The Eagle And The Jackdaw
老鹰和寒鸦
by Aesop
出自《伊索寓言》
An Eagle, swooping downon powerful wings, seized a lamb in her talons and made off with it to her nest.
一只老鹰，靠着它强壮的羽翼俯冲下来，用它的爪子抓住了一直羔羊，接着就带着猎物飞向了它的窝。
A Jackdaw saw the deed, and his silly head was filled with the idea that he was big and strong enough to do as the Eagle had done.
一只寒鸦见到老鹰这样做，便愚蠢地以为，自己的体型和力量也足以像老鹰那样去抓走一直羔羊。
So with much rustling of feathers and a fierce air, he came down swiftly on the back of a large Ram.
于是，它也急剧地扇动着翅膀，装作十分凶猛的样子，敏捷地飞到了一只大公羊的背上。
But when he tried to rise again he found that he could not get away, for his claws were tangled in the wool.
可是，当它再次试着飞起来的时候，发现自己根本就脱不了身，因为它的爪子被厚厚的羊毛给缠绕住了。
And so far was he from carrying away the Ram, that the Ram hardly noticed he was there.
并且随后都是它一直被公羊带着走，而那只公羊还没有意识到自己的背上竟然有只寒鸦。
The Shepherd saw the fluttering Jackdaw and at once guessed what had happened.
牧羊人看见了不停扇动翅膀的寒鸦，立马就猜到发生了什么。
Running up, he caught the bird and clipped its wings.
他立马赶过来，抓住了这只鸟并折断了它的双翼。
That evening he gave the Jackdaw to his children.
当天晚上，牧羊人就把这只寒鸦送给了他的孩子们。
"What a funny bird this is!" they said laughing, "what do you call it, father?"
“这鸟真有趣！”他们高兴地说道，“它叫什么名字，父亲？”
"That is a Jackdaw, my children. But if you should ask him, he would say he is an Eagle."
“这是一只寒鸦，我的孩子们。但是如果你问它自己的话，它会说自己是一只老鹰。”
Do not let your vanity make you overestimate your powers.
正所谓：不要夜郎自大而高估了自己的能力。
