伊索寓言中英文对照(22)

The Fawn and His Father小鹿与他的父亲

A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Father, "You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Father! do the hounds frighten you so?" He smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can."

No arguments will give courage to the coward. 有一天，小鹿对公鹿说道，“父亲，你怎么还怕狗呢？你比他高大，比他跑得更快，而 且还有很大的角用于自卫。”公鹿笑着说：“孩儿，你说得都对，可我只知道一点，一听到 狗的叫声，我就会不由自主地立刻逃跑。”

这故事说明，激励那些天生胆小、软弱的人毫无用处。