The Bear and the Two Travelers 朋友與熊
TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met themon their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a treeand concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that hemust be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear cameup and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he heldhis breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as hecould. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch adead body. When he was quite gone, the other Traveler descended fromthe tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the Bearhad whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," hiscompanion replied. "Never travel with a friend who deserts youat the approach of danger."
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
兩個平常非常要好的朋友一道上路。途中，突然遇到一頭大熊，其中的一個立即閃電般地搶先爬上了樹，躲了起來，而另一個眼見逃生無望，便靈機一動馬上躺倒在地上，緊緊地屏住呼吸，假裝死了。據說，熊從來不吃死人。熊走到他跟前，用鼻子在他臉上嗅了嗅，轉身就走了。躲在樹上的人下來後，問熊在他耳邊說了些什麼。那人委婉地回答說：“熊告訴我，今後千萬注意，別和那些不能共患難的朋友一起同行。”
這故事說明，不能共患難的人不是真正的朋友。
