ÆSOP’S FABLES
CONTENTS
THE FOX
and THE GRAPES
THE GOOSE
that LAID THE GOLDEN EGGS
THE CAT
and THE MICE
THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
THE CHARCOAL-BURNER
and THE FULLER
THE MICE
in COUNCIL
THE BAT
and THE WEASELS
THE DOG
and THE SOW
THE FOX
and THE CROW
THE HORSE
and THE GROOM
THE WOLF
and THE LAMB
THE PEACOCK
and THE CRANE
THE CAT
and THE BIRDS
THE SPENDTHRIFT
and THE SWALLOW
THE OLD WOMAN
and THE DOCTOR
THE MOON
and HER MOTHER
MERCURY
and THE WOODMAN
THE ASS,
THE FOX,
AND THE LION
THE LION
and THE MOUSE
THE CROW
and THE PITCHER
THE BOYS
and THE FROGS
THE NORTH WIND
and THE SUN
THE MISTRESS
and HER SERVANTS
THE GOODS
and THE ILLS
THE HARES
and THE FROGS
THE FOX
and THE STORK
THE WOLF
in SHEEP’S CLOTHING
THE STAG
in THE OX-STALL
THE MILKMAID
and HER PAIL
THE DOLPHINS,
THE WHALES,
AND THE SPRAT
THE FOX
and THE MONKEY
THE ASS
and THE LAP-DOG
THE FIR-TREE
and THE BRAMBLE
THE FROGS’ COMPLAINT
against THE SUN
THE DOG,
THE COCK,
AND THE FOX
THE GNAT
and THE BULL
THE BEAR
and THE TRAVELLERS
THE SLAVE
and THE LION
THE FLEA
and THE MAN
THE BEE
and JUPITER
THE OAK
and THE REEDS
THE BLIND MAN
and THE CUB
THE BOY
and THE SNAILS
THE APES
and THE TWO TRAVELLERS
THE ASS
and HIS BURDENS
THE SHEPHERD’S BOY
and THE WOLF
THE FOX
and THE GOAT
THE FISHERMAN
and THE SPRAT
THE BOASTING TRAVELLER
THE CRAB
and HIS MOTHER
THE ASS
and HIS SHADOW
THE FARMER
and HIS SONS
THE DOG
and THE COOK
THE MONKEY
as KING
THE THIEVES
and THE COCK
THE FARMER
and FORTUNE
JUPITER
and THE MONKEY
FATHER
and SONS
THE LAMP
THE OWL
and THE BIRDS
THE ASS
in THE LION’S SKIN
THE SHE-GOATS
and THEIR BEARDS
THE OLD LION
THE BOY BATHING
THE QUACK FROG
THE SWOLLEN FOX
THE MOUSE,
THE FROG,
AND THE HAWK
THE BOY
and THE NETTLES
THE PEASANT
and THE APPLE-TREE
THE JACKDAW
and THE PIGEONS
JUPITER
and THE TORTOISE
THE DOG
in THE MANGER
THE TWO BAGS
THE OXEN
and THE AXLETREES
THE BOY
and THE FILBERTS
THE FROGS ASKING
for A KING
THE OLIVE-TREE
and THE FIG-TREE
THE LION
and THE BOAR
THE WALNUT-TREE
THE MAN
and THE LION
THE TORTOISE
and THE EAGLE
THE KID
on THE HOUSETOP
THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL
THE VAIN JACKDAW
THE TRAVELLER
and HIS DOG
THE SHIPWRECKED MAN
and THE SEA
THE WILD BOAR
and THE FOX
MERCURY
and THE SCULPTOR
THE FAWN
and HIS MOTHER
THE FOX
and THE LION
THE EAGLE
and HIS CAPTOR
THE BLACKSMITH
and HIS DOG
THE STAG
at THE POOL
THE DOG
and THE SHADOW
MERCURY
and THE TRADESMEN
THE MICE
and THE WEASELS
THE PEACOCK
and JUNO
THE BEAR
and THE FOX
THE ASS
and THE OLD PEASANT
THE OX
and THE FROG
THE MAN
and THE IMAGE
HERCULES
and THE WAGGONER
THE POMEGRANATE,
THE APPLE-TREE,
AND THE BRAMBLE
THE LION,
THE BEAR,
AND THE FOX
THE BLACKAMOOR
THE TWO SOLDIERS
and THE ROBBER
THE LION
and THE WILD ASS
THE MAN
and THE SATYR
THE IMAGE-SELLER
THE EAGLE
and THE ARROW
THE RICH MAN
and THE TANNER
THE WOLF,
THE MOTHER,
AND HER CHILD
THE OLD WOMAN
and THE WINE-JAR
THE LIONESS
and THE VIXEN
THE VIPER
and THE FILE
THE CAT
and THE COCK
THE HARE
and THE TORTOISE
THE SOLDIER
and HIS HORSE
THE OXEN
and THE BUTCHERS
THE WOLF
and THE LION
THE SHEEP,
THE WOLF,
AND THE STAG
THE LION
and THE THREE BULLS
THE HORSE
and HIS RIDER
THE GOAT
and THE VINE
THE TWO POTS
THE OLD HOUND
THE CLOWN
and THE COUNTRYMAN
THE LARK
and THE FARMER
THE LION
and THE ASS
THE PROPHET
THE HOUND
and THE HARE
THE LION,
THE MOUSE,
AND THE FOX
THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER
THE WOLF
and THE CRANE
THE EAGLE,
THE CAT,
AND THE WILD SOW
THE WOLF
and THE SHEEP
THE TUNNY-FISH
and THE DOLPHIN
THE THREE TRADESMEN
THE MOUSE
and THE BULL
THE HARE
and THE HOUND
THE TOWN MOUSE
and THE COUNTRY MOUSE
THE LION
and THE BULL
THE WOLF,
THE FOX,
AND THE APE
THE EAGLE
and THE COCKS
THE ESCAPED JACKDAW
THE FARMER
and THE FOX
VENUS
and THE CAT
THE CROW
and THE SWAN
THE STAG
with ONE EYE
THE FLY
and THE DRAUGHT-MULE
THE COCK
and THE JEWEL
THE WOLF
and THE SHEPHERD
THE FARMER
and THE STORK
THE CHARGER
and THE MILLER
THE GRASSHOPPER
and THE OWL
THE GRASSHOPPER
and THE ANTS
THE FARMER
and THE VIPER
THE TWO FROGS
THE COBBLER TURNED DOCTOR
THE ASS,
THE COCK,
AND THE LION
THE BELLY
and THE MEMBERS
THE BALD MAN
and THE FLY
THE ASS
and THE WOLF
THE MONKEY
and THE CAMEL
THE SICK MAN
and THE DOCTOR
THE TRAVELLERS
and THE PLANE-TREE
THE FLEA
and THE OX
THE BIRDS,
THE BEASTS,
AND THE BAT
THE MAN
and HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS
THE EAGLE,
THE JACKDAW,
AND THE SHEPHERD
THE WOLF
and THE BOY
THE MILLER,
HIS SON,
AND THEIR ASS
THE STAG
and THE VINE
THE LAMB CHASED
by A WOLF
THE ARCHER
and THE LION
THE WOLF
and THE GOAT
THE SICK STAG
THE ASS
and THE MULE
BROTHER
and SISTER
THE HEIFER
and THE OX
THE KINGDOM
of THE LION
THE ASS
and HIS DRIVER
THE LION
and THE HARE
THE WOLVES
and THE DOGS
THE BULL
and THE CALF
THE TREES
and THE AXE
THE ASTRONOMER
THE LABOURER
and THE SNAKE
THE CAGE-BIRD
and THE BAT
THE ASS
and HIS PURCHASER
THE KID
and THE WOLF
THE DEBTOR
and HIS SOW
THE BALD HUNTSMAN
THE HERDSMAN
and THE LOST BULL
THE MULE
THE HOUND
and THE FOX
THE FATHER
and HIS DAUGHTERS
THE THIEF
and THE INNKEEPER
THE PACK-ASS
and THE WILD ASS
THE ASS
and HIS MASTERS
THE PACK-ASS,
THE WILD ASS,
AND THE LION
THE ANT
THE FROGS
and THE WELL
THE CRAB
and THE FOX
THE FOX
and THE GRASSHOPPER
THE FARMER,
HIS BOY,
AND THE ROOKS
THE ASS
and THE DOG
THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAGE
THE ATHENIAN
and THE THEBAN
THE GOATHERD
and THE GOAT
THE SHEEP
and THE DOG
THE SHEPHERD
and THE WOLF
THE LION,
JUPITER,
AND THE ELEPHANT
THE PIG
and THE SHEEP
THE GARDENER
and HIS DOG
THE RIVERS
and THE SEA
THE LION
in LOVE
THE BEE-KEEPER
THE WOLF
and THE HORSE
THE BAT,
THE BRAMBLE,
AND THE SEAGULL
THE DOG
and THE WOLF
THE WASP
and THE SNAKE
THE EAGLE
and THE BEETLE
THE FOWLER
and THE LARK
THE FISHERMAN PIPING
THE WEASEL
and THE MAN
THE PLOUGHMAN,
THE ASS,
AND THE OX
DEMADES
and HIS FABLE
THE MONKEY
and THE DOLPHIN
THE CROW
and THE SNAKE
THE DOGS
and THE FOX
THE NIGHTINGALE
and THE HAWK
THE ROSE
and THE AMARANTH
THE MAN,
THE HORSE,
THE OX,
AND THE DOG
THE WOLVES,
THE SHEEP,
AND THE RAM
THE SWAN
THE SNAKE
and JUPITER
THE WOLF
and HIS SHADOW
THE PLOUGHMAN
and THE WOLF
MERCURY
and THE MAN BITTEN
by AN ANT
THE WILY LION
THE PARROT
and THE CAT
THE STAG
and THE LION
THE IMPOSTOR
THE DOGS
and THE HIDES
THE LION,
THE FOX,
AND THE ASS
THE FOWLER,
THE PARTRIDGE,
AND THE COCK
THE GNAT
and THE LION
THE FARMER
and HIS DOGS
THE EAGLE
and THE FOX
THE BUTCHER
and HIS CUSTOMERS
HERCULES
and MINERVA
THE FOX
who SERVED A LION
THE QUACK DOCTOR
THE LION,
THE WOLF,
AND THE FOX
HERCULES
and PLUTUS
THE FOX
and THE LEOPARD
THE FOX
and THE HEDGEHOG
THE CROW
and THE RAVEN
THE WITCH
THE OLD MAN
and DEATH
THE MISER
THE FOXES
and THE RIVER
THE HORSE
and THE STAG
THE FOX
and THE BRAMBLE
THE FOX
and THE SNAKE
THE LION,
THE FOX,
AND THE STAG
THE MAN
who LOST HIS SPADE
THE PARTRIDGE
and THE FOWLER
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE
THE HUNTER
and THE WOODMAN
THE SERPENT
and THE EAGLE
THE ROGUE
and THE ORACLE
THE HORSE
and THE ASS
THE DOG CHASING A WOLF
GRIEF
and HIS DUE
THE HAWK,
THE KITE,
AND THE PIGEONS
THE WOMAN
and THE FARMER
PROMETHEUS
and THE MAKING
of MAN
THE SWALLOW
and THE CROW
THE HUNTER
and THE HORSEMAN
THE GOATHERD
and THE WILD GOATS
THE NIGHTINGALE
and THE SWALLOW
THE TRAVELLER
and FORTUNE
ÆSOP’S FABLES
THE FOX
and THE GRAPES
A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches
of Grapes hanging
from a vine
that was trained
along a high trellis,
and did his best
to reach them
by jumping
as high
as he could
into the air.
But it was all
in vain,
for they were just out
of reach:
so he gave up trying,
and walked away
with an air
of dignity
and unconcern,
remarking,
“I thought those Grapes were ripe,
but I see now they are quite sour.”
, , , ,
THE GOOSE
that LAID THE GOLDEN EGGS
A Man
and his Wife had the good fortune
to possess a Goose
which laid a Golden Egg every day.
Lucky though they were,
they soon began
to think they were not getting rich fast enough,
and,
imagining the bird must be made
of gold inside,
they decided
to kill it
in order
to secure the whole store
of precious metal
at once.
But
when they cut it open they found it was just
like any other goose.
Thus,
they neither got rich all
at once,
as they had hoped,
nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition
to their wealth.
, , , ,
Much wants more
and loses all.
, , , ,
THE CAT
and THE MICE
There was once a house
that was overrun
with Mice.
A Cat heard
of this,
and said
to herself,
“That’s the place
for me,”
and off she went
and took up her quarters
in the house,
and caught the Mice one
by one
and ate them.
At last the Mice
could stand it no longer,
and they determined
to take
to their holes
and stay there.
“That’s awkward,”
said the Cat
to herself:
“the only thing
to do is
to coax them out
by a trick.”
So she considered a while,
and
then climbed up the wall
and let herself hang down
by her hind legs
from a peg,
and pretended
to be dead.
By and
by a Mouse peeped out
and saw the Cat hanging there.
“Aha!”
it cried,
“you’re very clever,
madam,
no doubt:
but you may turn yourself
into a bag
of meal hanging there,
if you like,
yet you
won’t catch us coming
anywhere near you.”
, , , ,
If you are wise you
won’t be deceived
by the innocent airs
of those whom you have once found
to be dangerous.
, , , ,
THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
There was once a Dog
who used
to snap
at people
and bite them without any provocation,
and
who was a great nuisance
to every one
who came
to his master’s house.
So his master fastened a bell round his neck
to warn people
of his presence.
The Dog was very proud
of the bell,
and strutted
about tinkling it
with immense satisfaction.
But an old dog came up
to him
and said,
“The fewer airs you give yourself the better,
my friend.
You
don’t think,
do you,
that your bell was given you
as a reward
of merit?
On the contrary,
it is a badge
of disgrace.”
, , , ,
Notoriety is often mistaken
for fame.
, , , ,
THE CHARCOAL-BURNER
and THE FULLER
There was once a Charcoal-burner
who lived
and worked
by himself.
A Fuller,
however,
happened
to come
and settle
in the same neighbourhood;
and the Charcoal-burner,
having made his acquaintance
and finding he was an agreeable sort
of fellow,
asked him
if he
would come
and share his house:
“We shall get
to know one another better
that way,”
he said,
“and,
beside,
our household expenses
will be diminished.”
The Fuller thanked him,
but replied,
“I couldn’t think
of it,
sir:
why,
everything I take such pains
to whiten
would be blackened
in no time
by your charcoal.”
, , , ,
THE MICE
in COUNCIL
Once upon a time all the Mice met together
in Council,
and discussed the best means
of securing themselves
against the attacks
of the cat.
After several suggestions had been debated,
a Mouse
of some standing
and experience got up
and said,
“I think I have hit upon a plan which
will ensure our safety
in the future,
provided you approve
and carry it out.
It is
that we
should fasten a bell round the neck
of our enemy the cat,
which will
by its tinkling warn us
of her approach.”
This proposal was warmly applauded,
and it had been already decided
to adopt it,
when an old Mouse got upon his feet
and said,
“I agree
with you all
that the plan
before us is an admirable one:
but may I ask
who is going
to bell the cat?”
, , , ,
THE BAT
and THE WEASELS
A Bat fell
to the ground
and was caught
by a Weasel,
and was just going
to be killed
and eaten
when it begged
to be let go.
The Weasel said he couldn’t do
that
because he was an enemy
of all birds
on principle.
“Oh,
but,”
said the Bat,
“I’m not a bird
at all:
I’m a mouse.”
“So you are,”
said the Weasel,
“now I come
to look
at you”;
and he let it go.
Some time after this the Bat was caught
in just the same way
by another Weasel,
and,
as before,
begged
for its life.
“No,”
said the Weasel,
“I never let a mouse go
by any chance.”
“But I’m not a mouse,”
said the Bat;
“I’m a bird.”
“Why,
so you are,”
said the Weasel;
and he too let the Bat go.
, , , ,
Look
and see
which way the wind blows
before you commit yourself.
, , , ,
THE DOG
and THE SOW
A Dog
and a Sow were arguing
and each claimed
that its own young ones were finer
than those
of any other animal.
“Well,”
said the Sow
at last,
“mine
can see,
at any rate,
when they come
into the world:
but yours are born blind.”
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE CROW
A Crow was sitting
on a branch
of a tree
with a piece
of cheese
in her beak
when a Fox observed her
and set his wits
to work
to discover some way
of getting the cheese.
Coming
and standing
under the tree he looked up
and said,
“What a noble bird I see
above me!
Her beauty is without equal,
the hue
of her plumage exquisite.
If only her voice is
as sweet
as her looks are fair,
she ought without doubt
to be Queen
of the Birds.”
The Crow was hugely flattered
by this,
and just
to show the Fox
that she
could sing she gave a loud caw.
Down came the cheese,
of course,
and the Fox,
snatching it up,
said,
“You have a voice,
madam,
I see:
what you want is wits.”
, , , ,
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.”
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE LAMB
A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying
from the flock,
and felt some compunction
about taking the life
of so helpless a creature without some plausible excuse;
so he cast about
for a grievance
and said
at last,
“Last year,
sirrah,
you grossly insulted me.”
“That is impossible,
sir,”
bleated the Lamb,
“for I wasn’t born then.”
“Well,”
retorted the Wolf,
“you feed
in my pastures.”
“That cannot be,”
replied the Lamb,
“for I have never yet tasted grass.”
“You drink
from my spring,
then,”
continued the Wolf.
“Indeed,
sir,”
said the poor Lamb,
“I have never yet drunk anything
but my mother’s milk.”
“Well,
anyhow,”
said the Wolf,
“I’m not going without my dinner”:
and he sprang upon the Lamb
and devoured it without more ado.
, , , ,
THE PEACOCK
and THE CRANE
A Peacock taunted a Crane
with the dullness
of her plumage.
“Look
at my brilliant colours,”
said she,
“and see
how much finer they are
than your poor feathers.”
“I am not denying,”
replied the Crane,
“that yours are far gayer
than mine;
but
when it comes
to flying I
can soar
into the clouds,
whereas you are confined
to the earth
like any dunghill cock.”
, , , ,
THE CAT
and THE BIRDS
A Cat heard
that the Birds
in an aviary were ailing.
So he got himself up
as a doctor,
and,
taking
with him a set
of the instruments proper
to his profession,
presented himself
at the door,
and inquired after the health
of the Birds.
“We shall do very well,”
they replied,
without letting him in,
“when we’ve seen the last
of you.”
, , , ,
A villain may disguise himself,
but he
will not deceive the wise.
, , , ,
THE SPENDTHRIFT
and THE SWALLOW
A Spendthrift,
who had wasted his fortune,
and had nothing left
but the clothes
in
which he stood,
saw a Swallow one fine day
in early spring.
Thinking
that summer had come,
and
that he
could now do without his coat,
he went
and sold it
for
what it
would fetch.
A change,
however,
took place
in the weather,
and
there came a sharp frost
which killed the unfortunate Swallow.
When the Spendthrift saw its dead body he cried,
“Miserable bird!
Thanks
to you I am perishing
of cold myself.”
, , , ,
One swallow does not make summer.
, , , ,
THE OLD WOMAN
and THE DOCTOR
An Old Woman became
almost totally blind
from a disease
of the eyes,
and,
after consulting a Doctor,
made an agreement
with him
in the presence
of witnesses
that she
should pay him a high fee
if he cured her,
while
if he failed he was
to receive nothing.
The Doctor accordingly prescribed a course
of treatment,
and every time he paid her a visit he took away
with him some article out
of the house,
until
at last,
when he visited her
for the last time,
and the cure was complete,
there was nothing left.
When the Old Woman saw
that the house was empty she refused
to pay him his fee;
and,
after repeated refusals
on her part,
he sued her
before the magistrates
for payment
of her debt.
On being brought
into court she was ready
with her defence.
“The claimant,”
said she,
“has stated the facts
about our agreement correctly.
I undertook
to pay him a fee
if he cured me,
and he,
on his part,
promised
to charge nothing
if he failed.
Now,
he says I am cured;
but I say
that I am blinder
than ever,
and I
can prove
what I say.
When my eyes were bad I could
at any rate see well enough
to be aware
that my house contained a certain amount
of furniture
and other things;
but now,
when according
to him I am cured,
I am entirely unable
to see anything there
at all.”
, , , ,
THE MOON
and HER MOTHER
The Moon once begged her Mother
to make her a gown.
“How
can I?”
replied she;
“there’s no fitting your figure.
At one time you’re a New Moon,
and
at another you’re a Full Moon;
and
between whiles you’re neither one nor the other.”
, , , ,
MERCURY
and THE WOODMAN
A Woodman was felling a tree
on the bank
of a river,
when his axe,
glancing off the trunk,
flew out
of his hands
and fell
into the water.
As he stood
by the water’s edge lamenting his loss,
Mercury appeared
and asked him the reason
for his grief;
and
on learning
what had happened,
out
of pity
for his distress he dived
into the river and,
bringing up a golden axe,
asked him
if
that was the one he had lost.
The Woodman replied
that it was not,
and Mercury
then dived a second time,
and,
bringing up a silver axe,
asked
if
that was his.
“No,
that is not mine either,”
said the Woodman.
Once more Mercury dived
into the river,
and brought up the missing axe.
The Woodman was overjoyed
at recovering his property,
and thanked his benefactor warmly;
and the latter was so pleased
with his honesty
that he made him a present
of the other two axes.
When the Woodman told the story
to his companions,
one
of these was filled
with envy
of his good fortune
and determined
to try his luck
for himself.
So he went
and began
to fell a tree
at the edge
of the river,
and presently contrived
to let his axe drop
into the water.
Mercury appeared
as before,
and,
on learning
that his axe had fallen in,
he dived
and brought up a golden axe,
as he had done
on the previous occasion.
Without waiting
to be asked whether it was his
or not the fellow cried,
“That’s mine,
that’s mine,”
and stretched out his hand eagerly
for the prize:
but Mercury was so disgusted
at his dishonesty
that he not only declined
to give him the golden axe,
but also refused
to recover
for him the one he had let fall
into the stream.
, , , ,
Honesty is the best policy.
, , , ,
THE ASS,
THE FOX,
AND THE LION
An Ass
and a Fox went
into partnership
and sallied out
to forage
for food together.
They hadn’t gone far
before they saw a Lion coming their way,
at
which they were both dreadfully frightened.
But the Fox thought he saw a way
of saving his own skin,
and went boldly up
to the Lion
and whispered
in his ear,
“I’ll manage
that you shall get hold
of the Ass without the trouble
of stalking him,
if you’ll promise
to let me go free.”
The Lion agreed
to this,
and the Fox
then rejoined his companion
and contrived
before long
to lead him
by a hidden pit,
which some hunter had dug
as a trap
for wild animals,
and
into
which he fell.
When the Lion saw
that the Ass was safely caught
and couldn’t get away,
it was
to the Fox
that he first turned his attention,
and he soon finished him off,
and then
at his leisure proceeded
to feast upon the Ass.
, , , ,
Betray a friend,
and you’ll often find you have ruined yourself.
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE MOUSE
A Lion asleep
in his lair was waked up
by a Mouse running
over his face.
Losing his temper he seized it
with his paw
and was about
to kill it.
The Mouse,
terrified,
piteously entreated him
to spare its life.
“Please let me go,”
it cried,
“and one day I
will repay you
for your kindness.”
The idea
of so insignificant a creature ever being able
to do anything
for him amused the Lion so much
that he laughed aloud,
and good-humouredly let it go.
But the Mouse’s chance came,
after all.
One day the Lion got entangled
in a net
which had been spread
for game
by some hunters,
and the Mouse heard
and recognised his roars
of anger
and ran
to the spot.
Without more ado it set
to work
to gnaw the ropes
with its teeth,
and succeeded
before long
in setting the Lion free.
“There!”
said the Mouse,
“you laughed
at me
when I promised I
would repay you:
but now you see,
even a Mouse
can help a Lion.”
, , , ,
THE CROW
and THE PITCHER
A thirsty Crow found a Pitcher
with some water
in it,
but so little was
there that,
try
as she might,
she
could not reach it
with her beak,
and it seemed
as though she
would die
of thirst within sight
of the remedy.
At last she hit upon a clever plan.
She began dropping pebbles
into the Pitcher,
and
with each pebble the water rose a little higher until
at last it reached the brim,
and the knowing bird was enabled
to quench her thirst.
, , , ,
Necessity is the mother
of invention.
, , , ,
THE BOYS
and THE FROGS
Some mischievous Boys were playing
on the edge
of a pond,
and,
catching sight
of some Frogs swimming about
in the shallow water,
they began
to amuse themselves
by pelting them
with stones,
and they killed several
of them.
At last one
of the Frogs put his head out
of the water
and said,
“Oh,
stop!
stop!
I beg
of you:
what is sport
to you is death
to us.”
, , , ,
THE NORTH WIND
and THE SUN
A dispute arose
between the North Wind
and the Sun,
each claiming
that he was stronger
than the other.
At last they agreed
to try their powers upon a traveller,
to see
which
could soonest strip him
of his cloak.
The North Wind had the first try;
and,
gathering up all his force
for the attack,
he came whirling furiously down upon the man,
and caught up his cloak
as though he
would wrest it
from him
by one single effort:
but the harder he blew,
the more closely the man wrapped it round himself.
Then came the turn
of the Sun.
