Aesop's Fables 047: The Fox and the Goat

A fox fell into a well and was unable to get out again. By and by a thirsty goat came by, and seeing the fox in the well asked him if the water was good. "Good?" said the fox, "it's the best water I ever tasted in all my life. Come down and try it yourself." The goat thought of nothing but the prospect of quenching his thirst, and jumped in at once. When he had had enough to drink, he looked about, like the fox, for some way of getting out, but could find none. Presently the fox said, "I have an idea. You stand on your hind legs, and plant your forelegs firmly against the side of the well, and then I'll climb on to your back, and, from there, by stepping on your horns, I can get out. And when I'm out, I'll help you out too." The goat did as he was requested, and the fox climbed on to his back and so out of the well; and then he coolly walked away. The goat called loudly after him and reminded him of his promise to help him out: but the fox merely turned and said, "if you had as much sense in your head as you have hair in your beard you wouldn't have got into the well without making certain that you could get out again."

Look before you leap.

伊索寓言之四七：狐狸和山羊

一只狐狸掉到了井里无法上去了。过了那么一阵子，一只口渴的山羊路过，看到狐狸在井里，便问他井水如何。“好喝？”狐狸说，“这是我这辈子尝过的最好喝的水了！快下来亲口尝尝吧！”山羊一心想着解决口渴的燃眉之急，不假思索地跳进了井里。当他喝够了水，四下打量，这才发现自己和狐狸一样找不到出去的办法了。这时，狐狸说：“我有个主意。你用后腿站起来，把前腿稳稳地搭在井壁上，然后我爬到你后背上，接着踩着你的角，我就可以出去了。一旦我出去，就会帮你也出来。”山羊按照狐狸说的做了，狐狸爬到他的背上，逃出了井，然后开始离开。山羊在他身后大喊，提醒他曾经答应一出去就救自己；然而狐狸只是转过身来说：“如果你头脑中的智慧像你的胡须那么多，你就不会再没有确定自己能出井之前就跳进去了。”

三思而后行。

Aesop's Fables 046: The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf

A shepherd's boy was tending his flock near a village, and thought it would be great fun to hoax the villagers by pretending that a wolf was attacking the sheep: so he shouted out, "Wolf! wolf!" and when the people came running up he laughed at them for their pains. He did this more than once, and every time the villagers found they had been hoaxed, for there was no wolf at all. At last a wolf really did come, and the boy cried, "Wolf! wolf!" as loud as he could: but the people were so used to hearing him call that they took no notice of his cries for help. And so the wolf had it all his own way, and killed off sheep after sheep at his leisure.

You cannot believe a liar even when he tells the truth.

伊索寓言之四六：放羊娃和狼 放羊娃在村子附近放羊，想到如果用狼来抓羊来骗村民们过来，一定很有意思。于是他大喊：“狼！狼来了！”人们听到叫喊急奔而来，却发现只有放羊娃在那里嘲笑她们。放羊娃又这样做了好几次，每次村民们都发现自己被捉弄了，因为根本就没有狼。最后，狼真的来了，男孩扯开嗓子大喊：“狼！狼来了！”但人们早就习惯了这伎俩，没人再去理会他的求救。于是，狼顺畅无阻，从容之间把羊一个挨一个地都咬死了。

作为一个骗子，他说的实话也难有人去相信的。

Aesop's Fables 045: The Ass and His Burdens

A pedlar who owned an ass one day bought a quantity of salt, and loaded up his beast with as much as he could bear. On the way home the ass stumbled as he was crossing a stream and fell into the water. The salt got thoroughly wetted and much of it melted and drained away, so that, when he got on his legs again, the ass found his load had become much less heavy. His master, however, drove him back to town and bought more salt, which he added to what remained in the panniers, and started out again. No sooner had they reached a stream than the ass lay down in it, and rose, as before, with a much lighter load. But his master detected the trick, and turning back once more, bought a large sponges, and piled them on the back of the ass. When they came to the stream the ass again lay down: but this time, as the sponges soaked up large quantities of water, he found, when he got up on his legs, that he had a bigger burden to carry than ever.

You may play a good card once too often.

