The fox and the hedgehog 狐狸和刺猬（中英）

A Fox, in swimming across a rapid river, was swept away by the current and carried a long way downstream in spite of his struggles, until at last, bruised and exhausted, he managed to scramble on to dry ground from a backwater. As he lay there unable to move, a swarm of horseflies settled on him and sucked his blood undisturbed, for he was too weak even to shake them off. A Hedgehog saw him, and asked if he should brush away the flies that were tormenting him; but the Fox replied, “Oh, please, no, not on any account, for these flies have sucked their fi ll and are taking very little from me now; but, if you drive them off, another swarm of hungry one swill come and suck all the blood I have left, and leave me without a drop in my veins.”

一只狐狸正在渡过一条水流湍急的河，尽管他努力挣扎着，可依然被水流冲到了远处的河下游。后来，遍体鳞伤的他精疲力竭，想尽一切办法从水中爬回到了一块干燥的土地上，躺在那里一动也不能动。这时，一群饥饿的马蝇叮满了他的全身，泰然自若地吮吸着他的血。因为狐狸实在太虚弱，根本无法抖落这些马蝇。一只刺猬看见了他，并问他是否应该赶走这些害他的马蝇。但是，狐狸却回答说：“不用啦，坚决不要打扰他们，因为这些马蝇已经吃饱，不再叮咬我了；假如你把它们都赶走了，另外一群饥饿的马蝇就会过来，继续吸取我体内剩余的血，这样就会吸干血管里的血。”