丘比特和绵羊-两分钟英语故事翻译

　　Jupiter appeared willing, and said to the Sheep, " I see plainly, my pious creature, that I havecreated you too defenseless . Now choose how I had best remedy this fault. Shall I arm yourjaws with terrible fangs and your feet with claws?"

　　"O, no! " exclaimed the Sheep, " I will have nothing in common with the beasts of prey."

　　"Or," said Jupiter, " Shall I make your bite poisonous?"

　　"Alas!" replied the Sheep, " the poisonous snakes are so sadly detested."

　　" Well, what shall I do ?Shall I plant horns on your forehead, and give strength to your neck?"

　　"Nor that, gracious father; I should then butt like the goat."

　　"At the same time you would be able to injure others, if I gave you the means of defendingyourself."

　　"Should I, indeed? " sighed the Sheep. "Oh! Then leave me, merciful father, as I am. For thepower of injuring would, I am fearful, awake the desire of doing so; and it is better to sufferharm, than to inflict it."

　　Jupiter blessed the pious Sheep, who ceased from that moment his complaints.

　　绵羊曾经一度被迫忍受别的动物对它造成的诸多伤害。终于，它来见丘比特，恳求他为自己减轻痛苦。丘比特看上去乐意帮忙，他对绵羊说：“我和清楚，我虔诚的小东西，我创造的你太没有防御能力了。现在你可以选择让我怎样来弥补自己的过失。我让你的上下颚长上尖牙，脚上长出利爪，好吗？”“噢，不！”绵羊惊叫道，“我不愿意和掠食的野兽有任何相同之处。”“要不然，”丘比特说，“让你被咬的动物中毒？”“哎呀！”绵羊回答说，“毒蛇可是让人深恶痛绝的。”“那么，怎么办呢？我让你的头上长出角来，让你的脖颈变得有劲儿，行吗？”“那也不行，我的天父，那样我就会像山羊一样用头去抵撞别人的。”“一旦我给了你自卫的武器，你就具有了伤害别人的能力。”“真的会那样吗？”绵羊叹息道，“唉！那么仁慈的天父，你就让我保持原样吧。因为，我担心有了伤害别人的能力，就会引发起那样去做的念头。自己忍受伤害总比给别人造成伤害要好呀。”　丘比特为这只虔诚的绵羊祝福，绵羊此后再也不抱怨了。