A Sheep once had to deal with much harm from other animals．He therefore appeared before Jupiter，and begged him to lessen his misery．Jupiter appeared willing，and said to the Sheep，“I see clearly，my pious creature，that I have created you too defenceless．Now I will choose how I can best remedy this fault．Shall I arm your jaws with terrible fangs and your feet with claws？”
“Oh，no！”exclaimed the Sheep，“I will have nothing in common with the beasts of prey．”
“Or，”said Jupiter，“shall I make your bite poisonous？”
“Alas！”replied the Sheep．“The poisonous snakes are so sadly detested．”
“Well，what shall I do？Shall I plant horns on your forehead，and give strength to your neck？”
“Nor that，gracious father．I should then but like the goat．”
“At the same time you would be able to injure others，if I gave you the means of defending yourself．”
“Should I，indeed？”sighed the Sheep．“Oh！Then leave me， merciful father，as I am．For the power of injuring would，I am fearful，awake the desire of doing so；and it is better to suffer harm than to inflict it．”
Jupiter blessed the pious Sheep，who ceased complaining from that moment．
绵羊曾经一度被迫忍受别的动物对它造成的诸多伤害。终于，它来见丘比特，恳求他为自己减轻痛苦。丘比特看上去乐意帮忙，他对绵羊说：“我很清楚，我虔诚的小东西，我创造的你太没有防御能力了。现在你可以选择让我怎样来弥补自己的过失。我让你的上下颚长出尖牙，脚上长出利爪，好吗？”
“噢，不！”绵羊惊叫道，“我不愿意和掠食的野兽有任何相同之处。”
“要不然，”丘比特说，“让被你咬的动物中毒？”
“哎呀！”绵羊回答说，“毒蛇可是让人深恶痛绝的。”
“那么，怎么办呢？我让你的头上长出角来，让你的脖颈变得有劲儿，行吗？”
“那也不行，我的天父，那样我就会像山羊一样用头去顶撞别人的。”
“一旦我给了你自卫的武器，你就具备了伤害别人的能力。”
“真的会那样吗？”绵羊叹息道，“唉！那么，仁慈的天父，你就让我保持原样吧。因为，我担心有了伤害别人的能力，就会引发起那样去做的念头。自己忍受伤害总比给别人造成伤害要好呀。”
丘比特为这只虔诚的绵羊祝福，绵羊此后再也不抱怨了。
