作者：(法)拉封丹（Fontaine,L.）
出版社：清华大学出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
猫和老鼠(插图·中文导读英文版)试读：
前言
在人类历史上众多的寓言故事集中，法国著名诗人拉封丹（1621—1695）编著的《拉封丹寓言》、古希腊人伊索编著和收集整理的《伊索寓言》以及俄罗斯作家克雷洛夫（1769—1844）编著的《克雷洛夫寓言》并称为世界上影响最大的三大寓言故事集。
让·德·拉封丹（Jean de La Fontaine），法国著名诗人，被誉为“法国的荷马”，出生于法国香槟省的夏托蒂埃里，父亲是位从事森林管理的小官吏。受家庭环境的影响，拉封丹从小就对诗歌怀有浓厚的兴趣。1641年，拉封丹去巴黎学习神学，后又改学法律，1652年接替父职，后于1657年携家定居巴黎。1668年，拉封丹发表了《寓言诗》第1集（1～6卷），这使他一举成名，并奠定了在法国文坛的地位。随后于1678—1679年间，拉封丹发表了《寓言诗》的第2集（7～11卷）。1694年，他发表了《寓言诗》的最后一集，即第12卷。此外，拉封丹著名的作品还有《故事诗》（1664—1685）和韵文小说《普叙赫和库比德的爱情》（1669）等。1684年，拉封丹当选为法兰西学院院士。1695年4月13日，拉封丹病逝于巴黎。《寓言诗》是拉封丹的代表作，共收录寓言故事240篇，故事皆以诗的形式进行表述，因此也称寓言诗。这些寓言故事的题材绝大部分取自伊索寓言，古希腊、罗马和印度寓言家的作品以及民间故事。这些寓言故事成功地塑造了17世纪的法国社会各阶层人物的典型形象，其中包括贵族、教士、法官、商人、医生和农民，揭露了封建统治阶级的残暴，描绘了劳动人民的苦难生活，堪称17世纪法国社会的一面镜子。这些寓言诗篇简短精练，借以拟人化的动物对话，非常富有戏剧意味。拉封丹寓言与伊索寓言、克雷洛夫寓言一起，构成了世界寓言作品的三座丰碑。《拉封丹寓言》在世界上有着广泛的声誉，是世界文学宝库中的传世经典之作，至今已被翻译成几十种文字，影响了一代又一代人的美丽童年、少年。即使在今天，《拉封丹寓言》依然是最受广大青少年读者欢迎的经典寓言故事图书之一。《拉封丹寓言》也是最早引入中国的西方经典文学作品，早在19世纪末就被翻译成中文并介绍给中国读者，迄今已有几十种不同的中文译本，其中包括法译中文本和英译中文本。目前，在国内数量众多的《拉封丹寓言》书籍中，主要的出版形式有三种：一是中法文对照读本，二是中英文对照读本，三是中文翻译版读本。其中的中英文对照读本比较受读者的欢迎，这主要是得益于中国人热衷于学习英文的大环境。从英文学习的角度来看，直接使用纯英文的学习资料更有利于英语学习。考虑到对英文内容背景的了解有助于英文阅读，使用中文导读应该是一种比较好的方式，也可以说是该书的第四种版本形式。采用中文导读而非中英文对照的方式进行编排，有利于国内读者摆脱对英文阅读依赖中文注释的习惯。基于以上原因，我们决定编译《拉封丹寓言》，并采用中文导读英文版的形式出版，收录了拉封丹《寓言诗》中61篇寓言故事，并配以插画。这些插画全部由法国著名画家多雷绘制，多雷（Gustave Doré，1832—1883）是19世纪后期最著名的插图画家之一，拉封丹《寓言诗》的插图是多雷最重要的代表作之一。在中文导读中，我们尽力使其贴近原作的精髓，也尽可能保留原作的风格。我们希望能够编出为当代中国读者所喜爱的经典读本。读者在阅读英文故事之前，可以先阅读中文导读，这样有利于了解故事背景，从而加快阅读速度。我们相信，该经典著作的引进对加强当代中国读者，特别是青少年读者的人文修养是非常有帮助的。
本书主要内容由王勋、纪飞等编译。参加本书故事素材搜集整理及编译工作的还有郑佳、赵雪、熊金玉、李丽秀、刘乃亚、熊红华、王婷婷、孟宪行、胡国平、李晓红、贡东兴、陈楠、邵舒丽、冯洁、王业伟、徐鑫、王晓旭、周丽萍、熊建国、徐平国、肖洁、王小红等。限于我们的科学、人文素养和英语水平，书中难免不当之处，衷心希望读者朋友批评指正。1.患瘟疫的动物/The Animals Sick of the Plague导读
瘟疫的到来使动物们人人自危，不敢出去觅食。狮子召开会议，称要牺牲罪恶最大的动物来平息上天之怒。狮子首先认罪说吃过无辜的绵羊和牧羊人。狐狸替狮子开脱，夸它是位明君，还说对绵羊来说，被狮子吃掉是无上的光荣，而牧羊人要驾驭动物，让他受苦理所应当。狐狸的说法得到了阿谀者的赞同，于是强悍的猛兽们纷纷得到饶恕。后来轮到驴子，它说自己饥饿难耐时曾吃过一丛如舌头般面积的嫩草。驴子刚说完，大家便骂声不绝，一只狼坚决认为疫病之灾就是由此而降，应让它以死顶罪。
The sorest ill that Heaven has
Sent on this lower world in wrath，—
The plague（to call it by its name，）
One single day of which
Would Pluto's ferryman enrich，—
Waged war on beasts,both wild and tame.患瘟疫的动物
They died not all,but all were sick：
No hunting now,by force or trick，
To save what might so soon expire.
No food excited their desire；
Nor wolf nor fox now watched to slay
The innocent and tender prey.
The turtles fled；
So love and therefore joy were dead.
The lion council held,and said：
“My friends,I do believe
This awful scourge,for which we grieve，
Is for our sins a punishment
