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The Frogs Desiring a King
青蛙求王
The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them;
青蛙们在一片湿软的沼泽里尽情地、快乐地生活着；
they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody troubling with them.
他们到处戏水，什么也不关心，谁也不找他们的麻烦。
But some of them thought that this was not right, that they should have a king and a proper constitution,
但有一些青蛙认为这样不好，他们应该有一个国王和一个合适的宪法，
so they determined to send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted.
于是，他们便向朱庇特请愿，请求赐给他们一个国王。
"Mighty Jove," they cried, "send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order."
他们大喊着：“万能的朱庇特，赐给我们一个国王吧，来统治我们，管理我们！”
Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log, which came down splashing into the swamp.
朱庇特不屑于他们如此愚蠢的请求，便将一根木头扔到青蛙居住的池塘中，溅起了水花。
The Frogs were frightened out of their lives by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster;
青蛙们被他们中间的骚动吓得魂飞魄散，所有青蛙都跑去岸边远远看着这个可怕的“魔鬼”。
but after a time, seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log, and even dared to touch it; still it did not move.
过了一会，发现木头并不会动，一两个最大胆的青蛙便冒险向圆木游过去，甚至还敢摸一摸，不过木头还是没动。
Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it, thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same;
后来最大胆的青蛙直接跳上圆木，跳来跳去，后来其他的青蛙也开始照做，
and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst.
有时青蛙们每天都忙着自己的事情，根本没有注意到他们中间躺着的新圆木国王。
But this did not suit them, so they sent another petition to Jove, and said to him, "We want a real king; one that will really rule over us."
她们开始不满意了，于是又去求见朱庇特，说：“我们想要一个真的国王，能真正统治我们的国王才行。”
Now this made Jove angry, so he sent among them a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up.
朱庇特对此十分生气，便派了一只鹳去管制青蛙。结果，鹳一来到池塘里，便开始全力逮吃青蛙。
Then the Frogs repented when too late.
青蛙们都后悔了，但已经为时已晚了。
Better no rule than cruel rule.
苛政不如没有统治。
