The roc was very huge, with its back like a big mountain, and its wings like a stretch of cloud which could cover the sky. When it spread its wings, it could break through a storm and soar at a height of 90,000 li (1/2 kilometre) in the sky towards the sea in the south.
A small bird called the quail1 bounced on the ground, free and happy. It looked up at the roc soaring in the sky and couldn't help laughing: "Hey, see how cocky you are! Look at me, one jump can take me over 10 chi. How delightful2! Every day I come and go amid these weeds and thickets3 and fly freely. Don't I fly quite well too? But, where can you fly to anyway?"
傳說,古時候中國北方的原野上有一種鳥,它的名字叫“鵬”。
鵬長得很大,背脊像一座大山,翅膀像一大片云,能把天空遮住。它張開翅膀能沖破風暴,在九萬里高的天空中飛翔,一直飛向南方的大海。
有一只叫鸚雀的小鳥,在地上蹦蹦跳跳,自由自在,非常快活。它望著天空中展翅飛翔的大鵬,忍不住發(fā)笑,說:“咳,看你神氣活現(xiàn)的!我呀,一蹦一跳,就有十幾尺,多么痛快啊!我每天在這些雜草和樹叢里,來來去去,自由飛翔,不也飛得挺好嗎?可是,你又能飛到哪里去呢?”