Most righteously by Heaven sent.
Let us our guiltiest beast resign，
A sacrifice to wrath divine.
Perhaps this offering,truly small，
May gain the life and health of all.
By history we find it noted
That lives have been just so devoted.
Then let us all turn eyes within，
And ferret out the hidden sin.
Himself let no one spare nor flatter，
But make clean conscience in the matter.
For me,my appetite has played the glutton
Too much and often on mutton.
What harm had ever my victims done？
I answer,truly,None.
Perhaps,sometimes,by hunger pressed，
I have eat the shepherd with the rest.
I yield myself,if need there be；
And yet I think,in equity，
Each should confess his sins with me；
For laws of right and justice cry，
The guiltiest alone should die.”
“Sire，”said the fox，“your majesty
Is humbler than a king should be，
And over-squeamish in the case.
What！eating stupid sheep a crime？
No,never,sire,at any time.
It rather was an act of grace，
A mark of honour to their race.
And as to shepherds,one may swear，
The fate your majesty describes，
Is recompense less full than fair
For such usurpers over our tribes.”
Thus Renard glibly spoke，
And loud applause from flatterers broke.
Of neither tiger,boar,nor bear，
Did any keen inquirer dare
To ask for crimes of high degree；
The fighters,biters,scratchers,all
From every mortal sin were free；
The very dogs,both great and small，
Were saints,as far as dogs could be.
The ass,confessing in his turn，
Thus spoke in tones of deep concern：
“I happened through a mead to pass；
The monks,its owners,were at mass；
Keen hunger,leisure,tender grass，
And add to these the devil too，
All tempted me the deed to do.
I browsed the bigness of my tongue；
Since truth must out,I own it wrong.”
On this,a hue and cry arose，
As if the beasts were all his foes：
A wolf,haranguing lawyer-wise，
Denounced the ass for sacrifice—
The bald-pate,scabby,ragged lout，
By whom the plague had come,no doubt.
His fault was judged a hanging crime.
“What？eat another's grass？O shame！
The noose of rope and death sublime，”
For that offence,were all too tame！
And soon poor Grizzle felt the same.
Thus human courts acquit the strong，
And doom the weak,as therefore wrong.2.不幸的婚姻/The Ill-Married导读
有个男人娶了个妒忌、吝啬且好吵架的妻子。她总挑剔各种各样的事情，惹得佣人们非常生气，丈夫也受不了她的叽叽喳喳，将她打发到乡下的娘家，让她与看管鸡和猪的人们生活在一起。过了些时候，丈夫以为她有所改变，准备接她回家。她懊恼地痛诉道：“这里的人很懒惰，一点儿也不关心家畜，我提醒他们，他们反而来恨我。”丈夫听了说，“你暴躁的性情，使那些偶尔见到你的人都厌烦，那么服侍你的佣人和朝夕相处的丈夫该怎么办？你好好待在乡下，我今生也不会召你回家。”
If worth,were not a thing more rare
Than beauty in this planet fair，
There would be then less need of care
About the contracts Hymen closes.
