狼和山羊

The Wolf and the Goat

狼看到一只山羊在悬崖边上吃草，可是没有办法接近山羊。他就对山羊说：“你快下来吧！你看那里多危险啊，一不小心就会摔得粉身碎骨。我知道一个牧场，那里的青草异常鲜美。而且牧场主人也非常和蔼可亲。我可以带你去那个地方。“山羊回答说：”亲爱的朋友，谢谢你的好意了。我想，你并不是想带我去牧场，而是要让我来填饱你的肚子吧！”

要小心敌人的“好意邀请”。

A Wolf saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a steep precipice，where he had no chance of reaching her. He called to her and earnestly begged her to come lower down，lest she fall by some mishap；and he added that the meadows lay where he was standing，and that the herbage was most tender. She replied，“No，my friend，it is not for the pasture that you invite me，but for yourself，who are in want of food.”

Be careful when you enemy invites you.

农夫和蛇

The Farmer and the Snake

有个农夫在冬天发现一条被冻僵了的蛇。善良的他非常可怜蛇，便把他放在自己怀里。感受到农夫身体的温暖后，蛇苏醒过来了，随即恢复了本性，狠狠地咬了他的恩人一口，足以致命。农夫明白自己的处境，不禁悲叹：“这就是我怜悯恶人的报应啊！”

邪恶本性是不会改变的。

One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it，and taking it up，placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth，and resuming its natural instincts，bit its benefactor，inflicting on him a mortal wound. “Oh，”cried the Farmer with his last breath，“I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel.”

The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.

农夫和咬死他儿子的蛇

The Laborer and the Snake

一条住在村子附近的蛇爬到农夫年幼的儿子跟前，咬了他致命的一口。悲痛欲绝的农夫抓起一把斧子，守候在蛇的洞口，等蛇一出现，就把他消灭。要外出觅食的蛇刚探出脑袋，农夫就举起斧子向他砍去。可惜农夫只砍到了蛇的尾巴，没有砍中脑袋。后来，农夫担心蛇会找他报仇，就试图与蛇和解。不料，蛇回答说：“我们之间是不可能和平相处的，因为我会想起我被你砍断的尾巴，而你也不会忘记被我咬死的儿子。”

人们很难做到“一笑泯恩仇”。

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.”

No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused the injury.

捕鸟人和毒蛇

The Fowler and the Viper

捕鸟人拿着粘鸟胶和捕鸟杆出门捕鸟。他看见一棵大树上停着一只画眉鸟，就想把它抓住。他把手中的捕鸟杆调整到适合的长度，然后就聚精会神地盯着那只画眉。当他专心致志地看着树上时，根本没有注意到脚旁，一不小心踩到了一条毒蛇。惊醒的毒蛇立即回过头狠狠地咬了他一口。身中剧毒的捕鸟人在临终前还自言自语：“我真是倒霉啊，只顾专心捉鸟，却不知不觉地踏入了死亡的陷阱。”

不要只专注于一件事情，而不顾自己身边其他的危险。

A Fowler，taking his bird-lime and his twigs，went out to catch birds. Seeing a thrush sitting upon a tree，he wished to take it，and fitting his twigs to a proper length，watched intently，having his whole thoughts directed towards the sky. While thus looking upwards，he unknowingly trod upon a Viper asleep just before his feet. The Viper，turning about，stung him，and falling into a swoon，the man said to himself，“Woe is me！That while I purposed to hunt another，I am myself fallen unawares into the snares of death.”

Concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of others at your own peril.

燕子、蛇和法院

The Swallow，the Serpent，and the Court of Justice

燕子迁徙归来，喜爱和人居住在一起，于是就带着她的七个小宝宝在法院的墙上安了家。有一天，她外出觅食，贪吃的蛇爬进了她的巢，把她的孩子们全部吃掉了。归来的燕子，看着空空的巢穴，伤心极了。同伴纷纷来安慰她，可是燕子说：“我不仅因为失去孩子们而伤心，更是因为我在人类维护正义的地方遭遇了违反正义的事情。”

正义的维护不是一成不变的。

A Swallow，returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men，built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow，finding her nest empty，lamented greatly and exclaimed，“Woe to me a stranger！That in this place where all others’rights are protected，I alone should suffer wrong.”

Justice is fickle.

