7.The Ass and the Lapdog
(Townsend 41 = Perry 91)
A man had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat.
The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back.
The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented, “I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”
★To be satisfied with one’s lot is better than to desire something which one is not fitted to receive.
7.驢和寵物狗
有個人養了一頭驢和一隻十分好看的馬爾他寵物狗。驢住在牲口棚裡，有充足的燕麥和乾草吃，這和其他的驢並無不同。而那隻寵物狗特別會討主人的歡心，主人時常逗他玩耍，幾乎每次出去參加宴會，都會給寵物狗帶些美味的食物回來。
而驢，正好相反，每天都不辭辛苦地拉磨，還得到樹林中去運木頭，或者到農場去馱東西。驢時常感歎自己命運悲慘，希望過寵物狗那樣奢侈安逸的生活。終於有一天，驢脫去韁繩，像箭一般地跑到主人的屋子裡，又蹦又跳，還不斷地擺尾巴。他想像寵物狗那樣在主人跟前跳幾下，卻一腳踢倒了桌子，桌上的杯盤摔得粉碎。接著，驢想去舔他的主人，卻一下子竄上了主人的後背。
僕人們聽到怪異的喧鬧聲，以為主人遭遇危險，馬上跑過來救他。 他們一路上棍棒交加、連踢帶踹地把驢弄回了牲口棚。被打得奄奄一息的驢悲歎道：「我真是自討苦吃。我和夥伴們天天努力工作，不是挺好的嗎？為何偏偏想去做一隻整天虛度光陰、一無用處的小狗呢？」
★滿足於現狀好過整天幻想。
8.The Ass and His Masters
(Townsend 126 = Perry 179)
An Ass, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner. The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning, “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
★He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another.
8.驢和他的主人們
驢的主人是個草藥販子，他總是讓驢吃得很少，卻要幹很多活兒。 驢就請求朱比特給他換個主人。朱比特警告他道，他會為此感到後悔的，但還是設法把驢轉賣給了一個製瓦工。驢到了磚場後不久就發現，自己拉的車更加重，活也更加多了。接著他又懇求朱庇特給他再換個主人。朱比特告訴驢說，這是他最後一次同意驢的請求了，於是就下令又把驢賣給了一個皮匠。驢發現沒有比落到這個主人手裡更悲慘的了，於是悲哀地感慨道：「我不管在以前的主人那兒挨餓，還是在前一個主人那裡幹重活兒，也都比被如今的主人買來好得多，他在我死了以後還要剝掉我的皮來利用我。
」
★一處不滿意，處處不滿意。
9.Asses to Jupiter
(L’Estrange 191 = Perry 185)
The Asses found themselves once so Intolerably Oppressed with cruel Masters and heavy Burdens, that they sent their Ambassadors to Jupiter, with a Petition for Redress. Jupiter found the Request Unreasonable, and so gave them this Answer, That Humane Society could not be preserved without carrying Burdens some way or other：So that if they would but join, and Piss up a River, that the Burdens which they now carried by Land might be carried by Water, they should be Eas’d of that Grievance. This set them all a Pissing immediately, and the Humour is kept up to this very Day, that whenever One Ass Pisses, the rest Piss for Company.
★Tis the uttermost degree of Madness and Folly ,to Appeal from Providence and Nature.
9.向朱比特請願的驢
從前，驢覺得自己再也無法忍受殘酷的主人和沉重的負荷，於是他們便派使者去見朱比特，請求朱比特免去他們的勞苦。對這個無理的要求，朱比特回答道，要是不用這樣或那樣的方式減輕人類的負擔，人類社會就會滅亡；所以，如果他們能夠團結起來撒尿成河，那麼到時候，他們現在在陸地上所背負的重荷就能用河水來運輸，他們也就能脫離苦海了。一聽這話，所有的驢立馬都撒了一泡尿。直到現在，只要看見有一頭驢撒尿，其餘的驢都會和他一起撒尿。
★只有最愚蠢最不理智的人才會求助老天或外界的力量來改變自己的命運。
10.The Ass and the Mule
(Townsend 50 = Perry 181)
A Muleteer set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself, “I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.”