At first he beamed gently upon the traveller,
who soon unclasped his cloak
and walked
on
with it hanging loosely
about his shoulders:
then he shone forth
in his full strength,
and the man,
before he had gone many steps,
was glad
to throw his cloak right off
and complete his journey more lightly clad.
, , , ,
Persuasion is better
than force
THE MISTRESS
and HER SERVANTS
A Widow,
thrifty
and industrious,
had two servants,
whom she kept pretty hard
at work.
They were not allowed
to lie long abed
in the mornings,
but the old lady had them up
and doing
as soon
as the cock crew.
They disliked intensely having
to get up
at such an hour,
especially
in winter-time:
and they thought that
if it were not
for the cock waking up their Mistress so horribly early,
they
could sleep longer.
So they caught it
and wrung its neck.
But they weren’t prepared
for the consequences.
For
what happened was
that their Mistress,
not hearing the cock crow
as usual,
waked them up earlier
than ever,
and set them
to work
in the middle
of the night.
, , , ,
THE GOODS
and THE ILLS
There was a time
in the youth
of the world
when Goods
and Ills entered equally
into the concerns
of men,
so
that the Goods did not prevail
to make them altogether blessed,
nor the Ills
to make them wholly miserable.
But owing
to the foolishness
of mankind the Ills multiplied greatly
in number
and increased
in strength,
until it seemed
as though they
would deprive the Goods
of all share
in human affairs,
and banish them
from the earth.
The latter,
therefore,
betook themselves
to heaven
and complained
to Jupiter
of the treatment they had received,
at the same time praying him
to grant them protection
from the Ills,
and
to advise them concerning the manner
of their intercourse
with men.
Jupiter granted their request
for protection,
and decreed that
for the future they
should not go
among men openly
in a body,
and so be liable
to attack
from the hostile Ills,
but singly
and unobserved,
and
at infrequent
and unexpected intervals.
Hence it is
that the earth is full
of Ills,
for they come
and go
as they please
and are never far away;
while Goods,
alas!
come one
by one only,
and have
to travel all the way
from heaven,
so
that they are very seldom seen.
, , , ,
THE HARES
and THE FROGS
The Hares once gathered together
and lamented the unhappiness
of their lot,
exposed
as they were
to dangers
on all sides
and lacking the strength
and the courage
to hold their own.
Men,
dogs,
birds
and beasts
of prey were all their enemies,
and killed
and devoured them daily:
and sooner
than endure such persecution any longer,
they one
and all determined
to end their miserable lives.
Thus resolved
and desperate,
they rushed
in a body
towards a neighbouring pool,
intending
to drown themselves.
On the bank were sitting a number
of Frogs,
who,
when they heard the noise
of the Hares
as they ran,
with one accord leaped
into the water
and hid themselves
in the depths.
Then one
of the older Hares
who was wiser
than the rest cried out
to his companions,
“Stop,
my friends,
take heart;
don’t let us destroy ourselves after all:
see,
here are creatures
who are afraid
of us,
and
who must,
therefore,
be still more timid
than ourselves.”
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE STORK
A Fox invited a Stork
to dinner,
at
which the only fare provided was a large flat dish
of soup.
The Fox lapped it up
with great relish,
but the Stork
with her long bill tried
in vain
to partake
of the savoury broth.
Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much amusement.
But not long after the Stork invited him
in turn,
and set
before him a pitcher
with a long
and narrow neck,
into
which she
could get her bill
with ease.
Thus,
while she enjoyed her dinner,
the Fox sat
by hungry
and helpless,
for it was impossible
for him
to reach the tempting contents
of the vessel.
, , , ,
THE WOLF
in SHEEP’S CLOTHING
A Wolf resolved
to disguise himself
in order
that he might prey upon a flock
of sheep without fear
of detection.
So he clothed himself
in a sheepskin,
and slipped
among the sheep
when they were out
at pasture.
He completely deceived the shepherd,
and
when the flock was penned
for the night he was shut
in
with the rest.
But
that very night
as it happened,
the shepherd,
requiring a supply
of mutton
for the table,
laid hands
on the Wolf
in mistake
for a Sheep,
and killed him
with his knife
on the spot.
, , , ,
THE STAG
in THE OX-STALL
A Stag,
chased
from his lair
by the hounds,
took refuge
in a farmyard,
and,
entering a stable
where a number
of oxen were stalled,
thrust himself
under a pile
of hay
in a vacant stall,
where he lay concealed,
all
but the tips
of his horns.
Presently one
of the Oxen said
to him,
“What has induced you
to come
in here?
Aren’t you aware
of the risk you are running
of being captured
by the herdsmen?”
To
which he replied,
“Pray let me stay
for the present.
When night comes I shall easily escape
under cover
of the dark.”
In the course
of the afternoon more
than one
of the farm-hands came in,
to attend
to the wants
of the cattle,
but not one
of them noticed the presence
of the Stag,
who accordingly began
to congratulate himself
on his escape and
to express his gratitude
to the Oxen.
“We wish you well,”
said the one
who had spoken before,
“but you are not out
of danger yet.
If the master comes,
you
will certainly be found out,
for nothing ever escapes his keen eyes.”
Presently,
sure enough,
in he came,
and made a great to-do
about the way the Oxen were kept.
“The beasts are starving,”
he cried;
“here,
give them more hay,
and put plenty
of litter
under them.”
As he spoke,
he seized an armful himself
from the pile
where the Stag lay concealed,
and
at once detected him.
Calling his men,
he had him seized
at once
and killed
for the table.
, , , ,
THE MILKMAID
and HER PAIL
A farmer’s daughter had been out
to milk the cows,
and was returning
to the dairy carrying her pail
of milk upon her head.
As she walked along,
she fell a-musing after this fashion:
“The milk
in this pail
will provide me
with cream,
which I
will make
into butter
and take
to market
to sell.
With the money I
will buy a number
of eggs,
and these,
when hatched,
will produce chickens,
and
by and
by I shall have quite a large poultry-yard.
Then I shall sell some
of my fowls,
and
with the money
which they
will bring
in I
will buy myself a new gown,
which I shall wear
when I go
to the fair;
and all the young fellows
will admire it,
and come
and make love
to me,
but I shall toss my head
and have nothing
to say
to them.”
Forgetting all
about the pail,
and suiting the action
to the word,
she tossed her head.
Down went the pail,
all the milk was spilled,
and all her fine castles
in the air vanished
in a moment!
Do not count your chickens
before they are hatched.
, , , ,
THE DOLPHINS,
THE WHALES,
AND THE SPRAT
The Dolphins quarrelled
with the Whales,
and
before very long they began fighting
with one another.
The battle was very fierce,
and had lasted some time without any sign
of coming
to an end,
when a Sprat thought
that perhaps he
could stop it;
so he stepped
in
and tried
to persuade them
to give up fighting
and make friends.
But one
of the Dolphins said
to him contemptuously,
“We
would rather go
on fighting
till we’re all killed
than be reconciled
by a Sprat
like you!”
THE FOX
and THE MONKEY
A Fox
and a Monkey were
on the road together,
and fell
into a dispute as
to which
of the two was the better born.
They kept it up
for some time,
till they came
to a place
where the road passed
through a cemetery full
of monuments,
when the Monkey stopped
and looked
about him
and gave a great sigh.
“Why do you sigh?”
said the Fox.
The Monkey pointed
to the tombs
and replied,
“All the monuments
that you see here were put up
in honour
of my forefathers,
who
in their day were eminent men.”
The Fox was speechless
for a moment,
but quickly recovering he said,
“Oh!
don’t stop
at any lie,
sir;
you’re quite safe:
I’m sure none
of your ancestors
will rise up
and expose you.”
, , , ,
Boasters brag most
when they cannot be detected.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and THE LAP-DOG
There was once a man
who had an Ass
and a Lap-dog.
The Ass was housed
in the stable
with plenty
of oats
and hay
to eat
and was
as well off
as an ass
could be.
The little Dog was made a great pet
of
by his master,
who fondled him
and often let him lie
in his lap;
and
if he went out
to dinner,
he
would bring back a tit-bit
or two
to give him
when he ran
to meet him
on his return.
The Ass had,
it is true,
a good deal
of work
to do,
carting
or grinding the corn,
or carrying the burdens
of the farm:
and ere long he became very jealous,
contrasting his own life
of labour
with the ease
and idleness
of the Lap-dog.
At last one day he broke his halter,
and frisking
into the house just
as his master sat down
to dinner,
he pranced
and capered about,
mimicking the frolics
of the little favourite,
upsetting the table
and smashing the crockery
with his clumsy efforts.
Not content
with that,
he
even tried
to jump
on his master’s lap,
as he had so often seen the dog allowed
to do.
At
that the servants,
seeing the danger their master was in,
belaboured the silly Ass
with sticks
and cudgels,
and drove him back
to his stable half dead
with his beating.
“Alas!”
he cried,
“all this I have brought
on myself.
Why
could I not be satisfied
with my natural
and honourable position,
without wishing
to imitate the ridiculous antics
of
that useless little Lap-dog?”
, , , ,
THE FIR-TREE
and THE BRAMBLE
A Fir-tree was boasting
to a Bramble,
and said,
somewhat contemptuously,
“You poor creature,
you are
of no use whatever.
Now,
look
at me:
I am useful
for all sorts
of things,
particularly
when men build houses;
they can’t do without me then.”
But the Bramble replied,
“Ah,
that’s all very well:
but you wait
till they come
with axes
and saws
to cut you down,
and
then you’ll wish you were a Bramble
and not a Fir.”
, , , ,
Better poverty without a care
than wealth
with its many obligations.
, , , ,
THE FROGS’ COMPLAINT
against THE SUN
Once upon a time the Sun was about
to take
to himself a wife.
The Frogs
in terror all raised their voices
to the skies,
and Jupiter,
disturbed
by the noise,
asked them
what they were croaking about.
They replied,
“The Sun is bad enough
even
while he is single,
drying up our marshes
with his heat
as he does.
But what
will become
of us
if he marries
and begets other Suns?”
, , , ,
THE DOG,
THE COCK,
AND THE FOX
A Dog
and a Cock became great friends,
and agreed
to travel together.
At nightfall the Cock flew up
into the branches
of a tree
to roost,
while the Dog curled himself up inside the trunk,
which was hollow.
At break
of day the Cock woke up
and crew,
as usual.
A Fox heard,
and,
wishing
to make a breakfast
of him,
came
and stood
under the tree
and begged him
to come down.
“I
should so like,”
said he,
“to make the acquaintance
of one
who has such a beautiful voice.”
The Cock replied,
“Would you just wake my porter
who sleeps
at the foot
of the tree?
He’ll open the door
and let you in.”
The Fox accordingly rapped
on the trunk,
when out rushed the Dog
and tore him
in pieces.
, , , ,
THE GNAT
and THE BULL
A Gnat alighted
on one
of the horns
of a Bull,
and remained sitting there
for a considerable time.
When it had rested sufficiently
and was about
to fly away,
it said
to the Bull,
“Do you mind
if I go now?”
The Bull merely raised his eyes
and remarked,
without interest,
“It’s all one
to me;
I didn’t notice
when you came,
and I shan’t know
when you go away.”
, , , ,
We may often be
of more consequence
in our own eyes than
in the eyes
of our neighbours.
, , , ,
THE BEAR
and THE TRAVELLERS
Two Travellers were
on the road together,
when a Bear suddenly appeared
on the scene.
Before he observed them,
one made
for a tree
at the side
of the road,
and climbed up
into the branches
and hid there.
The other was not so nimble
as his companion;
and,
as he
could not escape,
he threw himself
on the ground
and pretended
to be dead.
The Bear came up
and sniffed all round him,
but he kept perfectly still
and held his breath:
for they say
that a bear
will not touch a dead body.
The Bear took him
for a corpse,
and went away.
When the coast was clear,
the Traveller
in the tree came down,
and asked the other
what it was the Bear had whispered
to him
when he put his mouth
to his ear.
The other replied,
“He told me never again
to travel
with a friend
who deserts you
at the first sign
of danger.”
, , , ,
Misfortune tests the sincerity
of friendship.
, , , ,
THE SLAVE
and THE LION
A Slave ran away
from his master,
by whom he had been most cruelly treated,
and,
in order
to avoid capture,
betook himself
into the desert.
As he wandered about
in search
of food
and shelter,
he came
to a cave,
which he entered
and found
to be unoccupied.
Really,
however,
it was a Lion’s den,
and
almost immediately,
to the horror
of the wretched fugitive,
the Lion himself appeared.
The man gave himself up
for lost:
but,
to his utter astonishment,
the Lion,
instead
of springing upon him
and devouring him,
came
and fawned upon him,
at the same time whining
and lifting up his paw.
Observing it
to be much swollen
and inflamed,
he examined it
and found a large thorn embedded
in the ball
of the foot.
He accordingly removed it
and dressed the wound
as well
as he could:
and
in course
of time it healed up completely.
The Lion’s gratitude was unbounded;
he looked upon the man
as his friend,
and they shared the cave
for some time together.
A day came,
however,
when the Slave began
to long
for the society
of his fellow-men,
and he bade farewell
to the Lion
and returned
to the town.
Here he was presently recognised
and carried off
in chains
to his former master,
who resolved
to make an example
of him,
and ordered
that he
should be thrown
to the beasts
at the next public spectacle
in the theatre.
On the fatal day the beasts were loosed
into the arena,
and
among the rest a Lion
of huge bulk
and ferocious aspect;
and
then the wretched Slave was cast
in
among them.
What was the amazement
of the spectators,
when the Lion after one glance bounded up
to him
and lay down
at his feet
with every expression
of affection
and delight!
It was his old friend
of the cave!
The audience clamoured
that the Slave’s life
should be spared:
and the governor
of the town,
marvelling
at such gratitude
and fidelity
in a beast,
decreed
that both
should receive their liberty.
, , , ,
THE FLEA
and THE MAN
A Flea bit a Man,
and bit him again,
and again,
till he
could stand it no longer,
but made a thorough search
for it,
and
at last succeeded
in catching it.
Holding it
between his finger
and thumb,
he said
--or rather shouted,
so angry was he
--”Who are you,
pray,
you wretched little creature,
that you make so free
with my person?”
The Flea,
terrified,
whimpered
in a weak little voice,
“Oh,
sir!
pray let me go;
don’t kill me!
I am such a little thing
that I can’t do you much harm.”
But the Man laughed
and said,
“I am going
to kill you now,
at once:
whatever is bad has got
to be destroyed,
no matter
how slight the harm it does.”
, , , ,
Do not waste your pity
on a scamp.
, , , ,
THE BEE
and JUPITER
A Queen Bee
from Hymettus flew up
to Olympus
with some fresh honey
from the hive
as a present
to Jupiter,
who was so pleased
with the gift
that he promised
to give her anything she liked
to ask for.
She said she
would be very grateful
if he
would give stings
to the bees,
to kill people
who robbed them
of their honey.
Jupiter was greatly displeased
with this request,
for he loved mankind:
but he had given his word,
so he said
that stings they
should have.
The stings he gave them,
however,
were
of such a kind
that whenever a bee stings a man the sting is left
in the wound
and the bee dies.
, , , ,
Evil wishes,
like fowls,
come home
to roost.
, , , ,
THE OAK
and THE REEDS
An Oak
that grew
on the bank
of a river was uprooted
by a severe gale
of wind,
and thrown
across the stream.
It fell
among some Reeds growing
by the water,
and said
to them,
“How is it
that you,
who are so frail
and slender,
have managed
to weather the storm,
whereas I,
with all my strength,
have been torn up
by the roots
and hurled
into the river?”
“You were stubborn,”
came the reply,
“and fought
against the storm,
which proved stronger
than you:
but we bow
and yield
to every breeze,
and thus the gale passed harmlessly
over our heads.”
, , , ,
THE BLIND MAN
and THE CUB
There was once a Blind Man
who had so fine a sense
of touch that,
when any animal was put
into his hands,
he
could tell
what it was merely
by the feel
of it.
One day the Cub
of a Wolf was put
into his hands,
and he was asked
what it was.
He felt it
for some time,
and
then said,
“Indeed,
I am not sure whether it is a Wolf’s Cub
or a Fox’s:
but this I know
--it
would never do
to trust it
in a sheepfold.”
, , , ,
Evil tendencies are early shown.
, , , ,
THE BOY
and THE SNAILS
A Farmer’s Boy went looking
for Snails,
and,
when he had picked up both his hands full,
he set
about making a fire
at which
to roast them;
for he meant
to eat them.
When it got well alight
and the Snails began
to feel the heat,
they gradually withdrew more
and more
into their shells
with the hissing noise they always make
when they do so.
When the Boy heard it,
he said,
“You abandoned creatures,
how
can you find heart
to whistle
when your houses are burning?”
, , , ,
THE APES
and THE TWO TRAVELLERS
Two men were travelling together,
one
of whom never spoke the truth,
whereas the other never told a lie:
and they came
in the course
of their travels
to the land
of Apes.
The King
of the Apes,
hearing
of their arrival,
ordered them
to be brought
before him;
and
by way
of impressing them
with his magnificence,
he received them sitting
on a throne,
while the Apes,
his subjects,
were ranged
in long rows
on either side
of him.
When the Travellers came
into his presence he asked them
what they thought
of him
as a King.
The lying Traveller said,
“Sire,
every one must see
that you are a most noble
and mighty monarch.”
“And
what do you think
of my subjects?”
continued the King.
“They,”
said the Traveller,
“are
in every way worthy
of their royal master.”
The Ape was so delighted
with his answer
that he gave him a very handsome present.
The other Traveller thought that
if his companion was rewarded so splendidly
for telling a lie,
he himself
would certainly receive a still greater reward
for telling the truth;
so,
when the Ape turned
to him
and said,
“And what,
sir,
is your opinion?”
he replied,
“I think you are a very fine Ape,
and all your subjects are fine Apes too.”
The King
of the Apes was so enraged
at his reply
that he ordered him
to be taken away
and clawed
to death.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and HIS BURDENS
A Pedlar
who owned an Ass one day bought a quantity
of salt,
and loaded up his beast with
as much
as he
could bear.
On the way home the Ass stumbled
as he was crossing a stream
and fell
into the water.
The salt got thoroughly wetted
and much
of it melted
and drained away,
so that,
when he got
on his legs again,
the Ass found his load had become much less heavy.
His master,
however,
drove him back
to town
and bought more salt,
which he added
to
what remained
in the panniers,
and started out again.
No sooner had they reached a stream
than the Ass lay down
in it,
and rose,
as before,
with a much lighter load.
But his master detected the trick,
and turning back once more,
bought a large number
of sponges,
and piled them
on the back
of the Ass.
When they came
to the stream the Ass again lay down:
but this time,
as the sponges soaked up large quantities
of water,
he found,
when he got up
on his legs,
that he had a bigger burden
to carry
than ever.
, , , ,
You may play a good card once too often.
, , , ,
THE SHEPHERD’S BOY
and THE WOLF
A Shepherd’s Boy was tending his flock near a village,
and thought it
would be great fun
to hoax the villagers
by pretending
that a Wolf was attacking the sheep:
so he shouted out,
“Wolf!
wolf!”
and
when the people came running up he laughed
at them
for their pains.
He did this more
than once,
and every time the villagers found they had been hoaxed,
for
there was no Wolf
at all.
At last a Wolf really did come,
and the Boy cried,
“Wolf!
wolf!”
as loud
as he could:
but the people were so used
to hearing him call
that they took no notice
of his cries
for help.
And so the Wolf had it all his own way,
and killed off sheep after sheep
at his leisure.
, , , ,
You cannot believe a liar even
when he tells the truth.
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE GOAT
A Fox fell
into a well
and was unable
to get out again.
By and
by a thirsty Goat came by,
and seeing the Fox
in the well asked him
if the water was good.
“Good?”
said the Fox,
“it’s the best water I ever tasted
in all my life.
Come down
and try it yourself.”
The Goat thought
of nothing
but the prospect
of quenching his thirst,
and jumped
in
at once.
When he had had enough
to drink,
he looked about,
like the Fox,
for some way
of getting out,
but
could find none.
Presently the Fox said,
“I have an idea.
You stand
on your hind legs,
and plant your forelegs firmly
against the side
of the well,
and
then I’ll climb
on
to your back,
and,
from there,
by stepping
on your horns,
I
can get out.
And
when I’m out,
I’ll help you out too.”
The Goat did
as he was requested,
and the Fox climbed
on
to his back
and so out
of the well;
and
then he coolly walked away.
The Goat called loudly after him
and reminded him
of his promise
to help him out:
but the Fox merely turned
and said,
“If you had
as much sense
in your head
as you have hair
in your beard you wouldn’t have got
into the well without making certain
that you
could get out again.”
, , , ,
Look
before your leap.
, , , ,
THE FISHERMAN
and THE SPRAT
A Fisherman cast his net
into the sea,
and
when he drew it up again it contained nothing
but a single Sprat
that begged
to be put back
into the water.
“I’m only a little fish now,”
it said,
“but I shall grow big one day,
and then
if you come
and catch me again I shall be
of some use
to you.”
But the Fisherman replied,
“Oh,
no,
I shall keep you now I’ve got you:
if I put you back,
should I ever see you again?
Not likely!”
THE BOASTING TRAVELLER
A Man once went abroad
on his travels,
and
when he came home he had wonderful tales
to tell
of the things he had done
in foreign countries.
Among other things,
he said he had taken part
in a jumping-match
at Rhodes,
and had done a wonderful jump
which no one
could beat.
“Just go
to Rhodes
and ask them,”
he said;
“every one
will tell you it’s true.”
But one
of those
who were listening said,
“If you
can jump
as well
as all that,
we needn’t go
to Rhodes
to prove it.
Let’s just imagine this is Rhodes
for a minute:
and now
--jump!”
Deeds,
not words.
, , , ,
THE CRAB
and HIS MOTHER
An Old Crab said
to her son,
“Why do you walk sideways
like that,
my son?
You ought
to walk straight.”
The Young Crab replied,
“Show me how,
dear mother,
and I’ll follow your example.”
The Old Crab tried,
but tried
in vain,
and
then saw
how foolish she had been
to find fault
with her child.
, , , ,
Example is better
than precept.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and HIS SHADOW
A certain man hired an Ass
for a journey
in summertime,
and started out
with the owner following behind
to drive the beast.
By
and by,
in the heat
of the day,
they stopped
to rest,
and the traveller wanted
to lie down
in the Ass’s Shadow;
but the owner,
who himself wished
to be out
of the sun,
wouldn’t let him do that;
for he said he had hired the Ass only,
and not his Shadow:
the other maintained
that his bargain secured him complete control
of the Ass
for the time being.
From words they came
to blows;
and
while they were belabouring each other the Ass took
to his heels
and was soon out
of sight.
, , , ,
THE FARMER
and HIS SONS
A Farmer,
being
at death’s door,
and desiring
to impart
to his Sons a secret
of much moment,
called them round him
and said,
“My sons,
I am shortly about
to die;
I
would have you know,
therefore,
that
in my vineyard
there lies a hidden treasure.
Dig,
and you
will find it.”
As soon
as their father was dead,
the Sons took spade
and fork
and turned up the soil
of the vineyard over
and
over again,
in their search
for the treasure
which they supposed
to lie buried there.
They found none,
however:
but the vines,
after so thorough a digging,
produced a crop such
as had never
before been seen.
, , , ,
THE DOG
and THE COOK
A rich man once invited a number
of his friends
and acquaintances
to a banquet.
His dog thought it
would be a good opportunity
to invite another Dog,
a friend
of his;
so he went
to him
and said,
“My master is giving a feast:
there’ll be a fine spread,
so come
and dine
with me to-night.”
The Dog thus invited came,
and
when he saw the preparations being made
in the kitchen he said
to himself,
“My word,
I’m
in luck:
I’ll take care
to eat enough to-night
to last me two
or three days.”
At the same time he wagged his tail briskly,
by way
of showing his friend
how delighted he was
to have been asked.
But just
then the Cook caught sight
of him,
and,
in his annoyance
at seeing a strange Dog
in the kitchen,
caught him up
by the hind legs
and threw him out
of the window.
He had a nasty fall,
and limped away
as quickly
as he could,
howling dismally.
Presently some other dogs met him,
and said,
“Well,
what sort
of a dinner did you get?”
To
which he replied,
“I had a splendid time:
the wine was so good,
and I drank so much
of it,
that I really
don’t remember
how I got out
of the house!”
Be shy
of favours bestowed
at the expense
of others.
, , , ,
THE MONKEY
as KING
At a gathering
of all the animals the Monkey danced
and delighted them so much
that they made him their King.
The Fox,
however,
was very much disgusted
at the promotion
of the Monkey:
so having one day found a trap
with a piece
of meat
in it,
he took the Monkey there
and said
to him,
“Here is a dainty morsel I have found,
sire;
I did not take it myself,
because I thought it ought
to be reserved
for you,
our King.
Will you be pleased
to accept it?”
The Monkey made
at once
for the meat
and got caught
in the trap.
Then he bitterly reproached the Fox
for leading him
into danger;
but the Fox only laughed
and said,
“O Monkey,
you call yourself King
of the Beasts
and haven’t more sense than
to be taken
in
like that!”
THE THIEVES
and THE COCK
Some Thieves broke
into a house,
and found nothing worth taking except a Cock,
which they seized
and carried off
with them.
When they were preparing their supper,
one
of them caught up the Cock,
and was about
to wring his neck,
when he cried out
for mercy
and said,
“Pray do not kill me:
you
will find me a most useful bird,
for I rouse honest men
to their work
in the morning
by my crowing.”
