Lesson 22　The Wind and the Sun　第22课　风和太阳

decide buckled mountain shelter party

dispute succeed forcibly mantle oven

A dispute once arose between the Wind and the Sun, as to which was the stronger.

To decide the matter, they agreed to try their power on a traveler. That party which should frst strip him of his cloak, was to win the day.

The Wind began. He blew a cutting blast, which tore up the mou-ntain oaks by their roots, and made the whole forest look like a wreck.

But the traveler, though at frst he could scarcely keep his cloak on his back, ran under a hill for shelter, and buckled his mantle about him more closely.

The Wind having thus tried his utmost power in vain, the Sun began.

Bursting through a thick cloud, he darted his sultry beams so forcibly upon the traveler's head, that the poor fellow was almost melted.

"This，"said he，"is past all bearing. It is so hot, that one might as well be in an oven."

So he quickly threw off his cloak, and went into the shade of a tree to cool himself.

This fable teaches us, that gentle means will often succeed where forcible ones will fail.

风和太阳之间曾经发生一次争论，是关于谁更强大的问题。

为了求得结果，它们同意对一名旅行者施展它们各自的力量，看看谁首先让他脱去他的披风，先者为胜。

风首先施展它的力量，只见它吹起一股飓风，把山上的橡树连根拔起，原本茂密的森林变得一片狼藉。

起初，旅行者几乎连背上的斗篷都保不住，不过他很快在山脚下找了一处避难所，在避难所里面更加绑紧了他的披风。风用尽了全力，可仍是徒劳。

于是，太阳开始了它的表演：炽热穿过一片厚厚的云彩，猛烈地直射到旅行者的头上，这个可怜的人几乎快被晒化了。

这位旅行者说：“这实在让人无法忍受啊，就好像置身在烤箱里。”

然后他很快脱掉了披风，躲到一棵树的阴影下，远离了阳光的照射。

这则寓言告诉我们，越是温和的办法就越会成功，越是强迫的办法就越会失败。