One day, an owl¹ flew persistently² towards the east till it was completely exhausted³, so it stopped in a forest to take a rest.

一天，猫头鹰一个劲儿地向东方飞去，飞得精疲力尽，停在树林里休息。

It happened that a turtledove was also resting there.

一只斑鸿恰巧也在那里休息。

Hearing the panting of the owl, it asked: "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

听见猫头鹰呼味呼味地喘气，就对猫头鹰说: “你这样急急忙忙地赶路，去哪儿呀?”

The owl said: "I am moving to the east."

猫头鹰说: “我想到东方去住。”

The turtledove asked closely: “Why？”

斑鸡追问: “为什么?”

The owl said: "The people in the west all say my cry is unpleasant and dislike me I cannot stay there any longer.

猫头鹰说:“西边的人，都说我叫的声音很难听，都讨厌我。在那儿我住不下去了。

I must move to a new place."

非换个地方不可!”

The turtledove said: "Can you solve your problem by changing a place?

斑鸿说: “难道换个地方就可以解决问题吗?

In my opinion, no matter where you move to, it won't help."

我看，不管你搬到哪里去，都没有用!”

The owl felt rather angry at the words of the turtledove, but it still asked in surprise: "Can you forecast the future?"

猫头鹰觉得斑坞的话太气人，便惊奇地问: “你能未卜先知?”

The turtledove said: "This is very simple.

斑鸡说:“这很简单。

If you don't change your cry, the people in the east will dislike you all the same."

如果你不改变你的叫声，那么东边的人也一样会讨厌你的!”