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A civilian named Shentu Dun in Luoyang obtained an unearthed tripod of the Han Dynasty from Shenchuan, Chang'an.
On the tripod, the crisscross designs of clouds and ancient hornless dragons were bright and clear. Lu Sheng, his neighbour on the west, took a fancy to it instantly. He asked a coppersmith to cast a tripod in imitation, soaked and dyed it with a strange decoction, dug a pit and buried it underground.
After three years, he dug it out. Owing to the decoction and corrosion of the earth, thecopper surface of the tripod changed and looked very much like Shentu Dun's genuine tripod.
One day, Lu Sheng presented this fake tripod to an influential official, who was so pleased as if he had got a treasure that he invited guests to a banquet to appreciate it together.
At the time, Shentu Dun was also present. He knew in his heart that Lu Sheng's tripod was a fake. He said: “I also have a tripod of about the same shape as this one. But I don't know which one is genuine.”
The influential official asked him to fetch it at once. After he examined it for a long time, he said: “This one is not genuine.”
The guests also chimed in and said one after another: “It is indeed not genuine.”
Shentu Dun was quite perturbed and argued on just grounds, but the others rallied together to attack him, ridiculed and even insulted him, so he said no more.
When he returned home, he sighed: “I didn't know until today the power of authority, which can confound right with wrong and pass off the fake as the real thing.”
洛阳，有一位平民叫申屠敦，他从长安深川得到了一尊出土的汉鼎。
鼎上，云和蝠交错的花纹，灿烂清晰。申屠敦家西边的一位邻居鲁生一见到就十分喜爱，让铜匠模仿着也铸了一尊，用一种奇特的药浸染之后，挖了一个坑，把它埋在地下。
过了三年，他把鼎从地下挖出来一看，由于药物和泥土的锈蚀，表面的铜质起了变化，跟申屠敦的真的汉鼎极其相似。
一天，鲁生将这尊假汉鼎献给了一位权贵。权贵如获至宝，便大宴宾客，请大家共同欣赏。
当时，申屠敦也在座。他心里头最明白，鲁生的那尊是假的，就说：“我也有一尊汉鼎，形状和这尊差不多，但不知哪一尊是真的。”
权贵立即叫他搬过来，左右端详了很久，说：“这尊不是真的!”
众宾客也附和着，一个接一个地说：“的确不是真的!”
申屠敦心中很不平静，据理争辩。众人竟群起而攻之，冷嘲热讽，甚至羞辱，他便不再做声了。
回到家里，申屠敦唉声叹气：“我今天才知道权势的威力，可以颠倒是非，以假乱真。”
One day a man walking on the road met a celestial, who happened to be an old friend of his.
Seeing that his life was hard, the celestial pointed with his finger at a brick on the roadside, which turned into a gold brick at once. And he gave it to the man.
But the man was not satisfied. The celestial pointed again with his finger at a large stone lion at the gate, which at once turned into a gold lion. And he gave it to him too. But the man still complained it was not enough.
The celestial asked him: “My friend, how much will be enough for you? What should I do to satisfy you?”
The man hummed and hawed and said: “I want your finger.”
一天，有个人走在路上遇到一个神仙。原来，这个神仙还是他的老朋友呢。
神仙看到他生活很困难，就用手指朝路边的一块砖头一指，砖头立即变成了金砖。神仙把金砖送给了他。
他并不满足。神仙又把手指一指，门前的一尊大石狮马上变成了一尊金狮，也送给了他。可是他仍旧嫌少。
神仙问他：“朋友，你要多少才能满足?我怎么做你才满意?”
他支支吾吾地说：“我想要你的这个手指头!”
A little bird fly to south for the winter. It was very cold, almost frozen bird. Hence, fly to a large space, after a cow there, in a pile of cow dung upon the bird, frozen bird lying on the dunghill, feel very warm, gradually recovered, it is warm and comfortable lying, and soon began to sing songs, a passing wildcat hear voices, see, follow the voice, wildcats quickly found lying on the dunghill, bird, pull it out.
The way of existence: not everyone to lead the dung upon your people are your enemy. Each of you is not from the dunghill lire people are your friends, and, when you lying on the dunghill, had better keep your mouth shut.
