English Original
One fine winter day, some ants were busy drying their store of corn, which had become damp after a long spell of rain. Presently, a grasshopper came up and begged them for a few grains. "For," she said, "I am simply starving."
The ants paused in their work, though it was against their principles. "May we ask," they said, "what you were doing all last summer? Why didn't you collect a store of food for the winter?"
"The fact is," replied the grasshopper, "I was so busy singing that I had no time."
"If you spent the summer singing," replied the ants, "you can't do better than spend the winter dancing." And they chuckled and went on with their work.
中文翻译
一个晴朗的冬日，一些蚂蚁正忙着晾晒它们储存的谷物，这些谷物在经历了一段长时间的降雨后变得潮湿了。这时，一只蚱蜢走过来，乞求它们施舍几粒谷物。"因为，"她说，"我简直要饿死了。"
蚂蚁们停下了工作，尽管这违背了它们的准则。"我们可以问一下吗，"它们说，"你整个夏天都在做什么？你为什么没有为冬天储备食物呢？"
"事实是，"蚱蜢回答道，"我忙着唱歌，所以没有时间。"
"如果你把夏天花在唱歌上，"蚂蚁们回答，"那你最好把冬天花在跳舞上。" 它们咯咯地笑了笑，然后继续工作。