★An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
10.驢和騾子
有個趕騾子的人，驅趕著一頭驢跟一頭騾子上路，牲畜都馱著沉重的貨物。在平地上驢走得無比輕鬆，可是一旦爬上險峻的山路，驢就馱不動了。驢請求騾子替他馱一小部分東西，以便自己能馱著其他的貨物接著往前走。但是騾子對驢的請求不理不睬。過了一會兒，驢不堪重負，從山上跌落下去，摔死了。在那種荒山野嶺的地方，趕騾人別無他法，只得把驢馱的東西加在了騾子的背上，並且還把剝下的驢皮放在最上面。騾子被壓得喘不過氣來，對自己說道：「我真是自作自受！如果在驢需要的時候我稍稍地幫他一下，如今就不至於既得馱著他的貨物，還得帶著他的皮了。」
★預防一分勝於十分的補救。
11.The Ass and the Old Shepherd
(Townsend 169 = Perry 476)
A Shepherd, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal lazily replied, “Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?” “No,” rejoined the Shepherd. “Then,” said the Ass, “as long as I carry the panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?”
★In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master.
11.驢和老牧人
有個牧人正看著他的驢在草地上吃草，突然傳來敵人的廝殺聲，牧人大驚失色，趕緊讓驢跟他一起逃跑，以免他們都被捉住。但是驢不緊不慢地回答說：「為什麼我要逃?難道你覺得我被他們捉住之後，他們還會在我背上擱上兩副馱籃？」牧人說道：「不會。」驢說：「既然這樣，反正我是得背馱籃的，為誰背又有什麼關係呢？」
★朝代更替之時，窮人改變的只是主子的姓名。
12.The Ass and His Purchaser
(Townsend 255 = Perry 237)
A man wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all.
Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, “I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion.”
★A man is known by the company he keeps.
12.驢和買主
有人想買頭驢，跟驢的主人商量好，在買之前得把牲口拉出去試 一試。他把驢帶到了家裡，把他和自家的驢一塊關在圍欄裡。這驢不同其他的驢在一塊，卻馬上走過去和一頭最好吃懶做的驢站到了一塊。
發現是如此情形，買驢人給驢戴上轡頭，領回去交還給了他的主人。驢主人問道：「怎麼能在如此短的時間內試出驢的性情呢？」買驢人答覆道：「沒有必要試了，看他選擇了怎樣的朋友，就清楚他是什麼樣的了。」
★透過一個人所結交的朋友，就能知道此人的品行。
(Townsend 41 = Perry 91)
A man had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat.
The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back.
The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented, “I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”
★To be satisfied with one’s lot is better than to desire something which one is not fitted to receive.
7.驢和寵物狗
有個人養了一頭驢和一隻十分好看的馬爾他寵物狗。驢住在牲口棚裡，有充足的燕麥和乾草吃，這和其他的驢並無不同。而那隻寵物狗特別會討主人的歡心，主人時常逗他玩耍，幾乎每次出去參加宴會，都會給寵物狗帶些美味的食物回來。
而驢，正好相反，每天都不辭辛苦地拉磨，還得到樹林中去運木頭，或者到農場去馱東西。驢時常感歎自己命運悲慘，希望過寵物狗那樣奢侈安逸的生活。終於有一天，驢脫去韁繩，像箭一般地跑到主人的屋子裡，又蹦又跳，還不斷地擺尾巴。他想像寵物狗那樣在主人跟前跳幾下，卻一腳踢倒了桌子，桌上的杯盤摔得粉碎。接著，驢想去舔他的主人，卻一下子竄上了主人的後背。
僕人們聽到怪異的喧鬧聲，以為主人遭遇危險，馬上跑過來救他。 他們一路上棍棒交加、連踢帶踹地把驢弄回了牲口棚。被打得奄奄一息的驢悲歎道：「我真是自討苦吃。我和夥伴們天天努力工作，不是挺好的嗎？為何偏偏想去做一隻整天虛度光陰、一無用處的小狗呢？」
★滿足於現狀好過整天幻想。
8.The Ass and His Masters
(Townsend 126 = Perry 179)
An Ass, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner. The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning, “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”
★He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another.