But the Thief replied
with some heat,
“Yes,
I know you do,
making it still harder
for us
to get a livelihood.
Into the pot you go!”
THE FARMER
and FORTUNE
A Farmer was ploughing one day
on his farm
when he turned up a pot
of golden coins
with his plough.
He was overjoyed
at his discovery,
and from
that time forth made an offering daily
at the shrine
of the Goddess
of the Earth.
Fortune was displeased
at this,
and came
to him
and said,
“My man,
why do you give Earth the credit
for the gift
which I bestowed upon you?
You never thought
of thanking me
for your good luck;
but
should you be unlucky enough
to lose
what you have gained I know very well
that I,
Fortune,
should
then come
in
for all the blame.”
, , , ,
Show gratitude
where gratitude is due.
, , , ,
JUPITER
and THE MONKEY
Jupiter issued a proclamation
to all the beasts,
and offered a prize
to the one who,
in his judgment,
produced the most beautiful offspring.
Among the rest came the Monkey,
carrying a baby monkey
in her arms,
a hairless,
flat-nosed little fright.
When they saw it,
the gods all burst
into peal
on peal
of laughter;
but the Monkey hugged her little one
to her,
and said,
“Jupiter may give the prize
to whomsoever he likes:
but I shall always think my baby the most beautiful
of them all.”
, , , ,
FATHER
and SONS
A certain man had several Sons
who were always quarrelling
with one another,
and,
try
as he might,
he
could not get them
to live together
in harmony.
So he determined
to convince them
of their folly
by the following means.
Bidding them fetch a bundle
of sticks,
he invited each
in turn
to break it
across his knee.
All tried
and all failed:
and
then he undid the bundle,
and handed them the sticks one
by one,
when they had no difficulty
at all
in breaking them.
“There,
my boys,”
said he,
“united you
will be more
than a match
for your enemies:
but
if you quarrel
and separate,
your weakness
will put you
at the mercy
of those
who attack you.”
, , , ,
Union is strength.
, , , ,
THE LAMP
A Lamp,
well filled
with oil,
burned
with a clear
and steady light,
and began
to swell
with pride
and boast
that it shone more brightly
than the sun himself.
Just
then a puff
of wind came
and blew it out.
Some one struck a match
and lit it again,
and said,
“You just keep alight,
and never mind the sun.
Why,
even the stars never need
to be relit
as you had
to be just now.”
, , , ,
THE OWL
and THE BIRDS
The Owl is a very wise bird;
and once,
long ago,
when the first oak sprouted
in the forest,
she called all the other Birds together
and said
to them,
“You see this tiny tree?
If you take my advice,
you
will destroy it now
when it is small:
for
when it grows big,
the mistletoe
will appear upon it,
from
which birdlime
will be prepared
for your destruction.”
Again,
when the first flax was sown,
she said
to them,
“Go
and eat up
that seed,
for it is the seed
of the flax,
out
of
which men
will one day make nets
to catch you.”
Once more,
when she saw the first archer,
she warned the Birds
that he was their deadly enemy,
who
would wing his arrows
with their own feathers
and shoot them.
But they took no notice
of
what she said:
in fact,
they thought she was rather mad,
and laughed
at her.
When,
however,
everything turned out
as she had foretold,
they changed their minds
and conceived a great respect
for her wisdom.
Hence,
whenever she appears,
the Birds attend upon her
in the hope
of hearing something
that may be
for their good.
She,
however,
gives them advice no longer,
but sits moping
and pondering
on the folly
of her kind.
, , , ,
THE ASS
in THE LION’S SKIN
An Ass found a Lion’s Skin,
and dressed himself up
in it.
Then he went
about frightening every one he met,
for they all took him
to be a lion,
men
and beasts alike,
and took
to their heels
when they saw him coming.
Elated
by the success
of his trick,
he loudly brayed
in triumph.
The Fox heard him,
and recognised him
at once
for the Ass he was,
and said
to him,
“Oho,
my friend,
it’s you,
is it?
I,
too,
should have been afraid
if I hadn’t heard your voice.”
, , , ,
THE SHE-GOATS
and THEIR BEARDS
Jupiter granted beards
to the She-Goats
at their own request,
much
to the disgust
of the he-Goats,
who considered this
to be an unwarrantable invasion
of their rights
and dignities.
So they sent a deputation
to him
to protest
against his action.
He,
however,
advised them not
to raise any objections.
“What’s
in a tuft
of hair?”
said he.
“Let them have it
if they want it.
They
can never be a match
for you
in strength.”
, , , ,
THE OLD LION
A Lion,
enfeebled
by age
and no longer able
to procure food
for himself
by force,
determined
to do so
by cunning.
Betaking himself
to a cave,
he lay down inside
and feigned
to be sick:
and whenever any
of the other animals entered
to inquire after his health,
he sprang upon them
and devoured them.
Many lost their lives
in this way,
till one day a Fox called
at the cave,
and,
having a suspicion
of the truth,
addressed the Lion
from outside instead
of going in,
and asked him
how he did.
He replied
that he was
in a very bad way:
“But,”
said he,
“why do you stand outside?
Pray come in.”
“I
should have done so,”
answered the Fox,
“if I hadn’t noticed
that all the footprints point
towards the cave
and none the other way.”
, , , ,
THE BOY BATHING
A Boy was bathing
in a river
and got out
of his depth,
and was
in great danger
of being drowned.
A man
who was passing
along a road heard his cries
for help,
and went
to the riverside
and began
to scold him
for being so careless as
to get
into deep water,
but made no attempt
to help him.
“Oh,
sir,”
cried the Boy,
“please help me first
and scold me afterwards.”
, , , ,
Give assistance,
not advice,
in a crisis.
, , , ,
THE QUACK FROG
Once upon a time a Frog came forth
from his home
in the marshes
and proclaimed
to all the world
that he was a learned physician,
skilled
in drugs
and able
to cure all diseases.
Among the crowd was a Fox,
who called out,
“You a doctor!
Why,
how
can you set up
to heal others
when you cannot
even cure your own lame legs
and blotched
and wrinkled skin?”
, , , ,
Physician,
heal thyself.
, , , ,
THE SWOLLEN FOX
A hungry Fox found
in a hollow tree a quantity
of bread
and meat,
which some shepherds had placed
there
against their return.
Delighted
with his find he slipped
in
through the narrow aperture
and greedily devoured it all.
But
when he tried
to get out again he found himself so swollen after his big meal
that he
could not squeeze
through the hole,
and fell
to whining
and groaning
over his misfortune.
Another Fox,
happening
to pass
that way,
came
and asked him
what the matter was;
and,
on learning the state
of the case,
said,
“Well,
my friend,
I see nothing
for it
but
for you
to stay
where you are
till you shrink
to your former size;
you’ll get out
then easily enough.”
, , , ,
THE MOUSE,
THE FROG,
AND THE HAWK
A Mouse
and a Frog struck up a friendship;
they were not well mated,
for the Mouse lived entirely
on land,
while the Frog was equally
at home
on land or
in the water.
In order
that they might never be separated,
the Frog tied himself
and the Mouse together
by the leg
with a piece
of thread.
As long
as they kept
on dry land all went fairly well;
but,
coming
to the edge
of a pool,
the Frog jumped in,
taking the Mouse
with him,
and began swimming about
and croaking
with pleasure.
The unhappy Mouse,
however,
was soon drowned,
and floated about
on the surface
in the wake
of the Frog.
There he was spied
by a Hawk,
who pounced down
on him
and seized him
in his talons.
The Frog was unable
to loose the knot
which bound him
to the Mouse,
and thus was carried off along
with him
and eaten
by the Hawk.
, , , ,
THE BOY
and THE NETTLES
A Boy was gathering berries
from a hedge
when his hand was stung
by a Nettle.
Smarting
with the pain,
he ran
to tell his mother,
and said
to her
between his sobs,
“I only touched it ever so lightly,
mother.”
“That’s just
why you got stung,
my son,”
she said;
“if you had grasped it firmly,
it wouldn’t have hurt you
in the least.”
, , , ,
THE PEASANT
and THE APPLE-TREE
A Peasant had an Apple-tree growing
in his garden,
which bore no fruit,
but merely served
to provide a shelter
from the heat
for the sparrows
and grasshoppers
which sat
and chirped
in its branches.
Disappointed
at its barrenness he determined
to cut it down,
and went
and fetched his axe
for the purpose.
But
when the sparrows
and the grasshoppers saw
what he was about
to do,
they begged him
to spare it,
and said
to him,
“If you destroy the tree we shall have
to seek shelter elsewhere,
and you
will no longer have our merry chirping
to enliven your work
in the garden.”
He,
however,
refused
to listen
to them,
and set
to work
with a will
to cut
through the trunk.
A few strokes showed
that it was hollow inside
and contained a swarm
of bees
and a large store
of honey.
Delighted
with his find he threw down his axe,
saying,
“The old tree is worth keeping after all.”
, , , ,
Utility is most men’s test
of worth.
, , , ,
THE JACKDAW
and THE PIGEONS
A Jackdaw,
watching some Pigeons
in a farmyard,
was filled
with envy
when he saw
how well they were fed,
and determined
to disguise himself
as one
of them,
in order
to secure a share
of the good things they enjoyed.
So he painted himself white
from head
to foot
and joined the flock;
and,
so long
as he was silent,
they never suspected
that he was not a pigeon
like themselves.
But one day he was unwise enough
to start chattering,
when they
at once saw
through his disguise
and pecked him so unmercifully
that he was glad
to escape
and join his own kind again.
But the other jackdaws did not recognise him
in his white dress,
and
would not let him feed
with them,
but drove him away:
and so he became a homeless wanderer
for his pains.
, , , ,
JUPITER
and THE TORTOISE
Jupiter was about
to marry a wife,
and determined
to celebrate the event
by inviting all the animals
to a banquet.
They all came except the Tortoise,
who did not put
in an appearance,
much
to Jupiter’s surprise.
So
when he next saw the Tortoise he asked him
why he had not been
at the banquet.
“I
don’t care
for going out,”
said the Tortoise;
“there’s no place
like home.”
Jupiter was so much annoyed
by this reply
that he decreed
that from
that time forth the Tortoise
should carry his house upon his back,
and never be able
to get away
from home even
if he wished to.
, , , ,
THE DOG
in THE MANGER
A Dog was lying
in a Manger
on the hay
which had been put there
for the cattle,
and
when they came
and tried
to eat,
he growled
and snapped
at them
and wouldn’t let them get
at their food.
“What a selfish beast,”
said one
of them
to his companions;
“he can’t eat himself
and yet he
won’t let those eat
who can.”
, , , ,
THE TWO BAGS
Every man carries Two Bags about
with him,
one
in front
and one behind,
and both are packed full
of faults.
The Bag
in front contains his neighbours’ faults,
the one
behind his own.
Hence it is
that men do not see their own faults,
but never fail
to see those
of others.
, , , ,
THE OXEN
and THE AXLETREES
A pair
of Oxen were drawing a heavily loaded waggon
along the highway,
and,
as they tugged
and strained
at the yoke,
the Axletrees creaked
and groaned terribly.
This was too much
for the Oxen,
who turned round indignantly
and said,
“Hullo,
you there!
Why do you make such a noise
when we do all the work?”
, , , ,
They complain most
who suffer least.
, , , ,
THE BOY
and THE FILBERTS
A Boy put his hand
into a jar
of Filberts,
and grasped
as many
as his fist
could possibly hold.
But
when he tried
to pull it out again,
he found he couldn’t do so,
for the neck
of the jar was too small
to allow
of the passage
of so large a handful.
Unwilling
to lose his nuts
but unable
to withdraw his hand,
he burst
into tears.
A bystander,
who saw
where the trouble lay,
said
to him,
“Come,
my boy,
don’t be so greedy:
be content
with half the amount,
and you’ll be able
to get your hand out without difficulty.”
, , , ,
Do not attempt too much
at once.
, , , ,
THE FROGS ASKING
for A KING
Time was
when the Frogs were discontented
because they had no one
to rule
over them:
so they sent a deputation
to Jupiter
to ask him
to give them a King.
Jupiter,
despising the folly
of their request,
cast a log
into the pool
where they lived,
and said
that that
should be their King.
The Frogs were terrified
at first
by the splash,
and scuttled away
into the deepest parts
of the pool;
but
by
and by,
when they saw
that the log remained motionless,
one
by one they ventured
to the surface again,
and
before long,
growing bolder,
they began
to feel such contempt
for it
that they
even took
to sitting upon it.
Thinking
that a King
of
that sort was an insult
to their dignity,
they sent
to Jupiter a second time,
and begged him
to take away the sluggish King he had given them,
and
to give them another
and a better one.
Jupiter,
annoyed
at being pestered
in this way,
sent a Stork
to rule
over them,
who no sooner arrived
among them
than he began
to catch
and eat the Frogs
as fast
as he could.
, , , ,
THE OLIVE-TREE
and THE FIG-TREE
An Olive-tree taunted a Fig-tree
with the loss
of her leaves
at a certain season
of the year.
“You,”
she said,
“lose your leaves every autumn,
and are bare
till the spring:
whereas I,
as you see,
remain green
and flourishing all the year round.”
Soon afterwards
there came a heavy fall
of snow,
which settled
on the leaves
of the Olive so
that she bent
and broke
under the weight;
but the flakes fell harmlessly
through the bare branches
of the Fig,
which survived
to bear many another crop.
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE BOAR
One hot
and thirsty day
in the height
of summer a Lion
and a Boar came down
to a little spring
at the same moment
to drink.
In a trice they were quarrelling as
to
who
should drink first.
The quarrel soon became a fight
and they attacked one another
with the utmost fury.
Presently,
stopping
for a moment
to take breath,
they saw some vultures seated
on a rock
above evidently waiting
for one
of them
to be killed,
when they
would fly down
and feed upon the carcase.
The sight sobered them
at once,
and they made up their quarrel,
saying,
“We had much better be friends
than fight
and be eaten
by vultures.”
, , , ,
THE WALNUT-TREE
A Walnut-tree,
which grew
by the roadside,
bore every year a plentiful crop
of nuts.
Every one
who passed
by pelted its branches
with sticks
and stones,
in order
to bring down the fruit,
and the tree suffered severely.
“It is hard,”
it cried,
“that the very persons
who enjoy my fruit
should thus reward me
with insults
and blows.”
, , , ,
THE MAN
and THE LION
A Man
and a Lion were companions
on a journey,
and
in the course
of conversation they began
to boast
about their prowess,
and each claimed
to be superior
to the other
in strength
and courage.
They were still arguing
with some heat
when they came
to a cross-road
where
there was a statue
of a Man strangling a Lion.
“There!”
said the Man triumphantly,
“look
at that!
Doesn’t
that prove
to you
that we are stronger
than you?”
“Not so fast,
my friend,”
said the Lion:
“that is only your view
of the case.
If we Lions
could make statues,
you may be sure that
in most
of them you
would see the Man underneath.”
, , , ,
There are two sides
to every question.
, , , ,
THE TORTOISE
and THE EAGLE
A Tortoise,
discontented
with his lowly life,
and envious
of the birds he saw disporting themselves
in the air,
begged an Eagle
to teach him
to fly.
The Eagle protested
that it was idle
for him
to try,
as nature had not provided him
with wings;
but the Tortoise pressed him
with entreaties
and promises
of treasure,
insisting
that it
could only be a question
of learning the craft
of the air.
So
at length the Eagle consented
to do the best he could
for him,
and picked him up
in his talons.
Soaring
with him
to a great height
in the sky he
then let him go,
and the wretched Tortoise fell headlong
and was dashed
to pieces
on a rock.
, , , ,
THE KID
on THE HOUSETOP
A Kid climbed up
on
to the roof
of an outhouse,
attracted
by the grass
and other things
that grew
in the thatch;
and
as he stood
there browsing away,
he caught sight
of a Wolf passing below,
and jeered
at him
because he couldn’t reach him.
The Wolf only looked up
and said,
“I hear you,
my young friend;
but it is not you
who mock me,
but the roof
on
which you are standing.”
, , , ,
THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL
A fox once fell
into a trap,
and after a struggle managed
to get free,
but
with the loss
of his brush.
He was
then so much ashamed
of his appearance
that he thought life was not worth living
unless he
could persuade the other Foxes
to part
with their tails also,
and thus divert attention
from his own loss.
So he called a meeting
of all the Foxes,
and advised them
to cut off their tails:
“They’re ugly things anyhow,”
he said,
“and
besides they’re heavy,
and it’s tiresome
to be always carrying them about
with you.”
But one
of the other Foxes said,
“My friend,
if you hadn’t lost your own tail,
you wouldn’t be so keen
on getting us
to cut off ours.”
, , , ,
THE VAIN JACKDAW
Jupiter announced
that he intended
to appoint a king
over the birds,
and named a day
on
which they were
to appear
before his throne,
when he
would select the most beautiful
of them all
to be their ruler.
Wishing
to look their best
on the occasion they repaired
to the banks
of a stream,
where they busied themselves
in washing
and preening their feathers.
The Jackdaw was
there along
with the rest,
and realised that,
with his ugly plumage,
he
would have no chance
of being chosen
as he was:
so he waited
till they were all gone,
and
then picked up the most gaudy
of the feathers they had dropped,
and fastened them
about his own body,
with the result
that he looked gayer
than any
of them.
When the appointed day came,
the birds assembled
before Jupiter’s throne;
and,
after passing them
in review,
he was about
to make the Jackdaw king,
when all the rest set upon the king-elect,
stripped him
of his borrowed plumes,
and exposed him
for the Jackdaw
that he was.
, , , ,
THE TRAVELLER
and HIS DOG
A Traveller was about
to start
on a journey,
and said
to his Dog,
who was stretching himself
by the door,
“Come,
what are you yawning for?
Hurry up
and get ready:
I mean you
to go
with me.”
But the Dog merely wagged his tail
and said quietly,
“I’m ready,
master:
it’s you I’m waiting for.”
, , , ,
THE SHIPWRECKED MAN
and THE SEA
A Shipwrecked Man cast up
on the beach fell asleep after his struggle
with the waves.
When he woke up,
he bitterly reproached the Sea
for its treachery
in enticing men
with its smooth
and smiling surface,
and then,
when they were well embarked,
turning
in fury upon them
and sending both ship
and sailors
to destruction.
The Sea arose
in the form
of a woman,
and replied,
“Lay not the blame
on me,
O sailor,
but
on the Winds.
By nature I am
as calm
and safe
as the land itself:
but the Winds fall upon me
with their gusts
and gales,
and lash me
into a fury
that is not natural
to me.”
, , , ,
THE WILD BOAR
and THE FOX
A Wild Boar was engaged
in whetting his tusks upon the trunk
of a tree
in the forest
when a Fox came
by and,
seeing
what he was at,
said
to him,
“Why are you doing that,
pray?
The huntsmen are not out to-day,
and
there are no other dangers
at hand
that I
can see.”
“True,
my friend,”
replied the Boar,
“but the instant my life is
in danger I shall need
to use my tusks.
There’ll be no time
to sharpen them then.”
, , , ,
MERCURY
and THE SCULPTOR
Mercury was very anxious
to know
in
what estimation he was held
by mankind;
so he disguised himself
as a man
and walked
into a Sculptor’s studio,
where
there were a number
of statues finished
and ready
for sale.
Seeing a statue
of Jupiter
among the rest,
he inquired the price
of it.
“A crown,”
said the Sculptor.
“Is
that all?”
said he,
laughing;
“and”
(pointing
to one
of Juno)
“how much is
that one?”
“That,”
was the reply,
“is half a crown.”
“And
how much might you be wanting
for
that one
over there,
now?”
he continued,
pointing
to a statue
of himself.
“That one?”
said the Sculptor;
“Oh,
I’ll throw him
in
for nothing
if you’ll buy the other two.”
, , , ,
THE FAWN
and HIS MOTHER
A Hind said
to her Fawn,
who was now well grown
and strong,
“My son,
Nature has given you a powerful body
and a stout pair
of horns,
and I can’t think
why you are such a coward as
to run away
from the hounds.”
Just
then they both heard the sound
of a pack
in full cry,
but
at a considerable distance.
“You stay
where you are,”
said the Hind;
“never mind me”:
and
with
that she ran off
as fast
as her legs
could carry her.
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE LION
A Fox
who had never seen a Lion one day met one,
and was so terrified
at the sight
of him
that he was ready
to die
with fear.
After a time he met him again,
and was still rather frightened,
but not nearly so much
as he had been
when he met him first.
But
when he saw him
for the third time he was so far
from being afraid
that he went up
to him
and began
to talk
to him
as
if he had known him all his life.
, , , ,
THE EAGLE
and HIS CAPTOR
A Man once caught an Eagle,
and after clipping his wings turned him loose
among the fowls
in his hen-house,
where he moped
in a corner,
looking very dejected
and forlorn.
After a
while his Captor was glad enough
to sell him
to a neighbour,
who took him home
and let his wings grow again.
As soon
as he had recovered the use
of them,
the Eagle flew out
and caught a hare,
which he brought home
and presented
to his benefactor.
A fox observed this,
and said
to the Eagle,
“Don’t waste your gifts
on him!
Go
and give them
to the man
who first caught you;
make
-him- your friend,
and
then perhaps he
won’t catch you
and clip your wings a second time.”
, , , ,
THE BLACKSMITH
and HIS DOG
A Blacksmith had a little Dog,
which used
to sleep
when his master was
at work,
but was very wide awake indeed
when it was time
for meals.
One day his master pretended
to be disgusted
at this,
and
when he had thrown him a bone
as usual,
he said,
“What
on earth is the good
of a lazy cur
like you?
When I am hammering away
at my anvil,
you just curl up
and go
to sleep:
but no sooner do I stop
for a mouthful
of food
than you wake up
and wag your tail
to be fed.”
, , , ,
Those
who
will not work deserve
to starve.
, , , ,
THE STAG
at THE POOL
A thirsty Stag went down
to a pool
to drink.
As he bent
over the surface he saw his own reflection
in the water,
and was struck
with admiration
for his fine spreading antlers,
but
at the same time he felt nothing
but disgust
for the weakness
and slenderness
of his legs.
While he stood
there looking
at himself,
he was seen
and attacked
by a Lion;
but
in the chase
which ensued,
he soon drew away
from his pursuer,
and kept his lead
as long
as the ground
over
which he ran was open
and free
of trees.
But coming presently
to a wood,
he was caught
by his antlers
in the branches,
and fell a victim
to the teeth
and claws
of his enemy.
“Woe is me!”
he cried
with his last breath;
“I despised my legs,
which might have saved my life:
but I gloried
in my horns,
and they have proved my ruin.”
, , , ,
What is worth most is often valued least.
, , , ,
THE DOG
and THE SHADOW
A Dog was crossing a plank bridge
over a stream
with a piece
of meat
in his mouth,
when he happened
to see his own reflection
in the water.
He thought it was another dog
with a piece
of meat twice
as big;
so he let go his own,
and flew
at the other dog
to get the larger piece.
But,
of course,
all
that happened was
that he got neither;
for one was only a shadow,
and the other was carried away
by the current.
, , , ,
MERCURY
and THE TRADESMEN
When Jupiter was creating man,
he told Mercury
to make an infusion
of lies,
and
to add a little
of it
to the other ingredients
which went
to the making
of the Tradesmen.
Mercury did so,
and introduced an equal amount
into each
in turn
--the tallow-chandler,
and the greengrocer,
and the haberdasher,
and all,
till he came
to the horse-dealer,
who was last
on the list,
when,
finding
that he had a quantity
of the infusion still left,
he put it all
into him.
This is
why all Tradesmen lie more
or less,
but they none
of them lie
like a horse-dealer.
, , , ,
THE MICE
and THE WEASELS
There was war
between the Mice
and the Weasels,
in
which the Mice always got the worst
of it,
numbers
of them being killed
and eaten
by the Weasels.
So they called a council
of war,
in
which an old Mouse got up
and said,
“It’s no wonder we are always beaten,
for we have no generals
to plan our battles
and direct our movements
in the field.”
Acting
on his advice,
they chose the biggest Mice
to be their leaders,
and these,
in order
to be distinguished
from the rank
and file,
provided themselves
with helmets bearing large plumes
of straw.
They
then led out the Mice
to battle,
confident
of victory:
but they were defeated
as usual,
and were soon scampering
as fast
as they could
to their holes.
All made their way
to safety without difficulty except the leaders,
who were so hampered
by the badges
of their rank
that they
could not get
into their holes,
and fell easy victims
to their pursuers.
, , , ,
Greatness carries its own penalties.
, , , ,
THE PEACOCK
and JUNO
The Peacock was greatly discontented
because he had not a beautiful voice
like the nightingale,
and he went
and complained
to Juno
about it.
“The nightingale’s song,”
said he,
“is the envy
of all the birds;
but whenever I utter a sound I become a laughing-stock.”
The goddess tried
to console him
by saying,
“You have not,
it is true,
the power
of song,
but
then you far excel all the rest
in beauty:
your neck flashes
like the emerald
and your splendid tail is a marvel
of gorgeous colour.”
But the Peacock was not appeased.
“What is the use,”
said he,
“of being beautiful,
with a voice
like mine?”
Then Juno replied,
with a shade
of sternness
in her tones,
“Fate has allotted
to all their destined gifts:
to yourself beauty,
to the eagle strength,
to the nightingale song,
and so
on
to all the rest
in their degree;
but you alone are dissatisfied
with your portion.
Make,
then,
no more complaints.
