The Birds The Beasts And The Bat

飞禽野兽与蝙蝠

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

The Birds and the Beasts declared war against each other.

飞禽和野兽之间宣战了。

No compromise was possible, and so they went at it tooth and claw.

双方都不愿退让，战斗打得十分激烈。

It is said the quarrel grew out of the persecution the race of Geese suffered at the teeth of the Fox family.

据说，是鹅族不堪狐狸家族的尖牙迫害，而引发了这场争斗。

The Beasts, too, had cause for fight.

野兽们，也有战斗的理由。

The Eagle was constantly pouncing on the Hare, and the Owl dined daily on Mice.

老鹰总是猎食野兔，猫头鹰每天捕杀老鼠。

It was a terrible battle.

这是一场可怕的战斗

Many a Hare and many a Mouse died.

许多野兔和老鼠战死沙场。

Chickens and Geese fell by the score—and the victor always stopped for a feast.

鸡和鹅丧命的也不少——然而胜利者总会停下来饱餐一顿。

Now the Bat family had not openly joined either side.

目前蝙蝠家族并没有公开选边站队。

They were a very politic race.

它们这一族非常讲政治。

So when they saw the Birds getting the better of it, they were Birds for all there was in it.

因此，当他们看到飞禽们开始占据优势时，就全力支持鸟类。

But when the tide of battle turned, they immediately sided with the Beasts.

然而，当战场形势有利于野兽时，蝙蝠们又站在野兽一边。

When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed at the peace conference.

当战争结束的时候，和平会议上，双方就蝙蝠一族的行为进行了讨论。

Such deceit was unpardonable, and Birds and Beasts made common cause to drive out the Bats.

这种欺诈手段是不能够被原谅的，飞禽和野兽们达成了共识，驱逐了蝙蝠家族。

And since then the Bat family hides in dark towers and deserted ruins, flying out only in the night.

从那以后，蝙蝠们就躲藏在黑暗的塔楼和荒弃的废墟里，只在夜晚才敢飞出来。

The deceitful have no friends.

正所谓：得道多助，失道寡助。（直译为：骗子莫得朋友。）

词汇注解

1、tooth and claw 手爪并用、全力以赴

2、persecution n. /,pɝsɪ’kjʊʃən/ 迫害、烦扰

3、by the score 大量地

4、pounce v. /paʊns/ 猛扑

5、deceit n. /dɪˈsiːt/ 欺诈