精彩英語(yǔ)故事13

PAGE精彩英語(yǔ)故事13孤島上的圍墻Intheremotesouthernseasthereisaclusterofislands.Theweatherisfair,thelandisfertileandtheoceanisrichwithfish.Eachislandisinhabitedbyadifferentraceofpeople.Althoughphysicallytheylookalike,youcantellthemapartbytheirstylesofdress,theirdistinctivedialectsandeventheirmostcasualgestures.Acursorytourofthearchipelagorevealsthateachislandhasitsownuniqueformofarchitecture.Ifthereisanysimilaritybetweenthem,itisthateachracebuildsinamannerthatisstubbornlyatoddswiththeimmediateenvironment.Onrockyhillsidestherearewoodenhutsandinwoodedvalleys,townsofbrick.Ariduplandsareirrigatedandplantedwithleafygardens,whereas,onfertileplains,theparksarepavedwithstone.Onwindsweptoutpostspeopleliveintentsbutinthemostshelteredregionstheyhavestout,resilientcottages.在遙遠(yuǎn)的南方海域上有一群島嶼。氣候宜人，土地肥沃，海洋里盛產(chǎn)魚(yú)類(lèi)。每一個(gè)島嶼上都居住著一個(gè)不同的種族。盡管他們?cè)谏硇瓮饷采戏浅Ｏ嗨?，但是可以通過(guò)他們的著裝風(fēng)格、他們與眾不同的方言、甚至他們最不經(jīng)意的動(dòng)作姿態(tài)把他們區(qū)別開(kāi)。粗略地游覽一下這個(gè)群島就會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)，每一個(gè)島嶼都有它獨(dú)特的建筑形式。如果說(shuō)它們之間有什么類(lèi)似之處的話(huà)，那就是每一個(gè)種族的建造方式都是與鄰近環(huán)境不合情理地相悖。在多巖石的山坡上有木制的小屋，而在樹(shù)木繁茂的山谷有磚建的城鎮(zhèn)。在干旱的高地上引水灌溉，種植闊葉園林；然而在肥沃的平原上，公園里鋪著石頭。在受風(fēng)吹襲的邊區(qū)村落，人們居住在帳篷里；而在最受庇護(hù)的地區(qū)，他們有堅(jiān)固的、能復(fù)原的村舍。Despitetheirdifferences,theislanderscoexistpeacefully.Thereisrivalryovercertainfishingwatersandsportingprowessbutitrarelyamountstomorethanafewheatedexchanges.Distancesbetweentheislandsarenotgreatandtheseaiscalmbutpeopleprefertostickwiththeirownkindandmixedmarriagesarerare.Forthemostpart,theonlycontactbetweenthedifferentracesisfortradingpurposes.盡管他們有差異，島上居民還是和平共處。雖然在某些捕魚(yú)水域和體育實(shí)力上有競(jìng)爭(zhēng)，但很少達(dá)到超過(guò)幾次激烈爭(zhēng)吵的程度。島嶼之間的距離并不遠(yuǎn)，海洋也平靜，但人們更喜歡與自己的同類(lèi)在一起，異族通婚很少見(jiàn)。在大多數(shù)情況下，不同種族間的唯一聯(lián)系是為了貿(mào)易。Atthecentreofthearchipelago,perhapsinthemostfavouredspotofall,liesanislandthathasbeendesertedformanygenerations.Thereisnoobviousreasonforitsabandonment;ithasgoodsoil,plentyoffreshwater,twonaturalportsandaclimatenomoreorlesssuitabletotheraisingofcropsthanitsneighbour's.Butnobirdscircleoverheadandnolightscomeonintheevenings.