《這則寓言是為你而寫，1836》

this Fable Is Intended for You, 1836

古代的智者巧妙地發現瞭如何在不直截了當地當面說出真相的情況下告訴人們真理。

wise men of ancient times ingeniously discovered how to tell people the truth without being blunt to their faces.

你看，他們在人們面前舉起一面魔鏡，在鏡子裡出現了各種各樣的動物和各種奇妙的事物，呈現出既有趣又有教育意義的畫面。

You see, they held a magic mirror before the people, in which all sorts of animals and various wondrous things appeared, producing amusing as well as instructive pictures.

他們把這些叫做寓言，無論動物們做出什麼明智或愚蠢的行為，人們都要想象自己處在它們的位置，從而想到：“這則寓言是為你而寫！”

they called these fables, and whatever wise or foolish deeds the animals performed, the people were to imagine themselves in their places and thereby think, “this fable is intended for you!” In this way no one’s feelings were hurt.

這樣就沒有人的感情會受到傷害。讓我們給你舉個例子。

Let us give you an example.

有兩座高山，每座山頂上都有一座城堡。在下面的山谷裡跑著一隻飢餓的狗，它沿著地面嗅著，好像在尋找老鼠或鵪鶉。

there were two high mountains, and at the top of each stood a castle. In the valley below ran a hungry dog, sniffing along the ground as if in search of mice or quail.

突然，從其中一座城堡裡傳來一聲喇叭聲，宣告用餐時間即將到來。

Suddenly a trumpet sounded from one of the castles, to announce that mealtime was approaching.

狗立刻開始往山上跑，希望能得到一份食物；但是當它跑到半山腰時，吹喇叭的人停止了吹奏，而另一座城堡的喇叭聲開始響起。

the dog immediately started running up the mountain, hoping to get his share; but when he was halfway up, the trumpeter ceased blowing, and a trumpet from the other castle menced.

“在這邊，”狗想，“我到達之前