The Ass and the Flutev
As an ass 1 was quietly dining on thistles，he beheld 2 a shepherd seated beneath a tree，awakening sweet echoes on his flute 3，and charming the ears of all within hearing，excepting our discontented lop-eared brute，who thus soliloquized：“The world is going mad！Be-hold all the people admiring，with open mouths，a fool who is straining and puffing 4 himself into a perspiration 5 with blowing into a little hollow tube．So easily are mankind pleased，while-but no matter．Let me hasten out of the fool's hearing．I shall go mad．”
As our scandalized ass was moving off at a brisk canter，he presently almost kicked against a flute，which chanced to have been left on the turf by an amorous 6 shepherd．The ass stopped，gazed knowingly round，and contemplated 7 the flute as it lay；slowly he lowered his head，and placing his under lip on the mouth-hole，he blew in- to the despised instrument，when，mirabile dictu，it yielded an agree- able sound．Our ass thought himself a clever fellow，and cried aloud，as he kicked his hind 8 legs in the air with joy，“Bravo！I too can play on the flute！”
Exercises：
回答问题：
① What did the ass see when dining on thistles？
② What did the ass think himself？
- He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
- An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。
- His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
- He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
- There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。
- He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
- The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。
- They exchanged amorous glances and clearly made known their passions.二人眉来眼去，以目传情。
- She gave him an amorous look.她脉脉含情的看他一眼。
- The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
- Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。