The Project Gutenberg eBook of Æsop's Fables. (2024)

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aesop's Fables, by AesopThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and withalmost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away orre-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License includedwith this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.orgTitle: Aesop's Fables A New Revised Version From Original SourcesAuthor: AesopIllustrator: Harrison Weir, John Tenniel and Ernest GriestRelease Date: July 1, 2006 [EBook #18732]Language: EnglishCharacter set encoding: ISO-8859-1*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AESOP'S FABLES ***Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Karina Aleksandrovaand the Online Distributed Proofreading Team athttp://www.pgdp.net

A NEW REVISED VERSION

FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES

WITH UPWARDS OF 200 ILLUSTRATIONS

BY

HARRISON , JOHN TENNIEL, ERNEST GRISET

AND OTHERS

NEW YORK
FRANK F. LOVELL & COMPANY
142 and 144 Worth Street

Copyright, 1884,
By R. WORTHINGTON.

LIFE OF ÆSOP.

The Life and History of Æsop is involved, like that of Homer, the mostfamous of Greek poets, in much obscurity. Sardis, the capital of Lydia;Samos, a Greek island; Mesembria, an ancient colony in Thrace; andCotiæum, the chief city of a province of Phrygia, contend for thedistinction of being the birthplace of Æsop. Although the honor thusclaimed cannot be definitely assigned to any one of these places, yetthere are a few incidents now generally accepted by scholars asestablished facts, relating to the birth, life, and death of Æsop. Heis, by an almost universal consent, allowed to have been born about theyear 620 B.C., and to have been by birth a slave. He was ownedby two masters in succession, both inhabitants of Samos, Xanthus andJadmon, the latter of whom gave him his liberty as a reward for hislearning and wit. One of the privileges of a freedman in the ancientrepublics of Greece was the permission to take an active interest inpublic affairs; and Æsop, like the philosophers Phædo, Menippus, andEpictetus, in later times, raised himself from the indignity of aservile condition to a position of high renown. In his desire alike toinstruct and to be instructed, he travelled through many countries, andamong others came to Sardis, the capital of the famous king of Lydia,the great patron in that day, of learning and of learned men. He met atthe court of Crœsus with Solon, Thales, and other sages, and isrelated so to have pleased his royal master, by the part he took in theconversations held with these philosophers, that he applied to him anexpression which has since passed into a proverb, "μᾶλλονὁ Φρύξ"—"The Phrygian has spoken better than all."

On the invitation of Crœsus he fixed his residence at Sardis, and wasemployed by that monarch in various difficult and delicate affairs ofstate. In his discharge of these commissions he visited the differentpetty republics of Greece. At one time he is found in Corinth, and atanother in Athens, endeavoring, by the narration of some of his wisefables, to reconcile the inhabitants of those cities to theadministration of their respective rulers, Pariander and Pisistratus.One of these ambassadorial missions, undertaken at the command ofCrœsus, was the occasion of his death. Having been sent to Delphiwith a large sum of gold for distribution among the citizens, he was soprovoked at their covetousness that he refused to divide the money, andsent it back to his master. The Delphians, enraged at this treatment,accused him of impiety, and, in spite of his sacred character asambassador, executed him as a public criminal. This cruel death of Æsopwas not unavenged. The citizens of Delphi were visited with a series ofcalamities, until they made a public reparation of their crime; and "Theblood of Æsop" became a well-known adage, bearing witness to the truththat deeds of wrong would not pass unpunished. Neither did the greatfabulist lack posthumous honors; for a statue was erected to his memoryat Athens, the work of Lysippus, one of the most famous of Greeksculptors. Phædrus thus immortalizes the event:—

These few facts are all that can be relied on with any degree ofcertainty, in reference to the birth, life, and death of Æsop. They werefirst brought to light, after a patient search and diligent perusal ofancient authors, by a Frenchman, M. Claude Gaspard Bachet de Mezeriac,who declined the honor of being tutor to Louis XIII. of France, from hisdesire to devote himself exclusively to literature. He published hislife of Æsop, Anno Domini 1632. The later investigations of a host ofEnglish and German scholars have added very little to the facts given byM. Mezeriac. The substantial truth of his statements has been confirmedby later criticism and inquiry.

It remains to state, that prior to this publication of M. Mezeriac, thelife of Æsop was from the pen of Maximus Planudes, a monk ofConstantinople, who was sent on an embassy to Venice by the ByzantineEmperor Andronicus the elder, and who wrote in the early part of thefourteenth century. His life was prefixed to all the early editions ofthese fables, and was republished as late as 1727 by Archdeacon Croxallas the introduction to his edition of Æsop. This life by Planudescontains, however, so small an amount of truth, and is so full of absurdpictures of the grotesque deformity of Æsop, of wondrous apocryphalstories, of lying legends, and gross anachronisms, that it is nowuniversally condemned as false, puerile, and unauthentic. It is given upin the present day, by general consent, as unworthy of the slightestcredit.

The Wolf Turned Shepherd.

A wolf, finding that the sheep were so afraid of him that he could notget near them, disguised himself in the dress of a shepherd, and thusattired approached the flock. As he came near, he found the shepherdfast asleep. As the sheep did not run away, he resolved to imitate thevoice of the shepherd. In trying to do so, he only howled, and awoke theshepherd. As he could not run away, he was soon killed.

Those who attempt to act in disguise are apt to overdo it.

The Stag at the Pool.

A stag saw his shadow reflected in the water, and greatly admired thesize of his horns, but felt angry with himself for having such weakfeet. While he was thus contemplating himself, a Lion appeared at thepool. The Stag betook himself to flight, and kept himself with ease at asafe distance from the Lion, until he entered a wood and becameentangled with his horns. The Lion quickly came up with him and caughthim. When too late he thus reproached himself: "Woe is me! How have Ideceived myself! These feet which would have saved me I despised, and Igloried in these antlers which have proved my destruction."

What is most truly valuable is often underrated.

The Fox and the Mask.

A fox entered the house of an actor, and, rummaging through all hisproperties, came upon a Mask, an admirable imitation of a human head. Heplaced his paws on it, and said: "What a beautiful head! yet it is ofno value, as it entirely wants brains."

A fair face is of little use without sense.

The Bear and the Fox.

