The Wolf and the Lamb
狼与小羊
WOLF, meeting with a Lamb, resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him. He thus addressed him, “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”“Indeed,” bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, “I was not then born.”Then said the Wolf, “You feed in my pasture."“No, good sir,” replied the Lamb, “I have not yet tasted grass.” Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, “Well! I won’t remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations.”
The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.
狼遇到了一只小羊，决定找一个名正言顺的借口吃掉他。他对小羊说：“去年你辱骂过我！”小羊可怜兮兮地回答，那时他还没有出生。狼又说：“你在我的牧场吃草！” 小羊说他还从没吃过草。接下来狼抓住了小羊，一边吃，一边说：“噢，尽管你驳倒了我说的每条罪名，我还是要把你当晚餐。”
对恶人做任何正当的辩解都是无效的。
The Bat and the Weasels
蝙蝠和黄鼠狼
A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.
It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
掉落在地上的蝙蝠，被黄鼠狼叼去，他请求饶命。黄鼠狼说自己生来就是鸟类的敌人，绝不会放过他。蝙蝠说他是老鼠，不是鸟，便被放了。不久蝙蝠又掉落下来，被另一只黄鼠狼叼住，他再次请求不要吃他。这只黄鼠狼说他恨一切鼠类。蝙蝠改口说自己是鸟类，并非老鼠，终于又死里逃生。
遇事随机应变是明智之举。
The Lion and the Mouse
狮子与老鼠
A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying, “If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his teeth, set him free, and exclaimed “You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor。 Now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion.”
狮子睡着了，有只老鼠爬过他的脸。狮子愤怒地站起来，抓住老鼠准备吃掉。老鼠请求饶命，并说如果保住了性命，必将报恩，狮子轻蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，狮子真的被老鼠救了性命。原来狮子被猎人抓获，并被粗绳捆到地上。老鼠听到了他的哀嚎，走过去咬断绳索，放走了狮子，并说：“你当时嘲笑我没有能力帮你，不相信能得到我的报答，现在可清楚了，老鼠也能报恩。”
The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller
烧炭人与漂布人
A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house.
One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The Fuller replied, “The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal.”
Like will draw like.
烧炭人在家里经营生意，有一天遇见一个漂布人，便邀他搬来同住，并解释说这样彼此更亲密，还更省钱。漂布人却回答说：“就我而言，这是完全不可能的。因为凡我要漂白的，都会被你弄黑。”
不同类的人难相处。
The Father and His Sons
农夫与儿子
A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words:“My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot,uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
有个农夫的儿子们常常互相争斗不休。尽管他多次苦口婆心地劝说，仍无济于事。他决定通过事实来教育，有一天便叫儿子们去拿一捆木棒来。木棒拿来后，他先把整捆木棒交给他们，叫他们折断。儿子们一个个竭尽全力都无法办到。随后他解开了那捆木棒，给他们每人一根。他们都毫不费力地将木棒折为两段。这时，农夫说：“孩子们，你们要是像一捆木棒一样，团结一致，齐心协力，就不会被敌人征服；可如果你们各自为营，争斗不休，便会象单个的木棒一样，很容易被敌人打垮。”
The Kingdom of the Lion
狮子国王
THE BEASTS of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor tyrannical, but just and gentle as a king could be. During his reign he made a royal proclamation for a general assembly of all the birds and beasts, and drew up conditions for a universal league. The Hare said, “Oh, how I have longed to see this day, in which the weak shall take their place with impunity by the side of the strong.”
有只狮子做了百兽之王，善良、温和，和平、公正，无愧于国王这一称号。他惩恶扬善，合理裁决动物之间的纠纷，在他的统治下，所有的动物和睦相处。兔子说：“我一直就祈祷能得到这样的日子，弱者可以免于被强者伤害。”
狼和鹤
A WOLF who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a large sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out the bone. When the Crane had extracted the bone and demanded the promised payment, the Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed, “Why, you have surely already had a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf.”
In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.
有只狼喉咙被骨头卡住了，花大价钱请一只鹤把头伸进它嘴里取骨头。鹤取出骨头后要那份报酬，狼却咧嘴磨牙地大叫：“什么?你居然可以从狼嘴里安然无恙地拔出头来，就已经得到足够的报酬了。”
为邪恶的人提供服务，不但别想得到任何回报，还要庆幸自己没有受到伤害。
The Ants and the Grasshopper
蚂蚁和蚱蜢
THE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying grain collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him, “Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?’ He replied, “I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing.” They then said in derision: “If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.”
一个晴朗的冬天，蚂蚁正在晒夏天储藏的粮食，一只饿得要命的蚱蜢经过，恳求它施舍一点食物。蚂蚁问：“为什么夏天你不准备食物呢?”蚱蜢回答：“我没有闲工夫，我整天整天地要唱歌。”蚂蚁们嘲笑它说：“如果你蠢到整个夏天都只是唱歌，冬天你就得饿着肚皮在床上跳舞了。”
The Farmer and the Stork
农夫和鹳
A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. “Pray save me, Master,” he said, “and let me go free this once. My broken limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers— they are not the least like those of a Crane.” The Farmer laughed aloud and said, “It may be all as you say, I only know this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in their company.”
Birds of a feather flock together.
农夫在刚刚播种的田里布下许多网，许多来吃种子的鹤都被捉住了，其中还有一只鹳，被网折断了腿。它哀求农夫说：“饶了我吧，看看我的断腿，可怜可怜我吧。我又不是鹤，而是一只鹳，一只性情优良的鸟。您瞧，我多么孝顺父母；再仔细看看我的羽毛，与鹤也完全不同。”农夫大笑说：“你说的话也许不错；但我只知道，既然你和这些偷吃种子的鹤一起被捉到，你就得和他们一起死。”
物以类聚。
The Fawn and His Mother
小鹿与他的父亲
A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Mother, “You are larger than a dog,and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?”She smiled, and said, “I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can.”
No arguments will give courage to the coward.
有一天，小鹿对母鹿说:“妈妈，您怎么还怕狗呢?您比他高大，比他跑得更快，而且还有很大的角用来自卫。”母鹿笑着说：“孩儿，你说得都对。可只要一听到狗的叫声，我就会发晕，立刻拔腿就跑。”
对那些天生胆小的人，什么理论都毫无用处。
The Bear and The Fox
熊和狐狸
A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, “Oh! that you would eat the dead and not the living.”
一只熊吹嘘自己的仁慈，说它是所有动物中对人类最温和的一种,它是如此尊重人类，连人的尸体也不碰一下。有只狐狸听到了，笑咪咪地对他说：“噢，真正的仁慈应该吃尸体而不是活生生的人。”
The Tortoise and the Eagle
乌龟与鹰
A TORTOISE, lazily bathing in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float her in the air. “I will give you,” she said, “all the riches of the Red Sea.” “I will teach you to fly then,” said the Eagle; and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: “I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the earth?’
一只乌龟懒洋洋地晒太阳，向海鸟们抱怨着她的生活太艰难，都没有人教她飞翔。一只老鹰在附近盘旋，听到这些话，问如果带她飞的话可以得到什么报酬，乌龟说：“我将给你红海的一切宝藏。”“我教你飞吧!”鹰将她带到了高空，松开翅膀，乌龟一下掉到了一座大山上，龟壳摔得粉碎。临死一刻她哭喊：“我真是活该!如果有翅膀，又怎么会飞不起来呢?”
The Man and the Lion
人与狮子
A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a statue carved in stone, which represented “a Lion strangled by a Man.” The traveler pointed to it and said， “See there! How strong we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts.” The Lion replied: “This statue was made by one of you men. If we Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed under the paw of the Lion.”
有一天，狮子与人同行穿过森林，他们互相吹嘘，说自己更强大，更英勇。正在争论的时候，他们看见一块石碑，碑上刻着一个人扼死一头狮子的图画。那人一边指给狮子看，一边说：“你看，人多么强大，我们可以征服百兽之王！”狮子笑着回答：“这是人刻上去的。如果狮子们会雕刻，那么你就会看见人倒在狮子的爪下了。”
The Fox and the Goat
狐狸和公山羊
A FOX one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. The Fox indulged in a praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. “If,” said he, “you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.” The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat’s horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, “You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.”
Look before you leap.
