A farmer once caught an eagle in a trap.
一个农夫用夹子捉到了一只鹰
"I cannot let a magnificent bird like you end up in a cage." he said, releasing the spring that held the bird's leg. "You should be free to fly over the mountains and soar in the sky."
“我不能让像你这样一只雄健的鸟最后死在笼子里。”他说着，松开了抓住鸟腿的弹簧，“你应该自由地飞越群山，在天空翱翔。”
The bird looked at him gratefully and flew off. A few days later the farmer was resting at midday in the shade of an old wall. He was dozing comfortably after his lunch of bread and cheese when suddenly the eagle swooped down and plucked off his cap.
鸟儿感激地看着他，飞走了。几天后，农场主正午在一堵旧墙的阴凉处休息。午饭后，他正舒舒服服地打瞌睡，突然老鹰俯冲下来，摘下了他的帽子。
"What's that?" cried the farmer with a start, leaping to his feet and running after the bird. "Give me back my cap this minute. What kind of gratitude is that？"
“怎么了？”农夫惊叫起来，跳起来追赶那只鸟，“快把帽子还给我。那是什么感激之情？”
The eagle flew several yards away, then dropped the cap and hopped about on the ground beside it. The farmer picked the cap up, dusted it down, then turned crossly away. He was just in time to see a large section of the wall where he had been sitting crumble and fall in a heap.
老鹰飞了几码远，然后放下帽子，在它旁边的地上跳来跳去。农夫拿起帽子，掸去灰尘，然后生气地转过身去。他正好看到他坐着的那堵墙的一大块坍塌成一堆。
"Why, you saved my life, eagle," he said, looking round for the bird. But the eagle had flown away, and was only a speck in the clear blue sky.
“噢，你救了我的命，老鹰，”他说，环顾四周寻找那只鸟。但是老鹰已经飞走了，在晴空万里的天空留下一个小点。
One good turn deserves another.
善有善报。
标签： 英语寓言故事
