伊索寓言双语故事68：青蛙和老鼠（The Frog And The Mouse）

The Frog And The Mouse

青蛙和老鼠

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

A young Mouse in search of adventure was running along the bank of a pond where lived a Frog. When the Frog saw the Mouse, he swam to the bank and croaked:

一只追求刺激的小老鼠正沿着一个池塘的岸上一路小跑，这池塘里生活着一只青蛙。青蛙看到这只老鼠，就游到岸边对它呱呱呱地叫着说：

"Won't you pay me a visit? I can promise you a good time if you do."

“你都不来看看我吗？如果你来的话，我保证会让你玩的很开心。”

The Mouse did not need much coaxing, for he was very anxious to see the world and everything in it. But though he could swim a little, he did not dare risk going into the pond without some help.

这只老鼠可不能为此停留，因为它渴望的是去看看这个世界。尽管它是会游泳，但是没有谁帮忙的话，它可不敢就这样贸然跳进池塘里。

The Frog had a plan. He tied the Mouse's leg to his own with a tough reed. Then into the pond he jumped, dragging his foolish companion with him.

不过，青蛙想到了个办法。他用一根结实的芦苇把老鼠的腿绑在自己的腿上。然后就拖着它傻傻的老鼠朋友跳进了池塘。

The Mouse soon had enough of it and wanted to return to shore; but thetreacherous Frog had other plans. He pulled the Mouse down under the water and drowned him.

小老鼠很快就玩腻了，就想上岸了；但是那狡诈的青蛙还有其他的办法。青蛙把老鼠拉到水下面，淹死了它。（这故事太残忍）

But before he could untie the reed that bound him to the dead Mouse, a Hawk came sailing over the pond. Seeing the body of the Mouse floating on the water, the Hawk swooped down, seized the Mouse and carried it off, with the Frog dangling from its leg. Thus at one swoop he had caught both meat and fish for his dinner.

但是青蛙还没来得及解开绑住他和那死老鼠的芦苇，一只鹰碰巧飞到了池塘上方。看见有一只死老鼠漂浮在水面，那只鹰就俯冲下来，抓走了老鼠和悬挂在它腿上的青蛙。这样的话，它的晚餐一下子就鱼肉兼得了。

Those who seek to harm others often come to harm themselves through their own deceit.

正所谓：害人必害己。

词汇注解：

1、coax v.哄、哄骗

2、treacherous adj.奸诈的

3、dangle v.悬挂