But beauty often is the bait不幸的婚姻
To love that only ends in hate；
And many hence repent too late
Of wedding thorns from wooing roses.
My tale makes one of these poor fellows，
Who sought relief from marriage vows，
Send back again his tedious spouse，
Contentious,covetous,and jealous，
With nothing pleased or satisfied，
This restless,comfort-killing bride
Some fault in every one descried.
Her good man went to bed too soon，
Or lay in bed till almost noon.
Too cold,too hot，—too black,too white，—
Were on her tongue from morn till night.
The servants mad and madder grew；
The husband knew not what to do.
“Twas，“Dear,you never think or care；”
And，“Dear,that price we cannot bear；”
And，“Dear,you never stay at home；”
And，“Dear,I wish you would just come；”
Till,finally,such ceaseless dearing
On her husband's patience wearing，
Back to her sire's he sent his wife，
To taste the sweets of country life，
To dance at will the country jigs，
And feed the turkeys,geese,and pigs.
In course of time,he hoped his bride
Might have her temper mollified；
Which hope he duly put to test.
His wife recalled,said he，
“How went with you your rural rest，
From vexing cares and fashions free？
Its peace and quiet did you gain，—
Its innocence without a stain？”
“Enough of all，”said she；“but then
To see those idle,worthless men
Neglect the flocks,it gave me pain.
I told them,plainly,what I thought，
And thus their hatred quickly bought；
For which I do not care—not I.”
“Ah,madam，”did her spouse reply，
“If still your temper's so morose，
And tongue so virulent,that those
Who only see you morn and night
Are quite grown weary of the sight，
What,then,must be your servants'case，
Who needs must see you face to face，
Throughout the day？
And what must be the harder lot
Of him,I pray，
Whose days and nights
With you must be by marriage rights？
Return you to your father's cot.
If I recall you in my life，
Or even wish for such a wife，
Let Heaven,in my hereafter,send
Two such,to tease me without end！”3.隐居的老鼠/The Rat Retired from the World导读
有只老鼠隐居在寂静的荷兰干酪里，来逃避世间的纷扰。在干酪里，它变得又肥又壮。某日，鼠族派了几位代表来找它，请求一些微薄的捐助，来抵御进犯的猫。隐居的老鼠说道：世间的纠纷已与我无关，除了祈求上天的关照，我哪里能够帮得上你们？话毕，便关上了大门。
The sage Levantines have a tale
About a rat that weary grew
Of all the cares which life assail，
And to a Holland cheese withdrew.
His solitude was there profound，
Extending through his world so round.
Our hermit lived on that within；
And soon his industry had been隐居的老鼠
With claws and teeth so good，
That in his novel hermitage，
He had in store,for wants of age，
Both house and livelihood.
What more could any rat desire？
He grew fair,fat,and round.
“God's blessings thus redound
To those who in His vows retire.
One day this personage devout，
Whose kindness none might doubt，
Was asked,by certain delegates
That came from Rat-United-States，
For some small aid,for they
To foreign parts were on their way，
For succour in the great cat-war.
Ratopolis beleaguered sore，
Their whole republic drained and poor，
No morsel in their scrips they bore.
Slight boon they craved,of succour sure
In days at utmost three or four.
“My friends，”the hermit said，
“To worldly things I'm dead.
How can a poor recluse
To such a mission be of use？
What can he do but pray
That God will aid it on its way？
And so,my friends,it is my prayer
That God will have you in his care.”
His well-fed saintship said no more，
But in their faces shut the door.
What think you,reader,is the service
For which I use this niggard rat？
To paint a monk？No,but a dervise.