乌鸦和大蛇

The Crow and the Serpent

饥饿的乌鸦在四处觅食，发现一条在温暖的阳光下熟睡的蛇。乌鸦暗喜自己找到了这么美味的食物，于是就猛扑下去，一把将蛇抓住。惊醒的蛇回过头来，狠狠地咬了乌鸦一口。奄奄一息的乌鸦感叹道：“我真是倒霉啊！我虽意外地找到了这么可口的食物，却搭上了自己的性命。”

想要得到自己不了解的东西，只能自取灭亡。

A Crow in great want of food saw a Serpent asleep in a sunny nook，and flying down，greedily seized him. The Serpent，turning about，bit the Crow with a mortal wound. In the agony of death，the bird exclaimed，“Oh unhappy me！ Who have found in that which I deemed a happy windfall the source of my destruction.”

Desire things you don’t understand and you accept the consequence.

蛇和老鹰

The Serpent and the Eagle

蛇和老鹰在殊死搏斗，打得不可开交。很明显，老鹰处于劣势，蛇正要盘起身子紧紧勒死老鹰。这时，一个农夫经过，看到后就用手把蛇掰开，帮助老鹰恢复了自由。怀恨在心的蛇就在农夫的酒中放了毒。可是农夫丝毫没有察觉，正要喝酒，幸亏老鹰及时赶到，夺走了农夫手里的酒杯。

知恩图报。

A Serpent and an Eagle were struggling with each other in deadly conflict. The Serpent had the advantage，and was about to strangle the bird. A countryman saw them，and running up，loosed the coil of the Serpent and let the Eagle go free. The Serpent，irritated at the escape of his prey，injected his poison into the drinking horn of the countryman. The rustic，ignorant of his danger，was about to drink，when the Eagle struck his hand with his wing，and，seizing the drinking horn in his talons，carried it aloft.

Help those who help you.

毒蛇和锉刀

The Viper and the File

一条毒蛇偷偷溜进一家铁匠铺，想寻找一些吃的。这时他遇到了锉刀，就求他施舍一点儿吃的东西。锉刀摇摇头对他说：“愚蠢的家伙啊！难道你想以你的牙齿为代价从我这里得到一丁点儿食物？你可知道我是可以咬透各种坚硬的铁的。”

这则寓言针对那些想从比自己强的人的手里得到好处的人。

A Viper entered a blacksmith’s workshop and bit the file，testing it to see if this was something he could eat. The file protested fiercely，“You fool！ Why are you trying to wound me with your teeth，when I am able to gnaw through every sort of iron？”

If you have ever tried to a bite out of someone whose fangs are even sharper than yours，you will recognize youeself in this story.

石榴树、苹果树和荆棘

The Pomegranate，Apple-Tree，and Bramble

石榴树和苹果树一直争论不休，看谁更美丽。当他们争得不可开交时，附近篱笆旁的荆棘说话了：“拜托了，我亲爱的朋友们，在我看来，你们应该赶快停止这徒劳的争吵！”

每个人都认为自己是最棒的。

The Pomegranate and Apple-Tree disputed as to which was the most beautiful. When their strife was at its height，a Bramble from the neighboring hedge lifted up its voice，and said in a boastful tone，“Pray，my dear friends，in my presence at least cease from such vain disputings.”

Everyone thinks themshelves the best.

杉树和荆棘

The Fir-Tree and the Bramble

杉树骄傲地对荆棘说：“你一无是处，而我在任何地方都可以作为盖房子和房顶的材料。”荆棘回答他：“可怜的家伙！你还是想一下斧头和锯子是怎样’照顾’你的吧，我想到那时，你肯定巴不得自己是一棵荆棘呢！”

心安理得的贫穷胜过充满不安和痛苦的富有。

A Fir-Tree said boastingly to the Bramble，“You are useful for nothing at all；while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses.”The Bramble answered，“You poor creature，if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down，you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble，not a Fir-Tree.”

Better poverty without care，than riches with.

橡树和芦苇

The Oak and the Reeds

一株非常高大的橡树在狂风暴雨的肆虐中被连根拔起，倒在了芦苇丛中。橡树看到芦苇安然无恙很是不解，就问他们：“我想知道为什么你们这么软弱却能躲过暴风雨的袭击？”芦苇回答道：“你和狂风对抗，但是实力悬殊，因此你会被折断；我们则顺势摆动，也就能轻易躲过狂风的侵袭。”

降低身份以达到目的。

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.

