1.The Cock and the Pearl (公鸡和珍珠)

A cock was once strutting up and down the farmyard among the hens when suddenly he espied something shinning amid the straw.

有一次，一只公鸡在农家院子的母鸡群里昂胸阔步的走着，突然，它发现在柴禾堆儿里有个东西在闪闪发光。

"Ho! ho!" quoth he, "that's for me," and soon rooted it out From beneath the straw.

公鸡说：“哦，哦！这个是我的”。于是，它很快从稻草下面捡起来，

What did it turn out to be but a Pearl that by some chance had been lost in the yard?

这是一颗珍珠啊！是谁不小心丢的呢？。

"You may be a treasure," quoth Master Cock, "to men that prize you, but for me I would rather have a single barley-corn than a peck of pearls."

接着公鸡对着它说：“对人来说你是一个宝贝，但对我而言，我宁可你是一粒米而不是珍珠”。

Precious things are for those that can prize them.

故事是说：对人来讲，东西之所以珍贵是因为人知道它的价值。

2.The Wolf and the Lamb (狼和小羊)

Once upon a time a Wolf was lapping at a spring on a hillside,

在很久以前，有一只狼正在山的泉水边舐水喝，

when, looking up, what should he see but a Lamb just beginning to　drink a little lower down.

当它抬起头时，看见一只小羊在不远的下游正要喝水。

"There's my supper," thought he, "if only I can find some excuse to seize it."

它在想，如果我能找到什么借口就把它抓住，我就会吃到一顿美餐。

Then he called out to　the Lamb, "How dare you muddle the water from which I am　drinking?"

于是，狼对着小羊嚷着说：“你怎么能把水弄脏，使我喝不到干净的泉水呢？”。

"Nay, master, nay," said Lambikin; "if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me."

小羊说：“不是的！主人，这水是从你那里流过来的，我根本不可能会弄脏水。

"Well, then," said the Wolf, "why did you call me bad names this time last year?"

狼接着又说：“那你去年为什么骂我？”

"That cannot be," said the Lamb; "I am only six months old."

小羊说：“怎么可能呢？我现在只有六个月大”。

"I don't care," snarled the Wolf; "if it was not you it was your father;"

狼咆哮着说：“我不管，如果不是你，就是你爸爸”。

and with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb and.WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA　ate her all up. But before she died she gasped out "Any excuse will serve a tyrant."

狼说着就冲向可怜的小羊，把它咬住大口大口地吃了。小羊临死前喊叫：“欲加之罪，何患无词。”

3.The Dog and the Shadow (狗和影子儿)

It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace.

从前，一只狗得到了一块儿肉。它叼着肉想回到家后再细嚼慢咽。

Now on his way　home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he　crossed,

回家的途中，要经过一座木桥。桥下面有流动的溪水。当它正要通过时，

he l ooked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath.

它低头看见水中自己的影子儿。

Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also.

它以为是另外的一只狗叼着肉，所以就打定主意要把肉抢过来。

So he made a snap at　the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of　meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.

它对水中的影子儿猛咬了过去，可是当它张开嘴巴时，口里的肉却掉进水里消失了。

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

故事是说：谨记，不要追逐幻影而丢失已有的东西。

4.The Lion's Share (狮子的分配)

The Lion went once a-hunting along with the Fox, the Jackal,　and the Wolf.

有一次狮子、狐狸、狐狼和狼一起去打猎。

They hunted and they hunted till at last they　surprised a Stag, and soon took its life.

它们不停的追逐猎物，直到最后终于逮到一只受惊吓的公鹿。它们很快的把它咬死了。

Then came the question　how the spoil should be divided.

但随之而来的问题是猎物怎么分配呢？

"Quarter me this Stag," roared　the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four　parts.

狮子吼叫着说：“这只鹿的四分之一是我的”。于是其它动物剥掉鹿皮，把鹿分成四份儿。

Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass and pronounced judgment: The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts;

然后，狮子站在鹿的尸体旁边宣布：“第一份儿是我的，因为我是万兽之王；

the second is mine as arbiter; another sharecomes to me for my part in the chase;

第二份儿也是我的，因为我是裁判员；我参加了打猎，所以，第三份也归我。

and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it."

至于第四份儿吗？对于这个，呵呵⋯⋯！我倒要看看，你们哪个敢用爪子碰它”。

"Humph," grumbled the Fox as he walked away with his tail between his legs; but he spoke in a low growl

哼⋯⋯ 狐狸挟着尾巴无奈的走开了。但它愤怒地小声说：“我付出劳动，却得不到相应的报酬”。

"You may share the labours of the great,but you will not share the spoil."

