之水  译

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/images/volone42.gifCrane and the Crab　鹤与螃蟹" TITLE="The Crane and the Crab　鹤与螃蟹" />

[Trickery] 欺骗

Once upon a time, there was a crane who lived near a small pond. Right next to the pond was a big tree with a fairy living in it. He learned by observing the various animals.

从前，在一个小池塘边上住着一只鹤。就在池塘的右面有一棵大树，树上住着一个小精灵。他通过观察各种动物来学习。

There were also many small fish living in the small pond. The crane was in the habit of picking up fish with his beak and eating them. Since there happened to be a drought in the area, the water level in the pond was becoming lower and lower. This made it easier for the crane to catch fish. In fact, he was even getting to be a little fat!

池塘里也住着许多的小鱼。鹤习惯用它的长喙抓鱼吃。由于这个地区正好遇到干旱，池塘的水越来越少。鹤抓鱼就变得更容易了。事实上，鹤还因此而长胖了。

However, the crane discovered that no matter how easy it was to catch fish, and no matter how many he ate, he was never completely satisfied. But he did not learn from this. Instead, he decided that if he ate all the fish in the pond, then he would find true happiness. "The more the merrier!" he said to himself.

然而，鹤发现不管抓鱼变得有多容易，不管吃了多少，它都不能感到完全满足。它没有从中领悟出什么。相反，它断定只有吃光池塘里所有的鱼，才能找到真正的快乐。它对自己说：“吃得越多就越快乐！”

In order to catch all the fish in the pond, the crane thought up a clever plan. He would trick the fish, and deceive them into trusting him. Then when they trusted him the most, he would gobble them up. He was very pleased with himself for thinking up such a trick.

为了抓住池里所有的鱼，鹤想出一个聪明的点子。它要使诡计让所有的鱼信任它。就在它们最信任它的时候，将它们吞食掉。鹤为自己想出的这个好点子而万分开心。

To begin with, the crane sat down on the shore. He remained quietly in one position, just like a holy man in the forest. This was intended to get the fish to trust him.

起初，鹤坐在岸边。为了得到鱼的信任，它静静地保持着一个姿势，就象是森林里的一位圣人。

The fish came to him and asked. "Sir crane, what are you thinking?" The holy-looking crane answered, "Oh my dear fish, it makes me sad to think of your future. I am thinking about the coming miserable disaster."

鱼靠近鹤并问它：“鹤先生，您在想什么？”一脸庄重的鹤回答道：“哦，我亲爱的鱼儿，想到你们的将来我就感到悲伤。我在考虑即将来临的大灾难啊！”

They said, "My lord, what disaster is coming to us?" To which the crane replied, "Look around you! There is very little water left in this pond. You are also running out of food to eat. This severe drought is very dangerous for you poor little ones."

鱼问：“阁下，是什么样的灾难在向我们靠近呢？”鹤回答：“仔细看看你们的周围吧！池塘的水已相当少了。你们将没有东西可吃。这严重的旱灾对于可怜而弱小的你们是非常危险的。”

Then the fish asked, "Dear uncle crane, what can we do to save ourselves?" "My poor little children," said the crane, "you must trust me and do as I say. If you allow me to pick you up in my beak, I will take you, one at a time to another pond. That pond is much bigger than this one. It is filled with water and covered with lovely lotuses. It will be like a paradise for you!"

鱼又问：“亲爱的鹤叔叔，我们要怎样做才能自救呢？”“我可怜的孩子啊。”鹤说：“你们必须信任我，照我说的去做。如果你们允许我用嘴叼着你们，我就会一条一条地把你们送去另一个池塘。那个池塘比这里大得多，里面充满了水，水面覆盖着美丽的莲花。对于你们那就象天堂。”

When they heard the part about the beak, the fish became a little suspicious. They said, "Mr. Crane, how can we believe you? Since the beginning of the world, there has never been a crane who wanted to help fish. Cranes have put fish in their beaks only to eat them. This must be a trick. Or else you must be joking!"

当鱼听说它要用嘴叼时产生了一点怀疑。他们问：“鹤先生，我们如何才能相信您？自天地初成，就没有一只鹤想过要帮助鱼。鹤把鱼放进嘴里仅仅是为了吃掉它们。这一定是个骗局，要不您就是在开玩笑！”

The crane then raised his head and made himself look as dignified as possible. He said, "Please don't think such a thing. Can't you see that I am a very special crane? You should trust me. But if you don't believe me, send one fish with me and I will show him the beautiful pond. Then when I bring him back here, you will know I can be trusted."

于是鹤仰起头，尽可能使自己看起来高尚。它说：“请不要这样想。难道你们看不出我是一只特别的鹤？你们应该信任我。如果你们不相信我，就请派一条鱼跟我去，我会让他看到那个漂亮的池塘。然后，我再把它带回来，你们就会明白我是可以信任的。”

The fish said to each other, "This crane looks so dignified. He sounds like an honest crane. But just in case it's a trick, let us send with him a useless little troublemaker fish. This will be a test." Then they found a young fish who was known for playing hooky from school. They pushed him towards the shore.

鱼儿商量着：“这只鹤看起来如此庄重，听起来象一只诚实的鹤。但得防备这是个骗局，让我们给他一条没用的喜欢捣蛋的小鱼做这个测试。”于是他们找了条以逃学出名的小鱼仔。他们将小鱼仔向岸边推去。

The crane bent his head and picked up the little one in his beak. Then he spread his wings and flew to a big tree on the shore of a beautiful big pond. Just as he had said, it was covered with lovely lotuses. The fish was amazed to see such a wonderful place. Then the crane carried him back to his poor old pond, just as he had promised.

鹤垂下头将小鱼仔叼起，然后扇动翅膀飞向那个美丽的大池塘边上的那棵大树。正如它说的那样，那里覆盖着美丽的莲花。小鱼仔看到这个如此美妙的地方大为吃惊。接着鹤带着它返回小池塘，就如鹤先前承诺的那样。

Arriving home, the little fish described the wonders of the beautiful big pond. Hearing this, all the other fish became very excited and rushed to be the first to go.

到家之后，小鱼仔描绘了那个漂亮的大池塘的奇妙之处。所有的鱼听完后都变得非常兴奋，争先要第一个去那里。

The first lucky passenger was that same useless little troublemaker. Again the crane picked him up in his beak and flew to the big tree on the shore of the beautiful new pond. The little one was sure the helpful crane was about to drop him into the wonderful pond. But instead, the crane suddenly killed him, gobbled up his flesh, and let the bones fall to the ground.
第一个幸运儿就是那条小鱼仔。鹤再次用嘴叼起它，然后飞向那个漂亮的池塘边上的那棵大树。小鱼仔确信这只好心的鹤会把它放到那个美丽的池塘里。但是鹤却突然杀了它，吃了它的肉，并将骨头扔到地上。

The crane returned to the old pond, brought the next little fish to the same tree, and ate him in the same way. Likewise, one by one, he gobbled up every last fish!

鹤返回旧池塘，又带着一条小鱼去同一棵树那里，以同样的方式吃了它。就这样，一条接着一条，鹤吃完了最后一条鱼。

He became so stuffed with fish meat that he had trouble flying back to the little pond. He saw that there were no more fish left for him to trick and eat. Then he noticed a lonely crab crawling along the muddy shore. And he realized that he was still not completely satisfied!

它被鱼肉撑得几乎飞不回那个小池塘了。它看到没有鱼再供它骗来吃了。就在这时，它看到有一只孤独螃蟹沿着泥泞的池岸在爬。它意识到自己仍然没有完全满足。

So he walked over to the crab and said, "My dear crab, I have kindly carried all the fish to a wonderful big pond not far from here. Why do you wish to remain here alone? If you simply do as the fish have done, and let me pick you up in my beak, I will gladly take you there. For your own good, please trust me."

因此它走过去对螃蟹说：“亲爱的螃蟹，我好意将所有的鱼都带去了离这不远的那个美丽的大池塘了。你为什么要独自呆在这里呢？如果你想和鱼一样，就让我用嘴叼着你，我会高兴地带你去哪儿。为了你自己，请相信我。”

But the crab thought, "There is no doubt this over-stuffed crane has eaten all those fish. His belly is so full he can hardly stand up straight. He definitely cannot be trusted! If I can get him to carry me to a new pond and put me in it, so much the better. But if he tries to eat me, I will have to cut off his head with my sharp claws."

但是螃蟹心想：这只肚子饱胀的鹤无疑已经吃掉了所有的鱼。圆鼓鼓的肚子几乎让它直不起身。明显不值得信任。如果它能把我带到那个新池塘并放我进去，那再好不过了。如果它想吃了我，我就要用这锋利的爪子切断他的头。

Then the crab said, "My friend crane, I am afraid I am much too heavy for you to carry in your beak. You would surely drop me along the way. Instead, I will grab onto your neck with my eight legs, and then you can safely carry me to my new home."

