树和斧子本就势不两立，而树却给了樵夫一把斧子，这个故事告诉我们，不要忘恩负义，也告诉我们对敌人的施舍就是对自己的残忍。

英语原文：

A Woodman came into a forest to ask the Trees to give him a handle for Ax. It seemed so modest a request that the principal tree at once agreed to it, and it was settled among them that the plain, homely Ash should furnish what was wanted. No sooner had the Woodman fitted the staff to his purpose ,than he began laying about him on all side. felling the whole matter too late, whispered to the Cedar: "the first concession has lost all ;if we has not a sacrificed our humble neighbor, we might have yet stood for ages ourselves."

中文译文：

有一个樵夫来到森林里,要求树给他一跟斧柄,看来他的请求非常谦虚,立刻得到了树的首领的同意.他们决定由平凡而朴素的白杨树来提供所需要的东西.樵夫刚按好斧柄,就开始到处乱砍,森林里最高的树都砍倒了,树林现在察觉大势已去,就小声对衫树说："第一次的让步已失去了一切.如果我们不牺牲我们的小小的邻居,我们自己还可以活无数年呢."

结论：这故事讽刺忘恩负义的人，也告诉我们对敌人的施舍就是对自己的残忍。

英语词汇：

the principal tree 领头树

was settled among them 大家商定

no sooner...than... 一……就……

laying about him 向他四周乱砍

might have yet stood for ages 也许还能活几百年