THE WOLF AND THE LAMB

A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying from the flock, and felt some compunction about taking the life of so helpless a creature without some plausible excuse; so he cast about for a grievance and said at last, “Last year, sirrah, you grossly insulted me.” “That is impossible, sir,” bleated the Lamb, “for I wasn't born then.” “Well,” retorted the Wolf, “you feed in my pastures.” “That cannot be,” replied the Lamb, “for I have never yet tasted grass.” “You drink from my spring, then,” continued the Wolf. “Indeed, sir,” said the poor Lamb, “I have never yet drunk anything but my mother's milk.” “Well, anyhow,” said the Wolf, “I'm not going without my dinner.” And he sprang upon the Lamb and devoured it without more ado.

狼和小羊

一只狼遇上了一只离群的小羊，想要吃了他，却又觉得就这么毫无正当理由地夺走一条无辜无助的生命实在很说不过去。他绞尽脑汁，最后说：“小子，去年你严重羞辱了我。”“不可能啊，先生，”小羊说，“那时候我还没出生呢。”“呃，”狼反驳，“你在我的草场里吃了草。”“不是我啊，”小羊回答，“我长这么大还没尝过草是什么味道呢。”“那你喝了我的泉水。”狼继续指责道。“实际上，先生，”可怜的小羊说，“除了我妈妈的奶以外，我还从来没有喝过别的东西呢。”“算啦，不管怎么说，”狼说，“我可不能饿肚子。”说完他扑向小羊，直接狼吞虎咽地吃了起来。