。