The Farmer and the Stork1农夫和鹳
A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was earnestly beseeching2 the Farmer to spare his life. Pray save me, Master, he said, and let me go free this once. My broken limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers-- they are not the least like those of a Crane. The Farmer laughed aloud and said, It may be all as you say, I only know this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in their company.
Birds of a feather flock together.
农夫在刚刚播种的田里布下很多网，很多来吃种子的鹤都被捉住了，并捉到一只鹳，鹳 的腿被网折断了，它哀求农夫说：饶了我吧，可怜可怜我吧。我又不是鹤，而是一只鹳， 我是性情优美的鸟。你瞧，我多么孝顺爸爸妈妈，为他们辛勤劳作，再仔细看看我的羽毛，与鹤 也完全不同。农夫大笑说：你说的话或许很好；但我只了解，你和这类偷吃种子的鹤一 起被捉到，那末你就得和他们一块死。
这是说大家切莫与坏人交朋友。
The Farmer and the Snake农夫与蛇
ONE WINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion3 on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom4. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor5, inflicting6 on him a mortal wound. Oh, cried the Farmer with his last breath, I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel.
The greatest kindness will not bind7 the ungrateful.
冬季，农夫发现一条蛇冻僵了，他非常可怜它，便把蛇放在自己怀里。蛇温暖后，苏醒了 过来，恢复了它的本性，咬了它的恩人一口，使他遭到了致命的伤害。农夫临死前说：我 该死，我怜悯恶人，应该受恶报。
这故事说明，即便对恶人仁至义尽，他们的邪恶本性也是不会改变的。
The Fawn8 and His Father小鹿与他的爸爸
A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Father, You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense9; why, then, O Father! do the hounds frighten you so? He smiled, and said: I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can.
No arguments will give courage to the coward. 有一天，小鹿对公鹿说道，爸爸，你如何还怕狗呢？你比他高大，比他跑得更快，而 且还有非常大的角用于自卫。公鹿笑着说：孩儿，你说得都对，可我只了解一点，一听到 狗的叫声，我就会不由自主地立刻逃跑。
这故事说明，勉励那些天生胆小、软弱的人毫无用处。