A bear boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying "that of allanimals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had suchrespect for him, that he would not even touch his dead body." A Foxhearing these words said with a smile to the Bear: "Oh, that you wouldeat the dead and not the living!"

We should not wait till a person is dead, to give him our respect.

The Wolf and the Lamb.

A Wolf, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to layviolent hands on him, but to find some plea, which should justify to theLamb himself his right to eat him. He then addressed him: "Sirrah, lastyear you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournfultone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf: "You feed inmy pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tastedgrass." Again said the Wolf: "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed theLamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both foodand drink to me." On which the Wolf seized him, and ate him up, saying:"Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every one of myimputations."

The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny, and it is uselessfor the innocent to try by reasoning to get justice, when the oppressorintends to be unjust.

The One-Eyed Doe.

A Doe, blind of an eye, was accustomed to graze as near to the edge ofthe sea as she possibly could, to secure greater safety. She turned hereye towards the land, that she might perceive the approach of a hunteror hound, and her injured eye towards the sea, from which sheentertained no anticipation of danger. Some boatmen, sailing by, sawher, and, taking a successful aim, mortally wounded her. Said she: "Owretched 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."

Danger sometimes comes from a source that is least suspected.

The Dog, co*ck and Fox.

A Dog and a co*ck, traveling together, took shelter at night in a thickwood. The co*ck perched himself on a high branch, while the Dog found abed at the foot of the tree. When morning dawned, the co*ck, as usual,crowed very loudly. A Fox, hearing the sound, and wishing to make abreakfast on him, came and stood under the branches, saying howearnestly he desired to make the acquaintance of the owner of so sweet avoice.

"If you will admit me," said he, "I should very much like to spend theday with you."

The co*ck said: "Sir, do me the favor to go round and wake up my porter,that he may open the door, and let you in." On the Fox approaching thetree, the Dog sprang out and caught him and quickly tore him in pieces.

Those who try to entrap others are often caught by their own schemes.

The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk.

A Mouse, by an unlucky chance, formed an intimate acquaintance with aFrog. The Frog one day, intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mousetightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog led his friend towardthe pool in which he lived, until he reached the very brink, whensuddenly jumping in, he dragged the Mouse in with him. The Frog enjoyedthe water amazingly, and swam croaking about as if he had done ameritorious action. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated with thewater, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the footof the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it, carried it upaloft. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was alsocarried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

Harm hatch, harm catch.

The Dog and the Oyster.

A Dog, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster, and opening his mouth to itswidest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it tobe an egg. Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his stomach, he said:"I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everythinground must be an egg."

Who acts in haste repents at leisure.

The Wolf and the Shepherds.

A Wolf passing by, saw some shepherds in a hut eating for their dinner ahaunch of mutton. Approaching them, he said: "What a clamor you wouldraise, if I were to do as you are doing!"

Men are too apt to condemn in others the very things they practicethemselves.

The Hares and the Frogs.

The Hares, oppressed with a sense of their own exceeding timidity, andweary of the perpetual alarm to which they were exposed, with one accorddetermined to put an end to themselves and their troubles, by jumpingfrom a lofty precipice into a deep lake below. As they scampered off ina very numerous body to carry out their resolve, the Frogs lying on thebanks of the lake heard the noise of their feet, and rushedhelter-skelter to the deep water for safety. On seeing the rapiddisappearance of the Frogs, one of the Hares cried out to hiscompanions: "Stay, my friends, do not do as you intended; for you nowsee that other creatures who yet live are more timorous than ourselves."

We are encouraged by seeing others that are worse off than ourselves.

The Lion and the Boar.

On a summer day, when the great heat induced a general thirst, a Lionand a Boar came at the same moment to a small well to drink. Theyfiercely disputed which of them should drink first, and were soonengaged in the agonies of a mortal combat. On their stopping on asudden to take breath for the fiercer renewal of the strife, they sawsome Vultures waiting in the distance to feast on the one which shouldfall first. They at once made up their quarrel, saying: "It is betterfor us to make friends, than to become the food of Crows or Vultures, aswill certainly happen if we are disabled."

Those who strive are often watched by others who will take advantage oftheir defeat to benefit themselves.

The Mischievous Dog.

A Dog used to run up quietly to the heels of those he met, and to bitethem without notice. His master sometimes suspended a bell about hisneck, that he might give notice of his presence wherever he went, andsometimes he fastened a chain about his neck, to which was attached aheavy clog, so that he could not be so quick at biting people's heels.

The Dog grew proud of his bell and clog, and went with them all over themarket-place. An old hound said to him: "Why do you make such anexhibition of yourself? That bell and clog that you carry are not,believe me, orders of merit, but, on the contrary, marks of disgrace, apublic notice to all men to avoid you as an ill-mannered dog."

Those who achieve notoriety often mistake it for fame.

The Quack Frog.

A Frog once made proclamation to all the beasts that he was a learnedphysician, and able to heal all diseases. A Fox asked him: "How can youpretend to prescribe for others, and you are unable to heal your ownlame gait and wrinkled skin?"

Those who pretend that they can mend others should first mendthemselves, and then they will be more readily believed.

The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion.

The Ass and the Fox, having entered into a partnership together, wentout into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far, when they met aLion. The Fox approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him thecapture of the Ass, if he would pledge his word that his own life shouldbe spared. On his assuring him that he would not injure him, the Fox ledthe Ass to a deep pit, and contrived that he should fall into it. TheLion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox,and then attacked the Ass at his leisure.

Traitors must expect treachery.

The Wolf and the Sheep.

A Wolf, being sick and maimed, called to a Sheep, who was passing, andasked him to fetch some water from the stream. "For," he said, "if youwill bring me drink, I will find means to provide myself with meat.""Yes," said the Sheep, "if I should bring you the draught, you woulddoubtless make me provide the meat also."

Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

The co*ck and the Jewel.

A co*ck, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a preciousstone; on which he said: "If thy owner had found thee, and not I, hewould have taken thee up, and have set thee in thy first estate; but Ihave found thee for no purpose. I would rather have one barleycorn thanall the jewels in the world."

The Two Pots.

A river carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of earthenware,and the other of brass. As they floated along on the surface of thestream, 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 shallbe broken in pieces; and besides, I by no means wish to come near you."

