伊索 –18  燕子與蟒蛇

來源：http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKALYSC 

http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35888

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燕子與蟒蛇

　　有只在法院裡做窩的燕子飛出去了。蟒蛇趁機爬進燕子窩裡，把小燕子都吞吃了。燕子回來發現窩空了，極其悲痛。另一隻燕子飛來勸慰她，並說她不是唯一丟失孩子的媽媽。她回答說：「我這樣悲痛，並不僅僅是為了丟失孩子，而是因在這受害的地方本是所有受害者都能求得幫助的地方。」

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：災難來自最意想不到的地方時，最使人悲傷。

The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice

　　A SWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: "Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where all others' rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong."

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伊索 –17  賊和旅館老闆

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35887

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賊和旅館老闆

　　一個賊在旅館租住了一間房，一連住了幾天，希望偷一點東西足夠付房錢和飯錢，可他白白等了幾天，一無所獲。這天，賊看見旅館老闆穿著一件漂亮的新衣坐在門口，便走上前去，與他閒談。談了一會兒，他們都覺得疲倦了，賊打了一個呵欠，並像狼叫似的大吼了一聲。旅館老闆說：「你怎麼叫得這麼嚇人呢？」賊說：「我願告訴你。但先請抓住我的衣服，我願意把衣服放在你手中。先生，我自己也不知道我到底甚麼時候是這樣打呵欠，也不知道這種可怕的嚎叫傳染到我身上來是懲罰我的罪孽，還是其他別的原因。可有一點我是知道的，我若第三次打呵欠時，就會變成一隻狼，去撲咬人。」說完之後，他又打了第二個呵欠，並和第一次一樣，像狼一般的嚎叫。旅館老闆聽完賊的故事，信以為真，非常恐懼，站起身來，準備逃走。賊扯住他的外衣，請他留步，並說：「先生，請等一等，扯住我的衣服，不然我變成狼時，就會暴怒地撕破它。」剛一說完，又像狼嚎叫一樣打了第三個呵欠。旅館老闆害怕被賊傷害，便趕緊脫下新衣交給他，逃進旅館躲藏起來。賊帶著新衣連忙逃離旅館，不再返回。

　　這是說有些人為了達到某種目的，信口雌黃。如果相信其鬼話，肯定要吃虧。

The Thief and the Innkeeper

　　A THIEF hired a room in a tavern and stayed a while in the hope of stealing something which should enable him to pay his reckoning. When he had waited some days in vain, he saw the Innkeeper dressed in a new and handsome coat and sitting before his door. The Thief sat down beside him and talked with him. As the conversation began to flag, the Thief yawned terribly and at the same time howled like a wolf. The Innkeeper said, "Why do you howl so fearfully?' "I will tell you," said the Thief, "but first let me ask you to hold my clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces. I know not, sir, when I got this habit of yawning, nor whether these attacks of howling were inflicted on me as a judgment for my crimes, or for any other cause; but this I do know, that when I yawn for the third time, I actually turn into a wolf and attack men." With this speech he commenced a second fit of yawning and again howled like a wolf, as he had at first. The Innkeeper. Hearing his tale and believing what he said, became greatly alarmed and, rising from his seat, attempted to run away. The Thief laid hold of his coat and entreated him to stop, saying, "Pray wait, sir, and hold my clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces in my fury, when I turn into a wolf." At the same moment he yawned the third time and set up a terrible howl. The Innkeeper, frightened lest he should be attacked, left his new coat in the Thief's hand and ran as fast as he could into the inn for safety. The Thief made off with the coat and did not return again to the inn.

　　Every tale is not to be believed.

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伊索 –16  賊和看家狗

來源：http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKALYSC 

http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35886

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賊和看家狗

　　一個寧靜的夜晚，一個賊悄悄地溜入一戶人家的院子。為了防止狗吠叫喊醒主人和追咬自己，賊特意隨身帶了幾塊肉。當他把肉給狗吃的時候，狗說：「你若想這樣來堵住我的嘴，那就大錯特錯了。你這樣無緣無故、突如其來地送給我肉，一定是別有用心，不懷好意的，肯定是為了你自己的利益，想傷害我的主人。」

　　這是說忠心的狗不受肉的賄賂，每個人都應忠於職守，抵制誘惑。

The Thief and the Housedog

　　A THIEF came in the night to break into a house. He brought with him several slices of meat in order to pacify the Housedog, so that he would not alarm his master by barking. As the Thief threw him the pieces of meat, the Dog said, "If you think to stop my mouth, you will be greatly mistaken. This sudden kindness at your hands will only make me more watchful, lest under these unexpected favors to myself, you have some private ends to accomplish for your own benefit, and for my master's injury."

