獅子，老鼠，狐貍 The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox

 

    A LION, fatigued by the heat of a summer's day, fell fast asleep in his den.  A Mouse ran over his mane and ears and woke him from his slumbers.  He rose up and shook himself in great wrath, and searched every corner of his den to find the Mouse.  A Fox seeing him said:  "A fine Lion you are, to be frightened of a Mouse."

"'Tis not the Mouse I fear," said the Lion; "I resent his familiarity and ill-breeding."  

    Little liberties are great offenses. 

    酷熱的天氣使獅子疲憊不堪，他躺在洞中酣睡。一只老鼠從他的鬃毛和耳朵上跑過，將他從夢中吵醒。獅子大怒，爬起來搖擺著身子，四處尋找老鼠。狐貍見到后說：“你是一只威嚴(yán)的獅子，也被老鼠嚇怕了。”獅子說：“我并不怕老鼠，只是恨他放肆和無禮。”

    這是說，有時候一點點小小的自由都是很大的冒犯。