1、Aesops FablesThe Owl is a very wise bird;and once,long ago,when the first oak sprouted in the forest,shecalled all the other Birds together and said tothem,You see this tiny tree?猫头鹰是一种非常聪明的鸟。很久以前，第一只猫头鹰开始在森林里扎根繁衍时，她召集起所有的鸟类，对他们说：“你们看到这棵小树了吗？If you take my advice,you will destroy it nowwhen it is sm
2、all:for when it grows big,themistletoe will appear upon it,from whichbirdlime will be prepared for yourdestruction.要是愿意听从我的建议，在它还没长成大树之前，就先毁掉它。因为当它长成参天大树之后，就会出现槲寄生，继而你们就等着被专门捕鸟的粘圈毁灭吧。Again,when the first flax was sown,she saidto them,Go and eat up that seed,for it is theseed of the flax,out of which
3、 men will one daymake nets to catch you.当亚麻种子第一次出现在森林里时，她又对鸟儿们说：“去吃掉那些种子，因为这是亚麻种子，要是没有亚麻，人类就无法织网来捕鸟了。”Once more,when she saw the first archer,shewarned the Birds that he was their deadlyenemy,who would wing his arrows with theirown feathers and shoot them.But they tookno notice of what she said:in f
4、act,theythought she was rather mad,and laughed ather.还有一次，当她第一次看到弓箭手时，就提醒鸟儿们注意这是它们的死敌，因为人们会用带有鸟类羽毛的箭来射死鸟类。但是，鸟儿们并没有将她的话放在心上，正相反，鸟儿们还嘲笑她是个疯子。When,however,everything turned out as shehad foretold,they changed their minds andconceived a great respect for her wisdom.然而，当事实正如猫头鹰预言的那样依次出现时，鸟儿们开始改变自己的思想了，并且大大佩服并赞赏猫头鹰的智慧。Hence,whenever she appears,the Birds attendupon her in the hope of hearing somethingthat may be for their good.She,however,gives them advice no longer,but sits mopingand pondering on the folly of her kind.由此，只要猫头鹰一出现，鸟儿们就会趋之若鹜，想听到一些对自己有益的忠言。不过，猫头鹰已经不再提出忠告，而只是百无聊赖地坐在那里，沉浸在自己心中的遐想之中。
