雙語·《伊索寓言》 孔雀和朱諾

THE PEACOCK AND JUNO

The Peacock was greatly discontented because he had not a beautiful voice like the nightingale, and he went and complained to Juno about it. “The nightingale's song,” said he, “is the envy of all the birds; but whenever I utter a sound I become a laughing-stock.” The goddess tried to console him by saying, “You have not, it is true, the power of song, but then you far excel all the rest in beauty: your neck flashes like the emerald and your splendid tail is a marvel of gorgeous colour.” But the Peacock was not appeased. “What is the use,” said he, “of being beautiful, with a voice like mine?” Then Juno replied, with a shade of sternness in her tones, “Fate has allotted to all their destined gifts: to yourself beauty, to the eagle strength, to the nightingale song, and so on to all the rest in their degree; but you alone are dissatisfied with your portion. Make, then, no more complaints. For, if your present wish were granted, you would quickly find cause for fresh discontent.”

孔雀和朱諾

孔雀因?yàn)樽约旱穆曇舨蝗缫国L好聽而非常不滿，便去向朱諾抱怨?！耙国L的歌聲令所有鳥都妒忌，而我只要一發(fā)聲，就立刻淪為笑柄?！迸裨噲D安慰他：“你的確沒有動聽的歌聲，但你的美麗遠(yuǎn)勝其他鳥，你的脖子如祖母綠般閃耀，你多彩的尾羽繽紛琳瑯，簡直就是奇跡。”但是孔雀卻不滿意：“我這樣的聲音，有那么美麗又有什么用？”朱諾再開口時聲音中透著嚴(yán)厲：“命運(yùn)賜予眾生各自的天賦，給了你美麗，給了鷹力量，給了夜鶯歌聲，每人都有各自的份額，但是你卻不滿意自己分得的財富。不要再抱怨了。如果滿足了你現(xiàn)在的愿望，你很快便會生出其他不滿來的?！?/p>