雙語詩歌翻譯|艾子-《有尾者斬》

《有尾者斬》又名《有尾懼誅》或《蛤蟆懼誅》。出自《艾子雜說》，作者、朝代等不明。

《有尾者斬》

艾子浮于海，夜泊島峙中，夜聞水下有人哭聲，復(fù)若人言，遂聽之。其言曰：“昨日龍王有令：‘應(yīng)水族有尾者斬?！狳円?，故懼誅而哭；汝蝦蟆無尾，何哭？”復(fù)聞?dòng)醒栽唬骸拔峤裥覠o尾，但恐更理會(huì)蝌蚪時(shí)事也?！?/p>

The Frog’s Tail

While at sea, Master Ai anchored for the night in the cove of an island. At night he heard the sound of weeping coming from the water, coupled with humanlike voices. Listening more carefully, he overheard this conversation:

“The Dragon King has issued a decree yesterday to the effect that all aquatic animals that have tails are to be beheaded. As I am an alligator, I weep because I am afraid of death. But thou are a frog, and hast no tail. Why weepest thou then?” Thereafter, he heard the plaintive reply: “I am indeed fortunate to have no tail at present, but the fact that I did once bear a tail as a tadpole might be recalled.”