A NIGHTINGALE, sitting aloft upon an oak and singing according to his wont, was seen by a Hawk who, being in need of food, swooped down and seized him. —
一只夜莺栖息在一棵橡树上，按照它的习惯唱歌。它被一只需要食物的鹰看到，鹰俯冲下去抓住了它。 —

The Nightingale, about to lose his life, earnestly begged the Hawk to let him go, saying that he was not big enough to satisfy the hunger of a Hawk who, if he wanted food, ought to pursue the larger birds. —
夜莺即将丧命，它恳求鹰放过自己，称自己身材太小，无法满足鹰的饥饿，如果鹰真想要食物，应该去追求更大的鸟类。 —

The Hawk, interrupting him, said: —
鹰打断它的话说： —

“I should indeed have lost my senses if I should let go food ready in my hand, for the sake of pursuing birds which are not yet even within sight.”
“如果为了追求甚至还没有看到的鸟类而放开手上现成的食物，那我真是失去了理智。”