The Wolf and the Lamb

Wolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold,

resolved not to lay violent hands on him, but to find
some plea to justify to the Lamb the Wolf's right to eat
him. He thus addressed him: "Sirrah, last year you
grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a
mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then
said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good
sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass."
Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No,"
exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as
yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me."
Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying,
"Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you
refute every one of my imputations." The tyrant will
always find a pretext for his tyranny.
The Bat and the Weasels
A Bat who fell upon the ground and was caught by a
Weasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel
refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all
birds. The Bat assured him that he was not a bird, but a
mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwards the
Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another
Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The
Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The
Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and
thus a second time escaped.
It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
The Ass and the Grasshopper
An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was
highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same
charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they
lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They
replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live
only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.
The Lion and the Mouse
A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running
over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was
about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated,
saying: "If you would only spare my life, I would be
sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let
him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was
caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong
ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar,
came gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free,
exclaim
"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help
you, expecting to receive from me any repayment of
your favor; I now you know that it is possible for even a
Mouse to con benefits on a Lion."
The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller
A Charcoal-Burner carried on his trade in his own
house. One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated
him to come and live with him, saying that they should
be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping
expenses would be lessened. The Fuller replied, "The
arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for
whatever I should whiten, you would immediately
blacken again with your charcoal."
Like will draw like.
The Father and His Sons
A father had a family of sons who were perpetually
quarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal
their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give
them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and
for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a
bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the
faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and
ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all
their strength, and were not able to do it. He next
opened the faggot, took the sticks separately, one by
one, and again put them into his sons' hands, upon
which they broke them easily. He then addressed them
in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and
unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot,
uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if
you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken
as easily as these sticks."

The Boy Hunting Locusts

A boy was hunting for locusts. He had caught a goodly
number, when he saw a Scorpion, and mistaking him
for a locust, reached out his hand to take him. The
Scorpion, showing his sting, said: If you had but
touched me, my friend, you would have lost me, and all
your locusts too!"

The Cock and the Jewel

A Cock, scratching for food for himself and his hens,
found a precious stone and exclaimed: "If your owner
had found thee, and not I, he would have taken thee up,
and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found
thee for no purpose. I would rather have one barleycorn
than all the jewels in the world."
The Kingdom of the Lion
The beasts of the field and forest had a Lion as their
king. He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor tyrannical, but
just and gentle as a king could be. During his reign he
made a royal proclamation for a general assembly of all
the birds and beasts, and drew up conditions for a
universal league, in which the Wolf and the Lamb, the
Panther and the Kid, the Tiger and the Stag, the Dog
and the Hare, should live together in perfect peace and
amity. The Hare said, "Oh, how I have longed to see
this day, in which the weak shall take their place with
impunity by the side of the strong." And after the Hare
said this, he ran for his life.
The Wolf and the Crane
A Wolf who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a
Crane, for a large sum, to put her head into his mouth
and draw out the bone. When the Crane had extracted
the bone and demanded the promised payment, the
Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed:
"Why, you have surely already had a sufficient
recompense, in having been permitted to draw out your
head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a wolf."
In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be
thankful if you escape injury for your pains.

The Fisherman Piping

A fisherman skilled in music took his flute and his nets
to the seashore. Standing on a projecting rock, he
played several tunes in the hope that the fish, attracted
by his melody, would of their own accord dance into his
net, which he had placed below. At last, having long
waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net
into the sea, made an excellent haul of fish. When he
saw them leaping about in the net upon the rock he
said: "O you most perverse creatures, when I piped you
would not dance, but now that I have ceased you do so
merrily."
Hercules and the Wagoner
A carter was driving a wagon along a country lane,
when the wheels sank down deep into a rut. The rustic
driver, stupefied and aghast, stood looking at the
wagon, and did nothing but utter loud cries to Hercules
to come and help him. Hercules, it is said, appeared and
thus addressed him: "Put your shoulders to the wheels,
my man. Goad on your bullocks, and never more pray
to me for help, until you have done your best to help
yourself, or depend upon it you will henceforth pray in
vain."
Self-help is the best help.

The Ants and the Grasshopper

The ants were spending a fine winter's day drying grain
collected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing
with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little
food. The Ants inquired of him, "Why did you not
treasure up food during the summer?' He replied, "I
had not leisure enough. I passed the days in singing."
They then said in derision: "If you were foolish enough
to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to
bed in the winter."

The Traveler and His Dog

A traveler about to set out on a journey saw his Dog
stand at the door stretching himself. He asked him
sharply: "Why do you stand there gaping? Everything
is ready but you, so come with me instantly." The Dog,
wagging his tail, replied: "O, master! I am quite ready;
it is you for whom I am waiting."
The loiterer often blames delay on his more active
friend.
The Dog and the Shadow
A Dog, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of
flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and
took it for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat
double his own in size. He immediately let go of his own,
and fiercely attacked the other Dog to get his larger
piece from him. He thus lost both: that which he
grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and
his own, because the stream swept it away.
The Mole and His Mother
A Mole, a creature blind from birth, once said to his
Mother: "I am sure than I can see, Mother!" In the
desire to prove to him his mistake, his Mother placed
before him a few grains of frankincense, and asked,
"What is it?' The young Mole said, "It is a pebble." His
Mother exclaimed: "My son, I am afraid that you are
not only blind, but that you have lost your sense of
smell.

The Herdsman and the Lost Bull

A herdsman tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calf
from the fold. After a long and fruitless search, he made
a vow that, if he could only discover the thief who had
stolen the Calf, he would offer a lamb in sacrifice to
Hermes, Pan, and the Guardian Deities of the forest.
Not long afterwards, as he ascended a small hillock, he
saw at its foot a Lion feeding on the Calf. Terrified at
the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands to heaven, and
said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the Guardian
Deities of the forest if I could only find out who had
robbed me; but now that I have discovered the thief, I
would willingly add a full-grown Bull to the Calf I have
lost, if I may only secure my own escape from him in
safety."

The Hare and the Tortoise

A Hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of
the Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be
swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare,
believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented
to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should
choose the course and fix the goal. On the day
appointed for the race the two started together. The
Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with
a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course.
The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At
last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw
the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably
dozing after her fatigue.
Slow but steady wins the race.
The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble
The Pomegranate and Apple-Tree disputed as to which
was the most beautiful. When their strife was at its
height, a Bramble from the neighboring hedge lifted up
its voice, and said in a boastful tone: "Pray, my dear
friends, in my presence at least cease from such vain
disputings."
The Farmer and the Stork
A Farmer placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and
caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his
seed. With them he trapped a Stork that had fractured
his leg in the net and was earnestly beseeching the
Farmer to spare his life. "Pray save me, Master," he
said, "and let me go free this once. My broken limb
should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a
Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love
and slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my
feathers-- they are not the least like those of a Crane."
The Farmer laughed aloud and said, "It may be all as
you say, I only know this: I have taken you with these
robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in their
company."
Birds of a feather flock together.

The Farmer and the Snake

One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen
with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up,
placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived
by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit
its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound. "Oh,"
cried the Farmer with his last breath, "I am rightly
served for pitying a scoundrel."
The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.

The Fawn and His Mother

A young fawn once said to his Mother, "You are larger
than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and
you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Mother!
do the hounds frighten you so?" She smiled, and said:
"I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have
the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the
bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as
fast as I can."
No arguments will give courage to the coward.
The Bear and the Fox
A Bear boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying
that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard
for man, for he had such respect for him that he would
not even touch his dead body. A Fox hearing these
words said with a smile to the Bear, "Oh! that you
would eat the dead and not the living."
The Swallow and the Crow
The Swallow and the Crow had a contention about their
plumage. The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying,
"Your feathers are all very well in the spring, but mine
protect me against the winter."
Fair weather friends are not worth much.

The Mountain in Labor

A Mountain was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and
noises were heard, and crowds of people came from all
parts to see what was the matter. While they were
assembled in anxious expectation of some terrible
calamity, out came a Mouse.
Don't make much ado about nothing.
The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion
The Ass and the Fox, having entered into partnership
together for their mutual protection, went out into the
forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they
met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent danger,
approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him
the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word
not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that
he would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit
and arranged that he should fall into it. The Lion,
seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched
the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.
The Tortoise and the Eagle
A Tortoise, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the
sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her
to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation
and demanded what reward she would give him if he
would take her aloft and float her in the air. "I will give
you," she said, "all the riches of the Red Sea." "I will
teach you to fly then," said the Eagle; and taking her up
in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds
suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain,
dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in
the moment of death: "I have deserved my present fate;
for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can
with difficulty move about on the earth?'
If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.

The Flies and the Honey-Pot

A number of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey
which had been overturned in a housekeeper's room,
and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet,
however, became so smeared with the honey that they
could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and
were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, they
exclaimed, "O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake
of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves."
Pleasure bought with pains, hurts.
The Man and the Lion
A Man and a Lion traveled together through the forest.
They soon began to boast of their respective superiority
to each other in strength and prowess. As they were
disputing, they passed a statue carved in stone, which
represented "a Lion strangled by a Man." The traveler
pointed to it and said: "See there! How strong we are,
and how we prevail over even the king of beasts." The
Lion replied: "This statue was made by one of you men.
If we Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the
Man placed under the paw of the Lion."
One story is good, till another is told.
The Farmer and the Cranes
Some cranes made their feeding grounds on some
plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a long time the
Farmer, brandishing an empty sling, chased them away
by the terror he inspired; but when the birds found that
the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take
any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, on
seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a
great number. The remaining birds at once forsook his
fields, crying to each other, "It is time for us to be off to
Liliput: for this man is no longer content to scare us,
but begins to show us in earnest what he can do."
If words suffice not, blows must follow.
The Dog in the Manger
A Dog lay in a manger, and by his growling and
snapping prevented the oxen from eating the hay which
had been placed for them. "What a selfish Dog!" said
one of them to his companions; "he cannot eat the hay
himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can."

The Fox and the Goat

A Fox one day fell into a deep well and could find no
means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to
the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water
was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry
guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water,
saying it was excellent beyond measure, and
encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of
his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he
drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were
both in and suggested a scheme for their common
escape. "If," said he, "you will place your forefeet upon
the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back
and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The
Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his
back. Steadying himself with the Goat's horns, he safely
reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he
could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his
promise, he turned around and cried out, "You foolish
old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as
you have hairs in your beard, you would never have
gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor
have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had
no means of escape."
Look before you leap.
The Bear and the Two Travelers
Two men were traveling together, when a Bear
suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed
up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the
branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked,
fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and
felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held
his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as
much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said
he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone,
the other Traveler descended from the tree, and
jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the Bear had
whispered in his ear. "He gave me this advice," his
companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who
deserts you at the approach of danger."
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

The Oxen and the Axle-Trees

A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane
by a team of Oxen. The Axle-trees groaned and creaked
terribly; whereupon the Oxen, turning round, thus
addressed the wheels: "Hullo there! why do you make
so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you,
ought to cry out."
Those who suffer most cry out the least.

