正文
A sheep was once forced to submit（服从） to much harm from the other animals. He therefore appeared before Jupiter, and begged him to lessen his misery.
从前，有一只绵羊总是受到其他动物的伤害。于是它来到朱庇特面前，请求他减轻自己的痛苦。
Jupiter appeared willing, and said to the sheep, “I see plainly, my pious（虔诚的） creature, that I have created you too defenseless. Now choose how I had best remedy this fault. Shall I arm your jaws with terrible fangs and your feet with claws?”
朱庇特很乐意帮助它，于是他说：“我虔诚的羊儿，我知道我把你们创造得太软弱了。现在，你来选一个让我弥补这个错误的好办法吧。要我让你的嘴里长出獠牙，让你的脚上长出尖爪吗？”
“Oh, no！” exclaimed the sheep. “I will have nothing in common with the beasts of prey.” “Or,” said Jupiter, “shall I make your bite poisonous（毒牙）?” “Alas！” replied the sheep. “The poisonous snakes are so sadly detested（厌恶的）.”
“哦，不！”绵羊叫道，“我可不想和那些猛兽一样。” “或者，”朱庇特说，“我也可以让你长出毒牙。” “天哪！”绵羊回答说，“我可不想变成毒蛇那样令人厌恶的动物。”
“Well, what shall I do? Shall I plant horns on your forehead, and give strength to your neck?” “Nor that, gracious（仁慈的） father; I should then butt（碰撞） like the goat.”
“那我该怎么办呢？要不我让你的额头长出犄角，再让你的脖颈变得粗壮？”那也不行，仁慈的天父；那样的话，我就会像山羊一样用头乱撞。”
“At the same time you would be able to injure others, if I gave you the means of defending yourself.”
“假如我让你能够自卫，你自然就会伤到别人。”朱庇特说。 “真的有必要那样吗？”
“Should I, indeed?” sighed the sheep. “Oh！Then leave me, merciful father, as I am. For the power of injuring would, I am fearful, awake the desire of doing so; and it is better to suffer harm, than to inflict it.”
绵羊叹息道，“哦！仁慈的天父，那我还是保持现在这样吧！因为我担心，如果我拥有了伤害他人的能力，就会产生这样做的欲望；我宁可受到伤害，也不要去伤害别人。”
Jupiter blessed the pious（虔诚的） sheep, who ceased（停止） from that moment his complaints.
最后，朱庇特祝福了这只虔诚的绵羊。从此以后，绵羊就再也不抱怨了。
真正的善良是宁可被人伤害，也不愿伤害他人。
朱庇特（拉丁语：Iuppiter、英语：Jupiter），是罗马神话中统领神域和凡间的众神之王，古老的天空神及光明、法律之神，也是罗马十二主神之首。他的寺庙位于卡皮托尔山，极其宏伟、庄严，古时候便被尊奉为拉丁联盟的佑护神，对应希腊神话中的宙斯。