The Swollen Fox

A VERY HUNGRY FOX, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds in the hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty meal. When he finished, he was so full that he was not able to get out, and began to groan and lament his fate. Another Fox passing by heard his cries, and coming up, inquired the cause of his complaining. On learning what had happened, he said to him, “Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become such as you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get out.”

ひどく腹をすかせたキツネが、カシの木のうろにヒツジ飼いたちが置いていったパンと肉を見つけ、その穴にもぐりこんでたらふく食べた。食べ終わると、おなかがいっぱいになりすぎて外に出られなくなり、うめき声をあげて自分の運命をなげきはじめた。通りかかった別のキツネがその叫び声を聞きつけ、近寄ってきて、何をなげいているのかとたずねた。わけを聞くと、そのキツネは言った。「ああ、きみ、もぐりこんだときと同じ体つきにもどるまで、そこにいるしかないね。そうすれば、楽に出られるだろうよ」