從前，有一個馬夫，常常花費幾個鐘頭來為他負責照管的馬修剪和梳理毛發，可是他卻每天都會偷一部分喂馬的燕麥，拿去賣了以謀私利。逐漸地，馬的健康狀況越來越糟糕，最后忍不住對馬夫大叫：“你要是真想讓我看上去光滑閃亮，就應該少給我梳毛，多喂我燕麥。”

　　【馬和馬夫的寓意】

　　這則寓言故事諷刺那些感情虛偽的人，他們常常拿甜言蜜語和小恩小惠去賄賂別人，但卻狠心地奪走了別人最需要的東西。

　　【馬和馬夫故事的英文版】

　　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.”