《伊索寓言》开篇：英文原著带中文翻译

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."

一只饥饿的狐狸看见几串好葡萄挂在高高的棚架上，便使劲往上跳，想够到它们。可是白费力气，葡萄正好够不着。于是他不再尝试，摆出一副尊严而满不在乎的神气走开了，还说：「我原以为那些葡萄熟了，现在才看出它们很酸。」

THE 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.

有个人和妻子运气好，养着一只每天下一个金蛋的鹅。他们虽然幸运，却不久就觉得发财不够快，又以为那鹅肚子里一定全是金子，便决定把它杀了，好一下子得到全部贵金属。可是剖开一看，那鹅和别的鹅一模一样。于是他们既没有像希望的那样一下子富起来，也再不能享受每天增加的财富了。

Much wants more and loses all.

贪多必失，尽失所有。

THE 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."

从前有一座房子，老鼠成群。一只猫听说了，便自言自语道：「那正是我该去的地方。」于是她跑去住在那房子里，把老鼠一只只捉来吃掉。最后老鼠再也受不了，决定躲进洞里不出来。「这可不好办，」猫自言自语道：「唯一的办法是用计把他们引出来。」她想了一会儿，便爬上墙，用后腿倒挂在一根钉子上，装死。过了一会儿，一只老鼠探头出来，看见猫挂在那里。「啊哈！」它叫道：「夫人，你无疑很聪明，可是你就算把自己变成一袋面粉挂在那里，我们也不会靠近你。」

If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.

你若聪明，就不会被那些你曾发现危险的人的无害姿态所骗。

THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG

捣乱的狗

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."

从前有一只狗，常常无缘无故扑人咬人，凡到主人家里来的人都觉得他很讨厌。于是主人给他脖子上系了一个铃铛，好让人知道他在。那狗很为铃铛得意，走来走去，叮叮当当地响着，十分满足。可是有一只老狗走来对他说：「朋友，你越少摆架子越好。你难道以为铃铛是奖给你的功劳吗？恰恰相反，那是耻辱的标记。」

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

恶名常被误认为美名。

THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER

烧炭人和漂布人

There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself. A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; 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."

从前有一个烧炭人，独自生活，独自干活。可是有一个漂布人碰巧来住在同一个地方。烧炭人认识了他，觉得他是个和气的人，便问他愿不愿意来同住：「这样我们可以更了解彼此，」他说，「而且，我们的家用也会减少。」漂布人谢了他，却回答说：「先生，我可不能这么想：我费尽力气漂白的东西，会被你的炭立刻弄黑。」

THE MICE IN COUNCIL

老鼠开会