THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, in which much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the victors. The Mice thought that the cause of their frequent defeats was that they had no leaders set apart from the general army to command them, and that they were exposed to dangers from lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that were most renowned for their family descent, strength, and counsel, as well as those most noted for their courage in the fight, so that they might be better marshaled in battle array and formed into troops, regiments, and battalions. When all this was done, and the army disciplined, and the herald Mouse had duly proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen generals bound their heads with straws, that they might be more conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun, when a great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered off as fast as they could to their holes. The generals, not being able to get in on account of the ornaments on their heads, were all captured and eaten by the Weasels.
イタチとネズミが、たえず戦争をしていて、たくさんの血が流された。いつも勝つのはイタチだった。ネズミたちは、自分たちがこんなにたびたび負けるのは、全軍とは別に指揮をとる指導者がいないからで、規律がないために危険にさらされているのだと考えた。そこでネズミたちは、家柄や力や知恵でいちばん名高いネズミたち、また戦いでの勇気でいちばん知られたネズミたちを指導者に選んだ。そうすれば、もっとうまく戦いの陣を組み、中隊や連隊や大隊を編成できるだろうと考えたのである。こうしたことがすべてすみ、軍の規律も整い、伝令のネズミがイタチたちに挑戦して正式に宣戦を布告すると、新しく選ばれた将軍たちは、自分たちの軍のみんなによく目立つように、頭にわらを巻きつけた。戦いが始まるやいなや、ネズミたちはさんざんに打ち負かされ、一目散に自分たちの穴へ逃げこんだ。将軍たちは、頭の飾りがじゃまで穴に入れず、みなイタチにつかまって食べられてしまった。
The more honour the more danger.
名誉が大きいほど、危険も大きい。