伊索寓言双语故事99：猴子和海豚（The Monkey And The Dolphin）

The Monkey And The Dolphin

猴子与海豚

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

It happened once upon a time that a certain Greek ship bound for Athens was wrecked off the coast close to Piraeus, the port of Athens.

很久以前，有一艘开往雅典的希腊船，在靠近雅典的比雷埃夫斯港口的海面上失事了。

Had it not been for the Dolphins, who at that time were very friendly toward mankind and especially toward Athenians, all would have perished. But the Dolphins took the shipwrecked people on their backs and swam with them to shore.

要不是那些当时对人类特别是雅典人非常友好的海豚，那些船员都会死掉。然而，那些海豚驮着遭遇海难的人们，游向了海岸。

Now it was the custom among the Greeks to take their pet monkeys and dogs with them whenever they went on a voyage. So when one of the Dolphins saw a Monkey struggling in the water, he thought it was a man, and made the Monkey climb up on his back. Then off he swam with him toward the shore.

由于希腊人有这样一种风俗，只要他们在海上航行，就会把自己的宠物猴子和狗带在身边。因此，当有一只海豚看见一只猴子在海面上挣扎的时候，它以为那是个人，就让猴子爬到了自己的背上。然后就带着它游向岸边。

The Monkey sat up, grave and dignified, on the Dolphin's back.

猴子却从海豚的背上站了起来，一副严肃而高贵的模样。

"You are a citizen of illustrious Athens, are you not?" asked the Dolphin politely.

“你就是著名的雅典公民吧，是吗？”海豚礼貌地问道。

"Yes," answered the Monkey, proudly. "My family is one of the noblest in the city."

“是的，”猴子十分骄傲地说。“我的家族是整个城市里最高贵的一个。”

"Indeed," said the Dolphin. "Then of course you often visit Piraeus."

“真的啊，”海豚说。“那你自然经常去比雷埃夫斯了。”

"Yes, yes," replied the Monkey. "Indeed, I do. I am with him constantly. Piraeus is my very best friend."

“是的，是的，”猴子答道。“确实如此。我经常和他在一起，比雷埃夫斯是我最好的朋友。”

This answer took the Dolphin by surprise, and, turning his head, he now saw what it was he was carrying.

这个回答让海豚倍感意外，转过头，才发现自己所驮何物。

Without more ado, he dived and left the foolish Monkey to take care of himself, while he swam off in search of some human being to save.

二话没说，海豚就潜下了水面，留着那愚蠢的猴子自求多福，而它则又游向了海里，看看能否再救一些人。

One falsehood leads to another.

寓意：谎话连篇。