柳宗元·《三戒·黔之驴》英译

黔无驴，有好事者船载以入。至则无可用，放之山下。虎见之，庞然大物也，以为神。蔽林间窥之，稍出近之，憗憗然然莫相知。<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

他日，驴一鸣，虎大骇，远遁，以为且噬己也，甚怒。然往来视之，觉无异能者。益习其声，又近出前后，终不敢搏。稍近，益狎，荡倚冲冒。驴不胜恶，蹄之。虎因喜，计之曰：”技止此耳。” 因跳踉大阚，断其喉，尽其肉，乃去。

噫！形之庞也类有德，声之宏也类有能。向不出其技，虎虽猛，疑畏，卒不敢取。今若是焉，悲夫！

The Donkey of Guizhou

Liu Zongyuan

There were no donkeys in Guizhou until an eccentric took one there by boat; but finding no use for it he set it loose in the hills. A tiger who saw this monstrous looking beast thought it must be divine. It first surveyed the donkey from under cover, then ventured a little nearer, still keeping a respectful distance however.

One day the donkey brayed, and the tiger took fright and fled, for fear of being bitten. It was utterly terrified. But it came back for another look, and decided this creature was not so formidable after all. Then, growing used to the braying, it drew nearer, thought it still dared not attack. Coming nearer still, it began to take liberties, shoving, jostling, and charging roughly, till the donkey lost its temper and kicked out.

“So that is all it can do!” thought the tiger, greatly pleased.

Then it leapt on the donkey and sank its teeth into it, severing its throat and devouring it before going on its way.

Poor donkey! Its sized made it look powerful, and its bray made it sound redoubtable. Had it not shown all it could do, even the fierce tiger might not have dared to attack. But the donkey gave itself away!