English Original
A fox, while swimming across a rapid river, was swept by the current into a deep ravine. He lay there for a long time, badly bruised, sick, and unable to move. A swarm of hungry, blood-sucking flies settled on him.
A hedgehog, passing by, saw the fox's anguish and asked if he should drive the tormenting flies away.
"By no means," replied the fox. "Please do not disturb them."
"How is this?" said the hedgehog. "Do you not wish to be rid of them?"
"No," returned the fox. "These flies you see are already full of blood and sting me but little. If you rid me of these satiated ones, other, hungrier flies will come in their place and drink up all the blood I have left."
中文翻译
一只狐狸在横渡一条湍急的河流时，被水流冲进了一个深谷。他在那里躺了很久，遍体鳞伤，虚弱不堪，无法动弹。一群饥饿的吸血苍蝇落在了他身上。
一只路过的刺猬看到了狐狸的痛苦，便询问是否应该赶走那些折磨他的苍蝇。
“千万不要，”狐狸回答道，“请不要打扰它们。”
“这是为什么？”刺猬说，“你难道不想摆脱它们吗？”
“不想，”狐狸回答说，“你看到的这些苍蝇已经吸饱了血，不怎么叮咬我了。如果你帮我赶走这些已经餍足的苍蝇，其他更饥饿的苍蝇就会取而代之，把我仅剩的血都吸干。”