从前，有一个马夫，常常花费几个钟头来为他负责照管的马修剪和梳理毛发，可是他却每天都会偷一部分喂马的燕麦，拿去卖了以谋私利。逐渐地，马的健康状况越来越糟糕，最后忍不住对马夫大叫：“你要是真想让我看上去光滑闪亮，就应该少给我梳毛，多喂我燕麦。”

　　【马和马夫的寓意】

　　这则寓言故事讽刺那些感情虚伪的人，他们常常拿甜言蜜语和小恩小惠去贿赂别人，但却狠心地夺走了别人最需要的东西。

　　【马和马夫故事的英文版】

　　THE HORSE AND THE GROOM

　　There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit. The Horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at last cried to the Groom, “If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must comb me less and feed me more.”