《古代寓言·鹬蚌相争》（中英对照）

蚌方出曝，而鹬啄其肉。蚌合而莫过甘其喙。

鹬曰：“今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌！”

蚌亦谓鹬曰：“今日不出，明日不出，即有死鹬！”

两者不肯相舍，渔者得而并禽之。

——《战国策》

The Snipe and the Mussel

A mussel was opening its shell to bask in the sun when a snipe pecked at it. The mussel clamped down on the bird’s beak, and held it fast.

“If it doesn’t rain today or tomorrow,” said the snipe, “there will be a dead mussel lying there.”

“If you can’t pry loose today or tomorrow,” retorted the mussel, “there will be a dead snipe here too.”

As neither of them would give way, a passing fisherman caught them both.

Warring States Anecdotes