8.驢和他的主人們
驢的主人是個草藥販子，他總是讓驢吃得很少，卻要幹很多活兒。 驢就請求朱比特給他換個主人。朱比特警告他道，他會為此感到後悔的，但還是設法把驢轉賣給了一個製瓦工。驢到了磚場後不久就發現，自己拉的車更加重，活也更加多了。接著他又懇求朱庇特給他再換個主人。朱比特告訴驢說，這是他最後一次同意驢的請求了，於是就下令又把驢賣給了一個皮匠。驢發現沒有比落到這個主人手裡更悲慘的了，於是悲哀地感慨道：「我不管在以前的主人那兒挨餓，還是在前一個主人那裡幹重活兒，也都比被如今的主人買來好得多，他在我死了以後還要剝掉我的皮來利用我。
」
★一處不滿意，處處不滿意。
9.Asses to Jupiter
(L’Estrange 191 = Perry 185)
The Asses found themselves once so Intolerably Oppressed with cruel Masters and heavy Burdens, that they sent their Ambassadors to Jupiter, with a Petition for Redress. Jupiter found the Request Unreasonable, and so gave them this Answer, That Humane Society could not be preserved without carrying Burdens some way or other：So that if they would but join, and Piss up a River, that the Burdens which they now carried by Land might be carried by Water, they should be Eas’d of that Grievance. This set them all a Pissing immediately, and the Humour is kept up to this very Day, that whenever One Ass Pisses, the rest Piss for Company.
★Tis the uttermost degree of Madness and Folly ,to Appeal from Providence and Nature.
9.向朱比特請願的驢
從前，驢覺得自己再也無法忍受殘酷的主人和沉重的負荷，於是他們便派使者去見朱比特，請求朱比特免去他們的勞苦。對這個無理的要求，朱比特回答道，要是不用這樣或那樣的方式減輕人類的負擔，人類社會就會滅亡；所以，如果他們能夠團結起來撒尿成河，那麼到時候，他們現在在陸地上所背負的重荷就能用河水來運輸，他們也就能脫離苦海了。一聽這話，所有的驢立馬都撒了一泡尿。直到現在，只要看見有一頭驢撒尿，其餘的驢都會和他一起撒尿。
★只有最愚蠢最不理智的人才會求助老天或外界的力量來改變自己的命運。
10.The Ass and the Mule
(Townsend 50 = Perry 181)
A Muleteer set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself, “I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.”
★An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
10.驢和騾子
有個趕騾子的人，驅趕著一頭驢跟一頭騾子上路，牲畜都馱著沉重的貨物。在平地上驢走得無比輕鬆，可是一旦爬上險峻的山路，驢就馱不動了。驢請求騾子替他馱一小部分東西，以便自己能馱著其他的貨物接著往前走。但是騾子對驢的請求不理不睬。過了一會兒，驢不堪重負，從山上跌落下去，摔死了。在那種荒山野嶺的地方，趕騾人別無他法，只得把驢馱的東西加在了騾子的背上，並且還把剝下的驢皮放在最上面。騾子被壓得喘不過氣來，對自己說道：「我真是自作自受！如果在驢需要的時候我稍稍地幫他一下，如今就不至於既得馱著他的貨物，還得帶著他的皮了。」
★預防一分勝於十分的補救。
11.The Ass and the Old Shepherd
(Townsend 169 = Perry 476)
A Shepherd, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal lazily replied, “Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?” “No,” rejoined the Shepherd. “Then,” said the Ass, “as long as I carry the panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?”
★In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master.
11.驢和老牧人
有個牧人正看著他的驢在草地上吃草，突然傳來敵人的廝殺聲，牧人大驚失色，趕緊讓驢跟他一起逃跑，以免他們都被捉住。但是驢不緊不慢地回答說：「為什麼我要逃?難道你覺得我被他們捉住之後，他們還會在我背上擱上兩副馱籃？」牧人說道：「不會。」驢說：「既然這樣，反正我是得背馱籃的，為誰背又有什麼關係呢？」
★朝代更替之時，窮人改變的只是主子的姓名。
12.The Ass and His Purchaser
(Townsend 255 = Perry 237)
A man wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all.
Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, “I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion.”
★A man is known by the company he keeps.
12.驢和買主
有人想買頭驢，跟驢的主人商量好，在買之前得把牲口拉出去試 一試。他把驢帶到了家裡，把他和自家的驢一塊關在圍欄裡。這驢不同其他的驢在一塊，卻馬上走過去和一頭最好吃懶做的驢站到了一塊。
發現是如此情形，買驢人給驢戴上轡頭，領回去交還給了他的主人。驢主人問道：「怎麼能在如此短的時間內試出驢的性情呢？」買驢人答覆道：「沒有必要試了，看他選擇了怎樣的朋友，就清楚他是什麼樣的了。」
★透過一個人所結交的朋友，就能知道此人的品行。
