The Jackdaw and the Fox

A HALF-FAMISHED JACKDAW seated himself on a fig-tree, which had produced some fruit entirely out of season, and waited in the hope that the figs would ripen. A Fox seeing him sitting so long and learning the reason of his doing so, said to him, “You are indeed, sir, sadly deceiving yourself; you are indulging a hope strong enough to cheat you, but which will never reward you with enjoyment.”

腹をすかせて死にそうなコクマルガラスが、まるで季節はずれに実をつけたイチジクの木にとまり、イチジクが熟すのを期待して待っていた。キツネは、コクマルガラスがあまりに長くそこにとまっているのを見て、そのわけを知ると、こう言った。「だんな、あんたはひどい思い違いをしているよ。あんたがいだいている望みは、あんたをだますほど強いけれど、決して楽しい思いをさせてはくれないだろうよ。」