伊索寓言之四五：驴子和他的担子 小贩有一头驴子，有一天他买了一批盐，让驴子在背上驮了尽可能多的担子。路上在过河的时候，驴子跌倒落入水中，盐被水浸湿，被溶掉冲走了不少，于是，当驴子站起来的时候，他发现担子变轻了不少。但他的主人又把他赶回镇子，买了更多的盐和刚才剩下的一起放在背篮里，然后继续往回赶路。一到河里，驴子便象上次一样伏下来然后站起来，担子又轻了不少。但他的主人发现了这鬼把戏，又一次转回头到镇上买了一大块海绵，堆在驴子的背上。走到河里的时候，驴子又伏下去：可这次，因为海绵吸收了大量的水，当驴子站起来的时候，他发现身上的担子比以前任何一次都重了。

风水轮流转，投机不会总取巧。

/*hoho,附会一下，人有时候会放纵自己，或者做些莫名其妙的事情来转移注意力，让自己走出困境，可这样的方式未必总适用，海绵和盐巴完全不同。 */

Aesop's Fables 044: The Apes and the Two Travellers

Two men were travelling together, one of whom never spoke the truth, whereas the other never told a lie: and they came in the course of their travels to the land of apes. The king of the apes, hearing of their arrival, ordered them to be brought before him; and by way of impressing them with his magnificence, he received them sitting on a throne, while the apes, his subjects, were ranged in long rows on either side of him. When the travellers came into his presence he asked them what they thought of him as a king. The lying traveller said, "Sire, everyone must see that you are a most noble and mighty monarch." "And what do you think of my subjects?" continued the king. "They," said the traveller, "are in every way worthy of their royal master." The ape was so delighted with his answer that he gave him a very handsome present. The other traveller thought that if his companion was rewarded so splendidly for telling a lie, he himself would certainly receive a still greater reward for telling the truth; so, when the ape turned to him and said, "And what, sir, is your opinion?" he replied, "I think you are a very fine ape, and all your subjects are fine apes too." The king of the apes was so enraged at his reply that he ordered him to be taken away and clawed to death.

伊索寓言之四四：猩猩和旅行者 两个人一起旅行，其中一个人从不说实话，另一个人从不说谎。在路途中他们到了一个猩猩岛上。猩猩中的国王听说他们来了，便下令把他们带到面前来；为了向他们展示他的富有，他坐在宝座上，而他的臣民，那些猩猩在他的左右站成长队。当两个旅行者到了他面前的时候，他问他们觉得他这个国王怎样。说谎的旅行者说：“笔下，谁都可以看出来您是多么尊贵威严的一位国王！”“那么你觉得我的臣民们如何？”国王继续问道。“他们处处都与他们高贵的国王如此协调。”旅行者回答。猩猩国王对这旅行者的回答非常满意，于是送给他一份很好的礼物。另一个旅行者心想，几句谎言便能换来那样好的回报，如果他说实话，那定然能得到更多。于是，当那国王问他“那么，先生，你觉得呢？”的时候，他回答道：“我想你是个很棒的猩猩，你的臣民也都很棒！”猩猩国王勃然大怒，立即下令把他拖出去抓死了。

Aesop's Fables 042: The Blind Man and the Cub

There was once a blind man who had so fine a sense of touch that, when any animal was put into his hands, he could tell what it was merely by the feel of it. One day the cub of a wolf was put into his hands, and he was asked what it was. He felt it for some time, and then said, "Indeed, I am not sure whether it is a wolf's cub or a fox's: but this I know - it would never do to trust it in a sheepfold."

Evil tendencies are early shown.

伊索寓言之四二：盲人和狼崽

从前有个盲人，他的触觉非常好，任何动物只要他用手摸一下，便能辨识出是什么。油田，有人把一只小狼放到他手里，问他是什么动物。他摸了一会儿，然后说：“事实上我无法确定这是个狼崽还是狐狸的，但我知道它一定是个祸害羊群的东西。”

三岁见老。

 

Aesop's Fables 041: The Oak and the Reeds

An oak that grew on the bank of a river was uprooted by a severe gale of wind, and thrown across the stream. It fell among some reeds growing by the water, and said to them, "How is it that you, who are frail and slender, have managed to weather the storm, whereas I, with all my strength, have been torn up by the roots and hurled into the river?" "You were stubborn," came the reply, "and fought against the storm, which proved stronger than you: but we bow and yield to every breeze, and thus the gale passed harmlessly over our heads."