在群島的中央，大概是位于所有場(chǎng)所中最有利的地點(diǎn)，有一座被廢棄了好幾代的島嶼。對(duì)于它的被棄，沒(méi)有很明顯的原因；它有優(yōu)良的土壤，充足的淡水，兩個(gè)天然港口，以及比它的鄰居不多也不少適合種植莊稼的氣候。但是沒(méi)有鳥(niǎo)在上空盤(pán)旋，晚上也沒(méi)有燈光亮起。Ithasnotalwaysbeenlikethis.Longago,itwasinhabitedbyfarmersandfishermenmuchlikeeverywhereelseinthearchipelago.Theysailedbrightlypaintedboatsandwereknownforbeingexcellentdivers.Theirbeacheswererarelyemptyandevenatnighttherewereoftenfiresinthedunesandpeopleinthewater,enjoyingaswim.Anoffshorebeacononthenorthside,whichwarnedsailorsofatreacherousridgeofrocks,wastendedbytheislanders,whoneverletitgoout.Goatswerekeptontheuplandslopes,theirbellstinklingastheygrazed.Thepeoplewerefondofseafoodandsun-bathing,wereenthusiasticwinemakers,reluctanthousekeepersandnotoriouslybadatballgames.Theymarriedearly,diedlateandgenerallykeptthemselvestothemselves.Thingscouldhavegoneonlikethisforever,buteverythingchangedwhentheydecidedtodynamitethecliffsandbeganbuildingthefirstwall.它不是一直這樣的。很久以前，它上面居住著與群島其他各處很像的農(nóng)民和漁夫。他們乘著漆有明亮色彩的船航行，因?yàn)槭菢O好的潛水者而聞名。他們的海灘很少是空著的，即使在晚上沙丘中也經(jīng)常有火光，還有人在水中暢游。北面的一座近海燈塔，提醒海員們注意充滿(mǎn)危險(xiǎn)的暗礁海脊，由島上居民照管，他們從不讓它熄滅。山羊被放養(yǎng)在高地的斜坡上，吃草時(shí)它們的鈴鐺叮當(dāng)作響。人們喜歡海食品和日光浴，他們是熱情的釀酒師，不情愿的家庭主婦以及眾所周知不擅長(zhǎng)球類(lèi)運(yùn)動(dòng)。他們結(jié)婚早，死得晚，一般不與他人往來(lái)。事情本可以這樣永遠(yuǎn)繼續(xù)下去，但是當(dāng)他們決定炸毀懸崖并開(kāi)始建造第一道圍墻時(shí)，一切都變了。Nowtheirislandlooksverydifferentfromtherest;darker,taller,silent.Giantloopsofbarbedwirelierustinginthesurf.Thecliffsaresheer,blastedsmoothandbristlingwithbrokenglass.Abovethemagreatfortressextendstheprecipicewaybeyonditsnaturalheight.Slabsofgranite,quarriedrelentlesslyfromtheoncevolcanicheartoftheisland,makeupthebaseofthewall.Smoothedflatbygenerationsofwindandrain,theyglitterinthesun.Abovethemtherocksgivewaytobrick,darkerincolourthanthestonefoundationsandtoppedwithramparts,unbrokenandlowering.現(xiàn)在他們的島嶼看起來(lái)與其它的非常不一樣；更暗，更高，寂靜無(wú)聲。巨大的一圈圈的帶刺鐵絲網(wǎng)在海浪中生銹。懸崖陡峭，被炸得光滑，豎立著碎玻璃。在它們上面一個(gè)大堡壘超出懸崖的天然高度沿著峭壁的方向延伸出去。花崗巖石板，被無(wú)情地從曾經(jīng)是島上火山心的地方挖出，做成圍墻的底座。它們被一代代的風(fēng)雨磨平，在陽(yáng)光下閃閃發(fā)光。在它們上面，石頭被磚頭代替，顏色比石頭底座更暗，上面有壁壘，完好無(wú)損且低沉昏暗。