A monk,I think,however fat，
Must be more bountiful than that.4.苍鹭/The Heron导读
有一只苍鹭正漫无目的地沿着一条小河散步。它看见清澈的河水里鲤鱼和狗鱼在嬉游。啄食它们是件很容易的事情，但苍鹭要等食欲旺盛的时候才肯进食。过了一会儿，它的食欲来了，便走近河边，看见几条冬穴鱼，它不愿去吃，要等待更好的鱼出现；后来又看到一条鲍鱼，它依旧不屑张嘴。不久，它饿得饥肠辘辘，却再也找不到鱼，碰到了一只蜗牛，也开心地享用起来。
One day，—no matter when or where，—
A long-legged heron chanced to fare
By a certain river's brink，
With his long,sharp beak
Helved on his slender neck；
It was a fish-spear,you might think.
The water was clear and still，苍鹭
The carp and the pike there at will
Pursued their silent fun，
Turning up,ever and anon，
A golden side to the sun.
With ease might the heron have made
Great profits in his fishing trade.
So near came the scaly fry，
They might be caught by the passer-by.
But he thought he better might
Wait for a better appetite—
For he lived by rule,and could not eat，
Except at his hours,the best of meat.
Anon his appetite returned once more；
So,approaching again the shore，
He saw some tench taking their leaps，
Now and then,from their lowest deeps.
With as dainty a taste as Horace's rat，
He turned away from such food as that.
“What,tench for a heron！poh！
I scorn the thought,and let them go.”
The tench refused,there came a gudgeon；
“For all that，”said the bird，“I budge on.
I'll never open my beak,if the gods please，
For such mean little fishes as these.”
He did it for less；
For it came to pass，
That not another fish could he see；
And,at last,so hungry was he，
That he thought it of some avail
To find on the bank a single snail.
Such is the sure result
Of being too difficult.
Would you be strong and great，
Learn to accommodate.
Get what you can,and trust for the rest；
The whole is often lost by seeking the best.
Above all things beware of disdain；
Where,at most,you have little to gain.
The people are many that make
Every day this sad mistake.
It's not for the herons I put this case，
You featherless people,of human race.
—List to another tale as true，
And you'll hear the lesson brought home to you.5.少女/The Maid导读
有位骄傲的少女要寻找一位年轻、高贵、富有、帅气、热情而不妒忌的好丈夫。命运女神安排了许多有财有势的上等对象。她要么嫌人家气质不好，要么嫌鼻子长得难看，总之无一符合她的心意。紧接着又来了一群普通人，她更是感觉好笑。光阴似箭，她渐渐老去，求婚者也不再上门，她开始变得忐忑不安。眼看着花容日渐憔悴，再好的脂粉也不能使青春驻足。她终于做出了选择，嫁给了一位没有教养的大老粗，却自得其乐地享受着幸福。
Acertain maid,as proud as fair，
A husband thought to find
Exactly to her mind—
Well-formed and young,genteel in air，
Not cold nor jealous；—mark this well.
Whoever would wed this dainty belle
Must have,besides rank,wealth,and wit，少女
And all good qualities to fit—
A man it were difficult to get.
Kind Fate,however,took great care
To grant,if possible,her prayer.
There came a-wooing men of note；
The maiden thought them all，
By half,too mean and small.
“They marry me！the creatures dote：
Alas！poor souls！their case I pity.”（Here mark the bearing of the beauty.）
Some were less delicate than witty；
Some had the nose too short or long；
In others something else was wrong；
Which made each in the maiden's eyes
An altogether worthless prize.
Profound contempt is aye the vice
Which springs from being over-nice，
Thus were the great dismissed；and then
Came offers from inferior men.
The maid,more scornful than before，
Took credit to her tender heart
For giving then an open door.
“They think me much in haste to part
With independence！God be thanked
My lonely nights bring no regret；
Nor shall I pine,or greatly fret，
Should I with ancient maids be ranked.”
Such were the thoughts that pleased the fair：
Age made them only thoughts that were.
Adieu to lovers：passing years
Awaken doubts and chilling fears.
Regret,at last,brings up the train.
Day after day she sees,with pain，
Some smile or charm take final flight，
And leave the features of a“fright.”
Then came a hundred sorts of paint：
But still no trick,nor ruse,nor feint，
Availed to hide the cause of grief，
Or bar out Time,that graceless thief.
A house,when gone to wreck and ruin，
May be repaired and made a new one.
Alas！for ruins of the face
No such rebuilding ever takes place.
Her daintiness now changed its tune；
Her mirror told her，“Marry soon！”
So did a certain wish within，
With more of secrecy than sin，—嫁给了一个大老粗
A wish that dwells with even prudes，
Annihilating solitudes.