For,
if your present wish were granted,
you
would quickly find cause
for fresh discontent.”
, , , ,
THE BEAR
and THE FOX
A Bear was once bragging
about his generous feelings,
and saying
how refined he was compared
with other animals.
(There is,
in fact,
a tradition
that a Bear
will never touch a dead body.)
A Fox,
who heard him talking
in this strain,
smiled
and said,
“My friend,
when you are hungry,
I only wish you
-would- confine your attention
to the dead
and leave the living alone.”
, , , ,
A hypocrite deceives no one
but himself.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and THE OLD PEASANT
An old Peasant was sitting
in a meadow watching his Ass,
which was grazing close by,
when all
of a sudden he caught sight
of armed men stealthily approaching.
He jumped up
in a moment,
and begged the Ass
to fly
with him
as fast
as he could,
“Or else,”
said he,
“we shall both be captured
by the enemy.”
But the Ass just looked round lazily
and said,
“And
if so,
do you think they’ll make me carry heavier loads
than I have
to now?”
“No,”
said his master.
“Oh,
well,
then,”
said the Ass,
“I
don’t mind
if they do take me,
for I shan’t be any worse off.”
, , , ,
THE OX
and THE FROG
Two little Frogs were playing about
at the edge
of a pool
when an Ox came down
to the water
to drink,
and
by accident trod
on one
of them
and crushed the life out
of him.
When the old Frog missed him,
she asked his brother
where he was.
“He is dead,
mother,”
said the little Frog;
“an enormous big creature
with four legs came
to our pool this morning
and trampled him down
in the mud.”
“Enormous,
was he?
Was he
as big
as this?”
said the Frog,
puffing herself out
to look
as big
as possible.
“Oh!
yes,
-much- bigger,”
was the answer.
The Frog puffed herself out still more.
“Was he
as big
as this?”
said she.
“Oh!
yes,
yes,
mother,
-MUCH- bigger,”
said the little Frog.
And yet again she puffed
and puffed herself out
till she was almost
as round
as a ball.
“As big
as ...?”
she began
--but
then she burst.
, , , ,
THE MAN
and THE IMAGE
A poor Man had a wooden Image
of a god,
to
which he used
to pray daily
for riches.
He did this
for a long time,
but remained
as poor
as ever,
till one day he caught up the Image
in disgust
and hurled it
with all his strength
against the wall.
The force
of the blow split open the head
and a quantity
of gold coins fell out upon the floor.
The Man gathered them up greedily,
and said,
“O you old fraud,
you!
When I honoured you,
you did me no good whatever:
but no sooner do I treat you
to insults
and violence
than you make a rich man
of me!”
HERCULES
and THE WAGGONER
A Waggoner was driving his team
along a muddy lane
with a full load
behind them,
when the wheels
of his waggon sank so deep
in the mire
that no efforts
of his horses
could move them.
As he stood there,
looking helplessly on,
and calling loudly
at intervals upon Hercules
for assistance,
the god himself appeared,
and said
to him,
“Put your shoulder
to the wheel,
man,
and goad
on your horses,
and
then you may call
on Hercules
to assist you.
If you
won’t lift a finger
to help yourself,
you can’t expect Hercules
or any one else
to come
to your aid.”
, , , ,
Heaven helps those
who help themselves.
, , , ,
THE POMEGRANATE,
THE APPLE-TREE,
AND THE BRAMBLE
A Pomegranate
and an Apple-tree were disputing
about the quality
of their fruits,
and each claimed
that its own was the better
of the two.
High words passed
between them,
and a violent quarrel was imminent,
when a Bramble impudently poked its head out
of a neighbouring hedge
and said,
“There,
that’s enough,
my friends;
don’t let us quarrel.”
, , , ,
THE LION,
THE BEAR,
AND THE FOX
A Lion
and a Bear were fighting
for possession
of a kid,
which they had both seized
at the same moment.
The battle was long
and fierce,
and
at length both
of them were exhausted,
and lay upon the ground severely wounded
and gasping
for breath.
A Fox had all the time been prowling round
and watching the fight:
and
when he saw the combatants lying
there too weak
to move,
he slipped
in
and seized the kid,
and ran off
with it.
They looked
on helplessly,
and one said
to the other,
“Here we’ve been mauling each other all this while,
and no one the better
for it except the Fox!”
THE BLACKAMOOR
A Man once bought an Ethiopian slave,
who had a black skin
like all Ethiopians;
but his new master thought his colour was due
to his late owner’s having neglected him,
and
that all he wanted was a good scrubbing.
So he set
to work
with plenty
of soap
and hot water,
and rubbed away
at him
with a will,
but all
to no purpose:
his skin remained
as black
as ever,
while the poor wretch all
but died
from the cold he caught.
, , , ,
THE TWO SOLDIERS
and THE ROBBER
Two Soldiers travelling together were set upon
by a Robber.
One
of them ran away,
but the other stood his ground,
and laid
about him so lustily
with his sword
that the Robber was fain
to fly
and leave him
in peace.
When the coast was clear the timid one ran back,
and,
flourishing his weapon,
cried
in a threatening voice,
“Where is he?
Let me get
at him,
and I’ll soon let him know whom he’s got
to deal with.”
But the other replied,
“You are a little late,
my friend:
I only wish you had backed me up just now,
even
if you had done no more
than speak,
for I
should have been encouraged,
believing your words
to be true.
As it is,
calm yourself,
and put up your sword:
there is no further use
for it.
You may delude others
into thinking you’re
as brave
as a lion:
but I know that,
at the first sign
of danger,
you run away
like a hare.”
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE WILD ASS
A Lion
and a Wild Ass went out hunting together:
the latter was
to run down the prey
by his superior speed,
and the former would
then come up
and despatch it.
They met
with great success;
and
when it came
to sharing the spoil the Lion divided it all
into three equal portions.
“I
will take the first,”
said he,
“because I am King
of the beasts;
I
will also take the second,
because,
as your partner,
I am entitled
to half
of
what remains;
and
as
for the third
--well,
unless you give it up
to me
and take yourself off pretty quick,
the third,
believe me,
will make you feel very sorry
for yourself!”
Might makes right.
, , , ,
THE MAN
and THE SATYR
A Man
and a Satyr became friends,
and determined
to live together.
All went well
for a while,
until one day
in winter-time the Satyr saw the Man blowing
on his hands.
“Why do you do that?”
he asked.
“To warm my hands,”
said the Man.
That same day,
when they sat down
to supper together,
they each had a steaming hot bowl
of porridge,
and the Man raised his bowl
to his mouth
and blew
on it.
“Why do you do that?”
asked the Satyr.
“To cool my porridge,”
said the Man.
The Satyr got up
from the table.
“Good-bye,”
said he,
“I’m going:
I can’t be friends
with a man
who blows hot
and cold
with the same breath.”
, , , ,
THE IMAGE-SELLER
A certain man made a wooden Image
of Mercury,
and exposed it
for sale
in the market.
As no one offered
to buy it,
however,
he thought he
would try
to attract a purchaser
by proclaiming the virtues
of the Image.
So he cried up
and down the market,
“A god
for sale!
a god
for sale!
One who’ll bring you luck
and keep you lucky!”
Presently one
of the bystanders stopped him
and said,
“If your god is all you make him out
to be,
how is it you
don’t keep him
and make the most
of him yourself?”
“I’ll tell you why,”
replied he;
“he brings gain,
it is true,
but he takes his time
about it;
whereas I want money
at once.”
, , , ,
THE EAGLE
and THE ARROW
An Eagle sat perched
on a lofty rock,
keeping a sharp look-out
for prey.
A huntsman,
concealed
in a cleft
of the mountain and
on the watch
for game,
spied him there
and shot an Arrow
at him.
The shaft struck him full
in the breast
and pierced him through
and through.
As he lay
in the agonies
of death,
he turned his eyes upon the Arrow.
“Ah!
cruel fate!”
he cried,
“that I
should perish thus:
but oh!
fate more cruel still,
that the Arrow
which kills me
should be winged
with an Eagle’s feathers!”
THE RICH MAN
and THE TANNER
A Rich Man took up his residence next door
to a Tanner,
and found the smell
of the tan-yard so extremely unpleasant
that he told him he must go.
The Tanner delayed his departure,
and the Rich Man had
to speak
to him several times
about it;
and every time the Tanner said he was making arrangements
to move very shortly.
This went
on
for some time,
till
at last the Rich Man got so used
to the smell
that he ceased
to mind it,
and troubled the Tanner
with his objections no more.
, , , ,
THE WOLF,
THE MOTHER,
AND HER CHILD
A hungry Wolf was prowling about
in search
of food.
By
and by,
attracted
by the cries
of a Child,
he came
to a cottage.
As he crouched
beneath the window,
he heard the Mother say
to the Child,
“Stop crying,
do!
or I’ll throw you
to the Wolf.”
Thinking she really meant
what she said,
he waited
there a long time
in the expectation
of satisfying his hunger.
In the evening he heard the Mother fondling her Child
and saying,
“If the naughty Wolf comes,
he shan’t get my little one:
Daddy
will kill him.”
The Wolf got up
in much disgust
and walked away:
“As
for the people
in
that house,”
said he
to himself,
“you can’t believe a word they say.”
, , , ,
THE OLD WOMAN
and THE WINE-JAR
An old Woman picked up an empty Wine-jar
which had once contained a rare
and costly wine,
and
which still retained some traces
of its exquisite bouquet.
She raised it
to her nose
and sniffed
at it again
and again.
“Ah,”
she cried,
“how delicious must have been the liquid
which has left
behind so ravishing a smell.”
, , , ,
THE LIONESS
and THE VIXEN
A Lioness
and a Vixen were talking together
about their young,
as mothers will,
and saying
how healthy
and well-grown they were,
and
what beautiful coats they had,
and
how they were the image
of their parents.
“My litter
of cubs is a joy
to see,”
said the Fox;
and
then she added,
rather maliciously,
“But I notice you never have more
than one.”
“No,”
said the Lioness grimly,
“but
that one’s a lion.”
, , , ,
Quality,
not quantity.
, , , ,
THE VIPER
and THE FILE
A Viper entered a carpenter’s shop,
and went
from one
to another
of the tools,
begging
for something
to eat.
Among the rest,
he addressed himself
to the File,
and asked
for the favour
of a meal.
The File replied
in a tone
of pitying contempt,
“What a simpleton you must be
if you imagine you
will get anything
from me,
who invariably take
from every one
and never give anything
in return.”
, , , ,
The covetous are poor givers.
, , , ,
THE CAT
and THE COCK
A Cat pounced
on a Cock,
and cast about
for some good excuse
for making a meal off him,
for Cats don’t
as a rule eat Cocks,
and she knew she ought not to.
At last she said,
“You make a great nuisance
of yourself
at night
by crowing
and keeping people awake:
so I am going
to make an end
of you.”
But the Cock defended himself
by saying
that he crowed
in order
that men might wake up
and set
about the day’s work
in good time,
and
that they really couldn’t very well do without him.
“That may be,”
said the Cat,
“but whether they can
or not,
I’m not going without my dinner”;
and she killed
and ate him.
, , , ,
The want
of a good excuse never kept a villain
from crime.
, , , ,
THE HARE
and THE TORTOISE
A Hare was one day making fun
of a Tortoise
for being so slow upon his feet.
“Wait a bit,”
said the Tortoise;
“I’ll run a race
with you,
and I’ll wager
that I win.”
“Oh,
well,”
replied the Hare,
who was much amused
at the idea,
“let’s try
and see”;
and it was soon agreed
that the fox
should set a course
for them,
and be the judge.
When the time came both started off together,
but the Hare was soon so far ahead
that he thought he might
as well have a rest:
so down he lay
and fell fast asleep.
Meanwhile the Tortoise kept plodding on,
and
in time reached the goal.
At last the Hare woke up
with a start,
and dashed
on
at his fastest,
but only
to find
that the Tortoise had already won the race.
, , , ,
Slow
and steady wins the race.
, , , ,
THE SOLDIER
and HIS HORSE
A Soldier gave his Horse a plentiful supply
of oats
in time
of war,
and tended him
with the utmost care,
for he wished him
to be strong
to endure the hardships
of the field,
and swift
to bear his master,
when need arose,
out
of the reach
of danger.
But
when the war was
over he employed him
on all sorts
of drudgery,
bestowing
but little attention upon him,
and giving him,
moreover,
nothing
but chaff
to eat.
The time came
when war broke out again,
and the Soldier saddled
and bridled his Horse,
and,
having put
on his heavy coat
of mail,
mounted him
to ride off
and take the field.
But the poor half-starved beast sank down
under his weight,
and said
to his rider,
“You
will have
to go
into battle
on foot this time.
Thanks
to hard work
and bad food,
you have turned me
from a Horse
into an ass;
and you cannot
in a moment turn me back again
into a Horse.”
, , , ,
THE OXEN
and THE BUTCHERS
Once upon a time the Oxen determined
to be revenged upon the Butchers
for the havoc they wrought
in their ranks,
and plotted
to put them
to death
on a given day.
They were all gathered together discussing
how best
to carry out the plan,
and the more violent
of them were engaged
in sharpening their horns
for the fray,
when an old Ox got up upon his feet
and said,
“My brothers,
you have good reason,
I know,
to hate these Butchers,
but,
at any rate,
they understand their trade
and do
what they have
to do without causing unnecessary pain.
But
if we kill them,
others,
who have no experience,
will be set
to slaughter us,
and will
by their bungling inflict great sufferings upon us.
For you may be sure that,
even though all the Butchers perish,
mankind
will never go without their beef.”
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE LION
A wolf stole a lamb
from the flock,
and was carrying it off
to devour it
at his leisure
when he met a Lion,
who took his prey away
from him
and walked off
with it.
He dared not resist,
but
when the Lion had gone some distance he said,
“It is most unjust
of you
to take what’s mine away
from me
like that.”
The Lion laughed
and called out
in reply,
“It was justly yours,
no doubt!
The gift
of a friend,
perhaps,
eh?”
, , , ,
THE SHEEP,
THE WOLF,
AND THE STAG
A Stag once asked a Sheep
to lend him a measure
of wheat,
saying
that his friend the Wolf
would be his surety.
The Sheep,
however,
was afraid
that they meant
to cheat her;
so she excused herself,
saying,
“The Wolf is
in the habit
of seizing
what he wants
and running off
with it without paying,
and you,
too,
can run much faster
than I. So
how shall I be able
to come up
with either
of you
when the debt falls due?”
, , , ,
Two blacks do not make a white.
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE THREE BULLS
Three Bulls were grazing
in a meadow,
and were watched
by a Lion,
who longed
to capture
and devour them,
but
who felt
that he was no match
for the three so long
as they kept together.
So he began
by false whispers
and malicious hints
to foment jealousies
and distrust
among them.
This stratagem succeeded so well
that ere long the Bulls grew cold
and unfriendly,
and finally avoided each other
and fed each one
by himself apart.
No sooner did the Lion see this
than he fell upon them one
by one
and killed them
in turn.
, , , ,
The quarrels
of friends are the opportunities
of foes.
, , , ,
THE HORSE
and HIS RIDER
A Young Man,
who fancied himself something
of a horseman,
mounted a Horse
which had not been properly broken in,
and was exceedingly difficult
to control.
No sooner did the Horse feel his weight
in the saddle
than he bolted,
and nothing
would stop him.
A friend
of the Rider’s met him
in the road
in his headlong career,
and called out,
“Where are you off to
in such a hurry?”
To
which he,
pointing
to the Horse,
replied,
“I’ve no idea:
ask him.”
, , , ,
THE GOAT
and THE VINE
A Goat was straying
in a vineyard,
and began
to browse
on the tender shoots
of a Vine
which bore several fine bunches
of grapes.
“What have I done
to you,”
said the Vine,
“that you
should harm me thus?
Isn’t
there grass enough
for you
to feed on?
All the same,
even
if you eat up every leaf I have,
and leave me quite bare,
I shall produce wine enough
to pour
over you
when you are led
to the altar
to be sacrificed.”
, , , ,
THE TWO POTS
Two Pots,
one
of earthenware
and the other
of brass,
were carried away down a river
in flood.
The Brazen Pot urged his companion
to keep close
by his side,
and he
would protect him.
The other thanked him,
but begged him not
to come near him
on any account:
“For that,”
he said,
“is just
what I am most afraid of.
One touch
from you
and I
should be broken
in pieces.”
, , , ,
Equals make the best friends.
, , , ,
THE OLD HOUND
A Hound
who had served his master well
for years,
and had run down many a quarry
in his time,
began
to lose his strength
and speed owing
to age.
One day,
when out hunting,
his master started a powerful wild boar
and set the Hound
at him.
The latter seized the beast
by the ear,
but his teeth were gone
and he
could not retain his hold;
so the boar escaped.
His master began
to scold him severely,
but the Hound interrupted him
with these words:
“My
will is
as strong
as ever,
master,
but my body is old
and feeble.
You ought
to honour me
for
what I have been instead
of abusing me
for
what I am.”
, , , ,
THE CLOWN
and THE COUNTRYMAN
A Nobleman announced his intention
of giving a public entertainment
in the theatre,
and offered splendid prizes
to all
who had any novelty
to exhibit
at the performance.
The announcement attracted a crowd
of conjurers,
jugglers,
and acrobats,
and
among the rest a Clown,
very popular
with the crowd,
who let it be known
that he was going
to give an entirely new turn.
When the day
of the performance came,
the theatre was filled
from top
to bottom some time
before the entertainment began.
Several performers exhibited their tricks,
and
then the popular favourite came
on empty-handed
and alone.
At once
there was a hush
of expectation:
and he,
letting his head fall upon his breast,
imitated the squeak
of a pig
to such perfection
that the audience insisted
on his producing the animal,
which,
they said,
he must have somewhere concealed
about his person.
He,
however,
convinced them
that
there was no pig there,
and
then the applause was deafening.
Among the spectators was a Countryman,
who disparaged the Clown’s performance
and announced
that he
would give a much superior exhibition
of the same trick
on the following day.
Again the theatre was filled
to overflowing,
and again the Clown gave his imitation amidst the cheers
of the crowd.
The Countryman,
meanwhile,
before going
on the stage,
had secreted a young porker
under his smock;
and
when the spectators derisively bade him do better
if he could,
he gave it a pinch
in the ear
and made it squeal loudly.
But they all
with one voice shouted out
that the Clown’s imitation was much more true
to life.
Thereupon he produced the pig
from
under his smock
and said sarcastically,
“There,
that shows
what sort
of judges you are!”
THE LARK
and THE FARMER
A Lark nested
in a field
of corn,
and was rearing her brood
under cover
of the ripening grain.
One day,
before the young were fully fledged,
the Farmer came
to look
at the crop,
and,
finding it yellowing fast,
he said,
“I must send round word
to my neighbours
to come
and help me reap this field.”
One
of the young Larks overheard him,
and was very much frightened,
and asked her mother whether they hadn’t better move house
at once.
“There’s no hurry,”
replied she;
“a man
who looks
to his friends
for help
will take his time
about a thing.”
In a few days the Farmer came
by again,
and saw
that the grain was overripe
and falling out
of the ears upon the ground.
“I must put it off no longer,”
he said;
“This very day I’ll hire the men
and set them
to work
at once.”
The Lark heard him
and said
to her young,
“Come,
my children,
we must be off:
he talks no more
of his friends now,
but is going
to take things
in hand himself.”
, , , ,
Self-help is the best help.
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE ASS
A Lion
and an Ass set up
as partners
and went a-hunting together.
In course
of time they came
to a cave
in
which
there were a number
of wild goats.
The Lion took up his stand
at the mouth
of the cave,
and waited
for them
to come out;
while the Ass went inside
and brayed
for all he was worth
in order
to frighten them out
into the open.
The Lion struck them down one
by one
as they appeared;
and
when the cave was empty the Ass came out
and said,
“Well,
I scared them pretty well,
didn’t I?”
“I
should think you did,”
said the Lion:
“why,
if I hadn’t known you were an Ass,
I
should have turned
and run myself.”
, , , ,
THE PROPHET
A Prophet sat
in the market-place
and told the fortunes
of all
who cared
to engage his services.
Suddenly
there came running up one
who told him
that his house had been broken into
by thieves,
and
that they had made off
with everything they
could lay hands on.
He was up
in a moment,
and rushed off,
tearing his hair
and calling down curses
on the miscreants.
The bystanders were much amused,
and one
of them said,
“Our friend professes
to know
what is going
to happen
to others,
but it seems he’s not clever enough
to perceive what’s
in store
for himself.”
, , , ,
THE HOUND
and THE HARE
A young Hound started a Hare,
and,
when he caught her up,
would
at one moment snap
at her
with his teeth
as though he were about
to kill her,
while
at another he
would let go his hold
and frisk
about her,
as
if he were playing
with another dog.
At last the Hare said,
“I wish you
would show yourself
in your true colours!
If you are my friend,
why do you bite me?
If you are my enemy,
why do you play
with me?”
, , , ,
He is no friend
who plays double.
, , , ,
THE LION,
THE MOUSE,
AND THE FOX
A Lion was lying asleep
at the mouth
of his den
when a Mouse ran
over his back
and tickled him so
that he woke up
with a start
and began looking
about everywhere
to see
what it was
that had disturbed him.
A Fox,
who was looking on,
thought he
would have a joke
at the expense
of the Lion;
so he said,
“Well,
this is the first time I’ve seen a Lion afraid
of a Mouse.”
“Afraid
of a Mouse?”
said the Lion testily:
“not I!
It’s his bad manners I can’t stand.”
, , , ,
THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER
A Trumpeter marched
into battle
in the van
of the army
and put courage
into his comrades
by his warlike tunes.
Being captured
by the enemy,
he begged
for his life,
and said,
“Do not put me
to death;
I have killed no one:
indeed,
I have no weapons,
but carry
with me only my trumpet here.”
But his captors replied,
“That is only the more reason
why we
should take your life;
for,
though you do not fight yourself,
you stir up others
to do so.”
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE CRANE
A Wolf once got a bone stuck
in his throat.
So he went
to a Crane
and begged her
to put her long bill down his throat
and pull it out.
“I’ll make it worth your while,”
he added.
The Crane did
as she was asked,
and got the bone out quite easily.
The Wolf thanked her warmly,
and was just turning away,
when she cried,
“What about
that fee
of mine?”
“Well,
what
about it?”
snapped the Wolf,
baring his teeth
as he spoke;
“you
can go
about boasting
that you once put your head
into a Wolf’s mouth
and didn’t get it bitten off.
What more do you want?”
, , , ,
THE EAGLE,
THE CAT,
AND THE WILD SOW
An Eagle built her nest
at the top
of a high tree;
a Cat
with her family occupied a hollow
in the trunk half-way down;
and a Wild Sow
and her young took up their quarters
at the foot.
They might have got
on very well
as neighbours had it not been
for the evil cunning
of the Cat.
Climbing up
to the Eagle’s nest she said
to the Eagle,
“You
and I are
in the greatest possible danger.
That dreadful creature,
the Sow,
who is always
to be seen grubbing away
at the foot
of the tree,
means
to uproot it,
that she may devour your family
and mine
at her ease.”
Having thus driven the Eagle
almost out
of her senses
with terror,
the Cat climbed down the tree,
and said
to the Sow,
“I must warn you against
that dreadful bird,
the Eagle.
She is only waiting her chance
to fly down
and carry off one
of your little pigs
when you take them out,
to feed her brood with.”
She succeeded
in frightening the Sow
as much
as the Eagle.
Then she returned
to her hole
in the trunk,
from which,
feigning
to be afraid,
she never came forth
by day.
Only
by night did she creep out unseen
to procure food
for her kittens.
The Eagle,
meanwhile was afraid
to stir
from her nest,
and the Sow dared not leave her home
among the roots:
so that
in time both they
and their families perished
of hunger,
and their dead bodies supplied the Cat
with ample food
for her growing family.
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE SHEEP
A Wolf was worried
and badly bitten
by dogs,
and lay a long time
for dead.
By and
by he began
to revive,
and,
feeling very hungry,
called out
to a passing Sheep
and said,
“Would you kindly bring me some water
from the stream close by?
I
can manage
about meat,
if only I
could get something
to drink.”
But this Sheep was no fool.
“I
can quite understand”,
said he,
“that
if I brought you the water,
you
would have no difficulty
about the meat.
Good-morning.”
, , , ,
THE TUNNY-FISH
and THE DOLPHIN
A Tunny-fish was chased
by a Dolphin
and splashed
through the water
at a great rate,
but the Dolphin gradually gained upon him,
and was just about
to seize him
when the force
of his flight carried the Tunny
on
to a sandbank.
In the heat
of the chase the Dolphin followed him,
and
there they both lay out
of the water,
gasping
for dear life.
When the Tunny saw
that his enemy was doomed
like himself,
he said,
“I
don’t mind having
to die now:
for I see
that he
who is the cause
of my death is about
to share the same fate.”
, , , ,
THE THREE TRADESMEN
The citizens
of a certain city were debating
about the best material
to use
in the fortifications
which were about
to be erected
for the greater security
of the town.
A Carpenter got up
and advised the use
of wood,
which he said was readily procurable
and easily worked.
A Stone-mason objected
to wood
on the ground
that it was so inflammable,
and recommended stones instead.
Then a Tanner got
on his legs
and said,
“In my opinion there’s nothing
like leather.”
, , , ,
Every man
for himself.
, , , ,
THE MOUSE
and THE BULL
A Bull gave chase
to a Mouse
which had bitten him
in the nose:
but the Mouse was too quick
for him
and slipped
into a hole
in a wall.