一只小鸟飞到南方去过冬。天很冷，小鸟几乎冻僵了。于是，飞到一大块空地上，一头牛经过那儿，拉了一堆牛粪在小鸟的身上，冻僵的小鸟躺在粪堆里，觉得很温暖，渐渐苏醒过来，它温暖而舒服的躺着，不久唱起歌来，一只路过的野猫听到声音，走过去看个究竟，循着声音，野猫很快发现了躺在粪堆里的小鸟，把它拽出来吃掉了。
生存之道：不是每个往你身上拉大粪的人都是你的敌人。也不是每个把你从粪堆里拉出来的人都是你的朋友，还有，当你躺在粪堆里时，最好把你的嘴闭上。
Lion was awakened from sleep by a mouse running over his face.
Rising up in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the mouse piteouslyentreated, saying: “If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The lion laughed and let him go.
It happened shortly after this that the lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.
The mouse, recognizing his roar, came up, and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and setting him free, exclaimed: “You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; but now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a lion.”
Little friends may prove great friends.
一只老鼠从一只狮子面前跑过去，将它从梦中吵醒。
狮子生气地跳起来，捉住老鼠，要弄死它。老鼠哀求说：“只要你肯饶恕我这条小生命，我将来一定会报答你的大恩。”狮子便笑着放了它。
后来狮子被几个猎人捉住，用粗绳捆绑倒在地上。
老鼠听出是狮子的吼声，走来用牙齿咬断绳索，释放了牠，并大声说：“你当时嘲笑我想帮你的忙，而且也不指望我有什么机会报答。但是你现在知道了，就算是小老鼠，也能向狮子效劳的。”
强者不会永远是强者，强者也会有需要弱者帮助的时候。
An ass having heard some grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, “The dew.”
The ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.
驴子听见蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙动听的歌声所打动，自己也想能发出同样悦耳动听的声音，便羡慕地问他们吃些什么，才能发出如此美妙的声音来。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”
驴子便也只吃露水，没多久就饿死了。
A civilian named Shentu Dun in Luoyang obtained an unearthed tripod of the Han Dynasty from Shenchuan, Chang'an.
On the tripod, the crisscross designs of clouds and ancient hornless dragons were bright and clear. Lu Sheng, his neighbour on the west, took a fancy to it instantly. He asked a coppersmith to cast a tripod in imitation, soaked and dyed it with a strange decoction, dug a pit and buried it underground.
After three years, he dug it out. Owing to the decoction and corrosion of the earth, thecopper surface of the tripod changed and looked very much like Shentu Dun's genuine tripod.
One day, Lu Sheng presented this fake tripod to an influential official, who was so pleased as if he had got a treasure that he invited guests to a banquet to appreciate it together.
At the time, Shentu Dun was also present. He knew in his heart that Lu Sheng's tripod was a fake. He said: “I also have a tripod of about the same shape as this one. But I don't know which one is genuine.”
The influential official asked him to fetch it at once. After he examined it for a long time, he said: “This one is not genuine.”
The guests also chimed in and said one after another: “It is indeed not genuine.”
Shentu Dun was quite perturbed and argued on just grounds, but the others rallied together to attack him, ridiculed and even insulted him, so he said no more.
When he returned home, he sighed: “I didn't know until today the power of authority, which can confound right with wrong and pass off the fake as the real thing.”
洛阳，有一位平民叫申屠敦，他从长安深川得到了一尊出土的汉鼎。
鼎上，云和蝠交错的花纹，灿烂清晰。申屠敦家西边的一位邻居鲁生一见到就十分喜爱，让铜匠模仿着也铸了一尊，用一种奇特的药浸染之后，挖了一个坑，把它埋在地下。
过了三年，他把鼎从地下挖出来一看，由于药物和泥土的锈蚀，表面的铜质起了变化，跟申屠敦的真的汉鼎极其相似。
一天，鲁生将这尊假汉鼎献给了一位权贵。权贵如获至宝，便大宴宾客，请大家共同欣赏。
当时，申屠敦也在座。他心里头最明白，鲁生的那尊是假的，就说：“我也有一尊汉鼎，形状和这尊差不多，但不知哪一尊是真的。”
权贵立即叫他搬过来，左右端详了很久，说：“这尊不是真的!”
众宾客也附和着，一个接一个地说：“的确不是真的!”