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伊索 –15  偷東西的小孩與他母親

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35885

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偷東西的小孩與他母親

　　有個小孩在學校裡偷了同學一塊寫字石板，拿回家交給母親。母親不但沒批評，反而還誇他能幹。第二次他偷回家一件大衣，交給母親，母親很滿意，更加誇獎他。隨著歲月的流逝，小孩長大成小伙子了，便開始去偷更大的東西。有一次，他被當場捉住，反綁著雙手，被押送到劊子手那裡。他母親跟在後面，捶胸痛哭。這時，小偷說，他想和母親貼耳說一句話。他母親馬上走了上去，兒子一下猛地用力咬住她的耳朵，並撕了下來。母親罵他不孝，犯殺頭之罪還不夠，還要使母親致殘。兒子說道：「我初次偷石板交給你時，如果你能打我一頓，今天我何至於落到這種可悲的結局，被押去處死呢？」

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：小錯起初不懲治，必將釀成大錯。

The Thief and His Mother

　　A BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, "I wish to say something to my Mother in her ear." She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, "Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that lesson-book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful death."

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伊索 –14  燕子與鳥類

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35883  

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燕子與鳥類

　　從前，有一種能產生粘鳥膠的樹，當這種樹剛發芽時，燕子預感到鳥類將大難臨頭。於是，她召集鳥類，勸說他們一定要把所有這種樹弄死。如果做不到，就馬上飛到人那裡去，向他們求助，請求他們不要用粘鳥膠來捕捉鳥類。所有的鳥都取笑燕子，認為她是說傻話。燕子無奈便獨自飛到人那裡，請求保護。人們認為她聰明、機智、善良，便答應了她的請求，允許她和人們住在一起。結果，別的鳥類都常被人捕捉，成為人們的美食。唯獨燕子倖免於難，在人們家裡平平安安地築窩，無憂無慮地生活。

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：未雨綢繆的人能避免危險。

The Swallow and the Other Birds

　　It happened that a Countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field where a Swallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their food. "Beware of that man," quoth the Swallow. "Why, what is he doing?" said the others. "That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful to pick up every one of the seeds, or else you will repent it." The birds paid no heed to the Swallow's words, and by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord, and of the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the Swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of that very hemp. "What did I tell you?" said the Swallow.

　　Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your  

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伊索 –13  燕子與烏鴉

來源：http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKALYSC 

http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35882  

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燕子與烏鴉

　　燕子與烏鴉爭吵誰最美麗。烏鴉對燕子說：「春天才能看到你美麗的外貌，我的身體卻可以抵禦冬季的嚴寒。」

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：健康的身體是最漂亮的外貌。

The Swallow and the Crow

　　THE SWALLOW and the Crow had a contention 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.

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伊索 –12  運鹽的驢子

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35881

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運鹽的驢子

　　有只驢子馱著鹽過河。他的腳一滑，跌倒在河水中，鹽在水中都溶化了。他站起來時頓感一身輕鬆了許多，他很高興。後來，有一天，他馱著海綿過河，心想再跌倒下去，站起來時定會更輕鬆。於是，他故意地摔了下去，他沒想到海綿是吸水的，因此再也站不起來了，淹死在河裡了。

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：有些人聰明反被聰明誤，自己害了自己。

The Salt Merchant and His Ass

　　A PEDDLER drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road home lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step, fell by accident and rose up again with his load considerably lighter, as the water melted the sack. The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before. When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down on purpose in the same spot, and, regaining his feet with the weight of his load much diminished, brayed triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. The Peddler saw through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast, where he bought a cargo of sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again playing the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load. And thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his back a double burden.

