布鲁斯与蜘蛛

从前有一位苏格兰国王，名叫罗伯特·布鲁斯。他既需要勇敢，又需要聪明，因为他生活的时代动荡而野蛮。

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.

英格兰国王正在与他交战，并率领大军进入苏格兰，想把他赶出这片土地。

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

双方打了一场又一场仗。布鲁斯六次率领他那支勇敢的小部队迎战敌人；他的士兵也六次被打败，落荒而逃。

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.

最后，他的军队被打散了，他不得不躲进树林和群山中荒无人烟的地方。

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

一个下雨天，布鲁斯躺在简陋棚屋里的地上，听着雨滴落在头顶屋顶上的啪嗒声。他又累又伤心，准备放弃所有的希望。

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.

在他看来，自己再做什么努力都没有用了。

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

他躺着沉思时，看见头顶上有一只蜘蛛，正准备织网。他看着它慢慢地、非常小心地忙碌着。它六次尝试把细弱的丝从一根横梁甩到另一根横梁上，可六次都够不着。

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.

“可怜的小东西！”布鲁斯说，“你也尝到了失败的滋味。”

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

但蜘蛛并没有因为第六次失败而失去希望。它更加小心，准备尝试第七次。布鲁斯看着它顺着细丝荡出去，几乎忘记了自己的烦恼。它还会失败吗？不会！

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!

蛛丝稳稳地连到了横梁上，固定在了那里。

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

“我也要试第七次！”布鲁斯大喊。

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

他站起身来，把手下的人召集到一起。他把自己的计划告诉了大家，并派他们去给灰心丧气的人民带去鼓舞的消息。很快，一群勇敢的苏格兰人就聚集到了他的身边。

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.

又一场战斗打响了，英格兰国王灰溜溜地逃回了自己的国家。

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

我听人说，从那天起，姓布鲁斯的人就再也不会伤害蜘蛛了。这只小生灵给国王上的这一课，永远没有被遗忘。

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.