申屠敦心中很不平静，据理争辩。众人竟群起而攻之，冷嘲热讽，甚至羞辱，他便不再做声了。
回到家里，申屠敦唉声叹气：“我今天才知道权势的威力，可以颠倒是非，以假乱真。”
1.英文寓言故事及其翻译
2.寓言故事英文版翻译
3.经典英语寓言故事带翻译
4.寓言故事英语版加翻译
5.带中文翻译的英语故事大全
One day the mice had a meeting to talk about the way to deal with their common enemy. Somesaid this, and some said that.
At last a young mouse got up, and said that he had
a good idea.
“We could tie a bell around the neck of the cat. Then when he comes near, we can hear thesound of the bell, and run away.”
Everyone approved of this proposal, but an old wise mouse got up and said, “That is allvery well, but who will tie the bell to the cat?” The mice looked at each other, but nobodyspoke.
老鼠开会
从前，一所房子里面有一只大猫，他抓住了很多偷东西的老鼠。
一天，老鼠在一起开会商量如何对付他们共同的敌人。会上大家各有各的主张，最后，一只小老鼠站出来说他有一个好主意。
“我们可以在猫的脖子上绑一个铃铛，那么如果他来到附近，我们听到铃声就可以马上逃跑。”
大家都赞同这个建议，这时一只聪明的老耗子站出来说：“这的确是个绝妙的主意，但是谁来给猫的脖子上绑铃铛呢?”老鼠们面面相觑，谁也没有说话。
Ye Gong was well-known for his fondness for dragons: In the house where he lived, dragons were painted on the walls and carved on the pillars and the four walls of his bedroom. There were dragons everywhere, up and down, front and back, with each dragon baring its teeth and brandishing its claws.
In the heavens there was a real dragon. It was very happy to hear that Ye Gong was so fond of dragons.
One day, the sky suddenly darkened, and then came wind, thunder and rain. The real dragon flew to Ye Gong's home. It poked its head into the window in the south and coiled its tail to the window in the north, rocking and rattling the whole house.
At the sight of this real dragon, Ye Gong was frightened out of his wits. He trembled all over and hurriedly hid himself.
So it turned out that what Ye Gong liked was painted and carved fake dragons but not real ones.
叶公喜欢龙，已经出了名了。他住的屋子里，墙上画着龙，柱子上雕着龙，卧室四面的墙壁上也刻着龙，上上下下，前前后后，到处都是龙，一条条张牙舞爪。
天上有一条真的龙，听说叶公这样喜欢龙，高兴极了。
有一天，天空突然暗了下来，又是刮风，又是打雷，又是下雨，真龙飞到了叶公的家里。它把头伸进了南面的窗口，把尾巴绕到了北面的窗口，把整个屋子摇得格格直响。
叶公看到这条真龙，一下子吓得魂飞魄散，浑身发抖，急忙躲了起来。
原来，叶公喜欢的只是那些画着、雕着的假龙，而不是真龙!
Zhao Jianzi, the famous general of the State of Jin, prepared to attack the State of Qi. He ordered: “If anyone in the army dares to dissuade me, I will sentence him to death.”
A warrior named Gong Luwang, wearing armour and holding a sharp weapon in his hand, laughed loudly the moment he saw Zhao Jianzi.
Zhao Jianzi asked hurriedly: “Why are you laughing?”
Gong Luwang replied: “I thought of something funny.”
Jianzi said in a stern voice: “Military command is no joke. If you can explain the reason, I will let you go. Otherwise I will sentence you to death.”
Calmly Gong Luwang told a story: “It was the season for gathering mulberries. My neighbours, a couple, went to the field. The husband found a woman in the depths of the mulberry groves. He chased after her but could not catch her, so he returned unhappily. At that time, his wife had already left him in anger. I laugh at my neighbour who had not caught the woman but lost his wife and became single in the end.”
After Zhao Jianzi heard Gong Luwang's story, he looked as if he had just wakened from a dream. He said: “Now, if I attack other states, I may possibly fail, then I'll become the subject of a subjugated state.”
Consequently, he gave orders to withdraw his troops and return home.
晋国名将赵简子准备出兵进攻齐国。他命令说：“如果军队里有人敢劝阻我，我就判处他死刑!”
