A wild ass¹ saw a pack-ass jogging along under a heavy load, and taunted² him with the condition of slavery in which he lived, in these words: "What a vile³ lot is yours compared with mine! I am free as the air, and never do a stoke of work; and, as for fodder⁴, I have only to go to the hills and there I find far more than enough for my needs. But you! You depend on your master for food, and he makes you carry heavy loads every day and beats you unmercifully." At that moment a lion appeared on the scene, and made no attempt to molest⁵ the pack-ass owing to the presence of the driver, but he fell upon the wild ass, who had no one to protect him, and without more ado made a meal of him.

 

It is no use being your own master unless you can stand up for yourself.

 

一头野驴看到一头家驴背负这沉重的货物一路小跑，便讥讽他过着奴隶般的生活：“和我相比，你过得多么卑微呀！我自由自在地享受着大自然，从不下苦力，说道食物，我只需要跑到山上去，就能发现大量吃的东西。再看看你！只能依靠主人施舍吃点，他不仅每天都让你驮重物，还无情地鞭打你。”这时，一只狮子出现在他们的视野中，由于驴夫的出现，狮子没有骚扰家驴，直接扑向了没有保护者的野驴，立即吃掉了野驴。

 

除非能照顾好自己，否则做自己的主人一点用也没有。

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