一條獵犬在年富力強的時候從來沒有向森林裏的任何野獸屈服。可是，如今的他已經大不如前了。這不，他本來已經咬住一頭野豬，可是日漸鬆動的牙齒已經不能成為他的得力幫手，結果野豬逃脫了。怒氣衝衝的獵人非常嚴厲地責怪獵犬。獵犬委屈地看著主人說： “主人啊，這並不是我的錯啊！我是真的想為你捕捉獵物，可是我力不從心了。我寧願用我過去的行為得到您的讚賞，也不願因為現在的自己而被您責罵。 ”
這則寓言說的是力不從心的悲哀。
A Hound，who in the days of his youth ah had o ahe forest，entered in his old age a boar in the chase. He seized him boldly by the ear，but ot retain his hold because of the decay of his teeth，so that the boar escaped. His master，quiing up，was very much disappointed，and fiercely abused the dog. The Hound looked up and said，“It was not my fault. master: my spirit was as good as ever，but I y iher deserve to be praised for what I have been，than to be blamed for what Iam.”
The spirit is willing but the flesh weak.