黔无驴，有好事者，船载以入；至则无可用，放之山下。虎见之，庞然大物也，以为神；蔽林间窥之，稍出近之，憗憗然，莫相知。他日，驴一鸣，虎大骇远遁，以为且噬已也，甚恐；然往来视之，觉无异能者；益习其声，又近出前后，终不敢博。稍近益狎，荡倚冲冒，驴不胜怒，蹄之。虎因喜，计之曰：“技止此耳！”因跳踉大㘎，断其喉，尽其肉，乃去。
——《柳河东集》
The
Donkey of Guizhou
There
were no donkeys in Guizhou until an eccentric took one there by boat; but
finding no use for it he set it loose in the hills. A tiger who saw this
monstrous-looking beast thought it must be divine. It first surveyed the donkey
from under cover, then ventured a little nearer, still keeping a respectful
distance however. One
day the donkey brayed, and the tiger took fright and fled, for fear of being
bitten. It was utterly terrified. But it came back for another look, and decided
this creature was not so formidable after all. Then, growing used to the
braying, it drew nearer, though it still dared not attack. Coming nearer still,
it began to take liberties, shoving, jostling, and charging roughly, till the
donkey lost its temper and kicked out. “So that is all it can
do!” thought the tiger, greatly pleased. Then
it leaped on the donkey and sank its teeth into it, severing its throat and
devouring it before going on its way.
Collected
Works of Liu Zongyuan
（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译） |
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