The Bull charged furiously
into the wall again
and again
until he was tired out,
and sank down
on the ground exhausted
with his efforts.
When all was quiet,
the Mouse darted out
and bit him again.
Beside himself
with rage he started
to his feet,
but
by
that time the Mouse was back
in his hole again,
and he
could do nothing
but bellow
and fume
in helpless anger.
Presently he heard a shrill little voice say
from inside the wall,
“You big fellows
don’t always have it your own way,
you see:
sometimes we little ones come off best.”
, , , ,
The battle is not always
to the strong.
, , , ,
THE HARE
and THE HOUND
A Hound started a Hare
from her form,
and pursued her
for some distance;
but
as she gradually gained upon him,
he gave up the chase.
A rustic
who had seen the race met the Hound
as he was returning,
and taunted him
with his defeat.
“The little one was too much
for you,”
said he.
“Ah,
well,”
said the Hound,
“don’t forget it’s one thing
to be running
for your dinner,
but quite another
to be running
for your life.”
, , , ,
THE TOWN MOUSE
and THE COUNTRY MOUSE
A Town Mouse
and a Country Mouse were acquaintances,
and the Country Mouse one day invited his friend
to come
and see him
at his home
in the fields.
The Town Mouse came,
and they sat down
to a dinner
of barleycorns
and roots,
the latter
of
which had a distinctly earthy flavour.
The fare was not much
to the taste
of the guest,
and presently he broke out
with “My poor dear friend,
you live here no better
than the ants.
Now,
you
should just see
how I fare!
My larder is a regular horn
of plenty.
You must come
and stay
with me,
and I promise you you shall live
on the fat
of the land.”
So
when he returned
to town he took the Country Mouse
with him,
and showed him
into a larder containing flour
and oatmeal
and figs
and honey
and dates.
The Country Mouse had never seen anything
like it,
and sat down
to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided:
but
before they had well begun,
the door
of the larder opened
and some one came in.
The two Mice scampered off
and hid themselves
in a narrow
and exceedingly uncomfortable hole.
Presently,
when all was quiet,
they ventured out again;
but some one else came in,
and off they scuttled again.
This was too much
for the visitor.
“Good-bye,”
said he,
“I’m off.
You live
in the lap
of luxury,
I
can see,
but you are surrounded
by dangers;
whereas
at home I
can enjoy my simple dinner
of roots
and corn
in peace.”
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE BULL
A Lion saw a fine fat Bull pasturing
among a herd
of cattle
and cast about
for some means
of getting him
into his clutches;
so he sent him word
that he was sacrificing a sheep,
and asked
if he
would do him the honour
of dining
with him.
The Bull accepted the invitation,
but,
on arriving
at the Lion’s den,
he saw a great array
of saucepans
and spits,
but no sign
of a sheep;
so he turned
on his heel
and walked quietly away.
The Lion called after him
in an injured tone
to ask the reason,
and the Bull turned round
and said,
“I have reason enough.
When I saw all your preparations it struck me
at once
that the victim was
to be a Bull
and not a sheep.”
, , , ,
The net is spread
in vain
in sight
of the bird.
, , , ,
THE WOLF,
THE FOX,
AND THE APE
A Wolf charged a Fox
with theft,
which he denied,
and the case was brought
before an Ape
to be tried.
When he had heard the evidence
on both sides,
the Ape gave judgment
as follows:
“I do not think,”
he said,
“that you,
O Wolf,
ever lost
what you claim;
but all the same I believe
that you,
Fox,
are guilty
of the theft,
in spite
of all your denials.”
, , , ,
The dishonest get no credit,
even
if they act honestly.
, , , ,
THE EAGLE
and THE COCKS
There were two Cocks
in the same farmyard,
and they fought
to decide
who
should be master.
When the fight was over,
the beaten one went
and hid himself
in a dark corner;
while the victor flew up
on
to the roof
of the stables
and crowed lustily.
But an Eagle espied him
from high up
in the sky,
and swooped down
and carried him off.
Forthwith the other Cock came out
of his corner
and ruled the roost without a rival.
, , , ,
Pride comes
before a fall.
, , , ,
THE ESCAPED JACKDAW
A Man caught a Jackdaw
and tied a piece
of string
to one
of its legs,
and
then gave it
to his children
for a pet.
But the Jackdaw didn’t
at all
like having
to live
with people;
so,
after a while,
when he seemed
to have become fairly tame
and they didn’t watch him so closely,
he slipped away
and flew back
to his old haunts.
Unfortunately,
the string was still
on his leg,
and
before long it got entangled
in the branches
of a tree
and the Jackdaw couldn’t get free,
try
as he would.
He saw it was all up
with him,
and cried
in despair,
“Alas,
in gaining my freedom I have lost my life.”
, , , ,
THE FARMER
and THE FOX
A Farmer was greatly annoyed
by a Fox,
which came prowling
about his yard
at night
and carried off his fowls.
So he set a trap
for him
and caught him;
and
in order
to be revenged upon him,
he tied a bunch
of tow
to his tail
and set fire
to it
and let him go.
As ill-luck
would have it,
however,
the Fox made straight
for the fields
where the corn was standing ripe
and ready
for cutting.
It quickly caught fire
and was all burnt up,
and the Farmer lost all his harvest.
, , , ,
Revenge is a two-edged sword.
, , , ,
VENUS
and THE CAT
A Cat fell
in love
with a handsome young man,
and begged the goddess Venus
to change her
into a woman.
Venus was very gracious
about it,
and changed her
at once
into a beautiful maiden,
whom the young man fell
in love with
at first sight
and shortly afterwards married.
One day Venus thought she
would like
to see whether the Cat had changed her habits
as well
as her form;
so she let a mouse run loose
in the room
where they were.
Forgetting everything,
the young woman had no sooner seen the mouse
than up she jumped
and was after it
like a shot:
at
which the goddess was so disgusted
that she changed her back again
into a Cat.
, , , ,
THE CROW
and THE SWAN
A Crow was filled
with envy
on seeing the beautiful white plumage
of a Swan,
and thought it was due
to the water
in
which the Swan constantly bathed
and swam.
So he left the neighbourhood
of the altars,
where he got his living
by picking up bits
of the meat offered
in sacrifice,
and went
and lived
among the pools
and streams.
But though he bathed
and washed his feathers many times a day,
he didn’t make them any whiter,
and
at last died
of hunger
into the bargain.
, , , ,
You may change your habits,
but not your nature.
, , , ,
THE STAG
with ONE EYE
A Stag,
blind
of one eye,
was grazing close
to the sea-shore
and kept his sound eye turned
towards the land,
so as
to be able
to perceive the approach
of the hounds,
while the blind eye he turned
towards the sea,
never suspecting
that any danger
would threaten him from
that quarter.
As it fell out,
however,
some sailors,
coasting
along the shore,
spied him
and shot an arrow
at him,
by
which he was mortally wounded.
As he lay dying,
he said
to himself,
“Wretch
that I am!
I bethought me
of the dangers
of the land,
whence none assailed me:
but I feared no peril
from the sea,
yet thence has come my ruin.”
, , , ,
Misfortune often assails us
from an unexpected quarter.
, , , ,
THE FLY
and THE DRAUGHT-MULE
A Fly sat
on one
of the shafts
of a cart
and said
to the Mule
who was pulling it,
“How slow you are!
Do mend your pace,
or I shall have
to use my sting
as a goad.”
The Mule was not
in the least disturbed.
“Behind me,
in the cart,”
said he,
“sits my master.
He holds the reins,
and flicks me
with his whip,
and him I obey,
but I
don’t want any
of your impertinence.
-I- know
when I may dawdle
and
when I may not.”
, , , ,
THE COCK
and THE JEWEL
A Cock,
scratching the ground
for something
to eat,
turned up a Jewel
that had
by chance been dropped there.
“Ho!”
said he,
“a fine thing you are,
no doubt,
and,
had your owner found you,
great
would his joy have been.
But
for me!
give me a single grain
of corn
before all the jewels
in the world.”
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE SHEPHERD
A Wolf hung
about near a flock
of sheep
for a long time,
but made no attempt
to molest them.
The Shepherd
at first kept a sharp eye
on him,
for he naturally thought he meant mischief:
but
as time went
by
and the Wolf showed no inclination
to meddle
with the flock,
he began
to look upon him more
as a protector than
as an enemy:
and
when one day some errand took him
to the city,
he felt no uneasiness
at leaving the Wolf
with the sheep.
But
as soon
as his back was turned the Wolf attacked them
and killed the greater number.
When the Shepherd returned
and saw the havoc he had wrought,
he cried,
“It serves me right
for trusting my flock
to a Wolf.”
, , , ,
THE FARMER
and THE STORK
A Farmer set some traps
in a field
which he had lately sown
with corn,
in order
to catch the cranes
which came
to pick up the seed.
When he returned
to look
at his traps he found several cranes caught,
and
among them a Stork,
which begged
to be let go,
and said,
“You ought not
to kill me:
I am not a crane,
but a Stork,
as you
can easily see
by my feathers,
and I am the most honest
and harmless
of birds.”
But the Farmer replied,
“It’s nothing
to me
what you are:
I find you
among these cranes,
who ruin my crops,
and,
like them,
you shall suffer.”
, , , ,
If you choose bad companions no one
will believe
that you are anything
but bad yourself.
, , , ,
THE CHARGER
and THE MILLER
A Horse,
who had been used
to carry his rider
into battle,
felt himself growing old
and chose
to work
in a mill instead.
He now no longer found himself stepping out proudly
to the beating
of the drums,
but was compelled
to slave away all day grinding the corn.
Bewailing his hard lot,
he said one day
to the Miller,
“Ah me!
I was once a splendid war-horse,
gaily caparisoned,
and attended
by a groom whose sole duty was
to see
to my wants.
How different is my present condition!
I wish I had never given up the battlefield
for the mill.”
The Miller replied
with asperity,
“It’s no use your regretting the past.
Fortune has many ups
and downs:
you must just take them
as they come.”
, , , ,
THE GRASSHOPPER
and THE OWL
An Owl,
who lived
in a hollow tree,
was
in the habit
of feeding
by night
and sleeping
by day;
but her slumbers were greatly disturbed
by the chirping
of a Grasshopper,
who had taken up his abode
in the branches.
She begged him repeatedly
to have some consideration
for her comfort,
but the Grasshopper,
if anything,
only chirped the louder.
At last the Owl
could stand it no longer,
but determined
to rid herself
of the pest
by means
of a trick.
Addressing herself
to the Grasshopper,
she said
in her pleasantest manner,
“As I cannot sleep
for your song,
which,
believe me,
is
as sweet
as the notes
of Apollo’s lyre,
I have a mind
to taste some nectar,
which Minerva gave me the other day.
Won’t you come
in
and join me?”
The Grasshopper was flattered
by the praise
of his song,
and his mouth,
too,
watered
at the mention
of the delicious drink,
so he said he
would be delighted.
No sooner had he got inside the hollow
where the Owl was sitting
than she pounced upon him
and ate him up.
, , , ,
THE GRASSHOPPER
and THE ANTS
One fine day
in winter some Ants were busy drying their store
of corn,
which had got rather damp during a long spell
of rain.
Presently up came a Grasshopper
and begged them
to spare her a few grains,
“For,”
she said,
“I’m simply starving.”
The Ants stopped work
for a moment,
though this was
against their principles.
“May we ask,”
said they,
“what you were doing
with yourself all last summer?
Why didn’t you collect a store
of food
for the winter?”
“The fact is,”
replied the Grasshopper,
“I was so busy singing
that I hadn’t the time.”
“If you spent the summer singing,”
replied the Ants,
“you can’t do better
than spend the winter dancing.”
And they chuckled
and went
on
with their work.
, , , ,
THE FARMER
and THE VIPER
One winter a Farmer found a Viper frozen
and numb
with cold,
and out
of pity picked it up
and placed it
in his bosom.
The Viper was no sooner revived
by the warmth
than it turned upon its benefactor
and inflicted a fatal bite upon him;
and
as the poor man lay dying,
he cried,
“I have only got
what I deserved,
for taking compassion
on so villainous a creature.”
, , , ,
Kindness is thrown away upon the evil.
, , , ,
THE TWO FROGS
Two Frogs were neighbours.
One lived
in a marsh,
where
there was plenty
of water,
which frogs love:
the other
in a lane some distance away,
where all the water
to be had was
that
which lay
in the ruts after rain.
The Marsh Frog warned his friend
and pressed him
to come
and live
with him
in the marsh,
for he
would find his quarters
there far more comfortable and
--what was still more important
--more safe.
But the other refused,
saying
that he
could not bring himself
to move
from a place
to
which he had become accustomed.
A few days afterwards a heavy waggon came down the lane,
and he was crushed
to death
under the wheels.
, , , ,
THE COBBLER TURNED DOCTOR
A very unskilful Cobbler,
finding himself unable
to make a living
at his trade,
gave up mending boots
and took
to doctoring instead.
He gave out
that he had the secret
of a universal antidote
against all poisons,
and acquired no small reputation,
thanks
to his talent
for puffing himself.
One day,
however,
he fell very ill;
and the King
of the country bethought him
that he
would test the value
of his remedy.
Calling,
therefore,
for a cup,
he poured out a dose
of the antidote,
and,
under pretence
of mixing poison
with it,
added a little water,
and commanded him
to drink it.
Terrified
by the fear
of being poisoned,
the Cobbler confessed
that he knew nothing
about medicine,
and
that his antidote was worthless.
Then the King summoned his subjects
and addressed them
as follows:
“What folly
could be greater
than yours?
Here is this Cobbler
to whom no one
will send his boots
to be mended,
and yet you have not hesitated
to entrust him
with your lives!”
THE ASS,
THE COCK,
AND THE LION
An Ass
and a Cock were
in a cattle-pen together.
Presently a Lion,
who had been starving
for days,
came along
and was just about
to fall upon the Ass
and make a meal
of him
when the Cock,
rising
to his full height
and flapping his wings vigorously,
uttered a tremendous crow.
Now,
if
there is one thing
that frightens a Lion,
it is the crowing
of a Cock:
and this one had no sooner heard the noise
than he fled.
The Ass was mightily elated
at this,
and thought that,
if the Lion couldn’t face a Cock,
he
would be still less likely
to stand up
to an Ass:
so he ran out
and pursued him.
But
when the two had got well out
of sight
and hearing
of the Cock,
the Lion suddenly turned upon the Ass
and ate him up.
, , , ,
False confidence often leads
to disaster.
, , , ,
THE BELLY
and THE MEMBERS
The Members
of the Body once rebelled
against the Belly.
“You,”
they said
to the Belly,
“live
in luxury
and sloth,
and never do a stroke
of work;
while we not only have
to do all the hard work
there is
to be done,
but are actually your slaves
and have
to minister
to all your wants.
Now,
we
will do so no longer,
and you
can shift
for yourself
for the future.”
They were
as good
as their word,
and left the Belly
to starve.
The result was just
what might have been expected:
the whole Body soon began
to fail,
and the Members
and all shared
in the general collapse.
And
then they saw too late
how foolish they had been.
, , , ,
THE BALD MAN
and THE FLY
A Fly settled
on the head
of a Bald Man
and bit him.
In his eagerness
to kill it,
he hit himself a smart slap.
But the Fly escaped,
and said
to him
in derision,
“You tried
to kill me
for just one little bite;
what
will you do
to yourself now,
for the heavy smack you have just given yourself?”
“Oh,
for
that blow I bear no grudge,”
he replied,
“for I never intended myself any harm;
but
as
for you,
you contemptible insect,
who live
by sucking human blood,
I’d have borne a good deal more
than that
for the satisfaction
of dashing the life out
of you!”
THE ASS
and THE WOLF
An Ass was feeding
in a meadow,
and,
catching sight
of his enemy the Wolf
in the distance,
pretended
to be very lame
and hobbled painfully along.
When the Wolf came up,
he asked the Ass
how he came
to be so lame,
and the Ass replied that
in going
through a hedge he had trodden
on a thorn,
and he begged the Wolf
to pull it out
with his teeth,
“In case,”
he said,
“when you eat me,
it
should stick
in your throat
and hurt you very much.”
The Wolf said he would,
and told the Ass
to lift up his foot,
and gave his whole mind
to getting out the thorn.
But the Ass suddenly let out
with his heels
and fetched the Wolf a fearful kick
in the mouth,
breaking his teeth;
and
then he galloped off
at full speed.
As soon
as he
could speak the Wolf growled
to himself,
“It serves me right:
my father taught me
to kill,
and I ought
to have stuck
to
that trade instead
of attempting
to cure.”
, , , ,
THE MONKEY
and THE CAMEL
At a gathering
of all the beasts the Monkey gave an exhibition
of dancing
and entertained the company vastly.
There was great applause
at the finish,
which excited the envy
of the Camel
and made him desire
to win the favour
of the assembly
by the same means.
So he got up
from his place
and began dancing,
but he cut such a ridiculous figure
as he plunged about,
and made such a grotesque exhibition
of his ungainly person,
that the beasts all fell upon him
with ridicule
and drove him away.
, , , ,
THE SICK MAN
and THE DOCTOR
A Sick Man received a visit
from his Doctor,
who asked him
how he was.
“Fairly well,
Doctor,”
said he,
“but I find I sweat a great deal.”
“Ah,”
said the Doctor,
“that’s a good sign.”
On his next visit he asked the same question,
and his patient replied,
“I’m much
as usual,
but I’ve taken
to having shivering fits,
which leave me cold all over.”
“Ah,”
said the Doctor,
“that’s a good sign too.”
When he came the third time
and inquired
as before
about his patient’s health,
the Sick Man said
that he felt very feverish.
“A very good sign,”
said the Doctor;
“you are doing very nicely indeed.”
Afterwards a friend came
to see the invalid,
and
on asking him
how he did,
received this reply:
“My dear friend,
I’m dying
of good signs.”
, , , ,
THE TRAVELLERS
and THE PLANE-TREE
Two Travellers were walking
along a bare
and dusty road
in the heat
of a summer’s day.
Coming presently
to a Plane-tree,
they joyfully turned aside
to shelter
from the burning rays
of the sun
in the deep shade
of its spreading branches.
As they rested,
looking up
into the tree,
one
of them remarked
to his companion,
“What a useless tree the Plane is!
It bears no fruit
and is
of no service
to man
at all.”
The Plane-tree interrupted him
with indignation.
“You ungrateful creature!”
it cried:
“you come
and take shelter
under me
from the scorching sun,
and then,
in the very act
of enjoying the cool shade
of my foliage,
you abuse me
and call me good
for nothing!”
Many a service is met
with ingratitude.
, , , ,
THE FLEA
and THE OX
A Flea once said
to an Ox,
“How comes it
that a big strong fellow
like you is content
to serve mankind,
and do all their hard work
for them,
while I,
who am no bigger
than you see,
live
on their bodies
and drink my fill
of their blood,
and never do a stroke
for it all?”
To
which the Ox replied,
“Men are very kind
to me,
and so I am grateful
to them:
they feed
and house me well,
and every now
and
then they show their fondness
for me
by patting me
on the head
and neck.”
“They’d pat me,
too,”
said the Flea,
“if I let them:
but I take good care they don’t,
or
there
would be nothing left
of me.”
, , , ,
THE BIRDS,
THE BEASTS,
AND THE BAT
The Birds were
at war
with the Beasts,
and many battles were fought
with varying success
on either side.
The Bat did not throw
in his lot definitely
with either party,
but
when things went well
for the Birds he was found fighting
in their ranks;
when,
on the other hand,
the Beasts got the upper hand,
he was
to be found
among the Beasts.
No one paid any attention
to him
while the war lasted:
but
when it was over,
and peace was restored,
neither the Birds nor the Beasts
would have anything
to do
with so double-faced a traitor,
and so he remains
to this day a solitary outcast
from both.
, , , ,
THE MAN
and HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS
A Man
of middle age,
whose hair was turning grey,
had two Sweethearts,
an old woman
and a young one.
The elder
of the two didn’t
like having a lover
who looked so much younger
than herself;
so,
whenever he came
to see her,
she used
to pull the dark hairs out
of his head
to make him look old.
The younger,
on the other hand,
didn’t
like him
to look so much older
than herself,
and took every opportunity
of pulling out the grey hairs,
to make him look young.
Between them,
they left not a hair
in his head,
and he became perfectly bald.
, , , ,
THE EAGLE,
THE JACKDAW,
AND THE SHEPHERD
One day a Jackdaw saw an Eagle swoop down
on a lamb
and carry it off
in its talons.
“My word,”
said the Jackdaw,
“I’ll do
that myself.”
So it flew high up
into the air,
and
then came shooting down
with a great whirring
of wings
on
to the back
of a big ram.
It had no sooner alighted
than its claws got caught fast
in the wool,
and nothing it
could do was
of any use:
there it stuck,
flapping away,
and only making things worse instead
of better.
By and
by up came the Shepherd.
“Oho,”
he said,
“so that’s
what you’d be doing,
is it?”
And he took the Jackdaw,
and clipped its wings
and carried it home
to his children.
It looked so odd
that they didn’t know what
to make
of it.
“What sort
of bird is it,
father?”
they asked.
“It’s a Jackdaw,”
he replied,
“and nothing
but a Jackdaw:
but it wants
to be taken
for an Eagle.”
, , , ,
If you attempt
what is beyond your power,
your trouble
will be wasted
and you court not only misfortune
but ridicule.
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE BOY
A Wolf,
who had just enjoyed a good meal
and was
in a playful mood,
caught sight
of a Boy lying flat upon the ground,
and,
realising
that he was trying
to hide,
and
that it was fear
of himself
that made him do this,
he went up
to him
and said,
“Aha,
I’ve found you,
you see;
but
if you
can say three things
to me,
the truth
of
which cannot be disputed,
I
will spare your life.”
The Boy plucked up courage
and thought
for a moment,
and
then he said,
“First,
it is a pity you saw me;
secondly,
I was a fool
to let myself be seen;
and thirdly,
we all hate wolves
because they are always making unprovoked attacks upon our flocks.”
The Wolf replied,
“Well,
what you say is true enough
from your point
of view;
so you may go.”
, , , ,
THE MILLER,
HIS SON,
AND THEIR ASS
A Miller,
accompanied
by his young Son,
was driving his Ass
to market
in hopes
of finding a purchaser
for him.
On the road they met a troop
of girls,
laughing
and talking,
who exclaimed,
“Did you ever see such a pair
of fools?
To be trudging
along the dusty road
when they might be riding!”
The Miller thought
there was sense
in
what they said;
so he made his Son mount the Ass,
and himself walked
at the side.
Presently they met some
of his old cronies,
who greeted them
and said,
“You’ll spoil
that Son
of yours,
letting him ride
while you toil along
on foot!
Make him walk,
young lazybones!
It’ll do him all the good
in the world.”
The Miller followed their advice,
and took his Son’s place
on the back
of the Ass
while the boy trudged
along behind.
They had not gone far
when they overtook a party
of women
and children,
and the Miller heard them say,
“What a selfish old man!
He himself rides
in comfort,
but lets his poor little boy follow
as best he can
on his own legs!”
So he made his Son get up
behind him.
Further
along the road they met some travellers,
who asked the Miller whether the Ass he was riding was his own property,
or a beast hired
for the occasion.
He replied
that it was his own,
and
that he was taking it
to market
to sell.
“Good heavens!”
said they,
“with a load like
that the poor beast
will be so exhausted
by the time he gets there
that no one
will look
at him.
Why,
you’d do better
to carry him!”
“Anything
to please you,”
said the old man,
“we can
but try.”
So they got off,
tied the Ass’s legs together
with a rope
and slung him
on a pole,
and
at last reached the town,
carrying him
between them.
This was so absurd a sight
that the people ran out
in crowds
to laugh
at it,
and chaffed the Father
and Son unmercifully,
some
even calling them lunatics.
They had
then got
to a bridge
over the river,
where the Ass,
frightened
by the noise
and his unusual situation,
kicked
and struggled
till he broke the ropes
that bound him,
and fell
into the water
and was drowned.
Whereupon the unfortunate Miller,
vexed
and ashamed,
made the best
of his way home again,
convinced that
in trying
to please all he had pleased none,
and had lost his Ass
into the bargain.
, , , ,
THE STAG
and THE VINE
A Stag,
pursued
by the huntsmen,
concealed himself
under cover
of a thick Vine.
They lost track
of him
and passed
by his hiding-place without being aware
that he was
anywhere near.
Supposing all danger
to be over,
he presently began
to browse
on the leaves
of the Vine.
The movement drew the attention
of the returning huntsmen,
and one
of them,
supposing some animal
to be hidden there,
shot an arrow
at a venture
into the foliage.
The unlucky Stag was pierced
to the heart,
and,
as he expired,
he said,
“I deserve my fate
for my treachery
in feeding upon the leaves
of my protector.”
, , , ,
Ingratitude sometimes brings its own punishment.
, , , ,
THE LAMB CHASED
by A WOLF
A Wolf was chasing a Lamb,
which took refuge
in a temple.
The Wolf urged it
to come out
of the precincts,
and said,
“If you don’t,
the priest is sure
to catch you
and offer you up
in sacrifice
on the altar.”
To
which the Lamb replied,
“Thanks,
I think I’ll stay
where I am:
I’d rather be sacrificed any day
than be eaten up
by a Wolf.”
, , , ,
THE ARCHER
and THE LION
An Archer went up
into the hills
to get some sport
with his bow,
and all the animals fled
at the sight
of him
with the exception
of the Lion,
who stayed behind
and challenged him
to fight.
