The Fox and the Cat

It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself: ‘He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the world,’ she spoke to him in a friendly way. ‘Good day, dear Mr Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting on in these hard times?’ The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat from head to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give any answer or not. At last he said: ‘Oh, you wretched beard-cleaner, you piebald fool, you hungry mouse-hunter, what can you be thinking of? Have you the cheek to ask how I am getting on? What have you learnt? How many arts do you understand?’ ‘I understand but one,’ replied the cat, modestly. ‘What art is that?’ asked the fox. ‘When the hounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself.’ ‘Is that all?’ said the fox. ‘I am master of a hundred arts, and have into the bargain a sackful of cunning. You make me sorry for you; come with me, I will teach you how people get away from the hounds.’ Just then came a hunter with four dogs. The cat sprang nimbly up a tree, and sat down at the top of it, where the branches and foliage quite concealed her. ‘Open your sack, Mr Fox, open your sack,’ cried the cat to him, but the dogs had already seized him, and were holding him fast. ‘Ah, Mr Fox,’ cried the cat. ‘You with your hundred arts are left in the lurch! Had you been able to climb like me, you would not have lost your life.’

猫が森で狐に出会った。猫は心の中で「この方は賢くて経験豊かで、世間でもたいそう重んじられている」と思ったので、親しげに話しかけた。「こんにちは、狐さん、ご機嫌いかが? 万事うまくいっていますか? このご時世、どうやってお暮らしです?」狐はありとあらゆる傲慢さに満ちて、猫を頭のてっぺんから足の先までじろじろ眺め、答えてやるものかどうか長いこと決めかねていた。とうとう狐は言った。「おい、この哀れな髭掃除屋、まだら模様の間抜け、腹ぺこの鼠取りめ、何を考えているのだ。わしの暮らしぶりを尋ねるとは、なんと厚かましい。お前は何を学んだ? いくつの技を心得ている?」「わたしが心得ているのはたった一つです」と猫はつつましく答えた。「それはどんな技だ」と狐は尋ねた。「猟犬に追われたら、木に跳び上がって身を守れます。」「それだけか」と狐は言った。「わしは百の技の達人で、そのうえ悪知恵を袋いっぱい持っている。お前が気の毒になってきた。ついておいで、犬から逃げる方法を教えてやろう。」ちょうどそのとき、四匹の犬を連れた狩人がやってきた。猫はひらりと木に跳び上がり、枝と葉にすっかり隠れるてっぺんに腰を下ろした。「袋をお開けなさい、狐さん、袋をお開けなさい」と猫は呼びかけたが、犬たちはもう狐に食らいついて、しっかり押さえつけていた。「ああ、狐さん」と猫は叫んだ。「百の技をお持ちのあなたが、見捨てられてしまいましたね! わたしのように木に登れたら、命を落とさずに済みましたのに。」