The Fox and the Crow
狐狸和乌鸦
One morning a Fox was walking through the woods looking for something tasty to eat for his breakfast when his nose picked up a scent - a scent of something very interesting. He stood still and sniffed the air.
一天早上，一只狐狸正在树林里寻找好吃的东西作为早餐，这时他的鼻子闻到了一种气味——一种非常有趣的气味。他一动不动地站着，嗅着空气。
‘Cheese,’ he said. ‘I smell cheese. Now why would there be cheese in the middle of a wood like this?’
“奶酪，”他说我闻到奶酪的味道。为什么在这样的树林中间会有奶酪呢？
The Fox didn’t have to wait long to find out because there sitting on a branch high up in a tree sat a crow and in the crow’s beak was the biggest piece of cheese he’d ever seen.
狐狸没等多久就找到了答案，因为树上高高的树枝上坐着一只乌鸦，乌鸦的嘴里有他见过的最大的一块奶酪。
Now the Fox loved cheese more than anything in the whole world and he decided that come what may he would have that piece of cheese for himself.
现在狐狸最喜欢奶酪了，他决定不管发生什么事，他都会把那块奶酪留给自己。
‘Morning Mr Crow,’ he said. ‘Why don’t you come down and have a little chat.’
“早上好，克劳先生，”他说你为什么不下来聊聊呢？”
The Crow didn’t reply. He just sat on his branch and looked down at the Fox.
乌鸦没有回答。他只是坐在树枝上，低头看着狐狸。
‘He must think I’m stupid,’ thought the Crow to himself. ‘That fox is after my cheese. If I fly down there he’ll jump on me and gobble me up first and then the cheese.
“他一定认为我很蠢，”乌鸦想那只狐狸在追我的奶酪。如果我飞到那里，他会跳到我身上，先把我吃掉，然后再把奶酪吃掉。
Foxes can’t climb trees so I’ll just sit up here and enjoy my piece of cheese.’
狐狸不会爬树，所以我就坐在这里享受我的奶酪
The Crow was just about to swallow his lump of cheese when the Fox said.
乌鸦正要吞下一块奶酪，狐狸说。
‘That cheese looks a bit mouldy to me. I wouldn’t eat it if I were you. Mouldy cheese is very very dangerous. You could easily get ill from bad cheese. If I were you I’d be on the safe side and just drop that cheese right now.’
“我觉得那奶酪有点发霉。如果我是你，我就不会吃。发霉的奶酪非常危险。坏奶酪很容易让你生病。如果我是你，我会出于安全考虑，现在就把奶酪扔了。”
‘Oh no,’ thought the Crow. ‘I’m not falling for that. There’s nothing wrong with this cheese. I found it fresh this morning. It smells wonderful and I’m going to eat it right now.’
“哦，不，”乌鸦想我才不信呢。这奶酪没有问题。今天早上我发现它很新鲜。它闻起来好香，我现在就要吃了。”
The Crow looked straight at the Fox and waggled his piece of cheese as if to say ‘Look what I’ve got! Aren’t I the lucky one!’
乌鸦直直地望着狐狸，摇着他的一块奶酪，好像在说：“看我有什么！”！我不是幸运儿吗！”
‘Right,’ thought the Fox. ‘This Crow isn’t quite as stupid as he looks. I’m going to have to try something else.’
“是的，”狐狸想这只乌鸦并不像看上去那么笨。我得试试别的东西了。”
‘You know, Mr Crow,’ said the Fox, ‘you really do have the most lovely feathers.’
“你知道，克劳先生，”狐狸说，“你的羽毛真的是最可爱的。”
The Crow smiled to himself. He was rather proud of his sleek black feathers. The Fox was right. They were rather lovely.
乌鸦对自己笑了。他为自己光滑的黑色羽毛感到自豪。狐狸是对的。他们相当可爱。
‘And your head,’ said the Fox. ‘Your head is very fine indeed. Makes you look fierce...but wise at the same time.’
“还有你的头，”狐狸说你的头真的很好。让你看起来很凶…但同时也是明智的。”
‘Right again,’ thought the Crow. ‘That Fox knows what he’s talking about because I do look fierce... and I am very very wise.’
“又对了，”乌鸦想那只狐狸知道他在说什么因为我看起来很凶...我非常非常聪明。”
‘And I bet you’ve got the most beautiful singing voice too,’ said the Fox. ‘I can tell just by looking at you. I mean all crows are good singers...’
“我敢打赌你也有最美的歌声，”狐狸说我看你就知道了。我是说所有的乌鸦都是好歌手…”
The Crow nodded.
乌鸦点点头。
‘And I bet you’re the best singer out of all the crows.’
“我打赌你是所有乌鸦中最好的歌手。”
The Crow nodded again.
乌鸦再次点头。
‘See, I can tell you’re a great singer just by looking at you. Oh how I’d love to hear you sing. Just once. That’s all I ask. Just one little song would make me so happy.’
“看，我一眼就能看出你是个很棒的歌手。哦，我多么想听你唱歌。就一次。这就是我的全部要求。只要唱一首小歌，我就会很高兴”
The Crow’s mind was racing as the Fox started to walk away.
狐狸开始走开时，乌鸦的心在飞快地跳动。
‘Oh well I see I’m not in luck today,’ sighed the Fox. ‘Suppose I’ll just have to go and listen to a boring old sky lark...or nightingale...’
“哦，我知道我今天运气不好，”狐狸叹息道假设我得去听一首无聊的老歌…或者夜莺…”
The crow thought to himself. ‘The Fox is right. I’m a wonderful singer. Much better than those boring nightingales...and larks...very over-rated...I shall sing. I shall sing for the Fox right now.’
乌鸦心想“狐狸是对的。我是个很棒的歌手。比那些无聊的夜莺好多了…还有云雀…被高估了…我要唱歌。我现在就给狐狸唱歌。”
As the crow opened his beak and started to sing...the piece of cheese fell to the ground.
当乌鸦张开嘴开始唱歌时…那块奶酪掉到了地上。
The Fox licked his lips. ‘Thank you Mr Crow,’ he said. ‘You can stop singing now.
狐狸舔了舔嘴唇“谢谢你，克劳先生，”他说你现在可以停止唱歌了。
That horrible sound’s spoiling my breakfast.’
“那可怕的声音把我的早餐弄坏了。”
‘But you said you loved to hear a crow sing.’
“但你说你喜欢听乌鸦唱歌。”
‘Never believe what people tell you when they’re trying to steal your cheese,’ said the Fox... and he winked at the crow as he gobbled up the last little bit.
狐狸说：“当人们试图偷你的奶酪时，千万不要相信他们对你说的话。”…当乌鸦狼吞虎咽地吃下最后一点的时候，他对它眨了眨眼。