heThirstyPigeon口渴的鴿子
APIGEON,oppressedbyexcessivethirst,sawagobletofwaterpaintedonasignboard.Notsupposingittobeonlyapicture,sheflewtowardsitwithaloudwhirandunwittinglydashedagainstthesignboard,jarringherselfterribly.Havingbrokenherwingsbytheblow,shefelltotheground,andwascaughtbyoneofthebystanders.
Zealshouldnotoutrundiscretion.
有隻鴿子口渴得很難受，看見畫板上畫著一個水瓶，以為是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飛過去，不料一頭碰撞在畫板上，折斷了翅膀，摔在地上，被人輕易地捉住了。
這是說，有些人想急於得到所需的東西，一時衝動，草率從事，就會身遭不幸。
TheRavenandtheSwan烏鴉和天鵝
ARAVENsawaSwananddesiredtosecureforhimselfthesamebeautifulplumage.SupposingthattheSwan"ssplendidwhitecolorarosefromhiswashinginthewaterinwhichheswam,theRavenleftthealtarsintheneighborhoodwherehepickeduphisliving,andtookupresidenceinthelakesandpools.Butcleansinghisfeathersasoftenashewould,hecouldnotchangetheircolor,whilethroughwantoffoodheperished.
ChangeofhabitcannotalterNature.
烏鴉非常羨慕天鵝潔白的羽毛。他猜想天鵝一定是經常洗澡，羽毛才變得如此潔白無瑕。於是，他毅然離開了他賴以生存的祭壇，來到江湖邊。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一點都沒洗白，反而因缺少食物飢餓而死。
這故事是說，人的本性不會隨著生活方式的改變而改變。
TheGoatandtheGoatherd山羊與牧羊人
AGOATHERDhadsoughttobringbackastraygoattohisflock.Hewhistledandsoundedhishorninvain;thestragglerpaidnoattentiontothesummons.AtlasttheGoatherdthrewastone,andbreakingitshorn,beggedtheGoatnottotellhismaster.TheGoatreplied,"Why,yousillyfellow,thehornwillspeakthoughIbesilent."
Donotattempttohidethingswhichcannotbehid.
很多山羊被牧羊人趕到羊圈裡。有一隻山羊不知在吃什麼好東西，單獨落在後面。牧羊人拿起一塊石頭扔了過去，正巧打斷了山羊的一隻角。牧羊人嚇得請求山羊不要告訴主人，山羊說：“即使我不說，又怎能隱瞞下去呢？我的角已斷了，這是十分明顯的事實。”
這故事說明，明顯的罪狀是無法隱瞞的。
TheMiser守財奴
AMISERsoldallthathehadandboughtalumpofgold,whichheburiedinaholeinthegroundbythesideofanoldwallandwenttolookatdaily.Oneofhisworkmenobservedhisfrequentvisitstothespotanddecidedtowatchhismovements.Hesoondiscoveredthesecretofthehiddentreasure,anddiggingdown,cametothelumpofgold,andstoleit.TheMiser,onhisnextvisit,foundtheholeemptyandbegantotearhishairandtomakeloudlamentations.Aneighbor,seeinghimovercomewithgriefandlearningthecause,said,"Praydonotgrieveso;butgoandtakeastone,andplaceitinthehole,andfancythatthegoldisstilllyingthere.Itwilldoyouquitethesameservice;forwhenthegoldwasthere,youhaditnot,asyoudidnotmaketheslightestuseofit."
有個守財奴變賣了他所有的家產，換回了金塊，並秘密地埋在一個地方。他每天走去看看他的寶藏。有個在附近放羊的牧人留心觀察，知道了真情，趁他走後，挖出金塊拿走了。守財奴再來時，發現洞中的金塊沒有了，便捶胸痛哭。有個人見他如此悲痛，問明原因後，說道：“喂，朋友，別再難過了，那塊金子雖是你買來的，但並不是你真正擁有的。去拿一塊石頭來，代替金塊放在洞裡，只要你心裡想著那是塊金子，你就會很高興。這樣與你擁有真正的金塊效果沒什麼不同。依我之見，你擁有那金塊時，也從沒用過。”
這故事說明，一切財物如不使用等於沒有。
TheWolfandtheLamb狼與小羊
WOLF,meetingwithaLambastrayfromthefold,resolvednottolayviolenthandsonhim,buttofindsomepleatojustifytotheLambtheWolf"srighttoeathim.Hethusaddressedhim:"Sirrah,lastyearyougrosslyinsultedme.""Indeed,"bleatedtheLambinamournfultoneofvoice,"Iwasnotthenborn."ThensaidtheWolf,"Youfeedinmypasture.""No,goodsir,"repliedtheLamb,"Ihavenotyettastedgrass."AgainsaidtheWolf,"Youdrinkofmywell.""No,"exclaimedtheLamb,"Ineveryetdrankwater,forasyetmymother"smilkisbothfoodanddrinktome."UponwhichtheWolfseizedhimandatehimup,saying,"Well!Iwon"tremainsupperless,eventhoughyourefuteeveryoneofmyimputations."
