那些給我智慧和勇氣的寓言故事33：七只獅子和一頭牛

There were seven lions who were friends to a cow. One day, the lions invited the cow for a meal.

七只獅子和一頭牛決定做朋友。起初，獅子請(qǐng)它們的新朋友吃飯。

They prepared lots of meat to share with the cow. However the cow could not eat the meat but he remained quiet about it and thanked the lions for their hospitality.

他們?yōu)榕?zhǔn)備了好多食物。 然而，這頭牛不吃肉，仍然保持安靜，還謝謝獅子們的熱情招待。

Later, the cow invited the“0nS be his guests.

后來(lái)輪到牛請(qǐng)客了。

The seven lions saw big bundles of fresh grass when they reached the cow's house. They were very surprised.

七只獅子在約定的一天到了牛那兒，它們看見一大堆新鮮的草。獅子們非常驚奇

"Don't you have any meat? Are you going to serve us with grass only? Don't you know that we eat meat?"The cow said nervously, "I think grass tastes better than meat. Try it and see."

“怎么搞的?你沒有肉?你不見得請(qǐng)我們吃草吧?”牛膽小他說(shuō)：“依我看來(lái)，草比肉好吃得多。我勸你們?cè)囋嚳础?rdquo;

"When you were invited as our guest, we did not force you to take the meat, " the lions said, "and we did not ask you to try it.

“我們可沒有一定要你吃肉，”獅子們說(shuō)，“我們沒有對(duì)你說(shuō)：‘爾吃’，

But here you are asking us to try eating the grass, If you were sincere about inviting us for a meal.

可你一定要我們吃草。要是你真想請(qǐng)客，就應(yīng)該預(yù)備好吃的東西。

You would prepare food in favor of the guests. Without meat to eat, how could it be a feast?¨" But where could I get meat?" the cow argued.

沒有肉，算什么筵席呢?”“但是叫我哪兒去找肉呢?”牛替自己辯護(hù)說(shuō)。

The lions said, "It is definitely discourteous! You invited us as your guests but starve us.

這時(shí)候獅子們說(shuō)：“這真是極端的無(wú)禮!請(qǐng)我們來(lái)吃飯，結(jié)果卻叫我們挨餓。

If anyone else were to treat us like this, we would tear him into pieces. Since you are our friend, we will be kind to you and eat only one of your legs.

要是別人像你這樣的話，我們?cè)缇桶阉旱梅鬯榱??？赡闶俏覀兊呐笥?，所以我們?duì)你特別寬大。為了表示我們的仁慈，我們只吃掉你一條腿。”

"The cow knew very well that he could not argue with the many more and he trembled as he said, "That's very kind of you.

牛知道跟它們爭(zhēng)論是沒有用的，只得渾身顫抖他說(shuō)：“你們待我真好。”

"The lions bit off one of the cow's tegs and enjoyed eating it while he was left there feeding to death. Soon the lions said, "Since the cow is dead, we may as well finish him.

獅子就咬掉可憐的牛的一條后腿，開始吃起來(lái)。牛因?yàn)榱餮^(guò)多，倒在地上死掉了。

" Thus they continued feasting on the cow. A fox passed bY and wanted to have a taste of the delicious meat too.

于是獅子們決定：“反正這牛已經(jīng)死了，我們把它全吃光吧。”它們就繼續(xù)大吃。

So he sneaked in quietly and carried away the cow's heart. He hid himself behind a tree to enjoy his food.

有一只狐貍正好走過(guò)。它也想嘗嘗美味的肉，于是悄悄地走到近旁，叼著牛心，躲到樹背后去。

When the seven lions had eaten up the whole cow, they asked among themselves, "Where is the cow's heart? Do you mean the cow has no heart at all?"

七只獅子把牛吃得連骨頭也不剩。它們吃完了互相驚奇地問(wèn)道：“這牛的心在哪兒?也許它根本沒有心吧?”

The fox came out from his hiding place and said, "You're wrong! He has a heart but no brain* Or else he would not be friends with you at all. "

這時(shí)候狐貍從躲的地方走出來(lái)，一邊舔著嘴唇一邊說(shuō)：“你們錯(cuò)了，可敬的先生們。它是有心的，就是沒有頭腦。不然的話，它也不會(huì)跟你們做朋友了。”