A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. —
一个人有一只驴和一只非常漂亮的马耳他犬。 —

The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. —
驴被留在马厩里，有足够的燕麦和干草吃，就像其他驴一样。 —

The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat. —
马耳他犬会许多把戏，是主人非常喜欢的，主人经常抚摸它，不常带它出去吃饭，也会带些东西回家给它吃。 —

The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. —
相反，驴要做很多工作，磨碾磨坊谷物，从森林运木材或从农场搬运重物。 —

He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. —
它经常为自己的艰辛命运而叹息，并将之与马耳他犬的奢侈和懒散相对比，于是有一天，它终于打破了缰绳和系在它身上的绳子，跑进了主人的房子里，狂奔着，欢快地踢起了它的后腿，并努力地表现得活跃和讨好。 —

He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. —
接下来，它想模仿它看到的马耳他犬的跳跃，但它打破了桌子，把上面的所有碟子都摔得粉碎。 —

He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. —
然后它试图舔它的主人，跳到他的背上。 —

The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. —
仆人们听到了奇怪的喧嚣，意识到主人的危险，迅速解救了他，并用踢打、棍棒和拳打赶出了那只驴子。 —

The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: —
那只驴子回到了自己的厩舍，几乎被打得要死要活，于是悲叹道： —

“I have brought it all on myself! —
“这完全是我自找的！ —

Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”
为什么我不能像同伴一样努力工作，而非像那只无用的小哈巴狗一样整天懒散无为呢！”