【BBC英语阅读】The dancing bear 让你足不出户

一

A bear, who had made his living by dancing for a long time, at length escaped from his master, and returned to his former companions in the woods.

His brothers welcomed him with most friendly growls1. The traveler now told what he had seen foreign countries, told a long history of his adventures, and, to exhibit his wonderful feats2, began, in an erect3 position, to dance the Polonaise. His brothers, who were watching the performance, were astonished at his grace, and tried to imitate his ballet steps. It was in vain, hardly were they raised on two legs when they fell again upon all fours. Seeing their awkwardness, the bear went on exhibiting some higher displays of his art, which, at length, aroused the envy of the others, and so they drove him from their society.

有只熊以跳舞谋生很有一段日子了，最后逃离了他的主人，回到从林中，回到了从前的老朋友们的身边。

他的同胞兄弟们发出亲昵的嚎叫，欢迎他落难归来。这只走南闯北的熊向兄弟们讲述了在国外的所见所闻，讲述了自己的漂流历险记，接着又展示了他那令人眼花缭乱的技艺—直立起来跳波兰舞。观看表演的大熊小熊们看着他那优美的舞姿，竟惊诧得目瞪口呆。又都想模仿他的波兰舞步，可一个个都心有余而力不足。他们两腿一直立就摔个嘴啃泥。看见他们刚刚面露尴尬之色，熊先生继续表演更高难的动作，这一下可撩发了同伴们的一腔妒火，嫉妒他非凡的技艺，于是就将他赶出了熊群。