格列佛游记——雄鸡与狐狸-2

While he was taking a bath, a strange animal came out of the bushes. It had yellowish-red fur, a long nose and a thick tail. It was just like the animal in his dream. It was a sly old fox.

　　Chanticleer jumped up in surprise. But the fox said in a mild voice, "Don't be afraid of me. I only want to make friends with you. I knew your parents well. I played with them. Your father had the most beautiful voice. Your voice may be the same as your father's. Please let me hear your pretty voice."

　　Chanticleer was quite flattered by his sweet words. He stretched out his neck, shut his eyes and began to crow. Of course, the fox jumped into the air and caught Chanticleer by the neck. He ran into the woods with Chanticleer in his mouth.

　　Just then the hens saw the fox running with Chanticleer in his mouth. They began to shout. The old woman heard their cries and rushed out of the house into the yard.

　　"What's the matter?" she cried.

　　"Oh, the fox has caught Chanticleer. Help him! Help him!"

　　The farmers stopped their work and came out to help her. They kept looking for Chanticleer, but they couldn't find him.

　　The fox and Chanticleer were in the bushes. Poor Chanticleer waited for a chance to escape. An idea came to his mind.

　　Chanticleer said to the fox, "Those silly people can't catch up with you. You can run faster than they." The fox was quite flattered by Chanticleer's praise, too. "Before you eat me, please listen to my crowing once more," said Chanticleer.

　　"Yes, I'll listen to you," answered the fox. Chanticleer fluttered his wings and flew high up on a branch of a tree, and crowed:

　　"Cock-a-doodle-doo, Cock-a-doodle-doo.

　　I know how to flatter."

　　The old woman and the farmers heard his voice, and rushed to help Chanticleer. The fox knew that he had been fooled by his flattery. The fox ran away as quickly as he could.

　　Chanticleer was saved. He said to himself, "I'll never crow with my eyes shut again, and I must beware of sly flattery."

　　正当他在沐浴时，一只奇怪的动物由矮树丛中走出来。那动物的皮毛红里透黄，鼻子长长的，尾巴粗粗的。一如他梦里所见，那是一只狡猾的老狐狸。

　　强啼克利尔吃惊地跳了起来。但那狐狸却柔声说道：『别怕，我只想和你交朋友。我和你父母很熟。过去我常和他们一起玩。令尊的啼声最美了。你的声音可能也和他的一样。请让我听听你美妙的声音吧。』

　　强啼克利尔被狐狸的甜言蜜语赞美得乐昏了头。于是他伸长脖子闭上双眼，开始啼叫。当然，这时狐狸一跃而上，咬住了强啼克利尔的脖子。他口中叼着强啼克利尔跑向林中。

　　就在这时母鸡们看到狐狸叼着强啼克利尔在跑着。她们开始大叫起来。老婆婆听到她们的叫声，便由屋内冲到院子。

　　『发生什幺事了？』她问道。

　　母鸡回答说：『噢，狐狸把强啼克利尔抓走了。快救他！快救他！』

　　农夫们放下工作，前来帮助她。他们到处找强啼克利尔，但却找不到。

　　此刻狐狸正与强啼克利尔在矮树丛中。可怜的强啼克利尔正在伺机脱逃。忽然他灵机一动。

　　于是他对狐狸说：『那些愚蠢的人根本追不上你。因为你跑得比他们快多了。』这次狐狸也被强啼克利尔捧得乐昏了头。强啼克利尔说：『在你吃掉我之前，请再听一次我的叫声吧。』

　　狐狸回答说：『好啊，我就再听你叫一次。』强啼克利尔鼓动双翅，飞上枝头高叫起来：

　　『喔── 喔──喔──，喔──喔──喔。我知道怎样奉承别人了。』

　　老婆婆和农夫们听到了他的声音，便赶到那里救出了强啼克利尔。狐狸知道它被公鸡的奉承耍了，只得尽快地逃走。

　　强啼克利尔获救后，自言自语地说：『今后我啼叫时绝不再闭眼，而且我必须小心提防狡猾的奉承。』