The Ass The Fox And The Lion
驢、狐狸和獅子
by Aesop
選自《伊索寓言》
An Ass and a Fox had become close comrades, and were constantly in each other's company.
一頭驢和一隻狐狸成了好朋友，經常結伴出行。
While the Ass croppeda fresh bit of greens, the Fox would devour a chicken from the neighboring farmyard or a bit of cheese filched from the dairy.
在驢子偷吃蔬菜嫩葉的時候，狐狸則會去附近的農場偷雞吃，或者去乳品店偷奶酪。
One day the pair unexpectedly met a Lion.
有一天，這倆與一隻獅子不期而遇。
The Ass was very much frightened, but the Fox calmed his fears.
驢子就非常害怕，但是狐狸讓它平靜了下來。
"I will talk to him," he said.
「我去和獅子談談，」狐狸說道。
So the Fox walked boldly up to the Lion.
於是狐狸就十分勇敢地走向了獅子。
"Your highness," he said in an undertone, so the Ass could not hear him, "I've got a fine scheme in my head.If you promise not to hurt me, I will lead that foolish creature yonderinto a pit where he can't get out, and you can feast at your pleasure."
「閣下，」它說的話聲音很小，因此驢子就不能聽到狐狸說了什麼，「我有一個絕妙的主意。如果你保證不傷害我，我就把那個笨蛋帶到一個它出不來的坑裡，然後你就可以享用美餐了。」
The Lion agreed and the Fox returned to the Ass.
獅子同意了，於是狐狸回到了驢身旁。
"I made him promise not to hurt us," said the Fox."But come, I know a good place to hide till he is gone."
「我讓它保證了不會傷害我們，」狐狸說。「來吧，我知道一個絕佳的藏身之地，等它走了之後我們再出來。」
So the Fox led the Ass into a deep pit.
於是，狐狸就把驢子帶進了那個深坑。
But when the Lion saw that the Ass was his for the taking, he first of all struck down the traitor Fox.
然而，當獅子看到驢子已經是囊中之物、插翅難飛的時候，它立馬先結果了狐狸這個叛徒。
Traitors may expect treachery.
正所謂：出賣朋友的人，也會被別人出賣。
詞彙註解
1、crop v. /krɑp/ 啃食
2、yonder adv. /'jɑnd/ 相當於「there」，那裡的、那邊的