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.”

, , , ,