Once upon a time a wolf was lapping at a stream. When he looked up, he saw a lamb drinking a little lower down.

"There's my supper," he thought. "I will find some excuse to catch it." Then he called out to the lamb, "How dare you muddle¹ the water?" "No, master," said the lamb. "I cannot muddle your water because it runs down from you to me."

"Well, then," said the wolf. "Why did you call me bad names this time last year?" "It was impossible," said the lamb. "I am only six months old."

"I don't care," shouted the wolf. "If it was not you, it must be your father." After that he rushed at the poor little lamb and ate it up.

从前，一只狼在溪流喝水，看到一只小羊在下游喝水。

“那是我的晚餐，”狼想，“我要找一个借口吃掉他。”于是，他恶狠狠地对小羊说：“你怎么敢搅浑浊了我的水？”“我没有，先生，”小羊回答说，“我在下游喝水，怎么能搅浑浊你喝的水呢？”

“那么，”狼见此计不成，又说道，“你去年的今天为什么说我的坏话？”“不可能，”小羊说，“我现在才只有六个月大。”

“我不管，”狼说，“如果不是你，就是你的爸爸。”说完，他就冲向小山羊，把他吃掉了。