伊索寓言(txt+pdf+epub+mobi电子书下载)

作者：(古希腊)伊索

出版社：天津人民出版社

格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT

伊索寓言试读：

伊索将人类历史中屡见不鲜的真理形象化、具体化，于他而言，流芳百世的声名当之无愧，因为他本人从未得到应有的报答。坚实的常识基础和对真知灼见的细腻刻画，都是其寓言体现出的特点，但这种特点并非只归他个人所有，而应归于全人类。在人类早期历史中，凡真实可信的真理，即是普遍存在的；凡普遍存在的，皆是无名无姓的。在这种情况下，总有一些中心人物承担起收集归总的责任，继而便得到了创造集结的名声。伊索便如此，总之，他获得了这样的名声。在这样一个人身上，一定存在着某些伟大和人性化的东西，有关人类未来和过去的东西；即便是他仅仅以此来掠夺过去或欺骗未来。亚瑟王的故事，或许果真与没落的罗马帝国中那好斗的基督教有关，又或许与潜伏在威尔士山脉中热血澎湃的传统有关。即便我们发现了比Mabinogian更古老且更好的起源，比《国王之歌》（Idylls of the King）写得更晚且更糟糕的版本；然而，“Mappe”或“Malory”这个词却一直意味着亚瑟王。幼儿童话或许出自亚洲印欧语系的种族，可现在却已灭绝了。这些童话或许是由某个美丽的法国淑女或像佩罗特一样的绅士所发明创造；又或者，有可能就像其公开宣称的那样。然而，我们总是把类似这种最好的童话结集称为“格林童话”，仅仅因为这是最好的结集。

迄今为止，伊索已成历史，历史上的他曾经是弗里吉亚的一个奴隶，或者说至少是一个头上没戴任何具有特殊意义的弗里吉亚自由之帽的人。倘若历史上确有其人，他大概生活在公元前六世纪，在那个年代，克洛伊索斯（古代吕底亚的国王）的故事就像希罗多德（希腊的历史学家）的一样受到了大家的喜爱和怀疑。其中，有一些故事带有某种道德缺陷的特点和粗俗的口头语，也有一些故事（如红衣主教所说）讲述了他在德尔菲被扔下悬崖的经过，尽管没有任何理由。他到底是因为丑陋和冒犯他人而被扔下悬崖，还是因为具有高尚的道德和正义感而被处死，这要留给那些阅读了该寓言的读者们来判断。伊索像莱摩斯叔叔一样，或许是个虚幻人物，或许真实存在过。然而，旧社会中的奴隶也能像伊索那样受人崇拜，或者像莱摩斯叔叔那样受人喜爱，这是一个不争的事实。非常奇怪的是，这两个伟大的奴隶都讲述了有关野兽和鸟类的非凡故事。

然而，无论伊索有什么成就，被称之为寓言的人类传说并非归功于他。在任何一个来自弗里吉亚重获自由的人被或未被扔下悬崖之前，寓言早已存在了，而且还一直延续下来。实际上，认识到这种区别，对我们是有好处的，因为与其他寓言家相比，显然伊索更有贡献。同样熠熠生辉的格林童话是由两个德国人收集起来的。假如我们认为将此归功于一个德国学生有点困难，但至少我们对这个学生的了解更甚于对一个弗里吉亚奴隶的了解。诚然，实际上伊索寓言并非伊索的寓言，而格林童话也不是格林兄弟的神话传说。然而，寓言和童话故事却是截然不同的两回事。尽管两者之间有着太多不一样的元素，但其简单、显而易见的特点却是相同的。再没有什么更好的寓言能超过伊索寓言，倘若没有它们的存在，这世上再也没有什么好的童话传说。

