The Oak And The Reeds

橡树与芦苇

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

A Giant Oak stood near a brook in which grew some slender Reeds. When the wind blew, the great Oak stood proudly upright with its hundred arms uplifted to the sky. But the Reeds bowed low in the wind and sang a sad and mournful song.

一棵高大的橡树长在一条小溪旁，溪水里长着一些细长的芦苇。当风吹来的时候，大橡树就自豪地把它的枝叶伸向天空。而那些芦苇则在风中低着头，吟唱着婉转哀怨的歌。

"You have reason to complain," said the Oak. "The slightest breeze that ruffles the surface of the water makes you bow your heads, while I, the mighty Oak, stand upright and firm before the howling tempest."

“你可以埋怨，”橡树说。“即便是微风拂面，你也不得不低下头来，而我，伟大的橡树，即便北风怒号，也依然傲然挺立。”

"Do not worry about us," replied the Reeds. "The winds do not harm us. We bow before them and so we do not break. You, in all your pride and strength, have so far resisted their blows. But the end is coming."

“不必担心我们，”芦苇答道。“风儿不会伤害我们。我们在风的面前低头，就不会折断自己。而你，仗着自己的力量，到目前为止都成功抗拒了它们的侵袭。但是，末日就要来临了。”

As the Reeds spoke a great hurricane rushed out of the north. The Oak stood proudly and fought against the storm, while the yielding Reeds bowed low. The wind redoubled in fury, and all at once the great tree fell, torn up by the roots, and lay among the pitying Reeds.

正当芦苇言语的时候，一场超级龙卷风从北方呼啸而来。橡树傲然挺立着，抵抗着这场风暴，而那些柔软的芦苇则深深地低着头。风暴越刮越大，突然，大橡树倒下了，它被连根拔起，躺在那一片深表惋惜的芦苇之间。

Better to yield when it is folly to resist, than to resist stubbornly and be destroyed.

寓意：留得青山在，不怕没柴烧。