A PEDDLER drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. —
一个小贩骑着他的驴子到海边买盐。 —

His road home lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step, fell by accident and rose up again with his load considerably lighter, as the water melted the sack. —
回家的路经过一条河流，不慎一跤，驴子摔进了河里，起来的时候，他的负载明显变轻了，因为水把盐溶化了。 —

The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before. —
小贩原路返回，把自己的鞍囊重新装满了比之前更多的盐。 —

When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down on purpose in the same spot, and, regaining his feet with the weight of his load much diminished, brayed triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. —
当他再次来到河流时，驴子故意在同一个地方摔倒，并在负重减轻后得意洋洋地叫了起来，好像已经得到了自己想要的东西。 —

The Peddler saw through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast, where he bought a cargo of sponges instead of salt. —
小贩看穿了他的把戏，第三次把驴子赶到海岸，他买了一船的海绵代替盐。 —

The Ass, again playing the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load. —
驴子再次耍傻，他故意在到达河流时摔倒，但是海绵吸满了水，大大增加了他的负荷。 —

And thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his back a double burden.
这样他的把戏对他本人起反作用，因为他现在背上承载了双倍的负担。