The Thirsty Pigeon

A Pigeon, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of
water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be
only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and
unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring
herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow,
she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the
bystanders.
Zeal should not outrun discretion.

The Raven and the Swan

A Raven saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself
the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan's
splendid white color arose from his washing in the
water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the
neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took
up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his
feathers as often as he would, he could not change their
color, while through want of food he perished.
Change of habit cannot alter Nature.
The Goat and the Goatherd
A Goatherd had sought to bring back a stray goat to his
flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the
straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the
Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged
the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, "Why,
you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent."
Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.

The Miser
A Miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold,
which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an
old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen
observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to
watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of
the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the
lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit,
found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to
make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him
overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray
do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in
the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It
will do you quite the same service; for when the gold
was there, you had it not, as you did not make the
slightest use of it."
The Sick Lion
A Lion, unable from old age and infirmities to provide
himself with food by force, resolved to do so by artifice.
He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended
to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be
publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and
came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured
them. After many of the beasts had thus disappeared,
the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to
the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful
distance, and asked him how he was. "I am very
middling," replied the Lion, "but why do you stand
without? Pray enter within to talk with me." "No,
thank you," said the Fox. "I notice that there are many
prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of
any returning."
He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others.
The Horse and Groom
A Groom used to spend whole days in currycombing
and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole
his oats and sold them for his own profit. "Alas!" said
the Horse, "if you really wish me to be in good
condition, you should groom me less, and feed me
more."

The Ass and the Lapdog

A Man had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great
beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of
oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The
Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favorite with
his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out
to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat.
The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in
grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the
forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his
own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and
idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his
cords and halter, and galloped into his master's house,
kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and
fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about
his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke
the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms.
He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon
his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and
perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved
him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and
clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall
beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: "I have brought
it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to
labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all
the day like that useless little Lapdog!"

The Lioness
A controversy prevailed among the beasts of the field as
to which of the animals deserved the most credit for
producing the greatest number of whelps at a birth.
They rushed clamorously into the presence of the
Lioness and demanded of her the settlement of the
dispute. "And you," they said, "how many sons have
you at a birth?' The Lioness laughed at them, and said:
"Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether a
thoroughbred Lion."
The value is in the worth, not in the number.

The Boasting Traveler

A Man who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very
much, on returning to his own country, of the many
wonderful and heroic feats he had performed in the
different places he had visited. Among other things, he
said that when he was at Rhodes he had leaped to such
a distance that no man of his day could leap anywhere
near him as to that, there were in Rhodes many persons
who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses.
One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying: "Now,
my good man, if this be all true there is no need of
witnesses. Suppose this to be Rhodes, and leap for us."
The Cat and the Cock
A Cat caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find
a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him of
being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime
and not permitting them to sleep. The Cock defended
himself by saying that he did this for the benefit of men,
that they might rise in time for their labors. The Cat
replied, "Although you abound in specious apologies, I
shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of
him.
The Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat
A young Pig was shut up in a fold-yard with a Goat and
a Sheep. On one occasion when the shepherd laid hold
of him, he grunted and squeaked and resisted violently.
The Sheep and the Goat complained of his distressing
cries, saying, "He often handles us, and we do not cry
out." To this the Pig replied, "Your handling and mine
are very different things. He catches you only for your
wool, or your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very
life."

The Boy and the Filberts

A Boy put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He
grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he
tried to pull out his hand, he was prevented from doing
so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose his
filberts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst
into tears and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A
bystander said to him, "Be satisfied with half the
quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."
Do not attempt too much at once.
The Lion in Love
A Lion demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in
marriage. The Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid
to refuse his request, hit upon this expedient to rid
himself of his importunities. He expressed his
willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his
daughter on one condition: that he should allow him to
extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter
was fearfully afraid of both. The Lion cheerfully
assented to the proposal. But when the toothless,
clawless Lion returned to repeat his request, the
Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his club,
and drove him away into the forest.

The Laborer and the Snake

A Snake, having made his hole close to the porch of a
cottage, inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager's infant
son. Grieving over his loss, the Father resolved to kill
the Snake. The next day, when it came out of its hole for
food, he took up his axe, but by swinging too hastily,
missed its head and cut off only the end of its tail. After
some time the Cottager, afraid that the Snake would
bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed
some bread and salt in the hole. The Snake, slightly
hissing, said: "There can henceforth be no peace
between us; for whenever I see you I shall remember
the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will be
thinking of the death of your son."
No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who
caused the injury.
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Once upon a time a Wolf resolved to disguise his
appearance in order to secure food more easily.
Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the
flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the
evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the
gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly
secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during
the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly
caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him
instantly.
Harm seek. Harm find.
The Ass and the Mule
A Muleteer set forth on a journey, driving before him
an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as
he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease,
but when he began to ascend the steep path of the
mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear.
He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small
portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the
Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly
afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not
knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the
Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the
Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed
the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule,
groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: "I
am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been
willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not
now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as
well."

The Frogs Asking for a King

The Frogs, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent
ambassadors to Jupiter entreating for a King.
Perceiving their simplicity, he cast down a huge log into
the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash
occasioned by its fall and hid themselves in the depths
of the pool. But as soon as they realized that the huge
log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the
water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, and began
squatting on it in contempt. After some time they began
to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so
inert a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to
pray that he would set over them another sovereign. He
then gave them an Eel to govern them. When the Frogs
discovered his easy good nature, they sent yet a third
time to Jupiter to beg him to choose for them still
another King. Jupiter, displeased with all their
complaints, sent a Heron, who preyed upon the Frogs
day by day till there were none left to croak upon the
lake.
The Boys and the Frogs
Some boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs
in the water and began to pelt them with stones. They
killed several of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his
head out of the water, cried out: "Pray stop, my boys:
what is sport to you, is death to us."

The Sick Stag

A sick stag lay down in a quiet corner of its pasture-
ground. His companions came in great numbers to
inquire after his health, and each one helped himself to
a share of the food which had been placed for his use; so
that he died, not from his sickness, but from the failure
of the means of living.
Evil companions bring more hurt than profit.
The Salt Merchant and His Ass
A Peddler drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His
road home lay across a stream into which his Ass,
making a false step, fell by accident and rose up again
with his load considerably lighter, as the water melted
the sack. The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his
panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before.
When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down on
purpose in the same spot, and, regaining his feet with
the weight of his load much diminished, brayed
triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. The
Peddler saw through his trick and drove him for the
third time to the coast, where he bought a cargo of
sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again playing the fool,
fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but
the sponges became swollen with water, greatly
increasing his load. And thus his trick recoiled on him,
for he now carried on his back a double burden.

The Oxen and the Butchers

The Oxen once upon a time sought to destroy the
Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their
race. They assembled on a certain day to carry out their
purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. But
one of them who was exceedingly old (for many a field
had he plowed) thus spoke: "These Butchers, it is true,
slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and
with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall
fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus
suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that
though all the Butchers should perish, yet will men
never want beef."
Do not be in a hurry to change one evil for another.
The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox
A Lion, fatigued by the heat of a summer's day, fell fast
asleep in his den. A Mouse ran over his mane and ears
and woke him from his slumbers. He rose up and shook
himself in great wrath, and searched every corner of his
den to find the Mouse. A Fox seeing him said: "A fine
Lion you are, to be frightened of a Mouse." "'Tis not
the Mouse I fear," said the Lion; "I resent his
familiarity and ill-breeding."
Little liberties are great offenses.

The Vain Jackdaw

Jupiter determined, it is said, to create a sovereign over
the birds, and made proclamation that on a certain day
they should all present themselves before him, when he
would himself choose the most beautiful among them to
be king. The Jackdaw, knowing his own ugliness,
searched through the woods and fields, and collected
the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his
companions, and stuck them in all parts of his body,
hoping thereby to make himself the most beautiful of
all. When the appointed day arrived, and the birds had
assembled before Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made his
appearance in his many feathered finery. But when
Jupiter proposed to make him king because of the
beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly protested,
and each plucked from him his own feathers, leaving
the Jackdaw nothing but a Jackdaw.

The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

A Goatherd, driving his flock from their pasture at
eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them,
and shut them up together with his own for the night.
The next day it snowed very hard, so that he could not
take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was
obliged to keep them in the fold. He gave his own goats
just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the
strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them
to stay with him and of making them his own. When the
thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the Wild
Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the
mountains. The Goatherd scolded them for their
ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he
had taken more care of them than of his own herd. One
of them, turning about, said to him: "That is the very
reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday
treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it
is plain also that if others came after us, you would in
the same manner prefer them to ourselves."
Old friends cannot with impunity be sacrificed for new
ones.
The Mischievous Dog
A Dog used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he
met, and to bite them without notice. His master
suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might
give notice of his presence wherever he went. Thinking
it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell
and went tinkling it all over the marketplace. One day
an old hound said to him: Why do you make such an
exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is not,
believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a
mark of disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you
as an ill mannered dog."
Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.
The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail
A Fox caught in a trap escaped, but in so doing lost his
tail. Thereafter, feeling his life a burden from the shame
and ridicule to which he was exposed, he schemed to
convince all the other Foxes that being tailless was
much more attractive, thus making up for his own
deprivation. He assembled a good many Foxes and
publicly advised them to cut off their tails, saying that
they would not only look much better without them, but
that they would get rid of the weight of the brush, which
was a very great inconvenience. One of them
interrupting him said, "If you had not yourself lost your
tail, my friend, you would not thus counsel us."

The Boy and the Nettles

A Boy was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his
Mother, saying, "Although it hurts me very much, I
only touched it gently." "That was just why it stung
you," said his Mother. "The next time you touch a
Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be soft as silk to your
hand, and not in the least hurt you."
Whatever you do, do with all your might.
The Man and His Two Sweethearts
A middle-aged man, whose hair had begun to turn gray,
courted two women at the same time. One of them was
young, and the other well advanced in years. The elder
woman, ashamed to be courted by a man younger than
herself, made a point, whenever her admirer visited her,
to pull out some portion of his black hairs. The younger,
on the contrary, not wishing to become the wife of an
old man, was equally zealous in removing every gray
hair she could find. Thus it came to pass that between
them both he very soon found that he had not a hair left
on his head.
Those who seek to please everybody please nobody.
The Astronomer
An astronomer used to go out at night to observe the
stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs
with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell
accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and
bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for
help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning what had
happened said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to
pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see
what is on earth?'

