To labour all one's life, and to have what in view? Why, to die without having achieved distinction, exactly like all the rest.
唉,临终也未能声名显赫,只是和其他蜜蜂一样默默无闻。
What a difference there is between us! When I spread my sounding pinions, and am borne along near the clouds, I am everywhere a cause of alarm.
我们之间真是有天壤之别啊!当我张开呼呼作响的翅膀,冲上云霄,普天之下一片惊慌。
The birds do not dare to rise from the ground ;the shepherds fear to repose beside their wellfed flocks, and the swift does, having seen me, will not venture out into the plain."
鸟儿们不敢飞离地面;牧羊人不敢静卧在肥壮的羊群身旁;连敏捷的母鹿看到我,也不敢走出森林踏上平原。”
But the Bee replies:" To thee be glory and honour! May Jupiter continue to pour on thee his bounteous gifts! I, however, born to work for the common good, do not seek to make my labour distinguished.
But, when I look at our honeycombs, I am consoled by the thought that there are in them a few drops of my own honey."
不过,当我看到我们的蜂巢,想到那里也有我的几滴蜂蜜,我就觉得很是安慰了。”
Fortunate is he, the field of whose labour is conspicuous! He gains added strength from the knowledge that the whole world witnesses his exploits.
虽然,工作领域引人注目的人很幸运,他们知道世人目睹了自己的成就,就平添了更多的力量
But how deserving of respect is he who, in humble obscurity, hopes for neither fame nor honour in return for all his labour, for all his loss of rest----who is animated by this thought only, that he works for the common good!