A FLEA thus questioned an Ox: —
一只跳蚤这样质问一只牛：“你这么巨大又强壮，为什么要忍受人们给你的伤害，每天为他们劳作，而我，一个如此渺小的生物，无情地吃他们的血肉，毫不吝啬地饮用他们的血？ —

“What ails you, that being so huge and strong, you submit to the wrongs you receive from men and slave for them day by day, while I, being so small a creature, mercilessly feed on their flesh and drink their blood without stint? —
牛回答道：“我不想不感激，因为我被人们所爱护和善待，他们经常拍拍我的头和肩膀。 —

’ The Ox replied: “I do not wish to be ungrateful, for I am loved and well cared for by men, and they often pat my head and shoulders. —
—

” “Woe’s me!” said the flea; —
“哀哉！”跳蚤说道； —

“this very patting which you like, whenever it happens to me, brings with it my inevitable destruction.”
“每当你喜欢的那种拍打发生在我身上，就必然带来我的死亡。”