Itlooksasifthewallwasmeanttoendtherebutassoonasitwasfinishedasecondcircleofbattlementsbegantorisefromthecentre.Thisonewasinterspersedwithwatchtowers,which,asfarasanyoneknows,wereneverused.Whenitwasfinished,yetathirdringofdefenceswasbuilt,slightlynarrowerthantheonebefore,sothatfromfarawaytheislandresembledanenormousweddingcake.Cagedinscaffolding,thebeginningsofafourthwallarejustvisibleatthetopbutunliketherest,itsedgesarejaggedandcrumbling.看上去好像這道圍墻打算就此結(jié)束了，但它一完成，第二圈城垛開(kāi)始從中心升起來(lái)。這道墻配置有瞭望塔，但眾所周知，這些從未用過(guò)。然而當(dāng)它完工時(shí)，又建了第三圈防御工事，比前一個(gè)稍微狹小些，所以從遠(yuǎn)處看，這個(gè)島象一個(gè)巨大的婚禮蛋糕。被腳手架像籠子一樣困著的第四道圍墻已經(jīng)開(kāi)始建造，剛好可以看見(jiàn)它的頂部，但與其它的不同，它的邊緣參差不齊而且正在剝落。Thesurroundingislanderscannotsayforsurewhythewallwasbuilt.Nobodywasplanninganassaultofanykind,norwasanyonepowerfulenoughtoposeathreatwithenoughstrengthtojustifysuchafortress.Therewerenorumoursofanattackfromoverseas,althoughthepeopleadmitthatwhilethewallwasunderconstruction,theyhadgrownnervous.Perhapsthebuildershadheardofanew,formidableenemythattheyhadnot.Theyfeltuneasy,asiftheytooshouldbetakingspecialprecautionsbutagainstwhat,theyhadnoidea.Astheworkintensified,sodidtheiralarm.Buttheyhadcropstoplant,cattletofeed,childrentocareforandpleasurestoseek.Despitetheirbewilderment,thepeopleofthearchipelagogotonwiththeirlivesandwatchedinwonderasyearafteryearthefortressgrew,untilthelowcloudsgrazeditsupperreachesanditsblackenedwallsseemedtoswallowthesunshine;abrokencrowninthedeepbluesea.周?chē)膷u上居民說(shuō)不準(zhǔn)為什么要建圍墻。沒(méi)有人計(jì)劃任何形式的攻擊，也沒(méi)有任何人強(qiáng)大到足以造成有足夠威力的威脅來(lái)證明這樣的堡壘是必要的。也沒(méi)有海外來(lái)襲的謠言，雖然人們承認(rèn)墻在建造時(shí)他們漸漸變得緊張?？赡芙ㄔ煺呗?tīng)說(shuō)了一個(gè)他們沒(méi)有聽(tīng)說(shuō)過(guò)的新的、強(qiáng)大的敵人。他們感到不安，好像他們也應(yīng)該采取特殊的預(yù)防措施，但要抵抗什么，他們不知道。隨著工程加強(qiáng)，他們的警覺(jué)也加強(qiáng)了。但他們有莊稼要種，有牲口要喂養(yǎng)，有孩子要照料，有樂(lè)子要找。他們雖然困惑，但隨著一年又一年堡壘逐漸建成，群島上的人繼續(xù)過(guò)他們的生活，疑惑地看著，直到低矮的云掠過(guò)它的頂端，它那發(fā)黑的墻好像要吞掉陽(yáng)光；深藍(lán)色大海上一頂壞掉的王冠。