一只狐狸失足掉到了井里，想尽办法要爬上去，仍无济于事。有只公山羊觉得口渴极了，来到井边，看见井底的狐狸，便问井水好不好，狐狸极力赞美井水好喝，清甜爽口，并劝山羊赶快下来，与他痛饮。信以为真的山羊一心只想喝水，便不假思索地跳了下去。咕咚咕咚饮完后，狐狸告诉山羊他们已共处险境，并提出一个逃脱的计划。他说:“你用前脚趴在井墙上，再把头低下，我从你后背跳上井去，再拉你上来，就都得救了。”公山羊同意了他的提议，狐狸跳到他背上，再借着他的角，安全地跳出了井口。上去以后，狐狸准备独自逃离。公山羊指责狐狸不信守诺言。狐狸回过头对他说：“你这个又老又蠢的家伙，如果你的头脑能像你的胡须那样完美，也就不至于陷入困境无法自救了。”
三思而后行。
The Bear and the Two Travelers
熊和两个旅人
TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. “He gave me this advice,” his companion replied, “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
两个人赶路,突然遇到了一只熊。一个人很快地爬上了树，躲到了枝叶里。另一个眼看着就要被抓了，直直地躺在地上。熊走过来，用鼻子嗅他的全身，他屏住呼吸，尽可能装死。据说熊是不碰死尸的，熊很快就离开了。等到它走远了，树上的人爬下来，开玩笑问那只熊在他耳过说了些什么，他的同伴回答：“熊给了我一个忠告：不要和一个在危急时扔下你不管的人做朋友。”
患难见真情。
The Thirsty Pigeon
口渴的鸽子
A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.
Zeal should not outrun discretion.
有只鸽子渴得厉害，看见画板上画着一个酒杯，以为是真的,立刻呼呼地猛飞过去，不料一头撞在画板上，折断了翅膀，摔在地上，被路人轻易地捉住了。
不要让热忱冲昏了头脑。
The Raven and the Swan
渡鸦和天鹅
A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
一只渡鸦看见了天鹅，希望自己也拥有同样美丽的羽毛。它认为天鹅华美的白色是在水中洗出来的，便离开了啄食供品赖以为生的圣坛，去湖、塘中居住。然而，尽管渡鸦拼命洗，都无法改变自己的颜色，反倒由于缺乏食物而饿死了。
改变习惯并不能改变本质。
The Miser
守 财 奴
A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you did not make the slightest use of it.”
有个守财奴变卖了他所有的家产，换回了金块，并秘密地埋在一面旧墙下，并每天去看看。一个长工留意到他的行踪，想知道真相。不久。他发现了宝藏的秘密，偷偷挖走了。守财奴再来时，发现洞中的金块没有了，便捶胸痛哭。有个邻居见他如此悲痛，问明原因后说：“别再难过了，去拿一块石头来，代替金块放在洞里，心里想象着那块金子仍在。这样与你拥有真正的金块的效果没什么不同。你拥有那金块时，也从没用过。”
The Sick Lion
病 狮
A LION, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with food by force, resolved to do so by artifice. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them. After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was. “I am very middling,” replied the Lion, “but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to talk with me.” “No, thank you,” said the Fox. “I notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any returning.”
He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others.
有一只年老体衰的狮子，不能靠其武力猎取食物了， 决定用计谋。他回到窝中躺下，装作病倒了，并把这消息传了出去，百兽们便来探望和安慰他，结果一个接一个被他吃掉，许多野兽就这样失踪了。有只狐狸发现了他的诡计，便去找狮子。他站在洞外较远的地方，向狮子问安。“我身体不怎么样，”狮子说，“你为什么站在外面?请进来跟我聊聊天吧。” “不，谢了。”狐狸说，“我注意到有许多进洞的脚印,却没看到一个是走出来的.”
不重蹈前人之覆辙是明智之举。
The Lioness
母 狮
A CONTROVERSY prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the greatest number of whelps at a birth. They rushed clamorously into the presence of the Lioness and demanded of her the settlement of the dispute. “And you,” they said, “how many sons have you at a birth?” The Lioness laughed at them, and said， “Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether a thoroughbred lion.”
The value is in the worth, not in the number.
林中的百兽争论谁一胎生的幼仔最多，谁的功劳就最大。他们闹到了母狮那儿，要她定夺，并说：“你一胎生多少呢？” 母狮笑了，“哦，我一胎只生一个，可我生下的毕竟是一头不折不扣的狮子。”
贵重的价值在于质，而不在量。
The Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat
小猪，绵羊和山羊
A YOUNG PIG was shut up in a fold-yard with a Goat and a Sheep.On one occasion when the shepherd laid hold of him, hegrunted and squeaked and resisted violently. The Sheep and the Goat complained of his distressing cries, saying, “He often handles us, and we do not cry out.” To this the Pig replied, “Your handling and mine are very different things. He catches you only for your wool, or for your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very life.”
一头猪、一只山羊和一只绵羊，被装上了一辆车，当看管人给他拴上绳子时，猪又喊又叫，拼命挣扎。羊埋怨他叫得让人心烦，“我们常常被他拴住，却从来不叫。” 猪回答说：“他绑你们和绑我是不一样的。他抓你们只是为了剪羊毛，或挤你的奶，而抓我却是为了要我的命！”
The Boy and the Filberts
小孩与栗子
A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him, “Be satisfied with half the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand.”
Do not attempt too much at once.
小孩把手伸进装满栗子的瓶中，尽可能地抓了一大把，想要伸出手来时，手却被瓶口卡住了。他既不愿扔下一点栗子，又不能拿出手来，只有痛哭。一个行人对他说：“你还是知足些吧，只要少拿一半，你的手就能很容易地拿出来了。”
不要贪心不足。
The Lion in Love
恋爱的狮子
A LION demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in marriage. The Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse his request, hit upon this expedient to rid himself of his importunities. He expressed his willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his daughter on one condition: that he should allow him to extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter was fearfully afraid of both. The Lion cheerfully assented to the proposal. But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to repeat his request, the Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his club, and drove him away into the forest.
狮子爱上了樵夫的女儿，向她求婚。樵夫不忍将女儿许配给野兽，但又惧怕狮子，一时无法拒绝，他急中生智,说同意狮子的求婚，但有一个要求：狮子必须先拔去牙齿，剁掉爪子，因为姑娘惧怕这些东西。狮子色迷心窍,很轻易地接受了农夫的要求。当无爪又无牙的狮子来求爱时，樵夫不再害怕，用棍子打他，把他赶回了森林。
The Laborer and the Snake
农夫与蛇
A SNAKE, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager’s infant son. Grieving over his loss, the Father resolved to kill the Snake. The next day, when it came out of its hole for food, he took up his axe, but by swinging too hastily, missed its head and cut off only the end of its tail. After some time the Cottager, afraid that the Snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed some bread and salt in the hole. The Snake, slightly hissing, said, “There can henceforth be no peace between us, for whenever I see you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will be thinking of the death of your son.”
一条毒蛇住在一家农舍的过道附近，咬死了农夫的的婴儿。农夫心痛儿子的死，决定杀死蛇。第二天，蛇从洞里出来觅食，农夫扬起了斧头，由于晃得厉害，一斧头只砍到了蛇的尾尖。不久后农夫担忧后患，便在洞里放了一些面包和盐，想与他和解。蛇嘶嘶地说：“我们之间不可能友好相处了。我一见你就想起断尾的事，同样，你一见到我就会想起你儿子的死。”
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
披着羊皮的狼
ONCE UPON A TIME a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.
Harm seek. harm find.
很久以前，有只狼决定伪装自己，以便更容易地获取食物。他披了一张羊皮，和羊一起吃草，用羊的化妆骗过了牧羊人。到了晚上，牧羊人把他关进羊圈，拴上了门，再也进出不得。夜里，牧羊人又转回来，想为第二天准备一点肉，凑巧抓到了这只狼，错以为是羊，马上便把他给杀了。
善有善报，恶有恶报。
The Ass and the Mule
驴子和骡子
A MULETEER set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself，“I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.”
有个驭骡人，驾着一只驴子和一只骡子上路，都载着重重的货物。驴子负着重物可以轻松地在平地上行走，但开始爬陡峭的山路时，却支撑不住了。他请求同行的骡子替他分担一点，这样就可以把货物都带回家，但骡子对他的恳求置之不理。驴子由于载重过多，很快就倒下死了。驭骡人没有其他办法，只好将驴子的负重加在骡子身上，然后把驴子剥了皮，放在最上面。骡子不由得在重压下呻吟：“我真是罪有应得! 如果当时帮驴子分担一点点，现在就不一块背着他的货物及他的一张皮了。”
The Boys and the Frogs
孩子和青蛙
SOME BOYS, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water and began to pelt them with stones. They killed several of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out, “Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us.”
几个孩子在水潭边玩耍，看见水中有许多青蛙，便用石头 去打他们。几只青蛙被他们打死了。这时，一只青蛙从水中伸出头来说：“孩子们，请你们不要再打了。这对于你们来说是只做游戏，而对于我们却有性命之忧啊。”
The Sick Stag
病 鹿
A SICK STAG lay down in a quiet corner of its pasture-ground. His companions came in great numbers to inquire after his health, and each one helped himself to a share of the food which had been placed for his use. so that he died, not from his sickness, but from the failure of the means of living.
