A nightingale was sitting on a bough¹ of an oak and singing, as her custom was. A hungry hawk² presently spied her, and darting³ to the spot seized her in his talons⁴. He was just about to tear her in pieces when she begged him to spare her life: "I'm not big enough," she pleaded, "to make you a good meal, you ought to seek your prey⁵ among the bigger birds." The hawk eyed he with some contempt, "You must think me very simple," said he, "If you suppose I am going to give up a certain prize on the chance of a better of which I see at present no signs."

 

夜莺坐在一棵橡树的树枝上，像往常一样在唱歌。一只饥饿的老鹰看见她后，便猛飞过去用鹰爪抓住了她。就在老鹰将要撕碎夜莺时，她恳求老鹰饶命：“我的个头太小了，不能让你饱餐一顿，你应当去抓那些个头更大的鸟。”老鹰不屑一顾地看着她，说“如果你认为我会放弃手中现成的食物，而去追求目前看不到影的东西，那可真是太小看我了。”

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