The Cat and the Birds

A CAT, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. They replied, “We are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, and leave us as we are.”

ネコが、ある鳥小屋の鳥たちが病気だと聞いて、医者に変装した。そして医者にふさわしい杖と道具袋を持って、鳥たちを訪ねていった。ネコは戸をたたき、中の鳥たちにみんなぐあいはどうかとたずね、もし病気なら喜んで薬を出して治してあげよう、と言った。鳥たちは答えた。「わたしたちはみんなとても元気です。あなたが立ち去って、わたしたちをこのままにしておいてくださりさえすれば、これからもずっと元気でいられるでしょう」