Evil companions bring more hurt than profit.
有只鹿生了病，躺在草地一个安静的角落里。众多的同伴前去看望他，并吃光了附近他赖以生存的草。鹿终于死了，不是因为病的缘故，而是因为找不到草，无以为生。
交友不慎，弊大于益。
The Oxen and the Butchers
牛和屠夫
THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a certain day to carry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. But one of them who was exceedingly old (for many a field had he plowed) thus spoke, “These Butchers, it is true, slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchers should perish, yet will men never want beef.”
Do not be in a hurry to change one evil for another.
从前，牛想杀死宰牛的屠夫，因为屠夫从事屠杀他们的职业。有一天，他们聚集在一起商讨办法，磨砺犄角，准备战斗。一头耕过许多地的老牛说：“屠夫们确实宰杀我们，但他们用的是精巧的手艺，减少了我们的痛苦。如果没有这些手艺高明的屠夫，而让其他人来宰杀，我们便更加痛苦了。你们要知道，虽然屠夫可以杀死，但人们总是要吃牛肉的。”
不要草率地为解决一种痛苦而陷入另一种痛苦。
The Lion, the Mouse and the Fox
狮子、老鼠和狐狸
A LION, fatigued by the heat of a summer’s day, fell fast asleep in his den. A Mouse ran over his mane and ears and woke him from his sleep. He rose up and shook himself in great wrath, and searched every corner of his den to find the Mouse. A Fox seeing him said,“A fine Lion you are, to be frightened of a Mouse.”“It is not the Mouse I fear,” said the Lion,“I resent his familiarity and ill-breeding.” Little liberties are great offenses.
狮子被酷热的天气弄得疲惫不堪，躺在洞中酣睡。一只老鼠从他的鬃毛和耳朵上跑过，将他从梦中吵醒。狮子大怒，爬起来摇摆着身子，四处寻找老鼠。狐狸见到后说：“你是一只威严的狮子，也被老鼠吓怕了。”狮子说：“我并不怕老鼠，只是恨他放肆和无礼。”
一点小小的自由都是很大的冒犯。
The Goatherd and the Wild Goats
牧人与野山羊
A GOATHERD, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up together with his own for the night. The next day it snowed very hard, so that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was obliged to keep them in the fold. He gave his own goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them to stay with him and of making them his own. When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the mountains. The Goatherd scolded them for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he had taken more care of them than of his own herd. One of them, turning about, said to him: “That is the very reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves.”
Old friends cannot with impunity be sacrificed for new ones.
牧人把羊群赶到牧场去放牧，看见有几只野山羊混杂在羊群里。傍晚，他将所有的羊都赶进羊圈。第二天，暴风雪大作，不能去牧场放牧，只好在羊圈里饲养。他丢给自己的羊一点点食料，仅只限于不至饿死，而为了想把外来的那几只野山羊留下，成为自己的，他却给他们很多食料。冰雪融化后，牧人把所有的羊都赶向牧场，那些野山羊全都逃上了山。牧人指责他们忘恩负义，暴风雪中得到了特殊照顾，却仍要逃走。一只野山羊回过头来说：“正因如此，我们更要小心谨慎了。因为你特殊照顾我们这些昨天刚来的，而过于冷淡你以前一直饲养的。显而易见，今后再有其他的野山羊来，你一定又会冷落我们去偏爱他们。”
不要为了新朋友的利益而牺牲老朋友。
The Mischievous Dog
淘气狗
A DOG used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and to bite them without notice. His master suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might give notice of his presence wherever he went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over the marketplace. One day an old hound said to him: Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is not, believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill mannered dog.”
Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.
有只狗常常偷偷溜到别人的脚后，乘人不备咬他们一口。他的主人在狗脖子上挂了一只铃铛，这样他到哪儿都可以引人注目。狗认为铃铛是他与众不同的象征，引以为傲，戴着铃铛叮铃铃在市场里转。
一天，一只老猎犬告诉他：“干嘛要出这种风头呢?相信我的话吧，你挂的铃铛不是一种荣耀，而是一种耻辱，让所有人知道你是一只行为不正的狗!”
坏名声经常会让人误以为荣。
The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail
断尾的狐狸
A FOX caught in a trap escaped, but in so doing lost his tail. Thereafter, feeling his life a burden from the shame and ridicule to which he was exposed, he schemed to convince all the other Foxes that being tailless was much more attractive, thus making up for his own deprivation. He assembled a good many Foxes and publicly advised them to cut off their tails, saying that they would not only look much better without them, but that they would get rid of the weight of the brush, which was a very great inconvenience. One of them interrupting him said, “If you had not yourself lost your tail, my friend, you would not thus counsel us.”
一只狐狸从捕兽器上逃脱，尾巴被夹断了。受了这种耻辱以后，他觉得自己脸上无光，生活很不好过，所以决定劝说其他狐狸也去掉尾巴。大家都一样了，他的缺点就可以掩饰过去。于是他召集了许多狐狸，劝告说尾巴既不雅观又累赘，去掉就好了。有只狐狸站了起来：“朋友，如果不是因为你自己掉了尾巴，就不会这样煞费苦心地来劝我们了。”
The Wolves and the Sheep
狼和绵羊
“WHY SHOULD there always be this fear and slaughter between us?”said the Wolves to the Sheep. “Those evil-disposed Dogs have much to answer for. They always bark whenever we approach you
and attack us before we have done any harm. If you would only dismiss them from your heels, there might soon be treaties of peace and reconciliation between us.” The Sheep, poor silly creatures, were easily beguiled and dismissed the Dogs, whereupon the Wolves destroyed the unguarded flock at their own pleasure.
“为什么我们中间总是存在着恐惧和杀戮呢?”狼对绵羊 说，“这些都是那些该死的狗干的好事!无论什么时候我们和你们亲近时，他们总要又叫又咬!如果你们能让他们滚远一点儿，我们之间就可以和平友好地相处了。”蠢得可怜的绵羊轻信了他们的话，把狗打发走了，狼便心满意足地享用这些失去保护的绵羊了。
The Kid and the Wolf
小孩和狼
A KID standing on the roof of a house, out of harm’s way, saw a Wolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and revile him. The Wolf, looking up, said, “Sirrah! I hear you, yet it is not thou who mocks me, but the roof on which you are standing.”
Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the strong.
有个小孩站在屋顶一个很高的地方，看到有只狼经过，便开始嘲笑它。狼抬头看着他说:“我听到你说的话了，但你没有资格嘲笑我，可以嘲笑我的是你站着的屋顶。”
天时地利通常能让弱者战胜强者。
The Old Woman and the Physician
老太婆与医生
AN OLD WOMAN having lost the use of her eyes, called in a Physician to heal them, and made this bargain with him in the presence of witnesses: that if he should cure her blindness, he should receive from her a sum of money; but if her infirmity remained, she should give him nothing. This agreement being made, the Physician, time after time, applied his salve to her eyes, and on every visit took something away, stealing all her property little by little. And when he had got all she had, he healed her and demanded the promised payment. The Old Woman, when she recovered her sight and saw none of her goods in her house, would give him nothing. The Physician insisted on his claim, and as she still refused, summoned her before the Judge. The Old Woman, standing up in the Court, argued, “This man here speaks the truth in what he says; for I did promise to give him a sum of money if I should recover my sight; but if I continued blind, I was to give him nothing. Now he declares that I am healed. I on the contrary affirm that I am still blind; for when I lost the use of my eyes, I saw in my house various chattels and valuable goods￡? but now, though he swears I am cured of my blindness, I am not able to see a single thing in it.”
有位患了眼病的老太婆，请一位医生给她治病，并在公证人面前定下协议：如果医生治好了她的失明，就可以获得一大笔治疗费，但如果仍然看不见，也就不付这笔费用了。谈妥之后，那医生每次来给她上药治疗时，总是顺手牵羊地偷走一些家具。等到她家里的东西几乎被偷光，才终于治愈了老太婆的病，她看到家里几乎一无所有，不打算付帐。医生坚持要钱财遭到拒绝后，带她去见法官。老太婆在法庭上说:“这个人说得对。我确实许诺过，条件是眼病治好，但仍看不见的话，他便什么也得不到。现在他说我的眼睛治好了，我却肯定没有，因为以前我还能看见家里有价值的物品，如今尽管他发誓，我却连一件东西都不见了。”
Widow and Maiden
寡妇和小丫头
A WIDOW who was fond of cleaning had two little maidens to wait on her. She was in the habit of waking them early in the morning, at cockcrow. The maidens, aggravated by such excessive labor, resolved to kill the cock who roused their mistress so early. When they had done this, they found that they had only prepared for themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no longer hearing the hour from the cock, woke them up to their work in the middle of the night.
