第6章

｛中文阅读｝

一个寡妇，既节俭又勤劳，她对两个仆人的要求也相当严厉。每当公鸡一打鸣，这个老女人就叫她们起来去干活，不让她们多睡一会儿。仆人们都不喜欢在这么早的时间起床，尤其是在冬天里，她们以为，若是那只公鸡不在这么早的时候叫醒女主人，她们还能多睡一会儿。于是，她们捉住公鸡，拧断了它的脖子。但是，她们并没有预料到更严重的后果。女主人听不到公鸡的叫声了，却比往常更早地叫醒她们，在半夜里就让她们去干活。

THE GOODS AND THE ILLS

善与恶

There was a time in the youth of the world when Goods and Ills entered equally into the concerns of men，so that the Goods did not prevail to make them altogether blessed，nor the Ills to make them wholly miserable.But owing to the foolishness of mankind the Ills multiplied greatly in number and increased in strength，until it seemed as though they would deprive the Goods of all share in human affairs，and banish them from the earth.The latter，therefore，betook themselves to heaven and complained to Jupiter of the treatment they had received，at the same time praying him to grant them protection from the Ills，and to advise them concerning the manner of their intercourse with men.Jupiter granted their request for protection，and decreed that for the future they should not go among men openly in a body，and so be liable to attack from the hostile Ills，but singly and unobserved，and at infrequent and unexpected intervals.Hence it is that the earth is full of Ills，for they come and go as they please and are never far away；while Goods，alas！come one by one only，and have to travel all the way from heaven，so that they are very seldom seen.

｛中文阅读｝

世界形成之初，善与恶平等地并存于人心，这样一来，善不曾受称赞，恶也不曾遭唾弃。但是，由于人类的愚蠢，恶开始成倍增加，其力量也相继强大起来，后来似乎要剥夺所有善应占有的份额，将其驱逐出地球。因此，力量弱小的善努力回到了天上，向朱庇特（即宙斯，罗马神话中的主神）抱怨自己的遭遇，同时祈请他同意自己对恶的防卫，并且还征询重返人间的建议。朱庇特同意了他们寻求庇护的请求，并且还下令让他们将来不要公然地进入人间，因为这样易于受到心怀敌意的邪恶攻击，而是要逐一悄然地回归，不要太频繁，应在人们的意料之外。由此，这个地球上充满了邪恶，因为他们可以随意地往返，而且永远不会远离人类，而善则只能一个一个地来，他们要想方设法地从天上下来，必须悄悄地，才能不被发现。

THE HARES AND THE FROGS

野兔与青蛙

The Hares once gathered together and lamented the unhappiness of their lot，exposed as they were to dangers on all sides and lacking the strength and the courage to hold their own.Men，dogs，birds and beasts of prey were all their enemies，and killed and devoured them daily：and sooner than endure such persecution any longer，they one and all determined to end their miserable lives.Thus resolved and desperate，they rushed in a body towards a neighboring pool，intending to drown themselves.On the bank were sitting a number of Frogs，who，when they heard the noise of the Hares as they ran，with one accord leaped into the water and hid themselves in the depths.Then one of the older Hares who was wiser than the rest cried out to his companions，"Stop，my friends，take heart；don't let us destroy ourselves after all：see，here are creatures who are afraid of us，and who must，therefore，be still more timid than ourselves."

｛中文阅读｝

有一次，众多野兔聚集在一起，哀悼自己的不幸命运，方方面面都遭遇危险，而他们却缺乏勇气和力量去掌握自己的命运。人、狗、鸟类和猛兽等都是他们的敌人，整日屠杀吞噬他们。一想到要忍受这样的迫害，他们都认为还不如一死了之呢。于是，他们下定决心、不顾一切地来到附近的池塘边，准备投水自尽。有一群青蛙正围坐在池塘边，听到兔子们那急促的跑步声后，青蛙们立即纷纷跳入水中。兔子中，有一只年长的兔子比同伴们聪明一些，“朋友们，快停下来，我们应该振作起来，不要再自寻短见了！你们看，这里还有一些害怕我们的动物呢，他们肯定比我们更胆小！”

THE FOX AND THE STORK

狐狸与鹤

A Fox invited a Stork to dinner，at which the only fare provided was a large flat dish of soup.The Fox lapped it up with great relish，but the Stork with her long bill tried in vain to partake of the savory broth.Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much amusement.But not long after the Stork invited him in turn，and set before him a pitcher with a long and narrow neck，into which she could get her bill with ease.Thus，while she enjoyed her dinner，the Fox sat by hungry and helpless，for it was impossible for him to reach the tempting contents of the vessel.

｛中文阅读｝

狐狸请鹤来吃晚饭，然而他所款待客人的，仅仅是一个大平底盘子里盛的一点汤。狐狸津津有味地舔食平盘里的汤，而鹤却无法用他那长喙吸食香喷喷的浓汤。鹤十分气恼，这让狡猾的狐狸十分开心。然而，没过多久，鹤回请狐狸吃饭，他在狐狸面前摆放了一只颈长口小的罐子，可以让鹤轻易地将长嘴伸进去。这一次，当他从容地吃着罐子里的食物时，狐狸却只能眼巴巴地看着，因为他根本无法够到罐子里诱人的饭菜。

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

披着羊皮的狼

A Wolf resolved to disguise himself in order that he might prey upon a frock of sheep without fear of detection.So he clothed himself in a sheepskin，and slipped among the sheep when they were out at pasture.He completely deceived the shepherd，and when the frock was penned for the night he was shut in with the rest.But that very night as it happened，the shepherd，requiring a supply of mutton for the table，laid hands on the Wolf in mistake for a Sheep，and killed him with his knife on the spot.

｛中文阅读｝

为了不被察觉地捕食一群羊，狼下定决心要伪装自己。于是，他披上了一身羊皮，趁羊群在牧场里游荡时悄然混进去。他完全骗过了放羊倌，晚上羊群被关进栏里时，他也被一起关了进去。但是，就在那个晚上，牧羊人想要吃羊肉了，于是把手放在披着羊皮的狼身上，一刀就杀了他。