AT ONE TIME the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stag intruded into his domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself on the stranger, asked a man if he were willing to help him in punishing the Stag. The man replied that if the Horse would receive a bit in his mouth and agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented and allowed the man to mount him. From that hour he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.
昔、ウマは草原をひとりじめにしていた。ところがそこへ一頭の牡ジカが入りこんできて、ウマの牧草を分け合うようになった。ウマはこのよそ者に仕返しをしてやりたいと思い、シカをこらしめるのを手伝ってくれないかと人間に頼んだ。人間は、もしウマが口にくつわをはめ、自分を背中に乗せることを承知するなら、シカに対抗する強力な武器を工夫してやろうと答えた。ウマは承知し、人間を背中に乗せた。そのときからウマは、シカに仕返しをするどころか、自分自身を人間に仕える奴隷にしてしまったのだと思い知った。