貓和小鳥

The Cat and the Birds

一只貓聽說鳥舍里的鳥生病了，于是就把自己裝扮成醫生，拿著自己的手杖和工具箱去拜訪他們。他一邊敲門，一邊假裝用關切的語氣詢問鳥兒們的身體狀況，說道：“如果你們生病了，我非常樂意治療你們的病痛，為你們服務。”聰明的鳥兒們回答道：“我們現在都很好，只要你趕快離開這里，我們以后還會更好。”

要時刻謹記自己的敵人。

A Cat hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician， and， taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession， went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did， saying that if they were ill， he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them.They replied， "We are all very well， and shall continue so， if you will only be good enough to go away， and leave us as we are."

Kown your enemies.

貓和維納斯

The Cat and Venus

一只母貓愛上了一個英俊的男子，于是懇求維納斯把她變成一個女人。維納斯答應了她的請求，把她變成了一位美麗的少女。那位男子一看到她就深深地愛上了她。很快，母貓就成了男子的新娘。婚禮的當天晚上，他們一起斜躺在床上。維納斯想看看母貓變成人之后生活習慣是否也發生了變化，就把一只老鼠放到了他們床中間。結果，母貓一看到老鼠，馬上恢復了本性，一下子把老鼠抓住吃掉了。維納斯看到后非常失望，仍舊把她變回了貓。

江山易改，本性難移。

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.

貓和公雞

The Cat and the Cock

貓逮到一只公雞，就想找個冠冕堂皇的理由把雞吃掉。于是，他就指責公雞半夜鳴叫，打擾了人類，使他們晚上睡覺不踏實。公雞為自己辯解：“我這樣做是在提醒他們應該勞動了，這對人類是有益的。”貓回答道：“盡管你伶牙俐齒很會為自己辯解，可是你也不能讓我餓肚子。”最終，貓還是把公雞吃掉了。

壞人行兇作惡是不需要理由的。

A Cat caught a Cock， and pondered how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him of being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep.The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the benefit of men， that they might rise in time for their labors.The Cat replied， "Although you abound in specious apologies， I shall not remain supperless"； and he made a meal of him.

Tyrants need no excuse.

貓和老鼠

The Cat and the Mice

一所房子里鼠多為患。貓知道了這個情況后，便去了那所房子里，吃掉了一只又一只老鼠。老鼠們損失慘重，為了避免全軍覆沒，老鼠們紛紛躲藏在洞里，輕易不會出來。這樣，貓就沒辦法捉到他們了。貓想來想去，只得用計謀把老鼠誘騙出來，于是，她找到一個掛鉤，吊在上面裝死。其中一只老鼠小心翼翼地探出頭向外張望，看到貓的樣子，說道：“嗨，親愛的貓夫人，您還是不要白費心機了。即使您完全變成一只飯袋，我們也是不會靠近你的。”

吃一塹長一智。

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， peeping stealthily out， saw her and said， "Ah， my good madam， even though you should turn into a meal-bag， we will not come near you."

He who is once deceived is doubly cautious.