ONCE upon a time there lived a man。God had given him the knowledge of all the languages of men， beasts and birds。He understood everything they said。
He saw the strife and discontent， quarrelling and fighting among them， and it made his heart so heavy that he became indifferent to whatever happened。
It was all so pitiful and so miserable that he almost forgot to laugh and smile。
He was a rich man， and had large fields and many acres。
One day in the early spring he hired a number of labourers to come out with him and till the ground。
There were a goodly number， young and old， and they worked merrily together from the rising of the sun until noontime， when they unyoked the oxen from the ploughs and settled down to their meal。
It consisted， as usual， of Mamaliga-the cake made out of the golden flour of the maize-mixed together with some cheese。
After they had finished their meal the older ones retired under the shades of the trees close to the hedge that was growing at one end of the field， but the young people went on enjoying themselves in their own way in another part of the field。
Where the men had finished their meal the ground was strewn with crumbs of Mamaliga and cheese， so a number of crows came down and began picking them up， croaking and screeching all the while。
At the same time a cuckoo began calling in the hedge。
When the men saw the crows gathering round the place where they had had their meals and picking up the crumbs， they took up pieces of earth and stones and threw them at the crows， whilst they sat listening with evident enjoyment to the calling of the cuckoo。
The master of the field， who was with them， smiled， and they wondered greatly at seeing him smile， and said to him：
“What is there that makes you smile？”
“Nothing，”he replied。
“But we have never seen you smile before，”they said。
“Never mind， but if you wish to know I will tell you。I smiled at your stupidity。Do you know what those crows were saying in their language when they croaked and screeched？ They were blessing you。They were saying，‘May God grant health to these people！ May they grow in numbers and in strength to till the ground， to sow the seed， to reap a rich harvest， so as to leave something for us to pick up and to live by。’And do you know what that accursed cuckoo was saying when he was calling？‘May illness come， may death mow down these people， so that the field remain untilled and the places deserted for me to disport myself freely and to enjoy life without fear of being hunted by these people。’
“And you， my foolish people， because you did not like the croaking and were pleased to hear the sweet calling， cast stones at those who blessed you， and found delight in those who cursed you。But you are like other people， easily deceived by the sight of their eyes and the hearing of their ears。Now you know why I smiled。”
center乌鸦和布谷鸟
有一个人，天生就懂得人类的语言和各种飞禽走兽的语言。看到人们吵架，争斗，误解，很是厌烦。
他很富有，拥有很多田地，还雇了许多人来干活。
早春的一天，他雇了一帮劳力来到田地里，其中有年老的，也有年轻的，他们快乐地从日出工作到中午。到了中午，他们卸下牛轭，放下工具，在一边休息，等着午饭送来。
午饭送来了，是玉米粥、干酪和面包。
人们一下子拥上去，取一份自己的食物，有说有笑地吃着午餐。
饭后，年长的人呆在篱笆边的一棵大树下休息，而那些年轻的小伙子都在田地另一头玩闹着。
田里满地都是大家吃饭时掉下的面包屑和碎干酪，很多乌鸦都降落到田头觅食，一边吃一边还嘎嘎叫着。
当乌鸦们吃食时，有一只布谷鸟站在篱笆边悦耳地鸣叫着。
人们看到乌鸦在吃食就拿起手边的小石头、泥块向它们丢去，人们倒是非常欣赏布谷鸟的鸣叫。
主人正在田边，看见这情景，嘴撇着，微笑了一下，露出一种嘲弄的神情。一个年长的帮工问他：“主人，你笑什么？”
“笑你们都是傻子。”主人说。
“我说的话你们别当回事，如果你们想知道我为什么而笑的话，我就告诉你们吧。我是在笑你们的愚笨啊！你们知道那些乌鸦嘎嘎叫着，说些什么吗？它们在祝福你们，它们说，万能的主啊，让这里的人们都身体健康，万事如意，年年大丰收，这样我们也能沾光，吃上好的奶酪和面包屑了。你们又晓得那该死的布谷鸟在叫什么吗？它在叫，让这里充满贫困、疾病，让这里永远荒芜，这样我就可以在这里自由飞翔，不用害怕人类的猎杀了。”
主人又说：“你们刚才不是用石块去砸祝福你们的乌鸦，不喜欢乌鸦的叫声，而喜欢听诅咒你们的布谷鸟的叫声吗？唉，人们都有通病，往往容易被表面现象所迷惑！现在你们知道为什么我要笑了吧！”
