The Dog and The Wolf
A hungry wolf envies a well-fed dog’s life with humans. Will he give up his freedom for comfort and food?
On a quiet evening, a hungry wolf wandered through the countryside. He searched for something to eat. As he got close to a village, he spotted a dog resting quietly under a tree. The dog looked strong, well-fed, and very happy.
The wolf’s stomach growled as he watched him. "You look like you never go hungry," the wolf said, walking closer. "How do you live so well?"
The dog wagged his tail. "It’s easy!" he said. "I live with kind people. They give me food and a warm place to sleep. All I have to do is guard their house and keep them safe."
The wolf’s ears perked up. "That sounds wonderful! Do you think I could live like that, too?"
"Of course!" said the dog. "Come with me, and I’ll take you to my owner. They’ll take care of you, too."
The wolf smiled and walked beside the dog, dreaming of warm meals and a soft bed. But as they strolled, he noticed something strange on the dog’s neck. "What’s that mark?" he asked.
The dog glanced down. "Oh, this? It’s from my collar. My owner ties me up during the day so I don’t wander off. But at night, I can move around to guard the house."
The wolf stopped in his tracks. "Wait… you mean you can’t go wherever you want?"
The dog nodded. "That’s right, but I get plenty of food and a cozy place to sleep, so I don’t mind."
The wolf frowned and thought for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather be free, even if it means finding my own food."
With that, he turned and trotted back into the wild, still hungry but free.
Featured in the Book Audio available for B1 version
On a quiet evening, a hungry wolf wandered through the countryside.
He searched for something to eat.
As he got close to a village, he spotted a dog resting quietly under a tree.
The dog looked strong, well-fed, and very happy.
The wolf’s stomach growled as he watched him.
"You look like you never go hungry," the wolf said, walking closer.
"How do you live so well?"
The dog wagged his tail. "It’s easy!" he said.
"I live with kind people.
They give me food and a warm place to sleep.
All I have to do is guard their house and keep them safe."
The wolf’s ears perked up.
"That sounds wonderful!
Do you think I could live like that, too?"
"Of course!" said the dog.
"Come with me, and I’ll take you to my owner.
They’ll take care of you, too."
The wolf smiled and walked beside the dog, dreaming of warm meals and a soft bed.
But as they strolled, he noticed something strange on the dog’s neck.
"What’s that mark?" he asked.
The dog glanced down. "Oh, this?
It’s from my collar.
My owner ties me up during the day so I don’t wander off.
But at night, I can move around to guard the house."
The wolf stopped in his tracks.
"Wait… you mean you can’t go wherever you want?"
The dog nodded.
"That’s right, but I get plenty of food and a cozy place to sleep, so I don’t mind."
The wolf frowned and thought for a moment.
Then he took a deep breath and shook his head.
"Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather be free, even if it means finding my own food."
With that, he turned and trotted back into the wild, still hungry but free.
في يوم مشمس، كان هناك ذئب جائع يتجول في الريف يبحث عن طعام. بالقرب من قرية، رأى كلبًا يبدو بصحة جيدة وسعيدًا. شعر الذئب ببعض الغيرة وسأل الكلب كيف يبدو بهذه الحال الجيدة.
قال الكلب: "أعيش مع الناس الذين يعطونني الطعام ومكانًا للنوم. في المقابل، أحمي بيتهم."
فكر الذئب أن هذه الحياة تبدو رائعة وقال: "ربما أستطيع أن أعيش معك وأحظى بحياة سهلة أيضًا؟"
أجاب الكلب: "بالتأكيد، تعال معي وسأعرفك على صاحبي."
بينما كانا يمشيان معًا، لاحظ الذئب علامة حول عنق الكلب. فسأله: "ما هذه العلامة على عنقك؟"
أوضح الكلب: "هذه من طوقي. يربطني صاحبي أثناء النهار ويطلقني في الليل لحراسة البيت."
توقف الذئب عن المشي وفكر للحظة. "إذن، لا يمكنك الذهاب إلى أي مكان تريده؟"
هز الكلب رأسه وقال: "نعم، لكني أحصل على الطعام ومكان دافئ للنوم."
بعد التفكير فيما قاله الكلب، قرر الذئب. "شكرًا على العرض، لكن لا أريد أن أعيش بهذه الطريقة. أفضل أن أكون حرًا وأجد طعامي بنفسي على أن أكون مشبعًا ولكن غير حر."
وبهذه الكلمات، استدار الذئب وركض نحو الغابة.
Eines sonnigen Tages spazierte ein hungriger Wolf durch die Landschaft und suchte nach etwas zu essen.
In der Nähe eines Dorfes sah er einen Hund, der sehr gesund und glücklich aussah.
Der Wolf wurde ein wenig neidisch und fragte den Hund, warum er so gut aussah.
Der Hund sagte: "Ich lebe bei Menschen, die mir Futter und einen Platz zum Schlafen geben.
Im Gegenzug beschütze ich ihr Haus."
Der Wolf fand, dass das nach einem großartigen Leben klang und sagte: "Vielleicht könnte ich bei dir leben und auch so ein ruhiges Leben führen?"