故事是说：与强者只有共苦的份儿，却没有同甘的权利。

5.The Wolf and the Crane (狼和鹤)

A Wolf had been gorging on an animal he had killed, when　suddenly a small bone in the meat stuck in his throat and he could　not swallow it.

一只狼正在吞吃刚抓到的猎物。突然有一块儿骨头卡在喉咙里，咽不进去也吐不出来，

He soon felt terrible pain in his throat, and ran　up and down groaning and groaning and seeking for something to　relieve the pain.

它马上感觉到喉咙里钻心的疼痛，它上窜下跳呻吟着四处寻求什么能让它减轻痛苦。

He tried to induce every one he met to remove the bone. "I would give anything," said he, "if you would take it　out."

它试图劝服每一个碰到的人能帮它把骨头弄出来，它说：“如果你能把骨头弄出来，我什么都可以给你”。

At last the Crane agreed to try, and told the Wolf to lie on his side and open his jaws as wide as he could.

在最后，有只鹤同意试试看。它让狼侧身躺着，将嘴巴尽量张大，

Then the Crane　put its long neck down the Wolf's throat, and with its beak　loosened the bone, till at last it got it out.

然后，鹤把喙伸到狼的喉咙里，用嘴啄住了骨头，将它取了出来。

"Will you kindly give me the reward you promised?" said the Crane.

鹤对狼说：“请按照您的承诺给我奖励吧”！

The Wolf grinned and showed his teeth and said: "Be content. You have put your head inside a Wolf's mouth and taken it out again in safety; that ought to be reward enough for you."

这只狼呲牙咧嘴的嘲笑道：“你就知足吧，你刚才把头放进我的嘴里，能平安无恙地出来，这就是足够的奖励了。”

Gratitude and greed go not together.

故事是说：贪婪的人不会有感恩之心。

6.The Man and the Serpent (人和蛇)

A Countryman's son by accident trod upon a Serpent's tail, which turned and bit him so that he died.

一个乡下人的儿子不小心踩到了一条蛇的尾巴，蛇立即转身咬死了这个孩子。

The father in a rage　got his axe, and pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail.

他父亲在愤怒之下拿着斧头找到蛇，砍掉了它的尾巴。

So the Serpent in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's cattle and caused him severe loss. Well, the Farmer thought it。

之后，蛇为了报复农夫去咬他的牛，导致农夫损失惨重。随后，农夫就想，

best to make it up with the Serpent, and brought food and honey to the mouth of its lair,

最好的方法是与蛇和好。所以农夫带了食物和糖果等礼物到它的住处。

and said to it: "Let's forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on my cattle, but surely I was right in trying to revenge him;

他对蛇说：“让我们忘记过去并彼此饶恕吧；也许你对我儿子的惩罚和对牛群的报复是对的，但我为儿子报仇也是对的。既然大家都各有所为，

now that we are both satisfied why should not we be friends again?"

现在倒不如让我们再成为朋友吧？”

"No, no," said the Serpent; "take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail."

蛇回答说：“不、不，将你的礼物拿走，你永远忘不了你儿子的死，我也无法忘记我失去的尾巴”。

Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.

故事是说：伤害可以原谅，但不可忘掉。　

7.The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (城里老鼠和乡下老鼠)

Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country.

有一次，一只城里的老鼠去看望乡下的表弟，

He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome.

这个表弟虽然很粗俗，却很爱这位城里的表哥并由衷的欢迎接待它。

Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely.

它拿出了所有的好东西，如各种豆子、熏肉、奶酪和面包，让表哥尽情享受。

The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said: "I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this,

城里老鼠很不屑地说：“表弟，我真不明白，你怎么能够受得了这么差的食物？

but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live.

当然，在乡下你也不能期望过高，跟我去城里吧，让我告诉你什么才是生活，

When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life."

只要你到城里住上一个星期，你就会奇怪竟然还能忍受着乡下的生活。

No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night.

不久之后，两只老鼠就离开乡下连夜赶到城里老鼠的家。

"You will want some refreshment after our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse,

城里老鼠很有礼貌的说：“长途跋涉之后你一定饿了吧？”

and took his friend　into the grand dining-room. There they found the remains of a　fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes　and all that was nice.

然后把它带到豪华餐厅。这里刚刚举行了一场盛宴，还有不少剩饭。一会儿功夫，两只老鼠就吃完了果冻、蛋糕和其它好吃的食物。

Suddenly they heard growling and barking. "What is that?" said the Country Mouse. "It is only the dogs of　the house,"

忽然传来一阵怒吠咆哮声。乡下老鼠问：“那是什么？”城里老鼠回答：“哦，是这个家的几只狗”。

answered the other. "Only!" said the Country Mouse."I do not like that music at my dinner."