The Wolves and the Sheep

"Why should there always be this fear and slaughter
between us?" said the Wolves to the Sheep. "Those evil-
disposed Dogs have much to answer for. They always
bark whenever we approach you and attack us before
we have done any harm. If you would only dismiss them
from your heels, there might soon be treaties of peace
and reconciliation between us." The Sheep, poor silly
creatures, were easily beguiled and dismissed the Dogs,
whereupon the Wolves destroyed the unguarded flock
at their own pleasure.
The Old Woman and the Physician
An Old Woman having lost the use of her eyes, called in
a Physician to heal them, and made this bargain with
him in the presence of witnesses: that if he should cure
her blindness, he should receive from her a sum of
money; but if her infirmity remained, she should give
him nothing. This agreement being made, the Physician,
time after time, applied his salve to her eyes, and on
every visit took something away, stealing all her
property little by little. And when he had got all she
had, he healed her and demanded the promised
payment. The Old Woman, when she recovered her
sight and saw none of her goods in her house, would
give him nothing. The Physician insisted on his claim,
and. as she still refused, summoned her before the
Judge. The Old Woman, standing up in the Court,
argued: "This man here speaks the truth in what he
says; for I did promise to give him a sum of money if I
should recover my sight: but if I continued blind, I was
to give him nothing. Now he declares that I am healed. I
on the contrary affirm that I am still blind; for when I
lost the use of my eyes, I saw in my house various
chattels and valuable goods: but now, though he swears
I am cured of my blindness, I am not able to see a single
thing in it."
The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle
Two game Cocks were fiercely fighting for the mastery
of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The
vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a
quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high
wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all
his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced
upon him and carried him off in his talons. The
vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner,
and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.
Pride goes before destruction.

The Charger and the Miller

A Charger, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to
work in a mill instead of going out to battle. But when
he was compelled to grind instead of serving in the
wars, he bewailed his change of fortune and called to
mind his former state, saying, "Ah! Miller, I had indeed
to go campaigning before, but I was barbed from
counter to tail, and a man went along to groom me; and
now I cannot understand what ailed me to prefer the
mill before the battle." "Forbear," said the Miller to
him, "harping on what was of yore, for it is the common
lot of mortals to sustain the ups and downs of fortune."

The Fox and the Monkey

A Monkey once danced in an assembly of the Beasts,
and so pleased them all by his performance that they
elected him their King. A Fox, envying him the honor,
discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap, and leading
the Monkey to the place where it was, said that she had
found a store, but had not used it, she had kept it for
him as treasure trove of his kingdom, and counseled
him to lay hold of it. The Monkey approached carelessly
and was caught in the trap; and on his accusing the Fox
of purposely leading him into the snare, she replied, "O
Monkey, and are you, with such a mind as yours, going
to be King over the Beasts?"

The Horse and His Rider

A horse Soldier took the utmost pains with his charger.
As long as the war lasted, he looked upon him as his
fellow-helper in all emergencies and fed him carefully
with hay and corn. But when the war was over, he only
allowed him chaff to eat and made him carry heavy
loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish drudgery
and ill-treatment. War was again proclaimed, however,
and when the trumpet summoned him to his standard,
the Soldier put on his charger its military trappings,
and mounted, being clad in his heavy coat of mail. The
Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no
longer equal to the burden, and said to his master,
"You must now go to the war on foot, for you have
transformed me from a Horse into an Ass; and how can
you expect that I can again turn in a moment from an
Ass to a Horse?'

The Belly and the Members

The Members of the Body rebelled against the Belly,
and said, "Why should we be perpetually engaged in
administering to your wants, while you do nothing but
take your rest, and enjoy yourself in luxury and self-
indulgence?' The Members carried out their resolve
and refused their assistance to the Belly. The whole
Body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet,
mouth, and eyes, when too late, repented of their folly.

The Vine and the Goat

A Vine was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves
and grapes. A Goat, passing by, nibbled its young
tendrils and its leaves. The Vine addressed him and
said: "Why do you thus injure me without a cause, and
crop my leaves? Is there no young grass left? But I shall
not have to wait long for my just revenge; for if you now
should crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I
shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are
led as a victim to the sacrifice."

Jupiter and the Monkey

Jupiter issued a proclamation to all the beasts of the
forest and promised a royal reward to the one whose
offspring should be deemed the handsomest. The
Monkey came with the rest and presented, with all a
mother's tenderness, a flat-nosed, hairless, ill-featured
young Monkey as a candidate for the promised reward.
A general laugh saluted her on the presentation of her
son. She resolutely said, "I know not whether Jupiter
will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that he
is at least in the eyes of me his mother, the dearest,
handsomest, and most beautiful of all."
The Widow and Her Little Maidens
A Widow who was fond of cleaning had two little
maidens to wait on her. She was in the habit of waking
them early in the morning, at cockcrow. The maidens,
aggravated by such excessive labor, resolved to kill the
cock who roused their mistress so early. When they had
done this, they found that they had only prepared for
themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no
longer hearing the hour from the cock, woke them up to
their work in the middle of the night.
The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf
A Shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a
village, brought out the villagers three or four times by
crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came
to help him, laughed at them for their pains. The Wolf,
however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now
really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: "Pray, do
come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep"; but no
one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any
assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his
leisure lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.
There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the
truth.

The Cat and the Birds

A Cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were
ailing dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his
cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession,
went to call on them. He knocked at the door and
inquired of the inmates how they all did, saying that if
they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them
and cure them. They replied, "We are all very well, and
shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go
away, and leave us as we are."
The Kid and the Wolf
A Kid standing on the roof of a house, out of harm's
way, saw a Wolf passing by and immediately began to
taunt and revile him. The Wolf, looking up, said,
"Sirrah! I hear thee: yet it is not thou who mockest me,
but the roof on which thou art standing."
Time and place often give the advantage to the weak
over the strong.

The Ox and the Frog

An Ox drinking at a pool trod on a brood of young
frogs and crushed one of them to death. The Mother
coming up, and missing one of her sons, inquired of his
brothers what had become of him. "He is dead, dear
Mother; for just now a very huge beast with four great
feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with his
cloven heel." The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, "if
the beast was as big as that in size." "Cease, Mother, to
puff yourself out," said her son, "and do not be angry;
for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than
successfully imitate the hugeness of that monster."
The Shepherd and the Wolf
A Shepherd once found the whelp of a Wolf and
brought it up, and after a while taught it to steal lambs
from the neighboring flocks. The Wolf, having shown
himself an apt pupil, said to the Shepherd, "Since you
have taught me to steal, you must keep a sharp lookout,
or you will lose some of your own flock."
The Father and His Two Daughters
A Man had two daughters, the one married to a
gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a time he
went to the daughter who had married the gardener,
and inquired how she was and how all things went with
her. She said, "All things are prospering with me, and I
have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of
rain, in order that the plants may be well watered." Not
long after, he went to the daughter who had married the
tilemaker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared;
she replied, "I want for nothing, and have only one
wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun
shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be dried."
He said to her, "If your sister wishes for rain, and you
for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my
wishes?'
The Farmer and His Sons
A father, being on the point of death, wished to be sure
that his sons would give the same attention to his farm
as he himself had given it. He called them to his bedside
and said, "My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one
of my vineyards." The sons, after his death, took their
spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every
portion of their land. They found no treasure, but the
vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and
superabundant crop.

The Crab and Its Mother

A Crab said to her son, "Why do you walk so one-sided,
my child? It is far more becoming to go straight
forward." The young Crab replied: "Quite true, dear
Mother; and if you will show me the straight way, I will
promise to walk in it." The Mother tried in vain, and
submitted without remonstrance to the reproof of her
child.
Example is more powerful than precept.
The Heifer and the Ox
A Heifer saw an Ox hard at work harnessed to a plow,
and tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate
in being compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the
harvest festival, the owner released the Ox from his
yoke, but bound the Heifer with cords and led him away
to the altar to be slain in honor of the occasion. The Ox
saw what was being done, and said with a smile to the
Heifer: "For this you were allowed to live in idleness,
because you were presently to be sacrificed."
The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice
A Swallow, returning from abroad and especially fond
of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a
Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A
Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate
up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding
her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: "Woe
to me a stranger! that in this place where all others'
rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong."
The Thief and His Mother
A Boy stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows
and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained
from beating him, but encouraged him. He next time
stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again
commended him. The Youth, advanced to adulthood,
proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he
was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound
behind him, was led away to the place of public
execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and
violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the
young man said, "I wish to say something to my Mother
in her ear." She came close to him, and he quickly
seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother
upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he
replied, "Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole
and brought to you that lesson-book, I should not have
come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful
death."
The Old Man and Death
An Old Man was employed in cutting wood in the
forest, and, in carrying the faggots to the city for sale
one day, became very wearied with his long journey. He
sat down by the wayside, and throwing down his load,
besought "Death" to come. "Death" immediately
appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what
reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly
replied, "That, lifting up the load, you may place it
again upon my shoulders."
The Fir-Tree and the Bramble
A Fir-Tree said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are
useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for
roofs and houses." The Bramble answered: 'You poor
creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and
saws which are about to hew you down, you would have
reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a
Fir-Tree."
Better poverty without care, than riches with.
The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk
A Mouse who always lived on the land, by an unlucky
chance formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog,
who lived for the most part in the water. The Frog, one
day intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse
tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of
all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they
were accustomed to find their food. After this, he
gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived,
until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in,
dragging the Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the
water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had
done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon
suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated
about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A
Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his
talons, carried it aloft. The Frog, being still fastened to
the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner,
and was eaten by the Hawk.
Harm hatch, harm catch.
The Man Bitten By a Dog
A Man who had been bitten by a Dog went about in
quest of someone who might heal him. A friend, meeting
him and learning what he wanted, said, "If you would
be cured, take a piece of bread, and dip it in the blood
from your wound, and go and give it to the Dog that bit
you." The Man who had been bitten laughed at this
advice and said, "Why? If I should do so, it would be as
if I should beg every Dog in the town to bite me."
Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their
means of injuring you.

