伊索寓言双语故事71：想要一个国王的青蛙

The Frogs Who Wished For A King

欲王之蛙

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

The Frogs were tired of governing themselves. They had so much freedom that it had spoiled them, and they did nothing but sit around croaking in a bored manner and wishing for a government that could entertain them with the pomp and display of royalty, and rule them in a way to make them know they were being ruled. No milk and water government for them, they declared. So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.

青蛙们厌烦了无人管控的生活。它们自由无度，浪费了大把好时光，整日整日地什么都不做，就知道无所事事地呱呱呱乱叫，于是，它们就希望有一个政府能用皇室贵族的盛大场面和绝妙表演来为自己的生活增光添彩，而且还要以一种让它们知道自己被管理的方式去管理它们。它们声明并不需要为他们提供牛奶和水。就这样，它们派出使者禀告丘比特，希望能给它们一个国外。

Jupiter saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to keep them quiet and make them think they had a king he threw down a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and grasses, thinking the new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time the younger Frogs were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made him a meeting place, where they complained loudly to Jupiter about the government.

丘比特很清楚青蛙这种动物既淳朴又憨傻，但是为了安抚它们并让它们以为自己有了国王，便扔给了它们一个巨大的木头，这块原木头掉进水里的时候，溅起了不小的水花。青蛙们藏在芦苇和草丛间，以为这新国王会是很可怕的巨人。不过，它们很快便发现，这木头国王是多么的温和与乏味。不久之后，小青蛙们便用它当作了一个跳水台，而老青蛙们则把它当作议会场，在那里它们向丘比特大声地抱怨这所谓的管理。

To teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the gods now sent a Crane to be king of Frogland. The Crane proved to be a very different sort of king from old King Log. He gobbled up the poor Frogs right and left and they soon saw what fools they had been. In mournful croaks they begged Jupiter to take away the cruel tyrant before they should all be destroyed.

现在，为了好好教训一顿这些青蛙，诸神的统治者丘比特向青蛙大地上派出了一只白鹤作为国王。事实证明，可比起前任木头国王，白鹤国王可就非同凡响了。白鹤到处吞食这些可怜的青蛙，它们很快便明白了自己真是太愚蠢了。在一片悲伤的蛙鸣中，青蛙们乞求丘比特能够带走白鹤这残忍的暴君，以免遭受灭顶之灾。

"How now!" cried Jupiter， "Are you not yet content? You have what you asked for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your misfortunes."

“现在如何！”丘比特不耐烦地说道，“你们还不满意吗？你们已经得到自己想要的了，所以，你们的不幸只能怪你们自己。”

Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to change.

正所谓：先改善自己，再改善环境。