Graduallytheislandfellsilent.First,tradepeteredoutandthenceasedaltogether.Onlookersmutteredthatwithsomuchtimespentonthewall,thebuilderssimplyhadnothinglefttosell.Next,thefishingboatsstoppedsailingfromtheports,thenthehearthsmokefadedawayandonlyasandyhazewaslefthangingintheair;adeathrattleofdust.Lastofalltodisappearwerethesoundsofbuilding;theechoofbrickonbrickandthecontinualwhineofpulleys.漸漸地這個(gè)島變得沉寂。首先，貿(mào)易逐漸減少，然后完全終結(jié)。旁觀者嘀咕說(shuō)，這么多時(shí)間花在圍墻上，建造者只不過(guò)沒(méi)剩下什么要賣(mài)的東西了。接著，漁船停止從港口啟航，然后爐煙逐漸消逝，只剩下一層沙色的薄霧懸在空中；塵埃的臨死哀鳴。最后消失的是建造的聲音；磚頭碰磚頭的回聲和連續(xù)不斷的滑車(chē)的嘎嘎聲。Nobodycanexplainwhythewallwasstartedbuttherearemanytheoriesastowhyitwasneverfinished.Somesaythatsomanyhadperishedduringitsconstruction,thatnoonedaredhalttheworkandtherebyadmitthatithadallbeeninvain.Othersclaimthatthebuilderssimplyranoutofmaterialsandsincetheyhadscoopedsomuchrockfromthecentreoftheisland,therewasnolandlefttoplough.Therearethosewhobelievethatthebricksnearthetopofthewallaremadefromthebakedbonesoflabourerswhodroppedfromexhaustionfurtherdown.Orperhapstheislandersgrewsousedtotheworkthattheyjustcouldn'tstopthemselves.Butonethingiscertain,theprophesiedthreatneverarrivedandthepeopleatthecentreofthearchipelagohad,quitesimply,brickedthemselvesin.沒(méi)有人能解釋為什么開(kāi)始建造圍墻，但對(duì)于它為什么從未完工卻有許多說(shuō)法。有些人說(shuō)在建造的過(guò)程中毀壞了這么多，使得沒(méi)人敢停下工程并從而承認(rèn)它全是徒然。還有些人聲稱(chēng)建造者只是用光了材料，因?yàn)樗麄儚膷u中心挖了這么多石頭，沒(méi)有可耕耘的土地了。還有人認(rèn)為靠近墻頂?shù)拇u是由烘烤的勞工的骨頭制成的，這些勞工由于精疲力竭而跌落到更深的下面。或者是島上居民可能變得太習(xí)慣這個(gè)工程了，以至于他們完全阻止不了自己。但有一件事是確定的，那個(gè)預(yù)言的威脅從未到來(lái)，群島中心的人只不過(guò)是用磚頭把自己砌在了里面。ACokeAndASmile可樂(lè)與微笑Iknownowthatthemanwhosatwithmeontheoldwoodenstairsthathotsummernightoverthirty-fiveyearsagowasnotatallman.Buttoafive-year-old,hewasagiant.Wesatsidebyside,watchingthesungodownbehindtheoldTexacoservicestationacrossthebusystreet.AstreetthatIwasneverallowedtocrossunlessaccompaniedbyanadultorattheveryleast,anoldersibling.現(xiàn)在，我知道三十五年多前那個(gè)炎熱的夏夜和我坐在舊木樓梯上的那個(gè)男人個(gè)子并不高，但是對(duì)于一個(gè)五歲的孩子來(lái)說(shuō)，他就是個(gè)巨人。我們肩并肩坐著，一起看太陽(yáng)在繁忙的街對(duì)面那個(gè)老德克薩克加油站后面落下。我不能獨(dú)自穿過(guò)那條街，除非跟著一個(gè)成人，或者很少的時(shí)候能跟著一個(gè)大點(diǎn)的兄弟姐妹。