伊索寓言之四一：橡树和芦苇 一棵生长在河边的橡树被暴风连根拔起，倒到了河对岸。它落在水边的苇丛中，对它们说：“为什么，你们这样柔弱纤细，却平安度过风暴，而我如此结实却被连根拔起又扔到了河里呢？”“你太顽固了，”芦苇们回答，“于是在暴风中与风抵抗，最终证实了暴风是更强的那个；而我们，微风一起便弯腰摇摆，于是大风从我们头顶吹过，我们好发无损。” /*强自取蛀，柔自取束。——《荀子·劝学》。福兮？祸兮？但人心耳。 */

Aesop's Fables 040: The Bee and Jupiter

A queen bee from Hymettus flew up to Olympus with some fresh honey from the hive as a present to Jupiter, who was so pleased with the gift that he promised to give her anything she liked to ask for. She said she would be very grateful if he would give stings to the bees, to kill people who robbed them of their honey. Jupiter was greatly displeased with this request, for he loved mankind: but he had given his word, so he said that stings they should have. The stings he gave them, however, were of such a kind that whenever a bee stings a man the sting is left in the wound and the bee dies.

Evil wishes, like fowls, come home to roost.

伊索寓言之四十：蜜蜂和朱庇特 一只来自伊梅托斯的蜂王飞到奥林匹斯，把蜂巢中新鲜的蜂蜜作为礼物送给朱庇特。朱庇特对此很是欣慰，于是告诉蜂王他可以赐给她任意一样她想要的东西。蜂王说若能够让蜜蜂们有毒刺用来杀掉那些抢走蜂蜜的人们，她会对此万分感谢。朱庇特对这个要求非常不悦，因为他爱人类：但他已经承诺了，于是他说蜜蜂们会有毒刺。但它们的毒刺会是这样：当蜜蜂蜇人的时候，毒刺会留在人的身上，而蜜蜂会死掉。

恶毒的愿望会反噬其身。

/*“for he loved mankind”，一下就想起《老子·道德经》说：“天地不仁，以万物为刍狗”。《荀子》说：“天行有常，不为尧存，不为桀亡”。而西方某些方面是很人本主义的，或许可见一斑。Hymettus Mountain是雅典东部的山脉，以出产的蜂蜜闻名。最后那一句comment翻译拿不太准。*/

Aesop's Fables 039: The Flea and the Man

A flea bit a man, and bit him again, and again, till he could stand it no longer, but made a thorough search for it, and at last succeeded in catching it. Holding it between his finger and thumb, he said - or rather shouted, so angry was he - "Who are you, pray, you wretched little creature, that you make so free with my person?" The flea, terrified, whimpered in a weak little voice, "Oh, sir! Pray let me go, don't kill me! I am such a little thing that I can't do you much harm." But the man laughed and said, "I am going to kill you now, at once: whatever is bad has got to be destroyed, no matter how slight the harm it does."

Do not waste your pity on a scamp.

伊索寓言之三九：跳蚤和人 一个跳蚤接二连三地咬一个人，后来这人无法忍受了，上上下下找了个遍，终于找出了跳蚤。他捏住跳蚤，说——更恰当些，是咆哮，因为他实在太愤怒了——：“你是谁，你这恶劣的小东西，这么肆无忌惮地在我身上捣乱？”而跳蚤，吓得战战兢兢地低声回答：“啊，先生！请您放我走，别杀了我！我这么小，不会给您带来什么伤害的。”但这人笑了笑说：“我这就杀了你，马上：不管你能造成的伤害是多么微小，只要是不好的，就该被消灭。”

不要对无赖心软。

Aesop's Fables 038: The Slave and the Lion

A slave ran away from his master, by whom he had been most cruelly treated, and, in order to avoid capture, betook himself into the desert. As he wandered about in search of food and shelter, he came to a cave, which he entered and found to be unoccupied. Really, however, it was a lion's den, and almost immediately, to the horror of the wretched fugitive, the lion himself appeared. The man gave himself up for lost: but, to his utter astonishment, the lion, instead of springing upon him and devouring him, came and fawned upon him, at the same time whining and lifting up his paw. Observing it to be much swollen and inflamed, he examined it and found a large thorn embedded in the ball of the foot. He accordingly removed it and dressed the wound as well as he could: and in course of time it healed up completely. The lion's gratitude was unbounded; he looked upon the man as his friend, and they shared the cave for some time together. A day came, however, when the slave began to long for the society of his fellow-men, and he bade farewell to the lion and returned to the town. Here he was presently recognized and carried off in chains to his former master, who resolved to make an example of him, and ordered that he should be thrown to the beasts at the next public spectacle in the theater. On the fatal day the beast were loosed into the arena, and among the rest a lion of huge bulk and ferocious aspect; and then the wretched slave was cast in among them. What was the amazement of the spectators, when the lion after one glance bounded up to him and lay down at his feet with every expression of affection and delight! It was his old friend of the cave! The audience clamored that the slave's life should be spared: and the governor of the town, marvelling at such gratitude and fidelity in a beast, decreed that both should receive their liberty.

