The Frogs were tired of governing the mselves. They had so much freedom that it had spoiled them, and they did nothing but sit around croaking in a bored manner and wishing for a government that could entertain them with the pomp and display of royalty, and rule them in a way to make them know they were being ruled. No milk and water government for them, they declared. So they sent a petition to Jupiter asking for a king.
 
        自由散漫的青蛙们，厌倦了自己管理自己。没有任何拘束的它们，完全被惯坏了，每天都没什么事情做，无非就是聚在一起，无聊地叽叽咕咕发牢骚。它们盼望有一个政府，可以让自己炫耀一番，展示展示王权。而且，政府的统治方式呢，得让自己明白是被管理着。青蛙们宣称，自己不要平庸无奇的政府。于是，它们就向朱庇特神递交了一份请愿书，让他赐给它们一个国王。
 
        Jupiter saw what simple and foolish creatures they were, but to keep them quiet and make them think they had a king he threw down a huge log, which fell into the water with a great splash. The Frogs hid themselves among the reeds and grasses, thinking the new king to be some fearful giant. But they soon discovered how tame and peaceable King Log was. In a short time the younger Frogs were using him for a diving platform, while the older Frogs made him a meeting place, where they complained loudly to Jupiter about the government.
 
        朱庇特神明白，青蛙们是多么头脑简单、愚蠢无知。但为了让它们保持安静，让它们以为自己拥有了一个国王，朱庇特神将一根巨大的木头扔进了池塘，一时水花四溅。这一下，青蛙们都躲在芦苇丛和草丛里，猜想这个国王一定是个很可怕的巨人。然而，它们很快就察觉到，这个木头国王是多么温顺和安静。没多久，一些年轻的青蛙，就把这块木头当作跳水的平台，年长的青蛙就把它当作开会的场所，大声地向朱庇特神抱怨自己的这个政府。
 
        To teach the Frogs a lesson the ruler of the gods now sent a Crane to be king of Frogland. The Crane proved to be a very different sort of king from old king Log. He gobbled up the poor Frogs right and left and they soon saw what fools they had been. In mournful croaks they begged Jupiter to take away the cruel tyrant before they should all be destroyed.
 
        为了给青蛙们一个教训，众神之神朱庇特派一只鹤当青蛙们的国王。事实证明，和原来的木头国王相比这只鹤的统治完全是另一种风格。它四处啄食可怜的青蛙，很快就让青蛙们意识到，自己是多么愚蠢。它们用悲哀的语调哀求着，请求朱庇特神在蛙族被完全毁灭之前，将这个残酷的暴君带走。
 
        “How now!” cried Jupiter “Are you not yet content? You have what you asked for and so you have only yourselves to blame for your misfortunes.”
 
        “什么？”朱庇特神喊道，“难道你们还不知足吗？你们所有的请求，我都一一满足了。现在，你们就只能怪自己运气不好喽。”
 
本故事重点词汇学习
croak 呱呱叫，发牢骚
entertain 娱乐，招待
pomp 盛况，壮丽
royalty 王权，皇室
petition 请愿（书）
log 圆木
splash 溅，斑点
tame 驯服（指动物）
gobble 狼吞虎咽，贪食
tyrant 暴君
 
一起学道理
 
Be sure you can better your condition before you seek to change.
在寻求改变之前，先确保这个变化能改善你的状况。