Bruce dan Laba-Laba

Pernah ada seorang raja Skotlandia yang bernama Robert Bruce. Dia harus berani sekaligus bijaksana, karena zaman tempat dia hidup sangat liar dan keras.

There was once a king of Scotland whose name was Robert Bruce. He had need to be both brave and wise, for the times in which he lived were wild and rude.

Raja Inggris sedang berperang dengannya, dan telah memimpin sepasukan besar tentara ke Skotlandia untuk mengusirnya keluar dari negeri itu.

The King of England was at war with him, and had led a great army into Scotland to drive him out of the land.

Pertempuran demi pertempuran telah terjadi. Enam kali Bruce memimpin pasukan kecilnya yang pemberani melawan musuh-musuhnya; dan enam kali pula orang-orangnya dikalahkan, serta dipaksa melarikan diri.

Battle after battle had been fought. Six times had Bruce led his brave little army against his foes; and six times had his men been beaten, and driven into flight.

Akhirnya pasukannya tercerai-berai, dan dia terpaksa menyembunyikan dirinya di dalam hutan dan di tempat-tempat sunyi di antara pegunungan.

At last his army was scattered, and he was forced to hide himself in the woods and in lonely places among the mountains.

Pada suatu hari yang hujan, Bruce berbaring di tanah di bawah sebuah pondok sederhana, mendengarkan gemercik tetesan air di atap di atasnya. Dia lelah dan patah semangat, serta siap untuk melepaskan semua harapan.

One rainy day, Bruce lay on the ground under a rude shed, listening to the patter of the drops on the roof above him. He was tired and sick at heart, and ready to give up all hope.

Tampak baginya bahwa tidak ada gunanya lagi baginya untuk mencoba melakukan apa pun.

It seemed to him that there was no use for him to try to do anything more.

Saat dia berbaring sambil berpikir, dia melihat seekor laba-laba di atas kepalanya, bersiap-siap untuk menenun jaringnya. Dia mengawasinya saat hewan itu bekerja keras secara perlahan dan dengan sangat hati-hati. Enam kali hewan itu mencoba melemparkan benang rapuhnya dari satu balok kayu ke balok kayu lainnya, dan enam kali pula benang itu tidak sampai.

As he lay thinking, he saw a spider over his head, making ready to weave her web. He watched her as she toiled slowly and with great care. Six times she tried to throw her frail thread from one beam to another, and six times it fell short.

“Makhluk yang malang!” kata Bruce: “kamu juga tahu bagaimana rasanya gagal.”

“Poor thing!” said Bruce: “you, too, know what it is to fail.”

Tetapi laba-laba itu tidak kehilangan harapan dengan kegagalan yang keenam. Dengan lebih hati-hati lagi, dia bersiap-siap untuk mencoba untuk yang ketujuh kalinya. Bruce hampir melupakan masalahnya sendiri saat mengawasinya berayun keluar di atas benang yang tipis itu. Akankah dia gagal lagi? Tidak!

But the spider did not lose hope with the sixth failure. With still more care, she made ready to try for the seventh time. Bruce almost forgot his own troubles as he watched her swing herself out upon the slender line. Would she fail again? No!

Benang itu terbawa dengan selamat ke balok kayu tersebut, dan diikatkan di sana.

The thread was carried safely to the beam, and fastened there.

“Aku pun akan mencoba untuk yang ketujuh kalinya!” seru Bruce.

“I, too, will try a seventh time!” cried Bruce.

Dia bangkit dan memanggil orang-orangnya untuk berkumpul. Dia menceritakan rencana-rencananya kepada mereka, dan mengutus mereka pergi dengan pesan-pesan penyemangat untuk rakyatnya yang sedang berkecil hati. Tak lama kemudian, ada sepasukan orang Skotlandia yang pemberani di sekelilingnya.

He arose and called his men together. He told them of his plans, and sent them out with messages of cheer to his disheartened people. Soon there was an army of brave Scotchmen around him.

Pertempuran lain terjadi, dan Raja Inggris merasa senang bisa kembali ke negerinya sendiri.

Another battle was fought, and the King of England was glad to go back into his own country.

Aku pernah mendengar cerita bahwa, setelah hari itu, tidak ada seorang pun yang bernama Bruce yang pernah melukai seekor laba-laba. Pelajaran yang diajarkan makhluk kecil itu kepada sang raja tidak pernah dilupakan.

I have heard it said, that, after that day, no one by the name of Bruce would ever hurt a spider. The lesson which the little creature had taught the king was never forgotten.