今天，我們要講的小故事是《脹肚的狐狸》The Swollen Fox，一起來聽吧！

A hungry fox found a quantity of bread and meat in a hollow(中空的) tree, which were left by shepherds.

一隻飢餓的狐狸在一棵中空的樹幹中發現了一些牧羊人存留的麵包和肉。

Delighted with his find, he slipped in the narrow(狹窄的) aperture and greedily devoured it all.

高興之餘，他悄悄地從那狹窄的縫隙擠進去，貪婪地大吃起來。

But when he tried to get out again, he found himself so swollen after his big meal that he could not squeeze through the hole(洞).

然而，當他想再穿過縫隙時，卻發現吃了大餐之後的肚子脹鼓鼓的，怎麼也鑽不出那個洞來。

He fell to whining and groaning over his misfortune(不幸).

他開始為自己的不幸唉聲嘆氣。

Another fox, happening to pass that way, came and asked him what the matter was.

另一隻狐狸恰巧經過那裡，聽到他的呻吟，便過去問他原因。

On learning the state of the case, he said:

聽明白緣由後，那隻狐狸便說道：

“Well, my friend, just stay there until you're back in the shape(身材) you were before you got in, and then you'll be able to come out easily.”

“我的朋友，你就老老實實待在裡邊吧，等到恢復了鑽進去之前的身材，你就能輕鬆地出來了。”