伊索寓言之三八：奴隶和狮子 一个奴隶从残酷虐待他的奴隶主那里逃走了，为了不被抓到，他到了沙漠里躲藏。在他四处寻找食物和住处的时候，他找到一个山洞，随即走了进去，发现是被废弃了的。但事实上，这是一个狮子的巢穴，因为随即，狮子出现在洞中，吓坏了这可怜的逃亡者。他放弃了抵抗在那里等死，然而让他惊讶万分的是，狮子没有扑上来吃掉他，而是走过来对他摇头摆尾，同时呜呜叫着抬起一只爪子来。他发现狮子差不多是吃饱了的而且很激动，于是便检查了它的爪子，发现脚掌上深深地扎了一根刺。于是他拔掉了刺，尽其所能地把手上的爪子包扎起来，过了些日子便痊愈了。狮子对他万分感激，它把这人视为朋友，他们一起住在这个洞里好一段时间。然而有一天，奴隶开始想念他的兄弟们，于是告别了狮子会到了城市。不久他就被人认了出来，用锁链拴着带到了奴隶主那里。奴隶主决定在下个角斗日让他在斗技场与野兽博命。决定生死的这天，野兽们被放入竞技场中，其中有一头庞大凶猛的狮子。随即，可怜的奴隶被扔到野兽当中。让角斗士们惊讶的是，狮子刚刚看了一眼，便跳到他跟前，趴在他的脚下，一切神色都透露着友好和惊喜！原来这是他在山洞里的老朋友！观众们大喊着这奴隶应该免于一死，而城邦的首领惊叹于这样一头猛兽的感恩与忠诚，随即宣布人和狮子都得到了自由。

Aesop's Fables 037: The Bear and the Travellers

Two travellers were on the road together, when a bear suddenly appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a tree at the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches and hid there. The other was not so nimble as his companion; and, as he could not escape, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead. The bear came up and sniffed all round him, but he kept perfectly still and held his breath: for they say that a bear will not touch a dead body. The bear took him for a corpse, and went away. When the coast was clear, the traveller in the tree came down, and asked the other what it was the bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear. The other replied, "He told me never again to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.

伊索寓言之三七：熊和旅行者 两个人外出旅行，走着走着，前方出现了一头熊。在它发现他们之前，一个人爬到了路旁的树上，藏在枝叶之中；而另一个动作慢了一些，没能及时逃脱，于是倒在地上装死。熊走过来四下嗅他，但他一直都屏住呼吸一动不动：因为据说熊是不会去碰一具尸体的。熊果然把他当成了死尸，于是离开了。危机过后，树上的那个人跳下来，问另一个人熊在把嘴巴凑近他耳朵的时候对他讲了什么。另一个人回答道：“他告诉我，以后再也不要和那一看到危险就弃你不顾的人结伴旅行了。”

患难见真情。

Aesop's Fables 036: The Gnat and the Bull

A gnat alighted on one of the horns of a bull, and remained sitting there for a considerable time. When it had rested sufficiently and was about to fly away, it said to the bull, "Do you mind if I go now?" The bull merely raised his eyes and remarked, without interest, "It's all one to me; I didn't notice when you came, and I shan't know when you go away."

We may often be of more consequence in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbours.

伊索寓言之三六：蚊子和公牛 一只蚊子停在公牛的角上，在那儿呆了很久。当它休息够了准备飞走的时候，它对公牛说：“你介意我飞走么？”公牛瞟了一眼，不经意地说：“对我来说都一样：我根本没注意到你来，也不会管你什么时候走开。”

我们在自己眼里的重要性往往比在别人眼里的要大。

Aesop's Fables 035: The Dog, the Cock and the Fox

A dog and a cock became great friends, and agreed to travel together. At nightfall the cock flew up into the branches of a tree to roost, while the dog curled himself up inside the trunk, which was hollow. At break of day the cock woke up and crew, as usual. A fox heard, and, wishing to make a breakfast of him, came and stood under the tree and begged him to come down. "I should so like," said he, "to make the acquaintance of one who has such a beautiful voice." The cock replied, "Would you just wake my porter who sleeps at the foot of the tree? He'll open the door and let you in." The fox accordingly rapped on the trunk, when out rushed the dog and tore him in pieces.