But he shot an arrow
at the Lion
and hit him,
and said,
“There,
you see
what my messenger
can do:
just you wait a moment
and I’ll tackle you myself.”
The Lion,
however,
when he felt the sting
of the arrow,
ran away
as fast
as his legs
could carry him.
A fox,
who had seen it all happen,
said
to the Lion,
“Come,
don’t be a coward:
why
don’t you stay
and show fight?”
But the Lion replied,
“You
won’t get me
to stay,
not you:
why,
when he sends a messenger like
that
before him,
he must himself be a terrible fellow
to deal with.”
, , , ,
Give a wide berth
to those
who
can do damage
at a distance.
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE GOAT
A Wolf caught sight
of a Goat browsing
above him
on the scanty herbage
that grew
on the top
of a steep rock;
and being unable
to get
at her,
tried
to induce her
to come lower down.
“You are risking your life up there,
madam,
indeed you are,”
he called out:
“pray take my advice
and come down here,
where you
will find plenty
of better food.”
The Goat turned a knowing eye upon him.
“It’s little you care whether I get good grass
or bad,”
said she:
“what you want is
to eat me.”
, , , ,
THE SICK STAG
A Stag fell sick
and lay
in a clearing
in the forest,
too weak
to move
from the spot.
When the news
of his illness spread,
a number
of the other beasts came
to inquire after his health,
and they one
and all nibbled a little
of the grass
that grew round the invalid till
at last
there was not a blade within his reach.
In a few days he began
to mend,
but was still too feeble
to get up
and go
in search
of fodder;
and thus he perished miserably
of hunger owing
to the thoughtlessness
of his friends.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and THE MULE
A certain man
who had an Ass
and a Mule loaded them both up one day
and set out upon a journey.
So long
as the road was fairly level,
the Ass got
on very well:
but
by and
by they came
to a place
among the hills
where the road was very rough
and steep,
and the Ass was
at his last gasp.
So he begged the Mule
to relieve him
of a part
of his load:
but the Mule refused.
At last,
from sheer weariness,
the Ass stumbled
and fell down a steep place
and was killed.
The driver was
in despair,
but he did the best he could:
he added the Ass’s load
to the Mule’s,
and he also flayed the Ass
and put his skin
on the top
of the double load.
The Mule
could only just manage the extra weight,
and,
as he staggered painfully along,
he said
to himself,
“I have only got
what I deserved:
if I had been willing
to help the Ass
at first,
I
should not now be carrying his load
and his skin
into the bargain.”
, , , ,
BROTHER
and SISTER
A certain man had two children,
a boy
and a girl:
and the boy was
as good-looking
as the girl was plain.
One day,
as they were playing together
in their mother’s chamber,
they chanced upon a mirror
and saw their own features
for the first time.
The boy saw
what a handsome fellow he was,
and began
to boast
to his Sister
about his good looks:
she,
on her part,
was ready
to cry
with vexation
when she was aware
of her plainness,
and took his remarks
as an insult
to herself.
Running
to her father,
she told him
of her Brother’s conceit,
and accused him
of meddling
with his mother’s things.
He laughed
and kissed them both,
and said,
“My children,
learn
from now onwards
to make a good use
of the glass.
You,
my boy,
strive
to be
as good
as it shows you
to be handsome;
and you,
my girl,
resolve
to make up
for the plainness
of your features
by the sweetness
of your disposition.”
, , , ,
THE HEIFER
and THE OX
A Heifer went up
to an Ox,
who was straining hard
at the plough,
and sympathised
with him
in a rather patronising sort
of way
on the necessity
of his having
to work so hard.
Not long afterwards
there was a festival
in the village
and every one kept holiday:
but,
whereas the Ox was turned loose
into the pasture,
the Heifer was seized
and led off
to sacrifice.
“Ah,”
said the Ox,
with a grim smile,
“I see now
why you were allowed
to have such an idle time:
it was
because you were always intended
for the altar.”
, , , ,
THE KINGDOM
of THE LION
When the Lion reigned
over the beasts
of the earth he was never cruel
or tyrannical,
but
as gentle
and just
as a King ought
to be.
During his reign he called a general assembly
of the beasts,
and drew up a code
of laws under
which all were
to live
in perfect equality
and harmony:
the wolf
and the lamb,
the tiger
and the stag,
the leopard
and the kid,
the dog
and the hare,
all
should dwell side
by side
in unbroken peace
and friendship.
The hare said,
“Oh!
how I have longed
for this day
when the weak take their place without fear
by the side
of the strong!”
THE ASS
and HIS DRIVER
An Ass was being driven down a mountain road,
and after jogging along
for a
while sensibly enough he suddenly quitted the track
and rushed
to the edge
of a precipice.
He was just about
to leap
over the edge
when his Driver caught hold
of his tail
and did his best
to pull him back:
but pull
as he might he couldn’t get the Ass
to budge
from the brink.
At last he gave up,
crying,
“All right,
then,
get
to the bottom your own way;
but it’s the way
to sudden death,
as you’ll find out quick enough.”
, , , ,
THE LION
and THE HARE
A Lion found a Hare sleeping
in her form,
and was just going
to devour her
when he caught sight
of a passing stag.
Dropping the Hare,
he
at once made
for the bigger game;
but finding,
after a long chase,
that he
could not overtake the stag,
he abandoned the attempt
and came back
for the Hare.
When he reached the spot,
however,
he found she was nowhere
to be seen,
and he had
to go without his dinner.
“It serves me right,”
he said;
“I
should have been content
with
what I had got,
instead
of hankering after a better prize.”
, , , ,
THE WOLVES
and THE DOGS
Once upon a time the Wolves said
to the Dogs,
“Why
should we continue
to be enemies any longer?
You are very
like us
in most ways:
the main difference
between us is one
of training only.
We live a life
of freedom;
but you are enslaved
to mankind,
who beat you,
and put heavy collars round your necks,
and compel you
to keep watch
over their flocks
and herds
for them,
and,
to crown all,
they give you nothing
but bones
to eat.
Don’t put up
with it any longer,
but hand
over the flocks
to us,
and we
will all live
on the fat
of the land
and feast together.”
The Dogs allowed themselves
to be persuaded
by these words,
and accompanied the Wolves
into their den.
But no sooner were they well inside
than the Wolves set upon them
and tore them
to pieces.
, , , ,
Traitors richly deserve their fate.
, , , ,
THE BULL
and THE CALF
A full-grown Bull was struggling
to force his huge bulk
through the narrow entrance
to a cow-house
where his stall was,
when a young Calf came up
and said
to him,
“If you’ll step aside a moment,
I’ll show you the way
to get through.”
The Bull turned upon him an amused look.
“I knew
that way,”
said he,
“before you were born.”
, , , ,
THE TREES
and THE AXE
A Woodman went
into the forest
and begged
of the Trees the favour
of a handle
for his Axe.
The principal Trees
at once agreed
to so modest a request,
and unhesitatingly gave him a young ash sapling,
out
of
which he fashioned the handle he desired.
No sooner had he done so
than he set
to work
to fell the noblest Trees
in the wood.
When they saw the use
to
which he was putting their gift,
they cried,
“Alas!
alas!
We are undone,
but we are ourselves
to blame.
The little we gave has cost us all:
had we not sacrificed the rights
of the ash,
we might ourselves have stood
for ages.”
, , , ,
THE ASTRONOMER
There was once an Astronomer whose habit it was
to go out
at night
and observe the stars.
One night,
as he was walking
about outside the town gates,
gazing up absorbed
into the sky
and not looking
where he was going,
he fell
into a dry well.
As he lay
there groaning,
some one passing
by heard him,
and,
coming
to the edge
of the well,
looked down and,
on learning
what had happened,
said,
“If you really mean
to say
that you were looking so hard
at the sky
that you didn’t
even see
where your feet were carrying you
along the ground,
it appears
to me
that you deserve all you’ve got.”
, , , ,
THE LABOURER
and THE SNAKE
A Labourer’s little son was bitten
by a Snake
and died
of the wound.
The father was beside himself
with grief,
and
in his anger
against the Snake he caught up an axe
and went
and stood close
to the Snake’s hole,
and watched
for a chance
of killing it.
Presently the Snake came out,
and the man aimed a blow
at it,
but only succeeded
in cutting off the tip
of its tail
before it wriggled
in again.
He
then tried
to get it
to come out a second time,
pretending
that he wished
to make up the quarrel.
But the Snake said,
“I
can never be your friend because
of my lost tail,
nor you mine because
of your lost child.”
, , , ,
Injuries are never forgotten
in the presence
of those
who caused them.
, , , ,
THE CAGE-BIRD
and THE BAT
A Singing-bird was confined
in a cage
which hung outside a window,
and had a way
of singing
at night
when all other birds were asleep.
One night a Bat came
and clung
to the bars
of the cage,
and asked the Bird
why she was silent
by day
and sang only
at night.
“I have a very good reason
for doing so,”
said the Bird:
“it was once
when I was singing
in the daytime
that a fowler was attracted
by my voice,
and set his nets
for me
and caught me.
Since
then I have never sung except
by night.”
But the Bat replied,
“It is no use your doing
that now
when you are a prisoner:
if only you had done so
before you were caught,
you might still have been free.”
, , , ,
Precautions are useless after the event.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and HIS PURCHASER
A Man
who wanted
to buy an Ass went
to market,
and,
coming
across a likely-looking beast,
arranged
with the owner
that he
should be allowed
to take him home
on trial
to see
what he was like.
When he reached home,
he put him
into his stable along
with the other asses.
The newcomer took a look round,
and immediately went
and chose a place next
to the laziest
and greediest beast
in the stable.
When the master saw this he put a halter
on him
at once,
and led him off
and handed him over
to his owner again.
The latter was a good deal surprised
to see him back so soon,
and said,
“Why,
do you mean
to say you have tested him already?”
“I
don’t want
to put him
through any more tests,”
replied the other:
“I
could see
what sort
of beast he is
from the companion he chose
for himself.”
, , , ,
A man is known
by the company he keeps.
, , , ,
THE KID
and THE WOLF
A Kid strayed
from the flock
and was chased
by a Wolf.
When he saw he must be caught he turned round
and said
to the Wolf,
“I know,
sir,
that I can’t escape being eaten
by you:
and so,
as my life is bound
to be short,
I pray you let it be
as merry
as may be.
Will you not play me a tune
to dance
to
before I die?”
The Wolf saw no objection
to having some music
before his dinner:
so he took out his pipe
and began
to play,
while the Kid danced
before him.
Before many minutes were passed the gods
who guarded the flock heard the sound
and came up
to see
what was going on.
They no sooner clapped eyes
on the Wolf
than they gave chase
and drove him away.
As he ran off,
he turned
and said
to the Kid,
“It’s
what I thoroughly deserve:
my trade is the butcher’s,
and I had no business
to turn piper
to please you.”
, , , ,
THE DEBTOR
and HIS SOW
A Man
of Athens fell
into debt
and was pressed
for the money
by his creditor;
but he had no means
of paying
at the time,
so he begged
for delay.
But the creditor refused
and said he must pay
at once.
Then the Debtor fetched a Sow
--the only one he had
--and took her
to market
to offer her
for sale.
It happened
that his creditor was
there too.
Presently a buyer came along
and asked
if the Sow produced good litters.
“Yes,”
said the Debtor,
“very fine ones;
and the remarkable thing is
that she produces females
at the Mysteries
and males
at the Panathenea.”
(Festivals these were:
and the Athenians always sacrifice a sow
at one,
and a boar
at the other;
while
at the Dionysia they sacrifice a kid.)
At
that the creditor,
who was standing by,
put in,
“Don’t be surprised,
sir;
why,
still better,
at the Dionysia this Sow has kids!”
THE BALD HUNTSMAN
A Man
who had lost all his hair took
to wearing a wig,
and one day he went out hunting.
It was blowing rather hard
at the time,
and he hadn’t gone far
before a gust
of wind caught his hat
and carried it off,
and his wig too,
much
to the amusement
of the hunt.
But he quite entered
into the joke,
and said,
“Ah,
well!
the hair
that wig is made
of didn’t stick
to the head
on
which it grew;
so it’s no wonder it
won’t stick
to mine.”
, , , ,
THE HERDSMAN
and THE LOST BULL
A Herdsman was tending his cattle
when he missed a young Bull,
one
of the finest
of the 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 discover the thief:
but now a full-grown Bull I promise thee
if only I myself escape unhurt
from his clutches.”
, , , ,
THE MULE
One morning a Mule,
who had too much
to eat
and too little
to do,
began
to think himself a very fine fellow indeed,
and frisked
about saying,
“My father was undoubtedly a high-spirited horse
and I take after him entirely.”
But very soon afterwards he was put
into the harness
and compelled
to go a very long way
with a heavy load
behind him.
At the end
of the day,
exhausted
by his unusual exertions,
he said dejectedly
to himself,
“I must have been mistaken
about my father;
he
can only have been an ass after all.”
, , , ,
THE HOUND
and THE FOX
A Hound,
roaming
in the forest,
spied a lion,
and being well used
to lesser game,
gave chase,
thinking he
would make a fine quarry.
Presently the lion perceived
that he was being pursued;
so,
stopping short,
he rounded
on his pursuer
and gave a loud roar.
The Hound immediately turned tail
and fled.
A Fox,
seeing him running away,
jeered
at him
and said,
“Ho!
ho!
There goes the coward
who chased a lion
and ran away the moment he roared!”
THE FATHER
and HIS DAUGHTERS
A Man had two Daughters,
one
of whom he gave
in marriage
to a gardener,
and the other
to a potter.
After a time he thought he
would go
and see
how they were getting on;
and first he went
to the gardener’s wife.
He asked her
how she was,
and
how things were going
with herself
and her husband.
She replied that
on the whole they were doing very well:
“But,”
she continued,
“I do wish we
could have some good heavy rain:
the garden wants it badly.”
Then he went
on
to the potter’s wife
and made the same inquiries
of her.
She replied
that she
and her husband had nothing
to complain of:
“But,”
she went on,
“I do wish we
could have some nice dry weather,
to dry the pottery.”
Her Father looked
at her
with a humorous expression
on his face.
“You want dry weather,”
he said,
“and your sister wants rain.
I was going
to ask
in my prayers
that your wishes
should be granted;
but now it strikes me I had better not refer
to the subject.”
, , , ,
THE THIEF
and THE INNKEEPER
A Thief hired a room
at an inn,
and stayed
there some days
on the look-out
for something
to steal.
No opportunity,
however,
presented itself,
till one day,
when
there was a festival
to be celebrated,
the Innkeeper appeared
in a fine new coat
and sat down
before the door
of the inn
for an airing.
The Thief no sooner set eyes upon the coat
than he longed
to get possession
of it.
There was no business doing,
so he went
and took a seat
by the side
of the Innkeeper,
and began talking
to him.
They conversed together
for some time,
and
then the Thief suddenly yawned
and howled
like a wolf.
The Innkeeper asked him
in some concern
what ailed him.
The Thief replied,
“I
will tell you
about myself,
sir,
but first I must beg you
to take charge
of my clothes
for me,
for I intend
to leave them
with you.
Why I have these fits
of yawning I cannot tell:
maybe they are sent
as a punishment
for my misdeeds;
but,
whatever the reason,
the facts are that
when I have yawned three times I become a ravening wolf
and fly
at men’s throats.”
As he finished speaking he yawned a second time
and howled again
as before.
The Innkeeper,
believing every word he said,
and terrified
at the prospect
of being confronted
with a wolf,
got up hastily
and started
to run indoors;
but the Thief caught him
by the coat
and tried
to stop him,
crying,
“Stay,
sir,
stay,
and take charge
of my clothes,
or else I shall never see them again.”
As he spoke he opened his mouth
and began
to yawn
for the third time.
The Innkeeper,
mad
with the fear
of being eaten
by a wolf,
slipped out
of his coat,
which remained
in the other’s hands,
and bolted
into the inn
and locked the door
behind him;
and the Thief
then quietly stole off
with his spoil.
, , , ,
THE PACK-ASS
and THE WILD ASS
A Wild Ass,
who was wandering idly about,
one day came upon a Pack-Ass lying
at full length
in a sunny spot
and thoroughly enjoying himself.
Going up
to him,
he said,
“What a lucky beast you are!
Your sleek coat shows
how well you live:
how I envy you!”
Not long after the Wild Ass saw his acquaintance again,
but this time he was carrying a heavy load,
and his driver was following behind
and beating him
with a thick stick.
“Ah,
my friend,”
said the Wild Ass,
“I
don’t envy you any more:
for I see you pay dear
for your comforts.”
, , , ,
Advantages
that are dearly bought are doubtful blessings.
, , , ,
THE ASS
and HIS MASTERS
A Gardener had an Ass
which had a very hard time
of it,
what
with scanty food,
heavy loads,
and constant beating.
The Ass therefore begged Jupiter
to take him away
from the Gardener
and hand him over
to another master.
So Jupiter sent Mercury
to the Gardener
to bid him sell the Ass
to a Potter,
which he did.
But the Ass was
as discontented
as ever,
for he had
to work harder
than before:
so he begged Jupiter
for relief a second time,
and Jupiter very obligingly arranged
that he
should be sold
to a Tanner.
But
when the Ass saw
what his new master’s trade was,
he cried
in despair,
“Why wasn’t I content
to serve either
of my former masters,
hard
as I had
to work
and badly
as I was treated?
for they
would have buried me decently,
but now I shall come
in the end
to the tanning-vat.”
, , , ,
Servants
don’t know a good master
till they have served a worse.
, , , ,
THE PACK-ASS,
THE WILD ASS,
AND THE LION
A Wild Ass saw a Pack-Ass jogging
along
under a heavy load,
and taunted him
with the condition
of slavery
in
which he lived,
in these words:
“What a vile lot is yours compared
with mine!
I am free
as the air,
and never do a stroke
of work;
and,
as
for fodder,
I have only
to go
to the hills
and
there I find far more
than enough
for my needs.
But you!
you depend
on your master
for food,
and he makes you carry heavy loads every day
and beats you unmercifully.”
At
that moment a Lion appeared
on the scene,
and made no attempt
to molest the Pack-Ass owing
to the presence
of the driver;
but he fell upon the Wild Ass,
who had no one
to protect him,
and without more ado made a meal
of him.
, , , ,
It is no use being your own master
unless you
can stand up
for yourself.
, , , ,
THE ANT
Ants were once men
and made their living
by tilling the soil.
But,
not content
with the results
of their own work,
they were always casting longing eyes upon the crops
and fruits
of their neighbours,
which they stole,
whenever they got the chance,
and added
to their own store.
At last their covetousness made Jupiter so angry
that he changed them
into Ants.
But,
though their forms were changed,
their nature remained the same:
and so,
to this day,
they go
about
among the cornfields
and gather the fruits
of others’ labour,
and store them up
for their own use.
, , , ,
You may punish a thief,
but his bent remains.
, , , ,
THE FROGS
and THE WELL
Two Frogs lived together
in a marsh.
But one hot summer the marsh dried up,
and they left it
to look
for another place
to live in:
for frogs
like damp places
if they
can get them.
By and
by they came
to a deep well,
and one
of them looked down
into it,
and said
to the other,
“This looks a nice cool place:
let us jump
in
and settle here.”
But the other,
who had a wiser head
on his shoulders,
replied,
“Not so fast,
my friend:
supposing this well dried up
like the marsh,
how
should we get out again?”
, , , ,
Think twice
before you act.
, , , ,
THE CRAB
and THE FOX
A Crab once left the sea-shore
and went
and settled
in a meadow some way inland,
which looked very nice
and green
and seemed likely
to be a good place
to feed in.
But a hungry Fox came along
and spied the Crab
and caught him.
Just
as he was going
to be eaten up,
the Crab said,
“This is just
what I deserve;
for I had no business
to leave my natural home
by the sea
and settle here
as though I belonged
to the land.”
, , , ,
Be content
with your lot.
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE GRASSHOPPER
A Grasshopper sat chirping
in the branches
of a tree.
A Fox heard her,
and,
thinking
what a dainty morsel she
would make,
he tried
to get her down
by a trick.
Standing below
in full view
of her,
he praised her song
in the most flattering terms,
and begged her
to descend,
saying he
would like
to make the acquaintance
of the owner
of so beautiful a voice.
But she was not
to be taken in,
and replied,
“You are very much mistaken,
my dear sir,
if you imagine I am going
to come down:
I keep well out
of the way
of you
and your kind ever
since the day
when I saw numbers
of grasshoppers’ wings strewn
about the entrance
to a fox’s earth.”
, , , ,
THE FARMER,
HIS BOY,
AND THE ROOKS
A Farmer had just sown a field
of wheat,
and was keeping a careful watch
over it,
for numbers
of Rooks
and starlings kept continually settling
on it
and eating up the grain.
Along
with him went his Boy,
carrying a sling:
and whenever the Farmer asked
for the sling the starlings understood
what he said
and warned the Rooks
and they were off
in a moment.
So the Farmer hit
on a trick.
“My lad,”
said he,
“we must get the better
of these birds somehow.
After this,
when I want the sling,
I
won’t say ‘sling,’
but just ‘humph!’
and you must
then hand me the sling quickly.”
Presently back came the whole flock.
“Humph!”
said the Farmer;
but the starlings took no notice,
and he had time
to sling several stones
among them,
hitting one
on the head,
another
in the legs,
and another
in the wing,
before they got out
of range.
As they made all haste away they met some cranes,
who asked them
what the matter was.
“Matter?”
said one
of the Rooks;
“it’s those rascals,
men,
that are the matter.
Don’t you go near them.
They have a way
of saying one thing
and meaning another
which has just been the death
of several
of our poor friends.”
, , , ,
THE ASS
and THE DOG
An Ass
and a Dog were
on their travels together,
and,
as they went along,
they found a sealed packet lying
on the ground.
The Ass picked it up,
broke the seal,
and found it contained some writing,
which he proceeded
to read out aloud
to the Dog.
As he read
on it turned out
to be all
about grass
and barley
and hay
--in short,
all the kinds
of fodder
that Asses are fond of.
The Dog was a good deal bored
with listening
to all this,
till
at last his impatience got the better
of him,
and he cried,
“Just skip a few pages,
friend,
and see
if
there isn’t something
about meat
and bones.”
The Ass glanced all
through the packet,
but found nothing
of the sort,
and said so.
Then the Dog said
in disgust,
“Oh,
throw it away,
do:
what’s the good
of a thing
like that?”
, , , ,
THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAGE
A certain man put an Image
on the back
of his Ass
to take it
to one
of the temples
of the town.
As they went
along the road all the people they met uncovered
and bowed their heads out
of reverence
for the Image;
but the Ass thought they were doing it out
of respect
for himself,
and began
to give himself airs accordingly.
At last he became so conceited
that he imagined he
could do
as he liked,
and,
by way
of protest
against the load he was carrying,
he came
to a full stop
and flatly declined
to proceed any further.
His driver,
finding him so obstinate,
hit him hard
and long
with his stick,
saying the while,
“Oh,
you dunder-headed idiot,
do you suppose it’s come
to this,
that men pay worship
to an Ass?”
, , , ,
Rude shocks await those
who take
to themselves the credit
that is due
to others.
, , , ,
THE ATHENIAN
and THE THEBAN
An Athenian
and a Theban were
on the road together,
and passed the time
in conversation,
as is the way
of travellers.
After discussing a variety
of subjects they began
to talk
about heroes,
a topic
that tends
to be more fertile
than edifying.
Each
of them was lavish
in his praises
of the heroes
of his own city,
until eventually the Theban asserted
that Hercules was the greatest hero
who had ever lived
on earth,
and now occupied a foremost place
among the gods;
while the Athenian insisted
that Theseus was far superior,
for his fortune had been
in every way supremely blessed,
whereas Hercules had
at one time been forced
to act
as a servant.
And he gained his point,
for he was a very glib fellow,
like all Athenians;
so
that the Theban,
who was no match
for him
in talking,
cried
at last
in some disgust,
“All right,
have your way;
I only hope that,
when our heroes are angry
with us,
Athens may suffer
from the anger
of Hercules,
and Thebes only
from that
of Theseus.”
, , , ,
THE GOATHERD
and THE GOAT
A Goatherd was one day gathering his flock
to return
to the fold,
when one
of his goats strayed
and refused
to join the rest.
He tried
for a long time
to get her
to return
by calling
and whistling
to her,
but the Goat took no notice
of him
at all;
so
at last he threw a stone
at her
and broke one
of her horns.
In dismay,
he begged her not
to tell his master:
but she replied,
“You silly fellow,
my horn
would cry aloud even
if I held my tongue.”
, , , ,
It’s no use trying
to hide
what can’t be hidden.
, , , ,
THE SHEEP
and THE DOG
Once upon a time the Sheep complained
to the shepherd
about the difference
in his treatment
of themselves
and his Dog.
“Your conduct,”
said they,
“is very strange and,
we think,
very unfair.
We provide you
with wool
and lambs
and milk
and you give us nothing
but grass,
and even
that we have
to find
for ourselves:
but you get nothing
at all
from the Dog,
and yet you feed him
with tit-bits
from your own table.”
Their remarks were overheard
by the Dog,
who spoke up
at once
and said,
“Yes,
and quite right,
too:
where
would you be
if it wasn’t
for me?
Thieves
would steal you!
Wolves
would eat you!
Indeed,
if I didn’t keep constant watch
over you,
you
would be too terrified even
to graze!”