有个喜欢打扫的寡妇，养了两个小丫头，她习惯于每天一早公鸡啼叫时叫丫头起床干活，两个小丫头被超负荷的劳动整得受不了，决定杀掉那只叫醒寡妇的公鸡。后来，她俩真把公鸡杀了，却发现给自己带来了更大的麻烦。寡妇听不到鸡叫，半夜就将她们叫醒去干活了。
The Father and Daughters
父亲与女儿
A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all things went with her. She said, “All things are prospering with me, and I have only one wish that there may be a heavy fall of rain, in order that the plants may be well watered.” Not long after, he went to the daughter who had married the tile-maker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, “I want for nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be dried.” He said to her, “If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join mywishes?”
有个男人养了两个女儿，一个嫁给了花匠，另一个嫁给了瓦工。过了些日子，父亲来到嫁给花匠的女儿家里，问女儿情况如何，他们的生活过得怎么样。女儿说一切都很好，只是有一点心愿，那就是希望下场大雨，好好地浇灌那些植物。不久之后，他又来到嫁给瓦工的女儿家里，问女儿过得如何。女儿说什么都不缺，只祷告一件事，请求这种晴朗天气能维持下去，阳光充足，使瓦能更快地干燥。父亲对她说：“你望出太阳，你的妹妹却盼下雨，我又为谁祈求呢?”
The Farmer and His Sons
农夫与他的儿子们
A FATHER, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had given it. He called them to his bedside and said, “My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards.” The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every portion of their land. They found no treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and superabundant crop.
有个前辈快要辞别人世，希望儿子们能象他一样悉心照料农场，便把他们叫到身边说：“孩子们，葡萄园里埋藏了大量的金银财宝。”父亲去世之后，他们带上了铲子和锄头，把那葡萄园的地细细的翻了一遍，什么宝物都没找到，但葡萄园获得了大丰收,回报了他们的付出。
The Thief and His Mother
小偷与他母亲
A BOY stole a book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. The next time he stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, “I wish to say something to my Mother in her ear.” She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, “Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful death.”
有个小孩在学校里偷了同学一本书，拿回家交给母亲。母亲不但没打他，反而还夸他能干。第二次他偷回家一件斗篷，交给母亲，母亲很满意，更加夸奖他。随着岁月的流逝，小孩长大成小伙子了，便开始去偷更大的东西。有一次，他被当场捉住，反绑着双手，被押送到刽子手那里。他母亲跟在后面，捶胸痛哭。这时，小偷说，他想和母亲贴耳说一句话。他母亲贴耳前去，儿子一下猛地用力咬住她的耳朵，并撕了下来。母亲训斥他不孝，儿子说：“我初次偷书交给你时，如果你能打我一顿，何至于今天我落到这种可耻的结局，被押去处死呢?”
The Huntsman and the Fisherman
猎人和渔夫
AHuntsman returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden with fish.The Huntsman wished to have the fish, and their owner experienced an equal longing for the contents of the game-bag.They quickly agreed to exchange the produce of their day’s sport.Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they made for sometime the same exchange day after day. Finally a neighbor said to them, “If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy by frequent use the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again wish to retain the fruits of his own sport.”
Abstain and enjoy.
有个猎人带着他的猎狗从地里回来，遇到了个渔夫，提着满篓子的鱼准备回家。猎人想得到鱼，而渔夫也一直想要他手中的猎物。他们很快交换了当天的收获，而且非常满意，于是天天交换。最后,一个邻居对他们说：“如果这样下去的话，你们很快就会厌倦这种交换，希望仍留着自己的劳动所得了。”
享受自己的劳动成果。
The Mouse, the Frog and the Hawk
老鼠、青蛙和鹰
A MOUSE who always lived on the land, by an un lucky chance formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.
Harm hatch, harm catch.
The Two Pots两只锅
A RIVER carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot said to the Brass Pot, “Pray keep at a distance and do not come near me, for if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall be broken in pieces, and besides, I by no means wish to come near you.”
Equals make the best friends.
河中漂流着一个陶锅和一个铜锅。陶锅对铜锅说：“请离我远一些，不要靠近我。哪怕你只是轻轻地碰到我，我也会碎的。同样的，我也绝不想靠近你。”
The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar
老太婆和酒瓶
AN OLD WOMAN found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime old wine and which still retained the fragrant smell of its former contents. She greedily placed it several times to her nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, “O most delicious! How nice must the Wine itself have been, when it leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a perfume!”
The memory of a good deed lives.
一个老太婆找到一个不久前曾装过陈年佳酿酒的空酒瓶。这酒瓶仍带着浓浓的酒香，她多次把酒瓶放在鼻子底下，不断摇晃，贪婪地吮吸酒香，并说：“啊，多么香醇啊!装过酒的空瓶都留下这样甘美难忘的香味，那酒不知道有多么美味，多么芬香。”
美好的事物使人永远难忘。
The Two Dogs
两只狗
A MAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, and a Housedog, taught to watch the house. When he returned home after a good day’s sport, he always gave the Housedog a large share of his spoil. The Hound, feeling much aggrieved at this, reproached his companion, saying, “It is very hard to have all this labor, while you, who do not assist in the chase, luxuriate on the fruits of my exertions.” The Housedog replied, “Do not blame me, my friend, but find fault with the master, who has not taught me to labor, but to depend for subsistence on the labor of others.”
Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their parents.
有个人养了两只狗，一只狩猎，另一只看家守门。每次他说人带着猎狗出去打猎，获得什么猎物，总是分给看门狗一些。猎狗对此很不高兴，便指责看门狗，说自己每次出去打猎都是四处奔跑，十分辛苦，而他什么都没有做，却坐享其成。看门狗对猎狗说：“朋友，你别责怪我，应该去责怪主人，是他教我不去打猎，坐在家中享受别人的劳动果实。”
子不教，父之过。
The Widow and the Sheep
寡妇和羊
A CERTAIN poor widow had one solitary Sheep. At shearing time,wishing to take his fleece and to avoid expense, she sheared him herself, but used the shears so unskillfully that with the fleece she sheared the flesh. The Sheep, writhing with pain, said, “Why do you hurt me so, Mistress? What weight can my blood add to the wool? If you want my flesh, there is the butcher, who will kill me in an instant; but if you want my fleece and wool, there is the shearer, who will shear and not hurt me.”
The least outlay is not always the greatest gain.
有个穷寡妇养了一只羊，到了剪羊毛的季节，想省一点钱，就自己动手剪。由于不是很有经验，剪到了肉里。羊痛苦地说：“主人，为什么那样伤害我?血和毛哪个更重要?如果要新鲜的肉，可以找厨夫，马上就把我杀了；如果要羊毛，可以找剪毛师，他来剪就不会伤到我了。”
最少的付出并不永远等于最多的获得。
The Wild Ass and the Lion
狮子和野驴
A WILD ASS and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion agreed to assist the Wild Ass with his strength, while the Wild Ass gave the Lion the benefit of his greater speed. When they had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, the Lion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it into three shares. “I will take the first share,” he said, “because I am King; and the second share, as a partner with you in the chase; and the third share (believe me) will be a source of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and set off as fast as you can.”
Might makes right.
狮子与野驴结伴以求更容易狩取猎物。狮子力气大，野驴跑得快，他们互相取长补短。当它们狩取到足够的猎物时，狮子把猎物分开，堆成三份，说道：“这是第一份，该我拿，因为我是王。第二份也该是我的，把它算作我和你一起合作的报酬。至于第三份嘛，如果你不放弃它并尽快逃走的话，也许会给你带来极大不幸。”
力量压倒一切。
The Sick Kite
病 鸢
A KITE, sick unto death, said to his mother, “O Mother! do not mourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged.” She replied, “Alas! my son, which of the gods do you think will pity you? Is there one whom you have not outraged by filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered up to them?’
We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in adversity.
一只病得快死的鸢对他妈妈说：“妈妈，请您不要悲伤!还是赶快祈求神明，让他们保佑我的性命吧。”妈妈回答说：“唉!我的孩儿，你想有哪位神会可怜你?几乎每一位神明都被你得罪了，你总是从他们的祭坛上把人们献给神的供品偷走。”
若要在患难中得到朋友的帮助，就必须在平时缔结友谊。
The Ass, the Cock and the Lion
驴子、公鸡与狮子
AN ASS and a Cock were in a straw-yard together when a Lion, desperate from hunger, approached the spot. He was about to spring upon the Ass, when the Cock (to the sound of whose voice the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion) crowed loudly, and the Lion fled away as fast as he could. The Ass, observing his trepidation at the mere crowing of a Cock summoned courage to attack him, and galloped after him for that purpose. He had run no long distance, when the Lion, turning about, seized him and tore him to pieces.
