牧羊人和狼

by Aesop

出自《伊索寓言》

A Shepherd found a Wolf's Cub straying in the pastures, and took him home and reared him along with his dogs.

一个牧羊人发现草场里有一只狼的幼崽在游荡，就把它带回了家，和他的狗狗一起养。

When the Cub grew to his full size, if ever a wolf stole a sheep from the flock, he used to join the dogs in hunting him down.

当这幼崽长大成年后，要是有狼跑来羊群中偷羊，它常常和那些狗一起围猎那头狼。

It sometimes happened that the dogs failed to come up with the thief, and, abandoning the pursuit, returned home.

有时候，会有那些狗追不上偷羊贼的情况，它们就会放弃追捕回了家。

The Wolf would on such occasions continue the chase by himself, and when he overtook the culprit, would stop and share the feast with him, and then return to the Shepherd.

这种情况下，这头狼就会独自继续追捕，但当它追上偷羊贼的时候，就会停下来和它共享美餐，之后再回到牧羊人身边。

But if some time passed without a sheep being carried off by the wolves, he would steal one himself and share his plunder with the dogs.

不过，要是一段时间里没有羊被叼走，那头狼就会亲自去偷羊，并与那些狗分享它的战利品。

The Shepherd's suspicions were aroused, and one day he caught him in the act; and, fastening a rope round his neck, hung him on the nearest tree.

牧羊人渐渐起了疑心，知道有一天那头狼又去偷羊的时候，他抓了个现行；接着，他就用一根绳子绑着它的脖子，就近吊死了。

What's bred in the bone is sure to come out in the flesh.

寓意：江山易改本性难移。