Jupiter and the Sheep

时间：2014-02-28 07:19:10

（单词翻译:单击）

A sheep was once forced to submit to much harm from the other animals. He therefore appeared before Jupiter, and begged him to lessen1（减少） his misery2. Jupiter appeared willing, and said to the sheep, "I see plainly, my pious3（虔诚的） creature, that I have created you too defenseless . Now choose how I had best remedy this fault. Shall I arm your jaws4 with terrible fangs5 and your feet with claws?"
 
"O, no! " exclaimed the sheep, " I will have nothing in common with the beasts of prey6."
 
"Or," said Jupiter, " Shall I make your bite poisonous?"
 
"Alas7!" replied the sheep, " the poisonous snakes are so sadly detested8（厌恶）."
 
"Well, what shall I do ? Shall I plant horns on your forehead, and give strength to your neck?"
 
"Nor that, gracious father; I should then butt9 like the goat."
 
"At the same time you would be able to injure others, if I gave you the means of defending yourself."
 
"Should I, indeed? "sighed the sheep. "Oh! Then leave me, merciful father, as I am. For the power of injuring would, I am fearful, awake the desire of doing so; and it is better to suffer harm, than to inflict10 it."
 
Jupiter blessed the pious sheep, who ceased from that moment his complaints.

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1 lessen 01gx4     
vt.减少，减轻；缩小
参考例句：
  • Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
  • They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
2 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
参考例句：
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
3 pious KSCzd     
adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的
参考例句：
  • Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
  • Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。
4 jaws cq9zZq     
n.口部；嘴
参考例句：
  • The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。
  • The scored jaws of a vise help it bite the work. 台钳上有刻痕的虎钳牙帮助它紧咬住工件。
5 fangs d8ad5a608d5413636d95dfb00a6e7ac4     
n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座
参考例句：
  • The dog fleshed his fangs in the deer's leg. 狗用尖牙咬住了鹿腿。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Dogs came lunging forward with their fangs bared. 狗龇牙咧嘴地扑过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨
参考例句：
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
7 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句：
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
8 detested e34cc9ea05a83243e2c1ed4bd90db391     
v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • They detested each other on sight. 他们互相看着就不顺眼。
  • The freethinker hated the formalist; the lover of liberty detested the disciplinarian. 自由思想者总是不喜欢拘泥形式者，爱好自由者总是憎恶清规戒律者。 来自辞典例句
9 butt uSjyM     
n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶
参考例句：
  • The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
  • He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。
10 inflict Ebnz7     
vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担
参考例句：
  • Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
  • Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

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