A hare was very popular with other beasts who all claimed to beher friends. But one day she heard the hounds approaching and hoped to escape them by the aid of her many friends. So， she went to the horse， and asked him to carry her away from the hounds on his back. But the horse refused， saying that he had important work to do for his master. He said he felt sure that all her other friends would come to her assistance. The hare then had to go to the bull， and hoped that he would drive the hounds away with his horns. The bull replied， \"I am very sorry， but I have an appointment with a lady; but I feel sure that our friend the goat will do what you want.\" The goat， however， feared that his back might do her some harm if he took her upon it. The ram， the goat felt sure， was the proper friend to apply to. So the hare went to the ram and told him the case. The ram replied， \"Another time， my dear friend. I do not like to interfere on the present occasion， as hounds have been known to eat sheep as well as hares.\" The hare then applied， as a last hope， to the calf， who regretted that he was unable to help her， as he did not like to take the responsibility upon himself， as so many older beasts than himself had declined the task. By this time the hounds were quite near， and the hare took to her heels and luckily escaped.

This tale shows that he who has many friends， has no friends.

一只野兔，頗受歡迎。所有的動物都說是她的朋友。一天，野兔聽說一群獵狗來了，就想讓朋友們幫她逃過這一劫。她首先找到了馬。讓馬把她馱走。可是馬不愿意幫忙，說他還要為主人做很多重要的活兒。馬還說他相信其他的朋友肯定會幫忙的。野兔只有去找公牛，想讓公牛用犄角把獵狗趕跑。公牛說：“非常抱歉。我和一位女士已經(jīng)約好了。不過，我相信我們的朋友山羊肯定會幫忙的。”然而山羊擔(dān)心如果野兔坐在他背上會讓他的脊背硌傷的。山羊認(rèn)為公羊是適合求助的朋友。野兔找到公羊說明了情況，公羊說：“下次吧，我親愛的朋友。我可不愿介入這件事。因為獵狗不但吃兔子。還會吃羊的?！币巴脩阎詈笠痪€希望來找小牛。小牛說他很遺憾幫不了忙。他說那么多比他大的動物都不愿管，他也不愿管這種事。這時，獵狗已經(jīng)逼近，野免只好撒腿就跑，很幸運，她逃脫了。

這則寓言告訴我們：朋友太多，等于沒有。