Der Hund antwortete: "Klar, komm mit mir, ich stelle dich meinem Besitzer vor."
Als sie zusammen gingen, bemerkte der Wolf Spuren um den Hals des Hundes.
Er fragte: "Was ist das an deinem Hals?"
Der Hund erklärte: "Das kommt von meinem Halsband.
Mein Besitzer bindet mich tagsüber an und lässt mich nachts los, um das Haus zu bewachen."
Der Wolf blieb stehen und dachte nach.
"Also kannst du nicht hingehen, wohin du willst?"
Der Hund nickte: "Ja, aber ich bekomme Futter und einen warmen Schlafplatz."
Nachdem er darüber nachgedacht hatte, entschied der Wolf: "Danke für das Angebot, aber ich möchte nicht so leben.
Ich bin lieber frei und finde mein eigenes Futter, als gut genährt zu sein, aber nicht frei."
Mit diesen Worten drehte sich der Wolf um und rannte zurück in den Wald.
एक धूप भरे दिन, एक भूखा भेड़िया जंगल के बाहर इधर-उधर खाने की खोज में घूम रहा था। एक गाँव के पास उसे एक कुत्ता दिखाई दिया जो बहुत ही स्वस्थ और सुखी लग रहा था। भेड़िये को उसे देख कुछ ईर्ष्या हुई और उसने कुत्ते से पूछा कि वह इतना अच्छा कैसे दिखता है।
कुत्ते ने कहा, “मैं लोगों के साथ रहता हूँ, जो मुझे खाना और सोने के लिए जगह देते हैं। बदले में, मैं उनके घर की सुरक्षा करता हूँ।
भेड़िये को यह बहुत ही अच्छा जीवन लगा और उसने कहा, “शायद मैं भी तुम्हारे साथ रह कर आराम का जीवन बिता सकता हूँ?”
कुत्ते ने कहा, “बिल्कुल, मेरे साथ चलो और मैं तुम्हें अपने मालिक से मिलवाता हूँ।”
साथ चलते-चलते, भेड़िये को कुत्ते की गर्दन पर एक निशान दिखाई दिया। उसने पूछा, “तुम्हारी गर्दन पर ये क्या है?”
कुत्ते ने बताया, “ये निशान मेरे पट्टे से बना है। मेरा मालिक मुझे दिन में बांधकर रखता है और रात में घर की रखवाली करने के लिए छोड़ देता है।”
भेड़िया रुककर थोड़ा सोचने लगा, “तो क्या तुम जहाँ चाहो वहाँ नहीं जा सकते?”
कुत्ते ने सहमती जताते हुए कहा, “हाँ, लेकिन इसके बदले मुझे खाना और सोने के लिए एक आरामदायक स्थान मिलता है।”
कुत्ते की यह बात सुन भेड़िये ने अपना निर्णय लिया। “तुम्हारे प्रस्ताव के लिए धन्यवाद, लेकिन मैं इस तरह का जीवन नहीं जीना चाहता। मैं अपना भोजन स्वयं ही ढूंढ कर स्वतंत्र रहना पसंद करूँगा, बजाय इसके कि मेरा पेट भरा रहे पर मैं स्वतंत्र न रहूं।”
ऐसा कह कर भेड़िया वापस जंगल की ओर चला गया।
Det var en gång en hungrig varg som vandrade omkring på landsbygden i solskenet och letade efter mat. Nära en by såg han en hund som såg väldigt frisk och glad ut. Vargen blev lite avundsjuk och frågade hunden hur det kom sig att den såg så välmående ut.
Hunden svarade: "Jag bor hos människor som ger mig mat och en plats att sova på. I utbyte skyddar jag deras hus."
Vargen tyckte att det lät som ett härligt liv och sa: "Kanske kan jag bo med dig och leva ett lika enkelt liv som du?"
Hunden svarade: "Självklart! Följ med mig så ska jag presentera dig för min ägare."
Bäst som de gick där tillsammans såg vargen plötsligt ett märke runt hundens hals. Han frågade: "Vad är det där på din hals?"
Hunden förklarade: "Det är från mitt halsband. Min husse binder fast mig under dagen och släpper mig lös på natten för att jag ska vakta huset."
Vargen stannade upp och tänkte efter en stund. "Så du kan inte gå vart du vill?"
Hunden nickade: "Just det, men jag får mat och en varm plats att sova på."
Efter att ha funderat på vad hunden sagt, bestämde sig vargen: "Tack för erbjudandet, men jag vill inte leva så. Jag vill hellre vara fri och hitta min egen mat än att vara mätt men inte fri."
Med de orden vände vargen om och sprang iväg in i skogen.
