156. The Oak And The Wood-Cutters The Wood-cutters cut down a Moun tain Oak, split it in pieces, making wedges of its own branches for dividing the trunk, and for saving their labour. The Oak said with a sigh, "I do not care about the blows of the axe aimed at my roots, but I do grieve at being torn in pieces by these wedges made from my own branches." Misfortunes springing from ourselves are the hardest to bear. | 156. 橡树和樵夫 樵夫从山上砍下一棵橡树,将它劈成一块块的,并用橡树的枝丫做成的楔子来劈砍树干,藉此可以节省一些劳力。 橡树叹息地说:「我不恨那砍下我的根的斧头,我只伤心被自己枝丫做成的楔子来劈开。」 自取之祸是最难过的。 |