The Farmer and the Stork 農夫和鸛
A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught anumber of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With themhe trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net andwas earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. "Praysave me, Master," he said, "and let me go free this once.My broken limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I ama Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and slavefor my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers-- they are notthe least like those of a Crane." The Farmer laughed aloud andsaid, "It may be all as you say, I only know this: I have takenyou with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in theircompany."
農夫在剛剛播種的田裡布下許多網，許多來吃種子的鶴都被捉住了，並捉到一隻鸛，鸛 的腿被網折斷了，它哀求農夫說：“饒了我吧，可憐可憐我吧。我又不是鶴，而是一隻鸛， 我是性情優美的鳥。你瞧，我多麼孝順父母，為他們辛勤勞作，再仔細看看我的羽毛，與鶴 也完全不同。”農夫大笑說：“你說的話也許不錯；但我只知道，你和這些偷吃種子的鶴一起被捉到，那末你就得和他們一起死。”
這是說人們切莫與壞人交朋友。