False confidence often leads into danger.
公鸡和驴子一起生活在一个草院里。饥饿的狮子来到这里，想侵害驴子，公鸡大叫起来，狮子闻鸡叫，转身就逃。驴子见狮子连鸡叫都害怕，就想攻击狮子，于是立即跑去追赶狮子。他追到不远处，狮子猛然转过身来，把他撕成碎片。
盲目自信往往令人陷入险境。
The Mice in Council
老鼠开会
THE MICE summoned a council to decide how they might best devise means of warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy the Cat. Among the many plans suggested, the one that found most favor was the proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, so that the Mice, being warned by the sound of the tinkling, might run away and hide themselves in their holes at his approach. But when the Mice further debated who among them should thus “bell the Cat,” there was no one found to do it.
老鼠们聚在一起开会，商量一个只要猫在附近就能让老鼠察觉的方法，以对付他们最大的敌人：猫。各种各样的主张中，一个最受欢迎的提议是在猫的脖子上挂个铃铛，只要听到铃铛一响，老鼠就知道猫来了，便可马上逃跑到洞里躲起来。但说到派谁去把铃铛挂在猫的脖子上时，却没有人能自告奋勇了。
The Wolf and the Housedog
狼和家狗
A WOLF, meeting a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about his neck asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet compelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever he went.“The master,” he replied. Then said the Wolf,“May no friend of mine ever be in such a plight, for the weight of this chain is enough to spoil the appetite.”
狼见到了一只白胖白胖套着颈圈的狗，便问他：“你被谁养得这么肥胖，又让你拖着这沉重的项圈？”狗说：“是主人。”狼又说:“但愿我的朋友都不要受你这样的罪，套着沉重的颈圈已够倒胃口了！”
The Rivers and the Sea
河流与海
THE RIVERS joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, “Why is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?” The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, said, “Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made briny.”
河流百川汇集，向海抱怨说：“我们的水本是甘甜可口的，为什么你却将我们变成咸得不可饮用呢？”海知道他们是有意责难，便说：“请你们别再流到我这里面来，你们也就不会变咸了。”
The Three Tradesmen
三个手艺人
A GREAT CITY was besieged, and its inhabitants were called together to consider the best means of protecting it from the enemy. A Bricklayer earnestly recommended bricks as affording the best material for an effective resistance. A Carpenter, with equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as a preferable method of defense. Upon which a Currier stood up and said, “Sirs, I differ from you altogether. There is no material for resistance equal to a covering of hides; and nothing so good as leather.”
Every man for himself.
一座大城被敌军围困了，城中的居民们聚在一起， 共同商议抗敌的最佳办法。一个砌匠挺身而出，主张用砖块作为抵御材料；一个木匠毅然提议用木头来抗敌是最佳的方法；一个皮匠站起来说：“先生们，我不同意你们的意见。我认为作为抵御材料，没有一样东西比皮更好。”
人们都习惯于从自身角度考虑问题。
The Old Man and Death
老人与死神
AN OLD MAN was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in carrying the faggots to the city for sale one day, became very wearied with his long journey. He sat down by the wayside, and throwing down his load, besought “Death” to come. “Death” immediately appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly replied, “That, lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my shoulders.”
有个老人以在树林里砍柴为生，有一天，在挑着柴把去城里卖的长长路途中，累得他疲惫不堪。他便放下担子，坐在路边，喊起死神来。死神奇迹般出现了，问他为什么喊。老人马上回答：“就是，就是请你把那担子举起，把它重新放在我肩上。”
The Master and His Dogs
主人和狗
A CERTAIN MAN, detained by a storm in his country house, first of all killed his sheep, and then his goats, for the maintenance of his household. The storm still continuing, he was obliged to slaughter his yoke oxen for food. On seeing this, his Dogs took counsel together, and said, “It is time for us to be off, for if the master spare not his oxen, who work for his gain, how can we expect him to spare us?’
He is not to be trusted as a friend who mistreats his own family.
有个人，风雪中被困在乡下房子里。他首先杀了他的绵羊，然后杀了山羊来保证食物。风雪仍在继续，他又被迫杀了公羊。看到这一切之后，他的狗便聚在一起商量：“我们得溜了。如果主人连为他种地的牛也杀了，又怎会放过我们?”
一个人若对自己的家人都不好，也不值得做朋友。
The Two Travelers and the Axe
两个行人与一把斧头
TWO MEN were journeying together. One of them picked up an axe that lay upon the path, and said, “I have found an axe.” “Nay, my friend,” replied the other, “do not say ‘I’, but ‘We’ have found an axe.” They had not gone far before they saw the owner of the axe pursuing them, and he who had picked up the axe said, “We are undone.” “Nay,” replied the other, “keep to your first mode of speech, my friend; what you thought right then, think right now. Say ‘I,’ not ‘We’ are undone.”
He who shares the danger ought to share the prize.
两个人一起赶路。一个人拾到一把斧头，另一个人对他说：“我们拾到了一把斧子。”那人说：“不要说‘我拾到了一把斧子’，而是‘我们拾到了一把斧子’。” 过了一会儿，丢斧头的人追上了他们，斧子被要了回去。拾到斧子的人对同伴说:：“我们完了。”另一个说：“你不要说‘我们完了’，而要说‘我完了’，因为在拾到那斧子时，并没有将它作为我们共有的东西呀。”
这故事说明，那些有福不愿与人同享的人，有祸也没人与他同担。
The Old Lion
老狮子
A LION, worn out with years and powerless from disease, lay on the ground at the point of death. A Boar rushed upon him, and avenged with a stroke of his tusks a long-remembered injury. Shortly afterwards the Bull with his horns gored him as if he were an enemy. When the Ass saw that the huge beast could be assailed with impunity, he let drive at his forehead with his heels. The expiring Lion said, “I have reluctantly brooked the insults of the brave, but to be compelled to endure such treatment from thee, a disgrace to Nature, is indeed to die a double death.”
一头疾病缠身年老体衰的狮子病得有气无力，躺在地上奄奄一息。一头野猪冲到他身旁，狠狠地用獠牙撞他，报复狮子以前对他的伤害。一会儿，一头野牛用角来顶他，把狮子视为可恨的仇敌。当驴子看到可以对这庞大的野兽为所欲为时，也用蹄奋力踢狮子的头部。这头快要断气的狮子说：“我已勉强忍受了勇者的施暴，但还得含羞忍受你这个小丑的侮辱，真是死不瞑目。”
The Oak and the Reeds
橡树与芦苇
A VERY LARGE OAK was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed, “I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds.” They replied, “You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken, and escape.”
Stoop to conquer.
一棵橡树被风连根拔起，越过一条小溪掉入芦苇丛中说：“你们这么轻，这么弱，在狂风中却安然无恙，是怎么做到的？”他们回答说：“你和风对抗，所以遭到毁灭，我们遇到了哪怕是一丝微风也会弯下身来，所以没受损害，逃过一劫。”
柔能克刚。
The Fisherman and the Little Fish
渔夫和小鱼
AFISHERMAN who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single small Fish as the result of his day’s labor. The Fish entreated for his life, “O Sir, what good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I am not yet come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me.” The Fisherman replied, “I should indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I were to forego my present certain gain.”
有个渔夫靠打渔为生。一次，他一整天都只网到了一条小鱼。小鱼可怜兮兮地请求获释，说：“我这么小，还没有成形，能有什么价值呢？求您放我一条生路，让我回到海中吧。很快我就可以长成大鱼，当您重新捉到时，就可以派上大用场了。”
渔夫说，“如果为了一个不确定的利润我会冒险放弃已到手的收获，那也就太天真了。”
The Hunter and the Woodman
猎人与樵夫
AHUNTER, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any marks of his footsteps or knew where his lair was. “I will,”said the man, “at once show you the Lion himself.” The Hunter,turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear,replied, “No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his track only I am in search of, not the Lion himself.”
The hero is brave in deeds as well as words.
有个胆小的猎人搜寻狮子的足迹。他问林子里一个砍橡树的樵夫，有没有发现狮子的足迹或是否知道狮子穴在哪里，樵夫说：“我马上就可以让你看到狮子了。”猎人吓得脸色惨白，牙齿打颤，“不，谢谢了。我仅搜寻它足迹，并不要找到真正的狮子。”
勇敢在于敢言敢为。
The Lion in a Farmyard
进入农院的狮子
A LION entered a farmyard. The Farmer, wishing to catch him, shut the gate. When the Lion found that he could not escape, he flew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked the oxen. The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed for his own safety, opened the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the Farmer grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but his wife, who had been a spectator to all that took place, said, “On my word, you are rightly served, for how could you for a moment think of shutting up a Lion along with you in your farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes if you only hear his roar at a distance?’
