THE OLD LION
A Lion, enfeebled by age and no longer able to procure food for himself by force, determined to do so by cunning. Betaking himself to a cave, he lay down inside and feigned to be sick: and whenever any of the other animals entered to inquire after his health, he sprang upon them and devoured them. Many lost their lives in this way, till one day a Fox called at the cave, and, having a suspicion of the truth, addressed the Lion from outside instead of going in, and asked him how he did. He replied that he was in a very bad way: “But,” said he, “why do you stand outside? Pray come in.” “I should have done so,” answered the Fox, “if I hadn't noticed that all the footprints point towards the cave and none the other way.”
老狮子
有一只狮子,年老体衰,再也没有办法依靠力量去捕猎获得食物,于是便决定依靠狡诈来填饱肚子。他来到一个洞穴,躺在里面,假装生病了,如果有其他动物过来问候他,他便一跃而起,扑过去将他们吞下。大部分动物都因此丧生。有一天,一只狐狸来到山洞,问他身体怎样了。他说自己很不好。“你为什么站在外面呢?请你进来吧。”“我可能已经进去了,”狐狸回答,“如果我没有看到所有的脚印都是向着山洞的,却没有出来的。”