The Sheep were obliged
to acknowledge
that he spoke the truth,
and never again made a grievance
of the regard
in
which he was held
by his master.
, , , ,
THE SHEPHERD
and THE WOLF
A Shepherd found a Wolf’s Cub straying
in the pastures,
and took him home
and reared him along
with his dogs.
When the Cub grew
to his full size,
if ever a wolf stole a sheep
from the flock,
he used
to join the dogs
in hunting him down.
It sometimes happened
that the dogs failed
to come up
with the thief,
and,
abandoning the pursuit,
returned home.
The Wolf would
on such occasions continue the chase
by himself,
and
when he overtook the culprit,
would stop
and share the feast
with him,
and
then return
to the Shepherd.
But
if some time passed without a sheep being carried off
by the wolves,
he
would steal one himself
and share his plunder
with the dogs.
The Shepherd’s suspicions were aroused,
and one day he caught him
in the act;
and,
fastening a rope round his neck,
hung him
on the nearest tree.
, , , ,
What’s bred
in the bone is sure
to come out
in the flesh.
, , , ,
THE LION,
JUPITER,
AND THE ELEPHANT
The Lion,
for all his size
and strength,
and his sharp teeth
and claws,
is a coward
in one thing:
he can’t bear the sound
of a cock crowing,
and runs away whenever he hears it.
He complained bitterly
to Jupiter
for making him
like that;
but Jupiter said it wasn’t his fault:
he had done the best he could
for him,
and,
considering this was his only failing,
he ought
to be well content.
The Lion,
however,
wouldn’t be comforted,
and was so ashamed
of his timidity
that he wished he might die.
In this state
of mind,
he met the Elephant
and had a talk
with him.
He noticed
that the great beast cocked up his ears all the time,
as
if he were listening
for something,
and he asked him
why he did so.
Just
then a gnat came humming by,
and the Elephant said,
“Do you see
that wretched little buzzing insect?
I’m terribly afraid
of its getting
into my ear:
if it once gets in,
I’m dead
and done for.”
The Lion’s spirits rose
at once
when he heard this:
“For,”
he said
to himself,
“if the Elephant,
huge
as he is,
is afraid
of a gnat,
I needn’t be so much ashamed
of being afraid
of a cock,
who is ten thousand times bigger
than a gnat.”
, , , ,
THE PIG
and THE SHEEP
A Pig found his way
into a meadow
where a flock
of Sheep were grazing.
The shepherd caught him,
and was proceeding
to carry him off
to the butcher’s
when he set up a loud squealing
and struggled
to get free.
The Sheep rebuked him
for making such a to-do,
and said
to him,
“The shepherd catches us regularly
and drags us off just
like that,
and we
don’t make any fuss.”
“No,
I dare say not,”
replied the Pig,
“but my case
and yours are altogether different:
he only wants you
for wool,
but he wants me
for bacon.”
, , , ,
THE GARDENER
and HIS DOG
A Gardner’s Dog fell
into a deep well,
from
which his master used
to draw water
for the plants
in his garden
with a rope
and a bucket.
Failing
to get the Dog out
by means
of these,
the Gardener went down
into the well himself
in order
to fetch him up.
But the Dog thought he had come
to make sure
of drowning him;
so he bit his master
as soon
as he came within reach,
and hurt him a good deal,
with the result
that he left the Dog
to his fate
and climbed out
of the well,
remarking,
“It serves me quite right
for trying
to save so determined a suicide.”
, , , ,
THE RIVERS
and THE SEA
Once upon a time all the Rivers combined
to protest
against the action
of the Sea
in making their waters salt.
“When we come
to you,”
said they
to the Sea,
“we are sweet
and drinkable:
but
when once we have mingled
with you,
our waters become
as briny
and unpalatable
as your own.”
The Sea replied shortly,
“Keep away
from me
and you’ll remain sweet.”
, , , ,
THE LION
in LOVE
A Lion fell deeply
in love
with the daughter
of a cottager
and wanted
to marry her;
but her father was unwilling
to give her
to so fearsome a husband,
and yet didn’t want
to offend the Lion;
so he hit upon the following expedient.
He went
to the Lion
and said,
“I think you
will make a very good husband
for my daughter:
but I cannot consent
to your union
unless you let me draw your teeth
and pare your nails,
for my daughter is terribly afraid
of them.”
The Lion was so much
in love
that he readily agreed
that this
should be done.
When once,
however,
he was thus disarmed,
the Cottager was afraid
of him no longer,
but drove him away
with his club.
, , , ,
THE BEE-KEEPER
A Thief found his way
into an apiary
when the Bee-keeper was away,
and stole all the honey.
When the Keeper returned
and found the hives empty,
he was very much upset
and stood staring
at them
for some time.
Before long the bees came back
from gathering honey,
and,
finding their hives overturned
and the Keeper standing by,
they made
for him
with their stings.
At this he fell
into a passion
and cried,
“You ungrateful scoundrels,
you let the thief
who stole my honey get off scot-free,
and
then you go
and sting me
who have always taken such care
of you!”
When you hit back make sure you have got the right man.
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and THE HORSE
A Wolf
on his rambles came
to a field
of oats,
but,
not being able
to eat them,
he was passing
on his way
when a Horse came along.
“Look,”
said the Wolf,
“here’s a fine field
of oats.
For your sake I have left it untouched,
and I shall greatly enjoy the sound
of your teeth munching the ripe grain.”
But the Horse replied,
“If wolves
could eat oats,
my fine friend,
you
would
hardly have indulged your ears
at the cost
of your belly.”
, , , ,
There is no virtue
in giving
to others
what is useless
to oneself.
, , , ,
THE BAT,
THE BRAMBLE,
AND THE SEAGULL
A Bat,
a Bramble,
and a Seagull went
into partnership
and determined
to go
on a trading voyage together.
The Bat borrowed a sum
of money
for his venture;
the Bramble laid
in a stock
of clothes
of various kinds;
and the Seagull took a quantity
of lead:
and so they set out.
By and
by a great storm came on,
and their boat
with all the cargo went
to the bottom,
but the three travellers managed
to reach land.
Ever since
then the Seagull flies
to
and fro
over the sea,
and every now
and
then dives below the surface,
looking
for the lead he’s lost;
while the Bat is so afraid
of meeting his creditors
that he hides away
by day
and only comes out
at night
to feed;
and the Bramble catches hold
of the clothes
of every one
who passes by,
hoping some day
to recognise
and recover the lost garments.
, , , ,
All men are more concerned
to recover
what they lose than
to acquire
what they lack.
, , , ,
THE DOG
and THE WOLF
A Dog was lying
in the sun
before a farmyard gate
when a Wolf pounced upon him
and was just going
to eat him up;
but he begged
for his life
and said,
“You see
how thin I am
and
what a wretched meal I
should make you now:
but
if you
will only wait a few days my master is going
to give a feast.
All the rich scraps
and pickings
will fall
to me
and I shall get nice
and fat:
then
will be the time
for you
to eat me.”
The Wolf thought this was a very good plan
and went away.
Some time afterwards he came
to the farmyard again,
and found the Dog lying out
of reach
on the stable roof.
“Come down,”
he called,
“and be eaten:
you remember our agreement?”
But the Dog said coolly,
“My friend,
if ever you catch me lying down
by the gate
there again,
don’t you wait
for any feast.”
, , , ,
Once bitten,
twice shy.
, , , ,
THE WASP
and THE SNAKE
A Wasp settled
on the head
of a Snake,
and not only stung him several times,
but clung obstinately
to the head
of his victim.
Maddened
with pain the Snake tried every means he
could think
of
to get rid
of the creature,
but without success.
At last he became desperate,
and crying,
“Kill you I will,
even
at the cost
of my own life,”
he laid his head
with the Wasp
on it
under the wheel
of a passing waggon,
and they both perished together.
, , , ,
THE EAGLE
and THE BEETLE
An Eagle was chasing a hare,
which was running
for dear life
and was
at her wits’ end
to know where
to turn
for help.
Presently she espied a Beetle,
and begged it
to aid her.
So
when the Eagle came up the Beetle warned her not
to touch the hare,
which was
under its protection.
But the Eagle never noticed the Beetle
because it was so small,
seized the hare
and ate her up.
The Beetle never forgot this,
and used
to keep an eye
on the Eagle’s nest,
and whenever the Eagle laid an egg it climbed up
and rolled it out
of the nest
and broke it.
At last the Eagle got so worried
over the loss
of her eggs
that she went up
to Jupiter,
who is the special protector
of Eagles,
and begged him
to give her a safe place
to nest in:
so he let her lay her eggs
in his lap.
But the Beetle noticed this
and made a ball
of dirt the size
of an Eagle’s egg,
and flew up
and deposited it
in Jupiter’s lap.
When Jupiter saw the dirt,
he stood up
to shake it out
of his robe,
and,
forgetting
about the eggs,
he shook them out too,
and they were broken just
as before.
Ever
since then,
they say,
Eagles never lay their eggs
at the season
when Beetles are about.
, , , ,
The weak
will sometimes find ways
to avenge an insult,
even upon the strong.
, , , ,
THE FOWLER
and THE LARK
A Fowler was setting his nets
for little birds
when a Lark came up
to him
and asked him
what he was doing.
“I am engaged
in founding a city,”
said he,
and
with
that he withdrew
to a short distance
and concealed himself.
The Lark examined the nets
with great curiosity,
and presently,
catching sight
of the bait,
hopped
on
to them
in order
to secure it,
and became entangled
in the meshes.
The Fowler
then ran up quickly
and captured her.
“What a fool I was!”
said she:
“but
at any rate,
if that’s the kind
of city you are founding,
it’ll be a long time
before you find fools enough
to fill it.”
, , , ,
THE FISHERMAN PIPING
A Fisherman
who
could play the flute went down one day
to the sea-shore
with his nets
and his flute;
and,
taking his stand
on a projecting rock,
began
to play a tune,
thinking
that the music
would bring the fish jumping out
of the sea.
He went
on playing
for some time,
but not a fish appeared:
so
at last he threw down his flute
and cast his net
into the sea,
and made a great haul
of fish.
When they were landed
and he saw them leaping about
on the shore,
he cried,
“You rascals!
you wouldn’t dance
when I piped:
but now I’ve stopped,
you
can do nothing else!”
THE WEASEL
and THE MAN
A Man once caught a Weasel,
which was always sneaking
about the house,
and was just going
to drown it
in a tub
of water,
when it begged hard
for its life,
and said
to him,
“Surely you haven’t the heart
to put me
to death?
Think
how useful I have been
in clearing your house
of the mice
and lizards
which used
to infest it,
and show your gratitude
by sparing my life.”
“You have not been altogether useless,
I grant you,”
said the Man:
“but
who killed the fowls?
Who stole the meat?
No,
no!
You do much more harm
than good,
and die you shall.”
, , , ,
THE PLOUGHMAN,
THE ASS,
AND THE OX
A Ploughman yoked his Ox
and his Ass together,
and set
to work
to plough his field.
It was a poor makeshift
of a team,
but it was the best he
could do,
as he had
but a single Ox.
At the end
of the day,
when the beasts were loosed
from the yoke,
the Ass said
to the Ox,
“Well,
we’ve had a hard day:
which
of us is
to carry the master home?”
The Ox looked surprised
at the question.
“Why,”
said he,
“you,
to be sure,
as usual.”
, , , ,
DEMADES
and HIS FABLE
Demades the orator was once speaking
in the Assembly
at Athens;
but the people were very inattentive
to
what he was saying,
so he stopped
and said,
“Gentlemen,
I
should like
to tell you one
of Æsop’s fables.”
This made every one listen intently.
Then Demades began:
“Demeter,
a Swallow,
and an Eel were once travelling together,
and came
to a river without a bridge:
the Swallow flew
over it,
and the Eel swam across”;
and
then he stopped.
“What happened
to Demeter?”
cried several people
in the audience.
“Demeter,”
he replied,
“is very angry
with you
for listening
to fables
when you ought
to be minding public business.”
, , , ,
THE MONKEY
and THE DOLPHIN
When people go
on a voyage they often take
with them lap-dogs
or monkeys
as pets
to wile away the time.
Thus it fell out
that a man returning
to Athens
from the East had a pet Monkey
on board
with him.
As they neared the coast
of Attica a great storm burst upon them,
and the ship capsized.
All
on board were thrown
into the water,
and tried
to save themselves
by swimming,
the Monkey
among the rest.
A Dolphin saw him,
and,
supposing him
to be a man,
took him
on his back
and began swimming
towards the shore.
When they got near the Piræus,
which is the port
of Athens,
the Dolphin asked the Monkey
if he was an Athenian.
The Monkey replied
that he was,
and added
that he came
of a very distinguished family.
“Then,
of course,
you know the Piræus,”
continued the Dolphin.
The Monkey thought he was referring
to some high official
or other,
and replied,
“Oh,
yes,
he’s a very old friend
of mine.”
At that,
detecting his hypocrisy,
the Dolphin was so disgusted
that he dived below the surface,
and the unfortunate Monkey was quickly drowned.
, , , ,
THE CROW
and THE SNAKE
A hungry Crow spied a Snake lying asleep
in a sunny spot,
and,
picking it up
in his claws,
he was carrying it off
to a place
where he
could make a meal
of it without being disturbed,
when the Snake reared its head
and bit him.
It was a poisonous Snake,
and the bite was fatal,
and the dying Crow said,
“What a cruel fate is mine!
I thought I had made a lucky find,
and it has cost me my life!”
THE DOGS
and THE FOX
Some Dogs once found a lion’s skin,
and were worrying it
with their teeth.
Just
then a Fox came by,
and said,
“You think yourselves very brave,
no doubt;
but
if
that were a live lion you’d find his claws a good deal sharper
than your teeth.”
, , , ,
THE NIGHTINGALE
and THE HAWK
A Nightingale was sitting
on a bough
of an oak
and singing,
as her custom was.
A hungry Hawk presently spied her,
and darting
to the spot seized her
in his talons.
He was just about
to tear her
in pieces
when she begged him
to spare her life:
“I’m not big enough,”
she pleaded,
“to make you a good meal:
you ought
to seek your prey
among the bigger birds.”
The Hawk eyed her
with some contempt.
“You must think me very simple,”
said he,
“if you suppose I am going
to give up a certain prize
on the chance
of a better
of
which I see
at present no signs.”
, , , ,
THE ROSE
and THE AMARANTH
A Rose
and an Amaranth blossomed side
by side
in a garden,
and the Amaranth said
to her neighbour,
“How I envy you your beauty
and your sweet scent!
No wonder you are such a universal favourite.”
But the Rose replied
with a shade
of sadness
in her voice,
“Ah,
my dear friend,
I bloom
but
for a time:
my petals soon wither
and fall,
and
then I die.
But your flowers never fade,
even
if they are cut;
for they are everlasting.”
, , , ,
THE MAN,
THE HORSE,
THE OX,
AND THE DOG
One winter’s day,
during a severe storm,
a Horse,
an Ox,
and a Dog came
and begged
for shelter
in the house
of a Man.
He readily admitted them,
and,
as they were cold
and wet,
he lit a fire
for their comfort:
and he put oats
before the Horse,
and hay
before the Ox,
while he fed the Dog
with the remains
of his own dinner.
When the storm abated,
and they were about
to depart,
they determined
to show their gratitude
in the following way.
They divided the life
of Man
among them,
and each endowed one part
of it
with the qualities
which were peculiarly his own.
The Horse took youth,
and hence young men are high-mettled
and impatient
of restraint;
the Ox took middle age,
and accordingly men
in middle life are steady
and hard-working;
while the Dog took old age,
which is the reason
why old men are so often peevish
and ill-tempered,
and,
like dogs,
attached chiefly
to those
who look
to their comfort,
while they are disposed
to snap
at those
who are unfamiliar
or distasteful
to them.
, , , ,
THE WOLVES,
THE SHEEP,
AND THE RAM
The Wolves sent a deputation
to the Sheep
with proposals
for a lasting peace
between them,
on condition
of their giving up the sheep-dogs
to instant death.
The foolish Sheep agreed
to the terms;
but an old Ram,
whose years had brought him wisdom,
interfered
and said,
“How
can we expect
to live
at peace
with you?
Why,
even
with the dogs
at hand
to protect us,
we are never secure
from your murderous attacks!”
THE SWAN
The Swan is said
to sing
but once
in its life
--when it knows
that it is about
to die.
A certain man,
who had heard
of the song
of the Swan,
one day saw one
of these birds
for sale
in the market,
and bought it
and took it home
with him.
A few days later he had some friends
to dinner,
and produced the Swan,
and bade it sing
for their entertainment:
but the Swan remained silent.
In course
of time,
when it was growing old,
it became aware
of its approaching end
and broke
into a sweet,
sad song.
When its owner heard it,
he said angrily,
“If the creature only sings
when it is about
to die,
what a fool I was
that day I wanted
to hear its song!
I ought
to have wrung its neck instead
of merely inviting it
to sing.”
, , , ,
THE SNAKE
and JUPITER
A Snake suffered a good deal
from being constantly trodden upon
by man
and beast,
owing partly
to the length
of his body
and partly
to his being unable
to raise himself
above the surface
of the ground:
so he went
and complained
to Jupiter
about the risks
to
which he was exposed.
But Jupiter had little sympathy
for him.
“I dare say,”
said he,
“that
if you had bitten the first
that trod
on you,
the others
would have taken more trouble
to look
where they put their feet.”
, , , ,
THE WOLF
and HIS SHADOW
A Wolf,
who was roaming about
on the plain
when the sun was getting low
in the sky,
was much impressed
by the size
of his shadow,
and said
to himself,
“I had no idea I was so big.
Fancy my being afraid
of a lion!
Why,
I,
not he,
ought
to be King
of the beasts”;
and,
heedless
of danger,
he strutted about
as
if
there
could be no doubt
at all
about it.
Just
then a lion sprang upon him
and began
to devour him.
“Alas,”
he cried,
“had I not lost sight
of the facts,
I shouldn’t have been ruined
by my fancies.”
, , , ,
THE PLOUGHMAN
and THE WOLF
A Ploughman loosed his oxen
from the plough,
and led them away
to the water
to drink.
While he was absent a half-starved Wolf appeared
on the scene,
and went up
to the plough
and began chewing the leather straps attached
to the yoke.
As he gnawed away desperately
in the hope
of satisfying his craving
for food,
he somehow got entangled
in the harness,
and,
taking fright,
struggled
to get free,
tugging
at the traces
as
if he
would drag the plough along
with him.
Just
then the Ploughman came back,
and seeing
what was happening,
he cried,
“Ah,
you old rascal,
I wish you
would give up thieving
for good
and take
to honest work instead.”
, , , ,
MERCURY
and THE MAN BITTEN
by AN ANT
A Man once saw a ship go down
with all its crew,
and commented severely
on the injustice
of the gods.
“They care nothing
for a man’s character,”
said he,
“but let the good
and the bad go
to their deaths together.”
There was an ant-heap close
by
where he was standing,
and,
just
as he spoke,
he was bitten
in the foot
by an Ant.
Turning
in a temper
to the ant-heap he stamped upon it
and crushed hundreds
of unoffending ants.
Suddenly Mercury appeared,
and belaboured him
with his staff,
saying
as he did so,
“You villain,
where’s your nice sense
of justice now?”
, , , ,
THE WILY LION
A Lion watched a fat Bull feeding
in a meadow,
and his mouth watered
when he thought
of the royal feast he
would make,
but he did not dare
to attack him,
for he was afraid
of his sharp horns.
Hunger,
however,
presently compelled him
to do something:
and
as the use
of force did not promise success,
he determined
to resort
to artifice.
Going up
to the Bull
in friendly fashion,
he said
to him,
“I cannot help saying
how much I admire your magnificent figure.
What a fine head!
What powerful shoulders
and thighs!
But,
my dear friend,
what
in the world makes you wear those ugly horns?
You must find them
as awkward
as they are unsightly.
Believe me,
you
would do much better without them.”
The Bull was foolish enough
to be persuaded
by this flattery
to have his horns cut off;
and,
having now lost his only means
of defence,
fell an easy prey
to the Lion.
, , , ,
THE PARROT
and THE CAT
A Man once bought a Parrot
and gave it the run
of his house.
It revelled
in its liberty,
and presently flew up
on
to the mantelpiece
and screamed away
to its heart’s content.
The noise disturbed the Cat,
who was asleep
on the hearthrug.
Looking up
at the intruder,
she said,
“Who may you be,
and
where have you come from?”
The Parrot replied,
“Your master has just bought me
and brought me home
with him.”
“You impudent bird,”
said the Cat,
“how dare you,
a newcomer,
make a noise
like that?
Why,
I was born here,
and have lived here all my life,
and yet,
if I venture
to mew,
they throw things
at me
and chase me all
over the place.”
“Look here,
mistress,”
said the Parrot,
“you just hold your tongue.
My voice they delight in;
but yours
--yours is a perfect nuisance.”
, , , ,
THE STAG
and THE LION
A Stag was chased
by the hounds,
and took refuge
in a cave,
where he hoped
to be safe
from his pursuers.
Unfortunately the cave contained a Lion,
to whom he fell an easy prey.
“Unhappy
that I am,”
he cried,
“I am saved
from the power
of the dogs only
to fall
into the clutches
of a Lion.”
, , , ,
Out
of the frying-pan
into the fire.
, , , ,
THE IMPOSTOR
A certain man fell ill,
and,
being
in a very bad way,
he made a vow
that he
would sacrifice a hundred oxen
to the gods
if they
would grant him a return
to health.
Wishing
to see
how he
would keep his vow,
they caused him
to recover
in a short time.
Now,
he hadn’t an ox
in the world,
so he made a hundred little oxen out
of tallow
and offered them up
on an altar,
at the same time saying,
“Ye gods,
I call you
to witness
that I have discharged my vow.”
The gods determined
to be even
with him,
so they sent him a dream,
in
which he was bidden
to go
to the sea-shore
and fetch a hundred crowns
which he was
to find there.
Hastening
in great excitement
to the shore,
he fell
in
with a band
of robbers,
who seized him
and carried him off
to sell
as a slave:
and
when they sold him a hundred crowns was the sum he fetched.
, , , ,
Do not promise more
than you
can perform.
, , , ,
THE DOGS
and THE HIDES
Once upon a time a number
of Dogs,
who were famished
with hunger,
saw some Hides steeping
in a river,
but couldn’t get
at them
because the water was too deep.
So they put their heads together,
and decided
to drink away
at the river
till it was shallow enough
for them
to reach the Hides.
But long before
that happened they burst themselves
with drinking.
, , , ,
THE LION,
THE FOX,
AND THE ASS
A Lion,
a Fox,
and an Ass went out hunting together.
They had soon taken a large booty,
which the Lion requested the Ass
to divide
between them.
The Ass divided it all
into three equal parts,
and modestly begged the others
to take their choice;
at
which the Lion,
bursting
with fury,
sprang upon the Ass
and tore him
to pieces.
Then,
glaring
at the Fox,
he bade him make a fresh division.
The Fox gathered
almost the whole
in one great heap
for the Lion’s share,
leaving only the smallest possible morsel
for himself.
“My dear friend,”
said the Lion,
“how did you get the knack
of it so well?”
The Fox replied,
“Me?
Oh,
I took a lesson
from the Ass.”
, , , ,
Happy is he
who learns
from the misfortunes
of others.
, , , ,
THE FOWLER,
THE PARTRIDGE,
AND THE COCK
One day,
as a Fowler was sitting down
to a scanty supper
of herbs
and bread,
a friend dropped
in unexpectedly.
The larder was empty;
so he went out
and caught a tame Partridge,
which he kept
as a decoy,
and was about
to wring her neck
when she cried,
“Surely you
won’t kill me?
Why,
what
will you do without me next time you go fowling?
How
will you get the birds
to come
to your nets?”
He let her go
at this,
and went
to his hen-house,
where he had a plump young Cock.
When the Cock saw
what he was after,
he too pleaded
for his life,
and said,
“If you kill me,
how
will you know the time
of night?
and
who
will wake you up
in the morning
when it is time
to get
to work?”
The Fowler,
however,
replied,
“You are useful
for telling the time,
I know;
but,
for all that,
I can’t send my friend supperless
to bed.”
And therewith he caught him
and wrung his neck.
, , , ,
THE GNAT
and THE LION
A Gnat once went up
to a Lion
and said,
“I am not
in the least afraid
of you:
I don’t
even allow
that you are a match
for me
in strength.
What does your strength amount
to after all?
That you
can scratch
with your claws
and bite
with your teeth
--just
like a woman
in a temper
--and nothing more.
But I’m stronger
than you:
if you
don’t believe it,
let us fight
and see.”
So saying,
the Gnat sounded his horn,
and darted
in
and bit the Lion
on the nose.
When the Lion felt the sting,
in his haste
to crush him he scratched his nose badly,
and made it bleed,
but failed altogether
to hurt the Gnat,
which buzzed off
in triumph,
elated
by its victory.
Presently,
however,
it got entangled
in a spider’s web,
and was caught
and eaten
by the spider,
thus falling a prey
to an insignificant insect after having triumphed
over the King
of the Beasts.
, , , ,
THE FARMER
and HIS DOGS
A Farmer was snowed up
in his farmstead
by a severe storm,
and was unable
to go out
and procure provisions
for himself
and his family.
So he first killed his sheep
and used them
for food;
then,
as the storm still continued,
he killed his goats;
and,
last
of all,
as the weather showed no signs
of improving,
he was compelled
to kill his oxen
and eat them.
