猫和公鸡 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. 

     一只猫抓到一只公鸡，并想出吃他的口实。他指责公鸡在夜晚打鸣，使人不能安睡，人们都讨厌公鸡。公鸡辩解说，他是为了人们的利益而啼叫，那样可以使人们按时起床工作。猫回答说：“尽管你说的似乎合理，但我总不能不吃晚餐。”于是，毫不客气地把公鸡吃掉
了。

    这是说，坏人干坏事总是能找到借口的。