有一天，阳光明媚，一只饥饿的狼在乡村里四处寻找食物。靠近一个村庄时，他看到了一只看起来非常健康和快乐的狗。狼感到有些嫉妒，便问狗为什么它看起来过得这么好。
狗回答道：“我和人类住在一起，他们给我食物和睡觉的地方。作为回报，我保护他们的房子。”
狼觉得这听起来像是一种很不错的生活，便说：“也许我可以和你一起住，过上这种轻松的生活？”
狗回答说：“当然可以，跟我来，我把你介绍给我的主人。”
当他们一起走路时，狼注意到狗脖子上有一个印记。他问道：“你脖子上那是什么？”
狗解释道：“那是我的项圈留下的印子。白天我的主人把我拴起来，到了晚上才让我去看家。”
狼停下了脚步，思考了一会儿。“那就是说，你不能随便去你想去的地方？”
狗点了点头，说：“是的，但我有食物吃，还有温暖的地方睡觉。”
狼听了狗的话后，做出了决定。“谢谢你的好意，但我不想那样生活。我宁愿自由自在地寻找食物，也不愿吃得好却没有自由。”
说完这些话，狼转身跑回了森林里。
Kwakungorhatya, kuzolle. Ingcuka yayilambile ibhadula emaphandleni, ikhangela into etyiwayo. Wathi xa esondela kwilali ethile, wabona inja izithulele, iphumle phantsi komthi. Inja yayikhangeleka yomelele,yondlekile kwaye yonwabile kakhulu.
Isisu sengcuka sagquma embukele. "Ukhangeleka ngathi awufane ulambe," yatsho ingcuka, isondela. "Uphila njani kakuhle kangaka?"
Inja washukumisa umsila wayo. "Kulula!" yatsho. "Ndihlala nabantu abanobubele. Bandinika ukutya nendawo efudumeleyo yokulala. Into ekufuneka ndiyenze kukugada indlu yabo kwaye ndibagcine bekhuselekile."
Ingcuka yaphaphama yazisa iindlebe. "uvakala kumnandi oko! Ingaba ucinga ukuba ndingaphila ngolohlobo nam?"
"Ewe!" yatsho inja. "Yiza nam, ndizakusa kumnini wam. Bazokukunyamekela nawe."
Ingcuka yancuma yahamba ecaleni kwenja, iphupha ngokutya okufudumeleyo kunye nebhedi ethambileyo. Kodwa bathe basahamba, ingcuka yabona into engaqhelekanga entanyeni yenja. "Yintoni lento?" yabuza.
Inja yajonga phantsi. "hee, oku? Yenziwe yikhola yentambo yam. Umnini wam uyandibopha emini ukuze ndingabhaduli. Kodwa ebusuku, ndiyakwazi ukujikeleza ukuze ndigade indlu."
Ingcuka yema endleleni ngoko nangoko. "Yima, uthetha ukuba awukwazi ukuya naphi na apho ufuna khona?"
Inja yanqwala. "Kunjalo! , kodwa ndifumana ukutya okuninzi kunye nendawo epholileyo yokulala, ngoko andinangxaki."
Ingcuka yafinga iintshiyi yaza yacinga okomzuzwana. Emva koko yaphefumla kakhulu yaze yashukumisa intloko. "Enkosi ngesibonelelo, kodwa ndithanda ukukhululeka, nokuba oko kuthetha ukuzifumanela ukutya.”
Ngoko ke, ingcuka yajika yabuyela endle, ilambile kodwa ikhululekile.
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Word Finder
Wandered
Moved around without a clear direction.Countryside
Land with farms, trees, and small villages.Spotted
Saw something suddenly or from far away.Growled
Made a deep, angry stomach or animal sound.Perked
Moved up quickly because of excitement.Strolled
Walked slowly in a relaxed way.Strange
Different from usual, making you curious.Collar
A band around an animal’s neck.Tracks
The place where someone was walking.Trotted
Walked fast but not running.
Understanding Questions
- Where did the wolf see the dog for the first time?
- What did the dog say he had to do in exchange for food and shelter?
- Why did the wolf decide to follow the dog at first?
- What did the wolf notice on the dog’s neck?
- What made the wolf change his mind about living with the dog’s owner?
Reflection Questions
- Why did the wolf feel jealous when he saw the dog?
- What made the wolf decide not to live with the dog’s owner?
- Can you think of a time when you had to choose between freedom and comfort? What did you choose, and why?
- What does this story teach us about the importance of being free?
- How can we make choices that balance our needs for freedom and security in our daily lives?
Fable Quotes
Better a hungry wolf than a chained dog.
Full bellies don't make full hearts, contentment does.
Every choice we make comes with its own consequences.
Just One More Fable
- Unity
- Responsibility
Council of Horses
A young horse questions serving humans, but an older horse explains they benefit each other, calming the young horse.
- Arrogance
- Perseverance
The Tortoise and the Hare
Steady and patient, a slow tortoise dares to race against a confident hare. Who will cross the finish line first?
- Bravery
- Caution
The Fisherman and the Genie
A poor fisherman releases a genie from a jar, cleverly traps it again, and is rewarded with riches.
- Empathy
- Teamwork
The Donkey and the Mule
A man, an Donkey, and a Mule went on a trip with heavy bags; the Mule refuses to help the tired Donkey, but regrets it later.
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“The Dog and The Wolf” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
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