The feathers of a Goose put the newly-fallen snow to the blush. Proud of this dazzling gift of Nature, she considered herself intended for a Swan, rather than for that which she was.

有一只鹅，羽毛洁白如玉，连刚刚飘落的白雪都不能与之媲美。她对大自然给予她的这份光彩炫目的礼物大为骄傲，以为自己终会成为一只天鹅，而不再是现在这般模样。

Accordingly , separating herself from her companions, she swam, solitarily¹ and majestically², round the pond. She now stretched her neck, the treacherous³ shortness of which she endeavored to obviate⁴ with all her might. Now she tried to give it the graceful⁵ bend, which designates the beautiful Swan the bird of Apollo.

于是，她离开同伴们，独自在池塘里神气地游来游去，她伸伸脖颈，竭力想拉长她那短短的脖子。她又试图优雅地把脖子弯一下，美丽的天鹅正是因此而被称为太阳神之鸟的。

But in vain, it was too stiff, and with all her pains, she remained a ridiculous Goose, without inspiring a single beholder⁶ with the least idea of her resemblance to a Swan.

可是白费劲儿，她的脖子太硬了。她费尽全力，还是只可笑的鹅，没有任何一个观看者会觉得她和天鹅有什么相像之处。

How many geese are there, without wings, who, for similar assumption, become laughing-stocks to their neighbors !

有多少没有翅膀的鹅，因为同样的自负，而成为周围动物的笑柄！