The Two Pots

A river carried down in its stream two Pots, one made
of earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot
said to the Brass Pot, "Pray keep at a distance and do
not come near me, for if you touch me ever so slightly, I
shall be broken in pieces, and besides, I by no means
wish to come near you."
Equals make the best friends.
The Wolf and the Sheep
A Wolf, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and
maimed in his lair. Being in want of food, he called to a
Sheep who was passing, and asked him to fetch some
water from a stream flowing close beside him. "For," he
said, "if you will bring me drink, I will find means to
provide myself with meat." "Yes," said the Sheep, "if I
should bring you the draught, you would doubtless
make me provide the meat also."
Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

The Aethiop
The purchaser of a black servant was persuaded that
the color of his skin arose from dirt contracted through
the neglect of his former masters. On bringing him
home he resorted to every means of cleaning, and
subjected the man to incessant scrubbings. The servant
caught a severe cold, but he never changed his color or
complexion.
What's bred in the bone will stick to the flesh.
The Fisherman and His Nets
A Fisherman, engaged in his calling, made a very
successful cast and captured a great haul of fish. He
managed by a skillful handling of his net to retain all
the large fish and to draw them to the shore; but he
could not prevent the smaller fish from falling back
through the meshes of the net into the sea.
The Huntsman and the Fisherman
A Huntsman, returning with his dogs from the field, fell
in by chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home
a basket well laden with fish. The Huntsman wished to
have the fish, and their owner experienced an equal
longing for the contents of the game-bag. They quickly
agreed to exchange the produce of their day's sport.
Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they
made for some time the same exchange day after day.
Finally a neighbor said to them, "If you go on in this
way, you will soon destroy by frequent use the pleasure
of your exchange, and each will again wish to retain the
fruits of his own sport."
Abstain and enjoy.
The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar
An Old Woman found an empty jar which had lately
been full of prime old wine and which still retained the
fragrant smell of its former contents. She greedily
placed it several times to her nose, and drawing it
backwards and forwards said, "O most delicious! How
nice must the Wine itself have been, when it leaves
behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a
perfume!"
The memory of a good deed lives.
The Fox and the Crow
A Crow having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree
and held it in her beak. A Fox, seeing this, longed to
possess the meat himself, and by a wily stratagem
succeeded. "How handsome is the Crow," he exclaimed,
in the beauty of her shape and in the fairness of her
complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to her
beauty, she would deservedly be considered the Queen
of Birds!" This he said deceitfully; but the Crow,
anxious to refute the reflection cast upon her voice, set
up a loud caw and dropped the flesh. The Fox quickly
picked it up, and thus addressed the Crow: "My good
Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is
wanting."
The Two Dogs
A Man had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in
his sports, and a Housedog, taught to watch the house.
When he returned home after a good day's sport, he
always gave the Housedog a large share of his spoil. The
Hound, feeling much aggrieved at this, reproached his
companion, saying, "It is very hard to have all this
labor, while you, who do not assist in the chase,
luxuriate on the fruits of my exertions." The Housedog
replied, "Do not blame me, my friend, but find fault
with the master, who has not taught me to labor, but to
depend for subsistence on the labor of others."
Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their
parents.
The Stag in the Ox-Stall
A Stag, roundly chased by the hounds and blinded by
fear to the danger he was running into, took shelter in a
farmyard and hid himself in a shed among the oxen. An
Ox gave him this kindly warning: "O unhappy
creature! why should you thus, of your own accord,
incur destruction and trust yourself in the house of your
enemy?' The Stag replied: "Only allow me, friend, to
stay where I am, and I will undertake to find some
favorable opportunity of effecting my escape." At the
approach of the evening the herdsman came to feed his
cattle, but did not see the Stag; and even the farm-
bailiff with several laborers passed through the shed
and failed to notice him. The Stag, congratulating
himself on his safety, began to express his sincere
thanks to the Oxen who had kindly helped him in the
hour of need. One of them again answered him: "We
indeed wish you well, but the danger is not over. There
is one other yet to pass through the shed, who has as it
were a hundred eyes, and until he has come and gone,
your life is still in peril." At that moment the master
himself entered, and having had to complain that his
oxen had not been properly fed, he went up to their
racks and cried out: "Why is there such a scarcity of
fodder? There is not half enough straw for them to lie
on. Those lazy fellows have not even swept the cobwebs
away." While he thus examined everything in turn, he
spied the tips of the antlers of the Stag peeping out of
the straw. Then summoning his laborers, he ordered
that the Stag should be seized and killed.

The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons

The Pigeons, terrified by the appearance of a Kite,
called upon the Hawk to defend them. He at once
consented. When they had admitted him into the cote,
they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger
number of them in one day than the Kite could pounce
upon in a whole year.
Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.
The Widow and the Sheep
A certain poor widow had one solitary Sheep. At shearing time, wishing to take
his fleece and to avoid expense, she sheared him herself, but used the shears so
unskillfully that with the fleece she sheared the flesh. The Sheep, writhing with
pain, said, "Why do you hurt me so, Mistress? What weight can my blood add
to the wool? If you want my flesh, there is the butcher, who will kill me in an
instant; but if you want my fleece and wool, there is the shearer, who will shear
and not hurt me."

The least outlay is not always the greatest gain.

The Wild Ass and the Lion

A Wild Ass and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might capture the
beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion agreed to assist the Wild Ass
with his strength, while the Wild Ass gave the Lion the benefit of his greater
speed. When they had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, the
Lion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it into three
shares. "I will take the first share," he said, "because I am King: and the second
share, as a partner with you in the chase: and the third share (believe me) will
be a source of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and set off
as fast as you can."

Might makes right.

The Eagle and the Arrow

An Eagle sat on a lofty rock, watching the movements of a Hare whom he
sought to make his prey. An archer, who saw the Eagle from a place of
concealment, took an accurate aim and wounded him mortally. The Eagle gave
one look at the arrow that had entered his heart and saw in that single glance
that its feathers had been furnished by himself. "It is a double grief to me," he
exclaimed, "that I should perish by an arrow feathered from my own wings."
 

The Sick Kite

A Kite, sick unto death, said to his mother: "O Mother! do not mourn, but at
once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged." She replied, "Alas! my
son, which of the gods do you think will pity you? Is there one whom you have
not outraged by filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered up
to them?'

We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in adversity.

The Lion and the Dolphin

A Lion roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of the waves,
and suggested that they contract an alliance, saying that of all the animals they
ought to be the best friends, since the one was the king of beasts on the earth,
and the other was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The
Dolphin gladly consented to this request. Not long afterwards the Lion had a
combat with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin,
though quite willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could
not by any means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The Dolphin
replied, "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while giving me the
sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the power of living upon the land."

The Lion and the Boar

On a summer day, when the great heat induced a general thirst among the
beasts, a Lion and a Boar came at the same moment to a small well to drink.
They fiercely disputed which of them should drink first, and were soon
engaged in the agonies of a mortal combat. When they stopped suddenly to
catch their breath for a fiercer renewal of the fight, they saw some Vultures
waiting in the distance to feast on the one that should fall first. They at once
made up their quarrel, saying, "It is better for us to make friends, than to
become the food of Crows or Vultures."

The One-Eyed Doe

A Doe blind in one eye was accustomed to graze as near to the edge of the cliff
as she possibly could, in the hope of securing her greater safety. She turned her
sound eye towards the land that she might get the earliest tidings of the
approach of hunter or hound, and her injured eye towards the sea, from whence
she entertained no anticipation of danger. Some boatmen sailing by saw her,
and taking a successful aim, mortally wounded her. Yielding up her last breath,
she gasped forth this lament: "O wretched creature that I am! to take such
precaution against the land, and after all to find this seashore, to which I had
come for safety, so much more perilous."

The Shepherd and the Sea

A Shepherd, keeping watch over his sheep near the shore, saw the Sea very
calm and smooth, and longed to make a voyage with a view to commerce. He
sold all his flock, invested it in a cargo of dates, and set sail. But a very great
tempest came on, and the ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all his
merchandise overboard, and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship. Not
long afterwards when someone passed by and observed the unruffled calm of
the Sea, he interrupted him and said, "It is again in want of dates, and therefore
looks quiet."

The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion

An Ass and a Cock were in a straw-yard together when a Lion, desperate from
hunger, approached the spot. He was about to spring upon the Ass, when the
Cock (to the sound of whose voice the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion)
crowed loudly, and the Lion fled away as fast as he could. The Ass, observing
his trepidation at the mere crowing of a Cock summoned courage to attack him,
and galloped after him for that purpose. He had run no long distance, when the
Lion, turning about, seized him and tore him to pieces.

False confidence often leads into danger.

The Mice and the Weasels

The Weasels and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, in which
much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the victors. The Mice thought
that the cause of their frequent defeats was that they had no leaders set apart
from the general army to command them, and that they were exposed to
dangers from lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that were
most renowned for their family descent, strength, and counsel, as well as those
most noted for their courage in the fight, so that they might be better marshaled
in battle array and formed into troops, regiments, and battalions. When all this
was done, and the army disciplined, and the herald Mouse had duly proclaimed
war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen generals bound their heads
with straws, that they might be more conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely
had the battle begun, when a great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered
off as fast as they could to their holes. The generals, not being able to get in on
account of the ornaments on their heads, were all captured and eaten by the
Weasels.
The more honor the more danger.
 

The Mice in Council

The Mice summoned a council to decide how they might best devise means of
warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy the Cat. Among the
many plans suggested, the one that found most favor was the proposal to tie a
bell to the neck of the Cat, so that the Mice, being warned by the sound of the
tinkling, might run away and hide themselves in their holes at his approach. But
when the Mice further debated who among them should thus "bell the Cat,"
there was no one found to do it.

The Wolf and the Housedog

A Wolf, meeting a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about his neck
asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet compelled him to drag that
heavy log about wherever he went. "The master," he replied. Then said the
Wolf: "May no friend of mine ever be in such a plight; for the weight of this
chain is enough to spoil the appetite."

The Rivers and the Sea

The Rivers joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, "Why is it that when
we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such a change,
and make us salty and unfit to drink?" The Sea, perceiving that they intended to
throw the blame on him, said, "Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will
not be made briny."

The Playful Ass

An Ass climbed up to the roof of a building, and frisking about there, broke in
the tiling. The owner went up after him and quickly drove him down, beating
him severely with a thick wooden cudgel. The Ass said, "Why, I saw the
Monkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if it
afforded you very great amusement."

The Three Tradesmen

A great city was besieged, and its inhabitants were called together to consider
the best means of protecting it from the enemy. A Bricklayer earnestly
recommended bricks as affording the best material for an effective resistance.
A Carpenter, with equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as a preferable method of
defense. Upon which a Currier stood up and said, "Sirs, I differ from you
altogether: there is no material for resistance equal to a covering of hides; and
nothing so good as leather."

Every man for himself.

The Master and His Dogs

A certain man, detained by a storm in his country house, first of all killed his
sheep, and then his goats, for the maintenance of his household. The storm still
continuing, he was obliged to slaughter his yoke oxen for food. On seeing this,
his Dogs took counsel together, and said, "It is time for us to be off, for if the
master spare not his oxen, who work for his gain, how can we expect him to
spare us?'

He is not to be trusted as a friend who mistreats his own family.

The Wolf and the Shepherds

A Wolf, passing by, saw some Shepherds in a hut eating a haunch of mutton for
their dinner. Approaching them, he said, "What a clamor you would raise if I
were to do as you are doing!"
 
