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。 |
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3.The Dog and the Shadow (狗和影子儿) 