《伊索寓言》是古希腊作家伊索创作的经典寓言，是世界上最古老的寓言，在全世界有着广泛而巨大的影响。它的作者伊索被誉为“希腊寓言之父”、“西方寓言的开山鼻祖”。《伊索寓言》也深为中国读者所熟悉，许多篇目已然家喻户晓，比如《狼和羔羊》、《农夫和蛇》、《乌鸦和水罐》等。
THE WOLF AND THE KID
There was once a little Kid whose growing horns made him think he
was a grown-up Billy Goat and able to take care of himself. So
one evening when the flock started home from the pasture and his
mother called, the Kid paid no heed and kept right on nibbling
the tender grass. A little later when he lifted his head, the
flock was gone.
He was all alone. The sun was sinking. Long shadows came creeping
over the ground. A chilly little wind came creeping with them
making scary noises in the grass. The Kid shivered as he thought
of the terrible Wolf. Then he started wildly over the field,
bleating for his mother. But not half-way, near a clump of trees,
there was the Wolf!
The Kid knew there was little hope for him.
"Please, Mr. Wolf," he said trembling, "I know you are going to
eat me. But first please pipe me a tune, for I want to dance and
be merry as long as I can."
The Wolf liked the idea of a little music before eating, so he
struck up a merry tune and the Kid leaped and frisked gaily.
Meanwhile, the flock was moving slowly homeward. In the still
evening air the Wolf's piping carried far. The Shepherd Dogs
pricked up their ears. They recognized the song the Wolf sings
before a feast, and in a moment they were racing back to the
pasture. The Wolf's song ended suddenly, and as he ran, with the
Dogs at his heels, he called himself a fool for turning piper to
please a Kid, when he should have stuck to his butcher's trade.
Do not let anything turn you from your purpose.
[Illustration]
THE TORTOISE AND THE DUCKS
The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. No matter
how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. They say that Jupiter
punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he
would not go to Jupiter's wedding, even when especially invited.
After many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that
wedding. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the
Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by,
always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise
felt very sad and discontented. He wanted to see the world too,
and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs
that could hardly drag him along.
One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.
"We can help you to see the world," said the Ducks. "Take hold of
this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the
air where you can see the whole countryside. But keep quiet or
you will be sorry."
The Tortoise was very glad indeed. He seized the stick firmly
with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end,
and away they sailed up toward the clouds.
Just then a Crow flew by. He was very much astonished at the
strange sight and cried:
"This must surely be the King of Tortoises!"
"Why certainly----" began the Tortoise.
But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his
hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground, where he was
dashed to pieces on a rock.
Foolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune.
THE YOUNG CRAB AND HIS MOTHER
"Why in the world do you walk sideways like that?" said a Mother
Crab to her son. "You should always walk straight forward with
your toes turned out."
"Show me how to walk, mother dear," answered the little Crab
obediently, "I want to learn."
So the old Crab tried and tried to walk straight forward. But
she could walk sideways only, like her son. And when she wanted
to turn her toes out she tripped and fell on her nose.
Do not tell others how to act unless you can set a good
example.
THE FROGS AND THE OX
An Ox came down to a reedy pool to drink. As he splashed heavily
into the water, he crushed a young Frog into the mud. The old
Frog soon missed the little one and asked his brothers and
sisters what had become of him.
"A great big monster," said one of them, "stepped on little
brother with one of his huge feet!"
"Big, was he!" said the old Frog, puffing herself up. "Was he as
big as this?"
"Oh, much bigger!" they cried.
The Frog puffed up still more.
"He could not have been bigger than this," she said. But the
little Frogs all declared that the monster was much, much
bigger and the old Frog kept puffing herself out more and more
until, all at once, she burst.
Do not attempt the impossible.
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