伊索寓言精读系列（二）

这段时间整理了四个版本的伊索影音资料，今天在 Windows 8 中发现了350集的中文版本，专业演播，动听配乐。
试听了前六节，以下四个故事印象深刻。

• 爱开玩笑的牧人
• 被当做狮子的驴
• 蝙蝠和黄鼠狼
• 北风和太阳

这里未录的第一个故事，名《宙斯和阿波罗》，最初未完全明白，原来是警示人们不要与强者争先斗胜，岂止徒劳无功，且将贻笑大方。《赫耳墨斯和忒瑞西阿斯》适用于鼠窃狗盗之辈，转述的难道有些大。
The Joking Shepherd
A shepherd who led his flock rather far from the village frequently indulged in the following practical joke. He called to the people of the village to help him, crying that wolves were attacking his sheep. Two or three times the villagers were alarmed and rushed forth, then returned home having been fooled. But, in the end, it happened that some wolves really did appear. While they ravaged the flock, the shepherd called out for help to the villagers. But they, imagining that he was hoaxing them as usual, didn’t bother with him. So it was that he lost his sheep.
This fable shows that liars gain only one thing, which is not to be believed even when they tell the truth.
The Ass Who Was Taken for a Lion
An ass, clothed in the skin of a lion, passed himself off in the eyes of everyone as a lion, and made everyone flee from him, both men and animals. But the wind came along and blew off the lion’s skin, leaving him naked and exposed. Everyone then fell upon him when they saw this, and beat him with sticks and clubs.
Be poor and ordinary. Don’t have pretensions to wealth or you will be exposed to ridicule and danger. For we cannot adapt ourselves to that which is alien to us.
The Bat and the House-ferrets
A bat fell to the ground and was caught by a house-ferret. Realizing that she was on the point of being killed, she begged for her life. The house-ferret said to her that she couldn’t let her go, for ferrets were supposed to be natural enemies to all birds. The bat replied that she herself was not a bird, but a mouse. She managed to extricate herself from her danger by this means.
Eventually, falling a second time, the bat was caught by another house-ferret. Again she pleaded to the ferret not to eat her. The second ferret declared that she absolutely detested all mice. But the bat positively affirmed that she was not a mouse but a bat. And so she was released again.
And that was how she saved herself from death twice by a mere change of name.
This fable shows that it is not always necessary to confine ourselves to the same tactics. But, on the contrary, if we are adaptable to circumstances we can better escape danger.
The North Wind and the Sun
The North Wind [Boreas] and the Sun had a contest of strength. They decided to allot the palm of victory to whichever of them could strip the clothes off a traveller.
The North Wind tried first. He blew violently. As the man clung on to his clothes, the North Wind attacked him with greater force. But the man, uncomfortable from the cold, put on more clothes. So, disheartened, the North Wind left him to the Sun.
The Sun now shone moderately, and the man removed his extra cloak [himation]. Then the Sun darted beams which were more scorching until the man, not being able to withstand the heat, took off his clothes and went to take a dip in a nearby river.
This fable shows that persuasion is often more effective than violence.