A MAN and a Satyr once drank together in token of a bond of alliance being formed between them. One very cold wintry day, as they talked, the Man put his fingers to his mouth and blew on them. When the Satyr asked the reason for this, he told him that he did it to warm his hands because they were so cold. Later on in the day they sat down to eat, and the food prepared was quite scalding. The Man raised one of the dishes a little towards his mouth and blew in it. When the Satyr again inquired the reason, he said that he did it to cool the meat, which was too hot. “I can no longer consider you as a friend,” said the Satyr, “a fellow who with the same breath blows hot and cold.”
昔、人間とサテュロスが、友情の契りを結んだしるしに、いっしょに酒をくみかわした。ある冬のひどく寒い日、二人で話をしていると、人間は指を口にあてて息を吹きかけた。サテュロスがそのわけをたずねると、人間は、手がとても冷たいので温めているのだと答えた。その日のもっとあとになって、二人は食事の席についたが、用意された料理はひどく熱かった。人間は皿のひとつを口のほうへ少し持ち上げて、ふうふうと息を吹きかけた。サテュロスがまたそのわけをたずねると、人間は、肉が熱すぎるので冷ましているのだと答えた。「もうおまえを友だちだとは思えない」とサテュロスは言った。「同じ息で、熱いものを吹いたり冷たいものを吹いたりするようなやつはね。」