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.

有一只鵝，羽毛潔白如玉，連剛剛飄落的白雪都不能與之媲美。她對大自然給予她的這份光彩炫目的禮物大為驕傲，以為自己終會成為一只天鵝，而不再是現在這般模樣。

Accordingly , separating herself from her companions, she swam, solitarily and majestically, round the pond. She now stretched her neck, the treacherous shortness of which she endeavored to obviate with all her might. Now she tried to give it the graceful bend, which designates the beautiful Swan the bird of Apollo.

于是，她離開同伴們，獨自在池塘里神氣地游來游去，她伸伸脖頸，竭力想拉長她那短短的脖子。她又試圖優雅地把脖子彎一下，美麗的天鵝正是因此而被稱為太陽神之鳥的。

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

可是白費勁兒，她的脖子太硬了。她費盡全力，還是只可笑的鵝，沒有任何一個觀看者會覺得她和天鵝有什么相像之處。

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

有多少沒有翅膀的鵝，因為同樣的自負，而成為周圍動物的笑柄！