和平与战争

三只狗一边儿晒太阳一边儿谈话。

第一只狗梦幻地说道："生活在今日的狗国里确实是奇妙非凡。想想我们在大海里、陆地上、乃至天空中旅游的舒适安逸吧。再思量一下那些为了供狗儿们享福而搞出来的创造发明吧，甚至还有专供我们的眼睛、耳朵、鼻子享用的东西哩。"

于是第二只狗接口道："比较起来，我们更加关心艺术。我们对月亮吠叫，比我们的祖先更有节奏。我们往水里凝望我们自己时，我们看见我们的容貌，比往昔的狗儿的容貌更加清晰。"

然后第三只狗说道："不过，我最感兴趣而又使我心灵愉快的，便是那存在于狗国之间的安宁的相互理解。"

就在这刹那之间，它们张眼一看，啊，捕狗者在走近来了。

三只狗窜了起来，往大街上逃跑；奔跑之际，第三只狗说道：请在上帝面上，赶紧逃命吧。文明在追捕我们哩。"

Peace And War

Three dogs were basking in the sun and conversing. The first dog said dreamily, "It is indeed wondrous to be living in this day of dogdom. Consider the ease with which we travel under the sea, upon the earth and even in the sky. And meditate for a moment upon the inventions brought forth for the comfort of dogs, even for our eyes and ears and noses."

And the second dog spoke and he said, "We are more heedful of the arts. We bark at the moon more rhythmically than did our forefathers. And when we gaze at ourselves in the water we see that our features are clearer than the features of yesterday."

Then the third dog spoke and said, "But what interests me most and beguiles my mind is the tranquil understanding existing between dogdoms."

At that very moment they looked, and lo, the dog-catcher was approaching.

The three dogs sprang up and scampered down the street; and as they ran the third dog said, "For Gods sake, run for your lives. Civilization is after us."