English Original
A man once bought a parrot and gave it the run of his house. It reveled in its liberty, and presently flew up on to the mantelpiece and screamed away to its heart's content.
The noise disturbed the cat, who was asleep on the hearthrug. Looking up at the intruder, she said, "Who may you be, and where have you come from?"
The parrot replied, "Your master has just bought me and brought me home with him."
"You impudent bird," said the cat, "how dare you, a newcomer, make a noise like that? Why, I was born here, and have lived here all my life, and yet, if I venture to mew, they throw things at me and chase me all over the place."
"Look here, mistress," said the Parrot, "you just hold your tongue. My voice they delight in; but yours—yours is a perfect nuisance."
中文翻译
从前，有一个人买了一只鹦鹉，让它在房子里自由活动。鹦鹉欣喜若狂，立刻飞到壁炉架上，尽情地尖叫起来。
这噪音吵醒了一只正在壁炉前地毯上睡觉的猫。她抬头看着这个闯入者，问道：“你是谁？从哪里来的？”
鹦鹉回答道：“你的主人刚刚买了我，把我带回了家。”
“你这放肆无礼的鸟，”猫说，“你一个初来乍到的新人，怎么敢这样吵闹？我可是在这里出生，在这里住了一辈子。但即便如此，如果我敢冒险喵喵叫几声，他们就会朝我扔东西，满屋子追着我跑。”
“听着，夫人，”鹦鹉说，“你最好闭上嘴。我的声音他们喜欢；但你的——你的声音纯粹是种噪音。”