寓言：葫芦和松树

    紧靠一棵又高又大的松树旁边植着一株葫芦。季节良好，葫芦很短时间就抽芽伸展开来，沿树往上爬，丝蔓缠着树枝，直到遮盖松树的全身并高耸到树顶之上。
    叶子这样大，花和果这样美，葫芦拿这些和松树纤细的针叶比较，竟狂妄地认为，两相对照自己较松树高贵得多了。
    “嗨，”葫芦说，“你长成这样高需要的年数比我需要的天数还多哩。”
    “的确是这样，”松树说，“但是，在很多个冬天和夏天，我经受了剧烈的严寒与火热的酷暑，你看我还和多年以前的我没有一点改变。没有什么能够征服我。但是你的族类处在这种环境考验时，首先，枯萎病和严霜肯定要挫掉你的傲气。一霎时你的繁荣会被全部剥掉的。”
    
The Gourd and the Pine

   A gourd was once planted close beside a large and noble pine tree. The season was kindly, and the gourd shot itself up in a short time, climbing by the boughs, and twisting about them, till it covered and overtopped the tree itself.
   The leaves were so large, and the flowers and fruit so fair, that the gourd, comparing them with the slender needles of the pine, had the assurance to think itself of greater value in the comparison.
   "Why," said the gourd, "You have been more years in growing to this stature than I have been days."
   "That is true," said the tree; "but after the many winters and summers that I have endured, the many blasting colds and parching heats, you see me the very same that I was long years ago. Nothing has overcome me.
   But when your race are put to the proof, the first blight or frost invariably brings down that pride of yours. In an hour you are stripped of all your glory."
