A thief came in the night to break into a house. He brought with him several slices of meat in order to pacify the housedog, so that he would not alarm his master by barking. As the thief threw him the pieces of meat, the dog said, “If you want to stop my mouth, you will be greatly mistaken. This sudden kindness at your hands will only make me more watchful, lest under these unexpected favors to myself, you have some private ends to accomplish for your own benefit, and for my master's injury.”
【日积月累】
-pacify vt. 使平静，安慰，抚慰
【参考译文】
小偷和看门狗
一个小偷在夜晚闯进了一家房子。他拿出了随身带着的几片肉为了讨好看门的狗，好让狗不叫，以免惊醒狗的主人。正当小偷扔着几片肉的时候，狗说，“如果你认为这样能够堵住我得嘴，那你就大错特错了。你手上拿来的突如其来的好处仅仅会使我更加专心，以防在你不期然的给我恩惠的情况下，你就已经得到了自己的利益，而我的主人确受伤了。”
【人生启迪】
看门狗在小偷的诱惑下丝毫没有动摇，依然尽忠职守，保护了主人的财产。不怕诱惑的好品质值得我们学习。在现实生活中，有些人往往因为一点小小的恩惠就去做违背自己职责的事，东窗事发之后又悔不当初，可是已经太晚了。