向紅

A washer man had a donkey and a dog. Both the donkey and the dog helped his master in many ways. One night， a few thieves broke in the house of that washer man. The dog heard them and started barking. The washer man got up and so did the neighbors. “What is that？ A dog. Let us run，” said the thieves. They feared it would be dangerous. By that time， many people gathered1 in the street. They tried to run away but they were caught by the people.

有一個洗衣工養(yǎng)了一頭驢和一只狗，這頭驢和這只狗對于主人來說都大有用處。一天晚上，有幾個小偷潛入洗衣工的屋內(nèi)搶劫。狗聽到了動靜便開始吠。洗衣工和街坊鄰居們聽到狗叫聲都起來了。小偷們竊竊私語：“那是什么？是一只狗。我們快跑吧。”他們擔(dān)心事情不妙，已經(jīng)有很多人聚集在街上，當(dāng)他們正打算逃跑時，被人們抓住了。

The washer man said， “I am glad I had this dog in my house. I am sure the thieves would have looted2 me if my dog had not barked”. The washer man was highly proud of the dog. Everyone too praised3 the dog.

洗衣工夸贊道：“幸好家里養(yǎng)了這只狗。我肯定如果我的狗沒有叫，小偷就會把我家洗劫一空了?！毕匆鹿橛羞@只狗感到非常自豪，街上每個人都夸這只狗聰明。

From that day， the donkey started thinking， “The master thinks that the dog is a more useful animal than me.” The donkey decided， he will show his master， the washer man， that he too could be useful just like the dog. Few days passed. One night， it so happened， two thieves again entered the washer mans house. The thieves became aware of the animals， sit in that house. “We should be careful， friend！I have heard that a dog guards this house，” one thief said to the other.

從那天以后，驢就想：“主人認(rèn)為狗比我更有用?！彼?，驢決定讓主人知道它也能像狗一樣有用。幾天過去了，有一天夜晚，像上次一樣兩個小偷又潛入了這個洗衣工的家，這次他們非常小心蹲在屋里的狗。一個小偷對另一個說：“我們應(yīng)該小心點，兄弟！我聽說這個房子里養(yǎng)了一只狗?！?/p>

As the thieves peeped in， they saw the dog sitting just outside the main door. “It seems the dog is quite alert4，” said one thief.

小偷們往里偷看，看到那只狗正坐在大門外面。一個小偷說：“看起來那狗很警覺?！?/p>

“It is better to leave this house alone. We had better go at once，” the other thief said and the two thieves ran away.

另一個小偷說：“最好別進(jìn)去了，我們最好馬上離開?！庇谑莾蓚€小偷逃走了。

But unknown to the thieves， the donkey was watching all this. He thought， “It is a good opportunity for me to show my master that I too can be useful to him. The thieves have run away. If I start shouting， the master will think that I have driven the thieves away and out of this house.” And the foolish donkey started braying5 loudly.

但兩個小偷不知道的是，驢子目睹了這一切。它想：“這是我向主人展示我也有用的好機(jī)會?，F(xiàn)在小偷已經(jīng)逃跑了，如果此時我開始大叫，那么主人肯定會認(rèn)為是我把小偷趕出了這個房子?！庇谑牵薮赖捏H開始大聲嘶喊。

When the washer man heard the donkey bray at this odd6 hour， he got angry. He came out with a stick and thrashed7 the donkey. “This will teach you not to bray at night，” he screamed8. The donkey got all the thrashes in silence. It did not know what was taking place.

當(dāng)洗衣工聽到驢在這個異常的時間亂叫的時候，他非常生氣。于是，他拿著棍子把驢打了一頓，并大吼道：“這能教會你不要在晚上亂叫。”驢子默默地挨了打，但是它不知道為什么。

Just then， the dog came to the donkey and said， “It is better to do your duties than try to be like me.” The donkey knew that the dog was right. There after both the donkey and the dog remained peaceful.

就在這時，狗走到驢面前說：“其實你只需要做好職責(zé)之內(nèi)的事情就好，而不是學(xué)我。”驢覺得狗說的很有道理。自此之后，驢和狗便和平相處了下去。

Notes

1. gathered? v. 聚集;集中

2. loot? vt. 搶劫，洗劫;強(qiáng)奪

3. praise v. 稱贊，表揚(yáng)

4. alert? adj. 警惕的，警覺的

5. bray? ?vi. （驢）嘶叫

6. odd? ?adj. 古怪的; 不尋常的

7. thrash? vt. 打;使逆行

8. scream vt. 尖聲喊叫