17.木匠和蛇, The Woodman and the Serpent (mù jiàng hé shé)

zài yī gè hán lěng de dōng tiān ，

在一个寒冷的冬天，

mù jiàng lí kāi tā gōng zuò de dì fāng zhǔn bèi huí jiā，

木匠离开他工作的地方准备回家，

zài tú zhōng tā kàn dào yī gè hēi sè de dōng xī tǎng zài xuě dì lǐ 。

在途中他看到一个黑色的东西躺在雪地里。

tā zǒu jìn yī kàn ， fā xiàn hǎo xiàng shì yī tiáo dòng jiāng de shé 。

他走近一看，发现好像是一条冻僵的蛇。

yú shì ，tā jiāng shé jiǎn qǐ lái fàng jìn zì jǐ wēn nuǎn de huái lǐ ，

于是，他将蛇捡起来放进自己温暖的怀里，

biàn jí cōng cōng gǎn zhe huí jiā 。 dàng tā jìn dào jiā mén ér zhī hòu ，

便急匆匆赶着回家。当他进到家门儿之后，

mù jiàng bǎ shé fàng zài bì lú biān ，

木匠把蛇放在壁炉边，

hái zǐ men kàn zhe shé màn màn de sū xǐng guò lái 。

孩子们看着蛇慢慢的苏醒过来。

qí zhōng yī gè xiǎo hái ér wān shēn qù mō tā ，

其中一个小孩儿弯身去摸它，

nà shé jiù tái qǐ tóu tǔ chū xìn zǐ hé dú yá xiǎng yǎo sǐ tā 。

那蛇就抬起头吐出信子和毒牙想咬死他。

yú shì ， mù jiàng zhuā qǐ fǔ tóu bǎ shé kǎn wéi liǎng duàn ér 。   

于是，木匠抓起斧头把蛇砍为两段儿。

tā tàn xī shuō ： “ ài ， è rén shì bù huì zhī ēn tú bào de ” 。 

他叹息说：“唉，恶人是不会知恩图报的”。

One wintry day

zài yī gè hán lěng de dōng tiān ，

a Woodman was tramping home from his work 

mù jiàng lí kāi tā gōng zuò de dì fāng zhǔn bèi huí jiā，

When he saw something black lying on the snow.  

zài tú zhōng tā kàn dào yī gè hēi sè de dōng xī tǎng zài xuě dì lǐ 。

When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead.

tā zǒu jìn yī kàn ， fā xiàn hǎo xiàng shì yī tiáo dòng jiāng de shé 。

But he took it up and put it in his bosom 

yú shì ，tā jiāng shé jiǎn qǐ lái fàng jìn zì jǐ wēn nuǎn de huái lǐ ，

to warm while he hurried home. As soon as he got indoors

biàn jí cōng cōng gǎn zhe huí jiā 。 dàng tā jìn dào jiā mén ér zhī hòu ，

he put the Serpent down on the hearth before the fire.

mù jiàng bǎ shé fàng zài bì lú biān ，

The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again.

hái zǐ men kàn zhe shé màn màn de sū xǐng guò lái 。

Then one of them stooped down to stroke it,

qí zhōng yī gè xiǎo hái ér wān shēn qù mō tā ，

but the Serpent raised its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the child to death.  

nà shé jiù tái qǐ tóu tǔ chū xìn zǐ hé dú yá xiǎng yǎo sǐ tā 。

So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the Serpent in two.

yú shì ， mù jiàng zhuā qǐ fǔ tóu bǎ shé kǎn wéi liǎng duàn ér 。   

"Ah," said he,"No gratitude from the wicked."

tā tàn xī shuō ： “ ài ， è rén shì bù huì zhī ēn tú bào de ” 。