野豬和狐狸 伊索著 江銘輝 五夢網
圖:野豬正在樹幹磨牠的獠牙,狐狸走到牠的旁邊,問牠為什麼這樣做?
一頭野豬正在樹幹磨牠的獠牙,一隻狐狸走到牠的旁邊,問牠為什麼這樣做?狐狸說:「你這樣作有什麼目的?我認為沒有理由去磨牙,眼前既沒有獵人也沒有獵狗。」野豬回答說:「不錯,但真的發生危險的時候,我還有別的更重要的事情要作(筆者註:逃命為先。),就沒有時間磨利我的武器。」
當軍號響起時,要拔刀作戰時,再將劍磨利,就已太晚了。
譯者評論:孔子說:「人無遠慮,必有近憂。」世事無常,我們每個人都要未雨綢繆,隨時對可能發生的危險事情,預作準備。像寓言中的這頭野豬,如果現在不把獠牙磨利,一旦碰到獵人、獵狗,甚至於獅子、老虎、野狼追殺時,跑都來不及了,還有時間磨利獠牙嗎?
The Wild Boar and the Fox
A wild boar was whetting his tusks against a tree, when a fox coming by asked why he did so; "For,"said he, "I see no reason for it; there is neither hunter nor hound in sight, nor any other danger that I can see, at hand." "True," replied the boar, "but when that danger does arise, I shall have something else to do than to sharpen my weapons."
It is too late to whet the sword when the trumpet sounds to draw it.