The Fox and the Stork

Old Mister Fox was at expense, one day, To dine old Mistress Stork. The fare was light, was nothing, sooth to say, Requiring knife and fork. That sly old gentleman, the dinner-giver, Was, you must understand, a frugal liver. This once, at least, the total matter Was thinnish soup served on a platter, For madam's slender beak a fruitless puzzle, Till all had pass'd the fox's lapping muzzle.

老狐狸先生有一天破费，请老鹳鸟夫人吃饭。老实说，那顿饭菜色清淡，简直算不上什么，用不着刀叉。那位狡猾的老绅士，这位设宴的主人，你要知道，是个过日子极为节俭的人。这一回，至少，全部的菜肴不过是一盘稀汤，盛在浅碟子里，对夫人纤细的长喙来说，简直是个无从下口的难题，直到汤全被狐狸舔嘴舔光为止。

But, little relishing his laughter, Old gossip Stork, some few days after, Return'd his Foxship's invitation. Without a moment's hesitation, He said he'd go, for he must own he Ne'er stood with friends for ceremony. And so, precisely at the hour, He hied him to the lady's bower; Where, praising her politeness, He finds her dinner right nice. Its punctuality and plenty, Its viands, cut in mouthfuls dainty, Its fragrant smell, were powerful to excite, Had there been need, his foxish appetite.

可是鹳鸟老太太并不怎么欣赏他这份笑话，过了没几天，就回请了这位狐狸先生。她没有片刻犹豫，便说她会赴约，因为她承认，自己在朋友面前从不讲究虚礼客套。于是，准时到了那个钟点，她便动身前往这位夫人的居所；一到那里，她先夸了夫人一番殷勤好客，又觉得这顿饭菜十分可口。饭菜上得又准时又丰盛，肉食切成一口口精致的小块，香气扑鼻，若有需要，足以勾起狐狸的食欲。

But now the dame, to torture him, Such wit was in her, Served up her dinner In vases made so tall and slim, They let their owner's beak pass in and out, But not, by any means, the fox's snout! All arts without avail, With drooping head and tail, As ought a fox a fowl had cheated, The hungry guest at last retreated.

可是这一回，夫人存心要作弄他——她这份机灵劲儿——把饭菜盛在又高又细的瓶子里，瓶口只容得下主人自己的长喙进出，却怎么也伸不进狐狸的鼻子！任凭他使出浑身解数都无济于事，狐狸垂头丧气，夹着尾巴，像一只被家禽骗过的狐狸那样，这位饥饿的客人终于败退而去。

Ye knaves, for you is this recital, You'll often meet Dame Stork's requital.

诸位无赖啊，这个故事正是说给你们听的：你们迟早都会尝到鹳鸟夫人这般的回报。