This maiden's choice was past belief，
She soothing down her restless grief，
And smoothing it of every ripple，
By marrying a cripple.6.愿望/The Wishes导读
在从前的莫卧儿王国，常常有一些精灵给主人们做些仆人的事情。在印度恒河畔，有个精灵给主人们收拾花园，它默默而利索地工作着，使主人们格外高兴。然而精灵国国王惑于闲言碎语，要调它去挪威照看一座终年积雪的房子。临走前，它承诺帮主人们实现三个愿望。主人们的第一个愿望就是发财。可是大量的财产引起了强盗和贵族的贪念，国王也向他们课税，主人们整日费尽心血而惶惶不安，请求将财产收回，宁愿守着以往普通的日子，反而比拥有大量的财富更幸福。
Within the Great Mogul's domains there are
Familiar sprites of much domestic use：
They sweep the house,and take a tidy care
Of equipage,nor garden work refuse；
But,if you meddle with their toil，愿望
The whole,at once,you're sure to spoil.
One,near the mighty Ganges flood，
The garden of a burgher good
Worked noiselessly and well；
To master,mistress,garden,bore
A love that time and toil outwore，
And bound him like a spell.
Did friendly zephyrs blow，
The demon's pains to aid？（For so they do,it's said.）
I own I do not know.
But for himself he rested not，
And richly blessed his master's lot.
What marked his strength of love，
He lived a fixture on the place，
In spite of tendency to rove
So natural to his race.
But brother sprites conspiring
With importunity untiring，
So teased their goblin chief,that he，
Of his caprice,or policy，
Our sprite commanded to attend
A house in Norway's farther end，
Whose roof was snow-clad through the year，
And sheltered human kind with deer.
Before departing to his hosts
Thus spake this best of busy ghosts：
“To foreign parts I'm forced to go！
For what sad fault I do not know；—
But go I must；a month's delay，
Or week's perhaps,and I'm away.
Seize time；three wishes make at will；
For three I'm able to fulfil—
No more.”Quick at their easy task，
Abundance first these wishers ask—
Abundance,with her stores unlocked—
Barns,coffers,cellars,larder,stocked—
Corn,cattle,wine,and money，—
The overflow of milk and honey.
But what to do with all this wealth！
What inventories,cares,and worry！
What wear of temper and of health！
Both lived in constant,slavish hurry.
Thieves took by plot,and lords by loan；
The king by tax,the poor by tone.
Thus felt the curses which
Arise from being rich，—
“Remove this affluence！”they pray；
The poor are happier than they
Whose riches make them slaves.
“Go,treasures,to the winds and waves；
Come,goddess of the quiet breast，
Who sweet'nest toil with rest，
Dear Mediocrity,return！”
The prayer was granted as we learn.
Two wishes thus expended，
Had simply ended
In bringing them exactly where，
When they set out they were.
So,usually,it fares
With those who waste in such vain prayers
The time required by their affairs.
The goblin laughed,and so did they.
However,before he went away，
To profit by his offer kind，
They asked for wisdom,wealth of mind，—
A treasure void of care and sorrow—
A treasure fearless of the morrow，
Let who will steal,or beg,or borrow.7.狮子的宫廷/The Lion’s Court导读
狮子想搞清楚自己是哪些国民的主君，于是派了一些使臣，带着盖了御印的文书到处出访，要求动物们出席宫廷宴会。宫廷里臭气冲人，熊捂住了鼻子，狮王见状勃然大怒，将其杀死。猴子大肆颂扬狮王的威风，赞美狮子的利爪和宫廷的气味，可惜这马屁拍得太拙劣，引起了狮王的反感，落得与熊同样的下场。狮王又问狐狸闻到了什么，狡猾的狐狸推托感冒，鼻子不灵，终于幸免于难。
His lion majesty would know,one day，
What bestial tribes were subject to his sway.
He therefore gave his vassals all，
By deputies a call，
Despatching everywhere
A written circular，
Which bore his seal,and did import
His majesty would hold his court
A month most splendidly；—
A feast would open his levee，
Which done,Sir Jocko's sleight
Would give the court delight.
By such sublime magnificence
The king would show his power immense.
Now were they gathered all
Within the royal hall.—
And such a hall！The charnel scent
Would make the strongest nerves relent.
