English Original
A man caught a jackdaw, tied a string to its leg, and gave it to his children as a pet. The jackdaw disliked living with people. After a while, when it seemed tame and was less closely watched, it slipped away and flew back to its old haunts.
Unfortunately, the string was still on its leg. It soon became entangled in the branches of a tree, and the jackdaw could not free itself, no matter how hard it tried. Realizing its fate was sealed, it cried in despair, "Alas, in gaining my freedom I have lost my life."
中文翻译
一个男人捉住了一只寒鸦，在它腿上系了根绳子，然后送给孩子们当宠物。这只寒鸦很不喜欢和人类生活在一起。过了一段时间，当它显得比较温顺、人们看管也不那么严密时，它便溜走了，飞回了它昔日的栖息地。
不幸的是，那根绳子仍然绑在它的腿上。绳子很快就被树枝缠住了，无论寒鸦如何努力挣扎，都无法挣脱。意识到自己已无生路，它绝望地哭喊道：“唉，我虽重获自由，却也因此丢了性命。”