Once upon a time the sheep complained to the shepherd about the difference in his treatment of themselves and his dog "Your conduct," said they, "is very strange and, we think, very unfair. We provide you with wool and lambs and milk and you give us nothing but grass, and even that we have to find for ourselves: but you get nothing at all from the dog, and yet you feed him with tit-bits from your own table." Their remarks were overheard by the dog, who spoke1 up at once and said, "Yes, and quite right, too: where would you be if it wasn't for me? Thieves would steal you! Wolves would eat you! Indeed, if I didn't keep constant watch over you, you would be too terrified even to graze!" The sheep were obliged to acknowledge that he spoke the truth, and never again made a grievance2 of the regard in which he was held by his master.

　　從前，有一群羊向牧羊人抱怨自己和狗受到了差別待遇。“你的行為很奇怪，”羊群說，“我們認為非常不公平，我們?yōu)槟峁┭蛎?、羔羊肉和羊奶，你卻只給我們吃草，甚至于我們還要自己去找草吃。你從狗那里什么也沒得到，可你卻從自己餐桌上拿些精美的食物喂他。”狗聽到了他們的言論，立刻開口說：“是的，的確如此。要不是有我在，你們會在哪里呢？小偷們早就偷走你們了！狼也會吃掉你們！其實，如果沒有我守護著你們，你看可能連吃草都嚇得不敢去！”羊群不得不承認他說的有道理，便不再提受到主人差別待遇的意見了。