When his Dogs saw the various animals being killed
and eaten
in turn,
they said
to one another,
“We had better get out
of this
or we shall be the next
to go!”
THE EAGLE
and THE FOX
An Eagle
and a Fox became great friends
and determined
to live near one another:
they thought
that the more they saw
of each other the better friends they
would be.
So the Eagle built a nest
at the top
of a high tree,
while the Fox settled
in a thicket
at the foot
of it
and produced a litter
of cubs.
One day the Fox went out foraging
for food,
and the Eagle,
who also wanted food
for her young,
flew down
into the thicket,
caught up the Fox’s cubs,
and carried them up
into the tree
for a meal
for herself
and her family.
When the Fox came back,
and found out
what had happened,
she was not so much sorry
for the loss
of her cubs
as furious
because she couldn’t get
at the Eagle
and pay her out
for her treachery.
So she sat down not far off
and cursed her.
But it wasn’t long
before she had her revenge.
Some villagers happened
to be sacrificing a goat
on a neighbouring altar,
and the Eagle flew down
and carried off a piece
of burning flesh
to her nest.
There was a strong wind blowing,
and the nest caught fire,
with the result
that her fledglings fell half-roasted
to the ground.
Then the Fox ran
to the spot
and devoured them
in full sight
of the Eagle.
, , , ,
False faith may escape human punishment,
but cannot escape the divine.
, , , ,
THE BUTCHER
and HIS CUSTOMERS
Two Men were buying meat
at a Butcher’s stall
in the market-place,
and,
while the Butcher’s back was turned
for a moment,
one
of them snatched up a joint
and hastily thrust it
under the other’s cloak,
where it
could not be seen.
When the Butcher turned round,
he missed the meat
at once,
and charged them
with having stolen it:
but the one
who had taken it said he hadn’t got it,
and the one
who had got it said he hadn’t taken it.
The Butcher felt sure they were deceiving him,
but he only said,
“You may cheat me
with your lying,
but you can’t cheat the gods,
and they
won’t let you off so lightly.”
, , , ,
Prevarication often amounts
to perjury.
, , , ,
HERCULES
and MINERVA
Hercules was once travelling
along a narrow road
when he saw lying
on the ground
in front
of him
what appeared
to be an apple,
and
as he passed he stamped upon it
with his heel.
To his astonishment,
instead
of being crushed it doubled
in size;
and,
on his attacking it again
and smiting it
with his club,
it swelled up
to an enormous size
and blocked up the whole road.
Upon this he dropped his club,
and stood looking
at it
in amazement.
Just
then Minerva appeared,
and said
to him,
“Leave it alone,
my friend;
that
which you see
before you is the apple
of discord:
if you do not meddle
with it,
it remains small
as it was
at first,
but
if you resort
to violence it swells
into the thing you see.”
, , , ,
THE FOX
who SERVED A LION
A Lion had a Fox
to attend
on him,
and whenever they went hunting the Fox found the prey
and the Lion fell upon it
and killed it,
and
then they divided it
between them
in certain proportions.
But the Lion always got a very large share,
and the Fox a very small one,
which didn’t please the latter
at all;
so he determined
to set up
on his own account.
He began
by trying
to steal a lamb
from a flock
of sheep:
but the shepherd saw him
and set his dogs
on him.
The hunter was now the hunted,
and was very soon caught
and despatched
by the dogs.
, , , ,
Better servitude
with safety
than freedom
with danger.
, , , ,
THE QUACK DOCTOR
A certain man fell sick
and took
to his bed.
He consulted a number
of doctors
from time
to time,
and they all,
with one exception,
told him
that his life was
in no immediate danger,
but
that his illness
would probably last a considerable time.
The one
who took a different view
of his case,
who was also the last
to be consulted,
bade him prepare
for the worst:
“You have not twenty-four hours
to live,”
said he,
“and I fear I
can do nothing.”
As it turned out,
however,
he was quite wrong;
for
at the end
of a few days the sick man quitted his bed
and took a walk abroad,
looking,
it is true,
as pale
as a ghost.
In the course
of his walk he met the Doctor
who had prophesied his death.
“Dear me,”
said the latter,
“how do you do?
You are fresh
from the other world,
no doubt.
Pray,
how are our departed friends getting
on there?”
“Most comfortably,”
replied the other,
“for they have drunk the water
of oblivion,
and have forgotten all the troubles
of life.
By the way,
just
before I left,
the authorities were making arrangements
to prosecute all the doctors,
because they
won’t let sick men die
in the course
of nature,
but use their arts
to keep them alive.
They were going
to charge you along
with the rest,
till I assured them
that you were no doctor,
but a mere impostor.”
, , , ,
THE LION,
THE WOLF,
AND THE FOX
A Lion,
infirm
with age,
lay sick
in his den,
and all the beasts
of the forest came
to inquire after his health
with the exception
of the Fox.
The Wolf thought this was a good opportunity
for paying off old scores
against the Fox,
so he called the attention
of the Lion
to his absence,
and said,
“You see,
sire,
that we have all come
to see
how you are except the Fox,
who hasn’t come near you,
and doesn’t care whether you are well
or ill.”
Just
then the Fox came
in
and heard the last words
of the Wolf.
The Lion roared
at him
in deep displeasure,
but he begged
to be allowed
to explain his absence,
and said,
“Not one
of them cares
for you so much
as I,
sire,
for all the time I have been going round
to the doctors
and trying
to find a cure
for your illness.”
“And may I ask
if you have found one?”
said the Lion.
“I have,
sire,”
said the Fox,
“and it is this:
you must flay a Wolf
and wrap yourself
in his skin
while it is still warm.”
The Lion accordingly turned
to the Wolf
and struck him dead
with one blow
of his paw,
in order
to try the Fox’s prescription;
but the Fox laughed
and said
to himself,
“That’s
what comes
of stirring up ill-will.”
, , , ,
HERCULES
and PLUTUS
When Hercules was received
among the gods
and was entertained
at a banquet
by Jupiter,
he responded courteously
to the greetings
of all
with the exception
of Plutus,
the god
of wealth.
When Plutus approached him,
he cast his eyes upon the ground,
and turned away
and pretended not
to see him.
Jupiter was surprised
at this conduct
on his part,
and asked why,
after having been so cordial
with all the other gods,
he had behaved
like that
to Plutus.
“Sire,”
said Hercules,
“I do not
like Plutus,
and I
will tell you why.
When we were
on earth together I always noticed
that he was
to be found
in the company
of scoundrels.”
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE LEOPARD
A Fox
and a Leopard were disputing
about their looks,
and each claimed
to be the more handsome
of the two.
The Leopard said,
“Look
at my smart coat;
you have nothing
to match that.”
But the Fox replied,
“Your coat may be smart,
but my wits are smarter still.”
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE HEDGEHOG
A Fox,
in swimming
across a rapid river,
was swept away
by the current
and carried a long way downstream
in spite
of his struggles,
until
at last,
bruised
and exhausted,
he managed
to scramble
on
to dry ground
from a backwater.
As he lay
there unable
to move,
a swarm
of horseflies settled
on him
and sucked his blood undisturbed,
for he was too weak even
to shake them off.
A Hedgehog saw him,
and asked
if he
should brush away the flies
that were tormenting him;
but the Fox replied,
“Oh,
please,
no,
not
on any account,
for these flies have sucked their fill
and are taking very little
from me now;
but,
if you drive them off,
another swarm
of hungry ones
will come
and suck all the blood I have left,
and leave me without a drop
in my veins.”
, , , ,
THE CROW
and THE RAVEN
A Crow became very jealous
of a Raven,
because the latter was regarded
by men
as a bird
of omen
which foretold the future,
and was accordingly held
in great respect
by them.
She was very anxious
to get the same sort
of reputation herself;
and,
one day,
seeing some travellers approaching,
she flew
on
to a branch
of a tree
at the roadside
and cawed
as loud
as she could.
The travellers were
in some dismay
at the sound,
for they feared it might be a bad omen;
till one
of them,
spying the Crow,
said
to his companions,
“It’s all right,
my friends,
we
can go
on without fear,
for it’s only a crow
and
that means nothing.”
, , , ,
Those
who pretend
to be something they are not only make themselves ridiculous.
, , , ,
THE WITCH
A Witch professed
to be able
to avert the anger
of the gods
by means
of charms,
of
which she alone possessed the secret;
and she drove a brisk trade,
and made a fat livelihood out
of it.
But certain persons accused her
of black magic
and carried her
before the judges,
and demanded
that she
should be put
to death
for dealings
with the Devil.
She was found guilty
and condemned
to death:
and one
of the judges said
to her
as she was leaving the dock,
“You say you
can avert the anger
of the gods.
How comes it,
then,
that you have failed
to disarm the enmity
of men?”
, , , ,
THE OLD MAN
and DEATH
An Old Man cut himself a bundle
of faggots
in a wood
and started
to carry them home.
He had a long way
to go,
and was tired out
before he had got much more
than half-way.
Casting his burden
on the ground,
he called upon Death
to come
and release him
from his life
of toil.
The words were scarcely out
of his mouth when,
much
to his dismay,
Death stood
before him
and professed his readiness
to serve him.
He was
almost frightened out
of his wits,
but he had enough presence
of mind
to stammer out,
“Good sir,
if you’d be so kind,
pray help me up
with my burden again.”
, , , ,
THE MISER
A Miser sold everything he had,
and melted down his hoard
of gold
into a single lump,
which he buried secretly
in a field.
Every day he went
to look
at it,
and
would sometimes spend long hours gloating
over his treasure.
One
of his men noticed his frequent visits
to the spot,
and one day watched him
and discovered his secret.
Waiting his opportunity,
he went one night
and dug up the gold
and stole it.
Next day the Miser visited the place
as usual,
and,
finding his treasure gone,
fell
to tearing his hair
and groaning
over his loss.
In this condition he was seen
by one
of his neighbours,
who asked him
what his trouble was.
The Miser told him
of his misfortune;
but the other replied,
“Don’t take it so much
to heart,
my friend;
put a brick
into the hole,
and take a look
at it every day:
you
won’t be any worse off
than before,
for even
when you had your gold it was
of no earthly use
to you.”
, , , ,
THE FOXES
and THE RIVER
A number
of Foxes assembled
on the bank
of a river
and wanted
to drink;
but the current was so strong
and the water looked so deep
and dangerous
that they didn’t dare
to do so,
but stood near the edge encouraging one another not
to be afraid.
At last one
of them,
to shame the rest,
and show
how brave he was,
said,
“I am not a bit frightened!
See,
I’ll step right
into the water!”
He had no sooner done so
than the current swept him off his feet.
When the others saw him being carried down-stream they cried,
“Don’t go
and leave us!
Come back
and show us
where we too
can drink
with safety.”
But he replied,
“I’m afraid I can’t yet:
I want
to go
to the seaside,
and this current
will take me
there nicely.
When I come back I’ll show you
with pleasure.”
, , , ,
THE HORSE
and THE STAG
There was once a Horse
who used
to graze
in a meadow
which he had all
to himself.
But one day a Stag came
into the meadow,
and said he had
as good a right
to feed there
as the Horse,
and moreover chose all the best places
for himself.
The Horse,
wishing
to be revenged upon his unwelcome visitor,
went
to a man
and asked
if he
would help him
to turn out the Stag.
“Yes,”
said the man,
“I will
by all means;
but I
can only do so
if you let me put a bridle
in your mouth
and mount
on your back.”
The Horse agreed
to this,
and the two together very soon turned the Stag out
of the pasture:
but
when
that was done,
the Horse found
to his dismay that
in the man he had got a master
for good.
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE BRAMBLE
In making his way
through a hedge a Fox missed his footing
and caught
at a Bramble
to save himself
from falling.
Naturally,
he got badly scratched,
and
in disgust he cried
to the Bramble,
“It was your help I wanted,
and see
how you have treated me!
I’d sooner have fallen outright.”
The Bramble,
interrupting him,
replied,
“You must have lost your wits,
my friend,
to catch
at me,
who am myself always catching
at others.”
, , , ,
THE FOX
and THE SNAKE
A Snake,
in crossing a river,
was carried away
by the current,
but managed
to wriggle
on
to a bundle
of thorns
which was floating by,
and was thus carried
at a great rate down-stream.
A Fox caught sight
of it
from the bank
as it went whirling along,
and called out,
“Gad!
the passenger fits the ship!”
THE LION,
THE FOX,
AND THE STAG
A Lion lay sick
in his den,
unable
to provide himself
with food.
So he said
to his friend the Fox,
who came
to ask
how he did,
“My good friend,
I wish you
would go
to yonder wood
and beguile the big Stag,
who lives there,
to come
to my den:
I have a fancy
to make my dinner off a stag’s heart
and brains.”
The Fox went
to the wood
and found the Stag
and said
to him,
“My dear sir,
you’re
in luck.
You know the Lion,
our King:
well,
he’s
at the point
of death,
and has appointed you his successor
to rule
over the beasts.
I hope you
won’t forget
that I was the first
to bring you the good news.
And now I must be going back
to him;
and,
if you take my advice,
you’ll come too
and be
with him
at the last.”
The Stag was highly flattered,
and followed the Fox
to the Lion’s den,
suspecting nothing.
No sooner had he got inside
than the Lion sprang upon him,
but he misjudged his spring,
and the Stag got away
with only his ears torn,
and returned
as fast
as he could
to the shelter
of the wood.
The Fox was much mortified,
and the Lion,
too,
was dreadfully disappointed,
for he was getting very hungry
in spite
of his illness.
So he begged the Fox
to have another try
at coaxing the Stag
to his den.
“It’ll be
almost impossible this time,”
said the Fox,
“but I’ll try”;
and off he went
to the wood a second time,
and found the Stag resting
and trying
to recover
from his fright.
As soon
as he saw the Fox he cried,
“You scoundrel,
what do you mean
by trying
to lure me
to my death
like that?
Take yourself off,
or I’ll do you
to death
with my horns.”
But the Fox was entirely shameless.
“What a coward you were,”
said he;
“surely you didn’t think the Lion meant any harm?
Why,
he was only going
to whisper some royal secrets
into your ear
when you went off
like a scared rabbit.
You have rather disgusted him,
and I’m not sure he
won’t make the wolf King instead,
unless you come back
at once
and show you’ve got some spirit.
I promise you he
won’t hurt you,
and I
will be your faithful servant.”
The Stag was foolish enough
to be persuaded
to return,
and this time the Lion made no mistake,
but overpowered him,
and feasted right royally upon his carcase.
The Fox,
meanwhile,
watched his chance and,
when the Lion wasn’t looking,
filched away the brains
to reward him
for his trouble.
Presently the Lion began searching
for them,
of course without success:
and the Fox,
who was watching him,
said,
“I
don’t think it’s much use your looking
for the brains:
a creature
who twice walked
into a Lion’s den can’t have got any.”
, , , ,
THE MAN
who LOST HIS SPADE
A Man was engaged
in digging
over his vineyard,
and one day
on coming
to work he missed his Spade.
Thinking it may have been stolen
by one
of his labourers,
he questioned them closely,
but they one
and all denied any knowledge
of it.
He was not convinced
by their denials,
and insisted
that they
should all go
to the town
and take oath
in a temple
that they were not guilty
of the theft.
This was
because he had no great opinion
of the simple country deities,
but thought
that the thief
would not pass undetected
by the shrewder gods
of the town.
When they got inside the gates the first thing they heard was the town crier proclaiming a reward
for information
about a thief
who had stolen something
from the city temple.
“Well,”
said the Man
to himself,
“it strikes me I had better go back home again.
If these town gods can’t detect the thieves
who steal
from their own temples,
it’s scarcely likely they
can tell me
who stole my Spade.”
, , , ,
THE PARTRIDGE
and THE FOWLER
A Fowler caught a Partridge
in his nets,
and was just about
to wring its neck
when it made a piteous appeal
to him
to spare its life
and said,
“Do not kill me,
but let me live
and I
will repay you
for your kindness
by decoying other partridges
into your nets.”
“No,”
said the Fowler,
“I
will not spare you.
I was going
to kill you anyhow,
and after
that treacherous speech you thoroughly deserve your fate.”
, , , ,
THE RUNAWAY SLAVE
A Slave,
being discontented
with his lot,
ran away
from his master.
He was soon missed
by the latter,
who lost no time
in mounting his horse
and setting out
in pursuit
of the fugitive.
He presently came up
with him,
and the Slave,
in the hope
of avoiding capture,
slipped
into a treadmill
and hid himself there.
“Aha,”
said his master,
“that’s the very place
for you,
my man!”
THE HUNTER
and THE WOODMAN
A Hunter was searching
in the forest
for the tracks
of a lion,
and,
catching sight presently
of a Woodman engaged
in felling a tree,
he went up
to him
and asked him
if he had noticed a lion’s footprints
anywhere about,
or
if he knew
where his den was.
The Woodman answered,
“If you
will come
with me,
I
will show you the lion himself.”
The Hunter turned pale
with fear,
and his teeth chattered
as he replied,
“Oh,
I’m not looking
for the lion,
thanks,
but only
for his tracks.”
, , , ,
THE SERPENT
and THE EAGLE
An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent
and seized it
in his talons
with the intention
of carrying it off
and devouring it.
But the Serpent was too quick
for him
and had its coils round him
in a moment;
and
then
there ensued a life-and-death struggle
between the two.
A countryman,
who was a witness
of the encounter,
came
to the assistance
of the Eagle,
and succeeded
in freeing him
from the Serpent
and enabling him
to escape.
In revenge the Serpent spat some
of his poison
into the man’s drinking-horn.
Heated
with his exertions,
the man was about
to slake his thirst
with a draught
from the horn,
when the Eagle knocked it out
of his hand,
and spilled its contents upon the ground.
, , , ,
One good turn deserves another.
, , , ,
THE ROGUE
and THE ORACLE
A Rogue laid a wager
that he
would prove the Oracle
at Delphi
to be untrustworthy
by procuring
from it a false reply
to an inquiry
by himself.
So he went
to the temple
on the appointed day
with a small bird
in his hand,
which he concealed
under the folds
of his cloak,
and asked whether
what he held
in his hand were alive
or dead.
If the Oracle said “dead,”
he meant
to produce the bird alive:
if the reply was “alive,”
he intended
to wring its neck
and show it
to be dead.
But the Oracle was one too many
for him,
for the answer he got was this:
“Stranger,
whether the thing
that you hold
in your hand be alive
or dead is a matter
that depends entirely
on your own will.”
, , , ,
THE HORSE
and THE ASS
A Horse,
proud
of his fine harness,
met an Ass
on the high-road.
As the Ass
with his heavy burden moved slowly out
of the way
to let him pass,
the Horse cried out impatiently
that he
could
hardly resist kicking him
to make him move faster.
The Ass held his peace,
but did not forget the other’s insolence.
Not long afterwards the Horse became broken-winded,
and was sold
by his owner
to a farmer.
One day,
as he was drawing a dung-cart,
he met the Ass again,
who
in turn derided him
and said,
“Aha!
you never thought
to come
to this,
did you,
you
who were so proud!
Where are all your gay trappings now?”
, , , ,
THE DOG CHASING A WOLF
A Dog was chasing a Wolf,
and
as he ran he thought
what a fine fellow he was,
and
what strong legs he had,
and
how quickly they covered the ground.
“Now,
there’s this Wolf,”
he said
to himself,
“what a poor creature he is:
he’s no match
for me,
and he knows it
and so he runs away.”
But the Wolf looked round just then
and said,
“Don’t you imagine I’m running away
from you,
my friend:
it’s your master I’m afraid of.”
, , , ,
GRIEF
and HIS DUE
When Jupiter was assigning the various gods their privileges,
it so happened
that Grief was not present
with the rest:
but
when all had received their share,
he too entered
and claimed his due.
Jupiter was
at a loss
to know what
to do,
for
there was nothing left
for him.
However,
at last he decided that
to him
should belong the tears
that are shed
for the dead.
Thus it is the same
with Grief
as it is
with the other gods.
The more devoutly men render
to him his due,
the more lavish is he
of
that
which he has
to bestow.
It is not well,
therefore,
to mourn long
for the departed;
else Grief,
whose sole pleasure is
in such mourning,
will be quick
to send fresh cause
for tears.
, , , ,
THE HAWK,
THE KITE,
AND THE PIGEONS
The Pigeons
in a certain dovecote were persecuted
by a Kite,
who every now
and
then swooped down
and carried off one
of their number.
So they invited a Hawk
into the dovecote
to defend them
against their enemy.
But they soon repented
of their folly:
for the Hawk killed more
of them
in a day
than the Kite had done
in a year.
, , , ,
THE WOMAN
and THE FARMER
A Woman,
who had lately lost her husband,
used
to go every day
to his grave
and lament her loss.
A Farmer,
who was engaged
in ploughing not far
from the spot,
set eyes upon the Woman
and desired
to have her
for his wife:
so he left his plough
and came
and sat
by her side,
and began
to shed tears himself.
She asked him
why he wept;
and he replied,
“I have lately lost my wife,
who was very dear
to me,
and tears ease my grief.”
“And I,”
said she,
“have lost my husband.”
And so
for a
while they mourned
in silence.
Then he said,
“Since you
and I are
in
like case,
shall we not do well
to marry
and live together?
I shall take the place
of your dead husband,
and you,
that
of my dead wife.”
The Woman consented
to the plan,
which indeed seemed reasonable enough:
and they dried their tears.
Meanwhile,
a thief had come
and stolen the oxen
which the Farmer had left
with his plough.
On discovering the theft,
he beat his breast
and loudly bewailed his loss.
When the Woman heard his cries,
she came
and said,
“Why,
are you weeping still?”
To
which he replied,
“Yes,
and I mean it this time.”
, , , ,
PROMETHEUS
and THE MAKING
of MAN
At the bidding
of Jupiter,
Prometheus set
about the creation
of Man
and the other animals.
Jupiter,
seeing
that Mankind,
the only rational creatures,
were far outnumbered
by the irrational beasts,
bade him redress the balance
by turning some
of the latter
into men.
Prometheus did
as he was bidden,
and this is the reason
why some people have the forms
of men
but the souls
of beasts.
, , , ,
THE SWALLOW
and THE CROW
A Swallow was once boasting
to a Crow
about her birth.
“I was once a princess,”
said she,
“the daughter
of a King
of Athens,
but my husband used me cruelly,
and cut out my tongue
for a slight fault.
Then,
to protect me
from further injury,
I was turned
by Juno
into a bird.”
“You chatter quite enough
as it is,”
said the Crow.
“What you
would have been like
if you hadn’t lost your tongue,
I can’t think.”
, , , ,
THE HUNTER
and THE HORSEMAN
A Hunter went out after game,
and succeeded
in catching a hare,
which he was carrying home
with him
when he met a man
on horseback,
who said
to him,
“You have had some sport I see,
sir,”
and offered
to buy it.
The Hunter readily agreed;
but the Horseman had no sooner got the hare
in his hands
than he set spurs
to his horse
and went off
at full gallop.
The Hunter ran after him
for some little distance;
but it soon dawned upon him
that he had been tricked,
and he gave up trying
to overtake the Horseman,
and,
to save his face,
called after him
as loud
as he could,
“All right,
sir,
all right,
take your hare:
it was meant all along
as a present.”
, , , ,
THE GOATHERD
and THE WILD GOATS
A Goatherd was tending his goats out
at pasture
when he saw a number
of Wild Goats approach
and mingle
with his flock.
At the end
of the day he drove them home
and put them all
into the pen together.
Next day the weather was so bad
that he
could not take them out
as usual:
so he kept them
at home
in the pen,
and fed them there.
He only gave his own goats enough food
to keep them
from starving,
but he gave the Wild Goats
as much
as they
could eat
and more;
for he was very anxious
for them
to stay,
and he thought that
if he fed them well they wouldn’t want
to leave him.
When the weather improved,
he took them all out
to pasture again;
but no sooner had they got near the hills
than the Wild Goats broke away
from the flock
and scampered off.
The Goatherd was very much disgusted
at this,
and roundly abused them
for their ingratitude.
“Rascals!”
he cried,
“to run away like
that after the way I’ve treated you!”
Hearing this,
one
of them turned round
and said,
“Oh,
yes,
you treated us all right
--too well,
in fact;
it was just
that that put us
on our guard.
If you treat newcomers
like ourselves so much better
than your own flock,
it’s more
than likely that,
if another lot
of strange goats joined yours,
-we- should
then be neglected
in favour
of the last comers.”
, , , ,
THE NIGHTINGALE
and THE SWALLOW
A Swallow,
conversing
with a Nightingale,
advised her
to quit the leafy coverts
where she made her home,
and
to come
and live
with men,
like herself,
and nest
under the shelter
of their roofs.
But the Nightingale replied,
“Time was
when I too,
like yourself,
lived
among men:
but the memory
of the cruel wrongs I
then suffered makes them hateful
to me,
and never again
will I approach their dwellings.”
, , , ,
The scene
of past sufferings revives painful memories.
, , , ,
THE TRAVELLER
and FORTUNE
A Traveller,
exhausted
with fatigue after a long journey,
sank down
at the very brink
of a deep well
and presently fell asleep.
He was within an ace
of falling in,
when Dame Fortune appeared
to him
and touched him
on the shoulder,
cautioning him
to move further away.
“Wake up,
good sir,
I pray you,”
she said;
“had you fallen
into the well,
the blame
would have been thrown not
on your own folly but
on me,
Fortune.”
, , , ,