The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Sprat
The Dolphins and Whales waged a fierce war with each other. When the battle
was at its height, a Sprat lifted its head out of the waves and said that he would
reconcile their differences if they would accept him as an umpire. One of the
Dolphins replied, "We would far rather be destroyed in our battle with each
other than admit any interference from you in our affairs."
 

The Ass Carrying the Image

An Ass once carried through the streets of a city a famous wooden Image, to be
placed in one of its Temples. As he passed along, the crowd made lowly
prostration before the Image. The Ass, thinking that they bowed their heads in
token of respect for himself, bristled up with pride, gave himself airs, and
refused to move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid his whip
lustily about his shoulders and said, "O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet
come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass."

They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due to others.

The Two Travelers and the Axe

Two men were journeying together. One of them picked up an axe that lay
upon the path, and said, "I have found an axe." "Nay, my friend," replied the
other, "do not say 'I,' but 'We' have found an axe." They had not gone far before
they saw the owner of the axe pursuing them, and he who had picked up the
axe said, "We are undone." "Nay," replied the other, "keep to your first mode of
speech, my friend; what you thought right then, think right now. Say 'I,' not
'We' are undone."

He who shares the danger ought to share the prize.

 

The Old Lion

A Lion, worn out with years and powerless from disease, lay on the ground at
the point of death. A Boar rushed upon him, and avenged with a stroke of his
tusks a long-remembered injury. Shortly afterwards the Bull with his horns
gored him as if he were an enemy. When the Ass saw that the huge beast could
be assailed with impunity, he let drive at his forehead with his heels. The
expiring Lion said, "I have reluctantly brooked the insults of the brave, but to
be compelled to endure such treatment from thee, a disgrace to Nature, is
indeed to die a double death."

The Old Hound

A Hound, who in the days of his youth and strength had never yielded to any
beast of the forest, encountered in his old age a boar in the chase. He seized
him boldly by the ear, but could not retain his hold because of the decay of his
teeth, so that the boar escaped. His master, quickly coming up, was very much
disappointed, and fiercely abused the dog. The Hound looked up and said, "It
was not my fault. master: my spirit was as good as ever, but I could not help
my infirmities. I rather deserve to be praised for what I have been, than to be
blamed for what I am."

The Bee and Jupiter

A Bee from Mount Hymettus, the queen of the hive, ascended to Olympus to
present Jupiter some honey fresh from her combs. Jupiter, delighted with the
offering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She therefore
besought him, saying, "Give me, I pray thee, a sting, that if any mortal shall
approach to take my honey, I may kill him." Jupiter was much displeased, for
he loved the race of man, but could not refuse the request because of his
promise. He thus answered the Bee: "You shall have your request, but it will be
at the peril of your own life. For if you use your sting, it shall remain in the
wound you make, and then you will die from the loss of it."

Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost.

The Milk-Woman and Her Pail
A farmer's daughter was carrying her Pail of milk from the field to the
farmhouse, when she fell a-musing. "The money for which this milk will be
sold, will buy at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps,
will produce two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready
for the market when poultry will fetch the highest price, so that by the end of
the year I shall have money enough from my share to buy a new gown. In this
dress I will go to the Christmas parties, where all the young fellows will
propose to me, but I will toss my head and refuse them every one." At this
moment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fell the
milk pail to the ground, and all her imaginary schemes perished in a moment.

The Seaside Travelers

Some Travelers, journeying along the seashore, climbed to the summit of a tall
cliff, and looking over the sea, saw in the distance what they thought was a
large ship. They waited in the hope of seeing it enter the harbor, but as the
object on which they looked was driven nearer to shore by the wind, they found
that it could at the most be a small boat, and not a ship. When however it
reached the beach, they discovered that it was only a large faggot of sticks, and
one of them said to his companions, "We have waited for no purpose, for after
all there is nothing to see but a load of wood."

Our mere anticipations of life outrun its realities.

The Brazier and His Dog

A Brazier had a little Dog, which was a great favorite with his master, and his
constant companion. While he hammered away at his metals the Dog slept; but
when, on the other hand, he went to dinner and began to eat, the Dog woke up
and wagged his tail, as if he would ask for a share of his meal. His master one
day, pretending to be angry and shaking his stick at him, said, "You wretched
little sluggard! what shall I do to you? While I am hammering on the anvil, you
sleep on the mat; and when I begin to eat after my toil, you wake up and wag
your tail for food. Do you not know that labor is the source of every blessing,
and that none but those who work are entitled to eat?'

The Ass and His Shadow

A Traveler hired an Ass to convey him to a distant place. The day being
intensely hot, and the sun shining in its strength, the Traveler stopped to rest,
and sought shelter from the heat under the Shadow of the Ass. As this afforded
only protection for one, and as the Traveler and the owner of the Ass both
claimed it, a violent dispute arose between them as to which of them had the
right to the Shadow. The owner maintained that he had let the Ass only, and not
his Shadow. The Traveler asserted that he had, with the hire of the Ass, hired
his Shadow also. The quarrel proceeded from words to blows, and while the
men fought, the Ass galloped off.

In quarreling about the shadow we often lose the substance.

The Ass and His Masters

An Ass, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much
work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and
provided with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent
his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding
that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he
petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it would be the
last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.
The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master's
occupation, said, groaning: "It would have been better for me to have been
either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my
former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even
after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him."
 

The Oak and the Reeds

A very large Oak was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream. It fell
among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: "I wonder how you, who are so
light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds." They replied,
"You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed;
while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, and therefore
remain unbroken, and escape."

Stoop to conquer.

The Fisherman and the Little Fish

A Fisherman who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single
small Fish as the result of his day's labor. The Fish, panting convulsively, thus
entreated for his life: "O Sir, what good can I be to you, and how little am I
worth? I am not yet come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back
into the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and
then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me." The
Fisherman replied, "I should indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance
of a greater uncertain profit, I were to forego my present certain gain."

The Hunter and the Woodman

A Hunter, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. He asked a
man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any marks of his footsteps or knew
where his lair was. "I will," said the man, "at once show you the Lion himself."
The Hunter, turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear, replied,
"No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his track only I am in search of, not the
Lion himself."

The hero is brave in deeds as well as words.

The Wild Boar and the Fox

A Wild Boar stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk. A Fox
passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no
danger threatening from either huntsman or hound. He replied, "I do it
advisedly; for it would never do to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time
I ought to be using them."

The Lion in a Farmyard

A Lion entered a farmyard. The Farmer, wishing to catch him, shut the gate.
When the Lion found that he could not escape, he flew upon the sheep and
killed them, and then attacked the oxen. The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed
for his own safety, opened the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the
Farmer grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but his wife,
who had been a spectator to all that took place, said, "On my word, you are
rightly served, for how could you for a moment think of shutting up a Lion
along with you in your farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes
if you only hear his roar at a distance?' Mercury and the Sculptor

Mercury once determined to learn in what esteem he was held among mortals.
For this purpose he assumed the character of a man and visited in this disguise
a Sculptor's studio having looked at various statues, he demanded the price of
two figures of Jupiter and Juno. When the sum at which they were valued was
named, he pointed to a figure of himself, saying to the Sculptor, "You will
certainly want much more for this, as it is the statue of the Messenger of the
Gods, and author of all your gain." The Sculptor replied, "Well, if you will buy
these, I'll fling you that into the bargain."

The Swan and the Goose

A certain rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He fed the one
for his table and kept the other for the sake of its song. When the time came for
killing the Goose, the cook went to get him at night, when it was dark, and he
was not able to distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the
Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatened with death, burst forth into
song and thus made himself known by his voice, and preserved his life by his
melody.
The Swollen Fox
A very hungry Fox, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds in the
hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty meal. When he
finished, he was so full that he was not able to get out, and began to groan and
lament his fate. Another Fox passing by heard his cries, and coming up,
inquired the cause of his complaining. On learning what had happened, he said
to him, "Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become such as
you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get out."

The Fox and the Woodcutter

A Fox, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter felling an oak
and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Woodcutter advised him
to take shelter in his own hut, so the Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner.
The huntsman soon came up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if
he had seen the Fox. He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all
the time he was speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hidden. The huntsman
took no notice of the signs, but believing his word, hastened forward in the
chase. As soon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any
notice of the Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him,
saying, "You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you leave me
without a word of thanks." The Fox replied, "Indeed, I should have thanked you
fervently if your deeds had been as good as your words, and if your hands had
not been traitors to your speech."

The Birdcatcher, the Partridge, and the Cock

A Birdcatcher was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs when a friend
unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quite empty, as he had caught
nothing, and he had to kill a pied Partridge, which he had tamed for a decoy.
The bird entreated earnestly for his life: "What would you do without me when
next you spread your nets? Who would chirp you to sleep, or call for you the
covey of answering birds?' The Birdcatcher spared his life, and determined to
pick out a fine young Cock just attaining to his comb. But the Cock
expostulated in piteous tones from his perch: "If you kill me, who will
announce to you the appearance of the dawn? Who will wake you to your daily
tasks or tell you when it is time to visit the bird-trap in the morning?' He
replied, "What you say is true. You are a capital bird at telling the time of day.
But my friend and I must have our dinners."

Necessity knows no law.

The Monkey and the Fishermen

A Monkey perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermen casting their nets
into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. The Fishermen after a
while gave up fishing, and on going home to dinner left their nets upon the
bank. The Monkey, who is the most imitative of animals, descended from the
treetop and endeavored to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he
threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and drowned. With his
last breath he said to himself, "I am rightly served; for what business had I who
had never handled a net to try and catch fish?'
 

The Flea and the Wrestler

A Flea settled upon the bare foot of a Wrestler and bit him, causing the man to
call loudly upon Hercules for help. When the Flea a second time hopped upon
his foot, he groaned and said, "O Hercules! if you will not help me against a
Flea, how can I hope for your assistance against greater antagonists?'

The Two Frogs

Two Frogs dwelt in the same pool. When the pool dried up under the summer's
heat, they left it and set out together for another home. As they went along they
chanced to pass a deep well, amply supplied with water, and when they saw it,
one of the Frogs said to the other, "Let us descend and make our abode in this
well: it will furnish us with shelter and food." The other replied with greater
caution, "But suppose the water should fail us. How can we get out again from
so great a depth?'

Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.

 

The Cat and the Mice

A certain house was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, made her way
into it and began to catch and eat them one by one. Fearing for their lives, the
Mice kept themselves close in their holes. The Cat was no longer able to get at
them and perceived that she must tempt them forth by some device. For this
purpose she jumped upon a peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended to be
dead. One of the Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and said, "Ah, my good
madam, even though you should turn into a meal-bag, we will not come near
you."
 

