The Fox and the Cat
A free B1-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A boastful fox mocks a cat for knowing only one trick, until a pack of hunting dogs shows whose trick actually saves its life.
It happened that the cat met the fox in a forest, and as she thought to herself, “He is clever and full of experience, and much esteemed in the world,” she spoke to him in a friendly way. “Good-day, dear Mr. Fox, how are you? How is all with you? How are you getting through this dear season?”
Suatu ketika seekor kucing bertemu dengan seekor rubah di hutan, dan sambil berpikir dalam hati, "Ia cerdik dan penuh pengalaman, serta sangat dihormati di dunia," ia pun menyapanya dengan ramah. "Selamat siang, Tuan Rubah yang terhormat, apa kabar? Bagaimana semuanya dengan Anda? Bagaimana Anda melewati musim yang menyenangkan ini?"
The fox, full of all kinds of arrogance, looked at the cat from head to foot, and for a long time did not know whether he would give any answer or not. At last he said, “Oh, thou wretched beard-cleaner, thou piebald fool, thou hungry mouse-hunter, what canst thou be thinking of? Dost thou venture to ask how I am getting on? What hast thou learnt? How many arts dost thou understand?”
Sang rubah, penuh dengan segala macam keangkuhan, memandang kucing itu dari ujung kepala hingga ujung ekor, dan untuk waktu yang lama tidak tahu apakah ia akan memberikan jawaban atau tidak. Akhirnya ia berkata, "Oh, kau si pembersih janggut yang menyedihkan, si dungu berbulu belang, si pemburu tikus yang kelaparan, apa yang sedang kau pikirkan? Beranikah kau bertanya bagaimana keadaanku? Apa yang telah kau pelajari? Berapa banyak keahlian yang kau pahami?"
“I understand but one,” replied the cat, modestly. “What art is that?” asked the fox. “When the hounds are following me, I can spring into a tree and save myself.” “Is that all?” said the fox. “I am master of a hundred arts, and have into the bargain a sackful of cunning. Thou makest me sorry for thee; come with me, I will teach thee how people get away from the hounds.”
"Aku hanya memahami satu," jawab kucing itu dengan rendah hati. "Keahlian apa itu?" tanya sang rubah. "Ketika anjing-anjing pemburu mengejarku, aku bisa melompat ke atas pohon dan menyelamatkan diriku." "Hanya itu saja?" kata sang rubah. "Aku menguasai seratus keahlian, dan sebagai tambahan aku punya sekantong penuh kecerdikan. Kau membuatku merasa kasihan padamu; ikutlah denganku, aku akan mengajarimu bagaimana caranya orang-orang lolos dari anjing-anjing pemburu."
Just then came a hunter with four dogs. The cat sprang nimbly up a tree, and sat down on top of it, where the branches and foliage quite concealed her. “Open your sack, Mr. Fox, open your sack,” cried the cat to him, but the dogs had already seized him, and were holding him fast. “Ah, Mr. Fox,” cried the cat. “You with your hundred arts are left in the lurch! Had you been able to climb like me, you would not have lost your life.”
Tepat pada saat itu datanglah seorang pemburu dengan empat ekor anjing. Sang kucing melompat cekatan ke atas pohon, dan duduk di puncaknya, di mana ranting-ranting dan dedaunan menyembunyikannya dengan sempurna. "Buka kantongmu, Tuan Rubah, buka kantongmu," teriak si kucing kepadanya, tetapi anjing-anjing itu sudah menerkamnya, dan menahannya erat-erat. "Ah, Tuan Rubah," teriak si kucing. "Anda dengan seratus keahlian Anda kini terjebak dalam kesulitan! Andai Anda bisa memanjat seperti aku, Anda tidak akan kehilangan nyawa Anda."
