THE LION, the Fox and the Ass entered into an agreement to assist each other in the chase. Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their return from the forest asked the Ass to allot his due portion to each of the three partners in the treaty. The Ass carefully divided the spoil into three equal shares and modestly requested the two others to make the first choice. The Lion, bursting out into a great rage, devoured the Ass. Then he requested the Fox to do him the favour to make a division. The Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one large heap and left to himself the smallest possible morsel. The Lion said, “Who has taught you, my very excellent fellow, the art of division? You are perfect to a fraction.” He replied, “I learned it from the Ass, by witnessing his fate.”
ライオンとキツネとロバが、狩りでたがいに助け合う約束をした。たくさんの獲物をとって森から帰ってくると、ライオンはロバに、約束を結んだ三匹の仲間それぞれに正当な分け前を割り当てるよう頼んだ。ロバは獲物を念入りに三つの等しい分け前に分け、ほかの二匹に、どうぞ先に選んでくださいとつつましく頼んだ。ライオンはかんかんに怒りだして、ロバを食べてしまった。それからライオンは、分けてくれないかとキツネに頼んだ。キツネはとった獲物をすべて集めて一つの大きな山にし、自分にはできるかぎり小さなひと口分だけを残した。ライオンは言った。「わが優秀なる友よ、だれがおまえにそんな分け方の術を教えたのかね？寸分の狂いもなく完璧だ」。キツネは答えた。「ロバから学んだのです。ロバの最期を見ましたからね」
Happy is the man who learns from the misfortunes of others.
他人の不幸から学ぶ者は幸いである。