batfallinguponthegroundwascaughtbyaweasel,ofwhomheearnestlybesoughthislife.theweaselrefused,saying,thathewasbynaturetheenemyofallbirds.thebatassuredhimthathewasnotabird,butamouse,andthussavedhislife.
shortlyafterwardsthebatagainfellontheground,andwascarghtbyanotherweasel,whomhelikewiseentreatednottoeathim.theweaselsaidthathehadaspecialhostilitytomice.thebatassuredhimthathewasnotamouse,butabat;andthusasecondtimeescaped.itiswisetoturncircumstancestogoodaccount.
一只蝙蝠坠落到地面上来,被一只鼠狼捉住了,蝙蝠哀求讨饶。鼠狼不答应,说它自己最爱和鸟类为敌。蝙蝠便证明它自己不是鸟,只是一只老鼠,因此鼠狼就放了它。
不久这只蝙蝠又坠落到地上来,被另一只鼠狼捉住,它同样地哀求讨饶。那鼠狼说它自己最恨老鼠,蝙蝠证明自己并不是老鼠,而是一只蝙蝠;因此,它第二次又安然地逃离危险了。随机应变乃聪明之举。
Awildboarwassharpeninghistusksagainstatreeonedaywhenafoxcameby.
"Whatareyoudoingthatfor?"askedthefox."Therearenohuntersaround.Everythinglooksverypeacefultome."
"Quitetrue,"saidtheboar,"butwhenthehunterdoesewithhisdogsIshallbetoobusyrunningawaytohavetimeforthis.SoletmesharpenmytuskswhileIcan."
Beprepared.
野猪和狐狸
有一天,野猪在树上磨牙齿,狐狸走过来。
"你为什么干这个呀?"狐狸问,"附近又没有猎人,我觉得平安无事。"
"不错,"野猪说,"可是,如果猎人真的带着猎狗来了,我只能逃走,就没工夫干这个了。趁我此刻能够磨,就让我磨磨牙齿吧。"
时刻准备着(有备无患)
Longagoagreatmountainbegantorumbleandshake.
Peoplecamefromfarandneartoseewhatwouldhappen.
"Agreatriverwillbeborn."saidone.
"Surelynothinglessthanamightydragonwilleout."saidanother.
"Agodhimselfwillspringformtheserocks."saidathird.
Finally,afterdaysofexpectationasmallcrackappearedinthemountain.Andoutpopped-amouse.
Justbecausesomeonemakesalotoffuss,itdoesn'tmeanheisimportant.
很久以前,一座大山隆隆作响,摇晃起来。远近各处的人都来看是怎样回事。
一个人说:"要出现一条大河了。"
另一个人说:"准会出现一条巨龙。"
第三个人说:"从这些岩石中会出现一尊神来。"
等了几天之后,山坡上最终裂开一条小缝,却蹦出来一只耗子。
正因为某人大肆张扬,所以他没有什么了不起。