古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。

《古代寓言·翠鸟》

翠鸟先高作巢以避患。及生子，爱之，恐坠，稍下作巢。予长羽毛，复益爱之，又更下巢，而人遂得而取之矣。

——《谭概》

The Kingfisher

The kingfisher is a timid bird. It always builds its nest high up in the tree as a protection against danger. When the fledglings hatch, it is so apprehensive for fear they should fall that it builds the nest lower down. When their feathers begin to appear, it becomes even more apprehensive and builds the nest still lower, so low that anybody can now catch them.

Tan Gai

（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）

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