貓和公雞 The Cat and the Cock

 

    A CAT caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him.  He accused him of being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep.  The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the benefit of men, that they might rise in time for their labors.  The Cat replied, "Although you abound in specious apologies, I shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of him. 

     一只貓抓到一只公雞，并想出吃他的口實。他指責公雞在夜晚打鳴，使人不能安睡，人們都討厭公雞。公雞辯解說，他是為了人們的利益而啼叫，那樣可以使人們按時起床工作。貓回答說：“盡管你說的似乎合理，但我總不能不吃晚餐。”于是，毫不客氣地把公雞吃掉
了。

    這是說，壞人干壞事總是能找到借口的。