THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG

驢和哈巴狗

There was once a man who had an Ass and a Lap-dog.The Ass was housed in the stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat and was as well off as an ass could be.The little Dog was made a great pet of by his master，who fondled him and often let him lie in his lap；and if he went out to dinner，he would bring back a tit-bit or two to give him when he ran to meet him on his return.The Ass had，it is true，a good deal of work to do，carting or grinding the corn，or carrying the burdens of the farm：and ere long he became very jealous，contrasting his own life of labor with the ease and idleness of the Lap-dog.At last one day he broke his halter，and frisking into the house just as his master sat down to dinner，he pranced and capered about，mimicking the frolics of the little favorite，upsetting the table and smashing the crockery with his clumsy efforts.Not content with that，he even tried to jump on his master's lap，as he had so often seen the dog allowed to do.At that the servants，seeing the danger their master was in，belabored the silly Ass with sticks and cudgels，and drove him back to his stable half dead with his beating."Alas！"he cried，"all this I have brought on myself.Why could I not be satisfied with my natural and honorable position，without wishing to imitate the ridiculous antics of that useless little Lap-dog？"

｛中文閱讀｝

有人養了一頭驢和一只哈巴狗。驢被圈養在棚子里，雖然不愁溫飽，有著足夠的燕麥和干草供應，卻每天都要盡驢子應盡的本分。小狗頗會討好它的主人，而主人則經常撫摸它，讓它坐在自己的膝蓋上。假如主人出外吃飯，還會想著帶一點好吃的回來，等見到小狗時給它作為獎勵。驢子的確是工作繁重，他不僅要到磨坊里拉磨，還要去樹林里馱木材。與哈巴狗的悠閑自在相比，驢子難免會心生嫉妒，懷有怨言。有一天，機會終于來了，驢子掙斷韁繩，跑進主人的房間，模仿哈巴狗的樣子圍著主人跳舞，又蹦又踢，不僅撞翻了桌子，還把碗碟摔得粉碎。不僅如此，驢子甚至還試圖跳到主人的膝蓋上，因為他經常看到小狗如此。仆人們見此情景，都嚇壞了，以為主人面臨著危險，于是用棍棒把驢子趕回棚里，打了個半死。“唉！”他哭喊著，“我這不是自作自受嗎，我為什么不滿足于自己的現狀和地位，偏要去模仿小哈巴狗那無用、滑稽的小丑樣呢？”

THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLE

冷杉與荊棘

A Fir-tree was boasting to a Bramble，and said，somewhat contemptuously，"You poor creature，you are of no use whatever.Now，look at me：I am useful for all sorts of things，particularly when men build houses；they can't do without me then."But the Bramble replied，"Ah，that's all very well：but you wait till they come with axes and saws to cut you down，and then you'll wish you were a Bramble and not a Fir."

Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many obligations.

｛中文閱讀｝

一棵冷杉樹用輕蔑的口吻對著荊棘夸口道：“你這可憐的東西，一點用處也沒有。你看看我，我可是對萬物都有益處，尤其是當人類要蓋房子的時候，沒有我根本就不行。”但是荊棘回答：“是啊！那的確很好。不過，等到他們拿著斧頭和鋸來把你砍倒時，你就會希望自己是荊棘，而不是冷杉樹了。”

寧可貧窮而無人問津，也不要富貴而責任纏身。

THE FROGS'COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SUN

抱怨太陽的青蛙

Once upon a time the Sun was about to take to himself a wife.The Frogs in terror all raised their voices to the skies，and Jupiter，disturbed by the noise，asked them what they were croaking about.They replied，"The Sun is bad enough even while he is single，drying up our marshes with his heat as he does.But what will become of us if he marries and begets other Suns？"

｛中文閱讀｝

有一次，太陽想給自己找個老婆。青蛙們驚恐地沖著天空大喊，朱庇特聽到吵鬧聲，就問他們在沖著誰哇哇亂叫。他們回答說：“即便是單身，太陽已經夠壞了，幾乎曬干了我們的沼澤地，要是他再結了婚，并且再生下一個小太陽的話，我們該怎么辦呀？”

THE DOG，THE COCK，AND THE FOX

狗、公雞和狐貍

A Dog and a Cock became great friends，and agreed to travel together.At nightfall the Cock flew up into the branches of a tree to roost，while the Dog curled himself up inside the trunk，which was hollow.At break of day the Cock woke up and crew，as usual.A Fox heard，and，wishing to make a breakfast of him，came and stood under the tree and begged him to come down."I should so like，"said he，"to make the acquaintance of one who has such a beautiful voice."The Cock replied，"Would you just wake my porter who sleeps at the foot of the tree？He'll open the door and let you in."The Fox accordingly rapped on the trunk，when out rushed the Dog and tore him in pieces.

｛中文閱讀｝

一條狗與一只公雞成了朋友，他們準備一起去旅行。到了晚上，公雞一躍跳到樹枝上棲息，而狗則蜷縮在下面空洞洞的樹干里過夜。天將破曉時，公雞像往常一樣啼叫起來。一只狐貍聽見了雞叫，想以雞肉作為自己的早餐，便跑來站在樹下，請公雞下來。“多么美的嗓音啊！”他說，“我很高興能認識一位聲音悅耳動聽的公雞。”而公雞則回答說：“你能先叫醒樹洞里那個看門的嗎？只要他一開門，我就可以下來。”狐貍立刻跑去叫門，里面突然跳出來一只狗，把他咬住撕碎了。

THE GNAT AND THE BULL

蠓蟲和公牛

A Gnat alighted on one of the horns of a Bull，and remained sitting there for a considerable time .When it had rested sufficiently and was about to fly away，it said to the Bull，"Do you mind if I go now？"The Bull merely raised his eyes and remarked，without interest，"It's all one to me；I didn't notice when you came，and I shan't know when you go away."

We may often be of more consequence in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbors.

｛中文閱讀｝

一只蠓蟲偶然發現了公牛頭上的角，便停留在上面很長一段時間。等他歇夠了腳，準備飛走時，對公牛說：“我現在飛走，你不介意吧？”公牛僅僅抬眼看了看，不感興趣地說：“對我來說都一樣。我甚至都沒有注意到你過來，當然也不想知道你什么時候走。”

我們經常自視很重要，可別人往往不這樣看。

THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELLERS

熊和旅人

Two Travelers were on the road together，when a Bear suddenly appeared on the scene.Before he observed them，one made for a tree at the side of the road，and climbed up into the branches and hid there.The other was not so nimble as his companion；and，as he could not escape，he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead.The Bear came up and sniffed all round him，but he kept perfectly still and held his breath：for they say that a bear will not touch a dead body.The Bear took him for a corpse，and went away.When the coast was clear，the Traveler in the tree came down，and asked the other what it was the Bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear.The other replied，"He told me never again to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.

｛中文閱讀｝

兩個朋友一同出游，途中突然遇到一只大熊。還沒等熊看到他們，其中一個立即閃電般地搶先爬上樹，躲了起來。而另一個眼見逃生無望，便靈機一動躺倒在地上，假裝死了。熊走到他跟前，用鼻子在他臉上嗅了嗅，轉身就走了，但他依然屏住呼吸、安然不動，因為他們聽說，熊從來不碰死人。熊還真把他當成了死人，徑自走開了。躲在樹上的人下來后，問躺在地上的朋友，熊在他耳邊說了些什么。那人委婉地回答說：“熊告訴我，今后千萬注意，別和那些不能共患難的朋友一起同行。”

不幸可以考驗友誼的真誠。