鲁达 The Animals And The Plague
诸兽与瘟疫
by Aesop
选自《伊索寓言》
Once upon a time a severe plague raged among the animals. Many died, and those who lived were so ill, that they cared for neither food nor drink, and dragged themselves about listlessly. No longer could a fat young hen tempt Master Fox to dinner, nor a tender lamb rouse greedy Sir Wolf's appetite.
很久很久以前，动物世界里发生了一场十分严重的瘟疫。许多动物都因此丧命，那些生还的动物也十分虚弱，甚至于饮食不思了，它们就这样无精打采地游荡着。又肥又嫩的母鸡无法激起狐狸大师享用晚餐的念头，又脆又香的羔羊也无法调动大灰狼先生的胃口。
At last the Lion decided to call a council. When all the animals were gathered together he arose and said:
终于，狮王决定召开一次议会。当诸兽聚齐之时，它起身说道：
"Dear friends, I believe the gods have sent this plague upon us as a punishment for our sins. Therefore, the most guilty one of us must be offered in sacrifice. Perhaps we may thus obtain forgiveness and cure for all.
“亲爱的朋友们，我相信诸神之所以发动这场瘟疫，是为了对我们所犯的罪恶进行惩罚。因此，在我们当中，必须把恶贯满盈的那个祭祀给诸神。希望这样能够得到诸神的宽恕，并让大家摆脱瘟疫、身心痊愈。”
"I will confess all my sins first. I admit that I have been very greedy and have devoured many sheep. They had done me no harm. I have eaten goats and bulls and stags. To tell the truth, I even ate up a shepherd now and then.
“首先由我来忏悔自己所有的罪过。我承认自己向来贪婪无度，吃掉了很多羔羊，尽管它们对我并无恶意。我还吃掉了很多山羊、牛、鹿。老实说，我偶尔也会吃掉牧羊人。”
"Now, if I am the most guilty, I am ready to be sacrificed. But I think it best that each one confess his sins as I have done. Then we can decide in all justice who is the most guilty."
“那么，如果我确实是罪恶最深的，我已经准备好了把自己祭祀给诸神。但是我希望，在座的诸位，都能像我这样一一坦白。这样，我们就能十分公正地决断出谁是罪大恶极。”
"Your majesty," said the Fox, "you are too good. Can it be a crime to eat sheep, such stupid mutton heads? No, no, your majesty. You have done them great honor by eating them up.
“陛下，”狐狸大师说，“你太善良了。吃掉羊这种傻瓜一样的动物，怎么能算作是恶行呢？不算的，不算的，陛下。吃掉它们，是您授予它们的最高荣誉。”
"And so far as shepherds are concerned, we all know they belong to that puny race that pretends to be our masters."
“至于牧羊人，我们都知道他们那一族其实是微不足道的，还以为能控制得了我们。”
All the animals applauded the Fox loudly. Then, though the Tiger, the Bear, the Wolf, and all the savage beasts recited the most wicked deeds, all were excused and made to appear very saint-like and innocent.
狐狸的话赢得了诸兽的阵阵掌声。然后，老虎、熊、大灰狼等猛兽都一一例举了自己最恶劣的行径，却都被赦免了，并且还都看起来一副圣人般纯真的模样。
It was now the Ass's turn to confess.
现在，轮到驴子忏悔了
"I remember," he said guiltily, "that one day as I was passing a field belonging to some priests, I was so tempted by the tender grass and my hunger, that I could not resist nibbling a bit of it. I had no right to do it, I admit—"
“我记得，”它愧疚地说，“有一天，我在越过一片属于牧师们的天地的时候，因为我太饿了，那片绿草又那么鲜嫩，我就忍不住偷吃了点。我承认！我并没有权力那样做……”
A great uproar among the beasts interrupted him. Here was the culprit who had brought misfortune on all of them! What a horrible crime it was to eat grass that belonged to someone else! It was enough to hang anyone for, much more an Ass.
野兽们对此一片哗然，让它不得不停下来。原来这就是给它们带来痛苦和折磨的罪魁祸首！吃掉不属于自己的草，那可真是罪大恶极！任何犯下这种罪行的，都应当施以绞刑，哪怕它只是只驴！
Immediately they all fell upon him, the Wolf in the lead, and soon had made an end to him, sacrificing him to the gods then and there, and without the formality of an altar.
诸兽立马向驴扑去，领头的大灰狼很快结果了它，并当场就把驴祭祀给了诸神，尽管连个正式的祭坛都没有。
The weak are made to suffer for the misdeeds of the powerful.
正所谓：弱肉强食。
词汇注解：
1、listlessly adv. 无精打采地；冷淡地
2、devour v.（尤指因饥饿而）狼吞虎咽地吃光
3、stag n.鹿
4、shepherd n.牧羊人
5、puny adj.small and weak 弱小的；孱弱的
6、nibble v.小口咬，一点点地咬（食物）
7、culprit n. 犯人，罪犯
这是第七期《伊索寓言》双语故事分享，中文为本人所译，不当之处，敬请指正！
最后，感谢大家的阅读和关注，咱们下期再见^^
往期内容请戳：伊索寓言双语故事06：神使墨丘利与贫苦的樵夫