The Fox and the Cat
A free B1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A boastful fox mocks a cat for knowing only one trick, until a pack of hunting dogs shows whose trick actually saves its life.
It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself, “He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the world,” she spoke to him in a friendly way. “Good-day, dear Mr. Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting through this dear season?”
有一次，猫在森林里遇见了狐狸，她心里想：“他很聪明，经验丰富，在这世上很受人敬重。”于是便友好地跟他打起招呼来：“您好啊，亲爱的狐狸先生，您近来可好？一切都还顺心吗？这个可爱的季节您过得怎么样？”
The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat from head to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give any answer or not. At last he said, “Oh, thou wretched beard-cleaner, thou piebald fool, thou hungry mouse-hunter, what canst thou be thinking of? Dost thou venture to ask how I am getting on? What hast thou learnt? How many arts dost thou understand?”
狐狸满脑子都是傲慢自负，把猫从头到脚打量了一番，好半天也不知道该不该回答她。终于他开口说道：“哦，你这个可怜的胡须清理工，你这个花斑傻瓜，你这个饥肠辘辘的捕鼠者，你脑子里在想些什么呢？你竟敢来问我过得怎么样？你都学到了些什么本事？你懂得多少门技艺？”
“I understand but one,” replied the cat, modestly. “What art is that?” asked the fox. “When the hounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself.” “Is that all?” said the fox. “I am master of a hundred arts, and have into the bargain a sackful of cunning. Thou makest me sorry for thee; come with me, I will teach thee how people get away from the hounds.”
“我只懂一门，”猫谦虚地答道。“是什么技艺？”狐狸问。“猎狗追我的时候，我能跳上一棵树，保住自己的性命。”“就这么点本事？”狐狸说道。“我可是精通上百种技艺的高手，袋子里装的诡计更是数也数不清。你真让我替你难过；跟我来吧，我教你人们是怎么摆脱猎狗的。”
Just then came a hunter with four dogs. The cat sprang nimbly up a tree, and sat down on top of it, where the branches and foliage quite concealed her. “Open your sack, Mr. Fox, open your sack,” cried the cat to him, but the dogs had already seized him, and were holding him fast. “Ah, Mr. Fox,” cried the cat. “You with your hundred arts are left in the lurch! Had you been able to climb like me, you would not have lost your life.”
就在这时，一个猎人带着四条狗走了过来。猫敏捷地跳上一棵树，坐到树顶上，枝叶把她遮得严严实实。“打开你的袋子吧，狐狸先生，打开你的袋子吧，”猫朝他喊道，可这时猎狗已经扑上去，把他死死咬住了。“哎呀，狐狸先生，”猫喊道。“您那上百种本事，如今可全都白搭了！要是您也能像我这样爬树，就不至于丢了性命了。”
