A Crow became very jealous of a Raven，because the latter was regarded by men as a bird of omen which foretold the future，and was accordingly held in great respect by them.She was very anxious to get the same sort of reputation herself；and，one day，seeing some travellers approaching，she ？ew on to a branch of a tree at the roadside and cawed as loud as she could.The travellers were in some dismay at the sound，for they feared it might be a bad omen；till one of them，spying the Crow，said to his companions，“It’s all right，my friends，we can go on without fear，for it’s only a crow and that means nothing.”
Those who pretend to be something they are not only make themselves ridiculous.
｛中文阅读｝
一只乌鸦非常妒忌渡鸦，因为渡鸦被人类当做一种能预测未来的神鸟，故而得到了人类的尊敬。乌鸦十分羡慕，也想得到同样的声望。有一天，看见几个行人路过，她便飞到路边的一棵树上，用力地大声叫了起来。听到乌鸦的声音，行人都很郁闷，他们担心这是一个不好的预兆。其中一个人看到了乌鸦，就对同伴说：“没事了，朋友们，我们可以不用担心了，因为这是一只乌鸦，没什么特别的。”
假装成位高权重之流的人，只会让自己变得荒谬可笑。
THE WITCH
女巫
A Witch professed to be able to avert the anger of the gods by means of charms，of which she alone possessed the secret；and she drove a brisk trade，and made a fat livelihood out of it.But certain persons accused her of black magic and carried her before the judges，and demanded that she should be put to death for dealings with the Devil.She was found guilty and condemned to death：and one of the judges said to her as she was leaving the dock，“You say you can avert the anger of the gods.How comes it，then，that you have failed to disarm the enmity of men？”
｛中文阅读｝
有个女巫声称自己能用某种方式使神灵息怒，只有她才拥有这个秘诀。她四处招摇撞骗，因此得到了不少酬金。但是，后来有人控告她乱用巫术，便将她送上了法庭，并要求将她处死，因为她与魔鬼打交道。后来，她被定了罪，并判处了死刑。在离开被告席时，其中一个法官对她说：“你自称能平息神灵的愤怒，那么，现在为何连凡人的愤怒也平息不了呢？”
THE OLD MAN AND DEATH
老人与死神
An Old Man cut himself a bundle of faggots in a wood and started to carry them home.He had a long way to go，and was tired out before he had got much more than half-way.Casting his burden on the ground，he called upon Death to come and release him from his life of toil.The words were scarcely out of his mouth when，much to his dismay，Death stood before him and professed his readiness to serve him.He was almost frightened out of his wits，but he had enough presence of mind to stammer out，“Good sir，if you’d be so kind，pray help me up with my burden again.”
｛中文阅读｝
有一个老人在森林里砍了一些柴，准备运回家。他十分吃力地挑着走了很远的路，还没走到一半，就已经累得走不动了。他便将担子放在地上，要求死神快点来，让他尽快摆脱这个痛苦的生命。更令他沮丧的是，还没等话说出口，死神便站在他面前，声称已经准备好为他服务了。老人几乎吓呆了，但却保持着沉着镇定，结结巴巴地说：“好人呀，你行行好，帮忙把那担子再放到我肩上吧。”
260
THE MISER
吝啬鬼
A Miser sold everything he had，and melted down his hoard of gold into a single lump，which he buried secretly in a ？eld.Every day he went to look at it，and would sometimes spend long hours gloating over his treasure.One of his men noticed his frequent visits to the spot，and one day watched him and discovered his secret.Waiting his opportunity，he went one night and dug up the gold and stole it.Next day the Miser visited the place as usual，and，？nding his treasure gone，fell to tearing his hair and groaning over his loss.In this condition he was seen by one of his neighbours，who asked him what his trouble was.The Miser told him of his misfortune；but the other replied，“Don’t take it so much to heart，my friend；put a brick into the hole，and take a look at it every day：you won’t be any worse off than before，for even when you had your gold it was of no earthly use to you.”
｛中文阅读｝
有一个守财奴变卖了所有家产，并将所有金器全部熔成了一个大金块，秘密埋在一个地方。他每天都会走过去看看，有时还会花很长时间得意洋洋地欣赏自己的宝藏。一个仆人注意到他经常去那个地方，便在某一天监视着他，发现了他的秘密。那人在一个夜晚伺机挖出了金块，并偷走了。第二天，当守财奴又像往常一样到那里来看宝贝时，发现自己的宝藏不翼而飞了，便捶胸顿足地痛哭起来。一个邻居见他如此悲痛，便问他遇上了什么麻烦。守财奴告诉他自己的不幸，可是，邻居却说：“朋友，别太放在心上了，找一块石头放进洞里，然后每天都来看看它，只要你心里想着那是块金子，就不会再如此难过了。因为即使那是一块真的金子，对你来说也没什么用呀。”
261
THE FOXES AND THE RIVER
狐狸与河
A number of Foxes assembled on the bank of a river and wanted to drink；but the current was so strong and the water looked so deep and dangerous that they didn’t dare to do so，but stood near the edge encouraging one another not to be afraid.At last one of them，to shame the rest，and show how brave he was，said，“I am not a bit frightened！See，I’ll step right into the water！”He had no sooner done so than the current swept him off his feet.When the others saw him being carried down-stream they cried，“Don’t go and leave us！Come back and show us where we too can drink with safety.”But he replied，“I’m afraid I can’t yet：I want to go to the seaside，and this current will take me there nicely.When I come back I’ll show you with pleasure.”
｛中文阅读｝
一群狐狸聚集在河畔，想要喝河里的水。但是，河里的水流很急，而河水似乎又很深、很危险，于是，他们都不敢下去喝水，只是站在河边，鼓动其他不害怕的狐狸下去喝水。其中有一只狐狸，嘲笑同伴们太胆小，为显示自己的勇敢，他说道：“我才不害怕呢！看吧，我马上就走进河里去！”他刚步入河中，就被湍急的河水冲得站不稳脚跟。眼看他就要被河水冲到下游去了，站在河边的其他狐狸冲他大喊：“别走呀，不要留下我们！快回来，告诉我们从哪里可以安全地下去喝水。”然而，被水冲走的狐狸却回答说：“恐怕我不能回去了，我想到海边去，河水会带我过去的。等我回来后，再告诉你们吧。”
THE HORSE AND THE STAG
马和雄鹿
There was once a Horse who used to graze in a meadow which he had all to himself.But one day a Stag came into the meadow，and said he had as good a right to feed there as the Horse，and moreover chose all the best places for himself.The Horse，wishing to be revenged upon his unwelcome visitor，went to a man and asked if he would help him to turn out the Stag.“Yes，”said the man，“I will by all means；but I can only do so if you let me put a bridle in your mouth and mount on your back.”The Horse agreed to this，and the two together very soon turned the Stag out of the pasture：but when that was done，the Horse found to his dismay that in the man he had got a master for good.
｛中文阅读｝
从前，有一匹马曾经独自占有一片草场。有一天，一只雄鹿闯入了他的领地，说自己也像马一样有权利分享这里的草，不仅如此，还为自己选了一个最好的地方吃草。马一心想报复这只不请自来的鹿，便来到人那里询问是否能帮助自己惩罚鹿。人回答说：“是的，我可以尽力帮你，不过，除非你愿意让我把一根勒马的缰绳放在你嘴里，并且骑在你的背上，我才能这么做。”马同意了人的要求，于是这两个合作者很快就把鹿赶出了草场。然而，一切结束后，马才发现自己永远成了人的奴隶。
THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLE
狐狸与荆棘