The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox

A Lion and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, and fought fiercely for its
possession. When they had fearfully lacerated each other and were faint from
the long combat, they lay down exhausted with fatigue. A Fox, who had gone
round them at a distance several times, saw them both stretched on the ground
with the Kid lying untouched in the middle. He ran in between them, and
seizing the Kid scampered off as fast as he could. The Lion and the Bear saw
him, but not being able to get up, said, "Woe be to us, that we should have
fought and belabored ourselves only to serve the turn of a Fox."

It sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another all the profit.

The Doe and the Lion

A Doe hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a Lion.
The Lion concealed himself on seeing her approach, but when she was safe
within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to pieces. "Woe is me,"
exclaimed the Doe, "who have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the
mouth of a wild beast?'

In avoiding one evil, care must be taken not to fall into another.

The Farmer and the Fox

A Farmer, who bore a grudge against a Fox for robbing his poultry yard, caught
him at last, and being determined to take an ample revenge, tied some rope well
soaked in oil to his tail, and set it on fire. The Fox by a strange fatality rushed
to the fields of the Farmer who had captured him. It was the time of the wheat
harvest; but the Farmer reaped nothing that year and returned home grieving
sorely.

The Seagull and the Kite

A Seagull having bolted down too large a fish, burst its deep gullet-bag and lay
down on the shore to die. A Kite saw him and exclaimed: "You richly deserve
your fate; for a bird of the air has no business to seek its food from the sea."

Every man should be content to mind his own business.

 

The Philosopher, the Ants, and Mercury

A Philosopher witnessed from the shore the shipwreck of a vessel, of which the
crew and passengers were all drowned. He inveighed against the injustice of
Providence, which would for the sake of one criminal perchance sailing in the
ship allow so many innocent persons to perish. As he was indulging in these
reflections, he found himself surrounded by a whole army of Ants, near whose
nest he was standing. One of them climbed up and stung him, and he
immediately trampled them all to death with his foot. Mercury presented
himself, and striking the Philosopher with his wand, said, "And are you indeed
to make yourself a judge of the dealings of Providence, who hast thyself in a
similar manner treated these poor Ants?'
 

The Mouse and the Bull

A Bull was bitten by a Mouse and, angered by the wound, tried to capture him.
But the Mouse reached his hole in safety. Though the Bull dug into the walls
with his horns, he tired before he could rout out the Mouse, and crouching
down, went to sleep outside the hole. The Mouse peeped out, crept furtively up
his flank, and again biting him, retreated to his hole. The Bull rising up, and not
knowing what to do, was sadly perplexed. At which the Mouse said, "The great
do not always prevail. There are times when the small and lowly are the
strongest to do mischief."
 

The Lion and the Hare

A Lion came across a Hare, who was fast asleep. He was just in the act of
seizing her, when a fine young Hart trotted by, and he left the Hare to follow
him. The Hare, scared by the noise, awoke and scudded away. The Lion was
unable after a long chase to catch the Hart, and returned to feed upon the Hare.
On finding that the Hare also had run off, he said, "I am rightly served, for
having let go of the food that I had in my hand for the chance of obtaining
more."
 

The Peasant and the Eagle

A Peasant found an Eagle captured in a trap, and much admiring the bird, set
him free. The Eagle did not prove ungrateful to his deliverer, for seeing the
Peasant sitting under a wall which was not safe, he flew toward him and with
his talons snatched a bundle from his head. When the Peasant rose in pursuit,
the Eagle let the bundle fall again. Taking it up, the man returned to the same
place, to find that the wall under which he had been sitting had fallen to pieces;
and he marveled at the service rendered him by the Eagle.
The Image of Mercury and the Carpenter
A very poor man, a Carpenter by trade, had a wooden image of Mercury,
before which he made offerings day by day, and begged the idol to make him
rich, but in spite of his entreaties he became poorer and poorer. At last, being
very angry, he took his image down from its pedestal and dashed it against the
wall. When its head was knocked off, out came a stream of gold, which the
Carpenter quickly picked up and said, "Well, I think thou art altogether
contradictory and unreasonable; for when I paid you honor, I reaped no
benefits: but now that I maltreat you I am loaded with an abundance of riches."

The Bull and the Goat

A Bull, escaping from a Lion, hid in a cave which some shepherds had recently
occupied. As soon as he entered, a He-Goat left in the cave sharply attacked
him with his horns. The Bull quietly addressed him: "Butt away as much as you
will. I have no fear of you, but of the Lion. Let that monster go away and I will
soon let you know what is the respective strength of a Goat and a Bull."

It shows an evil disposition to take advantage of a friend in distress.

The Dancing Monkeys

A Prince had some Monkeys trained to dance. Being naturally great mimics of
men's actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in
their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers. The
spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a
courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw
them upon the stage. The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing
and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors. Pulling off their
masks and tearing their robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The
dancing spectacle thus came to an end amidst the laughter and ridicule of the
audience.
The Fox and the Leopard
The Fox and the Leopard disputed which was the more beautiful of the two.
The Leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which decorated his skin.
But the Fox, interrupting him, said, "And how much more beautiful than you
am I, who am decorated, not in body, but in mind."
 

The Monkeys and Their Mother

The Monkey, it is said, has two young ones at each birth. The Mother fondles
one and nurtures it with the greatest affection and care, but hates and neglects
the other. It happened once that the young one which was caressed and loved
was smothered by the too great affection of the Mother, while the despised one
was nurtured and reared in spite of the neglect to which it was exposed.

The best intentions will not always ensure success.

The Oaks and Jupiter

The Oaks presented a complaint to Jupiter, saying, "We bear for no purpose the
burden of life, as of all the trees that grow we are the most continually in peril
of the axe." Jupiter made answer: "You have only to thank yourselves for the
misfortunes to which you are exposed: for if you did not make such excellent
pillars and posts, and prove yourselves so serviceable to the carpenters and the
farmers, the axe would not so frequently be laid to your roots."

The Hare and the Hound

A Hound started a Hare from his lair, but after a long run, gave up the chase. A
goat-herd seeing him stop, mocked him, saying "The little one is the best
runner of the two." The Hound replied, "You do not see the difference between
us: I was only running for a dinner, but he for his life."
The Traveler and Fortune
A Traveler wearied from a long journey lay down, overcome with fatigue, on
the very brink of a deep well. Just as he was about to fall into the water, Dame
Fortune, it is said, appeared to him and waking him from his slumber thus
addressed him: "Good Sir, pray wake up: for if you fall into the well, the blame
will be thrown on me, and I shall get an ill name among mortals; for I find that
men are sure to impute their calamities to me, however much by their own folly
they have really brought them on themselves."

Everyone is more or less master of his own fate.

The Bald Knight

A Bald Knight, who wore a wig, went out to hunt. A sudden puff of wind blew
off his hat and wig, at which a loud laugh rang forth from his companions. He
pulled up his horse, and with great glee joined in the joke by saying, "What a
marvel it is that hairs which are not mine should fly from me, when they have
forsaken even the man on whose head they grew."
 

The Shepherd and the Dog

A Shepherd penning his sheep in the fold for the night was about to shut up a
wolf with them, when his Dog perceiving the wolf said, "Master, how can you
expect the sheep to be safe if you admit a wolf into the fold?'
 

The Lamp
A Lamp, soaked with too much oil and flaring brightly, boasted that it gave
more light than the sun. Then a sudden puff of wind arose, and the Lamp was
immediately extinguished. Its owner lit it again, and said: "Boast no more, but
henceforth be content to give thy light in silence. Know that not even the stars
need to be relit"

The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass

The Lion, the Fox and the Ass entered into an agreement to assist each other in
the chase. Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their return from the forest
asked the Ass to allot his due portion to each of the three partners in the treaty.
The Ass carefully divided the spoil into three equal shares and modestly
requested the two others to make the first choice. The Lion, bursting out into a
great rage, devoured the Ass. Then he requested the Fox to do him the favor to
make a division. The Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one large
heap and left to himself the smallest possible morsel. The Lion said, "Who has
taught you, my very excellent fellow, the art of division? You are perfect to a
fraction." He replied, "I learned it from the Ass, by witnessing his fate."

Happy is the man who learns from the misfortunes of others.

The Bull, the Lioness, and the Wild-Boar Hunter

A Bull finding a lion's cub asleep gored him to death with his horns. The
Lioness came up, and bitterly lamented the death of her whelp. A wild-boar
Hunter, seeing her distress, stood at a distance and said to her, "Think how
many men there are who have reason to lament the loss of their children, whose
deaths have been caused by you."

The Oak and the Woodcutter

The Woodcutter cut down a Mountain Oak and split it in pieces, making
wedges of its own branches for dividing the trunk. The Oak said with a sigh, "I
do not care about the blows of the axe aimed at my roots, but I do grieve at
being torn in pieces by these wedges made from my own branches."

Misfortunes springing from ourselves are the hardest to bear.

The Hen and the Golden Eggs
A cottager and his wife had a Hen that laid a golden egg every day. They
supposed that the Hen must contain a great lump of gold in its inside, and in
order to get the gold they killed it. Having done so, they found to their surprise
that the Hen differed in no respect from their other hens. The foolish pair, thus
hoping to become rich all at once, deprived themselves of the gain of which
they were assured day by day.
 

The Ass and the Frogs

An Ass, carrying a load of wood, passed through a pond. As he was crossing
through the water he lost his footing, stumbled and fell, and not being able to
rise on account of his load, groaned heavily. Some Frogs frequenting the pool
heard his lamentation, and said, "What would you do if you had to live here
always as we do, when you make such a fuss about a mere fall into the water?"

Men often bear little grievances with less courage than they do large
misfortunes.

The Crow and the Raven

A Crow was jealous of the Raven, because he was considered a bird of good
omen and always attracted the attention of men, who noted by his flight the
good or evil course of future events. Seeing some travelers approaching, the
Crow flew up into a tree, and perching herself on one of the branches, cawed as
loudly as she could. The travelers turned towards the sound and wondered what
it foreboded, when one of them said to his companion, "Let us proceed on our
journey, my friend, for it is only the caw of a crow, and her cry, you know, is
no omen."

Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, only make
themselves ridiculous.
 
The Trees and the Axe
A man came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his
axe. The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree. No
sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use
it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest. An old
oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a
neighboring cedar, "The first step has lost us all. If we had not given up the
rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood
for ages."
 

The Crab and the Fox

A Crab, forsaking the seashore, chose a neighboring green meadow as its
feeding ground. A Fox came across him, and being very hungry ate him up.
Just as he was on the point of being eaten, the Crab said, "I well deserve my
fate, for what business had I on the land, when by my nature and habits I am
only adapted for the sea?'

Contentment with our lot is an element of happiness.

The Woman and Her Hen

A Woman possessed a Hen that gave her an egg every day. She often pondered
how she might obtain two eggs daily instead of one, and at last, to gain her
purpose, determined to give the Hen a double allowance of barley. From that
day the Hen became fat and sleek, and never once laid another egg.