有个武士名叫公卢望，他身上穿着恺甲，手里拿着锐利的兵器，一看到赵简子就放声大笑。
简子忙问：“你笑什么?”
公卢望回答说：“我想起了一件好笑的事情。”
简子严厉地说：“军令不是开玩笑，你讲得出道理就放过你;要是讲不出来，就判你死刑!”
公卢望不慌不忙地讲了一个故事：“正好是采桑的季节，我邻居家夫妇俩一起下了田。丈夫发现桑林深处有个女子，就追了上去，可是没有追上她，很不愉快地回来了。这时候，他的妻子却早就气愤地离开了他。我笑邻居追女没追到，反而失去了妻子，成了个光棍。”
赵简子听完公卢望的故事，像做梦刚醒过来一样，说：“现在，我去进攻别国，有可能失败，那我不就反而成了亡国的主将。”
于是，他下令收兵回国。
1.经典英语寓言故事带翻译
2.智慧寓言英语故事带翻译
3.英语寓言故事带翻译简短
4.英语寓言故事带翻译
5.英语寓言故事大全带翻译
Plugging One’s Ears While Stealing a Bell
Once upon a time, there was a man who wanted to steal his neighbor’s doorbell. However, he knew clearly that the bell would ring and catch the other people’s attention as long as he touched the bell. So he thought hard and suddenly hit on a clever “idea”. He plugged his ears with something, thinking that everything would go well when he stole the bell. Unfortunately to his disappointment, the bell still rang loudly and he was caught on the spot as a thief.
掩耳盗铃
从前，有一个人想偷邻居门上的铃，可是他明白一碰到铃，铃就会响起来，被人发现。他想啊想，最终他想出一个“妙极”，他把自我的耳朵用东西塞起来，就听不见铃声了。可是当他去偷铃时，铃声仍旧响起来，他被别人当场抓住。
【英文寓言故事（精选5篇）】
Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarrelling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations,he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion;and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so,he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,and ordered them to break it in pieces. They each tried with all their strength,and were not able to do it.
He next unclosed the faggot,and took the sticks separately,one by one,and again put them into their hands,on which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words:“My sons,if you are of one mind,and unite to assist each other,you will be as this faggot,uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies;but if you are divided among yourselves,you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
【英文寓言故事集锦（5篇）】
Monkey and bear were good friends, today bear and monkey bear home together to pick apples, fable essay.
The two of them holding hands together came to the orchard, bear and monkey climbed up the tree to pick apples, the monkey quickly climbed up the tree, but the bear climbed to climb at a time when half of the slide down. Monkey see, smiled and said: “ then you still Apple below me to pick it. ” bear see monkey laughing himself suddenly fire up, said: “ what do you mean? You just don't think I can climb it, do you? ” “ no, I mean, you can't climb up. I'll help you pick the apple. You're down here. Is that all right? “&rdquo,” said the little monkey innocently. &ldquo? Don't you mean that? I can't climb up! I don't want you to help me! “&rdquo,” said the bear angrily. &ldquo, no, no, I'm not rare! ” the little monkey got angry, too. Grade five essay composition of fable. The little monkey walked away without looking back. Where was the bear trying to climb the tree again and again, but he never succeeded?. The little monkey, sulking at home, went to sleep. In the evening, even a bear are not apple picking, like home.
This story tells us that a good friend should not be because of a trifle and falling out, saying “ endure temporary calm, take a step as boundless as the sea and sky ” good friends should understand each other, is the.
A very very long time ago, there were people wholived much longer than they do today. They lived many thousand years. At that time, the Enlightenment Being was born as a baby named Makhadeva. He lived 84,000 years as a child and crown prince. At the time of our story, he had been a young king for 80,000 years.
One day, Makhadeva told the royal barber, “If you see any gray hair on my head, you must tell me immediately!” Of course, the barber promised to do so.
Another 4,000 years passed, until Makhadeva had been a young king for 84,000 years. Then one day, while he was cutting the king's hair, the royal barber saw just one little gray hair on all the king's head. So he said, “Oh my lord, I see one gray hair on your head.” The king said,“If this be so, pull it out and put it in my hand.” The barber got his golden tweezers1(镊子，小钳子) ,plucked out(拔出) the single little gray hair, and put it in the king's hand.
