第2章 The Bat And The Weasels 蝙蝠与黄鼠狼

A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

黄鼠狼看见蝙蝠跌在地上，就赶快上前抓住他。这时，已经奄奄一息的蝙蝠不断地哀求黄鼠狼饶命。黄鼠狼回答说：“不可饶恕！因为我是一切鸟类的天敌。”可是蝙蝠说，他是鼠类，不是鸟类。听完蝙蝠的话后，黄鼠狼就把他放了。不久之后，蝙蝠又跌在地上，落入了另外一只黄鼠狼的“魔爪”。蝙蝠再次恳求黄鼠狼放过他。这只黄鼠狼声称痛恨一切鼠类，蝙蝠就说自己不是鼠类，而是鸟类。这只黄鼠狼又放了他。就这样，蝙蝠两次更名换姓，轻易地使自己摆脱了困境。