Thetyrantwillalwaysfindapretextforhistyranny.
一隻小羊在河邊喝水，狼見到後，便想找一個名正言順的藉口吃掉他。於是他跑到上游，惡狠狠地說小羊把河水攪渾濁了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答說，他僅僅站在河邊喝水，並且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水攪渾。狼見此計不成，又說道：“我父親去年被你罵過。”小羊說，那時他還沒有出生。狼對他說：“不管你怎樣辯解，反正我不會放過你。”
這說明，對惡人做任何正當的辯解也是無效的。
TheBatandtheWeasels蝙蝠與黃鼠狼
ABATwhofelluponthegroundandwascaughtbyaWeaselpleadedtobesparedhislife.TheWeaselrefused,sayingthathewasbynaturetheenemyofallbirds.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotabird,butamouse,andthuswassetfree.ShortlyafterwardstheBatagainfelltothegroundandwascaughtbyanotherWeasel,whomhelikewiseentreatednottoeathim.TheWeaselsaidthathehadaspecialhostilitytomice.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotamouse,butabat,andthusasecondtimeescaped.
Itiswisetoturncircumstancestogoodaccount.
蝙蝠掉落在地上，被黃鼠狼叼去，他請求饒命。黃鼠狼說絕不會放過他，自己生來痛恨鳥類。蝙蝠說他是老鼠，不是鳥，便被放了。後來蝙蝠又掉落了下來，被另一隻黃鼠狼叼住，他再三請求不要吃他。這隻黃鼠狼說他恨一切鼠類。蝙蝠改口說自己是鳥類，並非老鼠，又被放了。這樣，蝙蝠兩次改變了自己的名字，終於死裡逃生。
這故事說明，我們遇事要隨機應變方能避免危險。
TheAssandtheGrasshopper驢子與蚱蜢
ANASShavingheardsomeGrasshopperschirping,washighlyenchanted;and,desiringtopossessthesamecharmsofmelody,demandedwhatsortoffoodtheylivedontogivethemsuchbeautifulvoices.Theyreplied,"Thedew."TheAssresolvedthathewouldliveonlyupondew,andinashorttimediedofhunger.
驢子聽見蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙動聽的歌聲所打動，自己也想能發出同樣悅耳動聽的聲音，便羨慕地問他們吃些什麼，才能發出如此美妙的聲音來。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”驢子便也只吃露水，沒多久就餓死了。
這個故事告訴人們不要企望非份之物。
TheLionandtheMouse獅子與報恩的老鼠
ALIONwasawakenedfromsleepbyaMouserunningoverhisface.Risingupangrily,hecaughthimandwasabouttokillhim,whentheMousepiteouslyentreated,saying:"Ifyouwouldonlysparemylife,Iwouldbesuretorepayyourkindness."TheLionlaughedandlethimgo.IthappenedshortlyafterthisthattheLionwascaughtbysomehunters,whoboundhimbystrongropestotheground.TheMouse,recognizinghisroar,cameandgnawedtheropewithhisteethandsethimfree,exclaiming:
"Youridiculedtheideaofmyeverbeingabletohelpyou,expectingtoreceivefrommeanyrepaymentofyourfavor;nowyouknowthatitispossibleforevenaMousetoconbenefitsonaLion."
獅子睡著了，有隻老鼠跳到了他身上。獅子猛然站起來，把他抓住，準備吃掉。老鼠請求饒命，並說如果保住性命，必將報恩，獅子輕蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，獅子真的被老鼠救了性命。原來獅子被一個獵人抓獲，並用繩索把他捆在一棵樹上。老鼠聽到了他的哀嚎，走過去咬斷繩索，放走了獅子，並說：
“你當時嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的報答，現在可清楚了，老鼠也能報恩。”這故事說明，時運交替變更，強者也會有需要弱者的時候。
APIGEON,oppressedbyexcessivethirst,sawagobletofwaterpaintedonasignboard.Notsupposingittobeonlyapicture,sheflewtowardsitwithaloudwhirandunwittinglydashedagainstthesignboard,jarringherselfterribly.Havingbrokenherwingsbytheblow,shefelltotheground,andwascaughtbyoneofthebystanders.Zealshouldnotoutrundiscretion
heThirstyPigeon口渴的鴿子
APIGEON,oppressedbyexcessivethirst,sawagobletofwaterpaintedonasignboard.Notsupposingittobeonlyapicture,sheflewtowardsitwithaloudwhirandunwittinglydashedagainstthesignboard,jarringherselfterribly.Havingbrokenherwingsbytheblow,shefelltotheground,andwascaughtbyoneofthebystanders.
