“螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后”出自 说苑正谏　。

讽刺了那些只顾眼前利益，不顾身后祸患的人；对鼠目寸光、利令智昏、不顾后患的这类人提出警告。

古代寓言蝉、螳螂、黄雀　园中有树，其上有蝉。

蝉方奋翼悲鸣，欲饮露，不知螳螂之在其后，曲其颈，欲攫而食之。

螳螂方欲食蝉，而不知黄雀在其后，举其颈，欲啄而食之也。

黄雀方欲食螳螂，不知童子挟弹丸在其下，迎而欲弹之。

—— 说苑　The Cicada, the Praying Mantis and the SparrowThere is a tree in the garden, and on it there is a cicada.

This cicada perches up there, chirping away and drinking the dew, not knowing that there is a praying mantis behind it.

And the praying mantis leans forward, raising its forelegs to catch the cicada, not knowing that there is a sparrow beside it.

The sparrow, again, cranes its neck to peck at the praying mantis, not knowing that there is someone with a catapult waiting below.

--The Garden of Anecdotes【双语诗歌翻译|古代寓言·蝉、螳螂、黄雀　查看网站：[db:时间]】