正文
A man bought a donkey at the market one day and took him home on approval. Now the man owned several donkeys already and he knew each one's character very well.
有個人在集市上買了頭驢帶回家，賣家承諾包退包換。這個人已經有好幾頭驢了，他熟知每一頭的品性。
One of the donkeys was very strong and brave. Another was eager to please but quickly exhausted. One donkey was very lazy. He hated going to work in the morning and he did as little as he possibly could all day long.
其中一頭長得很壯，也很勇敢。另一頭很賣力討好主人，但是力氣耗盡得也快。有一頭懶得要命，早上不愛幹活兒，整天能少幹就少幹
When the other animals were being loaded up he always tried to be the last so that he would get the lightest load.
其他的驢都忙著馱東西，他總是最後一個出現，想揀最輕的貨來馱。
The man led the new donkey into the stable. For a moment he stood sniffing at his new companions. Then, without hesitation, he trotted up（小跑） to the lazy donkey and began feeding comfortably at his side.
主人領著新買的驢來到馬廄，沒一會兒工夫，他就站在那兒對新同伴們嗤之以鼻，然後毫不猶豫地快速跑到懶驢旁邊，挨著他悠閒地吃起食來。
Though it was late in the day, the man immediately led the new donkey out of the yard, straight back to the market. “You cannot have given him a fair trial yet,” said the merchant. “It is only ten minutes since you bought him.”
儘管天色已晚，主人還是立馬牽著新買的驢出了院子，徑直向集市走去。 “你這會兒就下定論不公平，”賣驢的說，“你才買回去十分鐘啊。”
“I don't need to try him any more,” replied the man. “I know just what he is like from the friend he chose for himself. Take him away and give me my money back. I can do without donkeys like him.”
不用再試了，”買家說，“看他選什麼朋友就知道他是什麼貨色。拿回去吧，把錢退給我。這樣的驢，不要也罷。”
英語文化中，老百姓常說的“Every man is defined by his friends.”和“Birds of a feather flock together.”恰好對應中文的“物以類聚，人以群分”。
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