第10章 The Wolf and the Crane 狼和鹤

A WOLF who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a large sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out the bone. When the Crane had extracted the bone and demanded the promised payment, the Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed: "Why, you have surely already had a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf."

In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.

狼的喉咙被一根骨头卡住了，急切地寻求帮助。正好，他看见了鹤，就恳求他帮忙，并许诺会有丰厚的回报。于是鹤把脑袋伸进狼的喉咙，取出了骨头。当他向狼要求得到许诺的回报时，狼却这样回答：“什么？你的脑袋能够安然无恙地从我的嘴巴里出来，就已经是最大的奖赏了，还需要其他的吗？”

本性邪恶的人把自己不做坏事当作对别人最大的恩惠。