The foxes and the river 狐狸与河（中英）

A number of Foxes assembled on the bank of a river and wanted to drink; but the current was so strong and the water looked so deep and dangerous that they didn’t dare to do so, but stood near the edge encouraging one another not to be afraid. At last one of them, to shame the rest, and show how brave he was, said, “I am not a bit frightened! See, I’ll step right into the water!” He had no sooner done so than the current swept him off his feet. When the others saw him being carried down-stream they cried, “Don’t go and leave us! Come back and show us where we too can drink with safety.” But he replied, “I’m afraid I can’t yet: I want to go to the seaside, and this current will take me there nicely. When I come back I’ll show you with pleasure.” 

一群狐狸聚集在河畔，想要喝河里的水。但是，河里的水流很急，而河水似乎又很深、很危险，于是，他们都不敢下去喝水，只是站在河边，鼓动其他不害怕的狐狸下去喝水。其中有一只狐狸，嘲笑同伴们太胆小，为显示自己的勇敢，他说道：“我才不害怕呢！看吧，我马上就走进河里去！”他刚步入河中，就被湍急的河水冲得站不稳脚跟。眼看他就要被河水冲到下游去了，站在河边的其他狐狸冲他大喊：“别走呀，不要留下我们！快回来，告诉我们从哪里可以安全地下去喝水。”然而，被水冲走的狐狸却回答说：“恐怕我不能回去了，我想到海边去，河水会带我过去的。等我回来后，再告诉你们吧。”