野猪和狐狸 伊索着 (简体) 江铭辉 五梦网
图:野猪正在树干磨牠的獠牙,狐狸走到牠的旁边,问牠为什么这样做?
一头野猪正在树干磨牠的獠牙,一只狐狸走到牠的旁边,问牠为什么这样做?狐狸说:「你这样作有什么目的?我认为没有理由去磨牙,眼前既没有猎人也没有猎狗。」野猪回答说:「不错,但真的发生危险的时候,我还有别的更重要的事情要作(笔者注:逃命为先。),就没有时间磨利我的武器。」
当军号响起时,要拔刀作战时,再将剑磨利,就已太晚了。
译者评论:孔子说:「人无远虑,必有近忧。」世事无常,我们每个人都要未雨绸缪,随时对可能发生的危险事情,预作准备。像寓言中的这头野猪,如果现在不把獠牙磨利,一旦碰到猎人、猎狗,甚至于狮子、老虎、野狼追杀时,跑都来不及了,还有时间磨利獠牙吗?
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.