The Astronomer
An astronomer used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning what had happened said, “Hey, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on earth?”
一位天文学家过去常常在晚上出去观察星星。一天晚上，当他在郊区闲逛时，他的全部注意力都集中在天空上，他不小心掉进了一口深井里。正当他痛哭流涕，哭喊救命的时候，一个邻居跑到井边，得知发生了什么事，问道:“嘿，老伙计，你这么想窥探天上的事，为什么却看不到地上的事呢?”
The Donkey in the Lion’s Skin
A donkey once found a Lion’s skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Donkey that day. In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said: “Ah, I knew you by your voice.” Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.
有一次，一头驴子发现了一张狮子皮，猎人把它放在太阳下晒干了。他穿上它，向他的家乡村子走去。他一走近，所有的人和动物都逃走了，那天他成了一头骄傲的驴子。他高兴得提高了嗓门，叫了起来，但大家都认出了他，他的主人走过来，狠狠地打了他一顿，因为他吓了一跳。过了一会儿，一只狐狸走到他跟前说:“啊，我是从你的声音听出来的。”华丽的衣服可以伪装，但愚蠢的话会暴露一个傻瓜。
生词本：
lament：n.挽歌，悼文；表达哀伤（或痛惜）之情的言辞；抱怨。v.对……感到悲痛，对……表示失望；抱怨.
bewail:v.悲悼；痛哭；哀叹.
cudgel:
- n. 短棒；粗短棍
- v. 用短棒打