Two Soldiers travelling together were set upon by a Robber. One of them ran away, but the other stood his ground, and laid about him so lustily with his sword that the Robber was fain to fly and leave him in peace. When the coast was clear the timid one ran back, and, flourishing his weapon, cried in a threatening voice, “Where is he? Let me get at him, and I'll soon let him know whom he's got to deal with.” But the other replied, “You are a little late, my friend: I only wish you had backed me up just now, even if you had done no more than speak, for I should have been encouraged, believing your words to be true. As it is, calm yourself, and put up your sword: there is no further use for it. You may delude others into thinking you're as brave as a lion: but I know that, at the first sign of danger, you run away like a hare.”
有兩個士兵結(jié)伴旅行,路上遇到了劫匪。一個士兵撒腿就跑,但是另一個站在原地,拔出自己的劍,英姿勃發(fā)地指著劫匪,劫匪不得不逃走。等事情平息之后,那個膽小鬼回來了,揮動著自己的武器,口里說著威脅的話語:“他在哪兒?讓我來對付他,我很快就能讓他見識到他要打劫的是誰!”但另一個士兵回答說:“太晚了,我的朋友,我真希望剛才你能夠支持我,哪怕只是動動嘴而已,那樣我也會受到鼓勵,相信你說的話是真的。而現(xiàn)在,你還是安靜下來,把劍收起來吧,這已經(jīng)沒有什么用了。你也許能讓別人以為你像獅子一樣勇敢,但是我知道,一遇到危險,你會像兔子一樣逃命?!?/p>