《折狱龟鉴·放驴得鞍》英译

唐张鷟为河阳尉。有客驴，缰断，并鞍失之。三日访不获，诣县告。鷟推穷甚急，乃夜放驴出而藏其鞍。鷟曰：“此可知也。”遂令不秣饲驴，去辔放之。驴寻向昨夜喂处，乃搜索其家，于草积下得之。人服其智。

《折狱龟鉴》

Animal Instinct

In the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), when Zhang Zhuo was the sheriff of Heyang District, a man found the reins of his donkey broken and his donkey was gone with its saddle still on. He searched for it for three days with no success and eventually brought the case before the District authorities. Zhang Zhuo was so energetic in pursuing investigations that the man who stole the donkey and the saddle let the donkey go during the night but hid the saddle.

“Now we can find the saddle,” said Zhang Zhuo.

He gave orders not to feed the donkey and that its bridle be removed so that it could run loose. The donkey found its way back to the place where he was fed the night before. The house was searched and the saddle was discovered under a pile of straw. Zhang’s shrewdness won everybody’s admiration.

Zheyüguijian

（乔车洁玲 译）