The Wolf and the Crane

A WOLF who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a large sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out the bone. When the Crane had extracted the bone and demanded the promised payment, the Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed: “Why, you have surely already had a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf.”

のどに骨がささったオオカミが、たくさんの礼金を約束してツルをやとい、自分の口に頭を入れて骨を引きぬいてもらうことにした。ツルが骨を取り出し、約束の礼金を求めると、オオカミはにやりと笑い、歯ぎしりしながらこう言い放った。「なんだと、おまえはもう十分な礼を受け取ったはずだ。オオカミの口とあごの中から、無事に頭を引きぬかせてもらったのだからな」

In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pains.

悪人に仕えるなら、ほうびは期待しないことだ。骨を折ったあげく痛い目にあわずにすめば、それをありがたいと思うがよい。