The Cat, the Partridge1 and the Hare2 猫、鹧鸪和野兔

陈佳

A long time ago， there lived a partridge in a safe and warm hollow3 under a tree. Unfortunately， there was no proper source4 of food available near his home. So， he decided to go out in search of a good source of food. He soon found out a field where there was enough supply of food， so he did not come back to his home for few days and ate to his hearts content every day.

While the partridge was enjoying himself in the field， a hare happened to see the partridges old home. He liked it very much and started living in it. One fine day， the partridge decided to go back to his old home again. He had now grown very fat because of a healthy diet. When he saw the hare comfortably living in his home， he asked him to move out immediately.

They had a long argument， but could not arrive on any decision. So， they both decided to contact a supposedly learned cat to solve their problem. The cat lived nearby. When the partridge and the hare got close to him， he decided to take advantage of the situation. He said， “My dear friends， I am so sorry. I am old and hard of hearing. Both of you come close to me and tell me your problem. I will do my best to help you out.” As soon as the partridge and the hare came near the cat， he killed them both and had a big meal.

This story teaches us that whenever two people have a fight， the third， the mediator， often takes advantage of the situation.

很久以前，有一只鷓鸪住在安全温暖的山谷里的一颗树下。不幸的是，他家附近没有合适的食物来源。所以，他决定出去寻找好的食物来源。他很快就找到了一块田地，那里有充足的食物，所以他几天没回窝，每天都吃得饱饱的。

正当鹧鸪在田里玩得很开心的时候，一只兔子碰巧看到了鹧鸪的旧窝。他非常喜欢它并开始住在里面。一个晴朗的日子，鹧鸪决定再次回到他的旧窝。因为吃得健康，他现在长得很胖了。当他看到兔子舒舒服服地住在他的旧窝里时，他叫他马上搬出去。

他们吵了很长时间，但未能作出任何决定。所以，他们俩决定联系一只据说很有学问的猫来解决他们的问题。那只猫住在附近。当鹧鸪和野兔走近他时，他决定利用这个机会。他说：“亲爱的朋友们，我很抱歉。我又老又聋，你们两个走近点，告诉我你们的问题。我会尽力帮助你们。”鹧鸪和野兔一靠近那只猫，那只猫就把他们都杀掉了，享用了一顿大餐。

这个故事告诉我们，“鹬蚌相争，渔翁得利”。

【Notes】

1. partridge   n. 鹧鸪 2. hare   n. 野兔

3. hollow   n. 洞;山谷 4. source   n. 来源