第10章 The Wolf and the Crane 狼和鹤

A WOLF who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a large sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out the bone. When the Crane had extracted the bone and demanded the promised payment, the Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed: "Why, you have surely already had a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf."

In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.

狼被一根骨头卡住了喉咙，急切地寻求帮助。正好，它看见了鹤，就恳求它帮忙，并许诺给它丰厚的回报。于是鹤把脑袋伸进狼的喉咙，取出了骨头。当它向狼要求得到回报时，狼却这样回答：“什么？你的脑袋能够安然无恙地从我的嘴巴里出来，就已经是我最大的回报了。”

本性邪恶的人把自己不做坏事当作对别人最大的恩惠。