English Original
A clam swam to the riverbank and opened its shell to bask in the sun.
A snipe flew by and, spotting what looked like a piece of red meat on the ground, swooped down and pecked at the clam. Before the snipe could withdraw its beak, the clam, feeling a sharp pain, snapped its shell shut, gripping the beak tightly. The snipe shook its head violently, trying to free itself, but the clam held fast.
"Listen here, clam!" the snipe said angrily. "If it doesn't rain today or tomorrow, you'll die of thirst right here on the bank. Now, let me go!"
The clam was equally furious. "You listen! If I don't let you go today or tomorrow, you'll die of hunger. Do you still dare to eat me?"
Locked in combat and quarreling, neither was willing to yield. Just then, an old fisherman came along. He picked up both the snipe and the clam and took them home for his dinner.
中文翻译
一只河蚌游到岸边，张开蚌壳晒太阳。
一只鹬鸟飞过，看到地上有一块鲜美的肉，便俯冲下来啄向河蚌。鹬的嘴还没来得及收回，河蚌突然感到一阵剧痛，迅速合上了蚌壳，紧紧夹住了鹬的长嘴。鹬猛烈地甩头想挣脱，但河蚌夹得非常紧，鹬怎么也甩不掉。
鹬生气地说：“你给我听着，河蚌！今天不下雨，明天也不下雨，你就会干死在这岸上。快放开我！”
河蚌也愤怒地说：“你听着！我今天不放你，明天也不放你，你就会饿死。你还敢吃我吗？”
鹬和蚌争斗不休，争吵不止，谁也不肯先让步。就在这时，一位老渔夫走了过来。他捡起了鹬和蚌，把它们带回家当晚餐了。