A HERDSMAN tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calf from the fold. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow that, if he could only discover the thief who had stolen the Calf, he would offer a lamb in sacrifice to Hermes, Pan, and the Guardian Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, as he ascended a small hillock, he saw at its foot a Lion feeding on the Calf. Terrified at the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands to heaven, and said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the Guardian Deities of the forest if I could only find out who had robbed me; but now that I have discovered the thief, I would willingly add a full-grown Bull to the Calf I have lost, if I may only secure my own escape from him in safety." 牧人在树林中放牛，不幸丢失了一头离群的小牛犊。他在树林中到处寻找，一无所获。 他发誓，只要能发现偷小牛犊的贼，他愿意供奉树林守护神一只羊。过了一会儿，当他走上 小山丘时，忽然看见山下有只狮子正在吃他的小牛犊。他吓得举起双手，仰望着天空，向天 祈求说：“我刚发誓，如果捉到偷牛犊的贼，我愿供奉一只羊给树林守护神。现在那贼已发 现，我愿意失去那只小牛犊，并再添上一只大牛，只要我自己能安全逃离狮子。”

这是说，有些人在强大的敌人面前吓破了胆，忘掉了自己的誓言。