古代寓言原是民间口头创作，文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人，可以是动物，也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法，使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现，而还需要自己去理解，思考，这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。

《古代寓言·黔驴技穷》

黔无驴，有好事者，船载以入；至则无可用，放之山下。虎见之，庞然大物也，以为神；蔽林间窥之，稍出近之，憗憗然，莫相知。他日，驴一鸣，虎大骇远遁，以为且噬已也，甚恐；然往来视之，觉无异能者；益习其声，又近出前后，终不敢博。稍近益狎，荡倚冲冒，驴不胜怒，蹄之。虎因喜，计之曰：“技止此耳！”因跳踉大?，断其喉，尽其肉，乃去。

——《柳河东集》

The Donkey of Guizhou

There were no donkeys in Guizhou until an eccentric took one there by boat; but finding no use for it he set it loose in the hills. A tiger who saw this monstrous-looking beast thought it must be divine. It first surveyed the donkey from under cover, then ventured a little nearer, still keeping a respectful distance however.

One day the donkey brayed, and the tiger took fright and fled, for fear of being bitten. It was utterly terrified. But it came back for another look, and decided this creature was not so formidable after all. Then, growing used to the braying, it drew nearer, though it still dared not attack. Coming nearer still, it began to take liberties, shoving, jostling, and charging roughly, till the donkey lost its temper and kicked out.

"So that is all it can do!" thought the tiger, greatly pleased.

Then it leaped on the donkey and sank its teeth into it, severing its throat and devouring it before going on its way.

Collected Works of Liu Zongyuan

（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）

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