朝、大きく黒いカラスはお腹がへったので、あちこちに飛んで食べ物を探した。地上に美味しそうなパンがあって、カラスは素早く飛んで降り、嘴でパンを摘んだ。そして、近くの木に飛んだ。そこで、カラスはパンを食べるつもりだ。A black crow was hungry and flying around looking for food. He found a big piece of bread on the ground and picked it up in his beak. He then flew to a tree nearby, ready to eat the bread.
散歩していたキツネはカラスのパンを見た。うわーあのパンは美味そうだ！食べたいなあ、欲しいなあ、と彼は思った。A fox passed by. It saw the crow perched on the tree with the bread in his beak. The fox thought to himself, “Mmm, that bread looks so tasty. I have to find a way to get it from the crow.”
キツネは大声で言った。「カラスさん、今日はとてもハンサムだね！カラスさんの翼は星のようにキラキラしているね！鳥の王様のようだ！カラスさんの声はどうだろう？きっととても美しい声だろうね？」The fox walked up to the tree and said, “Oh crow, you are looking so handsome today. Your feathers are so glossy and sparkling. You look like the king of the birds. I am sure your voice is as majestic as your presence.”
カラスはキツネの言葉を聞いて嬉しかった。でも、パンが嘴にあるので、答えることはできなかった。 The crow was pleased to hear the fox’s praise. But he could not say a word because of the bread in his beak.
キツネは続けた。「鳥の王さま！私に王さまの声を聞かせてください！一番幸せなキツネにさせてください！」The fox continued, “Oh king of the birds! Do let me have the pleasure of hearing you sing. I will be the most blessed fox.”
そんな褒め言葉をカラスは初めて聞いた。もう我慢できなかった！カラスは嘴を開けて、大声で鳴いた。「カアア！」The crow, who had never heard such praise, could no longer control himself. He raised his head to the sky and began to caw loudly.
パンが落ちた。口を開けていたキツネはパンを咥えて、走って逃げた。また、お腹がへったカラスは食べ物が無くなった。 And down fell the bread right into the waiting fox’s mouth. The fox got what he wanted and the crow was left hungry again.
カバーはPixabayからです。Cover image by Ylanite Koppens from Pixabay