A Farmer’s Boy went looking for Snails，and，when he had picked up both his hands full，he set about making a ？re at which to roast them；for he meant to eat them.When it got well alight and the Snails began to feel the heat，they gradually withdrew more and more into their shells with the hissing noise they always make when they do so.When the Boy heard it，he said，“You abandoned creatures，how can you ？nd heart to whistle when your houses are burning？”
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一个乡下少年到处寻找蜗牛，当他双手都塞满了蜗牛后，就准备点火烤着吃。火点着了，蜗牛也开始感觉到热了，他们纷纷退向坚壳的深处，同时还发出“咝咝”的噪音。男孩子听到了蜗牛发出的嘘声，便说：“你们这些连命都快没有了的家伙，怎么还能有心情在窝里着火时吹口哨呢？”
THE APES AND THE TWO TRAVELLERS
猿猴和两个旅人
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 magni？cence，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，every one 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 ？ne Ape，and all your subjects are ？ne 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.
｛中文阅读｝
有两个人一起去旅行，其中一个从不说实话，另一个却从不说谎话。他们碰巧走进了猿猴国。听说有人闯进自己的领土，猿猴王就吩咐手下将这两人捉拿归案，为了让他们对猿猴国的富丽堂皇印象深刻，他令所有的猿猴在两边分别列队，自己则坐在中间的王位上接待他们。一切准备妥当后，那两人被带到猴王面前，猴王询问他们如何看待面前的这个猴王。爱说谎的人回答说：“任何人都能看出来，您就是一个最高贵、最有权力的国王。”“那么，你如何看待旁边的这些随从呢？”猴王接着问。那人连忙说：“他们都是猴王您的得力干将。”猴王听到他的这番恭维十分高兴，给了他丰盛的礼物。另外一个说真话的人心里暗自琢磨，若是同伴的一番谎话都能得到如此丰厚的回报，那么，我这样一个说实话的老实人，肯定会得到比他更多的奖赏了。于是，当猿猴国王转过身来问他：“先生，您是怎么看的呢？”他回答道：“我认为，您是一只最优秀的猿猴，而您的所有随从也还可以。”猿猴国王听到这些真话后恼羞成怒，下令将说真话的人带走，处以死刑。
THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS
驴和他的担子
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 number of 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.
｛中文阅读｝
一个小贩养了一头驴，有一天，他买了一批盐，几乎全都驮到了驴的背上。在回家的路上，经过一条小河时，驴不慎落水。盐巴全都落入水中打湿了，其中一部分盐已经溶化，被水流冲走，所以，当他再次驮起盐巴，驴发现自己的担子明显轻了很多。然而，他的主人又赶着他回到镇上，买了更多的盐，添加到原有的那些货物上，重新出发。等来到小河边，驴再次掉入水中，又起来，如上次一样，驴背上的担子又轻了许多。主人察觉出了驴的鬼把戏，再次赶着他回到镇上，这次主人买了一些海绵，绑到驴背上。当他们又来到小河边，驴又故技重施，可是这一次，因为海绵遇水膨胀，等站起身后，他发现背上的担子更重了。
好牌只能用一次，多了就无效。
THE SHEPHERD’S BOY AND THE WOLF
牧童和狼
A Shepherd’s Boy was tending his ？ock 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.
｛中文阅读｝
一个牧童正赶着羊群走回村子，心想通过假装狼袭击羊群就能愚弄一下村民，这样就更好玩了。于是，他大喊道：“狼来了！狼来了！”人们听到喊声纷纷跑来，而牧童却冲着他们大笑，嘲弄他们的感受。之后，牧童再次如法炮制，这次村民又被骗了，因为根本没有什么狼。最后，真的来了一只狼，牧童拼命大喊：“狼来了！狼来了！”此时，先前听过他叫喊的那些人再也不把他当一回事了。于是，狼悠闲自在地杀死了所有的羊。
骗子即便说实话，也无法得到信任。
THE FOX AND THE GOAT
狐狸和山羊
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 ？nd none.Presently the Fox said，“I have an idea.You stand on your hind legs，and plant your forelegs ？rmly 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 your leap.
｛中文阅读｝