04 伊索寓言 城里老鼠和乡下老鼠 下：平凡又宁静的日子

It was late in theevening when the two crept into the city, and midnight when they reached thegreat house where the town mouse lived. 二只老鼠悄悄溜进城时天已很晚，半夜时分他们才到达城里老鼠住的那所大房子。

Here were couches ofcrimson velvet, carvings in ivory, everything, in short, that told of wealthand ease. 深红色天鹅绒的沙发，象牙雕刻… 等等，等等。简而言之，每样东西都表露出富足和安逸。

Onthe table were the remains of a splendid meal, and it was now the turn of thetown mouse to play the host: he ran to and fro to supply his friend’s wants,pressed dish upon dish and dainty upon dainty, and, as though he were waitingon a king, tasted every course before placing it before his rustic cousin.  桌上是一顿没吃完的高级大餐，现在轮到城里的老鼠来当主人了：他跑来跑去满足他朋友的需要，把一盘盘美味佳肴推荐给他，敦请他尝，还好像服侍国王似的，自己先把每道菜都尝一口，然后才摆在他的乡巴佬亲戚面前。

The country mouse, forhis part, tried to appear quite at home, and blessed the good fortune that hadbrought such a change in his way of life; 乡下老鼠则尽量想表现得和在家一般自在，且为带给他生活如此大变化的命运而感恩。【注：圣经中有Bless the Lord一说，意指感谢主的祝福。】

when, in the midst of hisenjoyment, as he was wondering how he could have been content with the poorfare he was used to at home, on a sudden the door opened and a party of ladiesand gentlemen, returning from the theatre, entered the room.正当他奇怪着自己以前怎么能够习惯家乡的粗茶淡饭时，突然，门开了，一群女士先生们走进了房间，他们刚从剧院回来。

Thetwo friends jumped from the table in the greatest fright, and hid themselves inthe first corner they could reach. When the room was quiet again they venturedto creep out, but the barking of dogs drove them back in still greater terrorthan before.   这一惊非同小可，那两个朋友吓得从桌子上跳下来，躲在离他们最近的一个角落里。当房间里又静下来时，他们冒险爬了出去，然而狗叫声又迫使他们后退回来，这一叫真是三魂掉了两魂半。

At length, when all thehousehold was asleep, the country mouse stole out from his hiding-place, and,bidding his host good-bye, whispered in his ear, 最后，当这家人都睡着了，乡下老鼠从他的藏身处溜了出来，向主人道别，在他耳边低声说：

 “My good friend, this fine mode of living maydo for those who like it; but give me barley bread in peace and security beforethe daintiest feast where Fear and Care lie in wait.” “我的好朋友，这种美好的生活方式对喜欢它的人来说，也许是合适的；但是，最美味的盛宴若有恐惧和忧虑相伴在侧，我还是选择安全的大麦面包吧。”

A humble lifewith peace and quiet is better than a splendid one with danger and risk.平凡又宁静的日子，胜过惊心动魄的人生。

上集翻译挑战答案： Do  you prefer daintyfare to poor fare?  你对了吗？

今日句型是：A is better thanB  ：A 比B 更好

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether heeats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.[Ecclesiastes-5：12]

劳碌的人不拘吃多吃少，睡得香甜；富足人的丰满，却不容他睡觉。[传道书-5：12]

Phrase for this story本集词组分享

首先公布上集翻译挑战答案： Do  you prefer daintyfare to poor fare?  你对了吗？

今日句型是：

A is better thanB  ：A 比B 更好

原文例句1：A humblelife with peace and quiet is better than asplendid one with danger and risk.平凡又宁静的日子，胜过惊心动魄的人生。

例句2： Simple furniture is better than couches ofcrimson velvet and carvings in ivory.简朴的家具比深红色天鹅绒的沙发和象牙雕刻更好。

翻译挑战：这些孤零零的岩石和树林比满是商店、马车和人的街道好。

箴言分享：

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether heeats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. [Ecclesiastes-5：12]

劳碌的人不拘吃多吃少，睡得香甜；富足人的丰满，却不容他睡觉。[传道书-5：12]