那些給我智慧和勇氣的寓言故事67:青蛙和他們的王國
Once upon a time the Frogs decided to ask Jupiter, the king of the gods, for a King of their own. Jupiter was amused.
從前，青蛙們向衆神之王丘比特請求，給他們分派一個國王。丘比特覺得很可笑。"Here you are," he said, throwing a log of wood with a splash into the lake where they lived. " Here is a king for you."
“給你們，” 他說着向青蛙們生活的湖裏撲通一聲拋下一根圓木。“ 這就是你們的國王。”The Frogs dived under the water in fright, burrowing as deep into the mud as they could. After a time one of the braver ones swam cautiously to the surface to take a look at the new King.
青蛙們驚恐地潛到水裏，儘量往泥土深處藏。過了一會兒，一隻勇敢的青蛙小心翼翼地游到水面，來看看他們的新國王。
"He looks very quite,: said the Frog. :Perhaps he is asleep."
"看起來他很安靜，“這隻青蛙說，”可能是睡着了吧。The log stayed quite still on the smooth lake and one by one more Frogs came up to take a look.
圓木靜靜地浮在平靜的湖面上。青蛙們紛紛來看一看他們的新國王。They swam closer and closer until at last they leaped right on top of it, quite forgetting that they had been frightened.
他們越遊越近，最後竟跳到圓木上，完全忘記了他們最初的驚恐。Young Frogs began to use it as a diving board; old Frogs sat sunning themselves on it; mother Frogs taught their tadpoles their first, wobbly jumps on its bark.
小青蛙們用它來作跳板；老青蛙坐在上面曬太陽；青蛙媽媽在樹皮上教小蝌蚪們最基本的搖擺式跳躍的動作。One day an old Frog said: "This is a dull king of a King, you know. I thought we wanted someone to keep us in order. This one just lies around and lets us do what we please."
有一天，一隻老青蛙說：”這個國王太遲鈍了，我想，我們需要的是一個使我們守秩序的國王。這個國王只是躺在那兒，任由我們隨意活動。“So the Frogs went once more to Jupiter.
於是，青蛙們又去找丘比特"Can't you give us a better King?" they asked. "Someone who will be a bit more active than the one you sent before?"
“您不能給我們派一個更好的國王嗎？”他們問，“派一個比先前您派去的那個更活躍的國王。”Jupiter was not in a good mood.
丘比特情緒不好。"Silly little animals, "he thought . "I shall give them just what they deserve this time."
“愚蠢的小動物，”他心想，“這回我要把他們應得的給他們。”He sent a long-legged stork to the lake.
他派了一隻長腳鶴到湖裏去。The Frogs were very impressed and crowded admiringly round.
青蛙對鶴的印象極爲深刻，他們羨慕地圍攏過來。But before they could even begin the speeches of welcome they had prepared, the stork stuck his long beak into the water and began to gobble up as many Frogs as he could see.
可是，還沒等他們致準備好了的歡迎詞，鶴就把他的長嘴伸進水了，看見青蛙就大口地吞食。"That's not what we meant at all," gasped the Frogs as they dived once more into the mud. But this time Jupiter would not listen.
“這根本不是我們的本意，”青蛙們喘着氣，又鑽進了泥土裏。可是，這一次，丘比特不再理會他們了。"I only gave you what you asked for," he said, "Perhaps it will teach you not to complain about things so much."
“我只是給了你們所要求的，”他說，“也許這會給你們一個教訓，不要抱怨太多。”