对于寓言故事而言，有一点我们都应理解，无论叫伊索或别的名字，所有的人物都必须是客观的，并非特指某一个人。他们就像代数学一样是抽象的，像国际象棋一样是由各个部分组成的。狮子总是比狼强壮，正如四永远是两个二一样。寓言中的狐狸一定言行不轨，就像国际象棋中的骑士一定要走弯路一样。寓言中的羊一定是向前前进的，就像象棋中的兵或卒一样，只前进不后退。寓言中绝不允许让兵或卒落入诡计之中，它也不允许发生如巴尔扎克所称的“一只羊的起义”之类的事。另一方面，童话传说则显然围绕着人类的个性特点而展开。如果没有什么英雄与龙作战，我们甚至于都不知道它们是龙。如果没有冒险家被扔在一个未被发现的小岛上，这个小岛也就永远不会被发现了。如果磨坊主的三儿子没有发现让人心醉神迷的花园，以及七个被冷冻了的公主面无血色地站在那里，那么公主们就会永远面无血色地被困在魔法之中了。如果那个英俊的王子没有发现睡美人，她也就只能继续昏睡下去了。寓言反映出两个相反的概念，然而任何事物本身在任何情况下都会不言而喻。狼永远都是残忍的，而狐狸永远都是狡猾的。同一类的东西可能注定会受到动物崇拜，这一点早已被埃及人、印度人和其他伟大的民族综合认证了。我认为，人类不会带着完全的个人爱好而去喜欢甲虫、猫或鳄鱼；他们只是赋予了动物一种抽象的、无名的自然能量，这种抽象性和能量对某些人来说是令人敬畏的，而对于无神论者来说，就是令人毛骨悚然的了。因此，在所有的寓言中，无论伊索寓言还是其他的寓言，所有动物的武装都像无生命力的事物一般，如大河或正在成长的大树。这是一种局限，也是此类事物的一种损失，他们只能代表自己；同时，这也是他们的悲剧，因为无法丢失他们的灵魂。

这也正是寓言得以不朽的原因，如果没有将人转变成国际象棋中的棋子，我们也就不能如此简单地说明浅显易懂的道理了。倘若不利用那些根本无法说话的动物，我们也就无法阐明如此简单的事情。想象一下，假如你把狼当成一个残忍的富翁，或者把狐狸当成一个狡猾的外交家。你马上就会想起，富翁也是人；而你也就永远不会忘记，外交家也是人。你或许一直在寻找，偶然的谈笑风生应该与暴君的残忍无情相伴而来；又或许在寻找，包括美德在内的一切美好事物的正面价值，都应存在于任何一个良善的外交家身上。一旦将此赋予到两条腿的人身上，而非四条腿的动物身上，并且扯掉它的羽翼，那么，你就无法要求一个人像童话故事里那样英勇，或者像现代小说里那样胆怯懦弱了。

不过，在这种朴实无华又无拘无束的风格中使用动物的形象，就像被用在徽章上的盾形或古代的象形文字一样，人类的确成功地传承了被称为公理的伟大真理。如果具有骑士风度的狮子是红色、奔放的，那么它就应该一直是红色、奔放的；如果朱鹭无论在哪里都用一条腿站着，那么它永远都会用一条腿站着。这门语言就像一个大型的动物字母系统，每个字母都是以最初对某类人的哲学定义而命名。就像刚学字母的小孩子，总会借助Ass来认识A，借助Bull来认识B，借助Cow来认识C。于是，人类在此也将简单和强壮的生灵与简单和强大的真理联系在一起了。一注细流不可能污染整个喷泉，若有人坚持说能够污染整个喷泉，那么此人要么是个暴君，要么是个骗子。一只小老鼠弱不禁风，不可能打败狮子，但是对一根能绑住狮子的绳子来说，他就是个强者了。一只能从平盘里获取大量食物的狐狸，也能轻易从深盘里捞到大量食物。一只被神灵禁止唱歌的乌鸦，众神永远也不会给他提供奶酪。当山羊受到了山顶的奚落，那么并非是山羊被奚落了，而是这座山被奚落了。所有这些都是高深的真理，都被铭刻在人们早已经过的岩石中。无论它们多么古老，或者多么新鲜，它们都是形成人类的字母表，就像诸多原始的图画形式采用了人类偏好的逼真形象符号一样。这些古老的、普遍存在的传说，都是以动物的形象出现，因为史前洞穴里的最新发现全部都是动物。在更简单的状态中，人类也总会感到自己有点过于神秘，从而无法刻画出来。然而，无论在何处，用原始的象征符号所雕刻出的图画故事却都是一样的。并且，无论是始于伊索的寓言，还是始于亚当的寓言；无论是像《列那狐的故事》中的德国人与中世纪，还是像拉特丹中的法国人与文艺复兴那样，本质上讲，结局却总是相同的——优越感总会让人傲慢无礼，因为它总是偶然产生的。骄傲总会使人失败，聪明反被聪明误之类的事情总会发生。除了这些被人类用手刻画在岩石上的传说故事之外，你再也找不到任何其他的传说。寓言的样式和产生的时代可能千差万别，但是寓言所隐藏的寓意却只有一个，因为这种寓意对应着万事万物。吉尔伯特·K·切斯顿（英国著名作家）1THE FOX AND THE GRAPES狐狸和葡萄

