伊索寓言：猴子和貓（中英雙語）

從前，寵物貓和猴子住在同一家。他們是死黨，總是不停地搞著各種各樣的惡作劇。他們琢磨最多的是弄吃的，至於手段對他們不重要。

一天，他們坐在爐火邊，看壁爐上烤著的一些板栗。怎麼弄到手是他們的問題。

「我很樂意去拿，」狡猾的猴子說，「不過這種事情你比我拿手得多。把它們弄出來，咱倆平分。」

貓咪小心翼翼地伸出爪子，推開一些煤渣，接著很快把爪子縮回來。然後她再來一次，這次把一顆板栗從火里拖出來一半。第三次，她取出了板栗。如此這般她操作了幾次，每次幾乎都要把爪子燒焦。她把板栗一弄出來，猴子就把它們吃光了。

這時主人進來了，兩個壞蛋落荒而逃。除了燒焦的爪子，貓小姐一顆板栗也沒吃到。據說從那時起，她甘願吃各種老鼠，與猴子先生再無瓜葛。

阿諛奉承者必有損人利己之心。

THE MONKEY AND THE CAT

Once upon a time a Cat and a Monkey lived as pets in the same house. They were great friends and were constantly in all sorts of mischief together. What they seemed to think of more than anything else was to get something to eat, and it did not matter much to them how they got it.

One day they were sitting by the fire, watching some chestnuts roasting on the hearth. How to get them was the question.

"I would gladly get them," said the cunning Monkey, "but you are much more skillful at such things than I am. Pull them out and I'll divide them between us."

Pussy stretched out her paw very carefully, pushed aside some of the cinders, and drew back her paw very quickly. Then she tried it again, this time pulling a chestnut half out of the fire. A third time and she drew out the chestnut. This performance she went through several times, each time singeing her paw severely. As fast as she pulled the chestnuts out of the fire, the Monkey ate them up.

Now the master came in, and away scampered the rascals, Mistress Cat with a burnt paw and no chestnuts. From that time on, they say, she contented herself with mice and rats and had little to do with Sir Monkey.

The flatterer seeks some benefit at your expense.