Equals make the best friends.

The Gnat and the Lion.

A Gnat came and said to a Lion: "I do not the least fear you, nor areyou stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You canscratch with your claws, and bite with your teeth—so can a woman in herquarrels. I repeat that I am altogether more powerful than you; and ifyou doubt it, let us fight and see who will conquer." The Gnat, havingsounded his horn, fastened itself upon the Lion, and stung him on thenostrils. The Lion, trying to crush him, tore himself with his claws,until he punished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over theLion, and buzzing about in a song of triumph, flew away. But shortlyafterwards he became entangled in the meshes of a cobweb, and was eatenby a spider. He greatly lamented his fate, saying: "Woe is me, that I,who can wage war successfully with the hugest beasts, should perishmyself from this spider."

The Widow and her Little Maidens.

A widow woman, fond of cleaning, had two little maidens to wait on her.She was in the habit of waking them early in the morning, at co*ckcrow.The maidens, being aggrieved by such excessive labor, resolved to killthe co*ck 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 co*ck, was unable to tell thetime, and so, woke them up to their work in the middle of the night.

Unlawful acts to escape trials only increase our troubles.

The Fox and the Lion.

A Fox who had never yet seen a Lion, when he fell in with him by acertain chance for the first time in the forest, was so frightened thathe was near dying with fear. On his meeting with him for the secondtime, 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 wentup to him, and commenced a familiar conversation with him.

Acquaintance softens prejudices.

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse.

A Country Mouse invited a Town Mouse, an intimate friend, to pay him avisit, and partake of his country fare. As they were on the bareplough-lands, eating their wheat-stalks and roots pulled up from thehedge-row, the Town Mouse said to his friend: "You live here the life ofthe ants, while in my house is the horn of plenty. I am surrounded withevery luxury, and if you will come with me, as I much wish you would,you shall have an ample share of my dainties." The Country Mouse waseasily persuaded, and returned to town with his friend. On his arrival,the Town Mouse placed before him bread, barley, beans, dried figs,honey, raisins, and, last of all, brought a dainty piece of cheese froma basket. The Country Mouse, being much delighted at the sight of suchgood cheer, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms, and lamented hisown hard fate. Just as they were beginning to eat, some one opened thedoor, and they both ran off squeaking, as fast as they could, to a holeso narrow that two could only find room in it by squeezing. They hadscarcely again begun their repast when some one else entered to takesomething out of a cupboard, on which the two Mice, more frightened thanbefore, ran away and hid themselves. At last the Country Mouse, almostfamished, thus addressed his friend: "Although you have prepared for meso dainty a feast, I must leave you to enjoy it by yourself. It issurrounded by too many dangers to please me."

Better a little in safety, than an abundance surrounded by danger.

The Monkey and the Dolphin.

A Sailor, bound on a long voyage, took with him a Monkey to amuse himwhile on shipboard. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violenttempest arose, in which the ship was wrecked, and he, his Monkey and allthe crew were obliged to swim for their lives. A Dolphin saw the Monkeycontending with the waves, and supposing him to be a man (whom he isalways said to befriend), came and placed himself under him, to conveyhim on his back in safety to the shore. When the Dolphin arrived withhis burden in sight of land not far from Athens, he demanded of theMonkey if he were an Athenian, who answered that he was, and that he wasdescended from one of the noblest families in that city.

The Dolphin then inquired if he knew the Piræus (the famous harbor ofAthens). The Monkey, supposing that a man was meant, and being obligedto support his previous lie, answered that he knew him very well, andthat he was an intimate friend, who would, no doubt, be very glad to seehim. The Dolphin, indignant at these falsehoods, dipped the Monkey underthe water, and drowned him.

He who once begins to tell falsehoods is obliged to tell others to makethem appear true, and, sooner or later, they will get him into trouble.

The Game-co*cks and the Partridge.

A Man had two Game-co*cks in his poultry yard. One day, by chance, hefell in with a tame Partridge for sale. He purchased it, and brought ithome that it might be reared with his Game-co*cks. On its being put intothe poultry-yard, they struck at it, and followed it about, so that thePartridge was grievously troubled in mind, and supposed that he wasthus badly treated because he was a stranger. Not long afterwards he sawthe co*cks fighting together, and not separating before one had wellbeaten the other. He then said to himself: "I shall no longer distressmyself at being struck at by these Game-co*cks, when I see that theycannot even refrain from quarreling with each other."

Strangers should avoid those who quarrel among themselves.

The Boy and the Nettle.

A Boy was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his mother, saying:"Although it pains me so much, I did but touch it ever so gently." "Thatwas just it," said his mother, "which caused it to sting you. The nexttime you touch a Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be soft as silk toyour hand, and not in the least hurt you."

Whatever you do, do with all your might.

The Trumpeter taken Prisoner.

A Trumpeter, bravely leading on the soldiers, was captured by the enemy.He cried out to his captors: "Pray spare me, and do not take my lifewithout cause or without injury. I have not slain a single man of yourtroop. I have no arms, and carry nothing but this one brass trumpet.""That is the very reason for which you should be put to death," theysaid, "for while you do not fight yourself, your loud trumpet stirs upall the other soldiers to battle."

He who incites strife is as guilty as they who strive.

The Fatal Marriage.

The Lion, touched with gratitude by the noble procedure of a Mouse, andresolving not to be outdone in generosity by any wild beast whatsoever,desired his little deliverer to name his own terms, for that he mightdepend upon his complying with any proposal he should make. The Mouse,fired with ambition at this gracious offer, did not so much considerwhat was proper for him to ask, as what was in the powers of his princeto grant; and so demanded his princely daughter, the young lioness, inmarriage. The Lion consented; but, when he would have given the royalvirgin into his possession, she, like a giddy thing as she was, notminding how she walked, by chance set her paw upon her spouse, who wascoming to meet her, and crushed him to pieces.

Beware of unequal matches. Alliances prompted by ambition often provefatal.

The Ass and the Charger.

An Ass congratulated a Horse on being so ungrudgingly and carefullyprovided for, while he himself had scarcely enough to eat, nor even thatwithout hard work. But when war broke out, the heavy armed soldiermounted the Horse, and rushed into the very midst of the enemy, and theHorse, being wounded, fell dead on the battle-field. Then the Ass,seeing all these things, changed his mind, and commiserated the Horse,saying: "How much more fortunate am I than a charger. I can remain athome in safety while he is exposed to all the perils of war."

