雙語·《伊索寓言》 毒蛇和銼刀

THE VIPER AND THE FILE

A Viper entered a carpenter's shop, and went from one to another of the tools, begging for something to eat. Among the rest, he addressed himself to the File, and asked for the favour of a meal. The File replied in a tone of pitying contempt, “What a simpleton you must be if you imagine you will get anything from me, who invariably take from every one and never give anything in return.”

The covetous are poor givers.

毒蛇和銼刀

有一條毒蛇進入了一個木匠的店鋪，在各種工具中爬來爬去，求他們給他些東西吃。他對一把銼刀說，希望能夠嘗嘗飯的美味。銼刀以一種憐憫而輕蔑的語氣回答：“你可真是個傻瓜，居然覺得能從我這兒找到東西，要知道我可是從其他所有人那兒拿東西，從來都不回報的。”

訓誡：貪婪者往往吝嗇。