The bear put up his paw to close
The double access of his nose.
The act had better been omitted；
His throne at once the monarch quitted，
And sent to Pluto's court the bear，
To show his delicacy there.
The ape approved the cruel deed，
A thorough flatterer by breed.
He praised the prince's wrath and claws，
He praised the odour and its cause.
Judged by the fragrance of that cave，
The amber of the Baltic wave，
The rose,the pink,the hawthorn bank，
Might with the vulgar garlic rank.
The mark his flattery overshot，
And made him share poor Bruin's lot；
This lion playing in his way，
The part of Don Caligula.
The fox approached.“Now，”said the king，
“Apply your nostrils to this thing，
And let me hear,without disguise，
The judgment of a beast so wise.”
The fox replied，“Your Majesty will please
Excuse”—and here he took good care to sneeze；—
“Afflicted with a dreadful cold，
Your majesty need not be told：
My sense of smell is mostly gone.”
From danger thus withdrawn，
He teaches us the while，
That one,to gain the smile
Of kings,must hold the middle place
“Between blunt rebuke and fulsome praise；
And sometimes use with easy grace，
The language of the Norman race.8.秃鹫与鸽子/The Vultures and the Pigeons导读
天神给天空制造了一场战乱，秃鹫们为一条死狗争得你死我活。秃鹫们拥有弯钩式的利嘴和尖锐的爪子，不惜动用任何手段摧毁对方，无所不用其极。这场疯狂的厮杀使善良的鸽子动了恻隐之心，它们派出了最好的使者来调解秃鹫的纠纷，终于使秃鹫化干戈为玉帛。然而，秃鹫们毫不领情，反而对鸽子家族进行了一场大屠杀，将它们消灭殆尽。
Mars once made havoc in the air：
Some cause aroused a quarrel there
Among the birds；—not those that sing，
The courtiers of the merry Spring，
And by their talk,in leafy bowers，
Of loves they feel,enkindle ours；
Nor those which Cupid's mother yokes秃鹫与鸽子
To whirl on high her golden spokes；
But naughty hawk and vulture folks，
Of hooked beak and talons keen.
The carcass of a dog,it's said，
Had to this civil carnage led.
Blood rained on the swarded green，
And valiant deeds were done,I hope.
But time and breath would surely fail
To give the fight in full detail；
Suffice to say,that chiefs were slain，
And heroes strowed the sanguine plain，
Till old Prometheus,in his chains，
Began to hope an end of pains.
It was sport to see the battle rage，
And valiant hawk with hawk engage；
It was pitiful to see them fall，—
Torn,bleeding,weltering,gasping,all.
Force,courage,cunning,all were plied；
Intrepid troops on either side
No effort spared to populate
The dusky realms of hungry Fate.
This woful strife awoke compassion
Within another feathered nation，
Of iris neck and tender heart.
They tried their hand at mediation—
To reconcile the foes,or part.
The pigeon people duly chose
Ambassadors,who worked so well
As soon the murderous rage to quell，
And stanch the source of countless woes.
A truce took place,and peace ensued.
Alas！the people dearly paid
Who such pacification made！
Those cursed hawks at once pursued
The harmless pigeons,slew and ate，
Till towns and fields were desolate.
Small prudence had the friends of peace
To pacify such foes as these！
The safety of the rest requires
The bad should flesh each other's spears：
Whoever peace with them desires
Had better set them by the ears.9.马车和苍蝇/The Coach and the Fly导读
六匹骏马拉着一辆马车行走在有很多沙子的上坡路上。马儿气喘吁吁，劳累不堪，所有乘客都下车了。一只苍蝇突然飞来，想用它的嗡嗡声激励马匹。苍蝇不时停在马车的辕木上和车夫的鼻子上，以为自己推动了马车。苍蝇像一位忙碌的指挥官，操心个不停。等马车历经艰辛抵达平地的时候，苍蝇对马儿说，请付我的劳务费吧。
On a sandy,uphill road，
Which naked in the sunshine glowed，
Six lusty horses drew a coach.
Dames,monks,and invalids,its load，
On foot,outside,at leisure trode.
The team,all weary,stopped and blowed：
Whereon there did a fly approach，
And,with a vastly business air.马车和苍蝇
Cheered up the horses with his buzz，—
Now pricked them here,now pricked them there，
As neatly as a jockey does，—
And thought the while—he knew It was so—
He made the team and carriage go，—
On carriage-pole sometimes alighting—
Or driver's nose—and biting.