乡下老鼠反问道：“只是几只狗？我可不喜欢吃饭的时侯听到这种‘音乐’ ”。

Just at that moment the　door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to　scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, Cousin," said the Country　Mouse, "What! going so soon?" said the other.

话刚说完，门被撞开了，两只大狗冲了进来，老鼠们不得不放下食物，落荒而逃。乡下老鼠边跑边说：“再见吧，表哥！”。另一只老鼠说：“什么！你这么快就要走？”

"Yes," he replied;"Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear."

乡下老鼠回答说：“是的，在平静中享受豌豆和熏肉还有不少美食剩下。

7.The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (城里老鼠和乡下老鼠)

8.The Fox and the Crow (狐狸和乌鸦)

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.

一次，一只狐狸看见飞来一只嘴里叼着奶酪的乌鸦停在树枝上。

"That's for me, as I am a Fox," said Master Reynard,

狐狸自言自语道：“这个是归我的，因为我是狐狸”。

and he walked up to the foot of the tree.

于是他走到这棵树底下。

"Good-day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye.

他喊道“早安！乌鸦夫人，你今天看起来很好，你的羽毛是如此的有光泽，你的眼睛也很明亮。

I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does;

我相信你的歌喉也会超过所有的鸟，就像你的身材那么美妙。

let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds."

让我听你唱一首歌，我要象向百鸟之后般的向你致敬”。

The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best,

乌鸦抬起了头，开始放声高歌，

but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by Master Fox.

但就在这一刻，她口中的奶酪掉在了地上，狐狸马上一抢而去。

"That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future.

狐狸说：“行了，这就是我想要的”。为了报答你的奶酪，我给你未来一句忠告。

"Do not trust flatterers."

不要相信阿谀奉承者

9.The Sick Lion (生病的狮子)

A Lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto death　at the mouth of his cave, gasping for breath.

一只生病的狮子躺在它的洞穴口，呼吸很困难，生命快要走到了尽头。

The animals, his　subjects, came round him and drew nearer as he grew more and more　helpless.

曾经臣服于它的动物，看到狮子越来越虚弱无助时，纷纷从四处聚拢过来，围绕着狮子。

When they saw him on the point of death they thought to themselves: "Now is the time to pay off old grudges."

它们看到狮子就要死了，心里就想：“现在是算老帐的时候了”。

So the Boar came up and drove at him with his tusks; then a Bull gored him with his horns;

于是，野猪先走过来，用它的獠牙推搡狮子。接着，公牛用角撞它。

still the Lion lay helpless before them: so the　Ass, feeling quite safe from danger, came up, and turning his tail　to the Lion kicked up his heels into his face.

狮子还是没有反应，仍旧无助的躺着，于是一头驴在确认没有危险后，走上来转身用蹄子踢狮子的脸。

"This is a double death," growled the Lion.

“这真是祸不单行啊”，狮子咆哮着死去。

Only cowards insult dying majesty.

故事是说：只有懦夫才会凌辱垂死的英雄

10.The Ass and the Lapdog (驴和宠物狗)

A Farmer one day came to the stables to see to his beasts of burden: among them was his favourite Ass, that was always well fed and often carried his master.

一天，一个农夫到马厩看牲畜，马厩里有他最喜欢的驴。因为主人常常骑它，所以，驴被饲养的很肥壮。

With the Farmer came his Lapdog, who danced about and licked his hand and frisked about as happy as could be.

跟在农夫身后的是一条小狗，小狗喜欢舔农夫的手，并且蹦蹦跳跳的快乐无比。

The Farmer felt in his pocket, gave the Lapdog some dainty food,

农夫伸手到口袋里，抓出零食给小狗儿吃。

and sat down while he gave his orders to his servants. The Lapdog jumped into his master's lap, and lay there blinking while the Farmer stroked his ears.

农夫坐下给雇工发命令时，小狗儿跳到主人的大腿上, 眨着眼睛让主人抚摸它的耳朵。

The Ass, seeing this, broke loose from his halter and commenced prancing about in imitation of the Lapdog.

驴看到了，就挣脱了缰绳，开始模仿小狗的样子跳跃着。

The Farmer could not hold his sides with laughter, so the Ass went up to him, and putting his feet upon the Farmer's shoulder attempted to climb into his lap.

农夫忍不住的笑起来，驴子便走到农夫那里提起前蹄，放在农夫的肩头上并试图爬到农夫的腿上。

The Farmer's servants rushed up with sticks and pitchforks and soon taught the Ass that .

农夫的雇工们连忙用木棒和干草耙子驱赶它。于是，驴便从中明白到，

Clumsy jesting is no joke.

不得体的玩笑开不得。