英文原文

THE Peacock was greatly discontented because he had not a beautiful voice like the nightingale, and he went and complained to Juno about it. “ The nightingale’s song,” said he, “ is the envy of all the birds; but whenever I utter a sound I become a laughingstock.”

The goddess tried to console him by saying, “ You have not, it is true, the power of song, but then you far excel all the rest in beauty : your neck flashes like the emerald and your splendid tail is a marvel of gorgeous colour.” But the Peacock was not appeased. “ What is the use,” said he, “ of being beautiful, with a voice like mine? ” Then Juno replied, with a shade of sternness in her tones, “ Fate has allotted to all their destined gifts : to yourself beauty, to the eagle strength, to the nightingale song, and so on to all the rest in their degree ; but you alone are dissatisfied with your portion. Make, then, no more complaints : for, if your present wish were granted, you would quickly find cause for fresh discontent.”

*discontented[dɪskən'tentɪd]a.不滿的；

*nightingale['naɪtɪŋ,geɪl]n.夜鶯

*Juno['dʒu:nəu]n. 朱諾（主神朱庇特的妻子）

*laughingstock['lɑːfɪŋstɒk]n.笑柄；

*console[kən'səʊl]v.安慰；

*excel[ɪk'sel; ek-]v.超過；

*emerald['em(ə)r(ə)ld]n.綠寶石；ruby['ruːbɪ]n.紅寶石；

*appease[ə'piːz]v.使滿足；

*sternness['stə:nis]n.嚴格；

*allot[ə'lɒt]v.分配；

中文翻譯

孔雀向王后朱諾抱怨。它說：“王后陛下，我不是無理取鬧來申訴說情，您賜給我的歌喉，沒有任何人喜歡聽，可您看那黃鶯小精靈，唱出的歌聲婉轉而甜蜜，它獨佔春光，風頭出盡。”

朱諾聽它如此言語，安慰道：“你看你脖子四周，是一條如七彩絲綢染織的美麗彩虹；當你款款行走時，舒展的華麗羽毛，出現在人們面前就好像見到了色彩斑斕的珠寶。以你如此的美麗，你難道好意思去嫉妒黃鶯的歌聲嗎？和你相比，這世界上沒有任何一種鳥能像你這樣受到別人的喜愛。一種動物不可能具備世界上所有動物的優點。我們分別賜給大家不同的天賦，有的天生長得高大威猛；有的如鷹一樣的勇敢，隼一樣的敏捷；烏鴉則可以預告徵兆。大家彼此相融，各司其職。所以我奉勸你打消你的抱怨，如果我滿足了你的願望，你肯定還會找到新的不滿”。

A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.

知足是人生在世最大的幸事。

【YOU書社】2017年持續英文閱讀，第66篇。

上期複習：

一路堅持過來的小夥伴別忘了在評論區打卡哦~