蝙蝠、鸟和兽
The bat, the birds, and the beasts
鸟类和兽类要打仗。蝙蝠对鸟类说它是兽，不是鸟，对兽们说它是鸟，不是兽，这样它两边都不用参战。后来鸟和兽和解了，大家也不再理会蝙蝠了。
A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said: “ come with us”; but he said: “I am Beast.” Later on , some Beast who were passing underneath him looked up and said: “come with us”; but he said: “I am a Bird.” Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned against him and he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. “Ah ,”said the Bat, “I see now, he that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.”
