第2章

THE FOX AND THE GRAPES

狐狸和葡萄

A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis，and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air.But it was all in vain，for they were just out of reach：so he gave up trying，and walked away with an air of dignity and unconcern，remarking，"I thought those grapes were ripe，but I see now they are quite sour."

｛中文阅读｝

一只饥肠辘辘的狐狸，看见缠绕在高架上的葡萄枝挂着几串成熟的葡萄，就尽力向上跳，想要摘下那些葡萄。但无论他怎么努力，也是徒劳无功，因为他始终够不着那些葡萄。于是他放弃了，反而带着不屑一顾的样子走开了，边走边说：“还以为那些葡萄已经熟透了呢，现在看来根本就是酸葡萄。”

THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGGS

下金蛋的鹅

A Man and his wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid a golden egg every day.Lucky though they were，they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough，and imagining the bird must be made of gold inside，they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once.But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose.Thus，they neither got rich all at once，as they had hoped，nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

Much wants more and loses all.

｛中文阅读｝

有一对夫妇非常幸运，他们有一只每天下一枚金蛋的母鹅。尽管非常幸运，可他们很快就觉着财富增加得还不够快，不仅如此，他们还以为这只鹅的内脏肯定也是金的。于是，他们决定杀掉它，这样就能立刻得到全部珍宝了。然而，他们把鹅开膛破肚之后，却发现和其它鹅没什么两样。如此，他们既没有像当初希望得那样一夜暴富，也不能再享有财富与日俱增的好运气了。

贪多必失。

THE CAT AND THE MICE

猫和老鼠

There was once a house that was overrun with Mice.A Cat heard of this，and said to herself，"That's the place for me，"and off she went and took up her quarters in the house，and caught the Mice one by one and ate them.At last the Mice could stand it no longer，and they determined to take to their holes and stay there."That's awkward，"said the Cat to herself："the only thing to do is to coax them out by a trick."So she considered a while，and then climbed up the wall and let herself hang down by her hind legs from a peg，and pretended to be dead.By and by a Mouse peeped out and saw the Cat hanging there."Aha！"it cried，"you're very clever，madam，no doubt：but you may turn yourself into a bag of meal hanging there，if you like，yet you won't catch us coming anywhere near you."

If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.

｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一座房子，里面的老鼠泛滥成灾。一只猫听到此事，便自言自语：“那正是我要去的地方。”于是她走到那座房子里住下来，一只接一只地抓老鼠，然后吃掉他们。最后，老鼠们再也无法忍受下去，决定躲到自己的洞里，再也不出来。“这还真不好办了，”猫自言自语道，“若想骗他们出来，只能耍个花招了。”她琢磨了一会儿，然后爬上墙，用后腿钩住木桩倒挂下来，假装已经死了。过了一会儿，一只老鼠向外窥探，看到了挂在那里的猫。“啊哈！”老鼠大叫，“夫人，你还真聪明，不过，就算你假装成一袋粮食挂在那里，你也骗不了我们去接近你。”

如果有足够的智慧，面对那些曾认定的危险人物所假装出的无辜，你也不会上当受骗。

THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG

恶狗

There was once a Dog who used to snap at people and bite them without any provocation，and who was a great nuisance to every one who came to his master's house.So his master fastened a bell round his neck to warn people of his presence.The Dog was very proud of the bell，and strutted about tinkling it with immense satisfaction.But an old dog came up to him and said，"The fewer airs you give yourself the better，my friend.You don't think，do you，that your bell was given you as a reward of merit？On the contrary，it is a badge of disgrace."

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一条狗经常无缘无故地抓人、咬人，去他主人家做客的每个人都很讨厌他。主人在他的脖子上系了一个铃铛，以此提醒人们提防他的出现。这条狗对脖子上戴着的铃铛引以为傲，大摇大摆地戴着它走来走去，十分满意这种叮当声。但是，一条老狗却走过来对他说：“我的朋友，姿态越低，对你越好。你不会真的以为这个铃铛是对你的奖赏吧？事实恰恰相反，它是耻辱的标志呀。”

恶名常被误认为美誉。

THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER

烧炭工和漂洗工

There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself.A Fuller，however，happened to come and settle in the same neighborhood；and the Charcoal-burner，having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow，asked him if he would come and share his house："We shall get to know one another better that way，"he said，"and，beside，our household expenses will be diminished."The Fuller thanked him，but replied，"I couldn't think of it，sir：why，everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."

｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一个自力更生的烧炭工人独自在家工作。碰巧，一个漂洗工搬至隔壁，与他成了邻居。结识漂洗工后，烧炭工人经过了解发现，这个邻居将是一个很好的合作伙伴，就问漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的铺子里一起工作。“那样我们会变得更加亲密，”烧炭人说，“不仅如此，我们还可以节省生活开销呢。”漂洗工却谢绝了他，回答说：“我可不这样看，先生，因为不管我把衣服漂洗得多么白，都会立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”

THE MICE IN COUNCIL

老鼠开会

Once upon a time all the Mice met together in Council，and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat.After several suggestions had been debated，a Mouse of some standing and experience got up and said，"I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future，provided you approve and carry it out.It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat，which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach."This proposal was warmly applauded，and it had been already decided to adopt it，when an old Mouse got upon his feet and said，"I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one：but may I ask who is going to bell the cat？"

｛中文阅读｝

从前，所有的老鼠聚集在一起，开会商讨免受猫攻击的良策。几个建议相继都被否决之后，一只很有威望且经验丰富的老鼠站起来，说：“我忽然想到一个办法，可以确保大家未来的安全，假如你们赞成的话，我们就这么办。这个办法是，我们应该在敌人的脖子上挂一个铃铛，猫走路时发出的叮当声，就会警告我们——猫要来了。”他的提议受到了大家的赞同，都决定采用这个办法，就在这时，一只年长的老鼠伸出他的前爪，说：“我也赞同这是一个绝妙的好办法，但是，我想问一下，谁去给猫系铃铛呢？”

THE BAT AND THE WEASELS

蝙蝠和黄鼠狼

A Bat fell to the ground and was caught by a Weasel，and was just going to be killed and eaten when it begged to be let go.The Weasel said he couldn't do that because he was an enemy of all birds on principle."Oh，but，"said the Bat，"I'm not a bird at all：I'm a mouse.""So you are，"said the Weasel，"now I come to look at you"；and he let it go.Some time after this the Bat was caught in just the same way by another Weasel，and，as before，begged for its life."No，"said the Weasel，"I never let a mouse go by any chance.""But I'm not a mouse，"said the Bat；"I'm a bird.""Why，so you are，"said the Weasel；and he too let the Bat go.

Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.