THE MICE AND THE WEASELS

There was war between the Mice and the Weasels, in which the Mice always got the worst of it, numbers of them being killed and eaten by the Weasels. So they called a council of war, in which an old Mouse got up and said, “It's no wonder we are always beaten, for we have no generals to plan our battles and direct our movements in the field.” Acting on his advice, they chose the biggest Mice to be their leaders, and these, in order to be distinguished from the rank and file, provided themselves with helmets bearing large plumes of straw. They then led out the Mice to battle, confident of victory: but they were defeated as usual, and were soon scampering as fast as they could to their holes. All made their way to safety without difficulty except the leaders, who were so hampered by the badges of their rank that they could not get into their holes, and fell easy victims to their pursuers.

Greatness carries its own penalties.

老鼠和黄鼠狼

老鼠和黄鼠狼之间爆发了一场战争，老鼠伤亡惨重，很多都被黄鼠狼给吃掉了。于是他们召集成立了一个战争委员会，会上，一只老鼠发言：“我们总是失败这并不奇怪，因为我们没有将军指挥战斗和行动。”为了响应他的建议，老鼠们选举出体形最大的一批老鼠担任首领。而为了让这些将军老鼠区别于其他普通老鼠，老鼠们给他们提供了用很多草编成的厚头盔。这些将军带着老鼠去战斗，自信满满，却还是落败。老鼠们全都惊慌失措地跑向自己的洞，大家都成功逃脱，只有那些将军们，被头上的等级标志妨碍，全都没有办法进入洞中，被追捕者轻而易举逮到，成了受害者。

训诫：大者有时无当，反受其害。