Be not hasty to envy the condition of others.

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 presentthemselves before him, when he would himself choose the most beautifulamong them to be king. The Jackdaw, knowing his own ugliness, searchedthrough the woods and fields, and collected the feathers which hadfallen from the wings of his companions, and stuck them in all parts ofhis body. When the appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembledbefore Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made his appearance in hismany-feathered finery. On Jupiter proposing to make him king, on accountof the beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly protested, and eachplucking from him his own feathers, the Jackdaw was again nothing but aJackdaw.

Hope not to succeed in borrowed plumes.

The Milkmaid and her Pot of Milk.

A Maid was carrying her pail of milk to the farm-house, when she fella-musing. "The money for which this milk will be sold will buy at leastthree hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce twohundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready for marketwhen poultry will fetch the highest price; so that by the end of theyear I shall have money enough to buy a new gown. In this dress I willgo to the Christmas junketings, when all the young fellows will proposeto me, but I will toss my head, and refuse them every one." At thismoment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fellthe Milk-pot to the ground, and broke into a hundred pieces, and allher fine schemes perished in a moment.

Count not your chickens before they are hatched.

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 himdown, beating him severely with a thick wooden cudgel. The Ass said:"Why, I saw the Monkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughedheartily, as if it afforded you very great amusem*nt."

Those who do not know their right place must be taught it.

The Man and the Satyr.

A Man and a Satyr once formed a bond of alliance. One very cold wintryday, as they talked together, the Man put his fingers to his mouth andblew on them. On the Satyr inquiring the reason, he told him that he didit to warm his hands. Later on in the day they sat down to eat, the foodprepared being quite scalding. The Man raised one of his dishes towardshis mouth and blew in it. On the Satyr again inquiring the reason, hesaid that he did it to cool the meat. "I can no longer consider you asa friend," said the Satyr; "a fellow who with the same breath blows hotand cold I could never trust."

A man who talks for both sides is not to be trusted by either.

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 strongwinds." They replied:

"You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you aredestroyed; while we, on the contrary, bend before the least breath ofair, and therefore remain unbroken."

Stoop to conquer.

The Huntsman and the Fisherman.

A Huntsman, returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by chancewith a Fisherman, bringing home a basket laden with fish. The Huntsmanwished to have the fish, and their owner experienced an equal longingfor the contents of the game-bag. They quickly agreed to exchange theproduce 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. A neighborsaid to them: "If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy, byfrequent use, the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again wish toretain the fruits of his own sport."

Pleasures are heightened by abstinence.

The Mother and the Wolf.

A famished Wolf was prowling about in the morning in search of food. Ashe passed the door of a cottage built in the forest, he heard a mothersay to her child: "Be quiet, or I will throw you out of the window, andthe Wolf shall eat you." The Wolf sat all day waiting at the door. Inthe evening he heard the same woman fondling her child, and saying: "Heis quiet now, and if the Wolf should come, we will kill him." The Wolf,hearing these words, went home, gaping with cold and hunger.

Be not in haste to believe what is said in anger or thoughtlessness.

The and the Wolf.

A Shepherd once found a young Wolf, and brought it up, and after a whiletaught it to steal lambs from the neighboring flocks. The Wolf, havingshown himself an apt pupil, said to the Shepherd: "Since you have taughtme to steal, you must keep a sharp look-out, or you will lose some ofyour own flock."

The vices we teach may be practiced against us.

The Dove and the Crow.

A Dove shut up in a cage was boasting of the large number of the youngones which she had hatched. A Crow, hearing her, said: "My good friend,cease from this unreasonable boasting. The larger the number of yourfamily, the greater your cause of sorrow, in seeing them shut up in thisprison-house."

To enjoy our blessings we must have freedom.

The Old Man and the Three Young Men.

As an old man was planting a tree, three young men came along and beganto make sport of him, saying: "It shows your foolishness to be plantinga tree at your age. The tree cannot bear fruit for many years, while youmust very soon die. What is the use of your wasting your time inproviding pleasure for others to share long after you are dead?" The oldman stopped in his labor and replied: "Others before me provided for myhappiness, and it is my duty to provide for those who shall come afterme. As for life, who is sure of it for a day? You may all die beforeme." The old man's words came true; one of the young men went on avoyage at sea and was drowned, another went to war and was shot, and thethird fell from a tree and broke his neck.

We should not think wholly of ourselves, and we should remember thatlife is uncertain.

The Lion and the Fox.

A Fox entered into partnership with a Lion, on the pretense of becominghis servant. Each undertook his proper duty in accordance with his ownnature and powers. The Fox discovered and pointed out the prey, theLion sprang on it and seized it. The Fox soon became jealous of the Lioncarrying off the Lion's share, and said that he would no longer find outthe prey, but would capture it on his own account. The next day heattempted to snatch a lamb from the fold, but fell himself a prey to thehuntsman and his hounds.

Keep to your place, if you would succeed.

The Horse and the Stag.

The Horse had the plain entirely to himself. A Stag intruded into hisdomain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himselfon the stranger, requested a man, if he were willing, to help him inpunishing the Stag. The man replied, that if the Horse would receive abit in his mouth, and agree to carry him, he would contrive veryeffectual weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented, and allowed theman to mount him. From that hour he found that, instead of obtainingrevenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.

He who seeks to injure others often injures only himself.

The Lion and the Dolphin.

A Lion, roaming by the sea-shore, saw a Dolphin lift up its head out ofthe waves, and asked him to contract an alliance with him; saying thatof all the animals, they ought to be the best friends, since the one wasthe king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign rulerof all the inhabitants of the ocean. The Dolphin gladly consented tothis request. Not long afterwards the Lion had a combat with a wildbull, and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin, though quitewilling to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not byany means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The Dolphinreplied: "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while givingme the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the power of livingupon the land."

Let every one stick to his own element.

The Mice in Council.

