THE LION wearied Jupiter with his frequent complaints. —
狮子频繁地向宙斯抱怨，使他感到厌倦。 —

“It is true, O Jupiter! —
“宙斯啊，真的，我具备巨大的力量，形状美观，攻击力强大。 —

” he said, “that I am gigantic in strength, handsome in shape, and powerful in attack. —
我的下颚有着锋利的牙齿，脚上有爪子，我统治着森林中的所有野兽。然而，令人羞愧的是，只因一只公鸡的啼鸣就让我害怕得不敢动弹。 —

I have jaws well provided with teeth, and feet furnished with claws, and I lord it over all the beasts of the forest, and what a disgrace it is, that being such as I am, I should be frightened by the crowing of a cock. —
“宙斯回答道：”你为什么无故责怪我？ —

” Jupiter replied, “Why do you blame me without a cause? —
我赋予了你我所拥有的所有属性，除了这个例外，你的勇气从未消失。 —

I have given you all the attributes which I possess myself, and your courage never fails you except in this one instance. —
“听到这句话，狮子非常叹息和哀悼，他为自己的懦弱而自责，希望能够死去。 —

” On hearing this the Lion groaned and lamented very much and, reproaching himself with his cowardice, wished that he might die. —
这些想法闪过他的脑海时，他遇到了一只大象，并与其进行了一次接近的对话。 —

As these thoughts passed through his mind, he met an Elephant and came close to hold a conversation with him. —
他俩交谈的情景如下所示。 —

After a time he observed that the Elephant shook his ears very often, and he inquired what was the matter and why his ears moved with such a tremor every now and then. —
过了一段时间他注意到大象经常摇动耳朵，他询问发生了什么事，为什么大象的耳朵会经常颤动。 —

Just at that moment a Gnat settled on the head of the Elephant, and he replied, “Do you see that little buzzing insect? —
就在那时，一个小虫子停在大象的头上，他回答说：“你看见那个嗡嗡叫的小昆虫吗？ —

If it enters my ear, my fate is sealed. —
如果它进入我的耳朵，我的命就完蛋了。 —

I should die presently.” The Lion said, “Well, since so huge a beast is afraid of a tiny gnat, I will no more complain, nor wish myself dead. —
我应该很快就会死。”狮子说：“既然如此巨大的兽类害怕一个微小的小虫子，我就不再抱怨，也不再希望自己死去。 —

I find myself, even as I am, better off than the Elephant.”
我发现自己，即使是现在这样，比大象好。”