At that time, the king still had at least another 84,000 years left to live as an old king! Looking at the one gray hair in his hand, he became very afraid of dying. He felt like death was closing in on him, as if he were trapped in a burning house. He was so afraid, that the sweat rolled down his back, and he shuddered2(发抖，战栗) .
King Makhadeva thought, “Oh foolish king, you have wasted all this long life and now you are near death. You have made no attempt to destroy your greed and envy, to live without hating, and to get rid of your ignorance by learning the truth and becoming wise.”
As he thought this, his body burned and the sweat kept rolling down. Then he decided3 once and for all(一劳永逸地，彻底地) , “Itis time to give up the kingship, be ordained4(命令，注定) as a monk5, and practice meditation6!” Thinking so, he granted the income of a whole town to the barber. It amounted to one-hundred-thousand per year.
Then the king called his oldest son to him and said,“My son, I have seen a gray hair. I have become old. I have enjoyed the worldly(世俗的) pleasures of great wealth and power. When I die, I want to be reborn in a heaven world, to enjoy the pleasures of the gods. So I will be ordainedas a monk. You must now take the responsibility of rulingthe country. I will live the life of a monk in the forest.”
Hearing of this, the royal ministers and the rest of the court rushed to the king and said, “Our lord, why do you suddenly want to be ordained?”
The king held up the gray hair in his hand and said, “My ministers and subjects, I have realized that this gray hair shows that the three stages of life youth, middleage and old age--are coming to an end. This first gray hair was the messenger of death sitting on my head. Gray hairs are like angels sent by the god of death. Therefore, this very day is the time for me to be ordained.”
The people wept at the news of his departure. King Makhadeva gave up his royal life, went into the forest, and was ordained as a monk. There he practiced what holy men call the 'Four Heavenly States of Mind'. First is loving-kindness, tender affection for all. Second is feeling sympathy and pity for all those who suffer. Third is feeling happiness for all those who are joyful7. And the fourthstate is balance and calm, even in the face of difficulties or troubles.
After 84,000 years of great effort meditating8 andpracticing these states as a humble9forest monk, theBodhisatta died. He was reborn in a high heaven world, tolive a life a million years long!
The moral is: Even a long life is too short to waste.
Once upon a time, in northern India, there was a herd1 of(一群) village deer. They were used to being near villages; they were born there and grew up there. They knew they had to be very careful around people. This was especially true at harvest time, when the crops were tall,and the farmers trapped and killed any deer who came near.
At harvest time, the village deer stayed in the forest all day long. They only came near the village during the dark of the night. One of these was a beautiful young doe(母鹿) .She had soft reddish-brown fur, a fluffy2(蓬松的) white tail and big wide bright eyes.
During this particular season, there was a young mountain buck3 who had strayed4 into the same low forest. One day, he saw the beautiful young doe, and immediately became infatuated with(迷恋) her. He didn't know anything about her. But he imagined himself to be deeply in love with her, just because of her reddish-brown fur and her fluffy white tail and her big wide bright eyes. He even dreamed about her, although she did not know he existed!
After a few days, the young mountain buck decided5 to introduce himself. As he was walking out into the clearing where she was grazing6, he was entranced by her appearance and could not take his eyes off her. He began speaking: “Oh my sweet beauty, as lovely as the stars and as bright as the moon, I confess to you that I am deeply--” Just then the young buck'shoof7(蹄) got caught in a root, he tripped and fell, and his face splashed8 in a mudpuddle9(泥潭) ! The pretty village doe was flattered10, so she smiled. But inside, she thought this mountain buck(雄鹿) was really rather silly!
Meanwhile, unknown to the deer, there was a dan of tree fairies(精灵) living in that part of the forest. They had been watching the mountain buck, while he secretly watched thevillage doe. When he walked out into the clearing, began his speech, and fell in the mud puddle -- the fairies laughed and laughed. “What fools these dumb animals are!” they cried. But one fairy did not laugh. He said, “If ear this is a warning of danger to this young fool?
The young buck was a little embarrassed, but he didnot see it as any kind of warning. From then on, he followed the doe wherever she went. He kept telling her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. She didn't pay much attention.
Then night came, and it was time for the doe to go down to the village. The people who lived along the way knew the deer passed by at night. So they set traps to catch them. That night a hunter waited, hiding behind a bush.
