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(qiáng)行
mantle
地幔
oven
烤箱
THE WIND AND THE SUN
風(fēng)和太陽
A dispute once arose between the Wind and the Sun, as to which was the stronger.
有一次,風(fēng)和太陽起了爭執(zhí),雙方都在強(qiáng)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(gè)問題,風(fēng)和太陽都同意在一個(gè)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(dāng)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(fēng)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(gè)森林一片狼藉,似乎全都遭到了嚴(yán)重破壞。
But the traveler, though at first he could scarcely keep his cloak on his back,
但是,這個(gè)旅行者起先盡管差點(diǎn)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(gè)小山丘下尋求庇護(hù),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(fēng)幾乎用盡了全部力氣,依然徒勞無功,接下來輪到了太陽進(jìn)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(qiáng)光,這個(gè)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(shí)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(qiáng)硬的手段往往都會失敗。