A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain, for they were just out of reach: so he gave up trying, and walked away with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, "I thought those grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour."｛中文阅读｝

一只饥肠辘辘的狐狸，看见缠绕在高架上的葡萄枝挂着几串成熟的葡萄，就尽力向上跳，想要摘下那些葡萄。但无论他怎么努力，也是徒劳无功，因为他始终够不着那些葡萄。于是他放弃了，反而带着不屑一顾的样子走开了，边走边说：“还以为那些葡萄已经熟透了呢，现在看来根本就是酸葡萄。”2THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGGS下金蛋的鹅

A Man and his wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose. Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

☆Much wants more and loses all.☆｛中文阅读｝

有一对夫妇非常幸运，他们有一只每天下一枚金蛋的母鹅。尽管非常幸运，可他们很快就觉着财富增加得还不够快，不仅如此，他们还以为这只鹅的内脏肯定也是金的。于是，他们决定杀掉它，这样就能立刻得到全部珍宝了。然而，他们把鹅开膛破肚之后，却发现和其它鹅没什么两样。如此，他们既没有像当初希望得那样一夜暴富，也不能再享有财富与日俱增的好运气了。

☆贪多必失。☆3THE CAT AND THE MICE猫和老鼠

There was once a house that was overrun with Mice. A Cat heard of this, and said to herself, "That's the place for me," and off she went and took up her quarters in the house, and caught the Mice one by one and ate them. At last the Mice could stand it no longer, and they determined to take to their holes and stay there. "That's awkward," said the Cat to herself: "the only thing to do is to coax them out by a trick." So she considered a while, and then climbed up the wall and let herself hang down by her hind legs from a peg, and pretended to be dead. By and by a Mouse peeped out and saw the Cat hanging there. "Aha!" it cried, "you're very clever, madam, no doubt: but you may turn yourself into a bag of meal hanging there, if you like, yet you won't catch us coming anywhere near you."

☆If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.☆｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一座房子，里面的老鼠泛滥成灾。一只猫听到此事，便自言自语：“那正是我要去的地方。”于是她走到那座房子里住下来，一只接一只地抓老鼠，然后吃掉他们。最后，老鼠们再也无法忍受下去，决定躲到自己的洞里，再也不出来。“这还真不好办了，”猫自言自语道，“若想骗他们出来，只能耍个花招了。”她琢磨了一会儿，然后爬上墙，用后腿钩住木桩倒挂下来，假装已经死了。过了一会儿，一只老鼠向外窥探，看到了挂在那里的猫。“啊哈！”老鼠大叫，“夫人，你还真聪明，不过，就算你假装成一袋粮食挂在那里，你也骗不了我们去接近你。”

☆如果有足够的智慧，面对那些曾认定的危险人物所假装出的无辜，你也不会上当受骗。☆4THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG恶狗

There was once a Dog who used to snap at people and bite them without any provocation, and who was a great nuisance to every one who came to his master's house. So his master fastened a bell round his neck to warn people of his presence. The Dog was very proud of the bell, and strutted about tinkling it with immense satisfaction. But an old dog came up to him and said, "The fewer airs you give yourself the better, my friend. You don't think, do you, that your bell was given you as a reward of merit? On the contrary, it is a badge of disgrace."

