The Wolf And The House Dog

狼和家犬

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

There was once a Wolf who got very little to eat because the Dogs of the village were so wide awake and watchful. He was really nothing but skin and bones, and it made him very downhearted to think of it.

從前，有一隻狼幾乎找不到吃的，因為村子裡的狗非常機警。他可真是餓得皮包骨頭了，想起這事就令他心情沮喪。

One night this Wolf happened to fall in with a fine fat House Dog who had wandered a little too far from home. The Wolf would gladly have eaten him then and there, but the House Dog looked strong enough to leave his marks should he try it. So the Wolf spoke very humbly to the Dog, complimenting him on his fine appearance.

某天晚上，這隻狼碰巧遇到了一隻又肥又壯離家較遠的家犬。狼就很想當場吃掉它，不過這隻家犬看起來很強壯，要是他膽敢一試的話，免不了要留下痕跡。於是，他就十分謙卑地和狗攀談，並誇讚它那英俊瀟灑的身材。

"You can be as well-fed as I am if you want to," replied the Dog. "Leave the woods; there you live miserably. Why, you have to fight hard for every bite you get. Follow my example and you will get along beautifully."

“如果你願意的話，也會得到很好的食物，”狗兒答道。“離開森林吧；你這樣的生活太過悽苦。嚄，每一口食物你都不得不努力爭鬥。學學我，你會過的很滋潤。”

"What must I do?" asked the Wolf.

“我需要怎麼做呢？”狼問道。

"Hardly anything," answered the House Dog. "Chase people who carry canes, bark at beggars, and fawn on the people of the house. In return you will get tidbits of every kind, chicken bones, choice bits of meat, sugar, cake, and much more beside, not to speak of kind words and caresses."

“幾乎不用做什麼，”狗兒說道。“把手持木棍的人和流浪漢趕走，並討好主人。這樣你就會得到各種各樣的珍饈美味，雞骨頭、精選的肉塊、糖、蛋糕等等，更不用說親切的話語和愛撫了。”

The Wolf had such a beautiful vision of his coming happiness that he almost wept. But just then he noticed that the hair on the Dog's neck was worn and the skin was chafed.

狼對自己即將到來的幸福有著如此美好的憧憬，這令他他幾乎要哭了。但就在這時，他注意到狗脖子上的毛已經磨破了，皮膚也擦傷了。

"What is that on your neck?"

“你的脖子上是什麼？”

"Nothing at all," replied the Dog.

“沒什麼啊，”狗兒答道。

"What! nothing!"

“啥！這還沒什麼？”

"Oh, just a trifle!"

“噢，區區小事！”

"But please tell me."

“不過，還請你如實相告。”

"Perhaps you see the mark of the collar to which my chain is fastened."

“也許你看到了用鏈子拴在我脖子上的項圈的記號。”

"What! A chain!" cried the Wolf. "Don't you go wherever you please?"

“什麼!一條鏈子!”狼叫道。“不能你想去哪兒就去哪兒嗎?”

"Not always! But what's the difference?" replied the Dog.

“也不總是這樣!但是有什麼區別呢?”狗回答說。

"All the difference in the world! I don't care a rap for your feasts and I wouldn't take all the tender young lambs in the world at that price." And away ran the Wolf to the woods.

“真是天壤之別!我一點也不在乎你的佳餚，我也不願意以這個價錢把世界上所有的嫩羊羔都買下來。”狼接著就跑到樹林裡去了。

There is nothing worth so much as liberty.

寓意：自由無價。（直譯為：沒有什麼比自由更有價值。）