The north wind and the sun disputed as to which was the most powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could strip a wayfaring man of his clothes.
The north wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the north wind called upon the sun to see what he could do.
The sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The traveler no sooner felt his geniaI rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.
“I think that proves who is strongest,”said the sun. But the north wind had crept away to hide.
北風和太陽為誰的威力更大而爭執(zhí)不下。后來它們一致同意:誰要是能夠讓過路人脫下衣服誰就是勝利者。
北風首先一顯身手,用全力刮了起來??墒?,它刮得越猛烈,過路人的衣服裹得越緊,最后不得不放棄了獲勝的念頭。于是,北風只好請?zhí)栆辉嚿硎帧?/p>
太陽突然釋放出了它全部的熱量。過路人感受到了它親切的光芒,就一件一件地脫衣服,最后終于抵擋不住炎熱,脫光衣服,跳到路邊的小溪里游泳去了。
“我想,這足以證明誰更強大了吧。”太陽說。此時,北風早已悄悄溜走,藏了起來。