有只狮子闯进了农院，农夫想要抓住它，便关上了门。 狮子发现自己无路可逃，冲向羊群，咬死了他们，又咬了公牛。农夫为自己的安全考虑，只有打开院门放了狮子，狮子逃跑后他望着被杀的牛羊伤心欲绝，但一直旁观的妻子说：“依我看，你是活该!你明知道远远地听狮子叫一声就会两腿发软，怎么会一下子想到把只狮子关在自己的院子里呢?”
The Swan and the Goose
天鹅和家鹅
A CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He fed the one for his table and kept the other for the sake of its song. When the time came for killing the Goose, the cook went to get him at night, when it was dark, and he was not able to distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatened with death, burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice, and preserved his life by his melody.
有个富人在市场里买了一只家鹅和一只天鹅，他养家鹅仅为吃其肉，养天鹅为了听其歌声。到了该杀鹅的那天晚上，厨师要捉住家鹅，由于天太黑，他辨别不出哪只是家鹅哪只是天鹅，误抓了天鹅。天鹅性命受到威胁，唱起歌来。美妙的歌声道明了天鹅的本性，使他幸免于难。
The Two Frogs
两只青蛙
TWO FROGS dwelt in the same pool. When the pool dried up under the summer’s heat, they left it and set out together for another home. As they went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply supplied with water, and when they saw it, one of the Frogs said to the other, “Let us descend and make our home in this well. It will furnish us with shelter and food.” The other replied with greater caution, “But suppose the water should fail us. How can we get out again from so great a depth?”
Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.
两只青蛙住在同一个池塘里。当太阳把池塘晒干时，他们离开去找另一个新居。路上遇到了一口井，井水充足。看到这一切，一只青蛙开口了：“我们留在这井里吧，又有吃又有住的。”另一只很谨慎地说：“你可曾想过井会不适合我们?那么深，我们又怎么跳出来呢?”
三思而慎行。
The Cat and the Mice
猫和老鼠
A CERTAIN HOUSE was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, made her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one.Fearing for their lives, the Mice kept themselves close in their holes. The Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived that she must tempt them forth by some device. For this purpose she jumped upon a peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended to be dead. One of the Mice saw her and said, “Ah, my good madam, even though you should turn into a meal-bag, we will not come near you.”
有户人家老鼠肆虐,猫知道后，便跑去那儿,抓住一只消灭一只。老鼠们都躲到了洞里。猫再也不能抓到他们，它觉得该用计谋。她跳到一块木桩上，吊起来装死。有只老鼠见到猫的情形说：“呵，伙计，你哪怕变成一个饭袋，我也决不到你的跟前去呢。”
The Lion, the Bear and the Fox
狮子，熊和狐狸
A LION and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, and fought fiercely for its possession. When they had fearfully lacerated each other and were faint from the long combat, they lay down exhausted with fatigue. A Fox, who had gone round them at a distance several times, saw them both stretched on the ground with the Kid lying untouched in the middle. He ran in between them, and seizing the Kid scampered off as fast as he could. The Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to get up, said, “Woe be to us, that we should have fought and belabored ourselves only to serve the turn of a Fox.”
狮子和熊同时抓到了一头小山羊，为他归谁打得不要开交，直到两败俱伤，疲惫不堪。一只狐狸在远处转了几圈，看到他们都躺在地上，便穿到中间，抓起小山羊就跑。狮子和熊看到这一切，却没有力气爬起来，说：“我俩真可怜，自相残杀，却让狐狸捡到了便宜！”
The Doe and the Lion
雌鹿和狮子
A DOE hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a Lion. The Lion concealed himself on seeing her approach, but when she was safe within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to pieces. “Woe is me,” exclaimed the Doe, “who have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the mouth of a wild beast?’
In avoiding one evil, care must be taken not to fall into another.
有只被猎人紧紧追捕的雌鹿,躲藏在一个狮子洞里.隐藏的狮子等到她走近,而她又感得安全的时候，一跃而起,把他撕成碎片.“我多可怜啊,”雌鹿说：“刚刚逃出猎人的魔爪,又进了狮子的口中.”
要小心不要刚逃出狼窝又进入火锅。
The Farmer and the Fox
农夫和狐狸
FARMER, who bore a grudge against a Fox for robbing his poultry yard, caught him at last, and being determined to take an ample revenge, tied some rope well soaked in oil to his tail, and set it on fire. The Fox by a strange fatality rushed to the fields of the Farmer who had captured him. It was the time of the wheat harvest; but the Farmer reaped nothing that year and returned home grieving sorely.
有个农夫，对偷家禽的狐狸恨之入骨，终于逮到了它，决定好好报复一番。他用绳子绑住狐狸，在尾巴上浇上油点燃，厄运降临的狐狸夺路而逃，窜到这个农夫捉住它的麦地里。这可正是小麦成熟的季节，可是这样搞得农夫一无所获，伤心地回到家里。
The Seagull and the Kite
海鸥和鸢
A SEAGULL having bolted down too large a fish, burst its deep gullet-bag and lay down on the shore to die. A Kite saw him and exclaimed, “You richly deserve your fate, for a bird of the air has no business to seek its food from the sea.”
Every man should be content to mind his own business.
一只海鸥吞吃了一条很大的鱼，胀破了他的食袋，躺在海滩上等死。一只鸢看见后大声说：“你真是活该啊!你本是空中飞的鸟，干嘛要到海里去找食物。”
每个人都应该安分守己。
The Bull and the Goat公牛与野山羊
A BULL, escaping from a Lion, hid in a cave which some shepherds had recently occupied. As soon as he entered, a He-Goat left in the cave sharply attacked him with his horns. The Bull quietly addressed him, “Butt away as much as you will. I have no fear of you, but of the Lion. Let that monster go away and I will soon let you know what is the respective strength of a Goat and a Bull.”
It shows an evil disposition to take advantage of a friend in distress.
有头公牛被狮子追赶，逃进了一个山洞，洞里住着一群野山羊。尽管野山羊朝他又踢又顶，公牛还是忍着痛对他们说：“我在这里忍辱负重，并不是害怕你们，而是害怕那站在洞口的狮子。”
乘人之危是小人所为。
The Fox and the Leopard
狐狸与豹子
THE FOX and the Leopard disputed which was the more beautiful of the two. The Leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which decorated his skin. But the Fox, interrupting him, said, “And how much more beautiful than you am I, who am decorated, not in body, but in mind.”
狐狸和豹子争论谁更漂亮,豹子展示着他身上装饰皮毛的斑点,狐狸却打断他说: “我比你要漂亮得多.我美在头脑,而不是身体.”
The Monkeys and Their Mother
猴子与它们的母亲
THE MONKEY, it is said, has two young ones at each birth. The Mother fondles one and nurtures it with the greatest affection and care, but hates and neglects the other. It happened once that the young one which was caressed and loved was smothered by the too great affection of the Mother, while the despised one was nurtured and reared in spite of the neglect to which it was exposed.
一个猴子生了双胞胎，她只宠爱其中的一个，细心抚养，特别爱护，而对另一个却十分嫌弃，毫不经心。可不知是什么神的力量，那个被母亲宠爱、细心抚养的小猴，被紧紧的抱在怀里窒息而死，那个被嫌弃的却茁壮成长。
The Lion, the Fox and the Ass
狮子，狐狸和驴子
THE LION, the Fox and the Ass entered into an agreement to assist each other in the chase. Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their return from the forest asked the Ass to allot his due portion to each of the three partners in the treaty. The Ass carefully divided the spoil into three equal shares and modestly requested the two others to make the first choice. The Lion, bursting out into a great rage, devoured the Ass. Then he requested the Fox to do him the favor to make a division. The Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one large heap and left to himself the smallest possible morsel. The Lion said,“Who has taught you, my very excellent fellow, the art of division? You are perfect to a fraction.” He replied, “I learned it from the Ass, by witnessing his fate.”
Happy is the man who learns from the misfortunes of others.
狮子和驴子以及狐狸商量好一起联合去打猎，他们捕获了许多野兽，狮子命令驴子把猎物分一分。驴子平均分成三份，请狮子自己挑选，狮子勃然大怒，猛扑过去把驴子吃了。狮子又命令狐狸来分。狐狸把所有的猎物都堆在一起，仅留一点点给他自己，然后请狮子来拿。狮子问他，是谁教他这样分的，狐狸回答说："是驴子的不幸。”
应该从别人的不幸中吸取经验和教训。
The Oak and the Woodcutters
伐木人和橡树
THE WOODCUTTER cut down a Mountain Oak and split it in pieces,making wedges of its own branches for dividing the trunk. The Oak said with a sigh, “I do not care about the blows of the axe aimed at my roots, but I do grieve at being torn in pieces by these wedges made from my own branches.”