The Ass and the Old Shepherd

A Shepherd, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all of a
sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to fly with him, lest
they should both be captured, but the animal lazily replied, "Why should I,
pray? Do you think it likely the conqueror will place on me two sets of
panniers?' "No," rejoined the Shepherd. "Then," said the Ass, "as long as I
carry the panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?'

In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their
master.

The Kites and the Swans

The Kites of olden times, as well as the Swans, had the privilege of song. But
having heard the neigh of the horse, they were so enchanted with the sound,
that they tried to imitate it; and, in trying to neigh, they forgot how to sing.

The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss of present blessings.

The Wolves and the Sheepdogs

The Wolves thus addressed the Sheepdogs: "Why should you, who are like us
in so many things, not be entirely of one mind with us, and live with us as
brothers should? We differ from you in one point only. We live in freedom, but
you bow down to and slave for men, who in return for your services flog you
with whips and put collars on your necks. They make you also guard their
sheep, and while they eat the mutton throw only the bones to you. If you will be
persuaded by us, you will give us the sheep, and we will enjoy them in
common, till we all are surfeited." The Dogs listened favorably to these
proposals, and, entering the den of the Wolves, they were set upon and torn to
pieces.
 

The Hares and the Foxes

The Hares waged war with the Eagles, and called upon the Foxes to help them.
They replied, "We would willingly have helped you, if we had not known who
you were, and with whom you were fighting."
Count the cost before you commit yourselves.

The Bowman and Lion

A very skillful Bowman went to the mountains in search of game, but all the
beasts of the forest fled at his approach. The Lion alone challenged him to
combat. The Bowman immediately shot out an arrow and said to the Lion: "I
send thee my messenger, that from him thou mayest learn what I myself shall
be when I assail thee." The wounded Lion rushed away in great fear, and when
a Fox who had seen it all happen told him to be of good courage and not to
back off at the first attack he replied: "You counsel me in vain; for if he sends
so fearful a messenger, how shall I abide the attack of the man himself?'

Be on guard against men who can strike from a distance.

The Camel
When man first saw the Camel, he was so frightened at his vast size that he ran
away. After a time, perceiving the meekness and gentleness of the beast's
temper, he summoned courage enough to approach him. Soon afterwards,
observing that he was an animal altogether deficient in spirit, he assumed such
boldness as to put a bridle in his mouth, and to let a child drive him.

Use serves to overcome dread.

The Wasp and the Snake

A Wasp seated himself upon the head of a Snake and, striking him unceasingly
with his stings, wounded him to death. The Snake, being in great torment and
not knowing how to rid himself of his enemy, saw a wagon heavily laden with
wood, and went and purposely placed his head under the wheels, saying, "At
least my enemy and I shall perish together."
The Dog and the Hare
A Hound having started a Hare on the hillside pursued her for some distance, at
one time biting her with his teeth as if he would take her life, and at another
fawning upon her, as if in play with another dog. The Hare said to him, "I wish
you would act sincerely by me, and show yourself in your true colors. If you
are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on
me?'

No one can be a friend if you know not whether to trust or distrust him.

The Bull and the Calf

A Bull was striving with all his might to squeeze himself through a narrow
passage which led to his stall. A young Calf came up, and offered to go before
and show him the way by which he could manage to pass. "Save yourself the
trouble," said the Bull; "I knew that way long before you were born."

The Stag, the Wolf, and the Sheep

A Stag asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, and said that the Wolf
would be his surety. The Sheep, fearing some fraud was intended, excused
herself, saying, "The Wolf is accustomed to seize what he wants and to run off;
and you, too, can quickly outstrip me in your rapid flight. How then shall I be
able to find you, when the day of payment comes?'

Two blacks do not make one white.

The Peacock and the Crane

A Peacock spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane that passed by,
ridiculing the ashen hue of its plumage and saying, "I am robed, like a king, in
gold and purple and all the colors of the rainbow; while you have not a bit of
color on your wings." "True," replied the Crane; "but I soar to the heights of
heaven and lift up my voice to the stars, while you walk below, like a cock,
among the birds of the dunghill."

Fine feathers don't make fine birds.

The Fox and the Hedgehog

A Fox swimming across a rapid river was carried by the force of the current
into a very deep ravine, where he lay for a long time very much bruised, sick,
and unable to move. A swarm of hungry blood-sucking flies settled upon him.
A Hedgehog, passing by, saw his anguish and inquired if he should drive away
the flies that were tormenting him. "By no means," replied the Fox; "pray do
not molest them." "How is this?' said the Hedgehog; "do you not want to be rid
of them?' "No," returned the Fox, "for these flies which you see are full of
blood, and sting me but little, and if you rid me of these which are already
satiated, others more hungry will come in their place, and will drink up all the
blood I have left."

The Eagle, the Cat, and the Wild Sow

An Eagle made her nest at the top of a lofty oak; a Cat, having found a
convenient hole, moved into the middle of the trunk; and a Wild Sow, with her
young, took shelter in a hollow at its foot. The Cat cunningly resolved to
destroy this chance-made colony. To carry out her design, she climbed to the
nest of the Eagle, and said, "Destruction is preparing for you, and for me too,
unfortunately. The Wild Sow, whom you see daily digging up the earth, wishes
to uproot the oak, so she may on its fall seize our families as food for her
young." Having thus frightened the Eagle out of her senses, she crept down to
the cave of the Sow, and said, "Your children are in great danger; for as soon as
you go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared to pounce upon
one of your little pigs." Having instilled these fears into the Sow, she went and
pretended to hide herself in the hollow of the tree. When night came she went
forth with silent foot and obtained food for herself and her kittens, but feigning
to be afraid, she kept a lookout all through the day. Meanwhile, the Eagle, full
of fear of the Sow, sat still on the branches, and the Sow, terrified by the Eagle,
did not dare to go out from her cave. And thus they both, along with their
families, perished from hunger, and afforded ample provision for the Cat and
her kittens.

The Thief and the Innkeeper

A Thief hired a room in a tavern and stayed a while in the hope of stealing
something which should enable him to pay his reckoning. When he had waited
some days in vain, he saw the Innkeeper dressed in a new and handsome coat
and sitting before his door. The Thief sat down beside him and talked with him.
As the conversation began to flag, the Thief yawned terribly and at the same
time howled like a wolf. The Innkeeper said, "Why do you howl so fearfully?'
"I will tell you," said the Thief, "but first let me ask you to hold my clothes, or I
shall tear them to pieces. I know not, sir, when I got this habit of yawning, nor
whether these attacks of howling were inflicted on me as a judgment for my
crimes, or for any other cause; but this I do know, that when I yawn for the
third time, I actually turn into a wolf and attack men." With this speech he
commenced a second fit of yawning and again howled like a wolf, as he had at
first. The Innkeeper. hearing his tale and believing what he said, became
greatly alarmed and, rising from his seat, attempted to run away. The Thief laid
hold of his coat and entreated him to stop, saying, "Pray wait, sir, and hold my
clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces in my fury, when I turn into a wolf." At
the same moment he yawned the third time and set up a terrible howl. The
Innkeeper, frightened lest he should be attacked, left his new coat in the Thief's
hand and ran as fast as he could into the inn for safety. The Thief made off with
the coat and did not return again to the inn.

Every tale is not to be believed.

The Mule
A Mule, frolicsome from lack of work and from too much corn, galloped about
in a very extravagant manner, and said to himself: "My father surely was a
high-mettled racer, and I am his own child in speed and spirit." On the next
day, being driven a long journey, and feeling very wearied, he exclaimed in a
disconsolate tone: "I must have made a mistake; my father, after all, could have
been only an ass."
The Hart and the Vine
A Hart, hard pressed in the chase, hid himself beneath the large leaves of a
Vine. The huntsmen, in their haste, overshot the place of his concealment.
Supposing all danger to have passed, the Hart began to nibble the tendrils of the
Vine. One of the huntsmen, attracted by the rustling of the leaves, looked back,
and seeing the Hart, shot an arrow from his bow and struck it. The Hart, at the
point of death, groaned: "I am rightly served, for I should not have maltreated
the Vine that saved me."

The Serpent and the Eagle

A Serpent and an Eagle were struggling with each other in deadly conflict. The
Serpent had the advantage, and was about to strangle the bird. A countryman
saw them, and running up, loosed the coil of the Serpent and let the Eagle go
free. The Serpent, irritated at the escape of his prey, injected his poison into the
drinking horn of the countryman. The rustic, ignorant of his danger, was about
to drink, when the Eagle struck his hand with his wing, and, seizing the
drinking horn in his talons, carried it aloft.

The Crow and the Pitcher

A Crow perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it
with delight. When he reached it, he discovered to his grief that it contained so
little water that he could not possibly get at it. He tried everything he could
think of to reach the water, but all his efforts were in vain. At last he collected
as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with his beak
into the pitcher, until he brought the water within his reach and thus saved his
life.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Two Frogs
Two Frogs were neighbors. One inhabited a deep pond, far removed from
public view; the other lived in a gully containing little water, and traversed by a
country road. The Frog that lived in the pond warned his friend to change his
residence and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that he would
enjoy greater safety from danger and more abundant food. The other refused,
saying that he felt it so very hard to leave a place to which he had become
accustomed. A few days afterwards a heavy wagon passed through the gully
and crushed him to death under its wheels.

A willful man will have his way to his own hurt.

The Wolf and the Fox

At one time a very large and strong Wolf was born among the wolves, who
exceeded all his fellow-wolves in strength, size, and swiftness, so that they
unanimously decided to call him "Lion." The Wolf, with a lack of sense
proportioned to his enormous size, thought that they gave him this name in
earnest, and, leaving his own race, consorted exclusively with the lions. An old
sly Fox, seeing this, said, "May I never make myself so ridiculous as you do in
your pride and self-conceit; for even though you have the size of a lion among
wolves, in a herd of lions you are definitely a wolf."
 

The Walnut-Tree
A Walnut-Tree standing by the roadside bore an abundant crop of fruit. For the
sake of the nuts, the passers-by broke its branches with stones and sticks. The
Walnut-Tree piteously exclaimed, "O wretched me! that those whom I cheer
with my fruit should repay me with these painful requitals!"
 

The Gnat and the Lion

A Gnat came and said to a Lion, "I do not in the least fear you, nor are you
stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You can scratch
with your claws and bite with your teeth an a woman in her quarrels. I repeat
that I am altogether more powerful than you; and if you doubt it, let us fight
and see who will conquer." The Gnat, having sounded his horn, fastened
himself upon the Lion and stung him on the nostrils and the parts of the face
devoid of hair. While trying to crush him, the Lion tore himself with his claws,
until he punished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over the Lion, and,
buzzing about in a song of triumph, flew away. But shortly afterwards he
became entangled in the meshes of a cobweb and was eaten by a spider. He
greatly lamented his fate, saying, "Woe is me! that I, who can wage war
successfully with the hugest beasts, should perish myself from this spider, the
most inconsiderable of insects!"
 

