On a wild mountain, two goats met on a ledge just over a high cliff. 在一座偏远的山上，两只山羊在高耸的悬崖边上的岩礁相遇。

　　The ledge was so narrow, that there was neither room for them to pass each other nor to turn round and go back. 那块岩礁很狭窄，任何一只山羊都无法继续向前通过，也无法回头。

　　A steep rock rose straight above them—a deep dark chasm lay below! What do you think the two goats did? 一块陡峭的岩石伫立在它们上面，地下就是万丈深渊！在这种情况下，你认为这两只山羊会怎么做呢？

　　One of them with great care laid himself down on the narrow ledge, pressing as close to the rock as he could. 其中一只山羊躺在岩礁上，身体尽可能的贴近岩石。

　　Then the other goat gently and softly stepped over his friend, till, safely past him, he could lightly bound away. 另外一只山羊则轻轻地、慢慢地踏着它的伙伴的身体离开了。

　　The goat that had lain down then drew himself up from his lowly place, safe and sound, free to spring again from rock to rock, and crop the sweet grass on the hills. 然后，那只平躺着的山羊挺直着身体，不用再岩石上跳来跳去，可以直接品尝山上的鲜美的草。

　　Two other goats had left the valley, and climbed far up the mountain. 还有两只山羊离开了山谷，往高高的山上爬。

　　At length they met on the banks of a wild, rushing stream. 最后它们在一条激流的岸边相遇。

　　A tree had fallen across the stream, and formed a bridge from the one side to the other. 有一棵树倒了下来，像一条桥一样横在河流的两边。

　　The goats looked at each other, and each wished to pass over first. 这两只山羊你看着我，我看着你，心里都希望自己能先过到对岸。

　　They stood for a moment with one foot on the tree, each thinking that the other would draw back. 它们一只脚搭在树木上站了一会儿，心里想，对方肯定会回头的。

　　But neither of them would give way, and they met at last on the middle of the narrow bridge! 但没想到大家都不退让，最后两只山羊在狭窄的桥的中间相遇！

　　They then began to push and fight with their horns, till at last their feet slipped, and both the goats fell into the swift flowing stream, and were lost in the waters! 然后它们开始用自己的角来与对方搏斗，直到最后，两只山羊都滑了角，掉进激流中，被湍急的水淹没了。

　　Both might have been saved, if either of them had known how to yield at the right time. 如果它们懂得在关键时刻退让，其实两只山羊都能避免一死。