Cherry-scentedsmokefromGrampy'spipekeptthehungrymosquitoesatbaywhilegray,wispyswirlsdancedaroundourheads.Nowandagain,heblewasmokeringandlaughedasItriedtotargettheholewithmyfinger.I,cladinacoolsummernightie,andGrampy,hissleevelessT-shirt,satwatchingthetraffic.Wecountedcarsandtriedtoguessthecolorofthenextonetoturnthecorner.從祖父煙斗里噴出的散發(fā)著櫻桃香味的灰白色煙霧在我們腦袋周?chē)h蕩，使饑餓的蚊子不敢靠近。時(shí)不時(shí)的，他吹出一個(gè)煙圈，當(dāng)我試圖把手指穿過(guò)煙圈是他笑了。穿著涼爽夏日睡衣的我和穿著無(wú)袖T-恤的祖父坐著一起看著路上的交通。我們數(shù)著汽車(chē)，并猜下一輛要從街角拐過(guò)來(lái)的汽車(chē)的顏色。Onceagain,Iwascaughtinthemiddleofcircumstances.Thefourthbornofsixchildren,itwasnotuncommonthatIwaseithertooyoungortoooldforsomething.ThisnightIwasboth.Whilemytwobabybrotherssleptinsidethehouse,mythreeoldersiblingsplayedwithfriendsaroundthecorner,whereIwasnotallowedtogo.IstayedwithGrampy,andthatwasokaywithme.IwaswhereIwantedtobe.Mygrandfatherwasbaby-sittingwhilemymother,fatherandgrandmotherwentout.又一次，我陷入了兩難的境地。作為對(duì)于很多事我的年齡不是太小就是太大，這是很尋常的。那天晚上我兩者都是，當(dāng)我的兩個(gè)小弟弟在屋里睡覺(jué)的時(shí)候，我的三個(gè)哥哥姐姐和朋友們?cè)诮纸峭嫠＃沂遣豢梢匀サ?。我和祖父呆在一起，這是可以的，我在自己想呆的地方。在母親，父親和祖母都外出的時(shí)候，祖父就充當(dāng)保姆的角色?！癟hirsty?"Grampyasked,neverremovingthepipefromhismouth.“渴嗎？”祖父問(wèn)道，嘴里依舊含著煙斗。“Yes,"wasmyreply.“是的，”我答道。"Howwouldyouliketorunovertothegasstationthereandgetyourselfabottleofcoke?"“想跑到加油站那里給自己買(mǎi)罐可樂(lè)嗎？”Icouldn'tbelievemyears.HadIheardright?Washetalkingtome?Onmyfamily'smodestincome,cokewasnotapartofourbudgetordiet.AfewtantalizingsipswasallIhadeverhad,andcertainlynevermyownbottle.我不敢相信自己的耳朵，我沒(méi)聽(tīng)錯(cuò)么？他在和我說(shuō)話(huà)么？以我家那微薄的收入，可樂(lè)不在預(yù)算或食物內(nèi)。我有的只是偶爾一次干著急的吸一口，從沒(méi)有過(guò)一罐。"Okay,"Irepliedshyly,alreadywonderinghowIwouldgetacrossthestreet.SurelyGrampywasgoingtocomewithme.“好，”我羞怯的回答，并且疑惑怎么能穿過(guò)馬路，當(dāng)然，祖父要和我一起去。Grampystretchedhislonglegoutstraightandreachedhishugehanddeepintothepocket.Icouldhearthefamiliarjanglingoftheloosechangehealwayscarried.Openinghisfist,heexposedamoundofsilvercoins.Theremusthavebeenamilliondollarsthere.Heinstructedmetopickoutadime.Afterhedepositedtherestofthechangebackintohispocket,hestoodup.祖父伸開(kāi)他那長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的腿，他的大手深深的伸入口袋，我可以聽(tīng)到他經(jīng)常裝的那些很零的零錢(qián)那熟悉的吵鬧聲。他展開(kāi)拳頭，一堆銀幣露了出來(lái)，估計(jì)有一百萬(wàn)，然后他讓我拿出一個(gè)一角的硬幣。