An Ass and a Fox had become close comrades, and were constantly in each other’s company. While the Ass cropped a fresh bit of greens, the Fox would devour a chicken from the neighboring farmyard or a bit of cheese filched from the dairy. One day the pair unexpectedly met a Lion. The Ass was very much frightened. But the Fox calmed his fears.
 
驴子和狐狸成了很亲密的朋友，两个一直都形影不离。不过，驴子喜欢吃鲜嫩的青草，而狐狸则贪吃附近农家的小鸡，或是从奶品场偷来的奶酪。有一天，这对好朋友出乎意料地遇到了一头狮子。驴子害怕的瑟瑟发抖，而狐狸却压制住了自己的恐惧，镇定沉着。
 
“I will talk to him,” he said.
 
“我去和它谈谈。”狐狸说。
 
So the Fox walked boldly up to the Lion.
 
于是，它大胆的走向狮子。
 
“Your highness,” he said in an undertone, so the Ass could not hear him, “I’ve got a fine scheme in my head. If you promise not to hurt me, I will lead that foolish creature yonder into a pit where he can’t get out, and you can feast at your pleasure.”
 
“尊敬的阁下，”狐狸用低沉的声音说，这样驴子就没法听见，“我有一个很不错的计划。如果您答应不伤害我的话，我会将那边那头愚蠢的驴子，引到一个无法脱身的陷阱里面。这样，您就可以随心所欲的享用美餐了。”
 
The Lion agreed and the Fox returned to the Ass.
 
狮子应允了狐狸的建议。接着，狐狸就回到驴子身边。
 
“I made him promise not to hurt us,” said the Fox. “But come, I know a good place to hide till he is gone.”
 
“我说服了狮子，它答应不伤害我们。”狐狸说，“不过，跟我来，我知道一个很安全的地方，我们一直躲到它离开为止。”
 
So the Fox led the Ass into a deep pit. But when the Lion saw that the Ass was his for the taking, he first of all struck down the traitor Fox.   
 
于是，狐狸引着驴子进了一个很深的坑。然而，一看到驴子已经成了自己的囊中之物，狮子做的第一件事，就是杀死了背叛朋友的狐狸。
 
本故事重点英语词汇学习
 
devour 吞吃，破坏
filch 偷窃
bold 大胆的
traitor 叛徒，背叛者
treachery 背叛，变节
 
道理学习
 
Traitors may expect treachery.
背信弃义的人，也会受到别人的背弃。