The Mice summoned a council to decide how they might best devise meansfor obtaining notice of the approach of their great enemy the Cat. Amongthe many plans devised, the one that found most favor was the proposalto tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, that the Mice, being warned bythe sound of the tinkling, might run away and hide themselves in theirholes at his approach. But when the Mice further debated who among themshould thus "bell the Cat," there was no one found to do it.

Let those who propose be willing to perform.

The Camel and the Arab.

An Arab Camel-driver having completed the lading of his Camel, asked himwhich he would like best, to go up hill or down hill. The poor beastreplied, not without a touch of reason: "Why do you ask me? Is it thatthe level way through the desert is closed?"

The Fighting co*cks and the Eagle.

Two Game co*cks were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farm-yard.One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished co*ck skulked awayand hid himself in a quiet corner. The conqueror, flying up to a highwall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. AnEagle sailing through the air pounced upon him, and carried him off inhis talons. The vanquished co*ck immediately came out of his corner, andruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.

Pride goes before destruction.

The Boys and the Frogs.

Some boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water, andbegan to pelt them with stones. They killed several of them, when one ofthe Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: "Pray stop, myboys; what is sport to you is death to us."

What we do in sport often makes great trouble for others.

The Crab and its Mother.

A Crab said to her son: "Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? It isfar more becoming to go straight forward." The young Crab replied:"Quite true, dear mother; and if you will show me the straight way, Iwill promise to walk in it." The mother tried in vain, and submittedwithout remonstrance to the reproof of her child.

Example is more powerful than precept.

The Wolf and the Shepherd.

A Wolf followed a flock of sheep for a long time, and did not attempt toinjure one of them. The Shepherd at first stood on his guard againsthim, 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, anddid not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began tolook upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter ofevil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, heleft the sheep entirely in his charge. The Wolf, now that he had theopportunity, fell upon the sheep, and destroyed the greater part of theflock. The Shepherd, on his return, finding his flock destroyed,exclaimed: "I have been rightly served; why did I trust my sheep to aWolf?"

An evil mind will show in evil action, sooner or later.

The Man and the Lion.

A Man and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon beganto boast of their respective superiority to each other in strength andprowess. As they were disputing, they passed a statue, carved in stone,which represented "A Lion strangled by a Man." The traveler pointed toit and said: "See there! How strong we are, and how we prevail over eventhe king of beasts." The Lion replied: "This statue was made by one ofyou men. If we Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the manplaced under the paw of the Lion."

One story is good till another is told.

The Ox and the Frog.

An Ox, drinking at a pool, trod on a brood of young frogs, and crushedone 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, dearmother; for just now a very huge beast with four great feet came to thepool, and crushed him to death with his cloven heel." The Frog, puffingherself out, inquired, "If the beast was as big as that in size.""Cease, mother, to puff yourself out," said her son, "and do not beangry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than successfullyimitate the hugeness of that monster."

Impossible things we cannot hope to attain, and it is of no use to try.

The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat.

The Birds waged war with the Beasts, and each party were by turns theconquerors. A Bat, fearing the uncertain issues of the fight, alwaysbetook himself to that side which was the strongest. When peace wasproclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent to both the combatants;he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforth concealedhimself in dark hiding-places, flying always alone and at night.

Those who practice deceit must expect to be shunned.

The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller.

A Charcoal-burner carried on his trade in his own house. One day he meta friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, sayingthat they should be far better neighbors, and that their housekeepingexpenses would be lessened. The Fuller replied: "The arrangement isimpossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, youwould immediately blacken again with your charcoal."

Like will draw like.

The Bull and the Goat.

A Bull, escaping from a Lion, entered a cave, which some shepherds hadlately occupied. A He-goat was left in it, who sharply attacked him withhis horns. The Bull quietly addressed him—"Butt away as much as youwill. I have no fear of you, but of the Lion. Let that monster once go,and I will soon let you know what is the respective strength of a Goatand a Bull."

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

The Lion and the Mouse.

A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Risingup in anger, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mousepiteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I wouldbe sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. Ithappened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters,who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing hisroar, came up and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and, setting himfree, exclaimed: "You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to helpyou, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; butnow you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits ona Lion."

No one is too weak to do good.

The Horse and the Ass.

A Horse, proud of his fine trappings, met an Ass on the highway. The Assbeing heavily laden moved slowly out of the way. "Hardly," said theHorse, "can I resist kicking you with my heels." The Ass held his peace,and made only a silent appeal to the justice of the gods. Not longafterward, the Horse, having become broken-winded, was sent by his ownerto the farm. The Ass, seeing him drawing a dung-cart, thus derided him."Where, O boaster, are now all thy gay trappings, thou who art thyselfreduced to the condition you so lately treated with contempt?"

The Old Hound.

A Hound, who in the days of his youth and strength had never yielded toany 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 becauseof the decay of his teeth, so that the boar escaped. His master, quicklycoming up, was very much disappointed, and fiercely abused the dog. TheHound looked up and said: "It was not my fault, master; my spirit was asgood as ever, but I could not help mine infirmities. I rather deserveto be praised for what I have been, than to be blamed for what I am."

No one should be blamed for his infirmities.

The Crow and the Pitcher.

A Crow, perishing with thirst, saw a pitcher, and, hoping to find water,flew to it with great delight. When he reached it, he discovered to hisgrief that it contained so little water that he could not possibly getat it. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, butall his efforts were in vain. At last he collected as many stones as hecould 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 Ass Eating Thistles.

An Ass was loaded with good provisions of several sorts, which, in timeof harvest, he was carrying into the field for his master and thereapers to dine upon. By the way he met with a fine large Thistle, and,being very hungry, began to mumble it; and while he was doing so heentered into this reflection: "How many greedy epicures would thinkthemselves happy, amidst such a variety of delicate viands as I nowcarry! But to me this bitter, prickly Thistle is more savory andrelishing than the most exquisite and sumptuous banquet. Let otherschoose what they may for food, but give me, above everything, a finejuicy thistle like this and I will be content."

Every one to his taste: one man's meat is another man's poison, and oneman's poison is another man's meat; what is rejected by one person maybe valued very highly by another.

The Wolf and the Lion.

