The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk

A MOUSE who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

いつも陸に住んでいたネズミが、運悪く、たいてい水の中で暮らしているカエルと親しくなった。ある日、カエルはいたずらをたくらんで、ネズミの足を自分の足にしっかりとしばりつけた。こうしてつながったまま、カエルはまず友だちのネズミを、ふたりがいつもえさを探している草地へ連れていった。そのあと、少しずつネズミを自分の住む池のほうへ連れていき、とうとう池のふちまで来ると、いきなり飛びこんで、ネズミを引きずりこんだ。カエルは水の中で大はしゃぎし、まるでよいことでもしたかのように、ケロケロ鳴きながら泳ぎ回った。不運なネズミはまもなくおぼれて息がつまり、死体はカエルの足にしばられたまま水面にただよっていた。一羽のタカがそれを見つけ、つめでつかみかかって空高く運び去った。カエルもまだネズミの足にしばられたままだったので、いっしょにつかまって連れていかれ、タカに食べられてしまった。

Harm hatch, harm catch.

害をたくらめば、害をこうむる。