丘比特和绵羊的故事
A Sheep was once forced to submit to much harm from the other animals. He therefore appeared before Jupiter, and begged him to lessen his misery.绵羊曾经一度被迫忍受别的动物对它造成的诸多伤害。终于,它来见丘比特,恳求他为自己减轻痛苦。
Jupiter appeared willing, and said to the Sheep, " I see plainly, my pious creature, that I have created you too defenseless . Now choose how I had best remedy this fault. Shall I arm your jaws with terrible fangs and your feet with claws?"
丘比特看上去乐意帮忙,他对绵羊说:“我和清楚,我虔诚的小东西,我创造的你太没有防御能力了。现在你可以选择让我怎样来弥补自己的过失。我让你的上下颚长上尖牙,脚上长出利爪,好吗?”
"O, no! " exclaimed the Sheep, " I will have nothing in common with the beasts of prey."
“噢,不!”绵羊惊叫道,“我不愿意和掠食的野兽有任何相同之处。”
"Or," said Jupiter, " Shall I make your bite poisonous?"
“要不然,”丘比特说,“让你被咬的动物中毒?”
"Alas!" replied the Sheep, " the poisonous snakes are so sadly detested."
“哎呀!”绵羊回答说,“毒蛇可是让人深恶痛绝的。”
" Well, what shall I do ?Shall I plant horns on your forehead, and give strength to your neck?"
“那么,怎么办呢?我让你的头上长出角来,让你的脖颈变得有劲儿,行吗?”
"Nor that, gracious father; I should then butt like the goat."
“那也不行,我的天父,那样我就会像山羊一样用头去抵撞别人的。”
"At the same time you would be able to injure others, if I gave you the means of defending yourself."
“一旦我给了你自卫的武器,你就具有了伤害别人的能力。”
"Should I, indeed? " sighed the Sheep. "Oh! Then leave me, merciful father, as I am. For the power of injuring would, I am fearful, awake the desire of doing so; and it is better to suffer harm, than to inflict it."
“真的会那样吗?”绵羊叹息道,“唉!那么仁慈的天父,你就让我保持原样吧。因为,我担心有了伤害别人的能力,就会引发起那样去做的念头。自己忍受伤害总比给别人造成伤害要好呀。”
Jupiter blessed the pious Sheep, who ceased from that moment his complaints.
丘比特为这只虔诚的绵羊祝福,绵羊此后再也不抱怨了。