☆Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.☆｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一条狗经常无缘无故地抓人、咬人，去他主人家做客的每个人都很讨厌他。主人在他的脖子上系了一个铃铛，以此提醒人们提防他的出现。这条狗对脖子上戴着的铃铛引以为傲，大摇大摆地戴着它走来走去，十分满意这种叮当声。但是，一条老狗却走过来对他说：“我的朋友，姿态越低，对你越好。你不会真的以为这个铃铛是对你的奖赏吧？事实恰恰相反，它是耻辱的标志呀。”

☆恶名常被误认为美誉。☆5THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER烧炭工和漂洗工

There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighborhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished." The Fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一个自力更生的烧炭工人独自在家工作。碰巧，一个漂洗工搬至隔壁，与他成了邻居。结识漂洗工后，烧炭工人经过了解发现，这个邻居将是一个很好的合作伙伴，就问漂洗工愿不愿意搬到他的铺子里一起工作。“那样我们会变得更加亲密，”烧炭人说，“不仅如此，我们还可以节省生活开销呢。”漂洗工却谢绝了他，回答说：“我可不这样看，先生，因为不管我把衣服漂洗得多么白，都会立刻被你的木炭染黑了。”6THE MICE IN COUNCIL老鼠开会

Once upon a time all the Mice met together in Council, and discussed the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat. After several suggestions had been debated, a Mouse of some standing and experience got up and said, "I think I have hit upon a plan which will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach." This proposal was warmly applauded, and it had been already decided to adopt it, when an old Mouse got upon his feet and said, "I agree with you all that the plan before us is an admirable one: but may I ask who is going to bell the cat?"｛中文阅读｝

从前，所有的老鼠聚集在一起，开会商讨免受猫攻击的良策。几个建议相继都被否决之后，一只很有威望且经验丰富的老鼠站起来，说：“我忽然想到一个办法，可以确保大家未来的安全，假如你们赞成的话，我们就这么办。这个办法是，我们应该在敌人的脖子上挂一个铃铛，猫走路时发出的叮当声，就会警告我们——猫要来了。”他的提议受到了大家的赞同，都决定采用这个办法，就在这时，一只年长的老鼠伸出他的前爪，说：“我也赞同这是一个绝妙的好办法，但是，我想问一下，谁去给猫系铃铛呢？”7THE BAT AND THE WEASELS蝙蝠和黄鼠狼

A Bat fell to the ground and was caught by a Weasel, and was just going to be killed and eaten when it begged to be let go. The Weasel said he couldn't do that because he was an enemy of all birds on principle. "Oh, but," said the Bat, "I'm not a bird at all: I'm a mouse." "So you are," said the Weasel, "now I come to look at you"; and he let it go. Some time after this the Bat was caught in just the same way by another Weasel, and, as before, begged for its life. "No," said the Weasel, "I never let a mouse go by any chance." "But I'm not a mouse," said the Bat; "I'm a bird." "Why, so you are," said the Weasel; and he too let the Bat go.

☆Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.☆｛中文阅读｝

蝙蝠落到地上，被黄鼠狼捉住了，就在快要被杀死、吃掉之前，他乞求黄鼠狼放了他。黄鼠狼说不能放了他，因为他向来是所有鸟类的敌人。蝙蝠说：“噢，我根本不是鸟儿，只不过是一只老鼠。”黄鼠狼说：“原来你是老鼠呀，现在我才看清你。”于是，黄鼠狼放走了蝙蝠。不久，蝙蝠又以同样方式被另一只黄鼠狼捉住了，像从前那样，他又求黄鼠狼放了自己。“不行，”黄鼠狼说，“我绝不放过任何一只老鼠。”“可我不是老鼠呀，”蝙蝠说，“我是一只鸟儿。”“哎呀，原来你是一只鸟儿呀，”黄鼠狼说着，也放走了蝙蝠。

☆见风使舵。☆8THE DOG AND THE SOW狗和母猪

A Dog and a Sow were arguing and each claimed that its own young ones were finer than those of any other animal. "Well," said the Sow at last, "mine can see, at any rate, when they come into the world: but yours are born blind."｛中文阅读｝

狗和母猪争辩，都说自己的孩子更加出色。“嗯，”母猪最后说，“至少我的孩子一生下来就能看见东西，你的孩子生下来却是个瞎子。”9THE FOX AND THE CROW狐狸和乌鸦

A Crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her beak when a Fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover some way of getting the cheese. Coming and standing under the tree he looked up and said, "What a noble bird I see above me! Her beauty is without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be Queen of the Birds." The Crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show the Fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese, of course, and the Fox, snatching it up, said, "You have a voice, madam, I see: what you want is wits."｛中文阅读｝

