A Shepherd-boy, who tended his flock not far from a village, used to amuse himself at times in crying out "Wolf! Wolf!" Twice or thrice his trick succeeded. The whole village came running out to his assistance when all the return they got was to be laughed at for their pains. At last one day the wolf came indeed. The boy cried out in earnest. But his neighbors, supposing him to be at his old sport, paid no heed1 to（不注意） his cries, and the wolf devoured2（吞食，毀滅） the sheep.

　　So the boy learned, when it was too late, that liars3 are not believed even when they tell the truth.

　　一個放羊的孩子在離村子不遠的地方放羊。他為了開心尋樂常喊：“狼來了！狼來了！”他的惡作劇有兩三次達到了目的。全村的人都跑來幫忙，而他們所得到的回報卻是一頓嘲笑，白費了心力。最后，有一天狼真的來了。這個孩子認真地大喊起來。但是他的鄰人們卻以為他又在耍把戲，誰都不理會他的喊叫，于是狼把羊吃了。

　　因此這牧童得到了教訓：愛說謊的人，甚至在他說真話的時候，也沒人相信他，但是他知道得太晚了。