雙語·《伊索寓言》 公牛和屠夫

THE OXEN AND THE BUTCHERS

Once upon a time the Oxen determined to be revenged upon the Butchers for the havoc they wrought in their ranks, and plotted to put them to death on a given day. They were all gathered together discussing how best to carry out the plan, and the more violent of them were engaged in sharpening their horns for the fray, when an old Ox got up upon his feet and said, “My brothers, you have good reason, I know, to hate these Butchers, but, at any rate, they understand their trade and do what they have to do without causing unnecessary pain. But if we kill them, others, who have no experience, will be set to slaughter us, and will by their bungling inflict great sufferings upon us. For you may be sure that, even though all the Butchers perish, mankind will never go without their beef.”

公牛和屠夫

從前，有一群公牛決定報復(fù)給他們的種群帶來浩劫的屠夫，計劃在某一天將所有的屠夫都殺死。他們聚在一起，想討論出一個最佳的計劃。性子狂暴的公牛都開始磨礪自己的犄角了。這時一頭老公牛站出來說：“兄弟們，我知道，你們恨屠夫是有正當(dāng)且充分的理由的，但是，不管怎么說，他們熟悉自己的行當(dāng)，從來都不會引起我們不必要的痛苦。但如果我們把他們給殺了，之后再來殺我們的就是那些沒有經(jīng)驗的人，他們會笨手笨腳，給我們帶來很多痛苦。你們肯定明白，即便屠夫都死了，人類也不可能放棄吃牛肉。”