Truyện Ngụ Ngôn: 130 - Rùa Và Vịt Trời

Rùa Và Vịt Trời

Người ta thường vẫn nói rằng

Rùa khiêng nhà nó trên lưng suốt đời

Nhà đó không thể xa rời

Nên không thể đến những nơi khác nào.

Nhìn chim bay lượn trên cao

Nhìn Thỏ muốn đến nơi nào được ngay

Nhìn Sóc chạy nhảy, leo cây

Nghĩ mình, Rùa lại buồn thay cho mình

Thế giới bao la muốn nhìn

Nhưng chân nhỏ bé lê mình khó khăn.

Gặp Vịt, Rùa mới thở than

Vịt rằng: "Có cách để làm Rùa vui

Ngậm chặt khúc cây này rồi

Chúng tôi đưa bạn lên trời cùng bay

Luôn nhớ ngậm chặt khúc cây

Mở miệng là sẽ rớt ngay tiêu đời."

Vội vàng Rùa làm theo lời

Thế là cùng Vịt lên trời bay cao

Quạ bay qua thấy lạ sao

Nói rằng: "Chắc bạn ngôi cao vua Rùa."

"Dĩ nhiên" hãnh diện con Rùa

Chỉ nói như thế là Rùa rơi ngay

Mở miệng ra khỏi khúc cây

Trên trời rơi xuống nát thây con Rùa.

Mới hay ngu dại tò mò

Thêm huênh hoang nữa thế là thiệt thân.

Bùi Phạm Thành

(ngày 15 tháng 5 năm 2021)

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The Tortoise And The Ducks

by Aesop

The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that Jupiter punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he would not go to Jupiter's wedding, even when especially invited.

After many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that wedding. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise felt very sad and discontented. He wanted to see the world too, and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs that could hardly drag him along.

One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.

"We can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold of this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or you will be sorry."

The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the clouds.

Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried:

"This must surely be the King of Tortoises!"

"Why certainly——" began the Tortoise.

But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground, where he was dashed to pieces on a rock.

Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune