《伊索寓言》中的角色大多是拟人化的动物，它们的行为举止都是人的方式，作者借以形象化地说出某种思想、道德意识或生活经验，使读者得到相应的教育。

　　1.Hercules and the waggoner

　　A waggoner was once driving a heavy load on a very muddy road.

　　Suddenly the wheels of the wagon sank into the mire, and the horse could not pull them out. The waggoner threw down his whip. He knelt down and prayed to Hercules. "Hercules, help me,please," he said.

　　But Hercules appeared to him, and said, "Man, don't kneel there. Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel."

　　大力神与车夫

　　●一名车夫赶着货车沿着一条非常泥泞的小路前行。 ●突然，马车的轮子陷入了泥潭，马无法将它们拉出来。

　　●车夫扔下鞭子，跪在地上，祈求大力神出现，"大力神啊，请来帮助我。"他说。 ●大力神出现了，却说："朋友，用你的肩膀把车轮扛起来，再驱赶马拉车出来。跪在那里祈求我有什么用呢?"

　　2.The two pots

　　There were two pots on the bank of a river. One was made of brass, and the other was made of clay.

　　When the water rose they both floated off down the river. The earthen pot tried to stay away from the brass one.

　　So the brass pot cried out, "Fear nothing, friend, I will not hit you."

　　"But I may come in contact with you," said the earthen pot. "If I come too close, whether I hit you or you hit me, I shall suffer for it."

　　After that the earthen pot floated away.

　　两口锅

　　●河中漂流着一个瓦锅和一个铜锅。

　　●每当潮涨潮落时，瓦锅就尽量地远离铜锅。铜锅大叫："别害怕，朋友，我不会撞你的。"

　　●"但是我有可能会和你接触，"瓦锅对铜锅说，"如果我离你太近，无论是你碰到我，或者是我自己不小心碰到你，我都会碎的。" ●然后，瓦锅就漂走了。