狮子和聪明的野兔

饥饿的大王

A Hungry King

很久以前，一只大狮子住在印度的一片森林里。他是所有动物的大王。他身体强壮，而且很骄傲，肚子总是很饿。

Long ago, a big lion lived in a forest in India. He was the king of all the animals. He was strong and proud, and he was always hungry.

他每天都去打猎。他抓了鹿、野猪、水牛和兔子。他抓的动物多得自己都吃不完。

Every day he went hunting. He caught deer, wild pigs, buffaloes and rabbits. He caught more animals than he could eat.

不久，动物们都不敢离开家了。妈妈们把孩子们留在家里。森林里再也没有谁玩耍或者唱歌了。

Soon the animals were afraid to leave their homes. Mothers kept their children inside. Nobody played or sang in the forest any more.

一天，所有的动物在一棵大树下见面。“我们能做什么呢？”一只鹿问。“如果一直这样，森林里就一个动物也不剩了。”

One day all the animals met under a big tree. “What can we do?” asked a deer. “If this continues, there will be nobody left in the forest.”

一只老水牛有了一个主意。“我们去和狮子谈谈吧，”他说，“也许我们可以和他做一个约定。”

An old buffalo had an idea. “Let’s talk to the lion,” he said. “Maybe we can make a deal with him.”

于是，动物们一起去了狮子的山洞。他们把头低低地低下来。他们害怕得发抖。

So the animals went together to the lion’s cave. They bowed their heads low. They were shaking with fear.

“大王，”老水牛说，“请听我们说。您抓了太多动物。不久森林就会变空的，那时候您就一点吃的也没有了。”

“Great King,” said the old buffalo, “please listen to us. You hunt too many animals. Soon the forest will be empty, and then you will have no food at all.”

“那么你们想怎么样？”狮子问。

“So what do you want?” asked the lion.

“请您留在山洞里，”水牛说，“我们每天都会给您送去一只动物当晚饭。您就不用去打猎了。我们剩下的动物也可以平安地生活。”

“Please stay in your cave,” said the buffalo. “Every day we will send you one animal for your dinner. You won’t have to hunt. And the rest of us can live in peace.”

狮子想了想。“好吧，”他说，“但是你们听好了。如果哪天没有动物来，第二天早上我就把你们全都吃掉。”

The lion thought about it. “All right,” he said. “But listen carefully. If an animal doesn’t come one day, I will hunt all of you the next morning.”

动物们同意了。从那天起，每天中午都有一只动物走向狮子的山洞。每一个动物都很害怕轮到自己。

The animals agreed. From that day, one animal walked to the lion’s cave every day at noon. And every animal was afraid of its turn.