Two soldiers travelling together were set upon by a robber. One of them ran away, but the other stood his ground, and laid about him so lustily with his sword that the robber was fain to fly and leave him in peace. When the coast was clear the timid¹ one ran back, and, flourishing his weapon, cried in a threatening voice, "Where is he? Let me get at him, and I'll soon let him know whom he's got to deal with." But the other replied, "You are a little late, my friend: I only wish you had backed me up just now, even if you had done no more than speak, for I should have been encouraged, believing your words to be true. As it is, calm yourself, and put up your sword: there is no further use for it. You may delude² others into thinking you're as brave as a lion: but I know that, at the first sign of danger, you run away like a hare."

 

两个士兵一起赶路，途中被一个强盗所劫。其中一个士兵马上逃跑了，另一个则勇敢地握着剑立在原地，强盗不得不弃他而逃。这时候，那个胆小的士兵跑过来，抽出剑，壮着胆子大喝一声：“他去哪里了？让我来对付他，我要让他知道面对的是什么人。”然而，那名勇敢的士兵说：“你来晚了，我的朋友。要是你刚才能帮我就好了，即便只是嘴上这样说也好，因为我会受到你这番话的鼓舞，并且相信这些话都说真的。而现在，还是请你把剑收好，已经没有必要再用它了。你只能欺骗其他人，让人们以为你像雄狮一样勇敢；而我却知道，在遇到危险时，你会像兔子一样落荒而逃。”

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