A Wolf hung about near a ？ock of sheep for a long time，but made no attempt to molest them.The Shepherd at first kept a sharp eye on him，for he naturally thought he meant mischief：but as time went by and the Wolf showed no inclination to meddle with the ？ock，he beganto look upon him more as a protector than as an enemy：and when one day some errand took him to the city，he felt no uneasiness at leaving the Wolf with the sheep.But as soon as his back was turned the Wolf attacked them and killed the greater number.When the Shepherd returned and saw the havoc he had wrought，he cried，“It serves me right for trusting my ？ock to a Wolf.”
｛中文阅读｝
一只狼跟在羊群后面很长时间了，但是却没有打扰他们。起先，牧羊人一直提心吊胆地盯着狼，因为他本能地以为狼是个坏蛋。可是随着时间的推移，狼却丝毫没有要攻击羊群的迹象，牧羊人便以为这是一个保护者，而非敌对者。终于有一天，牧羊人要进城办事，便把羊群留给狼守护。然而，就在牧羊人刚转身走开时，狼就袭击了羊群，并且杀死了大部分羊。牧羊人回来后，见此情景十分后悔，哭喊道：“我竟然把羊群托付给一只狼，真是活该呀！”
THE FARMER AND THE STORK
农夫和鹳
A Farmer set some traps in a ？eld which he had lately sown with corn，in order to catch the cranes which came to pick up the seed.When he returned to look at his traps he found several cranes caught，and among them a Stork，which begged to be let go，and said，“You ought not to kill me：I am not a crane，but a Stork，as you can easily see by my feathers，and I am the most honest and harmless of birds.”But the Farmer replied，“It’s nothing to me what you are：I ？nd you among these cranes，who ruin my crops，and，like them，you shall suffer.”
If you choose bad companions no one will believe that you are anything but bad yourself.
｛中文阅读｝
为了捉住那些前来偷吃种子的鹤，农夫在刚刚播种的田里布下许多陷阱。等农夫再来检查陷阱时，发现几只鹤被捉住了，其中还有一只鹳。鹳哀求农夫放了自己，他说：“你不应该杀了我，因为我又不是鹤，而是一只鹳，你仔细看看我的羽毛，就明白我与鹤完全不同了。我是最诚实的鸟儿，从不伤害别人。”然而，农夫却说：“你究竟是什么，对我来说并不重要，但是我在网中发现了你，那你就得和这些毁了庄稼的鹤一起受苦了。”
如果你选择与坏人为伍，没有人会相信你是好人。
THE CHARGER AND THE MILLER
战马和磨坊主
A Horse，who had been used to carry his rider into battle，felt himself growing old and chose to work in a mill instead.He now no longer found himself stepping out proudly to the beating of the drums，but was compelled to slave away all day grinding the corn.Bewailing his hard lot，he said one day to the Miller，“Ah me！I was once a splendid war-horse，gaily caparisoned，and attended by a groom whose sole duty was to see to my wants.How different is my present condition！I wish I had never given up the battle？eld for the mill.”The Miller replied with asperity，“It’s no use your regretting the past.Fortune has many ups and downs：you must just take them as they come.”
｛中文阅读｝
一匹曾经驮着主人驰骋沙场的战马，感到自己年事已高，便选择离开战场，到一个磨坊里去工作。他发现自己再也无法在听到战鼓雷鸣时昂头挺胸地前进了，只能被迫埋头于终日磨谷子的劳作之中。战马垂头丧气地哀叹着自己的命运，有一天，他对磨坊主说：“唉，我曾经可是一匹光彩照人的战马，不仅披着华丽的战袍，而且还有专门的马倌照顾我。现如今，我这是什么下场呀！真希望我当初没有离开战场，为什么要到这个磨坊来呀。”磨坊主粗暴地回答说：“不必追悔过去，命运总会有所起伏，随缘而安就好了。”
THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL
蚂蚱和猫头鹰
An Owl，who lived in a hollow tree，was in the habit of feeding by night and sleeping by day；but her slumbers were greatly disturbed by the chirping of a Grasshopper，who had taken up his abode in the branches.She begged him repeatedly to have some consideration for her comfort，but the Grasshopper，if anything，only chirped the louder.At last the Owl could stand it no longer，but determined to rid herself of the pest by means of a trick.Addressing herself to the Grasshopper，she said in her pleasantest manner，“As I cannot sleep for your song，which，believe me，is as sweet as the notes of Apollo’s lyre，I have a mind to taste some nectar，which Minerva gave me the other day.Won’t you come in and join me？”The Grasshopper was ？attered by the praise of his song，and his mouth，too，watered at the mention of the delicious drink，so he said he would be delighted.No sooner had he got inside the hollow where the Owl was sitting than she pounced upon him and ate him up.