伊索寓言之三五：狗，公鸡和狐狸 一条狗和一只公鸡作了好朋友，一起出去旅行。夜里的时候，公鸡飞到树枝上睡觉，狗儿则钻到了树洞里打盹。天亮的时候公鸡醒来，像往常一样打鸣。一只狐狸听见了，盘算着把公鸡吃掉作早餐，便跑过来站到树下，邀请公鸡落下来。“我非常愿意，”他说，“结识一下拥有这样一副金嗓子的先生。”公鸡回答道：“你能帮我喊醒睡在树脚下的同伴么？他会打开门让你进去。”狐狸于是敲敲树干，接着狗儿窜出来，把狐狸撕成了碎片。

Aesop's Fables 034: The Frog's Complaint against the Sun

Once upon a time the Sun was about to take to himself a wife. The frogs in terror all raised their voices to the skies, and Jupiter, disturbed by the noise, asked them what they were croaking about. They replied, "The Sun is bad enough even while he is single, drying up our marshes with his heat as he does. But what will become of us if he marries and begets other Suns?"

伊索寓言之三四：青蛙对太阳的抱怨 早先有一天，太阳想给自己讨个老婆。青蛙们吓坏了，一齐对着上天大叫。朱庇特听到吵闹声，问他们在抱怨什么。青蛙们回答说：“一个太阳已经足够坏了，他总是晒干我们的湿地。要是他结婚了再生了小太阳，我们还怎么活啊？”

Aesop's Fables 033: The Ass and the Lap-Dog

There was once a man who had an ass and a lap-dog. The ass was housed in the stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat and was as well off as an ass could be. The little dog was made a great pet of by his master, who fondled him and often let him lie in his lap; and if he went out to dinner, he would bring back a tit-bit or two to give him when he ran to meet him on his return. The ass had, it is true, a good deal of work to do, carting or grinding the corn, or carrying the burdens of the farm: and ere long he became very jealous, contrasting his own life of labour with the ease and idleness of the lap-dog. At last one day he broke his halter, and frisking into the house just as his master sat down to dinner, he pranced and capered about, mimicking the frolics of the little favorite, upsetting the table and smashing the crockery with his clumsy efforts. Not content with that, he even tried to jump on his master's lap, as he had so often seen the dog allowed to do. At that the servants, seeing the danger their master was in, belabored the silly ass with sticks and cudgels, and drove him back to his stable half dead with his beating. "Alas!" he cried, "all this I have brought on my self. Why could I not be satisfied with my natural and honourable position, without wishing to imitate the ridiculous antics of that useless little lap-dog?"

伊索寓言之三三：驴子和宠物狗 从前有个人，他有一头驴子和一只小宠物狗。驴子住在圈里，有足够的燕麦和草料吃，过着一只驴子能够有的最好的生活。而小狗被主人视为宠物，被主人爱抚并常常放在自己膝盖上；如果主人外出赴宴归来，小狗会跑着出来迎接主人，这时主人会拿出带给它的一些好吃的来。而驴子，实事求是的说，有很多活计要做，比如拉车啊，推磨啊，或者驮农场上的货物。天长日久地，当把自己终日辛劳的日子和小狗儿每天清闲的日子比较的时候，他就开始非常嫉妒了。终于有一天，他破栏而出，在主人正坐下来吃饭的时候一路撒欢儿地跑到屋子里，他上窜下跳，模仿着小狗儿的那些调皮样儿。他笨拙的动作撞倒了桌子，砸碎了陶器。而这还不够，他甚至尝试跳到主人的膝头，这个他已经见到小狗儿做过好多次了。这时，仆人们看到主人所处的险境，拿着棍棒对准驴子一阵猛打，被打得半死的驴子被一路被赶回了圈里。“啊！”驴子哀叹，“这都是我自作自受。为什么我当初不对自己应在的光荣的职位感到知足，反而去想着要模仿那个没用的小宠物狗的滑稽动作呢？”

Aesop's Fables 032: The Fir Tree and the Bramble

A fir tree was boasting to a bramble, and said, somewhat contemptuously, "You poor creature, you are of no use whatever. Now, look at me: I am useful for all sorts of things, particularly when men build houses; they can't do without me then." But the bramble replied, "Ah, that's all very well: but you wait till they come with axes and saws to cut you down, and then you'll wish you were a bramble and not a fir."

Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many obligations.

伊索寓言之三二：杉树和荆棘 杉树对荆棘自夸，他带着轻蔑的语气说：“你这可怜的生物，你什么用途也没有。来，看看我，我全身都是宝，尤其是人们建造房屋的时候；没了我他们就不行。”可荆棘回答说：“啊，那确实都很好：但你等到他们拿着斧头锯子来放倒你的时候，或许那时你就会希望自己只是荆棘而非杉树了。”

贫困但无拘无束，要好于富有却一身重担。

/*木秀于林。怀璧其罪。*/

Aesop's Fables 031: The Fox and the Monkey

A fox and a monkey were on the road together, and fell into a dispute as to which of the two was the better born. They kept it up for some time, till they came to a place where the road passed through a cemetery full of monuments, when the monkey stopped and looked about him and gave a great sigh. "Why do you sigh?" said the fox. The monkey pointed to the tombs and replied, "All the monuments that you see here were put up in honor of my forefathers, who in their day were eminent men." The fox was speechless for a moment, but quickly recovering he said, "Oh! Don't stop at any lie, sir; you're quite safe: I'm sure none of your ancestors will rise up and expose you!"

Boasters brag most when they cannot be detected.

伊索寓言之三一：狐狸和猴子 狐狸和猴子在路上走啊走啊的，走着走着吵了起来，他们都说自己才是更好的孩子。争论了一阵子，他们走到一片墓地，那儿有好多好多的墓碑。猴子停住脚步，四下观望了一下，深深地叹息。“你叹息个啥子咧？”狐狸问。猴子指指坟墓们，说：“你看到地这些墓碑，都是为了纪念我的祖先们树立起来的，他们生前都是伟大的人物哪。”狐狸一下子哑口无言了，不过很快他就反应过来，说：“哈！继续吹吧，老兄，你是安全的：我保证你的祖先们不会站起来揭露你滴！”

牛皮大王最爱在不会被揭穿的时候发飙。

Aesop's Fables 030: The Dolphins, the Whales and the Sprat

The dolphins quarreled with the whales, and before very long they began fighting with one another. The battle was very fierce, and had lasted some time without any sign of coming to an end, when a sprat thought perhaps he could stop it; so he stepped in and tried to persuade them to give up fighting and make friends. But one of the dolphins said to him contemptuously, "We would rather go on fighting till we're all killed than be reconciled by a sprat like you!"

伊索寓言之三十：海豚，鲸和小鲱鱼 海豚们和鲸们吵架，不久就开始打了起来。他们打得不可开交，持续了很长时间也没有要结束的迹象。这时，一条小鲱鱼想或许它能够止住这场战争；于是它游了过去，试图劝说双方放弃武力彼此友善。但一条海豚轻蔑地对它说：“我们就算是这样继续打到死，也不会接受你这样一个小不点儿的调停！” /*sprat，西鲱，欧洲产的一种可食用小鱼。习语有a sprat to catch a mackerel，意思是用小鱼钓大鱼，吃小亏占大便宜。 而这个故事亦可从好几个角度来理解含义。*/

Aesop's Fables 029: The Milkmaid and Her Pail

A farmer's daughter had been out to milk the cows, and was returning to the dairy carrying her pail of milk upon her head. As she walked along, she fell a-musing after this fashion: "The milk in this pail will provide me with cream, which I will make into butter and take to market to sell. With the money I will buy a number of eggs, and these, when hatched, will produce chickens, and by and by I shall have quite a large poultry-yard. Then I shall sell some of my fowls, and with the money which they will bring in I will buy myself a new gown, which I shall wear when I go to the fair; and all the young fellows will admire it, and come and make love to me, but I shall toss my head and have nothing to say to them." Forgetting all about the pail, and suiting the action to the word, she tossed her head. Down went the pail, all the milk was spilled, and all her fine castles in the air vanished in a moment!