狐狸和荆棘

The Fox and the Bramble

一只狐狸翻越篱笆时，差一点失儿足掉下，他拼命抓住了一株荆棘。荆棘的尖刺刺破了他的皮肤。疼痛难忍的狐狸开始抱怨起荆棘来，说：“我本来是向你求助的，没想到你比篱笆还坏。”荆棘反驳道：“你可知道我总是习惯于依附别人的，你却要来依靠我，实在是太异想天开了。”

为了私利的人都会变得自私。千万不要依靠那些自私的人。

A Fox was mounting a hedge when he lost his footing and caught hold of a Bramble to save himself. Having pricked and grievously tom the soles of his feet，he accused the Bramble because，when he had fled to her for assistance，she had used him worse than the hedge itself. The Bramble，interrupting him，said，“But you really must have been out of your senses to fasten yourself on me，who am myself always accustomed to fasten upon others.”

To be selfish all are selfish.

橡树和伐木工

The Oak and the Woodcutters

伐木工们在砍一棵高大的橡树。他们借助于用橡树做成的楔子，不费力气地撑开了橡树的树干。橡树叹了一口气，说：“我毫不在意砍向我的斧子，可是悲哀的是，你们用那些我的身体制成的楔子来把我劈开。”

来自自身的痛苦更难以承受。

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.

胡桃树

The Walnut-Tree

有一棵长在路旁的胡桃树结满了果实，路过的行人看到后垂涎不止。为了吃到新鲜的果实，人们纷纷用石头扔，拿木棍打，很快胡桃树就伤痕累累了。胡桃树伤心地说：“我给你们提供美味的果实，你们却用木棒和石头来回报我。我是多么倒霉啊！”

人们总会在不经意间伤害所爱的人。

A Walnut-Tree standing by the roadside bore an abundant crop of fruit. For the sake of the nuts，the passers-by broke its branches with stones and sticks. The Walnut-Tree piteously exclaimed，“Oh wretched me！That those whom I cheer with my fruit should repay me with these painful requitals！”

You always hurt the one you love.

玫瑰和苋菜

The Rose and the Amaranth

花园里，苋菜和玫瑰生长在一起。它对玫瑰说：“看你们长得多漂亮啊！神灵和人类都非常喜欢你们。我是多么羡慕你美丽的外表和芬芳的气味啊！”“不，苋菜，”玫瑰回答说，“我的花瓣再好看，也只有几天寿命罢了！即使大家不来采摘，我也会自行凋谢的。而你就不同了，一年四季都可以长出新枝嫩叶。”

接受自己的命运。

An Amaranth planted in a garden near a Rose-Tree，thus addressed it，“What a lovely flower is the Rose，a favorite alike with gods and with men. I envy you your beauty and your perfume.” The Rose replied，“I indeed，dear Amaranth，flourish but for a brief season！ If no cruel hand pluck me from my stem，yet I must perish by an early doom. But thou art immortal and dost never fade，but blooms for ever in renewed youth.”

Accept your own fate.

橄榄树和无花果树

The Olive-Tree and the Fig-Tree

冬天，油橄榄嘲笑无花果说：“我一年四季长青，开花结果，而你的树叶一到冬天就会凋谢，你就变成光秃秃的丑样子了，仅在夏天美丽。”橄榄树刚说完这句话，天上就飘起了鹅毛大雪。雪花落在枝繁叶茂的橄榄树上，一会儿就把他压垮了。橄榄树的美丽也就消失了。而无花果树光秃秃的，没有树叶，雪花直接降落在地上，一点儿也没有受到伤害。

大自然是美丽的最好见证者。

The Olive-Tree ridiculed the Fig-Tree because，while she was green all the year round，the Fig-Tree changed its leaves with the seasons. A shower of snow fell upon them，and，finding the Olive full of foliage，it settled upon its branches and broke them down with its weight，at once despoiling it of its beauty and killing the tree. But finding the Fig-Tree denuded of leaves，the snow fell through to the ground，and did not injure it at all.

Brag and nature may bring you down.

行人和梧桐树

The Travelers and the Plane-Tree

夏季的正午，太阳火辣辣地烤着大地。两个赶路人已经是筋疲力尽了。他们看到前面有一棵梧桐树，就急忙赶过去，躺在树荫下休息。他们抬头看着大树，其中一个人对另一人说：“梧桐树不会结果，对我们人类没有任何用处！”梧桐树听到后非常气愤，反驳道：“你们真是忘恩负义啊！你们现在正享受着我的恩惠，嘴里却在说我是无用的树。”

人们总是不珍惜自己眼前的幸福。

Two Travelers，worn out by the heat of the summer’s sun，laid themselves down at noon under the widespreading branches of a Plane-Tree. As they rested under its shade，one of the Travelers said to the other，“What a singularly useless tree is the Plane-Tree！It bears no fruit，and is not of the least service to man.” The PlaneTree，interrupting him，said，“You ungrateful fellows！ Do you，while receiving benefits from me and resting under my shade，dare to describe me as useless，and unprofitable？”

Some men underrate their best blessings.

