Truyện Ngụ Ngôn: 98 - Khỉ và Lạc Đà

Khỉ Và Lạc Đà

Trong lễ mừng chúa sơn lâm

Khỉ được mời để ra làm trò vui

Khỉ liền đứng ra trổ tài

Quay cuồng điệu vũ chẳng ai sánh bằng.

Muôn thú hoan hô tưng bừng

Lạc đà thấy vậy đem lòng tị ghen

Nhảy vậy có gì đáng khen

Lạc đà sẽ nhảy cho xem một bài.

Đứng hai chân để trổ tài

Bắt đầu biểu diễn xem ai sánh bằng

Nhưng xem ra thật nhố nhăng

Mình thô, cổ ngoẹo, chân cong vụng về

Dưới chân bộ móng nặng nề

Xem ra kiểm soát có bề khó khăn

Lướt qua mặt chúa sơn lâm

Khiến cho muôn thú hét ầm đuổi ra.

Lúc món ăn nhẹ dọn ra

Xương sườn và bướu Lạc đà còn tươi.

Cố gắng làm cho hơn người

Hoá ra trò khỉ hại đời có khi.

Bùi Phạm Thành

(ngày 27 tháng 4 năm 2021)

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The Monkey And The Camel

by Aesop

At a great celebration in honor of King Lion, the Monkey was asked to dance for the company. His dancing was very clever indeed, and the animals were all highly pleased with his grace and lightness.

The praise that was showered on the Monkey made the Camel envious. He was very sure that he could dance quite as well as the Monkey, if not better, so he pushed his way into the crowd that was gathered around the Monkey, and rising on his hind legs, began to dance. But the big hulking Camel made himself very ridiculous as he kicked out his knotty legs and twisted his long clumsy neck. Besides, the animals found it hard to keep their toes from under his heavy hoofs.

At last, when one of his huge feet came within an inch of King Lion's nose, the animals were so disgusted that they set upon the Camel in a rage and drove him out into the desert.

Shortly afterward, refreshments, consisting mostly of Camel's hump and ribs, were served to the company.

Do not try to ape your betters.