The Cat The Cock And The Young Mouse

猫、公鸡和小老鼠

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

A very young Mouse, who had never seen anything of the world, almost came to grief the very first time he ventured out.

一只非常年轻的老鼠，从来没有见过世界上的任何东西，第一次冒险出去的时候，就差点陷入绝望了。

And this is the story he told his mother about his adventures.

它把它的冒险故事一五一十地给它妈妈讲了。

"I was strolling along very peaceably when, just as I turned the corner into the next yard, I saw two strange creatures.

“当时我正悠闲地散着步，正当我拐过一个弯来到下一个院子里的时候，我看见了两个奇怪的东西。

One of them had a very kind and gracious look, but the other was the most fearful monster you can imagine.

其中一个长得非常和蔼可亲，而另一个则是你所能想象到的最可怕的怪物。

You should have seen him.

你真该看看它。

"On top of his head and in front of his neck hung pieces of raw red meat.

它的头顶和脖子前面下垂着几块光秃秃的红肉。

He walked about restlessly, tearing up the ground with his toes, and beating his arms savagely against his sides.

它不安地走来走去，用脚趾头刨着地面，两只胳膊猛烈地拍打着身体。

The moment he caught sight of me he opened his pointed mouth as if to swallow me, and then he let out a piercing roar that frightened me almost to death."

它一看见我就张开它那尖尖的嘴，好像要生吞了我，然后它发出一声刺耳的吼叫，把我吓得几乎要死。”

Can you guess who it was that our young Mouse was trying to describe to his mother?

你能猜到我们的小老鼠想向它妈妈描述的是谁吗?

It was nobody but the Barnyard Cock and the first one the little Mouse had ever seen.

小老鼠第一次所见到的正是农场里的那只大公鸡。

"If it had not been for that terrible monster," the Mouse went on, "I should have made the acquaintance of the pretty creature, who looked so good and gentle.

“如果没有那个可怕的怪物，”老鼠继续说，“我就会认识到一个美丽的动物了，它看起来是那么善良和温柔。

He had thick, velvety fur, a meek face, and a look that was very modest, though his eyes were bright and shining.

它有厚厚的天鹅绒般的皮毛，一张温顺的脸，尽管它的眼睛闪闪发光，但它看起来非常实诚。

As he looked at me he waved his fine long tail and smiled.

它看着我的时候，摇着它优美的长尾巴笑了。

"I am sure he was just about to speak to me when the monster I have told you about let out a screaming yell, and I ran for my life."

“我肯定它正要和我说话的时候，我刚才告诉你的那个怪物突然发出一声尖叫，我就只好赶紧逃命去了。”

"My son," said the Mother Mouse, "that gentle creature you saw was none other than the Cat.

“我的孩子，”老鼠妈妈说，“你看到的那个温柔的动物不是别人，正是那只猫。

Under his kindly appearance, he bears a grudge against every one of us.

在它和善的外表下，它对我们每个人都怀恨在心。

The other was nothing but a bird who wouldn't harm you in the least.

另一只不过是一只根本不会伤害你的鸟。

As for the Cat, he eats us.

至于那只猫，它会吃了我们。

So be thankful, my child, that you escaped with your life, and, as long as you live, never judge people by their looks."

所以，我的孩子，你应该心存感激，因为你逃过了一劫，而且，只要你活着，就永远不要以貌取人。”

Do not trust alone to outward appearances.

正所谓：知人知面不知心（直译为：不要只相信外表。）