A Man once caught a Weasel, which was always sneaking about the house, and was just going to drown it in a tub of water, when it begged hard for its life, and said to him, “Surely you haven't the heart to put me to death? Think how useful I have been in clearing your house of the mice and lizards which used to infest it, and show your gratitude by sparing my life.” “You have not been altogether useless, I grant you,” said the Man, “but who killed the fowls? Who stole the meat? No, no! You do much more harm than good, and die you shall.”
有一个人抓住了一只黄鼠狼，那只黄鼠狼一直在他家房子周围窥探。这人想把黄鼠狼压入水盆中淹死，黄鼠狼向人求情道：“你要把我杀死，还有没有良心啊？你想想我有多大用处啊，把在你房子里面捣蛋的老鼠和蜥蜴都替你清理干净了，你应该饶了我的命，来报答我。”“我承认你的确不是一无是处，但是谁把鸡给杀了的？是谁偷了肉的？不，不！你的害处比好处大多了，你必须得死！”