The Wolf and Its Cub

 A Wolf, which had begun to accustom¹ its Cub² to support itself by its father's profession, sent it one day to prowl about the skirts of the wood. At the same time it ordered it to give all its attention to seeing whether it would not be possible, even at the cost of sinning³ a little, for them both to make their breakfast or dinner at the expense of some shepherd⁴ or other. The pupil returns home, and says:

 

"Come along, quick! Our dinner awaits⁵ us: nothing could possibly be safer. There are sheep feeding at the foot of yon hill, each one fatter than the other. We have only to choose which to carry off and eat; and the flock⁶ is so large that it would be difficult to count it over again——"

 

"Wait a minute," says the Wolf. "First of all I must know what sort of a man the shepherd of this flock is.

 

"It is said that he is a good one—painstaking and intelligent. But I went round the flock on all sides, and examined the dogs: they are not at all fat, and seem to be spiritless and indolent."

 

"This description," says the old Wolf, "does not greatly attract me to the flock. For, decidedly, if the shepherd is good, he will not keep bad dogs about him. One might very soon get into trouble there. But come with me: I will take you to a flock where we shall be in less danger of losing our skins. Over that flock it is true that a great many dogs watch; but the shepherd is himself a fool. And where the shepherd is a fool there the dogs too are of little worth."

 

1 accustom   

vt.使适应，使习惯

参考例句：

• It took him a while to accustom himself to the idea.他过了一段时间才习惯这个想法。
• It'shouldn't take long to accustom your students to working in groups.你的学生应该很快就会习惯分组学习的。

2 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。

3 sinning   

v.犯罪，犯过错( sin的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• They are sinning against the most sacred possession of the German people. 他们正在亵渎德国人民最神圣的东西。 来自辞典例句
• You were more sinned against than sinning, that I admit. 我倒承认，与其说是你把别人害了，不如说是别人把你害了。 来自辞典例句

4 shepherd   

n.牧羊者，牧师，指导者；v.看守，领导，指导

参考例句：

• The shepherd boy waited for his sheep to drink.牧童等羊喝水。
• The shepherd and his dog gathered in the sheep.牧羊人和牧羊狗把羊群赶到一块。

5 awaits   

v.等候( await的第三人称单数 )；等待；期待；将发生在

参考例句：

• A warm welcome awaits her. 热烈的欢迎等待着她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A warm welcome awaits all our customers. 对我们所有的顾客准备好热烈的欢迎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 flock   

n.羊群，一群，大量；vi.群集，聚集，成群

参考例句：

• A flock of customers were waiting for the store to open.一群顾客在等候着商店开门。
• A few sheep have been lost from the flock.羊群里少了几只羊。