Misfortunes springing from ourselves are the hardest to bear.
伐木工人砍倒了一棵橡树并把其分开多块,为劈开这条树干，他用其树枝做楔子。橡树长叹一声说：“我并不在乎斧头砍掉我的根，但是我确实对被用自己的枝干做的楔子撕成碎片而感到悲伤。”
由自身造成的不幸最难以忍受。
The Hen and the Golden Eggs
母鸡与金鸡蛋
A COTTAGER and his wife had a Hen that laid a golden egg every day. They supposed that the Hen must contain a great lump of gold in its inside, and in order to get the gold they killed it. Having done so, they found to their surprise that the Hen differed in no respect from their other hens. The foolish pair, thus hoping to become rich all at once, deprived themselves of the gain of which they were assured day by day.
有家农舍夫妇养了一只鸡，鸡每天生下一个金蛋。他俩以为鸡肚里一定有大块的金子，为取金子便把它杀了，结果惊奇地发现它与别的鸡没有什么不同。愚蠢的两夫妻，希望暴富，却把每日确定的一笔小财也失去了。
The Hares and the Foxes
野兔和狐狸
THE HARES had a war with the Eagles, and called upon the Foxes to help them. They replied, “We would willingly have helped you, if we had not known who you were, and with whom you were fighting.”
Count the cost before you commit yourselves.
野兔和鹰打仗，叫狐狸来帮忙。他们回答说：“我们很想帮助你的，如果不知道你们的实力，你们的对手是谁。"
行动之前先衡量一下利弊。
The Man and The Camel
人与骆驼
WHEN MAN first saw the Camel, he was so frightened at his vast size that he ran away. After a time, perceiving the meekness and gentleness of the beast’s temper, he summoned courage enough to approach him. Soon afterwards, observing that he was an animal altogether deficient in spirit, he assumed such boldness as to put a bridle in his mouth, and to let a child drive him.
Use serves to overcome dread.
人们第一次看见骆驼时，对这些庞然大物感到十分恐惧和震惊。随着时间的推移，他们渐渐地发现骆驼的脾气温顺，便壮着胆子，勇敢地去接近它。过了不久，人们完全明白骆驼这动物根本没一点脾气，于是便瞧不起它了，还给它们装上缰绳，交给孩子们牵着走。
熟悉和了解事物能消除对事物的恐惧。
The Peacock and the Crane
孔雀和白鹤
A PEACOCK spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane that passed by, ridiculing the color of its plumage and saying, “I am robed, like a king, in gold and purple and all the colors of the rainbow; while you have not a bit of color on your wings.” “True,” replied the Crane,“but I soar to the heights of heaven and lift up my voice to the stars, while you walk below, like a cock, among the birds of the dunghill.”
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
孔雀一边张开华丽的羽毛，一边讥笑一只路过的白鹤，“我披挂得金碧辉煌，五彩缤纷，象国王一样；而你的翅膀却一片灰暗，十分难看。”鹤说道：“你说得对。可我翱翔于太空，在星空中歌唱；而你却同公鸡和家禽一般，只能平平庸庸地过。”
穿戴简朴而志趣高远的人远胜于披金戴银而平庸凡俗的人。
The Two Frogs两只青蛙
TWO FROGS were neighbors. One inhabited a deep pond, far removed from public view,the other lived in a gully containing little water, and traversed by a country road. The Frog that lived in the pond warned his friend to change his residence and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that he would enjoy greater safety from danger and more abundant food. The other refused, saying that he felt it so very hard to leave a place to which he had become accustomed. A few days afterwards a heavy wagon passed through the gully and crushed him to death under its wheels.
A willful man will have his way to his own hurt.
两只青蛙是邻居，一只呆在杳无人烟的深池塘里，另一只呆在有条乡间路横过的小水滩中。住在池塘里的青蛙要另一只改变居所，并请他一道同住，说在池塘更安全，食物更充足。但另一只拒绝了，说住惯了，不想搬家。几天后，一辆重重的马车驶过水滩，把那只青蛙压死了。
固执的人会自讨苦吃。
The Fox and the Monkey
狐狸和猴子
A FOX and a Monkey were traveling together on the same road. As they journeyed, they passed through a cemetery full of monuments. “All these monuments which you see,” said the Monkey, “are honor of my ancestors, who were in their day freedmen and citizens of great renown.” The Fox replied, “You have chosen a most appropriate subject for your falsehoods, as I am sure none of your ancestors will be able to contradict you.”
狐狸和猴子在一条路上同行，路上看到了许多碑林。猴子说：“你所看到的这些碑都是我祖先的，当年他们是自由民，显
赫一世，远近闻名。”狐狸说：“你选了一个最合适的话题来撒谎，我敢肯定你的祖先都不能跑出来和你辩论。”
The Thief and the Housedog
贼和看家狗
A THIEF came in the night to break into a house. He brought with him several slices of meat in order to pacify the Housedog, so that he would not alarm his master by barking. As the Thief threw him the pieces of meat, the Dog said, “If you think to stop my mouth, you will be greatly mistaken. This sudden kindness at your hands will only make me more watchful, lest under these unexpected favors to myself, you have some private ends to accomplish for your own benefit, and for my master’s injury.”
一个贼晚上悄悄地溜入一家院子。为了防止狗吠叫喊醒主人，他特意随身带了几块肉。把肉给狗吃的时候，狗说：“你若想这样来堵住我的嘴，那就大错特错了。你这样无缘无故、突如其来地送给我肉，这样让我更清楚,你一定是别有用心，不怀好意的，肯定是为了你自己的利益，想伤害我的主人。”
The Boy Bathing
洗澡的小男孩
A BOY bathing in a river was in danger of being drowned. He called out to a passing traveler for help, but instead of holding out a helping hand, the man stood by unconcernedly, and scolded the boy for his imprudence. “Oh, sir!” cried the youth, “pray help me now and scold me afterwards.”
有一天，有个小男孩在河里洗澡，遇到了危险。眼看要被淹死时，他看见有人路过，连忙大声呼救。然而路人并未施救，却责备小男孩太鲁莽和太冒险。小孩回答:“请你还是先把我救起来，再责备吧。”
狼、狐狸与猿猴
The Wolf, the Fox and the Ape
A WOLF accused a Fox of theft, but the Fox entirely denied the charge. An Ape undertook to adjudge the matter between them. When each had fully stated his case the Ape announced this sentence: “I do not think you, Wolf, ever lost what you claim; and I do believe you, Fox, to have stolen what you so stoutly deny.”
The dishonest, if they act honestly, get no credit.
有头狼控告狐狸行窃，但狐狸矢口否认。一只猿来判案，当他们陈词完毕之后，猿开口了：“狼，我认为你没有失去你所控告的，但狐狸，你一定偷了自己所否认的。”
不诚实的人装诚实，就是撒谎的证据。
The North Wind and the Sun
风与太阳
THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the most powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could first strip a wayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the Wind called upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.
Persuasion is better than Force.
北风与太阳两方为谁更有能力而相互争论不休。他们决定，谁能使得行人脱下衣服，谁就胜利了。北风一开始就竭尽全力地刮，但刮得越猛，行人把衣服裹得越紧。最后风无计可施了，便让给太阳来做。太阳突然把最强烈的阳光射向大地，行人觉得暖和便开始一件一件的脱衣服，不一会儿汗流浃背，于是脱光了衣服，跳到路边的河里洗澡去了。
劝说往往比强迫更为有效。
The Monkey and the Camel
猴子与骆驼
THE BEASTS of the forest gave a splendid entertainment at which the Monkey stood up and danced. Having vastly delighted the assembly, he sat down amidst universal applause. The Camel, envious of the praises bestowed on the Monkey and desiring to divert to himself the favor of the guests, proposed to stand up in his turn and dance for their amusement. He moved about in so utterly ridiculous a manner that the Beasts, in a fit of indignation, set upon him with clubs and drove him out of the assembly.
It is absurd to ape our betters.
森林中的动物们举行了一场盛大的集会上，猴子登台跳舞，深受欢迎，在大家的喝彩声中就座。骆驼十分嫉妒猴子所得的称赞，也想获得大家的喝彩，于是站了起来，自我得意地显示自己的舞技。结果，他那怪模怪样的舞姿洋相百出，动物们大为生气，用棍棒把骆驼赶出了盛会。
不要东施效颦。
The Peasant and the Apple-Tree
农夫和树
A PEASANT had in his garden an Apple-Tree which bore no fruit but only served as a harbor for the sparrows and grasshoppers. He resolved to cut it down, and taking his axe in his hand, made a bold stroke at its roots. The grasshoppers and sparrows entreated him not to cut down the tree that sheltered them, but to spare it, and they would sing to him and lighten his labors. He paid no attention to their request, but gave the tree a second and a third blow with his axe. When he reached the hollow of the tree, he found a hive full of honey. Having tasted the honeycomb, he threw down his axe, and looking on the tree as sacred, took great care of it.