他在將剩下的放進(jìn)口袋后站了起來(lái)。"Okay,"hesaid,helpingmedownthestairsandtothecurb,"I'mgoingtostayhereandkeepanearoutforthebabies.I'lltellyouwhenit'ssafetocross.Yougoovertothecokemachine,getyourcokeandcomebackout.Waitformetotellyouwhenit'ssafetocrossback."“好，”他說(shuō)著，幫我下了樓梯然后一起走向路邊。“我會(huì)呆在這兒并留意睡著的孩子，我會(huì)告訴你什么時(shí)候過(guò)去是安全的，你走到可樂(lè)機(jī)，拿到你的可樂(lè)然后站在外面，等著我告訴你什么時(shí)候回來(lái)是安全的?！盡yheartpounded.Iclutchedmydimetightlyinmysweatypalm.Excitementtookmybreathaway.我的心快跳出來(lái)了，我將我那一角硬幣緊緊地攥在出汗的手里，興奮地快喘不上氣了。Grampyheldmyhandtightly.Togetherwelookedupthestreetanddown,andbackupagain.Hesteppedoffthecurbandtoldmeitwassafetocross.HeletgoofmyhandandIran.IranfasterthanIhadeverrunbefore.Thestreetseemedwide.IwonderedifIwouldmakeittotheotherside.Reachingtheotherside,IturnedtofindGrampy.Therehewas,standingexactlywhereIhadlefthim,smilingproudly.Iwaved.祖父緊緊地拉著我的手，我們一起看著馬路，上上下下的看了個(gè)遍，又退了回去，他走下路邊告訴我可以過(guò)去了。他松開(kāi)我的手，我就跑過(guò)去了，比以前任何時(shí)候跑的都快。馬路看起來(lái)很寬，我懷疑自己是否可以穿過(guò)。一到路對(duì)面我就回頭看祖父，他就站在我離開(kāi)他的那個(gè)地方，驕傲的笑著，我沖他招了招手。"Goon,hurryup,"heyelled..“繼續(xù)，快點(diǎn)，”他喊道。MyheartpoundedwildlyasIwalkedinsidethedarkgarage.Ihadbeeninsidethegaragebeforewithmyfather.Mysurroundingswerefamiliar.IheardtheCoca-ColamachinemotorhummingevenbeforeIsawit.Iwalkeddirectlytothebigoldred-and-whitedispenser.Iknewwheretoinsertmydime.Ihadseenitdonebeforeandhadfantasizedaboutthismomentmanytimes.我走進(jìn)漆黑的車(chē)庫(kù)是心激烈的跳著，以前和父親來(lái)過(guò)，周?chē)鞘煜さ?，甚至在我看到可口可?lè)機(jī)之前我就能聽(tīng)見(jiàn)它發(fā)動(dòng)機(jī)嗡嗡的聲音。我直接走向那大大的，紅白相間的舊自動(dòng)售貨機(jī)，我知道要把我的銀幣塞進(jìn)哪里，我以前見(jiàn)過(guò)，并且很多次想象那個(gè)瞬間。Thebigoldmonstergreedilyacceptedmydime,andIheardthebottlesshift.OntiptoesIreachedupandopenedtheheavydoor.Theretheywere:oneneatrowofthickgreenbottles,necksstaringdirectlyatme,andicecoldfromtherefrigeration.Iheldthedooropenwithmyshoulderandgrabbedone.Withaquickyank,Ipulleditfreefromitsbondage.Anotheroneimmediatelytookitsplace.Thebottlewascoldinmysweatyhands.Iwillneverforgetthefeelingofthecoolglassonmyskin.Withtwohands,Ipositionedthebottleneckundertheheavybrassopenerthatwasboltedtothewall.Thecapdroppedintoanoldwoodenbox,andIreachedintoretrieveit.Itwascoldandbentinthemiddle,butIknewIneededtohavethissouvenir.Cokeinhand,Iproudlymarchedbackoutintotheearlyeveningdusk.Grampywaswaitingpatiently.Hesmiled.