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一只狐狸掉进了井里，紧紧地抓着井壁水面上的一些树根。一只狼经过，看到了他，说道：“嘿！你掉到井里了？” “我掉进来是有目的的，而且我也有办法出去。"狐狸说。 "什么意思？”狼说。 ‘嗨，”狐狸说，“现在全国上下一片干旱，住在这附近的成千上万的人要解渴只有靠这口井了。他们举行了个会议，要求我保持这水位不下降。因此我是为大众的利益而坚持的。” "你会得到什么好处呢？”狼问。 "他们会给我养老金，而且我每天也不用为了寻找食物到处奔波了，更不用提给我的那些数不清的特权了 ！还有我不会每天都待在这儿的，我已经让我的一个亲戚——我告诉了他保持水位的秘密——让他不时来替换我一下。当然了，他也会得到养老金，还有其他特权。他一会儿就来。” “噢，那么我可以替你吗？我也可以得到那些养老金和一些特权吗？你知道我的运气有多差，尤其是在冬天。” “当然了 ！"狐狸说，“但是必须找一条长绳子，那样我就可以上去，你也可以下来。” 于是狼找来一条绳子，狐狸上来了，狼下去了。狐狸看到这一切笑着说：“亲爱的先生，你恐怕要一直待在这儿直到世界末日了，或者一直等到井的主人把你的尸体扔出来！ ”说完，狐狸就离开了。 "天啊！”狼说,“贪婪有贪婪的报应啊丨”但是已经太晚了。 The Fox in the Well A fox fell into a well, and was holding hard to some roots at the side of it, just above the water. A wolf who was passing by saw him, and said, “Hello, Reynard, after all you have fallen into a well!” “But not without a purpose, and not without the means of getting out of it. ” said the fox. “What do you mean?” said the wolf. “Why,” said the fox, “there is a drought all over the country now, and the water in this well is the only means of appeasing the thirst of the thousands that live in this neighborhood. They held a meeting, and requested me to keep the water from going down lower； so I am holding it up for the public good. ” “What will be your reward?” said the wolf. “They will give me a pension, and save me the trouble of going about every day in quest of food, not to speak of innumerable other privileges that will be granted me. Further ，I am not to stay here all day. I have asked a kinsman of mine, to whom I have communicated the secret of holding up the water, to relieve me from time to time. Of course he will also get a pension, and have other privileges. I expect him here shortly.，’ “Ah, Reynard, may I relieve you, then? May I hope to get a pension, and other privileges? You know what a sad lot is mine, especially in winter. ” “Certainly，” said the fox, “but you must get a long rope, that I may come up and let you in. ” So the wolf got a rope. Up came the fox, and down went the wolf, when the former observed, with a laugh, “My dear sir, you may remain there till doomsday, or till the owner of the well throws up your carcass. ” With that the fox left the place. “Alas!” said the wolf, when it was too late, “Greed hath its meed!” |