A Wolf, having stolen a lamb from a fold, was carrying him off to hislair. A Lion met him in the path, and, seizing the lamb, took it fromhim. The Wolf, standing at a safe distance, exclaimed: "You haveunrighteously taken from me that which was mine." The Lion jeeringlyreplied: "It was righteously yours, eh? Was it the gift of a friend, ordid you get it by purchase? If you did not get it in one way or theother, how then did you come by it?"

One thief is no better than another.

The King's Son and the Painted Lion.

A King who had one only son, fond of martial exercises, had a dream inwhich he was warned that his son would be killed by a lion. Afraid lestthe dream should prove true, he built for his son a pleasant palace, andadorned its walls for his amusem*nt with all kinds of animals of thesize of life, among which was the picture of a lion. When the youngPrince saw this, his grief at being thus confined burst out afresh, andstanding near the lion, he thus spoke: "O you most detestable ofanimals! through a lying dream of my father's, which he saw in hissleep, I am shut up on your account in this palace as if I had been agirl. What shall I now do to you?" With these words he stretched out hishands toward a thorn-tree, meaning to cut a stick from its branches thathe might beat the lion, when one of its sharp prickles pierced hisfinger, and caused great pain and inflammation, so that the young Princefell down in a fainting fit. A violent fever suddenly set in, from whichhe died not many days after.

We had better bear our troubles bravely than try to escape them.

The Trees and the Axe.

A Man came into a forest, and made a petition to the Trees to providehim a handle for his axe. The Trees consented to his request, and gavehim a young ash-tree. No sooner had the man fitted from it a new handleto his axe, than he began to use it, and quickly felled with his strokesthe noblest giants of the forest. An old oak, lamenting when too latethe destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar: "Thefirst step has lost us all. If we had not given up the rights of theash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood forages."

In yielding the rights of others, we may endanger our own.

The Seaside Travelers.

Some travelers, journeying along the sea-shore, climbed to the summit ofa tall cliff, and from thence looking over the sea, saw in the distancewhat they thought was a large ship, and waited in the hope of seeing itenter the harbor. But as the object on which they looked was driven bythe wind nearer to the shore, they found that it could at the most be asmall boat, and not a ship. When, however, it reached the beach, theydiscovered that it was only a large fa*got of sticks, and one of themsaid to his companions: "We have waited for no purpose, for after allthere is nothing to see but a fa*got."

Our mere anticipations of life outrun its realities.

The Sea-gull and the Kite.

A Sea-gull, who was more at home swimming on the sea than walking on theland, was in the habit of catching live fish for its food. One day,having bolted down too large a fish, it burst its deep gullet-bag, andlay down on the shore to die. A Kite, seeing him, and thinking him aland bird like itself, exclaimed: "You richly deserve your fate; for abird of the air has no business to seek its food from the sea."

Every man should be content to mind his own business.

The Monkey and the Camel.

The beasts of the forest gave a splendid entertainment, at which theMonkey stood up and danced. Having vastly delighted the assembly, he satdown amidst universal applause. The Camel, envious of the praisesbestowed on the Monkey, and desirous to divert to himself the favor ofthe guests, proposed to stand up in his turn, and dance for theiramusem*nt. He moved about in so very ridiculous a manner, that theBeasts, in a fit of indignation, set upon him with clubs, and drove himout of the assembly.

It is absurd to ape our betters.

The Rat and the Elephant.

A Rat, traveling on the highway, met a huge elephant, bearing his royalmaster and his suite, and also his favorite cat and dog, and parrot andmonkey. The great beast and his attendants were followed by an admiringcrowd, taking up all of the road. "What fools you are," said the Rat tothe people, "to make such a hubbub over an elephant. Is it his greatbulk that you so much admire? It can only frighten little boys andgirls, and I can do that as well. I am a beast; as well as he, and haveas many legs and ears and eyes. He has no right to take up all thehighway, which belongs as much to me as to him." At this moment, the catspied the rat, and, jumping to the ground, soon convinced him that hewas not an elephant.

Because we are like the great in one respect we must not think we arelike them in all.

The Fisherman Piping.

A Fisherman skilled in music took his flute and his nets to thesea-shore. Standing on a projecting rock he played several tunes, in thehope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of their own accorddance into his net, which he had placed below. At last, having longwaited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net into thesea, made an excellent haul.

The Wolf and the House-dog.

A Wolf, meeting with a big, well-fed Mastiff, having a wooden collarabout his neck, inquired of him who it was that fed him so well, and yetcompelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever he went. "Themaster," he replied. Then, said the Wolf: "May no friend of mine ever bein such a plight; for the weight of this chain is enough to spoil theappetite."

Nothing can compensate us for the loss of our liberty.

The Eagle and the Kite.

An Eagle, overwhelmed with sorrow, sat upon the branches of a tree, incompany with a Kite. "Why," said the Kite, "do I see you with such arueful look?" "I seek," she replied, "for a mate suitable for me, and amnot able to find one." "Take me," returned the Kite; "I am much strongerthan you are." "Why, are you able to secure the means of living by yourplunder?" "Well, I have often caught and carried away an ostrich in mytalons." The Eagle, persuaded by these words, accepted him as her mate.Shortly after the nuptials, the Eagle said: "Fly off, and bring me backthe ostrich you promised me." The Kite, soaring aloft into the air,brought back the shabbiest possible mouse. "Is this," said the Eagle,"the faithful fulfillment of your promise to me?" The Kite replied:"That I might attain to your royal hand, there is nothing that I wouldnot have promised, however much I knew that I must fail in theperformance."

Promises of a suitor must be taken with caution.

The Dogs and the Hides.

Some Dogs, famished with hunger, saw some cow-hides steeping in a river.Not being able to reach them, they agreed to drink up the river; but itfell out that they burst themselves with drinking long before theyreached the hides.

Attempt not impossibilities.

The Fisherman and the Little Fish

A Fisherman who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught asingle small fish as the result of his day's labor. The fish, pantingconvulsively, thus entreated for his life: "O Sir, what good can I beto 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 alarge fish, fit for the tables of the rich; and then you can catch meagain, and make a handsome profit of me." The fisherman replied: "Ishould be a very simple fellow, if I were to forego my certain gain foran uncertain profit."

The Ass and his Purchaser.

A man wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that heshould try him before he bought him. He took the Ass home, and put himin the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which he left all theothers, and joined himself at once to the most idle and the greatesteater of them all. The man put a halter on him, and led him back to hisowner, saying: "I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just suchanother as the one whom he chose for his companion."