那個(gè)老巨人貪婪的吞下了我的硬幣，然后我聽(tīng)到可樂(lè)罐子移動(dòng)的聲音，我踮起腳尖，打開(kāi)那沉重的門(mén)，它們就在那兒：粗粗的綠色罐子整齊的排成一排，齊齊的盯著我看，冰箱里的涼氣也出來(lái)了。我用肩膀抵著門(mén)，抓著一罐，猛地一拉，就把它從束縛中救出來(lái)了，而另一罐馬上占據(jù)了它的位置。我那汗?jié)竦氖掷锏墓拮雍軟?，我不?huì)忘記那那涼涼的玻璃瓶在我皮膚上的感覺(jué)。兩手抓著瓶子，我把瓶頸放在拴在墻上的黃銅起子的下面，瓶蓋兒落在一個(gè)木頭盒子里，我伸手把它撿了出來(lái)。它涼涼的，并且中間彎曲了，但我知道我要留著這個(gè)紀(jì)念品。把可樂(lè)拿在手里，我驕傲的走出去，并走進(jìn)黃昏的夜色里，祖父耐心的笑著等著我。"Stoprightthere,"heyelled.Oneortwocarsspedbyme,andonceagain,Grampysteppedoffthecurb.”Comeon,now,"hesaid,"Run."Idid.Coolbrownfoamsprayedmyhands.”Don’teverdothatalone,"hewarned.Iheldthecokebottletightly;fearfulhewouldmakemepouritintoacup,ruiningthisdreamcometrue.Hedidn't.Onelongswallowofthecoldbeveragecooledmysweatingbody.Idon'tthinkIeverfeltsoproud.“停在那兒，”他喊道。一兩輛車(chē)從我身邊駛過(guò)，再一次，祖父走到路邊。“現(xiàn)在，過(guò)來(lái)，”他說(shuō)道，“跑?！蔽夷菢幼隽耍瑳鰶龅淖厣菽瓰R到了我的手上?！扒f(wàn)不能自己這樣做，”他警告我。我緊緊的抓著瓶子，怕他讓我將它倒入杯子，破壞我這實(shí)現(xiàn)的夢(mèng)，他沒(méi)有那樣做。長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的喝了一大口飲料，我出汗的身體涼快了很多。我從沒(méi)感到這樣驕傲過(guò)。TheSquirrelAndTheLion松鼠和獅子Asquirrel,merrilyleapingonthebranchesofanoaktree,accidentallymisseditsholdandfelluponalionwholayatthetrunk,baskingintheshade.HisMajestyawokeinanger,and,raisinghisshaggymane,displayedhisterrificteethtothetremblingsquirrel,who,inthemostabjectmanner,beggedforgivenessfortheintrusion.“Igrantyouyourlife,”saidthelion,“butonconditionthatyoutellmethereasonwhyyoulittlebeingsarealwayssolivelyandhappy,whilemytimepassessoirksomely.”一只松鼠在橡樹(shù)上歡快地跳來(lái)跳去，一不小心從樹(shù)上跌落下來(lái)，恰巧落在一頭正在樹(shù)蔭下酣睡的獅王身上。獅王醒來(lái)大為惱怒，豎起濃密的鬃毛，露出鋒利的牙齒，把松鼠嚇得不停地顫抖。松鼠膽戰(zhàn)心驚地請(qǐng)求獅子饒恕他的冒犯?！拔茵埩四氵@條小命，”獅子說(shuō)，“但有一個(gè)條件，你必須告訴我，為什么你們這些小家伙總是生活得很快樂(lè)，而我的生活卻是如此令人厭倦?！薄癥es,sire,”repliedthesquirrel,“Iwill,inreturnforyourmercy,complywithyourrequest;buthewhospeaksthetruthoughttostandhigherthanhewhohearsit;permitme,therefore,toascendthetree.”“好的，陛下，”松鼠回答道，“為了感謝您的寬恕，我會(huì)滿(mǎn)足您的要求。