新概念英语初中早读 （49）病狮
The Sick Lion
病狮
A lion,no longer able,from the weakness of old age,
一头年老体弱的狮子，没有力气去
to hunt for his prey laid himself up in his den,
自行觅食，只好躺在洞穴里;
and breathing with great difficulty,
他呼吸困难，
and speaking with a low voice,said that he was very ill.
说话有气无力，一脸病入膏肓的样子。
The report soon spread among the beasts,
这个消息很快在兽群之间传开了，
and there was great lamentation for the sick lion.
大家都为病狮哀伤不已。
One after another came to see him;
他们一个接一个地来探望他；
but,catching him thus alone,and in his own den,
哪知道这头狮子就这样待在自己的洞里，
the lion made an easy prey of them, and grew fat upon his diet.
轻而易举地把探望者一个个捉住吃掉，把自己养得胖胖的。
The fox,suspecting the truth of the matter,
狐狸对这件是有点怀疑
came at length to make his visit of inquiry,
最后也来看个究竟。
and standing at some distance,asked his Majesty how he did?
他站得远远的恭问万兽之王安好。
“Ah,my dearest friend,”said the lion,
狮子道:”啊，我最亲爱的朋友，
“Is it you?Why do you stand so far from me?
是你呀！为什么站得那么远？
Come,sweet friend, and pour a word of consolation in the poor lion’s ear,
来，好朋友，在我这可怜的狮子耳边说句安慰的话吧，
who has but a short time to live.”
我快不行啦。”
“Bless you!”said the fox.”But excuse me if I cannot stay;
“愿上帝保佑你！”狐狸说:”但请原谅，我不能久留。
for to tell you the truth,
老实说，
I feel quite uneasy at the mark of he foot-steps that I see here,
我感到十分不安。我看到这里许多脚印
all printing towards your den,and none returning outwards.”
都是只向府上走进来，没有一个是走出来的哩！”