农民和苹果树

The Peasant and the Apple-Tree

农夫的果园里有一棵苹果树，可是这棵树从来不结果实，只是给麻雀和蚱蜢提供了安家的地方。农夫觉得留着它也没用，就抡起斧头想把它砍掉。他刚砍了一下，麻雀和蚱蜢就纷纷过来向他求情，恳求他别毁了他们的家园，并许诺每天唱歌为农夫解闷。可是，农夫根本没有理睬他们，继续砍树。当砍到第三下的时候，农夫发现树洞里有一群蜜蜂和许多蜂蜜。他尝了一下蜂蜜，味道真是好极了，于是他马上丢下斧头。从此，这棵树得到了农夫细心的照顾。

私利是很多人行动的唯一动机。

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.

树木和斧头

The Trees and the Axe

一个人走进森林，要求树木给他提供一把斧子。树木答应了他的请求，给了他一棵年幼的灰树。一拿到灰树，这个人就立即把它做成了一把斧子，然后就开始热火朝天地工作起来。

看着不断遭殃的同伴，一棵年长的橡树对旁边的西洋杉说：“我们一开始就错了，如果我们不把能做成斧子的灰树交给他，那么我们现在还在健康茁壮地成长。”

没有什么可以阻止一个人的自我毁灭。

A man came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his Axe. The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree. No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his Axe from it，than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

An old oak，lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions，said to a neighboring cedar，“The first step has lost us all. If we had not given up the rights of the ash，we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

Nothing bothers a man more than to see he has aided his own undoing.

披着羊皮的狼

The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

从前，有一只自作聪明的狼，为了能轻易得到食物，就把自己装扮成一只羊，瞒过了牧人，混进了羊群。到了晚上，他被牧人锁在了羊圈里。他心想终于可以美美地饱餐一顿了。正当他准备行动时，为明天准备食物的牧人来羊圈捉羊，错把披着羊皮的狼当成羊抓起来杀掉了。

害人终害己。

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.

狼与小绵羊

The Wolf and the Lamb

一只狼遇见了一只迷路失群的小绵羊，就想先找一些理由，向小绵羊证明自己有吃掉他的权利。他就说：“小鬼！你去年曾经辱骂过我。”小绵羊可怜兮兮地说：“事实上，我去年还没有出生呢。”狼又说：“你偷吃过我草地上的草。”小羊回答说：“不，好心的先生，我至今还没有尝过草的味道呢。”狼又说道：“你喝过我井里的水。”小羊喊道：“不，我从没有喝过水，因为到目前为止，母亲的奶汁就是我全部的食物。”狼一听这话，再也忍耐不住了，便一把抓住他，把他吃下去了，说：“不管你怎样为自己辩解，终究我是要把你吃掉的！”

对于那些下定决心要做坏事的人来说，任何正当的辩解都是没有用的。

Wolf，meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold，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.” Again said the Wolf，“You drink of my well.”“No，” exclaimed the Lamb，“I never yet drank water，for as yet my mother’s milk is both food and drink to me.” 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.

狼群和羊群

The Wolves and the Sheep

狼群假惺惺地问羊群：“我们之间为什么就不能和平相处呢？”随后栽赃道，“归根结底，狗才是造成我们不和的罪魁祸首。因为每次当我们想接近你们表示友好时，狗就会大声吼叫，妨碍我们建立友谊。你们应该把这群讨厌的狗赶走。”愚不可及的羊群接受了狼群的建议，不顾后果地把狗给赶走了。结果就可想而知了，失去了护卫的羊群当然成了狼群的盘中餐。

一段愚蠢的和平比一场血腥的战争还要可怕。

“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.

A foolish peace is more destructive than a bloody war.

狼和鹤

The Wolf and the Crane

狼的喉咙被一根骨头卡住了，急切地寻求帮助。正好，他看见了鹤，就恳求他帮忙，并许诺会有丰厚的回报。于是鹤把脑袋伸进狼的喉咙，取出了骨头。当他向狼要求得到许诺的回报时，狼却这样回答：“什么？你的脑袋能够安然无恙地从我的嘴巴里出来，就已经是最大的奖赏了，还需要其他的吗？”

本性邪恶的人把自己不做坏事当做对别人最大的恩惠。

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.

