THE BOY AND THE SNAILS

男孩和蝸牛

A Farmer's Boy went looking for Snails，and，when he had picked up both his hands full，he set about making a fire at which to roast them；for he meant to eat them.When it got well alight and the Snails began to feel the heat，they gradually withdrew more and more into their shells with the hissing noise they always make when they do so.When the Boy heard it，he said，"You abandoned creatures，how can you find heart to whistle when your houses are burning？"

｛中文閱讀｝

一個鄉下少年到處尋找蝸牛，當他雙手都塞滿了蝸牛后，就準備點火烤著吃。火點著了，蝸牛也開始感覺到熱了，他們紛紛退向堅殼的深處，同時還發出“咝咝”的噪音。男孩子聽到了蝸牛發出的噓聲，便說：“你們這些連命都快沒有了的家伙，怎么還能有心情在窩里著火時吹口哨呢？”

THE APES AND THE TWO TRAVELLERS

猿猴和兩個旅人

Two men were travelling together，one of whom never spoke the truth，whereas the other never told a lie：and they came in the course of their travels to the land of Apes.The King of the Apes，hearing of their arrival，ordered them to be brought before him；and by way of impressing them with his magnificence，he received them sitting on a throne，while the Apes，his subjects，were ranged in long rows on either side of him.When the Travellers came into his presence he asked them what they thought of him as a King.The lying Traveller said，"Sire，every one must see that you are a most noble and mighty monarch.""And what do you think of my subjects？"continued the King."They，"said the Traveller，"are in every way worthy of their royal master."The Ape was so delighted with his answer that he gave him a very handsome present.The other Traveller thought that if his companion was rewarded so splendidly for telling a lie，he himself would certainly receive a still greater reward for telling the truth；so，when the Ape turned to him and said，"And what，sir，is your opinion？"he replied，"I think you are a very fine Ape，and all your subjects are fine Apes too."The King of the Apes was so enraged at his reply that he ordered him to be taken away and clawed to death.

｛中文閱讀｝

有兩個人一起去旅行，其中一個從不說實話，另一個卻從不說謊話。他們碰巧走進了猿猴國。聽說有人闖進自己的領土，猿猴王就吩咐手下將這兩人捉拿歸案，為了讓他們對猿猴國的富麗堂皇印象深刻，他令所有的猿猴在兩邊分別列隊，自己則坐在中間的王位上接待他們。一切準備妥當后，那兩人被帶到猴王面前，猴王詢問他們如何看待面前的這個猴王。愛說謊的人回答說：“任何人都能看出來，您就是一個最高貴、最有權力的國王。”“那么，你如何看待旁邊的這些隨從呢？”猴王接著問。那人連忙說：“他們都是猴王您的得力干將。”猴王聽到他的這番恭維十分高興，給了他豐盛的禮物。另外一個說真話的人心里暗自琢磨，若是同伴的一番謊話都能得到如此豐厚的回報，那么，我這樣一個說實話的老實人，肯定會得到比他更多的獎賞了。于是，當猿猴國王轉過身來問他：“先生，您是怎么看的呢？”他回答道：“我認為，您是一只最優秀的猿猴，而您的所有隨從也還可以。”猿猴國王聽到這些真話后惱羞成怒，下令將說真話的人帶走，處以死刑。

THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS

驢和他的擔子

A Pedlar who owned an Ass one day bought a quantity of salt，and loaded up his beast with as much as he could bear.On the way home the Ass stumbled as he was crossing a stream and fell into the water.The salt got thoroughly wetted and much of it melted and drained away，so that，when he got on his legs again，the Ass found his load had become much less heavy.His master，however，drove him back to town and bought more salt，which he added to what remained in the panniers，and started out again.No sooner had they reached a stream than the Ass lay down in it，and rose，as before，with a much lighter load.But his master detected the trick，and turning back once more，bought a large number of sponges，and piled them on the back of the Ass.When they came to the stream the Ass again lay down：but this time，as the sponges soaked up large quantities of water，he found，when he got up on his legs，that he had a bigger burden to carry than ever.

You may play a good card once too often.

｛中文閱讀｝

一個小販養了一頭驢，有一天，他買了一批鹽，幾乎全都馱到了驢的背上。在回家的路上，經過一條小河時，驢不慎落水。鹽巴全都落入水中打濕了，其中一部分鹽已經溶化，被水流沖走，所以，當他再次馱起鹽巴，驢發現自己的擔子明顯輕了很多。然而，他的主人又趕著他回到鎮上，買了更多的鹽，添加到原有的那些貨物上，重新出發。等來到小河邊，驢再次掉入水中，又起來，如上次一樣，驢背上的擔子又輕了許多。主人察覺出了驢的鬼把戲，再次趕著他回到鎮上，這次主人買了一些海綿，綁到驢背上。當他們又來到小河邊，驢又故技重施，可是這一次，因為海綿遇水膨脹，等站起身后，他發現背上的擔子更重了。

好牌只能用一次，多了就無效。

THE SHEPHERD'S BOY AND THE WOLF

牧童和狼

A Shepherd's Boy was tending his frock near a village，and thought it would be great fun to hoax the villagers by pretending that a Wolf was attacking the sheep：so he shouted out，"Wolf！wolf！"and when the people came running up he laughed at them for their pains.He did this more than once，and every time the villagers found they had been hoaxed，for there was no Wolf at all.At last a Wolf really did come，and the Boy cried，"Wolf！wolf！"as loud as he could：but the people were so used to hearing him call that they took no notice of his cries for help.And so the Wolf had it all his own way，and killed off sheep after sheep at his leisure.

You cannot believe a liar even when he tells the truth.

｛中文閱讀｝

一個牧童正趕著羊群走回村子，心想通過假裝狼襲擊羊群就能愚弄一下村民，這樣就更好玩了。于是，他大喊道：“狼來了！狼來了！”人們聽到喊聲紛紛跑來，而牧童卻沖著他們大笑，嘲弄他們的感受。之后，牧童再次如法炮制，這次村民又被騙了，因為根本沒有什么狼。最后，真的來了一只狼，牧童拼命大喊：“狼來了！狼來了！”此時，先前聽過他叫喊的那些人再也不把他當一回事了。于是，狼悠閑自在地殺死了所有的羊。

騙子即便說實話，也無法得到信任。

THE FOX AND THE GOAT

狐貍和山羊

A Fox fell into a well and was unable to get out again.By and by a thirsty Goat came by，and seeing the Fox in the well asked him if the water was good."Good？"said the Fox，"it's the best water I ever tasted in all my life.Come down and try it yourself."The Goat thought of nothing but the prospect of quenching his thirst，and jumped in at once.When he had had enough to drink，he looked about，like the Fox，for some way of getting out，but could find none.Presently the Fox said，"I have an idea.You stand on your hind legs，and plant your forelegs firmly against the side of the well，and then I'll climb on to your back，and，from there，by stepping on your horns，I can get out.And when I'm out，I'll help you out too."The Goat did as he was requested，and the Fox climbed on to his back and so out of the well；and then he coolly walked away.The Goat called loudly after him and reminded him of his promise to help him out：but the Fox merely turned and said，"If you had as much sense in your head as you have hair in your beard you wouldn't have got into the well without making certain that you could get out again."

Look before your leap.