7 The Leap-Frog

CHAPTER 7 The Leap-Frog Once upon a time, when animals and people spoke to each other as equals, a Flea, a Grasshopper, and a Leap-Frog wanted to see who could jump the highest. These three famous jumpers invited the whole world to a festival in which they would compete. Upon hearing of this festival, the King offered his daughter's hand in marriage to the winner of the competition. "I will marry the Princess to the one who can jump the highest," the King declared. "A contest is

第七章跳蛙从前，动物和人都是平等相待的，有一只跳蚤、一只蚱蜢和一只跳蛙要比比谁跳得最高。 这三位著名的跳远运动员邀请全世界的人参加他们的比赛。 听到这个节日，国王把他的女儿嫁给了比赛的获胜者。 “谁跳得最高，我就把公主嫁给谁。”国王宣布。 “比赛是

only as good as its reward, and my daughter is most precious to me." The Flea stepped forward first to present himself to the King and the Princess. "It is my greatest pleasure, Your Highnesses, to serve you in any way I can," said the Flea with a noble bow of his head. Then he turned, faced the crowd, and waved to the people as if he were already part of the royal family. Next was the Grasshopper. He wore a green uniform, which was a sign of his family's military tradition. He, too, bowed low before the King and the Princess. He sang his own praises rather loudly. "I am the brightest and most handsome of creatures," Grasshopper told them. Both the Flea and the Grasshopper were quite sure that they were each good enough to marry a Princess. They were each quite

我的女儿对我来说是最宝贵的。” 跳蚤第一个走上前来，把自己介绍给国王和公主。 “这是我最大的荣幸，殿下，我愿意尽我所能为您服务。”跳蚤高贵地低下头说。 然后他转过身，面向人群，向人们挥手，好像他已经是王室的一员了。 下一个是蚱蜢。他穿着绿色的制服，这是他家军事传统的标志。 他也在国王和公主面前深深鞠躬。 他相当大声地自吹自擂。 “我是最聪明、最漂亮的动物，”蚱蜢告诉他们。 跳蚤和蚱蜢都很自信，他们都有资格娶一位公主。 他们都很安静。

sure that they would win. In contrast with his bragging challengers, the Leap-Frog said nothing. But that doesn't mean nothing was said about him. Actually, the people had a great deal to say about the Leap-Frog. "He is definitely from a good and noble family," said the Royal Dog. "I believe he may be a prophet of some sort," said the Old Royal Counselor. "Look at the Leap-Frog's back. We can predict if the coming winter will be harsh or mild just from its color," he added. "He has quite a royal expression," murmured someone in the crowd. "Silence!" ordered the King. "Keep your thoughts to yourselves until the contest is won." The drums rolled. The trumpets sounded. The crowd clapped and cheered. The Flea,

他们肯定会赢。与那些吹牛的挑战者相比，跳蛙什么也没说。 但这并不意味着没人说他。 事实上，人们对跳蛙有很多话要说。 “他绝对来自一个高贵的家庭，”皇家狗说。 “我相信他可能是个先知。”老御前顾问说。 “看跳蛙的背。 我们可以通过颜色来预测即将到来的冬天是寒冷还是温和。” “他有一种很高贵的表情，”人群中有人低声说。 “安静！”国王命令道。 “在比赛获胜之前，把你的想法藏在心里。” 鼓声隆隆。号角吹响了。 人群鼓掌欢呼。 跳蚤,

the Grasshopper, and the Leap-Frog all mounted the jumping platform. "First jumper!" called the Royal Page. The Flea bowed again to the King and the crowd. He crouched lower than low on his

蚱蜢和跳蛙都爬上了跳台。 “第一跳！”皇家侍从喊道。 跳蚤又向国王和人群鞠了一躬。 他蹲得更低了

little flea knees. "Here... I... go!" he called out. Then the Flea jumped high in the sky. "Where did he go?" the crowd wondered. The Flea was nowhere in sight. "Disqualified!" declared the Royal Judge. "Since the Flea cannot be seen, it is clear he did not jump. He is a dishonorable contestant. Disqualified, I say!" he repeated. "Second jumper!" announced the Royal Page. The Grasshopper rubbed his legs together and chirped, "One, two, three. Look at me!" The Grasshopper jumped into the air and landed... right on the King's face. The King was so surprised, he fell right off his throne! "Ill-mannered!" declared the Royal Judge. Then he helped the King back into his seat. "Impolite insect!" the Royal Judge muttered to himself.

小跳蚤的膝盖。“在这里…… 我…走！”他喊道。然后跳蚤在天空中跳得很高。 “他到哪里去了？” 跳蚤不见了。 “不合格！”皇家裁判宣布。 “既然看不见跳蚤，显然它没有跳。 他是一个不光彩的选手。 不合格，我说！”他重复道。 “第二跳！”皇家侍从宣布。 蚱蜢搓着腿，唧唧喳喳地叫着：“一、二、三。 看着我！”蚱蜢跳到了空中，落了下来…… 正好打在国王脸上。国王非常惊讶，他从王位上摔了下来！“没礼貌！”皇家法官宣布。 然后他扶国王回到座位上。 “不礼貌的昆虫！”皇家法官自言自语。

At last it was the Leap-Frog's turn. The drums rolled. The trumpets sounded. The crowd clapped and cheered. But the Leap-Frog didn't move. "Is he ill?" the Royal Dog asked. "Is he afraid?" the crowd began to wonder. "Will he never jump?" the Royal Judge thundered. But then, quick as lightning, the Leap-Frog went pop! He didn't jump up. He didn't jump forward. He jumped sideways, right into... the Princess's lap. Leap-Frog jumped so gently and in such a gentlemanly way that the pretty Princess did not budge from her golden stool. "Leap-Frog is the winner!" the King declared. "But I jumped much higher," the Grasshopper cried. "I jumped the highest!" shouted the Flea. "The Leap-Frog knows there is nothing in

最后轮到跳蛙了。 鼓声隆隆。号角吹响了。 人群鼓掌欢呼。 但是跳蛙没有动。 “他病了吗？”御犬问道。 “他害怕了吗？” “他永远不会跳下去吗？”皇家法官怒吼道。 但是，像闪电一样快，跳蛙砰的一声炸开了！他没有跳起来。 他没有向前跳。他侧身一跳，就跳进了…… 公主的膝盖。跳蛙跳得那么温柔，那么有绅士风度，美丽的公主站在她的金凳子上一动也不动。 “跳蛙赢了！”国王宣布。 “但是我跳得更高，”蚱蜢叫道。 “我跳得最高！”跳蚤喊道。 跳蛙知道里面什么也没有