乌鸦坐在树枝上，嘴里叼着一块奶酪。这时，狐狸在观察乌鸦，转动鬼脑筋想得到那块奶酪。于是，狐狸走过去，站在树下，仰起头说道：“我的头上有一只多么高贵的鸟儿呀！她的美貌天下无双，她的羽毛精致纤美。要是她的声音也像外貌和羽毛那样美好，毫无疑问，她真该成为鸟类的女王！”听到这番恭维，乌鸦简直受宠若惊，一心只想着向狐狸炫耀一下自己的歌喉，就“呱”地大叫了一声。理所当然，她嘴里的那块奶酪就掉了下去，狐狸立刻抓起奶酪，说：“乌鸦夫人，我知道你的歌喉很不错，可你需要的是智慧。”10THE HORSE AND THE GROOM马和马夫

There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit. The Horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at last cried to the Groom, "If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must comb me less and feed me more."｛中文阅读｝

从前，有一个马夫，常常花费几个钟头来为他负责照管的马修剪和梳理毛发，可是他却每天都会偷一部分喂马的燕麦，拿去卖了以谋私利。逐渐地，马的健康状况越来越糟糕，最后忍不住对马夫大叫：“你要是真想让我看上去光滑闪亮，就应该少给我梳毛，多喂我燕麦。”11THE WOLF AND THE LAMB狼和小羊

A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying from the flock, and felt some compunction about taking the life of so helpless a creature without some plausible excuse; so he cast about for a grievance and said at last, "Last year, sirrah, you grossly insulted me." "That is impossible, sir," bleated the Lamb, "for I wasn't born then." "Well," retorted the Wolf, "you feed in my pastures." "That cannot be," replied the Lamb, "for I have never yet tasted grass." "You drink from my spring, then," continued the Wolf. "Indeed, sir," said the poor Lamb, "I have never yet drunk anything but my mother's milk." "Well, anyhow," said the Wolf, "I'm not going without my dinner": and he sprang upon the Lamb and devoured it without more ado.｛中文阅读｝

狼偶然碰见一只离群的小羊，似乎觉着平白无故杀死这么弱小无助的生命有点良心不安，于是他竭力寻找自己受过的各种委屈，最后说：“小子，去年你可是侮辱过我。”“这不可能，先生。”小羊低声说，“那时，我还没出生呢。”狼反驳道：“嗯，你在我的牧场里吃草来着。”“这更不可能啦，”小羊回答说，“我到现在还没尝过草的滋味呢。”“那么，你喝过我的泉水。”狼继续编造借口。“说实在的，先生，”可怜的小羊说，“除了妈妈的奶水，我从没喝过其它东西呢。”“好吧，不管怎么说，”狼说，“我总不能不吃晚饭。”于是，他扑向小羊，干脆痛快地把他吞了下去。12THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE孔雀与鹤

A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage. "Look at my brilliant colors," said she, "and see how much finer they are than your poor feathers." "I am not denying," replied the Crane, "that yours are far gayer than mine; but when it comes to flying I can soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any dunghill cock."｛中文阅读｝

孔雀嘲讽鹤的羽毛色泽暗淡，她奚落道：“看看我的羽毛，多么鲜艳华丽呀，比你那灰暗难看的羽毛强出百倍。”“我不否认，”鹤说道，“你的羽毛比我的华丽，可是，要说到飞行能力，我翅膀上的羽毛能在空中翱翔，而你却只能像公鸡一样，在地上行走。”13THE CAT AND THE BIRDS猫和鸟

A Cat heard that the Birds in an aviary were ailing. So he got himself up as a doctor, and, taking with him a set of the instruments proper to his profession, presented himself at the door, and inquired after the health of the Birds. "We shall do very well," they replied, without letting him in, "when we've seen the last of you."

☆A villain may disguise himself, but he will not deceive the wise.☆｛中文阅读｝

有一只猫，闻言某处鸟舍里的鸟儿们全都生病了。于是，他便扮作医生，带着医生所使用的专业器具，装模作样地来到鸟房前，假装问候里面的鸟儿身体状况。“我们都很健康，”鸟儿们回答说，并没有让猫进去，“一看到你的大尾巴，我们就全好了。”

☆骗子会伪装自己，但决骗不过聪明人。☆14THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW败家子与燕子

A Spendthrift, who had wasted his fortune, and had nothing left but the clothes in which he stood, saw a Swallow one fine day in early spring. Thinking that summer had come, and that he could now do without his coat, he went and sold it for what it would fetch. A change, however, took place in the weather, and there came a sharp frost which killed the unfortunate Swallow. When the Spendthrift saw its dead body he cried, "Miserable bird! Thanks to you I am perishing of cold myself."

