The Fox and the Crow
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 7 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
A cunning fox showers a crow with compliments about her beautiful voice — all to get her to open her beak and drop her cheese.
One bright morning a Crow sat in a tree with a fine piece of cheese in her beak.
Pada suatu pagi yang cerah, seekor Gagak bertengger di atas pohon dengan sepotong keju yang lezat di paruhnya.
A Fox, passing below, caught the scent of the cheese and looked up hungrily.
Seekor Rubah yang melintas di bawahnya mencium aroma keju itu dan mendongak dengan lapar.
"Good morning, mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you look today! How glossy your feathers, how bright your eye. I am sure your voice must be sweeter than that of any other bird. Let me hear just one song, and I shall greet you as the Queen of Birds."
"Selamat pagi, Nyonya Gagak," serunya. "Betapa cantiknya engkau hari ini! Betapa berkilau bulumu, betapa cerah matamu. Aku yakin suaramu pasti lebih merdu daripada burung mana pun. Biarkan aku mendengar satu lagu saja, dan aku akan menyapamu sebagai Ratu Para Burung."
The Crow was so pleased by this flattery that she lifted up her head to sing. But the moment she opened her beak, the piece of cheese fell to the ground, and the Fox snapped it up at once.
Gagak itu begitu senang mendengar pujian itu sehingga ia mengangkat kepalanya untuk bernyanyi. Namun begitu ia membuka paruhnya, potongan keju itu jatuh ke tanah, dan Rubah segera menyambarnya.
"You have a voice, madam, I see," said the Fox. "What you lack is wit."
"Kau memang punya suara, Nyonya, aku lihat," kata Rubah itu. "Yang kau kurang adalah akal budi."
Do not trust those who flatter you.
Jangan percaya pada mereka yang menyanjungmu.
