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赶骡人又开始了一次长途贩运,这次他赶着一头驴和一头骡子，都背负大量辎重。走平地的时候,驴子虽重担在身却也应付自如;但遇到山路开始爬坡时，便明显感到力不可支。它祈求同伴帮它分担一些货物，否则它会支撑不住,被压成肉饼。可是，骡子对这个请求充耳不闻。没过一会儿，驴子倒地而亡。 因为再没有别的牲口来替换驴子，赶骡人只好把驴子驮的货物连同骡子原有的货物都加在骡子背上。这还不算,他还把死驴开膛破肚，将剥下的驴皮搭在了最上面。 骡子如遭泰山压顶一般哀叹道：“我真是自作自受啊！干吗刚才不帮驴兄一把呢？哪怕只帮它驮一点点，也不至于像现在这样！不仅驮着自己的一份、它的那一份，还要加上它的驴皮。” Ass and Mule A muleteer set forth again on a journey. There was an ass and a mule before him. They were both well laden. The ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease. When he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, he felt his load to be more than he could bear. He begged his companion to relieve him of a small portion, or he would be crashed by the baggage；but the mule paid no attention to the request. Then a short time later, the ass fell down and was dead. Because there was no other mule or ass to load these luggage，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. ” |