And when the whole did get in motion，
Confirmed and settled in the notion，
He took,himself,the total glory，—
Flew back and forth in wondrous hurry，
And,as he buzz'd about the cattle，
Seemed like a sergeant in a battle，
The files and squadrons leading on
To where the victory is won.
Thus charged with all the commonweal，
This single fly began to feel
Responsibility too great，
And cares,a grievous crushing weight；
And made complaint that none would aid
The horses up the tedious hill—
The monk his prayers at leisure said—
Fine time to pray！—the dames,at will，
Were singing songs—not greatly needed！
Thus in their ears he sharply sang，
And notes of indignation ran，—
Notes,after all,not greatly heeded.
Erelong the coach was on the top：
“Now，”said the fly，“my hearties,stop
And breathe；—I have got you up the hill；
And Messrs.Horses,let me say，
I need not ask you if you will
A proper compensation pay.”
Thus certain ever-bustling noddies
Are seen in every great affair；
Important,swelling,busy-bodies，
And bores It's easier to bear
Than chase them from their needless care.10.卖牛奶的女人和奶罐/The Dairywoman and the Pot of Milk导读
有位卖牛奶的女人叫佩雷特，她头顶一只牛奶罐进城出售牛奶。她衣着轻便，跨着大步轻快地一边前进一边算着账。她要用卖牛奶的钱买一百个鸡蛋，孵成许多的小鸡；等小鸡长大后换上一口猪，待养肥卖掉猪又可以买到母牛和小牛。她越想越高兴，突然牛奶罐翻倒了，所有的牛、猪、鸡随之泡汤。
Apot of milk on her cushioned crown，
Good Peggy hastened to the market town；
Short clad and light,with speed she went，
Not fearing any accident；
Indeed,to be the nimbler tripper，
Her dress that day，
The truth to say，
Was simple petticoat and slipper.卖牛奶的女人和奶罐
And,thus bedight，
Good Peggy,light，—
Her gains already counted，—
Laid out the cash
At single dash，
Which to a hundred eggs amounted.
Three nests she made，
Which,by the aid
Of diligence and care were hatched.
“To raise the chicks，
I'll easy fix，”
Said she，“beside our cottage thatched.
The fox must get
More cunning yet，
Or leave enough to buy a pig.
With little care
And any fare，
He'll grow quite fat and big；
And then the price
Will be so nice，
For which,the pork will sell！
’Twill go quite hard
But in our yard
I'll bring a cow and calf to dwell—
A calf to frisk among the flock！”所有的东西都泡了汤
The thought made Peggy do the same；
And down at once the milk-pot came，
And perished with the shock.
Calf,cow,and pig,and chicks,adieu！
Your mistress'face is sad to view；
She gives a tear to fortune spilt；
Then with the downcast look of guilt
Home to her husband empty goes，
Somewhat in danger of his blows.
Who builds not,sometimes,in air
His cots,or seats,or castles fair？
From kings to dairy women，—all，—
The wise,the foolish,great and small，—
Each thinks his waking dream the best.
Some flattering error fills the breast：
The world with all its wealth is ours，
Its honours,dames,and loveliest bowers.
Instinct with valour,when alone，
I hurl the monarch from his throne；
The people,glad to see him dead，
Elect me monarch in his stead，
And diadems rain on my head.
Some accident then calls me back，
And I'm no more than simple Jack.11.神父与死尸/The Curate and the Corpse导读
一个人哀伤地死去了，若望·苏阿尔神父盯着这位死者，好像有人会来抢走这个宝贝。依靠为这个死人祈祷，神父能获得银钱、蜡烛等报酬，还可以买一桶上等的葡萄酒去讨好他的侄女，并买一身短裙奖励他的女仆。若望·苏阿尔神父完全忽略了他的本职工作而陶醉在即将获得报酬的喜悦里。这时马车发生了事故，若望·苏阿尔神父不慎身亡，与死者同赴冥府。
Adead man going slowly,sadly，
To occupy his last abode，
A curate by him,rather gladly，
Did holy service on the road.
Within a coach the dead was borne，
A robe around him duly worn，
Of which I wot he was not proud—神父和死尸
That ghostly garment called a shroud.
