蝙蝠 . 伊索寓言

伊索寓言有兩則故事是關於蝙蝠一下子說自己是老鼠類、一下子說自己是鳥類。

兩則故事的教訓剛好相反。

一篇是說蝙蝠這樣做是投機，是不對的 :

The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat

The Birds and the Beasts declared war against each other. No compromise was possible, and so they went at it tooth and claw. It is said the quarrel grew out of the persecution the race of Geese suffered at the teeth of the Fox family. The Beasts, too, had cause for fight. The Eagle was constantly pouncing on the Hare, and the Owl dined daily on Mice.

It was a terrible battle. Many a Hare and many a Mouse died. Chickens and Geese fell by the score—and the victor always stopped for a feast.

Now the Bat family had not openly joined either side. They were a very politic race. So when they saw the Birds getting the better of it, they were Birds for all there was in it. But when the tide of battle turned, they immediately sided with the Beasts.

When the battle was over, the conduct of the Bats was discussed at the peace conference. Such deceit was unpardonable, and Birds and Beasts made common cause to drive out the Bats. And since then the Bat family hides in dark towers and deserted ruins, flying out only in the night.

【伊索寓言】蝙蝠 . 鳥 . 走獸

　很久以前，鳥類和走獸彼此交惡而宣戰。因為無法妥協，牠們只好以尖牙利爪解決。鳥類世界說爭議是來自於鵝族遭受狐狸家庭牙齒下的迫害﹔而走獸王國也有衝突的理由，牠們說老鷹不斷地突襲野兔、貓頭鷹每天吃老鼠。

　這是一場慘烈的戰爭。它持續了很久，雙方都各有勝負。許多兔子和老鼠死亡，雞和鵝也死了不少。而勝利者總是在得勝後停下了盛宴一番。

　當時，蝙蝠家族沒有公開加入任何一方。牠們是一個非常政治性的族群。因此，當他們看到鳥類佔優勢時，牠們宣稱牠們絕對是鳥類。但是，當情勢翻轉過來，他們立即選擇和走獸們站在一起。

　當戰爭結束，鳥類和走獸在和平會 議上 討論到蝙蝠的行為。大家都認為這種欺騙的行為是無法寬恕的，牠們決定共同將蝙蝠趕走。

　從此以後，蝙蝠就只能躲藏在黑暗的塔樓和遺棄的廢墟，直到晚上才出來偷偷地飛 。

另一篇則是鼓勵大家學蝙蝠的投機 :

The Bat and the Weasels

A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

【伊索寓言】蝙蝠與黃鼠狼

　一隻墜落地面的蝙蝠被黃鼠狼捉住，牠懇求黃鼠狼饒牠一命。

　黃鼠狼拒絕了牠，並表示自己是所有鳥類天生的敵人。

　蝙蝠告訴黃鼠狼，自己不是隻小鳥而是一隻老鼠，黃鼠狼因而釋放了牠。

　不久之後，這隻蝙蝠又掉到地上，並且被另一隻黃鼠狼捉住。

　蝙蝠一樣地求黃鼠狼不要吃牠，黃鼠狼則說自己特別討厭老鼠。

　蝙蝠向黃鼠狼保證自己並不是老鼠，是一隻蝙蝠，因此再度逃掉。

　隨機應變是種明智的舉動。

你要選擇那一則教你的小孩呢？

真實世界確實比較接近第二則 (蝙蝠的投機有好結果) 。

不過，我們還是可以從這兩則歸納出互不衝突的生活教訓。

那是什麼呢？

投機說謊是值得豉勵的，但是不要被抓到。