双语·《伊索寓言》 公牛和屠夫

THE OXEN AND THE BUTCHERS

Once upon a time the Oxen determined to be revenged upon the Butchers for the havoc they wrought in their ranks, and plotted to put them to death on a given day. They were all gathered together discussing how best to carry out the plan, and the more violent of them were engaged in sharpening their horns for the fray, when an old Ox got up upon his feet and said, “My brothers, you have good reason, I know, to hate these Butchers, but, at any rate, they understand their trade and do what they have to do without causing unnecessary pain. But if we kill them, others, who have no experience, will be set to slaughter us, and will by their bungling inflict great sufferings upon us. For you may be sure that, even though all the Butchers perish, mankind will never go without their beef.”

公牛和屠夫

从前，有一群公牛决定报复给他们的种群带来浩劫的屠夫，计划在某一天将所有的屠夫都杀死。他们聚在一起，想讨论出一个最佳的计划。性子狂暴的公牛都开始磨砺自己的犄角了。这时一头老公牛站出来说：“兄弟们，我知道，你们恨屠夫是有正当且充分的理由的，但是，不管怎么说，他们熟悉自己的行当，从来都不会引起我们不必要的痛苦。但如果我们把他们给杀了，之后再来杀我们的就是那些没有经验的人，他们会笨手笨脚，给我们带来很多痛苦。你们肯定明白，即便屠夫都死了，人类也不可能放弃吃牛肉。”