Carefully, the village doe set out. The mountain buck, who was still singing her praises(赞美诗), went right along with her. She stopped and said to him, ”My dear buck, you are not experienced with being around villages. You don't know how dangerous human beings are. The village, and the way to it, can bring death to a deer even at night. Since you are so young and inexperienced (and she thought to herself, 'and foolish'), you should not come down to the village with me. You should remain in the safety of the forest.“
At this, the tree fairies applauded11(赞同，称赞) . But of course, the deer could not hear them.
The young buck paid no attention to the doe's warning. He just said, ”Your eyes look so lovely in the moonlight!“ and kept walking with her. She said, ”If you won't listen to me, at least be quiet!“ He was so infatuated with her, that he could not control his mind. But he did finally shut his mouth!
After a while, they approached the place where the hunter was hiding behind a bush. The fairies saw him, and became agitated12(激动的，焦虑的) and frightened for the deer's safety. They flew nervously13 around the tree branches, but they could only watch.
The doe could smell the hiding man. She was afraid of a trap. So, thinking to save her own life, she let the buck go first. She followed a little way behind.
When the hunter saw the unsuspecting mountain buck, he shot his arrow and killed him instantly. Seeing this, the terrified doe turned tail and ran back to the forest clearing as fast as she could.
The hunter claimed his kill. He started a fire, skinned the deer, cooked some of the venison(鹿肉，野味) and ate his fill. Then he threw the carcass(尸体，残骸) over his shoulder and carried it back home to feed his family.
When the fairies saw what happened, some of them cried. As they watched the hunter cut up the once noble looking buck, some of them felt sick. Others blamed the careful doe for leading him to the slaughter14.
But the wise fairy, who had given the first warning, said, ”It was the excitement ofinfatuation(迷恋，醉心) that killed this foolish deer. Such blind desire brings false happiness at first, but ends in pain and suffering.“
The moral is: Infatuation leads to destruction.
Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta was ruling in Benares, in northern India. TheEnlightenment(启蒙运动) Being was born as his son, the prince. Being quite intelligent, he completed his entire education by the age of 16. So, at this early age, his father made himsecond in command(副指挥，第二把手) .
In those days, most people in Benares worshipped gods. They were very superstitious1(迷信的) . They thought gods caused things to happen to them, rather than being results of their own actions. So they would pray to these gods and ask special favors. They would ask for a lucky marriage, or the birth of a child, or riches, or fame.
They would promise the gods that, if their prayers were answered, they would pay them by making offerings to them. In addition to flowers and perfumes, they imagined the gods desired the sacrifice of animals. So, when they thought the gods had helped them, they killed many animals — goats, lambs, chickens, pigs and others.
The prince saw all this and thought, ”These helpless animals are also subjects of the king, so I must protect them. The people commit these unwholesome(不健康的) acts due to ignorance and superstition2. This cannot be true religion.
For true religion offers life as it really is, not killing3. True religion offers peace of mind, not cruelty.
“I fear these people believe in their superstitions4 too strongly to give them up. This is very sad. But perhaps their beliefs can at least be put to good use. Some day I will become king. So I must begin to make a plan to let their superstitions help them. If they must offer sacrifices, let them kill their own greed and hatred5, instead of these helpless animals! Then the whole kingdom will benefit.”
So the prince devised a clever long term plan. Every so often, he rode in his grand chariot(二轮战车) to a popular banyan6 tree(菩提树) just outside the city. This was a huge tree, where the people prayed and made offerings to a god they thought lived there. The prince came down from his chariot and made the same offerings as the others — incense7(香) , flowers, perfumes and water — but not animal sacrifices.
In this way he made a great show, and the news spread about his offerings. Pretty soon, all the people thought he was a true believer in the great god of the banyan tree.
In due time, King Brahmadatta died and his son became king. He ruled as a righteous(正直的，公正的) king, and the people benefited. So all his subjects came to trust and respect him as a just and honorable king.
Then one day, he decided8 it was the right time to carry out the rest of his plan. So he called all the leading citizens of Benares to the royal assembly hall. He asked them, “Worthy9ministers and loyal subjects, do you know how I was able to make sure that I would become king?” No one could answer.
He said, “Do you remember that I often gave wonderful sweet offerings to the great god of the banyan tree?” “Yes, our lord,” they said.
