爱说话的乌龟

说话太多的国王

The King Who Talked Too Much

很久以前，梵摩达多国王统治着印度的贝拿勒斯城。他是一个好国王，但是他有一个大问题。他说话太多了。

Long ago, King Brahmadatta ruled the city of Benares in India. He was a good king, but he had one big problem. He talked too much.

他早上说话，晚上也说话。他吃饭的时候说话，在花园里也说话。别人想说话的时候，他不听下来。没有人能说一句话。

He talked in the morning, and he talked at night. He talked at dinner and in the garden. When other people wanted to speak, he did not stop. Nobody could say a word.

国王有一个聪明的大臣。大臣喜欢国王，也想帮他。但是他怎么能对国王说：“你说话太多了”？

The king had a wise adviser. The adviser liked the king and wanted to help him. But how could he tell a king, “You talk too much”?

“我必须等一等，”大臣想。“有一天我会找到好时间的。”

“I must wait,” the adviser thought. “One day I will find the right moment.”

在很远北边的山里，有一个小小的湖。一只乌龟住在那里。他是一只很好的乌龟，但是他很像国王。他太喜欢说话了。

Far away, in the mountains in the north, there was a little lake. A tortoise lived there. He was a kind tortoise, but he was very like the king. He loved talking.

他对鱼说话，也对青蛙说话。他对树木说话，也对石头说话。甚至没有人听的时候，他也在说话。

He talked to the fish and to the frogs. He talked to the trees and to the rocks. He even talked when nobody was listening.

每年春天，两只大雁都飞到这个湖来。她们是姐妹，也是乌龟的好朋友。乌龟说话，大雁听着。她们非常有耐心。

Every spring, two wild geese flew to the lake. They were sisters, and they were good friends of the tortoise. The tortoise talked, and the geese listened. They were very patient.

但是有一个夏天，小湖发生了一件不好的事。

But one summer, something bad happened to the little lake.