中文翻译版:
一只饥肠辘辘的狐狸,看见缠绕在高架上的葡萄枝挂着几串成熟的葡萄,就尽力向上跳,想要摘下那些葡萄。但无论他怎么努力,也是徒劳无功,因为他始终够不着那些葡萄。于是他放弃了,反而带着不屑一顾的样子走开了,边走边说:“还以为那些葡萄已经熟透了呢,现在看来根本就是酸葡萄。”
文言版:
有一饥狐,道逢葡萄树,见果硕于枝,欲耸身摘之,未得,乃曰:“彼诚酸果也。”
英文原版:
THE FOX AND THE GRAPES
A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain, for they were just out of reach: so he gave up trying, and walked away with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, “I thought those grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour.”