The Tortoise And The Ducks
乌龟和鸭
by Aesop
出自《伊索寓言》
The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that Jupiter punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he would not go to Jupiter's wedding, even when especially invited.
众所皆知，乌龟总是把家背在背上。无论它多么努力，都不能离开自己的家。人们说，那是朱庇特对它的惩罚，因为它又懒又宅，即便是特意邀请它去参加朱庇特的婚礼，它也断然拒绝了。
After many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that wedding. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise felt very sad and discontented. He wanted to see the world too, and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs that could hardly drag him along.
很多年过后，乌龟就后悔当初没有去参加朱庇特的婚礼。每当看着鸟儿们欢快地翱翔，野兔和花栗鼠等动物迅捷地跳跃，就十分渴望去看看这个世界，这令它伤感而忧郁。它也想去看看这个世界，但背上的家、短小的腿，都令它寸步难行。
One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.
有一天，它遇到了两只鸭子，就向它们倾诉了自己的苦恼。
"We can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold of this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or you will be sorry."
“我们可以带你去看世界，”鸭鸭们说道。“用你的牙齿紧紧咬住这根棍子，我们飞着把你带到空中，那样你就可以鸟瞰整个世界了。但是，请务必不要说话，否则你会后悔的。”
The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the clouds.
乌龟对此高兴极了。它紧紧咬住棍子，两只鸭子各持一端，就飞上云霄了。
Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried:
就在那时，一只乌鸦碰巧飞过。它对这奇特的现象感到惊诧，就惊叹道：
"This must surely be the King of Tortoises!"
“这定是万龟之王！”
"Why certainly——" began the Tortoise.
“嚄，当然了……”乌龟说道。
But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground, where he was dashed to pieces on a rock.
可是，正当它愚蠢地开口说话时，它松开了自己口中的棍子，就从高空坠落到地面，在一块石头上摔了个粉碎。
Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune
寓意：好奇害死猫。（直译为：愚蠢的好奇心和虚荣心往往导致不幸）