☆One swallow does not make summer.☆｛中文阅读｝

一个败家子因为挥霍无度而白白耗费了所有的财产。在一个早春的日子里，除了身上的衣服之外，已经别无所有的他，看到一只燕子。他心里想着，应该是夏天来临，可以不再需要身上的外套了。于是，他出去想卖掉外套，换点什么东西。不料，天气骤变，忽然降临的一场霜冻冻死了不幸的燕子。败家子看到燕子的尸体后，大喊道：“可怜的小鸟！都是因为你，我才会也跟着挨冻呀。”

☆一燕不成夏。☆15THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR老太婆与医生

An Old Woman became almost totally blind from a disease of the eyes, and, after consulting a Doctor, made an agreement with him in the presence of witnesses that she should pay him a high fee if he cured her, while if he failed he was to receive nothing. The Doctor accordingly prescribed a course of treatment, and every time he paid her a visit he took away with him some article out of the house, until at last, when he visited her for the last time, and the cure was complete, there was nothing left. When the Old Woman saw that the house was empty she refused to pay him his fee; and, after repeated refusals on her part, he sued her before the magistrates for payment of her debt. On being brought into court she was ready with her defense. "The claimant," said she, "has stated the facts about our agreement correctly. I undertook to pay him a fee if he cured me, and he, on his part, promised to charge nothing if he failed. Now, he says I am cured; but I say that I am blinder than ever, and I can prove what I say. When my eyes were bad I could at any rate see well enough to be aware that my house contained a certain amount of furniture and other things; but now, when according to him I am cured, I am entirely unable to see anything there at all."｛中文阅读｝

有个老太婆，几乎因为眼疾而失明了，在咨询过医生之后，他们达成了协议——如果医生能治好她的病，她将支付高额费用；如果医生治不好她的病，她就分文不给。根据疗程计划，医生定期来她家里进行治疗，而且，每次来时总会顺手牵羊地偷走一些物品。终于，当他来做最后一次治疗时，老太婆家里的东西已经所剩无几了。虽然眼疾治好了，但是看到家里空荡荡的，老太婆便拒绝支付医疗费，几次三番地拒付之后，医生便起诉了老太婆，让法官帮他追讨欠款。被带到法官那里时，老太婆已经准备好为自己辩护了。她说：“原告的确如实地陈述了我们之间的协议，我曾经许诺过，如果他能治好我的病，就会支付给他治疗费，而且，他也曾应允过我，如果治不好我的病，就分文不取。现在，他说我已经痊愈了，可是我认为我的眼睛比以前更瞎了，就此而言，我完全能证明情况属实。以前，当我的视力下降之后，尚且能看见家里的一些家具和物品，可是现在，当医生说我已经痊愈时，我却看不见任何东西了。”16THE MOON AND HER MOTHER月亮和妈妈

The Moon once begged her Mother to make her a gown. "How can I?" replied she; "there's no fitting your figure. At one time you're a New Moon, and at another you're a Full Moon; and between whiles you're neither one nor the other."｛中文阅读｝

有一次，月亮祈求妈妈给她做一件长袍。“怎么做呀？”妈妈回答说，“根本没有适合你的尺寸呀。你有时是新月，有时又是满月，而且你时常变化着。”17MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN墨丘利和樵夫

A Woodman was felling a tree on the bank of a river, when his axe, glancing off the trunk, flew out of his hands and fell into the water. As he stood by the water's edge lamenting his loss, Mercury appeared and asked him the reason for his grief; and on learning what had happened, out of pity for his distress he dived into the river and, bringing up a golden axe, asked him if that was the one he had lost. The Woodman replied that it was not, and Mercury then dived a second time, and, bringing up a silver axe, asked if that was his. "No, that is not mine either," said the Woodman. Once more Mercury dived into the river, and brought up the missing axe. The Woodman was overjoyed at recovering his property, and thanked his benefactor warmly; and the latter was so pleased with his honesty that he made him a present of the other two axes. When the Woodman told the story to his companions, one of these was filled with envy of his good fortune and determined to try his luck for himself. So he went and began to fell a tree at the edge of the river, and presently contrived to let his axe drop into the water. Mercury appeared as before, and, on learning that his axe had fallen in, he dived and brought up a golden axe, as he had done on the previous occasion. Without waiting to be asked whether it was his or not the fellow cried, "That's mine, that's mine," and stretched out his hand eagerly for the prize: but Mercury was so disgusted at his dishonesty that he not only declined to give him the golden axe, but also refused to recover for him the one he had let fall into the stream.

