A Shepherd-boy, who tended his flock not far from a village, used to amuse himself at times in crying out "Wolf! Wolf!" Twice or thrice his trick succeeded. The whole village came running out to his assistance when all the return they got was to be laughed at for their pains. At last one day the wolf came indeed. The boy cried out in earnest. But his neighbors, supposing him to be at his old sport, paid no heed¹ to（不注意） his cries, and the wolf devoured²（吞食，毁灭） the sheep.

 

So the boy learned, when it was too late, that liars³ are not believed even when they tell the truth. 

 

一个放羊的孩子在离村子不远的地方放羊。他为了开心寻乐常喊：“狼来了！狼来了！”他的恶作剧有两三次达到了目的。全村的人都跑来帮忙，而他们所得到的回报却是一顿嘲笑，白费了心力。最后，有一天狼真的来了。这个孩子认真地大喊起来。但是他的邻人们却以为他又在耍把戏，谁都不理会他的喊叫，于是狼把羊吃了。

 

因此这牧童得到了教训：爱说谎的人，甚至在他说真话的时候，也没人相信他，但是他知道得太晚了。

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