｛中文阅读｝
栖息在一棵枯树上的猫头鹰，习惯于晚上觅食、白天睡觉。
可是，她白天却也睡不好，一只早已在树丛间做窝的蚂蚱总发出啁啾声，吵得她无法入睡。猫头鹰不断地请求蚂蚱考虑一下她的情况，可蚂蚱却仍然大声叫个不停。最后，猫头鹰再也受不了了，决定设计除掉蚂蚱。于是，猫头鹰装出一副高兴样，对蚂蚱说：“尽管我被你的歌声惊扰，睡不着觉，但是请相信我，你的歌声如同阿波罗神的七弦琴一样动听。我正想喝一点美味琼浆，这可是密涅瓦（智慧女神，即希腊神话中的雅典娜）送给我的。你要不要上来和我一起享用呢？”蚂蚱正得意于猫头鹰对自己歌声的奉承，一听到有琼浆玉液，嘴巴里就开始流口水了，所以，他很高兴地接受了邀请。待他刚一飞上去，猫头鹰就从树洞中冲出来，扑过去抓住蚂蚱，吃掉了他。
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THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
蚂蚱和蚂蚁
One ？ne day in winter some Ants were busy drying their store of corn，which had got rather damp during a long spell of rain.Presently up came a Grasshopper and begged them to spare her a few grains，“For，”she said，“I’m simply starving.”The Ants stopped work for a moment，though this was against their principles.“May we ask，”said they，“what you were doing with yourself all last summer？Why didn’t you collect a store of food for the winter？”“The fact is，”replied the Grasshopper，“I was so busy singing that I hadn’t the time.”“If you spent the summer singing，”replied the Ants，“you can’t do better than spend the winter dancing.”And they chuckled and went on with their work.
｛中文阅读｝
冬天一个温暖如春的日子里，蚂蚁们正忙着晒干自己存储的粮食。由于下了很长时间的雨，粮食已经非常潮湿了。这时，来了一只蚂蚱，向他们乞讨一点粮食。“因为，”蚂蚱说，“我实在是饿坏了。”尽管有点违背原则，但蚂蚁们还是停下了手头的工作。“我们能问你一下吗？”他们说，“整个夏天你都在做些什么呢？为什么不为冬天储存一些粮食呢？”“实际上，”蚂蚱回答道，“我一直在忙着唱歌，根本没有时间存储粮食。”“如果你整个夏天都在唱歌，”蚂蚁们回答道，“那么，你最好在冬天就忙着跳舞吧。”他们哈哈大笑起来，继续忙于各自的工作。
THE FARMER AND THE VIPER
农夫与蛇
One winter a Farmer found a Viper frozen and numb with cold，and out of pity picked it up and placed it in his bosom.The Viper was no sooner revived by the warmth than it turned upon its benefactor and in？icted a fatal bite upon him；and as the poor man lay dying，he cried，“I have only got what I deserved，for taking compassion on so villainous a creature.”
Kindness is thrown away upon the evil.
｛中文阅读｝
在一个冬日，农夫发现了一条冻僵了的蛇，出于同情心，农夫便把蛇放在自己怀里。蛇感觉到一点温暖苏醒过来，立刻就冲着恩人咬了一大口，使他受到了致命的伤害。这个可怜的农夫在临死前说：“这是我应得的报应，竟然会怜悯一个罪大恶极的生灵。”
在邪恶面前，仁慈应被抛开。
THE TWO FROGS
两只青蛙
