伊索寓言：父親和孩子們

Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarrelling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations， he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion； and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so， he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession， and ordered them to break it in pieces. They each tried with all their strength， and were not able to do it.

一位父親有幾個孩子，這些孩子時常發生口角。他絲毫沒有辦法來勸阻他們，只好讓他們看看不合群帶來害處的例子。為了達到這個目的，有一天他叫他們替他拿一捆細柴來。當他們把柴帶來時，他便先后將那捆柴放在每一個孩子的手中，吩咐他們弄斷這捆柴。他們一個個盡力去試，總是不能成功。

He next unclosed the faggot， and took the sticks separately， one by one， and again put them into their hands， on which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words，“My sons， if you are of one mind， and unite to assist each other， you will be as this faggot， uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies； but if you are divided among yourselves， you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”

然后他解開那捆柴，一根根地放在他們手里，如此一來，他們便毫不費力地折斷了。于是他就告訴他們說：“孩子們！如果你們大家團結一致，互相幫助，你們就像這捆柴一樣，不能被你們的敵人折斷；但如果你們自行分裂，你們就將和這些散柴一般，不堪一折了。”

（沐光思年 摘）