老鼠和黄鼠狼
by Aesop
出自《伊索寓言》
The Weasels and the Mice were always up in arms against each other. In every battle the Weasels carried off the victory, as well as a large number of the Mice, which they ate for dinner next day. In despair the Mice called a council, and there it was decided that the Mouse army was always beaten because it had no leaders. So a large number of generals and commanders were appointed from among the most eminent Mice.
黄鼠狼和老鼠之间，一直在打仗。每次战争中，黄鼠狼总是取得胜利，并捕获很多老鼠作为次日的晚宴。绝望的老鼠召开了一次议会，会议认为，老鼠大军之所以屡屡失败，都是因为它们没有领导者。于是，它们就从最能干的老鼠中选出了一些担任将军和指挥官的角色。
To distinguish themselves from the soldiers in the ranks, the new leaders proudly bound on their heads lofty crests and ornaments of feathers or straw. Then after long preparation of the Mouse army in all the arts of war, they sent a challenge to the Weasels.
这些领导者为了在职级上与普通老鼠区别出来，就高傲地用羽毛或稻草制作了高大的头冠饰品绑在自己头顶。然后，老鼠大军经过长足的准备，万事俱备、整装待发，就向黄鼠狼发起了挑战。
The Weasels accepted the challenge with eagerness, for they were always ready for a fight when a meal was in sight. They immediately attacked the Mouse army in large numbers. Soon the Mouse line gave way before the attack and the whole army fled for cover. The privates easily slipped into their holes, but the Mouse leaders could not squeeze through the narrow openings because of their head-dresses. Not one escaped the teeth of the hungry Weasels.
黄鼠狼们兴奋地接受了这个挑战，对它们来说，只要一顿盛宴近在咫尺，就时时刻刻可以作战。黄鼠狼大军迅速出击，不久老鼠们就溃不成军放弃了抵抗，纷纷逃命去了。普通的老鼠轻而易举地就钻进了洞里，而那些老鼠领导层则由于高大的头饰根本就无法挤过那狭小的洞口，它们全部落入饥肠辘辘的黄鼠狼口中。
Greatness has its penalties.
寓意：光环也有缺憾。
词汇注解1、up in arms 竭力反对、激烈地抗议
2、carry off 赢得、获得
3、eminent adj. /ˈemɪnənt/ 著名的、杰出的
【例】an eminent architect 著名的建筑师；a man of eminent good sense 极其明智的人
4、lofty adj. /ˈlɒfti/ 高耸的
【例】lofty ceilings/rooms/towers 高高的顶棚；屋顶高的房间；高耸的塔楼
5、crest n./krɛst/ 顶峰、鸟冠
6、ornament n. /ˈɔːnəmənt/ 装饰
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