The Monkey and the Dolphin

A Sailor, bound on a long voyage, took with him a Monkey to amuse him while
on shipboard. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violent tempest arose in
which the ship was wrecked and he, his Monkey, and all the crew were obliged
to swim for their lives. A Dolphin saw the Monkey contending with the waves,
and supposing him to be a man (whom he is always said to befriend), came and
placed himself under him, to convey him on his back in safety to the shore.
When the Dolphin arrived with his burden in sight of land not far from Athens,
he asked the Monkey if he were an Athenian. The latter replied that he was, and
that he was descended from one of the most noble families in that city. The
Dolphin then inquired if he knew the Piraeus (the famous harbor of Athens).
Supposing that a man was meant, the Monkey answered that he knew him very
well and that he was an intimate friend. The Dolphin, indignant at these
falsehoods, dipped the Monkey under the water and drowned him.
 

The Jackdaw and the Doves

A Jackdaw, seeing some Doves in a cote abundantly provided with food,
painted himself white and joined them in order to share their plentiful
maintenance. The Doves, as long as he was silent, supposed him to be one of
themselves and admitted him to their cote. But when one day he forgot himself
and began to chatter, they discovered his true character and drove him forth,
pecking him with their beaks. Failing to obtain food among the Doves, he
returned to the Jackdaws. They too, not recognizing him on account of his
color. expelled him from living with them. So desiring two ends, he obtained
neither.
 

The Horse and the Stag

At one time the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stag intruded
into his domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself
on the stranger, asked a man if he were willing to help him in punishing the
Stag. The man replied that if the Horse would receive a bit in his mouth and
agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weapons against the Stag. The
Horse consented and allowed the man to mount him. From that hour he found
that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the
service of man.

The Kid and the Wolf

A Kid, returning without protection from the pasture, was pursued by a Wolf.
Seeing he could not escape, he turned round, and said: "I know, friend Wolf,
that I must be your prey, but before I die I would ask of you one favor you will
play me a tune to which I may dance." The Wolf complied, and while he was
piping and the Kid was dancing, some hounds hearing the sound ran up and
began chasing the Wolf. Turning to the Kid, he said, "It is just what I deserve;
for I, who am only a butcher, should not have turned piper to please you."

The Prophet
A Wizard, sitting in the marketplace, was telling the fortunes of the passers-by
when a person ran up in great haste, and announced to him that the doors of his
house had been broken open and that all his goods were being stolen. He sighed
heavily and hastened away as fast as he could run. A neighbor saw him running
and said, "Oh! you fellow there! you say you can foretell the fortunes of others;
how is it you did not foresee your own?'
The Fox and the Monkey
A Fox and a Monkey were traveling together on the same road. As they
journeyed, they passed through a cemetery full of monuments. "All these
monuments which you see," said the Monkey, "are erected in honor of my
ancestors, who were in their day freedmen and citizens of great renown." The
Fox replied, "You have chosen a most appropriate subject for your falsehoods,
as I am sure none of your ancestors will be able to contradict you."

A false tale often betrays itself.

The Thief and the Housedog

A Thief came in the night to break into a house. He brought with him several
slices of meat in order to pacify the Housedog, so that he would not alarm his
master by barking. As the Thief threw him the pieces of meat, the Dog said, "If
you think to stop my mouth, you will be greatly mistaken. This sudden
kindness at your hands will only make me more watchful, lest under these
unexpected favors to myself, you have some private ends to accomplish for
your own benefit, and for my master's injury."

The Man, the Horse, the Ox, and the Dog

A Horse, Ox, and Dog, driven to great straits by the cold, sought shelter and
protection from Man. He received them kindly, lighted a fire, and warmed
them. He let the Horse make free with his oats, gave the Ox an abundance of
hay, and fed the Dog with meat from his own table. Grateful for these favors,
the animals determined to repay him to the best of their ability. For this
purpose, they divided the term of his life between them, and each endowed one
portion of it with the qualities which chiefly characterized himself. The Horse
chose his earliest years and gave them his own attributes: hence every man is in
his youth impetuous, headstrong, and obstinate in maintaining his own opinion.
The Ox took under his patronage the next term of life, and therefore man in his
middle age is fond of work, devoted to labor, and resolute to amass wealth and
to husband his resources. The end of life was reserved for the Dog, wherefore
the old man is often snappish, irritable, hard to please, and selfish, tolerant only
of his own household, but averse to strangers and to all who do not administer
to his comfort or to his necessities.

The Apes and the Two Travelers

Two men, one who always spoke the truth and the other who told nothing but
lies, were traveling together and by chance came to the land of Apes. One of
the Apes, who had raised himself to be king, commanded them to be seized and
brought before him, that he might know what was said of him among men. He
ordered at the same time that all the Apes be arranged in a long row on his right
hand and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him, as was the custom
among men. After these preparations he signified that the two men should be
brought before him, and greeted them with this salutation: "What sort of a king
do I seem to you to be, O strangers?' The Lying Traveler replied, "You seem to
me a most mighty king." "And what is your estimate of those you see around
me?' "These," he made answer, "are worthy companions of yourself, fit at least
to be ambassadors and leaders of armies." The Ape and all his court, gratified
with the lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to the flatterer. On
this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, "If so great a reward be given for a
lie, with what gift may not I be rewarded, if, according to my custom, I tell the
truth?' The Ape quickly turned to him. "And pray how do I and these my
friends around me seem to you?' "Thou art," he said, "a most excellent Ape,
and all these thy companions after thy example are excellent Apes too." The
King of the Apes, enraged at hearing these truths, gave him over to the teeth
and claws of his companions.

The Wolf and the Shepherd

A Wolf followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt to injure
one of them. The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, as against an
enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements. But when the Wolf, day
after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort
to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock
rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day
into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge. The Wolf, now that he had
the opportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of the flock.
When the Shepherd returned to find his flock destroyed, he exclaimed: "I have
been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to a Wolf?'

The Hares and the Lions

The Hares harangued the assembly, and argued that all should be equal. The
Lions made this reply: "Your words, O Hares! are good; but they lack both
claws and teeth such as we have."
 

The Lark and Her Young Ones

A Lark had made her nest in the early spring on the young green wheat. The
brood had almost grown to their full strength and attained the use of their wings
and the full plumage of their feathers, when the owner of the field, looking over
his ripe crop, said, "The time has come when I must ask all my neighbors to
help me with my harvest." One of the young Larks heard his speech and related
it to his mother, inquiring of her to what place they should move for safety.
"There is no occasion to move yet, my son," she replied; "the man who only
sends to his friends to help him with his harvest is not really in earnest." The
owner of the field came again a few days later and saw the wheat shedding the
grain from excess of ripeness. He said, "I will come myself tomorrow with my
laborers, and with as many reapers as I can hire, and will get in the harvest."
The Lark on hearing these words said to her brood, "It is time now to be off,
my little ones, for the man is in earnest this time; he no longer trusts his friends,
but will reap the field himself."

Self-help is the best help.

The Fox and the Lion

When a Fox who had never yet seen a Lion, fell in with him by chance for the
first time in the forest, he was so frightened that he nearly died with fear. On
meeting him for the second time, he was still much alarmed, but not to the
same extent as at first. On seeing him the third time, he so increased in
boldness that he went up to him and commenced a familiar conversation with
him.

Acquaintance softens prejudices.

The Weasel and the Mice

A Weasel, inactive from age and infirmities, was not able to catch mice as he
once did. He therefore rolled himself in flour and lay down in a dark corner. A
Mouse, supposing him to be food, leaped upon him, and was instantly caught
and squeezed to death. Another perished in a similar manner, and then a third,
and still others after them. A very old Mouse, who had escaped many a trap and
snare, observed from a safe distance the trick of his crafty foe and said, "Ah!
you that lie there, may you prosper just in the same proportion as you are what
you pretend to be!"

The Boy Bathing

A boy bathing in a river was in danger of being drowned. He called out to a
passing traveler for help, but instead of holding out a helping hand, the man
stood by unconcernedly, and scolded the boy for his imprudence. "Oh, sir!"
cried the youth, "pray help me now and scold me afterwards."

Counsel without help is useless.

The Ass and the Wolf

An Ass feeding in a meadow saw a Wolf approaching to seize him, and
immediately pretended to be lame. The Wolf, coming up, inquired the cause of
his lameness. The Ass replied that passing through a hedge he had trod with his
foot upon a sharp thorn. He requested that the Wolf pull it out, lest when he ate
him it should injure his throat. The Wolf consented and lifted up the foot, and
was giving his whole mind to the discovery of the thorn, when the Ass, with his
heels, kicked his teeth into his mouth and galloped away. The Wolf, being thus
fearfully mauled, said, "I am rightly served, for why did I attempt the art of
healing, when my father only taught me the trade of a butcher?'

The Seller of Images

A certain man made a wooden image of Mercury and offered it for sale. When
no one appeared willing to buy it, in order to attract purchasers, he cried out
that he had the statue to sell of a benefactor who bestowed wealth and helped to
heap up riches. One of the bystanders said to him, "My good fellow, why do
you sell him, being such a one as you describe, when you may yourself enjoy
the good things he has to give?' "Why," he replied, "I am in need of immediate
help, and he is wont to give his good gifts very slowly."

The Fox and the Grapes

A famished Fox saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised
vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain,
for she could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her
disappointment and saying: "The Grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought."
 

The Man and His Wife

A Man had a Wife who made herself hated by all the members of his
household. Wishing to find out if she had the same effect on the persons in her
father's house, he made some excuse to send her home on a visit to her father.
After a short time she returned, and when he inquired how she had got on and
how the servants had treated her, she replied, "The herdsmen and shepherds
cast on me looks of aversion." He said, "O Wife, if you were disliked by those
who go out early in the morning with their flocks and return late in the evening,
what must have been felt towards you by those with whom you passed the
whole day!"

Straws show how the wind blows.

The Peacock and Juno
The Peacock made complaint to Juno that, while the nightingale pleased every
ear with his song, he himself no sooner opened his mouth than he became a
laughingstock to all who heard him. The Goddess, to console him, said, "But
you far excel in beauty and in size. The splendor of the emerald shines in your
neck and you unfold a tail gorgeous with painted plumage." "But for what
purpose have I," said the bird, "this dumb beauty so long as I am surpassed in
song?' "The lot of each," replied Juno, "has been assigned by the will of the
Fates--to thee, beauty; to the eagle, strength; to the nightingale, song; to the
raven, favorable, and to the crow, unfavorable auguries. These are all contented
with the endowments allotted to them."