In summer's blaze and winter's blast，
That robe is changeless—It's the last.
The curate,with his priestly dress on，
Recited all the church's prayers，
The psalm,the verse,response,and lesson，
In fullest style of such affairs.
Sir Corpse,we beg you,do not fear
A lack of such things on your bier；
They'll give abundance every way，
Provided only that you pay.
The Reverend John Cabbagepate
Watched over the corpse as if it were
A treasure needing guardian care；
And all the while,his looks elate，
This language seemed to hold：
“The dead will pay so much in gold，
So much in lights of molten wax，
So much in other sorts of tax：”
With all he hoped to buy a cask of wine，
The best which thereabouts produced the vine.
A pretty niece,on whom he doted，
And eke his chambermaid,should be promoted，
By being newly petticoated.
The coach upset,and dashed to pieces，
Cut short these thoughts of wine and nieces！
There lay poor John with broken head，
Beneath the coffin of the dead！
His rich,parishioner in lead
Drew on the priest the doom
Of riding with him to the tomb！
The Pot of Milk,and fate
Of Curate Cabbagepate，
As emblems,do but give
The history of most that live.12.追求幸福女神的人和卧床等幸福女神的人/The Man Who Ran after Fortune,and the Man Who Waited for Her in His Bed导读
从前有一对朋友，其中一个离开家乡追求幸运女神，希望能碰到运气；而另一个却自足地留在家乡，安静地过自己的生活。追求幸运女神的人辗转世界各处，历经艰难险阻，做着各样工作（比如服侍国王）来追逐幸运女神的脚步，最终却发现幸运女神最爱光顾无欲无求、自得其所的人。因此，幸运女神不在天边，而在熟睡的故友的门前。
Who joins not with his restless race
To give Dame Fortune eager chase？
O,had I but some lofty perch，
From which to view the panting crowd
Of care-worn dreamers,poor and proud，追求幸福女神的人和卧床等幸福女神的人
As on they hurry in the search，
From realm to realm,over land and water，
Of Fate's fantastic,fickle daughter！
Ah！slaves sincere of flying phantom！
Just as their goddess they would clasp，
The jilt divine eludes their grasp，
And flits away to Bantam！
Poor fellows！I bewail their lot.
And here's the comfort of my ditty；
For fools the mark of wrath are not
So much,I'm sure,as pity.
“That man，”say they,and feed their hope，
“Raised cabbages—and now he's pope.
Don't we deserve as rich a prize？”
Ay,richer？But,has Fortune eyes？
And then the popedom,is it worth
The price that must be given？—
Repose？—the sweetest bliss of earth，
And,ages since,of gods in heaven？
It's rarely Fortune's favourites
Enjoy this cream of all delights.
Seek not the dame,and she will you—
A truth which of her sex is true.
Snug in a country town
A pair of friends were settled down.
One sighed unceasingly to find
A fortune better to his mind，
And,as he chanced his friend to meet，
Proposed to quit their dull retreat.
“No prophet can to honour come，”
Said he，“unless he quits his home；
Let's seek our fortune far and wide.”
“Seek,if you please，”his friend replied：
“For one,I do not wish to see
A better clime or destiny.
I leave the search and prize to you；
Your restless humour please pursue！
You'll soon come back again.
I vow to nap it here till then.”
The enterprising,or ambitious，
Or,if you please,the avaricious，
Betook him to the road.
The morrow brought him to a place
The flaunting goddess ought to grace
As her particular abode—
I mean the court—whereat he staid，
And plans for seizing Fortune laid.
He rose,and dressed,and dined,and went to bed，
Exactly as the fashion led：
In short,he did whatever he could，
But never found the promised good.
Said he，“Now somewhere else I'll try—
And yet I failed I know not why；
For Fortune here is much at home
To this and that I see her come，
Astonishingly kind to some.
And,truly,it is hard to see
The reason why she slips from me.
It's true,perhaps,as I have been told，
That spirits here may be too bold.
To courts and courtiers all I bid adieu；
Deceitful shadows they pursue.
The dame has temples in Surat；
I'll go and see them—that is flat.”
To say so was t”embark at once.
O,human hearts are made of bronze！
His must have been of adamant，
Beyond the power of Death to daunt，
Who ventured first this route to try，
And all its frightful risks defy.
试读结束[说明：试读内容隐藏了图片]