The Bear and the Fox熊与狐狸    

A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all  animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had  such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body.   A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, "Oh!  that you would eat the dead and not the living."       

有一头熊大肆吹嘘，说他很爱人类，因为他从不吃死人。一只狐狸对他说：“但愿你把 死人撕得粉碎，而不要危害那些活着的人。”     

这故事适用于生活中那些假装善良的恶人。  

The Swallow and the Crow燕子与乌鸦   THE SWALLOW and the Crow had a contention¹ about their   plumage.   The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying, "Your feathers are  all very well in the spring, but mine protect me against the winter."    

Fair weather friends are not worth much.        

燕子与乌鸦争吵谁最美丽。乌鸦对燕子说：“春天才能看到你美丽的外貌，我的身体却 可以抵御冬季的严寒。”     

这是说，健康的身体是最漂亮的外貌。  

The Mountain in Labor²山震    

A MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated³. Loud groans⁴ and noises  were heard, and crowds of people came from all parts to see what  was the matter. While they were assembled in anxious expectation  of some terrible calamity⁶, out came a Mouse.    

Don't make much ado about nothing.       有一次，一座大山发生了大震动，震动发出的声音就像大声的呻吟和喧闹。许多人云集 在山下观看，不知发生了什么事。当他们焦急地聚集在那里，担心看到什么不祥之兆时，仅 看见从山里跑出一只老鼠。     

这是说庸人多自忧。  

The Ass⁵, the Fox, and the Lion驴子、狐狸与狮子   

THE ASS and the Fox, having entered into partnership⁷ together for  their mutual⁸ protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They  had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing  imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive⁹   for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word   not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would   not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he  should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured,  immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.

驴子与狐狸俩合伙去打猎。他们突然遇见了狮子，狐狸见大事不妙，立即跑到狮子面 前，许诺把驴子交给他，只要自己免于危险。狮子答应可以，狐狸便引诱驴子掉进了一个陷 阱里。狮子见驴子已不能再逃跑，便立即先抓住狐狸吃了，然后再去吃驴子。     

这是说，那些出卖朋友，背叛友谊的人也得不到好下场。