☆Honesty is the best policy.☆｛中文阅读｝

有一个樵夫正在河边砍树，突然，就在他将斧子抽离树干的一刹那，斧子从他的手中滑落，掉进了水里。他站在水边悲叹那丢失了的斧子时，墨丘利出现了，问他为什么如此伤心。问清缘由之后，出于对樵夫的同情，墨丘利跳进河里，举起一把金灿灿的斧子问他，这是不是他丢失了的那一把。樵夫说这不是他丢的。于是，墨丘利又跳进河中，捞起一把银光闪闪的斧子，问他是不是这一把。“不是，这也不是我丢的。”樵夫回答道。墨丘利再一次跳进河里，捞起那把樵夫真正丢失了的斧子。看到失而复得的斧子，樵夫喜出望外，对墨丘利感激万分。然而，墨丘利也很赞赏樵夫的忠厚老实，就将另外两把斧子作为礼物送给了他。樵夫把自己的经历讲给同伴听，其中一个人十分羡慕他的好运气，决定也去碰一碰运气。于是，他也来到河畔砍树，并故意将自己的斧子丢入河中。墨丘利像以前一样出现了，知道樵夫的斧子落入水中之后，他像上次一样跳进河里捞起一把金斧子。还没等到墨丘利开口问他，这个人就大喊道：“是我的，这就是我的斧子。”并且迫切地伸手想去拿那把斧子，但墨丘利对他的不诚实很气愤，不仅拒绝把金斧子送给他，而且还拒绝帮他寻找掉入水中的那把斧子。

☆正直诚实才是上策。☆18THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION驴、狐狸和狮子

An Ass and a Fox went into partnership and sallied out to forage for food together. They hadn't gone far before they saw a Lion coming their way, at which they were both dreadfully frightened. But the Fox thought he saw a way of saving his own skin, and went boldly up to the Lion and whispered in his ear, "I'll manage that you shall get hold of the Ass without the trouble of stalking him, if you'll promise to let me go free." The Lion agreed to this, and the Fox then rejoined his companion and contrived before long to lead him by a hidden pit, which some hunter had dug as a trap for wild animals, and into which he fell. When the Lion saw that the Ass was safely caught and couldn't get away, it was to the Fox that he first turned his attention, and he soon finished him off, and then at his leisure proceeded to feast upon the Ass.

☆Betray a friend, and you'll often find you have ruined yourself.☆｛中文阅读｝

驴和狐狸商量好一起去觅食。还没走出多远，突然看见一只狮子走过来，他们俩都吓得不得了。然而，狐狸却想出一条妙计，可以保全自己的性命。他立即跑到狮子面前，附耳小声地说：“如果你答应放我走，我就能保证让你毫不费力地抓住那头驴。”狮子应允了他的提议，狐狸便引诱驴掉进了一个陷阱里，这是某些猎人为捕获野生动物而事先挖掘出的洞。狮子见驴已被俘获，再也逃不掉了，于是便转向刚才和他说话的那只狐狸，很快便抓住狐狸吃掉了，然后再慢慢地去享受陷阱里的驴。

☆背叛朋友，你也不会有好下场。☆19THE LION AND THE MOUSE狮子与报恩的老鼠

A Lion asleep in his lair was waked up by a Mouse running over his face. Losing his temper he seized it with his paw and was about to kill it. The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare its life. "Please let me go," it cried, "and one day I will repay you for your kindness." The idea of so insignificant a creature ever being able to do anything for him amused the Lion so much that he laughed aloud, and good-humouredly let it go. But the Mouse's chance came, after all. One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been spread for game by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognized his roars of anger and ran to the spot. Without more ado it set to work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in setting the Lion free. "There!" said the Mouse, "you laughed at me when I promised I would repay you: but now you see, even a Mouse can help a Lion."

试读结束[说明：试读内容隐藏了图片]

下载完整电子书