牙牙学语之寓言:狐狸和乌鸦

The Fox and the Crow
狐狸和乌鸦

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak¹ and settle on a branch of a tree.
     "That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the tree.
     "Good day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking today: how glossy² your feathers; how bright your eyes. I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."
     The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox.
     "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future: "Do not trust flatterers."

有一次，一只狐狸看到一只乌鸦嘴里叼着一块乳酪飞落在一个树枝上。 
“那乳酪是给我的,因为我是一只狐狸,” 狐狸说着,走到树脚下.
“你好,乌鸦夫人”,  狐狸喊道,”你今天真好看, 看你的羽毛是多么光亮啊, 你的眼睛多么有神啊, 我觉得你的声音肯定也是所有鸟之中最好听的, 你的样子是那样的出众, 让我听听您的歌声吧,那怕只唱一首, 我以后都会称你为鸟中的皇后”。乌鸦骄傲地仰起了头，　准备放声歌唱，但当它一张开嘴，那块乳酪就掉到了地上，马上就被狐狸叼走了。
“这样正好”，狐狸说，“这就是我想要的。　看在你送给我乳酪的份上，我会送给你一条建议：‘不要相信拍马屁的人”。

1 beak   

n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻

参考例句：

• The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
• This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。

2 glossy   

adj.平滑的；有光泽的

参考例句：

• I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。
• She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。