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伊索 –11  牛欄裡的鹿

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35878

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牛欄裡的鹿

　　一隻鹿被獵狗追趕得很急，跑進一個農家院子裡，恐懼不安地混在牛群裡躲藏起來。一頭牛好意地告誡他說：「喂！不幸的傢伙！你為甚麼要這樣做，你將自己交到敵人手中，這不是自投羅網嗎？」鹿回答說：「朋友，只要你允許我躲在這裡，我便會尋找機會逃走的。」到了傍晚，牧人來喂牲口，他們並未發現鹿。管家和幾個長工經過牛欄時，也沒注意牛欄裡有鹿。鹿慶幸自己安全，便向那頭好意勸告過他的牛表示衷心的感謝。另一頭牛說：「我們固然想保護你，但現在還不能完全放心。另外還有一個人要經過牛欄，他對於一切都十分留心。只要他經過後，你的性命就有了保證。」這時，主人進來了，一邊埋怨牛飼料分配得不好，一邊走到草架旁大聲說：「怎麼搞的，只有這麼一點點草料？牛欄墊的草也不夠一半。這些懶蟲連蜘蛛網也沒打掃乾淨。」當他在牛欄裡走來走去檢查每樣東西時，發現鹿角露出在草料上面，便叫來人捉住這隻鹿，把他殺掉了。

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：在逃避一種危險時，不要忽視另一種危險。

　　A STAG, roundly chased by the hounds and blinded by fear to the danger he was running into, took shelter in a farmyard and hid himself in a shed among the oxen. An Ox gave him this kindly warning: "O unhappy creature! Why should you thus, of your own accord, incur destruction and trust yourself in the house of your enemy?' The Stag replied: "Only allow me, friend, to stay where I am, and I will undertake to find some favorable opportunity of effecting my escape." At the approach of the evening the herdsman came to feed his cattle, but did not see the Stag; and even the farm-bailiff with several laborers passed through the shed and failed to notice him. The Stag, congratulating himself on his safety, began to express his sincere thanks to the Oxen who had kindly helped him in the hour of need. One of them again answered him: "We indeed wish you well, but the danger is not over. There is one other yet to pass through the shed, who has as it were a hundred eyes, and until he has come and gone, your life is still in peril." At that moment the master himself entered, and having had to complain that his oxen had not been properly fed, he went up to their racks and cried out: "Why is there such a scarcity of fodder? There is not half enough straw for them to lie on. Those lazy fellows have not even swept the cobwebs away." While he thus examined everything in turn, he spied the tips of the antlers of the Stag peeping out of the straw. Then summoning his laborers, he ordered that the Stag should be seized and killed..

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伊索 –10  泉邊的鹿與獅子

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35877

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泉邊的鹿與獅子

　　一隻鹿非常口渴，連忙跑到泉水邊去。他喝著甘甜的泉水，望著水裡自己的影子，見自己修長而美麗的雙角，得意洋洋，當見到自己細小的腿，又鬱鬱不樂。正當他看得入神時，有頭獅子疾奔而來。他轉身拚命地逃跑，一下就把獅子遠遠地甩在身後，因為鹿的力量是在腿上，獅子的力量是在心臟上。在空曠的平原上，鹿總能跑在前頭，保住性命。但當他進入到樹林中時，美麗的雙角被樹枝掛住了，再也無法奔跑了，結果被跟蹤而來的獅子捉住了。鹿臨死之前對自己說：「我真不幸呢！被我所不喜歡的救了命，卻被我所最信賴和寵愛的東西斷送了生命。」

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：美麗的東西不一定有用，甚至還會壞事，不美的東西卻在關鍵時刻有實用。

　　A STAG overpowered by heat came to a spring to drink. Seeing his own shadow reflected in the water, he greatly admired the size and variety of his horns, but felt angry with himself for having such slender and weak feet. While he was thus contemplating himself, a Lion appeared at the pool and crouched to spring upon him. The Stag immediately took to flight, and exerting his utmost speed, as long as the plain was smooth and open kept himself easily at a safe distance from the Lion. But entering a wood he became entangled by his horns, and the Lion quickly came up to him and caught him. When too late, he thus reproached himself: "Woe is me! How I have deceived myself! These feet which would have saved me I despised, and I gloried in these antlers which have proved my destruction."  .

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伊索 –9  病鳶

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http://www.bookstrg.com/ReadStory.asp?Code=RKASeP35875  

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病鳶

　　一隻病得快要死的鳶對他媽媽說：「媽媽，請您不要悲傷！還是趕快祈求神明，讓他們保佑我的性命吧。」媽媽回答說：「唉！我的孩兒，你想有哪位神會可憐你？幾乎每一位神明都被你惹怒了，你總是從他們的祭壇上把人們獻給神的祭品偷走。」

　　這個故事帶出的啟示就是：若要在患難中得到朋友的幫助，就必須在平時締結友誼。

　　A KITE, sick unto death, said to his mother: "O Mother! do not mourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged." She replied, "Alas! my son, which of the gods do you think will pity you? Is there one whom you have not outraged by filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered up to them?'

　　must make friends in prosperity if we would have

　　eir help in adversity.

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