Every man should be content to mind his own business.
老鹰和寒鸦
The Eagle and the Jackdaw
老鹰从高高的悬崖上猛扑下来,在羊群中抓走了一只小羊羔。寒鸦看到老鹰这么容易就能抓到猎物,心里非常羡慕,就决定仿效他。于是,寒鸦大喊一声,就冲向羊群。不料羊毛把他的爪子缠住了,再也无法飞起来,只能徒劳地拍打翅膀。牧羊人一看就明白发生了什么事,立即赶来抓住了寒鸦。牧羊人把寒鸦的翅膀剪短,带回家给孩子当做玩伴。好奇的孩子们问:“这是什么鸟啊?”牧羊人回答说:“依我看,这是一只寒鸦,可是他把自己当做老鹰了!”
不自量力的结果是自取灭亡。
An Eagle,flying down from his perch on a lofty rock,seized upon a lamb and carried him aloft in his talons. A Jackdaw,who witnessed the capture of the lamb,was stirred with envy and determined to emulate the strength and flight of the Eagle. He flew around with a great whir of his wings and settled upon a large ram,with the intention of carrying him off,but his claws became entangled in the ram’s fleece and he was not able to release himself,although he fluttered with his feathers as much as he could. The shepherd,seeing what had happened,ran up and caught him. He at once clipped the Jackdaw’s wings,and taking him home at night,gave him to his children. On their saying,“Father,what kind of bird is it?” He replied,“To my certain knowledge he is a Daw;but he would like you to think an Eagle.”