放羊娃和狼

The Shepherd’s Boy and the Wolf

放羊娃在一个村庄附近放羊。突然，他高喊：“狼来了！狼来了！”可是，急忙赶过来的村民连狼的影子都没有看到，等待他们的是放羊娃的大声嘲笑。村民才明白自己是上当受骗了。放羊娃却以此为乐，一次又一次地戏弄村民。最后，狼真的来了。放羊娃吓得手足无措，只能高喊救命。可是，被他愚弄的村民再也不会相信他的话了，没有一个人来帮忙。肆无忌惮的狼悠闲地享用了一顿大餐。

人们是不会相信一个说谎者的，即使他说的是实话。诚信很重要。

A Shepherd’s-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’s-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.

小孩和狼

The Kid and the Wolf

一个小孩站在远离危险的屋顶上，看到一只狼经过，就尽情地挖苦和嘲笑他。狼抬头说道：“小子，你根本没有资格来嘲弄我，你只是凭借你脚下的屋顶才站得这么高罢了。”

通常，弱者比强者更会利用时间和地理的优势。

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 thee: yet it is not thou who mockest me，but the roof on which thou art standing.”

Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the strong.

狼和绵羊

The Wolf and the Sheep

狼被狗咬伤了，精疲力尽地躺倒在自己的山洞里，甚至连外出找食物的力气都没有。碰巧有一只羊经过，他就甜言蜜语地恳求羊到附近的小溪里舀一些水来给他解渴，并说：“如果你能帮我找来喝的，肉食我自己就会有办法，不会拖累你的。”羊却答道：“那是当然，如果我给你弄来喝的，那我自己就一定会成为你的吃的。”

伪善的话语很快就会被揭穿。

A Wolf，sorely wounded and bitten by dogs，lay sick and maimed in his lair. Being in want of food，he called to a Sheep who was passing，and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing close beside him. “For，” he said，“if you will bring me drink，I will find means to provide myself with meat.”“Yes，” said the Sheep，“if I should bring you the draught，you would doubtless make me provide the meat also.”

Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

妇人和狼

The Mother and the Wolf

一天早上，一头饥肠辘辘的狼在森林里四处寻找食物。当他经过一所房子的时候，他听到一位母亲对她的孩子说：“你要乖乖的，不要吵，要不然我就把你丢到外面，让狼吃了你。”狼就信以为真，果真站在门外一直等候。到了傍晚，狼又听到母亲对她的孩子说：“乖孩子，你现在很安静，如果有狼敢闯进来，我们就把他杀死。”狼一听这些话，急忙转身逃跑了。狼回到洞里之后，他的妻子看到他饥寒交迫的样子，很是不解，就问他到底发生了什么事情。他回答说：“我真是愚蠢极了，竟然相信一位妇人的话！”

不要相信敌人的承诺。

A famished Wolf was prowling about in the morning in search of food. As he passed the door of a cottage built in the forest，he heard a Mother say to her child，“Be quiet，or I will throw you out of the window，and the Wolf shall eat you.” The Wolf sat all day waiting at the door. In the evening he heard the same woman fondling her child and saying，“You are quiet now，and if the Wolf should come，we will kill him.” The Wolf，hearing these words，went home，gasping with cold and hunger. When he reached his den，Mistress Wolf inquired of him why he returned wearied and supperless，so contrary to his wont. He replied，“Why，forsooth！Use I gave credence to the words of a woman！”

Enemies’promises were made to be broken.

狼和牧羊人

The Wolf and the Shepherd

狼跟在羊群后面很长一段时间，但是没有做出任何伤害羊群的行为。刚开始的时候，牧羊人还对狼保持高度警惕，拿着木棒时刻注视着他。

就这样一天天过去了，狼始终跟在羊群后面，没有任何进攻的行为。渐渐地，牧人就把狼当做了羊群的守护神了。一天，他要去城里办事，就完全把羊群托付给狼，然后就放心地离开了。狼马上意识到机会来了，于是他就肆无忌惮地吃掉了很多羊，还把剩下的羊全部咬死了。牧人回来，发现他的羊全都死了，痛心疾首地说：“我这真是活该啊！我怎么会放心地把羊交给狼来看管呢？”

不要把宝贵的东西交给自己的敌人。

A Wolf followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure one of them. The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him，as against an enemy，and kept a strict watch over his movements.

