The Mice And The Weasels

老鼠和黃鼠狼

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.

黃鼠狼和老鼠之間，一直在打仗。每次戰爭中，黃鼠狼總是取得勝利，並捕獲很多老鼠作為次日的晚宴。絕望的老鼠召開了一次議會，會議認為，老鼠大軍之所以屢屢失敗，都是因為它們沒有領導者。於是，它們就從最能幹的老鼠中選出了一些擔任將軍和指揮官的角色。

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.

這些領導者為了在職級上與普通老鼠區別出來，就高傲地用羽毛或稻草製作了高大的頭冠飾品綁在自己頭頂。然後，老鼠大軍經過長足的準備，萬事俱備、整裝待發，就向黃鼠狼發起了挑戰。

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.

黃鼠狼們興奮地接受了這個挑戰，對它們來說，只要一頓盛宴近在咫尺，就時時刻刻可以作戰。黃鼠狼大軍迅速出擊，不久老鼠們就潰不成軍放棄了抵抗，紛紛逃命去了。普通的老鼠輕而易舉地就鑽進了洞裡，而那些老鼠領導層則由於高大的頭飾根本就無法擠過那狹小的洞口，它們全部落入飢腸轆轆的黃鼠狼口中。

Greatness has its penalties.

寓意：光環也有缺憾。

詞彙註解

1、up in arms 竭力反對、激烈地抗議

2、carry off 贏得、獲得

3、eminent adj. /ˈemɪnənt/ 著名的、傑出的

【例】an eminent architect 著名的建築師；a man of eminent good sense 極其明智的人

4、lofty adj. /ˈlɒfti/ 高聳的

【例】lofty ceilings/rooms/towers 高高的頂棚；屋頂高的房間；高聳的塔樓

5、crest n./krɛst/ 頂峰、鳥冠

6、ornament n. /ˈɔːnəmənt/ 裝飾