The Fox & the Lion

When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by.

The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

Key points

breed 產生，導致

ceremony 禮節；禮儀

contempt 輕視

familiarity 熟悉；親近

frighten 害怕

pleasure 榮幸

straight 直的

terribly 很，非常

狐貍和獅子

狐貍第一次看見獅子的時候，怕得要死，他匆忙逃開并把自己藏到了樹林中。然而第二次遇見時，狐貍就靠近了百獸之王，在安全距離外看著獅子走過。第三次他們互相靠近時，狐貍徑直走到獅子面前，和他待了一整天，聊起了獅子的家庭，還跟獅子客氣，問何時還有榮幸能再見到獅子，然后狐貍一轉身就走了，沒有更多虛禮。

親近產生輕慢。

本欄目選自《伊索寓言：漢英對照》，由現代出版社有限公司授權選載。