Ngừoi dịch : Ngọc Châu

The Lion & the Ass

One day as the Lion walked proudly down a forest aisle, and the animals respectfully made way for him, an Ass brayed a scornful remark as he passed.

The Lion felt a flash of anger. But when he turned his head and saw who had spoken, he walked quietly on. He would not honor the fool with even so much as a stroke of his claws.

Do not resent the remarks of a fool. Ignore them.

Sư tử và Lừa

Một buổi Chúa sơn lâm đi dạo

Rất oai phong đạo mạo giữa rừng

Các loải cung kính tránh đường

Chỉ anh Lừa ngố khinh thường be be

Lửa giận thoáng qua khe mắt Chúa
Nhưng quay đầu thấy đó là Lừa

Chúa Sư tiếp tục đi tua

Móng không cần dọa tên ngu làm gì

Chẳng nên giận dữ một khi

Kẻ xúc phạm vốn ù lì, ngu ngơ.

The Heron

A Heron was walking sedately along the bank of a stream, his eyes on the clear water, and his long neck and pointed bill ready to snap up a likely morsel for his breakfast. The clear water swarmed with fish, but Master Heron was hard to please that morning.”No small fry for me,” he said. “Such scanty fare is not fit for a Heron.”

Now a fine young Perch swam near.

“No indeed,” said the Heron. “I wouldn’t even trouble to open my beak for anything like that!”

As the sun rose, the fish left the shallow water near the shore and swam below into the cool depths toward the middle. The Heron saw no more fish, and very glad was he at last to breakfast on a tiny Snail.

Do not be too hard to suit or you may have to be content with the worst or with nothing at all.

Ngài Diệc khảnh ăn

Ngài Diệc bước thong dong bên suối

Mắt chăm chăm theo dõi nước trong

Cổ dài vươn mỏ săn lùng

Sẵn sàng chộp thứ để dùng sớm nay

Suối trong thấy nhiều bầy cá nhỏ

Nhưng mà ngài Diệc khó hài lòng:

“Các loài nhãi nhép lòng tong

Làm sao xứng miệng cho dòng Diệc ta”

Một chú cá rô hoa bơi đến

“Không cần mi, mau biến đi ngay