一个牧人在给午喂草时发现丢了一头小公牛，那可是其中最好的一头牛。他立刻出去找牛，可是哪里都找不到，便发下誓言，只要让他发现偷牛的贼，他就会杀一头小牛供奉朱庇特。牧人继续去找他的牛，走着走着来到了一个灌木丛中，他忽然看见一只狮子正在津津有味地吃着那头丢失了的小公牛。他吓呆了，立刻举起双手向上天祈求说：“伟大的朱晓特，刚才我曾立誓，如果捉到贼，愿意献上一头小牛供奉你；但是现在，如果我可以安全地脱离狮口，我愿意再奉献一头成熟强壮的牛。”

　　【牧人和丢失的公牛的故事寓意】

　　牧人和丢失的公牛伊索寓言故事中的牧人是聪明的，他懂得一个很重要的道理：牺牲。没有付出怎么能有回报呢？为了一头小牛，他愿意牺牲一只羊；为了自己性命，他愿意再舍弃一头大牛，可谓明智。所以当你面对挫折，力图挽回损失的时候，不必强求完璧归赵，只要努力使损失降到最低就可以满足了，否则你有可能会失去更多的东西。“赔了夫人又折兵”，岂不是得不偿失？

　　【牧人和丢失的公牛英文版】

　　THE HERDSMAN AND THE LOST BULL

　　A Herdsman was tending his cattle when he missed a young Bull，one ofthe finest ofthe herd.He went at once to look for him，but，meeting with no success in his search.he made a vow that.if he should discover the thief,he would sacrifice a calf to Jupiter.Continuing his search，he entered a thicket，where he presently espied a lion devouring the lost Bull.Terrified with fear，he raised his hands to heaven and cried，“Great Jupiter,I vowed i would sacrifice a calf to thee if I should mdiscover the thief：but now a full-grown Bull I promise thee if only i myself escape unhurt from his clutches.”