A Fly sat on one of the shafts of a cart and said to the Mule who was pulling it, “How slow you are! Do mend your pace, or I shall have to use my sting as a goad.” The Mule was not in the least disturbed. “Behind me, in the cart,” said he, “sits my master. He holds the reins, and flicks me with his whip, and him I obey, but I don't want any of your impertinence. I know when I may dawdle and when I may not.”
一只苍蝇停在一辆运货马车的车辕上，对拉车的骡子说：“你可真慢啊！走快点！不然我就用我的刺蜇你，就像用狼牙棒打你一样。”骡子对它不屑一顾。“我后面的车上坐的才是我的主人，他手拉着缰绳，向我轻挥马鞭，对他我唯命是从，但我可不在乎你的鲁莽无礼。我知道自己什么时候能混时间，什么时候要卖命工作。”