Birbal Stories: Birbal Returns Home

Let us enjoy reading this one of Birbal Stories of Birbal Returns Home.

 

Birbal was in Persia at the invitation of the king of that country. 

 

Parties were given in his honor and rich presents were heaped on him. 

 

On the eve of his departure for home, a nobleman asked him how he would compare the king of Persia to his own king.

 

“Your king is a full moon," said Birbal. “Whereas mine could be likened to the quarter moon."

 

The Persians were very happy. But when Birbal got home he found that Emperor Akbar was furious with him.

 

“How could you belittle¹ your own king!" demanded Akbar. “You are a traitor²!"

 

“No, Your Majesty," said Birbal. “I did not belittle you. The full moon diminishes and disappears whereas the quarter moon grows from strength to strength. What I, in fact, proclaimed to the world is that your power is growing from day to day whereas that of the king of Persia is about to go into decline."

 

Akbar grunted³ in satisfaction and welcomed Birbal back with a warm embrace. 

1 belittle   

v.轻视，小看，贬低

参考例句：

• Do not belittle what he has achieved.不能小看他取得的成绩。
• When you belittle others,you are actually the one who appears small.当你轻视他人时， 真正渺小的其实是你自己。

2 traitor   

n.叛徒，卖国贼

参考例句：

• The traitor was finally found out and put in prison.那个卖国贼终于被人发现并被监禁了起来。
• He was sold out by a traitor and arrested.他被叛徒出卖而被捕了。

3 grunted   

（猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说

参考例句：

• She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声，继续看书，不屑抬起头来看一眼。
• She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。