THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG

There was once a Dog who used to snap at people and bite them without any provocation, and who was a great nuisance to every one who came to his master’s house. So his master fastened a bell round his neck to warn people of his presence. The Dog was very proud of the bell,and strutted about tinkling it with immense satisfaction. But an old dog came up to him and said, “The fewer airs you give yourself the better,my friend. You don’t think, do you, that your bell was given you as a reward of merit? On the contrary, it is a badge of disgrace.”

从前，有一条狗经常无缘无故地抓人、咬人，去他主人家做客的每个人都很讨厌他。主人在他的脖子上系了一个铃铛，以此提醒人们提防他的出现。这条狗对脖子上戴着的铃铛引以为傲，大摇大摆地戴着它走来走去，十分满意这种叮当声。但是，一条老狗却走过来对他说：“我的朋友，姿态越低，对你越好。你不会真的以为这个铃铛是对你的奖赏吧？事实恰恰相反，它是耻辱的标志呀。”