伊索寓言：燕子与蟒蛇

The Swallow， the Serpent， and the Court of Justice

燕子与蟒蛇

A SWALLOW， returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men， built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow， finding her nest empty， lamented greatly and exclaimed： “Woe to me a stranger！ that in this place where all others' rights are protected， I alone should suffer wrong.”

有只在法院里做窝的燕子飞出去了。蟒蛇趁机爬进燕子窝里，把小燕子都吞吃了。燕子回来发现窝空了，极其悲痛。另一只燕子飞来劝慰她，并说她不是唯一丢失孩子的妈妈。她回答说：「我这样悲痛，并不仅仅是为了丢失孩子，而是因在这受害的地方本是所有受害者都能求得帮助的地方。」

这个故事带出的启示就是：灾难来自最意想不到的地方时，最使人悲伤。