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 andcarried off in chains to his former master，who resolved to makean example of him，and ordered that he should be thrown to the beasts at the next public spectacle in the theatre.On the fatal day the beasts 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，marveling at such gratitude and fidelity in a beast，decreed that both should receive their liberty.
｛中文阅读｝
一个奴隶因不堪忍受主人的残暴虐待而逃跑了，为了避免被抓住，他逃进了沙漠中。正当他思忖着该如何寻找食物和栖身之地时，来到了一个洞穴前，他走进去看了看，空无一人。然而，这是一个狮子的巢穴，就在这时，狮子出现了，可怜的逃亡者吓呆了。他认定自己无处可逃，然而，完全出乎他的意料，狮子不但没有扑过来吃掉他，反而过来巴巴地讨好他，一边哭诉着，一边抬起自己的爪子。看到那个爪子又肿又胀，还在发炎，逃亡者认真地检查了一下，发现有一根刺深嵌入狮子的脚掌里。他慢慢地拔出了那根刺，尽可能地处理好伤口，过了一阵，伤口自然就痊愈了。狮子对他感激不尽，将他当成了自己的朋友，从此他们一起分享这个洞穴。过了一段时间，有一天，奴隶开始渴望回到人类的社会生活中，他向狮子告别，然后回到镇子上。他一出现，立刻就被认出来，接着就被带上镣铐，送到了前主人那里。主人惩罚了他以示警戒，并且还命令道，在下次马戏表演时应该把他扔给野兽。就在性命攸关的那一天，野兽都被释放进竞技场后，其中有一头体态肥硕的狮子，跑到他跟前，带着喜爱和高兴的表情趴在他脚边。这正是他在洞里生活时的老朋友！观众都嚷嚷着应该饶了这个奴隶的命，镇子上的官员也惊讶于一头野兽的感恩与忠诚，下令让奴隶和狮子都获得自由。
THE FLEA AND THE MAN
跳蚤和人
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 ？nger 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 Manlaughed and said，“I am going to kill you now，at once：whatever is badhas got to be destroyed，no matter how slight the harm it does.”
Do not waste your pity on a scamp.
｛中文阅读｝
一只小跳蚤咬了一个人，并且一次又一次地不停咬他，这个人再也忍受不了了，全身上下找了一遍之后，终于抓住了那只跳蚤。他用食指和拇指捏着跳蚤说，或者可能因为生气，几乎是怒吼道：“你是谁？你这个让人厌恶的小生命，为何在我身上如此放肆？”受了惊吓的跳蚤小声呜咽道：“哦，先生，求你饶了我吧，千万别捏死我！我就是一个小东西，不会给你带来多大伤害的。”然而，那人笑着说：“我现在就要杀死你，马上执行，只要是坏东西，就一定要被消灭，无论造成的伤害有多轻微。”
不要在无赖身上浪费同情心。
THE BEE AND JUPITER
蜜蜂与朱庇特
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.
｛中文阅读｝
一只来自伊米托斯山的蜂王飞到奥林匹斯山上，将蜂巢里刚产出的新鲜蜂蜜当做礼物送给了朱庇特，朱庇特很喜欢这份礼物，便答应满足她的任何请求。蜂王说，如果能赐予蜜蜂们蜂针，从而能够惩治那些偷走蜂蜜的人，她就不胜感激了。朱庇特听到她的请求很不高兴，因为他爱着人类；但是他必须得履行诺言，于是他说可以让蜜蜂拥有蜂针。然而，他赐予蜜蜂的针却是一种特殊的刺，只要刺一回人，蜂针就会折断，蜜蜂自己也会随之而死。
恶意总会有恶报。
THE OAK AND THE REEDS
橡树与芦苇
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 so 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.”
｛中文阅读｝
一棵长在河边的橡树被一阵狂风连根拔起，并且被甩到了河对岸。橡树掉入了水边的芦苇丛中，于是对芦苇说：“我这么强壮，都能被狂风连根拔起、落入水中，而你们如此脆弱纤细，究竟是如何渡过难关的？”“你太顽固了，”芦苇回答道，“总爱逆风对抗，可是风却比你更厉害；而我们甚至对微风也卑躬屈膝，所以强风才会无害地吹过我们的头顶。”
THE BLIND MAN AND THE CUB
盲人与小野兽
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.
｛中文阅读｝
从前，有一个人眼睛虽然瞎了，可是他精于触觉，只要用手摸一摸，凭借着触感便能说出这是什么动物。有一天，一只小狼崽被送到了他的手中，请他告知这是什么东西。他用手摸了一会儿，然后说：“我不太确定，这到底是一只小狼崽，还是一只狐狸的幼崽，但是有一点我十分确定，千万不要让它进羊圈。”
恶劣的本性从小便知。
THE BOY AND THE SNAILS
男孩和蜗牛