Self-interest alone moves some men.
农夫的园子里有一棵苹果树，这棵树并不结果，只能作麻雀和吵闹的蝉的栖息地。农夫想把树砍掉，便拿起斧头，朝树砍了一下。蝉和麻雀请求农夫不要砍倒他们的家，允许树生长在田地里，他们将在树上为他歌唱，使他高兴。农夫毫不理睬，又砍了第二斧和第三斧，直至树心出现了一个洞。洞里有蜂窝和蜜，他尝了尝蜂蜜后，抛下斧头，不但不再砍伐，而且视树为神，倍加爱护。
某些人重利轻义。
The Lion and the Eagle
狮子和老鹰
AN EAGLE stayed his flight and entreated a Lion to make an alliance with him to their mutual advantage. The Lion replied, “I have no objection, but you must excuse me for requiring you to find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust anyone as a friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he pleases?’
Try before you trust.
鹰停止飞行，请一只狮子为了共同的利益和他结盟。狮子回答说：“我不反对，但你得为自己的忠诚提供保障。我又怎么能信任一个只要他愿意，可以不管任何协议，随时随地有能力飞走的家伙呢？”
不要轻信于人。
The Camel and the Arab
骆驼和阿拉伯人
AN ARAB CAMEL-DRIVER, after completing the loading of his Camel,asked him which he would like best, to go up hill or down. The poor beast replied, not without a touch of reason: “Why do you ask me? Is it that the level way through the desert is closed?”
一个阿拉伯的骆驼夫把货满载在骆驼背上后，问骆驼是喜欢上山还是喜欢下山。骆驼振振有词地说：“你为什么这样问我?难道经过沙漠的平坦大道都关闭了吗?”
The Thieves and the Cock
小偷与公鸡
SOME THIEVES broke into a house and found nothing but a Cock,whom they stole, and got off as fast as they could. Upon arriving at home they prepared to kill the Cock, who thus pleaded for his life: “Pray spare me; I am very serviceable to men. I wake them up in the night to their work.” “That is the very reason why we must the more kill you,” they replied， “for when you wake your neighbors, you entirely put an end to our business.”
The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
几个小偷悄悄地溜进一户人家里，什么也没偷到， 仅发现一只公鸡，便抓住他偷走了。当小偷们要杀公鸡时，公鸡请求放了他，并说他对人们是有益处的，每天天不亮时，他就把人们叫醒起来去工作。小偷们回答说：“单凭这一点，非要你死不可，你把人们都叫醒就妨碍了我们偷盗。“
那些对于好人有益的事正是对于坏人有害的。
The Dog and the Oyster
狗和牡蛎
A DOG, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster and, opening his mouth to its widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg. Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his stomach, he said, “I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything round must be an egg.”
They who act without sufficient thought, will often fall into unsuspected danger.
有只爱吃蛋的狗，看到一只牡蛎，以为是个蛋，张开大嘴使劲吞了下去，不久胃剧痛了，狗说:“我真是活该受罪，以为只要是圆的东西都是蛋。”
不经过深思熟虚的人常常会陷自己于险境。
猫和维纳斯
A CAT fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel, so that the youth saw her and loved her, and took her home as his bride. While the two were reclining in their chamber, Venus wishing to discover if the Cat in her change of shape had also altered her habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. The Cat, quite forgetting her present condition, started up from the couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus was much disappointed and again caused her to return to her former shape.
Nature exceeds nurture.
有只猫爱上了一个英俊的年轻男人，请求维纳斯将它变成女人的样子，维纳斯答应了她的请求，将她变成一个美丽的女人，让那个男人爱上她并把她作为新娘带回家中。当两人呆在卧室时，维纳斯想知道变成人形的猫有没有改变猫的习性，便在房中放了一只老鼠。猫忘了自己的情形，从沙发上跳起来追老鼠，想要吃它，维纳斯失望地将猫变回原形。
江山易改，本性难易。
狗和狐狸
SOME DOGS, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it in pieces with their teeth. A Fox, seeing them, said, “If this lion were alive, you would soon find out that his claws were stronger than your teeth.”
It is easy to kick a man that is down.
狗发现了一块狮子皮，用牙将它撕成了碎片，有只狐狸看见了说，“如果狮子还活着，你们马上就发现它的爪子要强过你们的牙齿了。”
虎落平阳，易被犬欺。
The Dog and Its Shadow
狗 和 影 子
A DOG, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size. He immediately let go of his own, and fiercely attacked the other Dog to get his larger piece from him. He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and his own, because the stream swept it away.
一条狗叼块肉走在溪桥上，看到了水中的影子，误认为自己的影子是另外一条狗，也叼着块肉，比自己的还大。它立即丢下口里的那块，凶猛地扑向影子，想从那条狗的嘴中抢到那块更大的。结果不但没有得到那块肉（因为那只是个影子）；反而连自己嘴里的一块也被溪水冲走了。
The Flies and the Honey-Pot
苍蝇和蜜罐
A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper’s room, and placing their feet in it,ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, “what foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves.”
Pleasure bought with pains ,hurts.
有个妇人家中的蜜罐翻了，引来一群苍蝇。它们飞到蜂蜜中贪婪地吮吸起来。然而腿被粘住了，无法扇动翅膀起飞，终于困在蜜里闷死。临死前苍蝇狂呼：“我们是多么愚蠢的家伙啊!就为了尝一点甜头，把自己给毁了!”
欢乐要付出代价。
The Goat and the Goatherd
山羊和牧羊人
GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock.He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid noattention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone,and broke its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master.The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent.”
牧羊人想把一只离群的孤羊带回羊群，又吹口哨又吹角号，却无济于事，那只孤羊对他的召唤毫不在意。最后牧羊人只有扔了一块石头，弄坏了羊角。他请求山羊不要告诉主人，山羊回答说，“老天，你这个笨蛋!即使我不开口，那只羊角也会泄露事实的!”
The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle
两只打架的公鸡
TWO GAME COCKS were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.
Pride goes before destruction.
为了争占一院之主，两只公鸡打了起来，其中一只把另一只打跑了。打败的只好躲进一个避静的角落，打胜的却飞到高墙上振翅炫耀。一只鹰从空中猛冲过来，将他抓了去。被打败的公鸡马上从角落里出来，平平安安地做了院主。
骄傲给人带来危害。
The Horse and His Rider
马与骑兵
A HORSE SOLDIER took the utmost pains with his charger. As long as the war lasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all emergencies and fed him carefully with hay and corn. But when the war was over, he only allowed him chaff to eat and made him carry heavy loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish drudgery and ill-treatment. War was again proclaimed, however, and when the trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier put on his charger its military trappings, and mounted, in his heavy coat of mail. The Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no longer equal to the burden, and said to his master, You must now go to the war on foot, for you have transformed me from a Horse into an Ass; and how can you expect that I can again turn in a moment from an Ass to a Horse?’
有个骑兵对他的马很不好，只要是战争期间，他把战马视为各种危急状况的大救星，且用干草粮食喂养得无微不至。但当战争结束时，他只是敷衍了事地喂马，让它背负很重的木头，而且象对待奴隶般让其做苦工。后来战争又爆发了，当冲锋号再次响起时，骑兵上马诱敌，穿着厚厚的铁甲爬上去。马不堪负重倒在路上，再也不能驮他，说：“你得步行去参战了。你曾将我当驴子般使用，又怎能让我一下子变回马呢?”
A Groom and His Horse
马夫和他的马
A GROOM used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them for his own profit. “Alas!” said the Horse, “if you really wish me to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me more.”
有个马夫，过去常常整天整天地为他的马梳洗按摩，同时又偷喂马的燕麦去卖钱，马悲哀地叹，“如果你真心希望我过得好，就该少献殷勤，多给我一点饲料!”
The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf
放羊娃和狼
A SHEPHERD-BOY, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, “Wolf! Wolf!” and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror, “Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep!”But no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure lacerated or destroyed
the whole flock.
There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.
有个放羊娃在村子附近放牧。好几次大声向村里人呼救“狼来了！狼来了！”村里人都立刻跑来帮忙，却被他嘲笑。最后，狼真的来了。牧羊娃真正又惊又怕，拼命呼喊：“求求你们，帮帮我！狼吃羊了！”没有人再理他的话，更别说来帮忙了。结果，狼无所顾忌，轻轻松松地吃掉了整个羊群。
骗子说真话也无人相信。
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