But when the Wolf，day after day，kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them，the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it；and when occasion called him one day into the city，he left the sheep entirely in his charge. The Wolf，now that he had the opportunity，fell upon the sheep，and destroyed the greater part of the flock. When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed，he exclaimed，“I have been rightly served；why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf？”

Don’t trust your enemy to guard your valuables.

狼和牧人

The Wolf and the Shepherds

一只狼看到一群牧羊人在小屋里分吃羊肉，就对他们说：“如果我能像你们一样吃到这么美味的羊肉，我就别无所求了！”

环境决定行为。

A Wolf，passing by，saw some Shepherds in a hut eating a haunch of mutton for their dinner. Approaching them，he said，“What a clamor you would raise if I were to do as you are doing！”

Circumstance dictate how actions are seen.

狼和狐狸

The Wolf and the Fox

从前，有一只狼的个头比他的同伴们高大很多，因此他们称他为“狮子”。这只狼也认为自己身体比例失调，于是就离开了狼群，去和狮子做伴了。一只老狐狸看到了，就对他说：“我从来没有让自己变得像你这个自负、傲慢的家伙一样可笑。即使你在狼群中看起来像一只狮子，可是在狮群中你仍然是一只不折不扣的狼。”

认识你自己。

At one time a very large and strong Wolf was born among the wolves，who exceeded all his fellow-wolves in strength，size，and swiftness，so that they unanimously decided to call him “Lion”. The Wolf，with a lack of sense proportioned to his enormous size，thought that they gave him this name in earnest，and，leaving his own race，consorted exclusively with the lions. An old sly Fox，seeing this，said，“May I never make myself so ridiculous as you do in your pride and self-conceit；for even though you have the size of a lion among wolves，in a herd of lions you are definitely a Wolf.”

Know yourself and your limits.

盲人和狼崽

The Blind Man and the Whelp

有个盲人，有一项特殊的本领：无论什么动物放在他手里，他只要摸一下就能辨认出来。一天，有人把一只小狼崽交到他手上。他摸了一下，有些犹豫，说道：“我不敢肯定他是一只小狼还是小狐狸，但是有一点我很明确，那就是千万不可把他放进羊群中。”

邪恶的天性在幼年时期就会显现。

A Blind Man was accustomed to distinguishing different animals by touching them with his hands. The whelp of a Wolf was brought him，with a request that he would feel it，and say what it was. He felt it，and being in doubt，said，“I do not quite know whether it is the cub of a fox，or the whelp of a wolf，but this I know full well. It would not be safe to admit him to the sheepfold.”

Evil tendencies are shown in early life.

狼和狮子

The Wolf and the Lion

一天傍晚，狼在山坡上散步，突然瞥见了自己细细长长的影子，就自言自语道：“凭着我自己这样的身高我还害怕狮子吗？我才应该是这动物们都敬畏的’万兽之王’啊！”正当他沉浸在自己美好的幻想中的时候，一只狮子从他背后蹿出来，一下子就把他抓住吃掉了。在临死前的一刻，狼才翻然醒悟：“我是多么愚蠢啊！妄自尊大就是自取灭亡啊！”

不要沉迷于幻想而忘记了现实。

Roaming by the mountainside at sundown，a Wolf saw his own shadow become greatly extended and magnified，and he said to himself，“Why should I，being of such an immense size and extending nearly an acre in length，be afraid of the Lion？Ought I not to be acknowledged as king of all the collected beasts？” While he was indulging in these proud thoughts，a Lion fell upon him and killed him. He exclaimed with a too late repentance，“Wretched me！ This overestimation of myself is the cause of my destruction.”

Do not let your fancy make you forget realities.

狼和夺食的狮子

The Wolf and the Lion

一天，狼从羊圈里偷了一只羊叼在嘴里，正要赶回自己的窝。不料在途中撞上了狮子，把羊夺走了。狼跑了几步，确定自己安全了，就对狮子抗议道：“你没有权利夺走我的食物！”狮子用嘲讽的语气回答说：“这真的是你的吗？或者是你的哪位善良的朋友送给你的礼物？”

强者为王。

A Wolf，having stolen a lamb from a fold，was carrying him off to his lair. A Lion met him in the path，and seizing the lamb，took it from him. Standing at a safe distance，the Wolf exclaimed，“You have unrighteously taken that which was mine from me！” To which the Lion jeeringly replied，“It was righteously yours，eh？The gift of a friend？”

The strong prevail.