The Cat and the Fox

The cat and the fox, in the manner of good little saints, started out upon a pilgrimage. They were both humbugs, arch-hypocrites, two downright highwaymen, who for the expenses of their journey indemnified themselves by seeing who could devour the most fowls and gobble the most cheese.

猫和狐狸，装出一副良善小圣徒的模样，一同出发去朝圣。它们其实都是骗子，彻头彻尾的伪君子，两个不折不扣的拦路强盗，为了凑足旅费，便比赛看谁能吞下更多的家禽、吃掉更多的奶酪，以此来给自己捞点好处。

The way was long and therefore wearisome, so they shortened it by arguing. Argumentation is a great help. Without it one would go to sleep. Our pilgrims shouted themselves hoarse. Then having argued themselves out, they talked of other things.

路途遥远，因此十分乏味，于是它们靠争论来打发时间。争论确实是个不错的消遣办法。要是没了它，人恐怕早就睡着了。我们这两位朝圣者吵得声音都嘶哑了。吵累了之后，它们又聊起了别的事情。

At length the fox said to the cat, "You pretend that you're very clever. Do you know as much as I? I have a hundred ruses up my sleeve."

后来狐狸对猫说道：“你自称本事很大。你懂的东西能有我多吗？我袖子里可藏着上百条诡计呢。”

"No," answered the cat, "I have but one; but that is always ready to hand, and I maintain that it is worth a thousand other dodges."

“不，”猫答道，“我只有一招；可这一招随时都能用得上，我敢说，它顶得上你那一千条别的花招。”

Then they fell again to disputing one against the other on each side of the question, the whys and the wherefores, raising their voices higher and higher. Presently the sudden appearance of a pack of hounds stopped their noise.

于是它们又各执一词，争得面红耳赤，声音越吵越高，一个理由接着一个理由。这时，一群猎狗突然出现，打断了它们的争吵。

The cat said to the fox, "Now, my friend, ransack that cunning brain of yours for one of your thousand ruses. Fetch down from your sleeve one of those certain stratagems. As for me, this is my dodge." So saying, he bounded to a tall tree and climbed to its top with alacrity.

猫对狐狸说道：“好了，朋友，快在你那狡猾的脑袋瓜里，搜出你那上千条诡计中的一条来吧。快从你袖子里抖出一条靠谱的妙计来。至于我嘛，这就是我的招数。”说着，他一跃跳上一棵大树，敏捷地爬到了树顶。

The fox tried a hundred futile doublings; ran into a hundred holes; put the hounds at fault a hundred times; tried everywhere to find a safe place of retreat, but everywhere failed between being smoked out of one and driven out of another by the hounds. Finally, as he came out of a hole two nimble dogs set upon him and strangled him at the first grip.

狐狸试了上百种徒劳无功的兜圈子；钻进了上百个洞穴；把猎狗骗得团团转了上百次；想方设法四处寻找一个安全的藏身之处，可是不管钻进哪个洞，都被烟熏出来，又被猎狗从另一个洞里赶出来，始终无处可逃。最后，当他从一个洞里钻出来时，两条敏捷的猎狗扑了上去，一口便将他咬死了。

Too many expedients may spoil the business. One loses time in choosing between them and in trying too many. Have only one; but let it be a good one.

办法太多，反倒可能坏事。在众多办法之间挑挑拣拣、样样都试一遍，只会白白浪费时间。只要有一条办法就够了；但一定要是个好办法。