提要

有一個「騎驢找馬」的比喻，表示一面保持既有的狀況，一面尋找其他更好的機會，但也因為如此，所以總是心不在焉、可有可無；秦朝末年的「鉅鹿之戰」，項羽為報叔父項梁之仇，率二萬精兵進攻，渡江前命令士兵打破煮食的釜鑊，渡江後鑿沉舟隻、只帶三天乾糧，表示下定決心，最後於鉅鹿大敗秦軍。

讓自己沒有退路，通常是成功的必要方法。

Once upon a time there lived a generous, kind-hearted king. He was fond of birds and animals and had a huge bird sanctuary in his reign. He disliked harming the animals and birds and even did not kill them for the sake of eating meat.

Owing to his generosity and kindness towards birds, he was gifted two beautiful falcons by his fellow businessman. Those two falcons belonged to a different place and lived in a different climatic condition.

The king thanked the businessman and ordered the head of the bird trainer to provide all the facilities to those beautiful falcons and make them feel comfortable in their country.

The head trainer took the birds and provided all essentials to help the birds adapt to the atmosphere. Gradually, the birds got adapted to the country's atmosphere.

One day the king went to see the falcons fly as he heard that one of those falcons fly to great heights at a very high speed.

The king was quite surprised and rewarded the bird trainer with handful of gold coins. He enquired about the other falcon. The bird trainer stated with regret that the other falcon did not move even a step from the day one and just sat on the branch. The trainer also added that he tried everything best he could do and still he failed to make this bird move.

The king consoled him and told the trainer that he would bring someone more experienced than him or an old man who knew about falcons.

The king announced about his requirement to make the falcon move and fly. Hearing this announcement, an old man reached the King's palace and assured him that he would make the bird fly like the other one.

The king asked the head trainer to take the old man to the sanctuary to train the falcon and he told that he would visit them the next day to see if there was any change.

The next day, the king was very surprised to see the other falcon fly like the first one to great heights in rapid speed. The king was too happy and rewarded him handful.

The king asked what he had done to make the bird fly in a day. The old man simply replied, "I just cut down the branch of the tree where the falcon used to sit."

Many of us are like this. We have wings to fly, we know how to fly, and where to fly still we sit doing nothing or doing something that makes us inferior to others.

Don't try to walk when you have wings to fly!

解說

很久以前，有一位大方、善良的國王，他很喜歡鳥類、動物，並在他的統治範圍，有廣大的鳥類保護區。他不喜歡傷害動物，絕對不會為了吃肉而那麼做。

由於他善待鳥獸，到他皇宮作生意的商人，送他兩隻美麗的獵鷹。這兩隻獵鷹來自不同的地方，生長的氣候條件也南轅北轍。

國王向商人致謝，並下令馴鳥總教練，提供美麗的獵鷹需要的設施，讓牠們離鄉背井也能感到舒適。

總教練捧著獵鷹離開，為牠們準備必須的物品設備，經過細心照顧，這兩隻鳥兒適應了新環境。

有一天，國王去看獵鷹飛翔，因為他聽說，其中一隻獵鷹能以非常高速飛到高空，果真如此。

國王很驚喜，獎賞教練金幣，他詢問另外一隻獵鷹的情況，教練遺憾地表示，另一隻獵鷹，從來的第一天開始，就一步也不肯動，只是穩穩地坐在自己的樹枝上。教練還說，他想盡一切可能的好辦法，仍然無法讓那隻鳥移動。

國王安慰教練，並告訴他，會找更有經驗的人，或是熟稔獵鷹習性的長者。

國王宣布他希望獵鷹移動、飛翔的需求。一位老人聽到了，到國王的宮殿當面向他保證，他將讓這隻獵鷹像另一隻那般飛翔。

國王讓教練帶老人到鳥類保護區訓練獵鷹，他告訴老人，第二天他會過去看看是否有任何變化。

第二天，國王很驚訝地看到第二隻獵鷹，就像第一隻獵鷹一樣，飛得又快又高。國王很開心，也賞他金幣。

國王問老人，如何能讓「不動如山」的鳥，一天就肯飛？老人簡單地回答：「我只是砍掉那獵鷹坐的樹枝。」

我們很多人都是這樣的，有飛翔的翅膀，也知道如何飛行，但我們還是無所作為地坐著，讓自己不如別人。

當你有飛翔的翅膀，別只是走路！

對話……

Making Plans for the Weekend

周末計畫

Rachel: Have you thought about what you might like to do this weekend?

Alice: I have no idea. Do you have any ideas?

Rachel: If the weather stays nice, I’d like to go to the beach.

Alice: That would be a good idea. It’s good weather for going to the beach!

Rachel: Why don’t you come with me?

Alice: Hey, that would be perfect! What time are you leaving?

Rachel: I think that Saturday morning around 8:00 would work out well.

Alice: Santa Barbara has a music festival on the beach that day. We would have enough time to drop in and see it.

Rachel: Yes, I knew the festival would be there and was looking forward to going to it.

Alice: I am really looking forward to Saturday. Thank you for letting me go with you.

瑞秋：這個周末妳會想怎麼過呢？

愛麗絲：我不知道，妳有什麼主意？

瑞秋：如果天氣不錯，我想去海灘。

愛麗絲：那是個不錯的主意，好天氣超適合去海灘了！

瑞秋：妳何不跟我去？

愛麗絲：嘿，那太完美了，妳何時動身？

瑞秋：我覺得周六早上八點左右應該可以。

愛麗絲：聖塔芭芭拉那天有沙灘音樂節，我們有足夠的時間參加。

瑞秋：是啊，我知道有沙灘音樂節，而且非常期待。

愛麗絲：我真的很期盼這個周六，謝謝妳讓我跟妳一起去。

WOW! 原來如此

fond of

「fond of」是「喜愛」，例如：

He was a great sleeper, and fond of his bed.

（他很能睡，也總愛待在自己的床上。）

The nurse was especially fond of a little girl named Becky.

（那位護士特別喜歡一個名叫貝琪的小女孩。）

inferior to

「inferior」是（地位）低於……或（品質）次於……，例如：

This stadium is not inferior to that one but nothing near so large.（這座體育館並不比那一座差，只是遠不及那座大。）

I admit that I am inferior to him in many aespects.（我自認在許多方面比他矮半截。）

owing to

「owing to」是「由於」，例如：

Owing to jet lag, I felt very tired.

（由於時差，我覺得很疲倦。）

The game was cancelled owing to torrential rain.（比賽因豪大雨取消了。）