English Original
A cat befriended a mouse, professing such great love and friendship that the mouse agreed they should live and keep house together. "But we must prepare for winter," said the cat, "or we'll go hungry. You, little mouse, cannot go everywhere safely, lest you be caught in a trap."
The mouse agreed. They bought a pot of fat but didn't know where to store it. After much thought, the cat suggested, "The church is safest; no one dares steal from there. We'll hide it beneath the altar and not touch it until we truly need it."
Soon, the cat craved the fat. She told the mouse, "My cousin has a newborn son and asks me to be godmother. He's white with brown spots. Let me go today, and you mind the house." "Yes, go," said the mouse. "If you get something good, think of me. I'd like a drop of sweet christening wine too."
This was a lie. The cat had no cousin. She went straight to the church, stole to the pot, and licked off the top layer of fat. She then lounged on rooftops, sunbathed, and licked her lips thinking of the fat, returning only at evening.
"You're back," said the mouse. "A merry day, no doubt?" "All went well," replied the cat. "What name did they give the child?" "Top off!" said the cat coolly. "Top off!" cried the mouse. "What an odd, uncommon name! Is it usual in your family?" "What does it matter?" said the cat. "It's no worse than 'Crumb-stealer,' as your godchildren are called."
Not long after, the cat felt another longing. "Do me a favor," she said to the mouse. "Mind the house alone again. I'm asked to be godmother once more; the child has a white ring around its neck, so I cannot refuse." The good mouse consented. The cat crept to the church and devoured half the pot of fat. "Nothing tastes as good as what you keep for yourself," she said, satisfied. At home, the mouse asked, "And what was this child named?" "Half-done," answered the cat. "Half-done! I've never heard such a name! I'll wager it's not on the calendar!"
The cat's mouth soon watered for more. "All good things come in threes," she said. "I'm asked to be godmother again. The child is all black except for white paws—a rare sight. You'll let me go, won't you?" "Top-off! Half-done!" answered the mouse. "Such odd names make me thoughtful." "You sit at home in your dark fur," said the cat, "filling your head with fancies because you never go out by day."
While the cat was gone, the mouse cleaned the house. The greedy cat, however, entirely emptied the pot of fat. "When everything's eaten, one finds peace," she told herself. Well-fed, she returned at night. The mouse asked the third child's name. "It won't please you more than the others," said the cat. "He is called All-gone." "All-gone!" cried the mouse. "That's the most suspicious name! I've never seen it in print. What can it mean?" She shook her head, curled up, and went to sleep.
After this, no one invited the cat to be godmother. When winter came and food was scarce, the mouse remembered their provision. "Come, cat," she said. "Let's go to our pot of fat—we shall enjoy it." "Yes," answered the cat. "You'll enjoy it as much as sticking your dainty tongue out the window."
They set out. The pot was in its place, but empty. "Alas!" said the mouse. "Now I see! You are a true friend! You devoured it all while standing godmother. First 'top off,' then 'half done,' then—" "Hold your tongue!" cried the cat. "One more word and I'll eat you too!" "All gone" was already on the poor mouse's lips. Scarcely had she spoken it before the cat sprang, seized her, and swallowed her down. Verily, that is the way of the world.
中文翻译
一只猫结识了一只老鼠，并对老鼠大谈特谈自己对它的深厚情谊，老鼠最终同意它们一起生活、共同持家。"但我们必须为冬天做准备，"猫说，"否则我们会挨饿。你，小老鼠，不能到处冒险，不然总有一天会被陷阱抓住。"
老鼠同意了。它们买了一罐猪油，但不知道存放在哪里。经过深思熟虑，猫建议："教堂最安全；没人敢从那里偷东西。我们把它藏在祭坛下面，不到真正需要时绝不动用。"
不久，猫开始馋那罐猪油。它告诉老鼠："我的表姐生了个儿子，请我去当教母。他是白色带棕色斑点的。让我今天出去吧，你来看家。" "好的，去吧，"老鼠说。"如果你得到什么好东西，记得我。我也想来一滴甜甜的洗礼红葡萄酒。"
这是个谎言。猫根本没有表姐。它径直去了教堂，偷偷溜到油罐旁，舔掉了最上面一层猪油。然后它在城镇的屋顶上闲逛、晒太阳，一想到那罐猪油就舔舔嘴唇，直到晚上才回家。
"你回来了，"老鼠说。"想必过了愉快的一天？" "一切顺利，"猫回答。"他们给孩子取了什么名字？" "顶层没了！"猫冷冷地说。"顶层没了！"老鼠叫道。"多么奇怪、不寻常的名字！这在你们家很常见吗？" "这有什么关系？"猫说。"这总比你的教子们叫‘偷面包屑的’要好。"
没过多久，猫又感到一阵渴望。"帮我个忙，"它对老鼠说。"再独自看一天家。我又被请去当教母了；这孩子脖子上有一圈白毛，所以我不能拒绝。"好心的老鼠同意了。猫溜到教堂，吃掉了半罐猪油。"没有什么比留给自己独享的东西更美味了，"它心满意足地说。回到家，老鼠问："那这个孩子叫什么名字？" "吃了一半，"猫回答。"吃了一半！我从没听过这样的名字！我敢打赌日历上绝对没有！"
猫的嘴巴很快又馋了。"好事成三，"它说。"我又被请去当教母了。这孩子全身乌黑，只有爪子是白的——这很少见。你会让我去的，对吧？" "顶层没了！吃了一半！"老鼠回答。"这些古怪的名字让我很不安。" "你整天穿着深灰色的毛皮坐在家里，"猫说，"满脑子幻想，因为你白天从不出去。"
猫不在的时候，老鼠打扫了房子。然而，贪婪的猫把整罐猪油吃得一干二净。"当东西全吃光了，人也就安心了，"它自言自语道。吃饱喝足后，它夜里才回家。老鼠立刻问第三个孩子的名字。"它不会比前两个更让你高兴，"猫说。"他叫‘全没了’。" "全没了！"老鼠哭喊道。"这是最可疑的名字了！我从未在书上见过。‘全没了’；这能是什么意思？"它摇摇头，蜷缩起来，躺下睡觉了。
此后，再没人请猫当教母。冬天来临，外面再也找不到食物时，老鼠想起了它们的储备。"来吧，猫，"它说。"我们去拿我们存的那罐猪油——我们可以享用了。" "是啊，"猫回答。"你会享受到的，就像你把那精致的小舌头伸出窗外一样能享受到。"
它们出发了。罐子还在原处，但是空的。"哎呀！"老鼠说。"现在我明白了！你可真是个真朋友！你当教母的时候把东西全吃光了。先是‘顶层没了’，然后‘吃了一半’，然后——" "住嘴！"猫吼道。"再说一个字，我把你也吃了！" "全没了"已经到了可怜的老鼠嘴边。它刚说出这话，猫就扑了上来，抓住它，把它吞了下去。诚然，这就是世道。