哲理小短文:橡树和柳树An oak and a willow

 　　There was an argument between an oak and a willow¹, upon the subject of strength, constancy, and patience, and which of the two should be loved by man. The oak criticized the willow that it was weak and wavering, and gave way to wind each time. The willow made no other reply, that the  next storm should draw the conclusion.

　　橡树和柳树之间起了争执，争论究竟是谁的力量大，谁的耐力强，谁的耐性好，谁应得到人类的宠爱。橡树批评柳树的脆弱和风吹两边倒。柳树只作了一句回答：请风暴作见证。

　　For some very little while after this argument, it blew a violent storm. The willow gave way to the wind and bent² its body from one side to the other all the time, and still reco-vered itself again, without receiving any damage, but the oak was stubborn, and chose rather to break than bend.

　　刚争吵完一会儿，狂风乍起。柳树顺应风势，迎风飘舞，最后又亭亭玉立，秋毫无损。而橡树拒绝顺风而动，选择了宁折腰而不低头。There was an argument between an oak and a willow, upon

1 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

2 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。