05 伊索寓言The Wolf and the Lamb

Asa wolf was drinking at the head of a running brookhe saw a stray lamb paddlingat some distance down the stream. Having made up his mindto eat her for his supper, he wondered what excuse he could make for a quarrel.

“Villain!” said he, running up to her, “how dareyou spoil the water that I am drinking?”

“Indeed,” said the lambhumbly, “I do not see how I can spoil the water, since it runs from you to me,not from me to you.”

“That is all verywell,” replied the wolf; “it is but a yearsince you called me many nasty names!”

“Oh, sir,” said thelamb, trembling, “a year ago I was not born!”

“Well,” replied thewolf, “if it was not you, it was your father, and that is all the same; but itis no use trying to talk me out of my supper”; and without another word fellupon the poor helpless lamb and tore her to pieces.

The tyrant will always find an excusewhenhe would injure the innocent.