The Fox and the Woodcutter

A FOX, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter felling an oak and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Woodcutter advised him to take shelter in his own hut, so the Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner. The huntsman soon came up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if he had seen the Fox. He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he was speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing his word, hastened forward in the chase. As soon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, “You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you leave me without a word of thanks.” The Fox replied, “Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently if your deeds had been as good as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to your speech.”

(DeepL)猟犬の前を走っていた一匹の狐が、樫を伐採している木こりに出くわし、安全な隠れ家を教えてくれるよう頼んだ。木こりは自分の小屋に避難するよう勧めたので、キツネは忍び込んで隅に隠れた。やがて猟師が猟犬を連れてやってきて、木こりに狐を見なかったかと尋ねた。木こりは狐を見なかったと言いながら、狐が隠れている小屋をずっと指差して話していました。猟師はその気配に気づかず、彼の言葉を信じて追跡を急ぎました。すると、狐は木こりを見向きもせずに去っていったので、木こりは狐を呼んで、「この恩知らずめ、命を預かっておきながら、一言の礼もなく去っていくとは」と非難した。狐は答えた。「確かに、あなたの行いが言葉と同じように素晴らしく、あなたの手が言葉を裏切ることがなければ、私はあなたに熱烈に感謝するところでした」。