A wolf was almost dead with hunger. A house-dog saw him and asked, "Friend, your irregular life will soon ruin you.

Why don't you work steadily¹ as I do, and get your food regularly²?"

"I would have no objection," said the wolf, "if I could only get a place." "I will help you," said the dog. "Come with me to my master, and you shall share my work."

So the wolf and the dog went to the town together.On the way the wolf saw that there was no hair around the dog's neck.He felt quite surprised, and asked him why it was like that.

"Oh, it is nothing," said the dog. "Every night my master puts a collar³ around my neck and chains me up. You will soon get used to it."

"Is that the only reason?" said the wolf. "Then good-bye to you, my friend. I would rather be free."

一只狼快要饿死了,一只狗看见后问他:“你现在的无规律的生活一定会毁掉你,为什么不像我一样稳定地干活并有规律地获得食物呢?”

狼说:“如果我有个地方住,我没有意见。”狗回答说:“跟我到主人那里去,我们一起工作。”

于是狼和狗一起回到了村子。在路上,狼注意到狗的脖子上有一圈没有毛,他感到很奇怪并问狗为什么会那样。

“噢,没有什么,”狗说,“我的主人每天晚上都用一条铁链子拴住我,你很快就会习惯的。”“就是因为这个原因吗?”狼说道,“那么,再见了,我的朋友,我宁愿选择自由。”

智慧点睛: 自由比安乐更重要。