一只猫抓到一只公鸡，并想方设法找出一个借口好吃掉他，因为不吃鸡是猫的一贯传统，而她也知道自己不应该吃鸡。最后，猫说：“你总在夜晚打鸣，让人们不能好好睡觉，所以，我要吃掉你。”但是，公鸡却辩解说，自己为了人们的利益而叫醒他们，可使人们按时起床工作，若是没有了鸡，人们就无法准时起床工作了。“有点道理，”猫回答说，“不过，不管他们能不能准时开始工作，我总不能没有饭吃。”于是，猫就吃掉了公鸡。
带有好借口的欲望，永远不会让坏人免于恶行。
116
THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
野兔与乌龟
A Hare was one day making fun of a Tortoise for being so slow upon his feet.“Wait a bit，”said the Tortoise；“I’ll run a race with you，and I’ll wager that I win.”“Oh，well，”replied the Hare，who was much amused at the idea，“let’s try and see”；and it was soon agreed that the fox should set a course for them，and be the judge.When the time came both started off together，but the Hare was soon so far ahead that he thought he might as well have a rest：so down he lay and fell fast asleep.Meanwhile the Tortoise kept plodding on，and in time reached the goal.At last the Hare woke up with a start，and dashed on at his fastest，but only to ？nd that the Tortoise had already won the race.
Slow and steady wins the race.
｛中文阅读｝
有一天，兔子嘲笑乌龟用脚爬得太慢了。“那又怎么了，”乌龟说，“总有一天我会和你赛跑，并且还能赢了你。”“噢，好吧，”兔子回答，认为乌龟的这个想法太搞笑了，“我们比比看”。他们很快便商定好了比赛的时间和地点，并且让狐狸来设定比赛过程，兼做裁判。比赛一开始，兔子很快就跑到了前面，他觉着自己应该休息一下，于是便躺在路旁睡着了。此时，乌龟正不停地朝前奔跑，并且最后还实现了自己的目标。兔子醒来后，用最快的速度猛劲向前跑，可是却发现乌龟已经取得了比赛胜利。
慢而稳健，这才是制胜法宝。
117
THE SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE
士兵和战马
A Soldier gave his Horse a plentiful supply of oats in time of war，and tended him with the utmost care，for he wished him to be strong to endure the hardships of the field，and swift to bear his master，when need arose，out of the reach of danger.But when the war was over he employed him on all sorts of drudgery，bestowing but little attention upon him，and giving him，moreover，nothing but chaff to eat.The time came when war broke out again，and the Soldier saddled and bridled his Horse，and，having put on his heavy coat of mail，mounted him to ride off and take the field.But the poor half-starved beast sank down under his weight，and said to his rider，“You will have to go into battle on foot this time.Thanks to hard work and bad food，you have turned me from a Horse into an ass；and you cannot in a moment turn me back again into a Horse.”
｛中文阅读｝
战争期间，一个士兵用充足的燕麦精心喂养他的马，希望身强体壮的马能够在需要时，驮着主人在地形艰险的战场上快速奔跑，从而免于危险。然而，战争一结束，战马便被拉去服苦役，不仅得不到主人的关爱，而且除了糟糠之外，再也没有其它饲料了。不久，战争又爆发了，士兵备好马鞍、套上缰绳、穿上厚重的铠甲，全副武装地准备骑着马去迎敌。这时，马却毫无力气，不断摔倒，他对主人说：“这次，你可要亲自跑着赶赴战场了，都是因为繁重的劳役和廉价的饲料，让我从一匹战马变成了一头驴，你怎么还能把我当战马骑呢？”
118
THE OXEN AND THE BUTCHERS
公牛和屠夫
Once upon a time the Oxen determined to be revenged upon the Butchers for the havoc they wrought in their ranks，and plotted to put them to death on a given day.They were all gathered together discussing how best to carry out the plan，and the more violent of them were engaged in sharpening their horns for the fray，when an old Ox got up upon his feet and said，“My brothers，you have good reason，I know，to hate these Butchers，but，at any rate，they understand their trade and do what they have to do without causing unnecessary pain.But if we kill them，others，who have no experience，will be set to slaughter us，and will by their bungling in？ict great sufferings upon us.For you may be sure that，even though all the Butchers perish，mankind will never go without their beef.”
｛中文阅读｝
有一次，公牛想报复屠夫，因为他们在屠夫那里遭受蹂躏，被分成若干等级，并且等待着某一日被屠宰。他们聚集在一起商讨如何执行报复计划，其中那些比较暴躁的公牛为了这场战争已经磨好了自己的尖角，准备战斗。这时，一头年长的老公牛站起来，说：“兄弟们，我知道，大家确实有理由憎恨屠夫，但是从某种程度上讲，他们明白自己的职责，已经尽可能地减少了我们的痛苦。然而，倘若我们杀死了屠夫，就会让那些没有经验的人来宰杀我们，给我们增添更多痛苦。你们要知道，即便所有的屠夫都死了，但人类总是要吃牛肉的。”
THE WOLF AND THE LION
狼和狮子
