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很久以前，在尼曰利亚，有一个天生的盲人，并且还天生跛足。一天晚上，他坐在自家门前，想到自己既不能走路也看不见任何东西，他不禁自怨自艾起来。 突然，一只鸽子飞到了他身上穿的袍子里。 "救救我！”鸽子轻声说。 这时一只鹰停在了他的面前，说：“这只鸽子是我的。" 盲人紧紧抓住了自己的长袍。 鹰又说：“求求你，你不知道我现在有多饿。如果我吃不到那只鸽子，我会饿死的。"它又补充道：“我可告诉你啊，鹰能看到方圆几里的地方。如果你把鸽子放出来给我,我就告诉你如何恢复视力。” 盲人动摇了。弱肉强食，不是自然界里天经地义的事吗？ "千万别听那只鹰的！”鸽子着急地低声喊，“如果你救我于绝境，我会告诉你如何治好你的腿疾，让你正常行走。” 盲人该怎么办呢？幸好，这时传来了他好朋友的脚步声，越来越近。 “我是应该治眼睛呢？还是治腿?”他问好朋友。 好朋友沉默了。“嗯，"最后他说道，“这事你得自己定夺。我不能帮你做这个决定。” 朋友匆匆走开的时候，他气急败坏地冲着朋友喊道：“下次如果你来问我，我也会给你这么好的建议！” 盲人考虑了几分钟，便问那只鹰："如果用一只鸡来代替那只鸽子，行吗？”鹰说：“那可强多了！我就是因为抓不到鸡,迫不得已才盯上这只鸽子的。” 盲人说：“我明白了。”然后他又跟鸽子说，"我会救你一命，但是你必须遵守对我的承诺。”接着又对鹰说:“我会给你食物，但你也必须遵守对我的承诺。” 这样，盲人给了鹰一只鸡。作为报答，鹰告诉了他必须得找到一种叶子，经过一番处理之后，把叶子的汁挤出来滴到眼睛里,这样他就能看见世界了。于是盲人放走了这只鹰。 等到鹰消失在天空中，盲人又对鸽子说：“我保护了你。你必须遵守你的承诺。”于是鸽子便告诉他该怎样做才能治好腿,因此他也放了这只鸽子。 盲人遵照了鸽子和鹰这两只鸟的指引，现在他高兴地发现自己既能看得清清楚楚，又能走得稳稳当当了。 The Man, the Hawk and the Dove Long ago in Nigeria, there was a man who had been both blind and lame all his life. One evening, as he was sitting in front of his house, he couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. After all, he could not walk or see. All of a sudden, a dove flew into his robe. “Save me!” whispered the dove. Then a hawk stopped in front of the man. “This dove is mine，，，said the hawk. The man gripped the robe tightly. “I beg you, you don’t know how terribly hungry I am. If I don't have that dove, I will die，” said the hawk. Then the hawk added, “I’ll tell you what. Hawks see for miles a- round. If you release the dove to me, I’ll share the secret of how your eyesight can be restored. ” The man hesitated. After all, wasn’t it the basic nature of all things that one beast hunts another? “You mustn’t listen to that hawk!” whispered the dove frantically. “If you save me from certain death, I’ll tell you how your legs can be healed so you can walk. ” What was he to do? Fortunately, the footsteps of his best friend were approaching. “Should I gain my sight? Or should I gain my legs?” he asked his friend. The friend was silent. “Well，” he said at last, “you will have to paddle your own canoe. I can’t help you decide this one. ’’ “Next time you ask, I’ll be sure to give good advice, too!” the man called out as his friend walked quickly away. The man thought for a few minutes. He asked the hawk, “Suppose you should get a chicken instead of the dove. Would that be all right?” The hawk said, “Far better! I couldn't get a chicken, so I had to settle for this dove. ” The man said, “I see. ” Then he told the dove, “Now, I will save your life, but you must keep your promise to me. ” And he said to the hawk, “I will provide you with food, and you are bound to keep your promise to me. ” So the man gave a chicken to the hawk. In return the hawk told him that he must get a certain leaf, prepare it, and squeeze the juice from it into his eyes. Then he would be able to see again. So the man released the hawk. After the hawk had disappeared into the sky he said to the dove, “I protected you. You must keep your promise to me. ” So the dove told him what he must do to regain the use of his legs. And he released the dove. The man followed the instructions of both the birds, the dove and the hawk, and was delighted to find that he could now see perfectly, and walk steadily. |
