The Bees And Wasps And The Hornet
蜜蜂、黃蜂和大黃蜂
by Aesop
出自《伊索寓言》
A store of honey had been found in a hollow tree, and the Wasps declared positively that it belonged to them.
一棵空心樹裡被發現貯藏著蜂蜜，黃蜂堅稱這些蜂蜜是屬於它們的。
The Bees were just as sure that the treasure was theirs.
蜜蜂也和黃蜂一樣確信這珍釀是自己的。
The argument grew very pointed, and it looked as if the affair could not be settled without a battle, when at last, with much good sense, they agreedto let a judge decide the matter.
雙方之間的爭論變得越來越激烈，那陣勢看起來不打一架是解決不了這個問題的，最後它們非常明智地一致同意，讓一個法官來解決這個麻煩。
So they brought the case before the Hornet, justice of the peace in that part of the woods.
於是，它們就把這個案子交到了大黃蜂面前，大黃蜂可是那一帶最為公正的法官，平息了不少爭端。
When the Judge called the case, witnesses declared that they had seen certain winged creatures in the neighborhood of the hollow tree, who hummed loudly, and whose bodies were striped, yellow and black, like Bees.
法官開始審理這個案子的時候，證人們聲稱，在那棵空心樹附近確實住著某種會飛的動物，這些動物會發出很大的嗡嗡聲，而且它們有著條紋、黃色和黑色的肢體，就跟蜜蜂是的。
Counsel for the Wasps immediately insisted that this description fitted his clients exactly.
黃蜂的律師立馬堅稱，這描述完全符合它的委託人。
Such evidence did not help Judge Hornet to any decision, so he adjourned court for six weeks to give him time to think it over.
這樣的證據根本不能幫助大黃蜂法官做出任何決斷，於是它宣布休庭六周好讓它有時間仔細想想。
When the case came up again, both sides had a large number of witnesses.
當再次開庭審理這個案子的時候，雙方都有了很多證人。
An Ant was first to take the stand, and was about to be cross-examined, when a wise old Bee addressed the Court.
螞蟻第一個出來作證，正當他準備接受雙方律師盤問的時候，一隻聰明的老蜜蜂在庭上發了言。
"Your honor," he said, "the case has now been pending for six weeks.
If it is not decided soon, the honey will not be fit for anything.
「法官大人，」它說，「這案子已經被擱置了六周了，要是再不做出決斷，那些蜂蜜就沒什麼用了。
I move that the Bees and the Wasps be both instructed to build a honey comb.
我提議，讓蜜蜂和黃蜂各自去建造一個蜂窩。
Then we shall soon see to whom the honey really belongs."
那麼，我們將很快知曉，這些蜂蜜到底是誰的了。」
The Wasps protested loudly.
黃蜂們對此強烈抗議。
Wise Judge Hornet quickly understood why they did so: They knew they could not build a honey comb and fill it with honey.
而聰明的大黃蜂法官很快就明白了它們為什麼抗議得這麼激烈：黃蜂很清楚自己根本建造不出能夠裝蜂蜜的蜂窩。
"It is clear," said the Judge, "who made the comb and who could not have made it. The honey belongs to the Bees."
「很顯然，」法官說，「誰有能力建造這種蜂窩是十分明顯的。那些蜂蜜是屬於蜜蜂的。」
Ability proves itself by deeds.
正所謂：真才在手，吃喝不愁。