中國寓言故事雙語版 第69期:螳螂捕蟬

Once, the King of the State of Wu wanted to invade the State of Chu.

一次，吳王要進攻楚國。

The King of Wu warned his ministers: "If anyone should dare to dissuade me from invading Chu again, I will put him to death."

吳王警告他的大臣們說: “有誰再敢來勸阻我進攻楚國，我就處死他。”

One young hanger-on of his wanted to dissuade him but didn't dare.

吳王的門客中有一個年青人，想去勸阻但又不敢。

He carried a slingshot, and for three consecutive days paced up and down in the King's back garden.

他懷裏揣着彈弓，一連三個早晨在吳工的後花園裏徘徊。

The dew wetted his clothes all through.

露水溼透了他的衣服。

One day, the King of Wu called him:"The dew has wetted your clothes to such a state.

一天，吳王叫住他:“露水把你的衣服溼成這個樣子。

Why should you bear such hardship?"

你何必吃這個苦呢?”

The young man replied: "There is a cicada on a tree in this garden.

年青人回答說: “這個園子裏，有一棵樹，樹上有一隻蟬。

The cicada is high above, chirping leisurely and taking in the dew freely, not knowing that a mantis is right behind it.

蟬高高在上，悠閒地叫着，自由自在地吸着露水，卻不知道有一隻蝗螂在它身後呢!

The mantis, pressing its body close in a concealed place, is intent on catching the cicada, not knowing that a siskin is hiding right behind it.

蝗螂把身子緊緊地貼在隱蔽的地方，只想去捕蟬，卻不知道有一隻黃雀早已躲在它的身後呢!

The siskin is stretching out its neck to peck at the mantis, not knowing that a man carrying a slingshot is under it.

黃雀正伸長了脖子想去啄蝗螂，卻不知道在它下面正有人拿着彈弓呢!

These three small creatures make every effort only to get the benefit before them but ignore entirely the disaster behind."

這三隻小生物，只是力求得到它們眼前的利益，卻全不管它們身後隱伏着禍患啊!”

Having heard the young man's words, the King of Wu suddenly saw the light and said: "What you said is right!"

吳王聽了年青人的話後，恍然大悟說: “你說得好啊!”

Consequently, the King of Wu dropped his plan to invade the State of Chu.

於是，吳王就不再進攻楚國了。