但是，講述真理的人應(yīng)該比聽(tīng)真理的要站的高一點(diǎn)。因此，請(qǐng)您允許我站到樹(shù)上去?！盩helionconsentedtothis;andwhenthesquirrelwasoutofhisreachhethusaddressedhim,“YouseektoknowhowIamalwaysmerry.Consciencegivesmeajoyousmind,andlearns,sire,thattheinfalliblerecipeforhappiness—agoodconscience—youareinwantof.Youaredayandnightoppressedwiththestingofiniquityforthecrimesandwantoncrueltiesyouhavecommitted.Howmanyanimalshaveyoudevoured,whileIhavebeenemployedincarryingnutstoalleviatethedistressesofmypoorbrethren!Youhate,andIlove!Believeme,thereisgreatmeaningandtruthinthesewords,andoftenhaveIheardmyfatherobservewhenyoung,‘Son,letyourhappinessbefoundedinvirtue,andhilaritywillbetheconstantinmateofyourbosom.’”獅子答應(yīng)了。于是松鼠就跳到了獅子夠不到的地方，接著說(shuō)：“您問(wèn)我為什么總是這么快樂(lè)，是道德給了我愉快的心情。陛下您要懂得，擁有快樂(lè)的秘訣是要擁有善良的心靈——而您卻沒(méi)有。您整日悶悶不樂(lè)是因?yàn)槟鷳K無(wú)人道，作惡多端。有多少小動(dòng)物被你無(wú)情地吞吃掉啊，而我一直忙著運(yùn)送堅(jiān)果，來(lái)救濟(jì)我那些可憐的同胞們！您心懷仇恨，而我卻心懷友愛(ài)！請(qǐng)相信我，我的話(huà)里蘊(yùn)涵著深刻的哲理。在我很小的時(shí)候，就常聽(tīng)父親說(shuō)：‘兒子，你要在美德中尋求快樂(lè)，只有這樣，快樂(lè)才會(huì)永遠(yuǎn)陪伴著你?！疶heCrackedWaterPot有裂痕的罐子AwaterbearerinIndiahadtwolargepots,eachhungoneachendofapolewhichhecarriedacrosshisneck.Oneofthepotshadacrackinit,andwhiletheotherpotwasperfectandalwaysdeliveredafullportionofwater.Attheendofthelongwalkfromthestreamtothemaster'shouse,thecrackedpotarrivedonlyhalffull.印度有一個(gè)挑水工，他有兩個(gè)大罐子，分別掛在肩上的扁擔(dān)兩頭。其中一個(gè)罐子做工精細(xì)，從不漏水，另一個(gè)上面則有一道裂縫。每當(dāng)挑水工回到雇主家時(shí)，罐子里的水就只剩一半了。Forafulltwoyearsthiswentondaily,withthebearerdeliveringonlyoneandahalfpotsfullofwatertohismaster'shouse.Ofcourse,theperfectpotwasproudofitsaccomplishments,perfecttotheendforwhichitwasmade.Butthepoorcrackedpotwasashamedofitsownimperfection,andmiserablethatitwasabletoaccomplishonlyhalfofwhatithadbeenmadetodo.Aftertwoyearsofwhatitperceivedtobeabitterfailure,itspoketothewaterbeareronedaybythestream.這樣過(guò)了整整兩年，這個(gè)挑水工每天挑到雇主家的水僅有一罐半。當(dāng)然，那個(gè)完好的罐子為自己的成就甚感自豪。而那個(gè)可憐的有裂縫的罐子卻因自身的瑕疵而羞愧不已，為自己只能裝一半水而痛苦不堪。痛苦了兩年后，一天，那個(gè)有裂縫的罐子在小溪邊對(duì)挑水工說(shuō)："Iamashamedofmyself,andIwanttoapologizetoyou."我很慚愧，想向你道歉?！?Why?"askedthebearer."What