猫の首に鐘をつける

鼠たちは猫から逃げるために、計画を決めるために会うことにした。鼠たちは逃げさせられる時のためにせめていつ猫が来るか知っていたがっていた。鼠たちは日中とか夜中に家を出かけないほど常に猫の爪牙を恐れて住んでいたからこそ、何か変わるべきだった。
　残念なことに、様々な計画が話し合われたが、何も十分ではなかった。最後に、とても若い鼠は立って、言った：
　「私の計画は簡単すぎりそうですが、絶対に効果的だと信じる。私たちは猫の首に鐘をつけなければいけないだけ。私たちは鐘の音を聞くと、猫が来ることを直ぐに知っている。」
　鼠たちは前にこの計画のような何か考えていなかったことにびっくりした。しかしこの幸せな瞬間の間に、古い鼠は立って、言った：
「若い鼠の計画がすごくいいですけど、一つの質問を聞いてもいいですか。誰が猫の首に鐘をつけますか。」
言う方がやるよりも簡単です。

The Mice once called a meeting to decide on a plan to free themselves of their enemy, the Cat. At least they wished to find some way of knowing when she was coming, so they might have time to run away. Indeed, something had to be done, for they lived in such constant fear of her claws that they hardly dared stir from their dens by night or day.
Many plans were discussed, but none of them was thought good enough. At last a very young Mouse got up and said:
"I have a plan that seems very simple, but I know it will be successful.
All we have to do is to hang a bell about the Cat's neck. When we hear the bell ringing we will know immediately that our enemy is coming."
All the Mice were much surprised that they had not thought of such a plan before. But in the midst of the rejoicing over their good fortune, an old Mouse arose and said:
"I will say that the plan of the young Mouse is very good. But let me ask one question: Who will bell the Cat?"
It is one thing to say that something should be done, but quite a different matter to do it.