A Lion fell deeply in love with the daughter of a cottager and wanted to marry her；but her father was unwilling to give her to so fearsome a husband，and yet didn’t want to offend the Lion；so he hit upon the following expedient.He went to the Lion and said，“I think you will make a very good husband for my daughter：but I cannot consent to your union unless you let me draw your teeth and pare your nails，for my daughter is terribly afraid of them.”The Lion was so much in love that he readily agreed that this should be done.When once，however，hewas thus disarmed，the Cottager was afraid of him no longer，but drove him away with his club.
｛中文阅读｝
一只狮子深深爱上了农夫的女儿，想娶她为妻。可是，农夫却不忍心让女儿嫁给一个这么可怕的丈夫，但又不想激怒狮子。于是他急中生智，想出一个权宜之计。他去找狮子，并说：“我认为你是一个非常出色的丈夫人选，但是我不能同意你们结合，除非先拔掉你的牙齿、剪掉你的指甲，因为我的女儿害怕这些东西。”狮子被爱冲昏了头，毫不犹豫地接受了农夫的要求。然而，狮子刚被缴械，农夫就不再惧怕狮子了，反而用棍棒赶走了狮子。
THE BEE-KEEPER
养蜂人
A Thief found his way into an apiary when the Bee-keeper was away，and stole all the honey.When the Keeper returned and found the hives empty，he was very much upset and stood staring at them for some time.Before long the bees came back from gathering honey，and，？nding their hives overturned and the Keeper standing by，they made for him with their stings.At this he fell into a passion and cried，“You ungrateful scoundrels，you let the thief who stole my honey get off scot-free，and then you go and sting me who have always taken such care of you！”
When you hit back make sure you have got the right man.
｛中文阅读｝
趁养蜂人不在家时，一个小偷溜进蜂房，偷走了所有的蜂蜜。养蜂人回来后发现蜂箱空了，伤心难过之余，他站在那里盯着看了很长时间。不久，蜜蜂采完花蜜回来，发现自己的蜂巢空了，而养蜂人又站在一边，便都围住他用尾针刺。养蜂人被群蜂围住，痛苦地大喊：“你们这些不知感恩的坏家伙！让那偷蜜的贼逃之夭夭，却一个劲地来刺一直在照顾你们的人！”
发动反击时，一定要确定自己找对了人。
THE WOLF AND THE HORSE
狼和马
A Wolf on his rambles came to a ？eld of oats，but，not being able to eat them，he was passing on his way when a Horse came along.“Look，”said the Wolf，“here’s a fine field of oats.For your sake I have left it untouched，and I shall greatly enjoy the sound of your teeth munching the ripe grain.”But the Horse replied，“If wolves could eat oats，my ？ne friend，you would hardly have indulged your ears at the cost of your belly.”
There is no virtue in giving to others what is useless to oneself.
｛中文阅读｝
一只狼溜达着来到了一个麦田，然而，狼并不吃大麦，看见一匹马走过来，他便让开了。狼对马说：“看吧，这是一块上好的麦田。为了给你留着，我都没敢动。而且，我非常喜欢听你牙齿咀嚼成熟麦穗的声音。”然而，马却回答说：“朋友，如果狼能吃大麦，你就未必喜欢听我吃麦穗的声音了。”
将己所不欲之物施与他人，并无美德可言。
218
THE BAT，THE BRAMBLE，AND THE SEAGULL
蝙蝠、荆棘和海鸥
A Bat，a Bramble，and a Seagull went into partnership and determined to go on a trading voyage together.The Bat borrowed a sum of money for his venture；the Bramble laid in a stock of clothes of various kinds；and the Seagull took a quantity of lead：and so they set out.By and by a great storm came on，and their boat with all the cargo went to the bottom，but the three travellers managed to reach land.Ever since then the Seagull ？ies to and fro over the sea，and every now and then dives below the surface，looking for the lead he’s lost；while the Bat is so afraid of meeting his creditors that he hides away by day and only comes out at night to feed；and the Bramble catches hold of the clothes of every one who passes by，hoping some day to recognise and recover the lost garments.
All men are more concerned to recover what they lose than to acquire what they lack.
｛中文阅读｝
一只蝙蝠、一棵荆棘与一只海鸥，决定合伙出海做一次生意。于是，蝙蝠借了一笔钱作为资金，荆棘带来了一包款式不同的衣服，而海鸥带来了一些铅，然后，他们起航出发了。不久，一场暴风雨袭来，他们的船和所有货物都沉没了。幸运的是，三个航行者设法回到了岸上。从此以后，海鸥总是在海面上飞来飞去，即便偶尔钻入水中，也是在寻找丢失的铅；蝙蝠则害怕见到债主，所以总是白天藏着，夜里才出来觅食；而荆棘总爱扯住过路人的衣服，希望有一天能找到丢失的衣服以弥补损失。
所有人都更希望能弥补损失，而非弥补不足。
219
THE DOG AND THE WOLF
狗和狼
A Dog was lying in the sun before a farmyard gate when a Wolf pounced upon him and was just going to eat him up；but he begged for his life and said，“You see how thin I am and what a wretched meal I should make you now：but if you will only wait a few days my master is going to give a feast.All the rich scraps and pickings will fall to me and I shall get nice and fat：then will be the time for you to eat me.”The Wolf thought this was a very good plan and went away.Some time afterwards he came to the farmyard again，and found the Dog lying out of reach on the stable roof.“Come down，”he called，“and be eaten：you remember our agreement？”But the Dog said coolly，“My friend，if ever you catch me lying down by the gate there again，don’t you wait for any feast.”
Once bitten，twice shy.
｛中文阅读｝
在阳光照耀下，一条狗躺在农院门前睡着了。一只狼窥见后，冲上去袭击他，正想吃掉他时，狗乞求狼饶了自己，说：“我现在骨瘦如柴，还不够你塞牙缝的呢。不过，如果你再多等几天，我的主人就要举办宴会了，到时，所有的佳肴美食都会给我吃，而我也会变得肥肥胖胖的，然后，你再来吃我，不是更好吗。”狼听信了狗的话，便放了他。过了几天，狼又来到农院，发现狗躺在他够不到的屋顶上。“下来，”狼喊道，“快让我吃了你，你不记得我们的协议了吗？”而狗却从容地说：“朋友，要是你上次在门口抓住了躺在地上的我，就不用等待什么宴会了呀。”
一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳。
THE WASP AND THE SNAKE
黄蜂和蛇
A Wasp settled on the head of a Snake，and not only stung him several times，but clung obstinately to the head of his victim.Maddened with pain the Snake tried every means he could think of to get rid of the creature，but without success.At last he became desperate，and crying，“Kill you I will，even at the cost of my own life，”he laid his head with the Wasp on it under the wheel of a passing waggon，and they both perished together.
｛中文阅读｝
一只黄蜂坐在一条蛇的头上，不仅多次用刺去叮蛇，而且还牢牢地贴在受害者的头上。蛇疼得快要发疯了，尝试了很多方法想要赶走这个黄蜂，可是都没有成功。最后，蛇绝望了，大喊道：“我要杀了你，即使丢掉我自己的性命也在所不惜。”于是，蛇将自己的头伸到一辆从旁经过的马车车轮下，他们同归于尽了。
THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE
老鹰和甲虫
