1.父亲和他的儿子THEFATHERANDHISSONS

　　Fatherhadafamilyofsonswhowereperpetuallyquarrellingamongthemselves.Whenhefailedtohealtheirdisputesbyhisexhortations,hedeterminedtogivethemapracticalillustrationoftheevilsofdisunion;andforthispurposeheonedaytoldthemtobringhimabundleofsticks.Whentheyhaddoneso,heplacedthefaggotintothehandsofeachoftheminsuccession,andorderedthemtobreakitinpieces.Theyeachtriedwithalltheirstrength,andwerenotabletodoit.

　　Henextunclosedthefaggot,andtookthesticksseparately,onebyone,andagainputthemintotheirhands,onwhichtheybrokethemeasily.Hethenaddressedtheminthesewords：“Mysons,ifyouareofonemind,andunitetoassisteachother,youwillbeasthisfaggot,uninjuredbyalltheattemptsofyourenemies；butifyouaredividedamongyourselves,youwillbebrokenaseasilyasthesesticks.”

　　一位父亲有几个孩子,这些孩子时常发生口角.他丝毫没有办法来劝阻他们,只好让他们看看不合群所带来害处的例子.为了达到这个目的,有一天他叫他们替他拿一捆细柴来.当他们把柴带来时,他便先后地将那捆柴放在每一个孩子的手中,吩咐他们弄断这捆柴.他们一个个尽力去试,总是不能成功.

　　然后他解开那捆柴,一根根地放在他们手里,如此一来,他们便毫不费力地折断了.于是他就告诉他们说：“孩子们!如果你们大家团结一致,互相帮助,你们就像这捆柴一样,不能被你们的敌人折断；但如果你们自行分裂,你们就将和这些散柴一般,不堪一折了.”

　　2.狮子和老鼠THELIONANDTHEMOUSE

　　LionwasawakenedfromsleepbyaMouserunningoverhisface.Risingupinanger,hecaughthimandwasabouttokillhim,whentheMousepiteouslyentreated,saying：“Ifyouwouldonlysparemylife,Iwouldbesuretorepayyourkindness.”TheLionlaughedandlethimgo.

　　IthappenedshortlyafterthisthattheLionwascaughtbysomehunters,whoboundhimbystrongropestotheground.TheMouse,recognizinghisroar,cameup,andgnawedtheropewithhisteeth,andsettinghimfree,exclaimed:“Youridiculedtheideaofmyeverbeingabletohelpyou,notexpectingtoreceivefrommeanyrepaymentofyourfavor；butnowyouknowthatitispossibleforevenaMousetoconferbenefitsonaLion.”

　　一只老鼠从一只狮子面前跑过去,将它从梦中吵醒.狮子生气地跳起来,捉住老鼠,要弄死它.老鼠哀求说：“只要你肯饶恕我这条小生命,我将来一定会报答你的大恩.”狮子便笑着放了它.

　　后来狮子被几个猎人捉住,用粗绳捆绑倒在地上.老鼠听出是狮子的吼声,走来用牙齿咬断绳索,释放了他,并大声说：“你当时嘲笑我想帮你的忙,而且也不指望我有什么机会报答.但是你现在知道了,就算是小老鼠,也能向狮子效劳的.”

　　3.狮子和农夫Thelionandthefarmer

　　AnIndianfarmerandhischildweretoilinginthefields.Itwasalmostdarkbythetimetheyhadfinishedtheirworkandthefarmersaidtothechild,"Wow!It’sgettingdark!Quicklypackupthetoolsandrun.Let’srunquickly!"

　　“Relax.We’renotfarfromhomeandweknowthewayhome.Whyareyouinsuchapanic?”askedthechild.“There’ssomethingyoudon’tknow.I’mgenerallyfearless.I’mnotafraidoftigersorlions.I’monlyafraidofthenight.Whenthenightcomes,I’mcompletelypowerless.Thenightismostterrifyingtome.I’mreallyfrightenedofit.Ican’tstandit,"answeredthefarmer.

　　Itsohappenedthatalionwashidingnearbyandoverheardtheirconversation.“What’sthisthingcalled‘thenight’?HowcoulditbemorefearfulthanIam?Imustfindoutaboutit,”thelionmusedasitmovedclosertothefarmer,hopingtolearnmoreaboutthis“night”thatwasevenmorefrighteningthanitself.

　　Thendarknessfellandthefarsightedfarmercouldn’tseenearbyobjectsclearly.Heonlysawthevagueoutlineofananimalapproaching,thoughtitwasthedonkeyhehadrecentlylost,andbeatthelionseveraltimes,saying,“I’vebeenlookingforyouallday.Wherehaveyoubeen?Howdareyoucomebacksolate?”