12 THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE 孔雀和鹤

A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage. "Look at my brilliant colours," said she, "and see how much finer they are than your poor feathers." "I am not denying," replied the Crane, "that yours are far gayer than mine; but when it comes to flying I can soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any dunghill cock.”

孔雀看不起白鹤羽毛的色泽，她一边张开美丽羽毛，一边讥笑他说：我披挂得金碧辉煌，五彩缤纷；而你的羽毛一片灰暗，十分难看。鹤说道：可我翱翔於太空，在星空中歌唱；而你却同公鸡和家禽一般，只能在地上行走罢了。