随后螃蟹说：“鹤啊，我的朋友，我恐怕自己太重你不能用喙带我走。你真愿意这样带我过去。要不，我用八只脚紧紧抓住你的脖子，然后你就可以安全地带我去我的新家了。”

The crane was so used to playing tricks on others, that he did not imagine he would be in any danger — even though the crab would be grasping him by the throat. Instead he thought, "Excellent! This will give me a chance to eat the sweet meat of this foolish trusting crab."

鹤习惯了欺骗，他无法想象自己会处在危险中——即使是螃蟹抓着他的咽喉。他反而想：太棒了！这让我有机会去吃掉这只愚蠢的轻信别人的螃蟹，吃他那鲜美的肉。

So the crane permitted the crab to grab onto his neck with all eight legs. In addition, he grasped the crane's neck with his sharp claws. He said, "Now kindly take me to the new pond."

因此鹤答应了让螃蟹用八只脚抓住它的脖子。而且，螃蟹是用它的尖爪子抓住鹤的脖子的。它说：“现在请好生带我去那个新池塘吧。”

The foolish crane, with his neck in the clutches of the crab, flew to the same big tree next to the new pond.

愚蠢的鹤带着这只用爪子紧紧攫住自己脖子的螃蟹飞去了那个新池塘旁的那棵大树上。

Then the crab said, "Hey you stupid crane, have you lost your way? You have not taken me to the pond. Why don't you take me to the shore and put me in?"

然后螃蟹说：“嗨，你这只笨鹤，怎么迷路了？你没有带我去池塘。为什么带我到岸边，要放我在这里？”

The crane said, "Who are you calling stupid? I don't have to take that from you. You're not my relative. I suppose you thought you tricked me into giving you a free ride. But I'm the clever one. Just look at all those fish bones under this tree. I've eaten all the fish, and now I'm going to eat you too, you stupid crab!"

鹤说：“你说谁傻啊？我不必从你那里得到什么。而你也不是我的亲戚。我料想到你以为自己能骗我免费带你来。可我不傻。看看这树下所有的鱼骨吧。我吃光了所有的鱼，现在我就要吃了你，你这只蠢螃蟹！”

The crab replied, "Those fish were eaten because they were foolish enough to trust you. But no one would trust you now. Because you tricked the fish, you have become so conceited you think you can trick anyone. But you can't fool me. I have you by the throat. So if one dies, we both die!"

螃蟹回答：“那些鱼被吃掉是因为它们傻到去相信你。但是现在已经没有人相信你了。因为你欺骗了鱼，你就变得自以为是，以为自己能够欺骗每一个。可你骗不了我。我抓住了你的咽喉。所以我死了，你也得死。”

Then the crane realized the danger he was in. He begged the crab, "Oh my lord crab, please release me. I have learned my lesson. You can trust me. I have no desire to eat such a handsome crab as you."

这时鹤才知道自己处在危险中，它乞求螃蟹：“啊，我尊敬的蟹先生，请您放开我吧。我已经得到教训了。您可以信任我。我可不愿吃掉您这么可爱的螃蟹啊。”

Then he flew down to the shore and continued, "Now please release me. For your own good, please trust me."

接着鹤一边向池岸飞去，一边说：“现在请放开我吧。为了你自己好，请相信我。”

But this old crab had been around. He realized the crane could not be trusted no matter what he said. He knew that if he let go of the crane, he would be eaten for sure. So he cut through his neck with his claws, just like a knife through butter! And the crane's head fell on the ground. Then the crab crawled safely into the wonderful pond.

可这只老蟹是见过世面的。它知道无论鹤说什么都不能相信它。如果它放开鹤一定会被鹤吃掉的。因此它用爪子划破了鹤的脖子，就象是刀划过牛油一样！鹤头掉在了地上。而蟹安全地爬进了这个美丽的池子。

Meanwhile, the inquisitive fairy had also come to the new pond and seen all that had happened. Sitting on the very top of the big tree, he said for all the gods to hear:

与此同时，那个好奇的小精灵也来到这个新池塘，看到了发生的一切。他就坐在大树顶上对众神讲述着这个故事。

"The one who lived by tricks and lies,No longer trusted now he dies."

以谎言和欺骗过活的人，到死都不会再得到别人的信任。

The moral is: The trickster who can't be trusted, has played his last trick.

这个故事告诉我们：骗子的骗术终将被识破。