A man is known by the company he keeps.

The Shepherd and the Sheep.

A Shepherd, driving his Sheep to a wood, saw an oak of unusual size,full of acorns, and, spreading his cloak under the branches, he climbedup into the tree, and shook down the acorns. The sheep, eating theacorns, frayed and tore the cloak. The Shepherd coming down, and seeingwhat was done, said: "O you most ungrateful creatures! you provide woolto make garments for all other men, but you destroy the clothes of himwho feeds you."

The basest ingratitude is that which injures those who serve us.

The Fox and the Crow.

A Crow, having stolen a bit of flesh, perched in a tree, and held it inher beak. A Fox, seeing her, longed to possess himself of the flesh, andby 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 beconsidered the Queen of Birds!" This he said deceitfully, having greateradmiration for the meat than for the crow. But the Crow, all her vanityaroused by the cunning flattery, and anxious to refute the reflectioncast upon her voice, set up a loud caw, and dropped the flesh. The Foxquickly picked it up, and thus addressed the Crow: "My good Crow, yourvoice is right enough, but your wit is wanting."

He who listens to flattery is not wise, for it has no good purpose.

The Swallow and the Crow.

The Swallow and the Crow had a contention about their plumage. The Crowput an end to the dispute by saying: "Your feathers are all very well inthe spring, but mine protect me against the winter."

Fine weather friends are not worth much.

The Hen and the Golden Eggs.

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

The Old Man and Death.

An old man was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in carryingthe fa*gots into the city for sale. One day, being very wearied with hislong journey, he sat down by the wayside, and, throwing down his load,besought "Death" to come. "Death" immediately appeared, in answer to hissummons, and asked for what reason he had called him. The old manreplied: "That, lifting up the load, you may place it again upon myshoulders."

We do not always like to be taken at our word.

The Fox and the Leopard.

The Fox and the Leopard disputed which was the more beautiful of thetwo. The Leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which decoratedhis skin. The Fox, interrupting him, said: "And how much more beautifulthan you am I, who am decorated, not in body, but in mind."

People are not to be judged by their coats.

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 terriblecalamity, out came a Mouse.

Don't make much ado about nothing.

The Bear and the Two Travelers.

Two men were traveling together, when a bear suddenly met them on theirpath. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree, and concealed himselfin the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flaton 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 appearanceof death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said hewill not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other travelerdescended from the tree, and, accosting his friend, jocularly inquired"what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear?" His friend replied: "Hegave me this advice: Never travel with a friend who deserts you at theapproach of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

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 thereone whom you have not outraged by filching from their very altars a partof the sacrifice which had been offered up to them?"

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

The Wolf and the Crane.

A Wolf, having a bone stuck in his throat, hired a Crane, for a largesum, to put her head into his throat and draw out the bone. When theCrane had extracted the bone, and demanded the promised payment, theWolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed: "Why, you have surelyalready a sufficient recompense, in having been permitted to draw outyour head in safety from the mouth and jaws of a Wolf."

In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you escapeinjury for your pains.

The Cat and the co*ck.

A Cat caught a co*ck, and took counsel with himself how he might find areasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him as being a nuisance tomen, by crowing in the night time, and not permitting them to sleep. Theco*ck defended himself by saying that he did this for the benefit ofmen, that they might rise betimes, for their labors. The Cat replied:"Although you abound in specious apologies, I shall not remainsupperless;" and he made a meal of him.

It does no good to deny those who make false accusations knowingly.

The Wolf and the Horse.

A Wolf coming out of a field of oats met with a Horse, and thusaddressed him: "I would advise you to go into that field. It is full ofcapital oats, which I have left untouched for you, as you are a friendthe very sound of whose teeth it will be a pleasure to me to hear." TheHorse replied: "If oats had been the food for wolves, you would neverhave indulged your ears at the cost of your belly."

Men of evil reputation, when they perform a good deed, fail to getcredit for it.

The Two Soldiers and the Robber.

Two Soldiers, traveling together, were set upon by a Robber. The onefled away; the other stood his ground, and defended himself with hisstout right hand. The Robber being slain, the timid companion runs upand draws his sword, and then, throwing back his traveling cloak, says:"I'll at him, and I'll take care he shall learn whom he has attacked."On this, he who had fought with the Robber made answer: "I only wishthat you had helped me just now, even if it had been only with thosewords, for I should have been the more encouraged, believing them to betrue; but now put up your sword in its sheath and hold your equallyuseless tongue, till you can deceive others who do not know you. I,indeed, who have experienced with what speed you ran away, know rightwell that no dependence can be placed on your valor."

When a coward is once found out, his pretensions of valor are useless.

The Monkey and the Cat.

A Monkey and a Cat lived in the same family, and it was hard to tellwhich was the greatest thief. One day, as they were roaming abouttogether, they spied some chestnuts roasting in the ashes. "Come," saidthe cunning Monkey, "we shall not go without our dinner to-day. Yourclaws are better than mine for the purpose; you pull them out of thehot ashes and you shall have half." puss* pulled them out one by one,burning her claws very much in doing so. When she had stolen them all,she found that the Monkey had eaten every one.

A thief cannot be trusted, even by another thief.

The Two Frogs.

Two frogs dwelt in the same pool. The pool being dried up under thesummer's heat, they left it and set out together for another home. Asthey went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply supplied withwater, on seeing which, one of the Frogs said to the other: "Let usdescend and make our abode in this well." The other replied with greatercaution: "But suppose the water should fail us, how can we get out againfrom so great a depth?"

Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.

The Vine and the Goat.

A Vine was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and grapes. AGoat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its leaves. The Vinesaid: "Why do you thus injure me and crop my leaves? Is there no younggrass left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; forif you now crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I shall providethe wine to pour over you when you are led as a victim to thesacrifice."

Retribution is certain.

The Mouse and the Boasting Rat.