Zealshouldnotoutrundiscretion.
有隻鴿子口渴得很難受，看見畫板上畫著一個水瓶，以為是真的。他立刻呼呼地猛飛過去，不料一頭碰撞在畫板上，折斷了翅膀，摔在地上，被人輕易地捉住了。
這是說，有些人想急於得到所需的東西，一時衝動，草率從事，就會身遭不幸。
TheRavenandtheSwan烏鴉和天鵝
ARAVENsawaSwananddesiredtosecureforhimselfthesamebeautifulplumage.SupposingthattheSwan"ssplendidwhitecolorarosefromhiswashinginthewaterinwhichheswam,theRavenleftthealtarsintheneighborhoodwherehepickeduphisliving,andtookupresidenceinthelakesandpools.Butcleansinghisfeathersasoftenashewould,hecouldnotchangetheircolor,whilethroughwantoffoodheperished.
ChangeofhabitcannotalterNature.
烏鴉非常羨慕天鵝潔白的羽毛。他猜想天鵝一定是經常洗澡，羽毛才變得如此潔白無瑕。於是，他毅然離開了他賴以生存的祭壇，來到江湖邊。他天天洗刷自己的羽毛，不但一點都沒洗白，反而因缺少食物飢餓而死。
這故事是說，人的本性不會隨著生活方式的改變而改變。
TheGoatandtheGoatherd山羊與牧羊人
AGOATHERDhadsoughttobringbackastraygoattohisflock.Hewhistledandsoundedhishorninvain;thestragglerpaidnoattentiontothesummons.AtlasttheGoatherdthrewastone,andbreakingitshorn,beggedtheGoatnottotellhismaster.TheGoatreplied,"Why,yousillyfellow,thehornwillspeakthoughIbesilent."
Donotattempttohidethingswhichcannotbehid.
很多山羊被牧羊人趕到羊圈裡。有一隻山羊不知在吃什麼好東西，單獨落在後面。牧羊人拿起一塊石頭扔了過去，正巧打斷了山羊的一隻角。牧羊人嚇得請求山羊不要告訴主人，山羊說：“即使我不說，又怎能隱瞞下去呢？我的角已斷了，這是十分明顯的事實。”
這故事說明，明顯的罪狀是無法隱瞞的。
TheMiser守財奴
AMISERsoldallthathehadandboughtalumpofgold,whichheburiedinaholeinthegroundbythesideofanoldwallandwenttolookatdaily.Oneofhisworkmenobservedhisfrequentvisitstothespotanddecidedtowatchhismovements.Hesoondiscoveredthesecretofthehiddentreasure,anddiggingdown,cametothelumpofgold,andstoleit.TheMiser,onhisnextvisit,foundtheholeemptyandbegantotearhishairandtomakeloudlamentations.Aneighbor,seeinghimovercomewithgriefandlearningthecause,said,"Praydonotgrieveso;butgoandtakeastone,andplaceitinthehole,andfancythatthegoldisstilllyingthere.Itwilldoyouquitethesameservice;forwhenthegoldwasthere,youhaditnot,asyoudidnotmaketheslightestuseofit."
有個守財奴變賣了他所有的家產，換回了金塊，並秘密地埋在一個地方。他每天走去看看他的寶藏。有個在附近放羊的牧人留心觀察，知道了真情，趁他走後，挖出金塊拿走了。守財奴再來時，發現洞中的金塊沒有了，便捶胸痛哭。有個人見他如此悲痛，問明原因後，說道：“喂，朋友，別再難過了，那塊金子雖是你買來的，但並不是你真正擁有的。去拿一塊石頭來，代替金塊放在洞裡，只要你心裡想著那是塊金子，你就會很高興。這樣與你擁有真正的金塊效果沒什麼不同。依我之見，你擁有那金塊時，也從沒用過。”
這故事說明，一切財物如不使用等於沒有。
TheWolfandtheLamb狼與小羊
WOLF,meetingwithaLambastrayfromthefold,resolvednottolayviolenthandsonhim,buttofindsomepleatojustifytotheLambtheWolf"srighttoeathim.Hethusaddressedhim:"Sirrah,lastyearyougrosslyinsultedme.""Indeed,"bleatedtheLambinamournfultoneofvoice,"Iwasnotthenborn."ThensaidtheWolf,"Youfeedinmypasture.""No,goodsir,"repliedtheLamb,"Ihavenotyettastedgrass."AgainsaidtheWolf,"Youdrinkofmywell.""No,"exclaimedtheLamb,"Ineveryetdrankwater,forasyetmymother"smilkisbothfoodanddrinktome."UponwhichtheWolfseizedhimandatehimup,saying,"Well!Iwon"tremainsupperless,eventhoughyourefuteeveryoneofmyimputations."