The king continued, “At each of those times, I made a promise to the powerful god of the tree. I prayed, 'Oh mighty10 one, if you make me King of Benares, I will offer a special sacrifice to you, far greater than flowers and perfumes.'
”Since I am now the king, you all can see for yourselves that the god has answered my prayers. So now I must keep my promise and offer the special sacrifice.“
All those in the assembly hall agreed. They said, ”We must prepare this sacrifice at once. What animals do you wish to kill?“
The king said, ”My dear subjects(人民) , I am glad you are so willing to cooperate. I promised the great god of the banyan tree that I would sacrifice anyone who fails to practice the Five Training Steps. That is, anyone who destroys life, takes what is not given, does wrong in sexual ways, speaks falsely, or loses his mind from alcohol. I promised that, if any do these things, I will offer their guts11(内脏) , and their flesh and blood on the great god's altar(祭坛，圣坛) !“
Being so superstitious, all those in the hall agreed that this must be done, or the god would surely punish the king and the kingdom.
The king thought, ”Ah, such is the power of superstition that these people have lost all common sense! They cannot see that, since the first training step is to give up killing, if I sacrificed one of my subjects, I would be next on the altar! And such is the power of superstition that I could make such a promise, and never have to carry it out!“
So, with full confidence in the power of superstition, the king said to the leading citizens, ”Go into all the kingdom and announce the promise I made to the god. Then proclaim(宣告，公布) that the first one-thousand who break any of the training steps will have the honor of being sacrificed, to keep the king's promise.“
Lo and behold12(你瞧) , the people of Benares became famous for carefully practicing the Five Training Steps. And the good king, who knew his subjects so well, sacrificed no one.
The moral is: Sacrifice your own wrong doing, not some helpless animal.
A great mountain大山
Long ago a great mountain began to rumble and shake.
People came from far and near to see what would happen.
”A great river will be born.“ said one.
”Surely nothing less than a mighty dragon will come out.“ said another.
”A god himself will spring form these rocks.“ said a third.
Finally, after days of expectation a small crack appeared in the mountain. And out popped --- a mouse.
Just because someone makes a lot of fuss, it doesn't mean he is important.
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么回事。
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，山坡上终于裂开一条小缝，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。
The gorillas in the valleys in the south often lived together in groups of several tens. They were fond of drinking wine, and even fonder of imitating man's behavior.
南方山谷里的猩猩，常常数十成群地生活在一起。它们喜欢喝酒，更喜欢模仿人的行为。
People knew very well their habits and often put wine or distiller's grains on the roadside together with many straw sandals connected together with ropes.
人们掌握了它们的习性，经常把酒或酒糟放在路边，旁边又放着许多草鞋，草鞋用绳索连接起来。
The gorillas knew this was a trick to lure them into traps and cursed:
猩猩知道这是人们引诱它们上当，便破口大骂:
”Humph! Do you think we don't know your tricks? We'll never be taken in!“
“哼!你们以为我们不知道吗?我们决不上你们的当!”
So they called one another, turned round and left.
于是，互相招呼，回头就走。
But they had already smelled the aroma of the wine, and couldn't bear to part with it. Even after they left, they would turn their heads to look back. When they saw no one there, they would turn back; and after they turned back, they were afraid of being deceived, and left again. After much hesitation, they finally said to themselves:
但是，它们已经闻到了酒香，总有点恋恋不舍，就是走了，也要回过头来望望。回头望不见人，便又转过来;转过来了又怕上当，再返身回去。犹豫了好久，它们最后自言自语地说:
”Just for a taste of the wine. It won't matter as long as we don't get drunk."
“去尝尝味道，不喝醉就不碍事。”
Shortly afterwards, they agreed to come back to drink the wine. When they got drunk, they forgot everything. Every gorilla put on the straw sandals and imitated the way man walks.
不一会儿，大家同意了，都回来喝酒。等到喝醉的时候，它们一切都忘记了，一个个穿上草鞋，学着人走路。
As a result, they fell down one after another and were all caught alive by people.
结果，一个个都跌倒了，统统被人活捉。
★ 经典英文寓言故事
★ 英文寓言故事合集
★ 英文合同翻译
★ 英文句子翻译
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★ 名言翻译成为英文
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