《蚊子和狮子》出自《伊索寓言》，篇幅短小，情节性强，语言生动，所刻画的主要形象鲜明突出。作者在蚊子和狮子的较量中，将两个人之间的战争诙谐地表现出来，最后又在蚊子被蜘蛛的束缚失败中结束，作者在最后的总结中点明了寓意。这一则寓言是用来讽喻骄傲自大的人，告诉孩子要谦虚。
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伊索寓言：The Mosquito and the Lion 蚊子与狮子
It is a hot summer day. A Lion is sleeping under the shade. A little Mosquito sees the sleeping Lion.Mosquito: Look at that big Lion. He’s sleeping. I will wake him up And make him mad. This is going to be fun. Ha, ha, ha.
The Mosquito buzzes around the Lion’s head.Mosquito: Wake up, you big lazy Lion! Zzz…Zzz…Lion: Uh… Who is it? sleepy voice, eyes still half closed Who is making all that noise?Mosquito: It’s me. I’m a Mosquito.Lion: A Mosquito? Stop bothering me and go away. I’m sleeping.Mosquito: I don’t want to go away. I like it here. Zzz…Zzz…Lion: I’m warning you. Go away before I get mad.Mosquito: I don’t care. I am not afraid of you.Lion: What？You’re not afraid me, the king of Animals?
The Lion gets curious and slowly opens his eyes. The Mosquito is so small that the Lion can’t easily see it.Lion: Where are you? I can’t see you. Are you hiding?Mosquito: Of course not. Here I am. I’m on top of your nose.Lion: My nose? Oh, there you are. You are so small.Mosquito: I may be small, but I am fast. I can also fly. Can you?Lion: I can’t fly. But I’m the strongest of all of the animals.Mosquito: Catch me then.
The Lion tries to catch the Mosquito, but fails.Mosquito: You can’t catch me. So I am stronger than you.Lion: A litter insect like you? Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s nonsense.Mosquito: Size is not important. You can’t catch me. But I can chase you away.Lion: You? Chase me away? That’s impossible.Mosquito: I can do it. Do you want to make a bet?Lion: Make a bet with you? Why not? But how will you chase me away？Mosquito: You’ll find out. If you run away from me, I win.Lion: This is getting interesting. Okay. I accept your bet. But if I win,you better fly away from here.Mosquito: Sure. It’s a deal.Lion: I’ll give you ten minutes.Mosquito: Okay. Before I begin, this is your last chance to give up.Lion: Forget it!Mosquito: Here I go then! Zzz…Zzz…
The Mosquito flies around the Lion and bites the Lion’s nose. He doesn’t fell anything.Lion: Did you start yet?Mosquito: Yes. Didn’t you feel it? Didn’t it hurt?Lion: I didn’t feel a thing. I told you. You are no match for me. Just go away and let me sleep.Mosquito: No way! You’ll feel something soon.
The Mosquito bites the Lion’s nose, ears, and paws. But it is no use. This time the Mosquito gets mad.Lion: Uh… Little Mosquito, it’s no use. Just give up.Mosquito: Stay right here. I’ll get my friends.Lion: It still won’t work.Mosquito: Oh yeah! We’ll see about that.
The Mosquito asks his friends for help.Mosquitos:Zzz…Zzz…Zzz…Zzz…Lion: What’s that noise? Oh my goodness! There are so many of them! They’re coming at me!
More than a dozen Mosquitos attack the Lion at once.Lion: Ouch, ouch! That stings. Stop! Stop! That hurts.Mosquito: Keep attacking. He’ll give up soon.Lion: Stop it!Mosquito: Go on!Lion: I can’t stand it anymore. It stings everywhere. I give up.
The Lion runs far away from the Mosquitos.Mosquito: Look at him run! Ha, ha, ha.
The Mosquito’s friends all go back home. The little Mosquito feels so good that he keeps flying around. He doesn’t see the spider web just ahead.Mosquito: What a day! I feel so good. But wait a minute. What’s this? I can’t move. I’m stuck!Spider: Hello there, little Mosquito. I have been waiting for you. You will be my lunch today.Mosquito: I’m stuck in a SPIDER WEB!!! I just chased away a Lion, But I can’t get away from a Spider. Boo hoo hoo.Spider: Come here. Gulp!
MORALAlways be humble.
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