Bring a wolf home

Bring a wolf home

　Once there was a shepherd herded¹ sheep in mountains as usual. When he saw a wolf following his sheep far behind, he began to stay alert. However, after a few months, the wolf didn’t hurt any sheep at all. Instead, other wild animals didn’t dare to walk close to the flock² because of the wolf. Seeing this, the shepherd thought, “It seems that the wolf is not as cruel and tricky as people said. If I can get the wolf to watch my sheep, other wild animals will not hurt my sheep anymore.” Then he took that wolf into the sheepfold³.

　One day, the shepherd had something to deal with in the town. Before leaving home, he told the wolf to take good care of the sheep. The wolf agreed happily. But soon after he left the sheepfold, the wolf howled⁴ and called out many wolves here. All the sheep were eaten by the wolves. When the shepherd came back, he found that all his sheep were gone. He was so regret. But he could do nothing to make up.

Notes:

1. herd v. 放牧 2. flock n. 羊群 3. sheepfold n. 羊圈 4. howl v. 嚎叫