Thetyrantwillalwaysfindapretextforhistyranny.
一隻小羊在河邊喝水，狼見到後，便想找一個名正言順的藉口吃掉他。於是他跑到上游，惡狠狠地說小羊把河水攪渾濁了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答說，他僅僅站在河邊喝水，並且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水攪渾。狼見此計不成，又說道：“我父親去年被你罵過。”小羊說，那時他還沒有出生。狼對他說：“不管你怎樣辯解，反正我不會放過你。”
這說明，對惡人做任何正當的辯解也是無效的。
TheBatandtheWeasels蝙蝠與黃鼠狼
ABATwhofelluponthegroundandwascaughtbyaWeaselpleadedtobesparedhislife.TheWeaselrefused,sayingthathewasbynaturetheenemyofallbirds.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotabird,butamouse,andthuswassetfree.ShortlyafterwardstheBatagainfelltothegroundandwascaughtbyanotherWeasel,whomhelikewiseentreatednottoeathim.TheWeaselsaidthathehadaspecialhostilitytomice.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotamouse,butabat,andthusasecondtimeescaped.
Itiswisetoturncircumstancestogoodaccount.
蝙蝠掉落在地上，被黃鼠狼叼去，他請求饒命。黃鼠狼說絕不會放過他，自己生來痛恨鳥類。蝙蝠說他是老鼠，不是鳥，便被放了。後來蝙蝠又掉落了下來，被另一隻黃鼠狼叼住，他再三請求不要吃他。這隻黃鼠狼說他恨一切鼠類。蝙蝠改口說自己是鳥類，並非老鼠，又被放了。這樣，蝙蝠兩次改變了自己的名字，終於死裡逃生。
這故事說明，我們遇事要隨機應變方能避免危險。
TheAssandtheGrasshopper驢子與蚱蜢
ANASShavingheardsomeGrasshopperschirping,washighlyenchanted;and,desiringtopossessthesamecharmsofmelody,demandedwhatsortoffoodtheylivedontogivethemsuchbeautifulvoices.Theyreplied,"Thedew."TheAssresolvedthathewouldliveonlyupondew,andinashorttimediedofhunger.
驢子聽見蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙動聽的歌聲所打動，自己也想能發出同樣悅耳動聽的聲音，便羨慕地問他們吃些什麼，才能發出如此美妙的聲音來。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”驢子便也只吃露水，沒多久就餓死了。
這個故事告訴人們不要企望非份之物。
TheLionandtheMouse獅子與報恩的老鼠
ALIONwasawakenedfromsleepbyaMouserunningoverhisface.Risingupangrily,hecaughthimandwasabouttokillhim,whentheMousepiteouslyentreated,saying:"Ifyouwouldonlysparemylife,Iwouldbesuretorepayyourkindness."TheLionlaughedandlethimgo.IthappenedshortlyafterthisthattheLionwascaughtbysomehunters,whoboundhimbystrongropestotheground.TheMouse,recognizinghisroar,cameandgnawedtheropewithhisteethandsethimfree,exclaiming:
"Youridiculedtheideaofmyeverbeingabletohelpyou,expectingtoreceivefrommeanyrepaymentofyourfavor;nowyouknowthatitispossibleforevenaMousetoconbenefitsonaLion."
獅子睡著了，有隻老鼠跳到了他身上。獅子猛然站起來，把他抓住，準備吃掉。老鼠請求饒命，並說如果保住性命，必將報恩，獅子輕蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，獅子真的被老鼠救了性命。原來獅子被一個獵人抓獲，並用繩索把他捆在一棵樹上。老鼠聽到了他的哀嚎，走過去咬斷繩索，放走了獅子，並說：
“你當時嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的報答，現在可清楚了，老鼠也能報恩。”這故事說明，時運交替變更，強者也會有需要弱者的時候。
APIGEON,oppressedbyexcessivethirst,sawagobletofwaterpaintedonasignboard.Notsupposingittobeonlyapicture,sheflewtowardsitwithaloudwhirandunwittinglydashedagainstthesignboard,jarringherselfterribly.Havingbrokenherwingsbytheblow,shefelltotheground,andwascaughtbyoneofthebystanders.Zealshouldnotoutrundiscretion