第7章 猫 Cat

猫和小鸟

The Cat and the Birds

一只猫听说鸟舍里的鸟生病了，于是就把自己装扮成医生，拿着自己的手杖和工具箱去拜访他们。他一边敲门，一边假装用关切的语气询问鸟儿们的身体状况，说道：“如果你们生病了，我非常乐意治疗你们的病痛，为你们服务。”聪明的鸟儿们回答道：“我们现在都很好，只要你赶快离开这里，我们以后还会更好。”

要时刻谨记自己的敌人。

A Cat hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician， and， taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession， went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did， saying that if they were ill， he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them.They replied， "We are all very well， and shall continue so， if you will only be good enough to go away， and leave us as we are."

Kown your enemies.

猫和维纳斯

The Cat and Venus

一只母猫爱上了一个英俊的男子，于是恳求维纳斯把她变成一个女人。维纳斯答应了她的请求，把她变成了一位美丽的少女。那位男子一看到她就深深地爱上了她。很快，母猫就成了男子的新娘。婚礼的当天晚上，他们一起斜躺在床上。维纳斯想看看母猫变成人之后生活习惯是否也发生了变化，就把一只老鼠放到了他们床中间。结果，母猫一看到老鼠，马上恢复了本性，一下子把老鼠抓住吃掉了。维纳斯看到后非常失望，仍旧把她变回了猫。

江山易改，本性难移。

A Cat fell in love with a handsome young man， and entreated Venus to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel， so that the youth saw her and loved her， and took her home as his bride.While the two were reclining in their chamber， Venus wishing to discover if the Cat in her change of shape had also altered her habits of life， let down a mouse in the middle of the room.The Cat， quite forgetting her present condition， started up from the couch and pursued the mouse， wishing to eat it.Venus was much disappointed and again caused her to return to her former shape.

Nature exceeds nurture.

猫和公鸡

The Cat and the Cock

猫逮到一只公鸡，就想找个冠冕堂皇的理由把鸡吃掉。于是，他就指责公鸡半夜鸣叫，打扰了人类，使他们晚上睡觉不踏实。公鸡为自己辩解：“我这样做是在提醒他们应该劳动了，这对人类是有益的。”猫回答道：“尽管你伶牙俐齿很会为自己辩解，可是你也不能让我饿肚子。”最终，猫还是把公鸡吃掉了。

坏人行凶作恶是不需要理由的。

A Cat caught a Cock， and pondered how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him of being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep.The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the benefit of men， that they might rise in time for their labors.The Cat replied， "Although you abound in specious apologies， I shall not remain supperless"； and he made a meal of him.

Tyrants need no excuse.

猫和老鼠

The Cat and the Mice

一所房子里鼠多为患。猫知道了这个情况后，便去了那所房子里，吃掉了一只又一只老鼠。老鼠们损失惨重，为了避免全军覆没，老鼠们纷纷躲藏在洞里，轻易不会出来。这样，猫就没办法捉到他们了。猫想来想去，只得用计谋把老鼠诱骗出来，于是，她找到一个挂钩，吊在上面装死。其中一只老鼠小心翼翼地探出头向外张望，看到猫的样子，说道：“嗨，亲爱的猫夫人，您还是不要白费心机了。即使您完全变成一只饭袋，我们也是不会靠近你的。”

吃一堑长一智。

A certain house was overrun with Mice. A Cat， discovering this， made her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one.Fearing for their lives， the Mice kept themselves close in their holes.The Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived that she must tempt them forth by some device.For this purpose she jumped upon a peg， and suspending herself from it， pretended to be dead.One of the Mice， peeping stealthily out， saw her and said， "Ah， my good madam， even though you should turn into a meal-bag， we will not come near you."

He who is once deceived is doubly cautious.