The Swallow,the Serpent and the Court of Justice

There was once a swallow who was fond of living near men.She built a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and produced seven little birds there.

One day, when the swallow went out for food, a serpent crept into the nest and ate up all the little birds. When the swallow returned and found her nest empty, she couldn't stop crying. To comfort her, another swallow told her, “I am so sorry, but you are not the only one who lost the babies.”

“Ah! I'm sad,” she said, “not just for the loss of my chidren,but also over the misfortune I suffered in the place where all victims should find help.”

· The misfortune is often more difficult to bear when it hap pens in the most unexpected places.

Key Words

▲ swallow [ˈswɒləʊ] n. 燕子

★ Court of Justice 法庭，法院

▲ serpent [ˈsɜ:pənt] n. 蛇

▲ creep [kri:p] v. 爬行；匍匐

▲ misfortune [ˌmɪsˈfɔ:tʃu:n] n. 不幸；厄运

▲ suffer [ˈsʌfə(r)] v. 遭受

▲ victim [ˈvɪktɪm] n. 受害者