The Goatherd And The Wild Goats

牧羊人和野山羊

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

One cold stormy day a Goatherd drove his Goats for shelter into a cave, where a number of Wild Goats had also found their way. The Shepherd wanted to make the Wild Goats part of his flock; so he fed them well. But to his own flock, he gave only just enough food to keep them alive. When the weather cleared, and the Shepherd led the Goats out to feed, the Wild Goats scampered off to the hills.

大約在冬季的一天，天寒地凍、風雪交加，一個牧羊人趕著他的山羊走進一個洞穴以求庇護。巧的是，一群野山羊也在這個洞裡避難。牧羊人呢，就想把這群野山羊也收入麾下；於是，他就好好地招待了它們一頓。不過呢，對他自己的那群羊，他僅餵了點足夠保命的食物。當風雪過後，豔陽高照，牧羊人就把這些羊都趕出去覓食，不過，那群野山羊卻蹦蹦跳跳地跑進山裡去了。

"Is that the thanks I get for feeding you and treating you so well?" complained the Shepherd.

“這就是我好心好意好吃好喝款待你們所得到的回報嗎？”牧羊人抱怨著說。

"Do not expect us to join your flock," replied one of the Wild Goats. "We know how you would treat us later on, if some strangers should come as we did."

“我們可不想跟你一起回去，”其中一隻野山羊答道。“我們很清楚，跟你回去後如果又遇到一群陌生的羊，你又會怎樣對待我們。”

It is unwise to treat old friends badly for the sake of new ones.

正所謂：喜新厭舊不明智。