The Rat And The Elephant

老鼠和大象

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

A Rat was traveling along the King's highway. He was a very proud Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Rats have. As Mr. Rat walked along—he kept mostly to the ditch—he noticed a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand procession came in view. It was the King and his retinue.

一只老鼠正沿着国王专线旅行。考虑到它那娇小的身材和老鼠们都享有的坏名声，这只老鼠过于骄傲了。当这位老鼠先生紧紧贴着路边的沟渠走着的时候，它注意到，路面上升起了一阵骚乱，紧接着，一支盛大的游行队伍映入眼帘。那正是国王和他的随从。

The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous trappings. With the King in his luxurious howdah were the royal Dog and Cat. A great crowd of people followed the procession. They were so taken up with admiration of the Elephant, that the Rat was not noticed. His pride was hurt.

国王骑在一头大象的背上，象背上装饰着十分华丽的服饰。奢华的象轿里陪着国王的是皇室猫狗。相当多的一群人紧跟在游行队伍后面。人们的注意力完全落在了对大象的敬仰上，丝毫没有主要到这只小老鼠。这伤了它的自尊。

"What fools!" he cried. "Look at me, and you will soon forget that clumsy Elephant! Is it his great size that makes your eyes pop out? Or is it his wrinkled hide? Why, I have eyes and ears and as many legs as he! I am of just as much importance, and"—

“都是傻瓜蛋！”它扯着嗓门吼叫着。“看看我，你们马上就会忘了那笨拙的大象！让你们的眼珠子都掉出来的是它那巨大的身材，还是它那满身的皱纹？哎呀，我也跟它一样眼耳俱全，不缺胳膊不缺腿！我也和它一样重要，并且”——

But just then the royal Cat spied him, and the next instant, the Rat knew he was not quite so important as an Elephant.

突然，皇家猫猫注意到了它，一瞬间，老鼠就明白了它根本没有大象那么重要。

A resemblance to the great in some things does not make us great.

寓意：在某些事情上与伟人相似并不会使我们变得伟大。