英文故事剧 佛陀勾月(Buddha's moon)

当月光皎洁明亮时，人们可以通过肉眼清晰的看到月亮上的阴影。各个文化的初民们，都发挥自己的想象，将月亮上的阴影拟为人世间的事物。因此，嫦娥、桂树、玉兔就应运而生了。

然而关注着月亮的，并非只有中国人。梵语中，印度就是月亮的意思；在印度，月亮更是一切美好事物的象征。佛教兴盛的古印度，对于月亮上的图形当然也有自己的解释；月亮上形似兔子的阴影，也就成了佛教舍己救人精神的象征。


Once upon a time three friends, the monkey, the fox, and the hare（野兔）lived together in the forest.

One day Buddha¹ began to wonder about the animals' true nature. Was the monkey truly generous? Was the fox always kind? Was the hare as peaceful as he seemed?

Buddha decided² he would test the animals, and so he disguised（伪装） himself as a poor priest. He dressed in rags, and hobbling upon a cane³ he limped into the forest where the creatures lived.

Before long the priest came upon（遇到）the monkey. When the monkey spotted⁴ the priest, he called out cheerfully, "Hello, sir. Lovely day, don't you think?"

The priest bowed his head and said sorrowfully, "Ah, it would be a lovely day indeed if I weren't so terribly hungry."

"Hungry?" the monkey said, "I can help you there. I can offer you plenty of fruit," and he began to pick mangoes（芒果）.

While the monkey was gathering⁵ fruit, the fox trotted⁶ past, and seeing the priest, he stopped to say, "Good day to you, holy man. How fine the sunshine is, don't you think?"

"The sunshine?" the priest said, looking up. "Ah, yes. It's a pity it does not offer nourishment（养育滋养；营养） to a starving（饥饿的）man."

"I can fix that," said the fox, and he raced off to collect some fish he had just passed on the shore of the lake.

When the fox was out of sight, the priest sat down beneath a tree and waited for the hare, who soon hopped⁷ by. "Sir, welcome to the forest. My friends tell me you're very hungry."

The priest smiled. "I am," he said, and just then the monkey returned with the mangoes.

"How very kind," the priest said. "You are truly a generous soul."

The monkey smiled. "My pleasure," he said, bowing.

Now the fox returned carrying many fish. "Here you are. You will soon be full. "

The hare thought for a few minutes about what he could give the priest. He asked the monkey and the fox to help him. The three friends turned to the priest and said, "We shall return soon."

After several minutes, the monkey, the fox and the hare returned with some wood. The hare built a fire, and then he turned to the priest. "I am going to jump into this fire," he said, "and when I am cooked, you may eat me."

The hare leaped into the fire, but as he did, the priest transformed（改变）back into Buddha, reached into the fire, and pulled the hare out.

"Who are you?" the monkey asked.

"What kind of trick was that?" the fox added.

Buddha smiled at the two of them. "Clearly you see I am not a beggar priest, and I see you clearly as well. You are truly devoted（奉献）, generous（宽宏大量；慷慨）, kind and peaceful souls."

Then he turned his gaze on the hare. "Your generosity⁸ is without compare, good friend. In thanks, I am placing you on the moon. There everyone will see you and remember your goodness（善良；仁慈） and generosity."

To this day, if you look up at the full moon, you will see that the hare is there still.

1 Buddha   

n.佛；佛像；佛陀

参考例句：

• Several women knelt down before the statue of Buddha and prayed.几个妇女跪在佛像前祈祷。
• He has kept the figure of Buddha for luck.为了图吉利他一直保存着这尊佛像。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

4 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 trotted   

小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
• Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

7 hopped   

跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
• He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

8 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。