English Original
The goose's feathers put the newly-fallen snow to shame. Proud of this dazzling gift of nature, she considered herself destined to be a swan. Accordingly, she separated from her companions and swam, solitarily and majestically, around the pond. She stretched her neck, trying with all her might to overcome its treacherous shortness. She then attempted to give it the graceful curve that designates the beautiful swan as the bird of Apollo. But it was in vain; her neck was too stiff. Despite all her efforts, she remained a ridiculous goose, failing to inspire any beholder with the slightest idea of her resemblance to a swan.
How many geese are there, without wings, who, due to similar pretensions, become laughing-stocks to their neighbors!
中文翻译
鹅的羽毛让新落的雪都相形见绌。她为这大自然赋予的耀眼礼物感到自豪，认为自己生来就该是天鹅。于是，她离开了同伴，独自且高傲地在池塘里游弋。她伸长脖子，竭尽全力想要克服其天生可恼的短处。接着，她又试图让脖子弯出优雅的弧度，那是美丽天鹅作为阿波罗之鸟的标志。但这一切都是徒劳；她的脖子太僵硬了。尽管费尽心力，她依然是一只可笑的鹅，未能让任何旁观者觉得她有一丝一毫像天鹅。
世间有多少并无翅膀的“鹅”，因为类似的妄自尊大，而成了邻居的笑柄！