One day, the phoenix¹ celebrated² its birthday and all the birds came to congratulate it except the bat.

一天，凤凰做寿，百鸟都来庆贺，只有蝙蝠没有来。

The phoenix was very angry and blamed the bat:

凤凰非常恼火，谴责蝙蝠说:

“I am the king of birds, and you are my subordinate. Why are you so arrogant³ and impolite?”

“我是鸟中之王，你是我的属下，你为什么这样傲慢而没有礼貌?”

The bat replied:“I have four legs and belong to the beast family.I am not your subordinate.Why should I go to congratulate you?”

蝙蝠回答说:“我有四只脚，属于兽类，我不是你的属下。我为什么要朝贺你呢?”

On another day,the unicorn⁴ celebrated its birthday,and the bat didn’t go to congratulate it either.

又有一天，麒麟过生日，蝙蝠也没有去庆贺。

The unicorn was angry too and cursed the bat roundly.

麒麟也非常恼火，大骂蝙蝠。

The bat argued lamely:“I have wings and belong to the bird family, while you belong to the beast family. Why should I go to congratulate you?”

蝙蝠强辩说:“我有翅膀，属于禽类，而你属于兽类，我为什么要朝贺你呢?”