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

伊索寓言之二十九：挤奶女孩和奶桶 农场主的女儿去给奶牛挤奶，把装了奶的桶顶在头上往回走。走路的时候，她开始想入非非：“桶里这些奶可以做成奶油，然后可以做成黄油带到市上去卖掉。卖来的钱我会拿去买些鸡蛋，等它们孵出来以后，会变成小鸡，慢慢的我就会有一个很大的养殖场了。然后我会卖掉其中的一些，用换来的钱给自己买条新的长裙，并穿着它去市集；到时候所有的小伙子都觉得它漂亮，跑上来对我示爱，但我却扬起头来不理他们。”完全忘记了头上的桶，为了配合所想，她扬起头来。奶桶掉了下来，奶洒了一地，而她的空中楼阁也在瞬息间灰飞烟灭。

还在孵蛋的时候可别急着数鸡。

/*嘿嘿，小伙子们觉得长裙漂亮，然后跑过来对挤奶女示爱。他们爱的是啥？这孩子很痴，也够笨笨。*/

Aesop's Fables 028: The Stag in the Ox-Stall

A stag, chased from his lair by the hounds, took refuge in a farmyard, and, entering a stable where a number of oxen were stalled, thrust himself under a pile of hay in a vacant stall, where he lay concealed, all but the tips of his horns. Presently one of the oxen said to him, "What has induced you to come in here? Aren't you aware of the risk you are running of being captured by the herdsmen?" To which he replied, "Pray let me stay for the present. When night comes I shall easily escape under cover of the dark." In the course of the afternoon more than one of the farm-hands came in, to attend to the wants of the cattle, but not one of them noticed the presence of the stag, who accordingly began to congratulate himself on his escape and to express his gratitude to the oxen. "We wish you well," said the one who had spoken before, "but you are not out of danger yet. If the master comes, you will certainly be found out, for nothing ever escaped his keen eyes." Presently, sure enough, in he came, and made a great to-do about the way the oxen were kept. "The beasts are starving," he cried; "here, give them more hay, and put plenty of litter under them." As he spoke he seized an armful himself from the pile where the stag lay concealed, and at once detected him. Calling his men, he had him seized at once and killed for the table.

伊索寓言之二十八：牛栏中的雄鹿 一头雄鹿被猎犬从它的栖息地追到了农场，跑进了住着一群牛的棚子，钻到一个空牛栏中一大堆的稻草里面躲了起来，只是它的角尖儿藏不起来，露在了外面。一会儿，有头牛对它说：“你怎么跑到这里来了？你不知道会有被牧人抓住的危险么？”雄鹿答道：“请让我暂时藏在这里吧。夜里的时候我就可以轻而易举地在夜色的掩护下逃掉了。”下午的时候，几个长工走了进来照看牛们，但没人注意到雄鹿——于是它开始心里暗暗庆幸自己得以逃脱，并向牛儿们致谢。“我们祝你顺利，”前面说过话的那头牛说道，“但你还没有脱离危险。如果主人进来，你一定会被发现，因为没有什么能逃离他敏锐的眼睛。”果然，不久，主人走了进来，吩咐了不少应该保养这些牛儿们的活儿。“牲口们都饿着，”他大喊，“这儿，多喂它们些草，在他们身下也多垫些。”说这这些，他自己从雄鹿藏身的草堆中抓了一把草，随即发现了雄鹿。他喊来了伙计们立即抓住了雄鹿，把它杀掉吃了。

Aesop's Fables 027: The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A wolf resolved to disguise himself in order that he might prey upon a flock of sheep without fear of detection. So he clothed himself in a sheep without fear of detection. So he clothed himself in a sheepskin, and slipped among the sheep when they were out at pasture. He completely deceived the shepherd, and when the flock was penned for the night he was shut in with the rest. But that very night as it happened, the shepherd, requiring a supply of mutton for the table, laid hands on the wolf in mistake for a sheep, and killed with his knife on the spot.

披着羊皮的狼 为了能够吃掉一群羊而不必担心被人发现，一只狼决定给自己加个伪装。于是他披上一张羊皮，趁着羊群在吃草的时候混了进去。他成功地蒙蔽了牧羊人，于是当羊群被赶回去圈里的时候，他和羊一起被关了起来。然而，就在这个夜晚，牧羊人想要吃些羊肉，错把披着羊皮的狼当作羊抓了出来，一刀杀掉了他。 可怜的家伙！