杨丹

Once a large herd of elephants lived in a jungle. Their king was a giant tusker1. He looked after all the members of the herd with utmost2 love and care.

Once， a severe drought hit the area. All the birds and the animals started dying out of thirst. The elephant king knew that he had to find water as quickly as possible. He asked the members of the herd to go in different directions to look for water. One of them found a large lake full of water in the woods far away. The king was very happy and ordered all the elephants to make their way to the lake.

The elephants started clearing up the way to the lake for all the members of the herd. There was a colony3 of rabbits also on the way to the jungle. In their excitement of reaching the lake as soon as possible， the elephants trampled4 many rabbits under their feet. All the elephants were very happy to reach the lake. They had fun and frolicked5 in the water the entire day in the lake and once they were thoroughly satisfied， they left.

The rabbits were in a state of panic as they knew that the elephants would return soon. Their king called a meeting. He said， “A herd of wild elephants has homed in on the lake near our colony. They have already killed or injured thousands of us. I am sure， they will come back soon. So， we must think of a way to stop them and prevent more deaths.” One little rabbit stood up and said， “I do have a plan to drive away the elephants from this forest. I will go to meet the king of the elephants when he will come again this side.”

The next day when the rabbit saw the herd of elephants coming towards their side again， he climbed up a huge rock and shouted at the top of his voice， “Oh king of the elephants， hear me， please.” The king heard his voice and turned towards him. “Well， who are you？” he asked. “I am a messenger of the moon，” replied the rabbit. He further added in a firm tone， “I have come here to tell you that the moon is very upset with you as you have soiled6 his lake. He is thinking of punishing you strictly for your deed.” Upon hearing this， the elephant king got frightened. He said， “Please take me to God Moon. I will seek his forgiveness.” The clever rabbit said， “All right！ Meet me alone tonight at the lake.”

That night， the king elephant as told by the rabbit， reached the lake alone. The rabbit and the elephant both stood near the edge of the lake. It was a moonlit night and a mild breeze7 was blowing. The rabbit asked the elephant to look carefully into the water of the lake.

When the king elephant looked into the water， he saw the reflection of the moon. Just then a mild breeze blew and created ripples in the water of the lake. With the ripples， the reflection of the moon in the water also became wavy and disturbed8. Pointing to the disturbed reflection of the moon， the little rabbit said， “Look for yourself， how annoyed God Moon is with you！He may even curse9 you to death， if you do not ask for his forgiveness.”

The king elephant became extremely frightened and promised that he or any member of his herd would never visit the Moons lake again.

The clever trick of the little rabbit worked and all the rabbits lived happily， thereafter. The story tells us that intelligence is superior to might10.

從前，有一大群大象住在丛林里。他们的国王是一头巨大的长牙象。他以极大的爱和关怀照顾着象群的所有成员。

一次，这个地区遭受了一场严重的干旱。所有的鸟和动物都开始陆续渴死。象王知道他必须尽快找到水。他让象群的成员去不同的方向寻找水源。其中的一个在远处的树林里发现了一个满是水的大湖。象王非常高兴，命令所有的大象都向那个湖进发。

大象开始为象群中的所有成员清理通往湖边的道路。在去丛林的路上还有一群兔子。怀着尽快到达湖边的激动之情，大象们的脚下踩到了许多兔子。所有的大象都很高兴到达了湖边。他们在湖里玩了一整天，在水里嬉戏，一旦完全尽兴了，他们就离开了。

兔子们惊慌失措，因为他们知道大象们很快就会回来。他们的国王召开了一个会议。他说：“一群野蛮的象已经在我们领地附近的湖边安家了。他们已经杀死或弄伤了我们数千国民。我相信，他们很快就会回来的。因此，我们必须想个办法阻止他们以避免更多的伤亡。”一只小兔子站起来说：“我有一个计划，可以把大象赶出这片森林。等象王再来这边的时候，我要去见他。”

第二天，当这只兔子看到大象群再次向他们这边走来时，他爬上一块巨大的岩石，大声喊道：“大象之王，请听我说。”象王听到了他的声音，转过身来。“你是谁？”他问道。“我是月亮的使者。”兔子回答说。他又用坚定的语气补充道：“我来这里是要告诉你，月亮对你很生气，因为你弄脏了他的湖水。他正在考虑严厉惩罚你的行为。”象王听到这话，吓了一跳。他说：“请带我去月亮神那里吧。我想寻求他的宽恕。”这只聪明的兔子说：“好吧！今晚独自在湖边和我见面。”

那天晚上，象王按照兔子说的独自来到了湖边。兔子和大象都站在湖边。那是一个月光明亮的夜晚，微风习习。兔子让大象仔细观察湖水。

当象王往水里看时，他看到了月亮的倒影。就在这时，一阵微风吹来，湖水泛起涟漪。随着涟漪，月亮在水中的倒影也变得起伏动荡。指着晃荡的月亮倒影，小兔子说：“你自己看看，月亮神对你多恼火啊！如果你不请求他的宽恕，他甚至可能会诅咒你死。”

象王变得极其害怕，并承诺他或他的象群中的任何一个成员再也不会造访月亮湖了。

小兔子的聪明伎俩奏效了，从此以后所有的兔子都过着幸福的生活。这个故事告诉我们，智胜于力。

（英语原文选自：mocomi.com）

【Notes】

1. tusker [■] n. 有长牙的动物（象，野猪等） 2. utmost [■] adj. 极度的;最远的

3. colony [■] n. 聚集地;动物栖息地 4. trample [■] v. 践踏

5. frolic [■] v. 嬉戏 6. soil [■] v. 弄脏

7. breeze [■] n. 微风 8. disturbed [■] adj. 扰乱的;动荡不安的

9. curse [■] v. 诅咒 10. might [■] n. 强大力量，势力