The Deer and the Lion

 One warm day a Deer went down to a brook¹ to get a drink. The stream was smooth and clear, and he could see himself in the water. He looked at his horns² and was very proud of them, for they were large and long and had many branches, but when he saw his feet he was ashamed³ to own them, they were so slim and small.

 

While he stood knee-deep in the water, and was thinking only of his fine horns, a Lion saw him and came leaping⁴ out from the tall grass to get him. The Deer would have been caught at once if he had not jumped quickly out of the brook. He ran as fast as he could, and his feet were so light and swift⁵ that he soon left the Lion far behind. But by and by he had to pass through some woods, and, as he was running, his horns were caught in some vines⁶ that grew among the trees. Before he could get loose the Lion was upon him.

 

"Ah me!" cried the Deer, "the things which pleased me most will now cause my death; while the things which I thought so mean and poor would have carried me safe out of danger."

 

1 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

2 horns   

n.角( horn的名词复数 )；号；角质；（蜗牛等的）触角

参考例句：

• The young goat was just beginning to grow horns. 这只小山羊刚开始长角。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The blare of horns could be heard in the distance. 可以听到远处传来的号角声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 ashamed   

adj.感到惭愧，感到害臊，因为羞耻或勉强作某事

参考例句：

• He is ashamed to show his face at the club.他不好意思在俱乐部露脸。
• You ought to be ashamed of your foolish behaviour.你应当为自己的愚蠢行为而感到羞耻。

4 leaping   

n.跳跃adj.跳跃的，跳跃而行的v.跳( leap的现在分词 )；猛然行动；骤增；剧增

参考例句：

• The dog is leaping at him. 这只狗朝他跳过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The whole sea is full of golden eyes, all leaping. 满海全是金眼睛，全在跳跃。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

5 swift   

n.雨燕，大滚筒；adj.迅速的，快的，敏捷的，立刻的；adv.迅速地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He is swift to hear,but slow to speak.他听力敏锐，但不善言辞。
• He made a remarkably swift recovery.他康复得相当快。

6 vines   

n.藤本植物，藤( vine的名词复数 )；葡萄树

参考例句：

• Melons grow on vines. 瓜长在藤上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Grape vines overarched the garden path. 葡萄藤在花园小路上方形成了拱形。 来自《简明英汉词典》