6 THE MICE IN COUNCIL 老鼠开会

THE MICE IN COUNCIL 老鼠开会

THE MICE IN COUNCIL

Once upon a time all the Mice met together in Council, and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions had been debated, a Mouse of some standing and experience got up and said, "I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach." This proposal was warmly applauded, and it had been already decided to adopt it, when an old Mouse got upon his feet and said, "I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one: but may I ask who is going to bell the cat?

老鼠开会

从前，所有的老鼠聚集在一起，开会商讨免受猫攻击的良策。几个建议相继被否决之后，一只很有威望且经验丰富的老鼠站起来，说：“我忽然想到一个办法，可以确保大家未来的安全，假如你们赞成的话，我们就这么办。这个办法是，我们应该在敌人的脖子上系上一个铃铛，猫走路时发出的叮当声，就会警告我们——猫要来了。”他的提议受到大家的赞同，都决定采用这个办法，就在这时，一只年长的老鼠伸出他的前爪，说：“我也赞同这个绝妙的好办法，但是，我想问一下，谁去给猫系铃铛呢？”

1. debat： 辩论，争论，讨论

2. tinkling : 发丁当声

3. applaud：赞同；称赞；向…喝彩

4. admirable：令人钦佩的；极好的；值得赞扬的