A Mouse lived in a granary which became, after a while, the frequentresort of a Cat. The Mouse was in great fear and did not know what todo. In her strait, she bethought herself of a Rat who lived not faraway, and who had said in her hearing a hundred times that he was notafraid of any cat living. She resolved to visit the bold Rat and askhim to drive the Cat away. She found the Rat in his hole and relatingher story, besought his help. "Pooh!" said the Rat, "You should be boldas I am; go straight about your affairs, and do not mind the Cat. I willsoon follow you, and drive him away." He thought, now, he must dosomething to make good his boast. So he collected all the Rats in theneighborhood, resolved to frighten the Cat by numbers. But when they allcame to the granary, they found that the Cat had already caught thefoolish Mouse, and a single growl from him sent them all scampering totheir holes.

Do not rely upon a boaster.

The Dogs and the Fox.

Some Dogs, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it in pieces withtheir teeth. A Fox, seeing them, said: "If this lion were alive, youwould soon find out that his claws were stronger than your teeth."

It is easy to kick a man that is down.

The Thief and the House-Dog.

A Thief came in the night to break into a house. He brought with himseveral slices of meat, that he might pacify the House-dog, so that heshould not alarm his master by barking. As the Thief threw him thepieces of meat, the Dog said: "If you think to stop my mouth, to relaxmy vigilance, or even to gain my regard by these gifts, you will begreatly mistaken. This sudden kindness at your hands will only make memore watchful, lest under these unexpected favors to myself you havesome private ends to accomplish for your own benefit, and for mymaster's injury. Besides, this is not the time that I am usually fed,which makes me all the more suspicions of your intentions."

He who offers bribes needs watching, for his intentions are not honest.

The Sick Stag.

A sick Stag lay down in a quiet corner of his pasture-ground. Hiscompanions came in great numbers to inquire after his health, and eachone helped himself to a share of the food which had been placed for hisuse; so that he died, not from his sickness, but from the failure of themeans of living.

Evil companions bring more hurt than profit.

The Fowler and the Ringdove.

A Fowler took his gun, and went into the woods a shooting. He spied aRingdove among the branches of an oak, and intended to kill it. Heclapped the piece to his shoulder, and took his aim accordingly. But,just as he was going to pull the trigger, an adder, which he had trodupon under the grass, stung him so painfully in the leg that he wasforced to quit his design, and threw his gun down in a passion. Thepoison immediately infected his blood, and his whole body began tomortify; which, when he perceived, he could not help owning it to bejust. "Fate," said he, "has brought destruction upon me while I wascontriving the death of another."

Men often fall into the trap which they prepare for others.

The Kid and the Wolf.

A Kid, returning without protection from the pasture, was pursued by aWolf. He turned round, and said to the Wolf: "I know, friend Wolf, thatI must be your prey; but before I die, I would ask of you one favor,that you will play me a tune, to which I may dance." The Wolf complied,and while he was piping, and the Kid was dancing, the hounds, hearingthe sound, came up and gave chase to the Wolf. The Wolf, turning to theKid, said: "It is just what I deserve; for I, who am only a butcher,should not have turned piper to please you."

Every one should keep his own colors.

The Blind Man and the Whelp.

A Blind Man was accustomed to distinguish different animals by touchingthem with his hands. The whelp of a Wolf was brought him, with arequest that he would feel it, and say what it was. He felt it, andbeing in doubt, said: "I do not quite know whether it is the cub of aFox, or the whelp of a Wolf; but this I know full well, that it wouldnot be safe to admit him to the sheepfold."

Evil tendencies are shown early in life.

The Geese and the Cranes.

The Geese and the Cranes fed in the same meadow. A bird-catcher came toensnare them in his nets. The Cranes, being light of wing, fled away athis approach; while the Geese, being slower of flight and heavier intheir bodies, were captured.

Those who are caught are not always the most guilty.

The North Wind and the Sun.

The North Wind and the Sun disputed which was the more powerful, andagreed that he should be declared the victor who could first strip awayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind first tried his power, andblew with all his might; but the keener became his blasts, the closerthe Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, till at last, resigning allhope of victory, he called upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sunsuddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt hisgenial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last,fairly overcome with heat, undressed, and bathed in a stream that lay inhis path.

Persuasion is better than Force.

The Laborer and the Snake.

A Snake, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicteda severe bite on the Cottager's infant son, of which he died, to thegreat grief of his parents. The father resolved to kill the Snake, andthe next day, on its coming out of its hole for food, took up his axe;but, making too much haste to hit him as he wriggled away, missed hishead, and cut off only the end of his tail. After some time, theCottager, afraid lest the Snake should bite him also, endeavored to makepeace, and placed some bread and salt in his hole. The Snake said:"There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see you Ishall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will bethinking of the death of your son."

It is hard to forget injuries in the presence of him who caused theinjury.

The Bull and the Calf.

A Bull was striving with all his might to squeeze himself through anarrow passage which led to his stall. A young Calf came up and offeredto 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 beforeyou were born."

Do not presume to teach your elders.

The Goat and the Ass.

A Man once kept a Goat and an Ass. The Goat, envying the Ass on accountof his greater abundance of food, said: "How shamefully you are treated;at one time grinding in the mill, and at another carrying heavyburdens;" and he further advised him that he should pretend to beepileptic, and fall into a deep ditch and so obtain rest. The Ass gavecredence to his words, and, falling into a ditch, was very much bruised.His master, sending for a leech, asked his advice. He bade him pour uponthe wounds the blood of a Goat. They at once killed the Goat, and sohealed the Ass.

In injuring others we are apt to receive a greater injury.

The Boasting Traveler.

A Man who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returningto his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic things he had donein the different places he had visited. Among other things, he saidthat when he was at Rhodes he had leaped to such a distance that no manof his day could leap anywhere near him—and as to that there were inRhodes many persons who saw him do it, and whom he could call aswitnesses. One of the bystanders, interrupting him, said: "Now, my goodman, if this be all true, there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this tobe Rhodes and now for your leap."

Cure a boaster by putting his words to the test.

The Ass, the co*ck, and the Lion.

An Ass and a co*ck were together, when a Lion, desperate from hunger,approached. He was about to spring upon the Ass, when the co*ck (to thesound of whose voice the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion)crowed loudly, and the Lion fled away. The Ass, observing histrepidation at the mere crowing of a co*ck, summoned courage to attackhim, and galloped after him for that purpose. He had run no longdistance when the Lion, turning about, seized him and tore him topieces.

False confidence often leads into danger.

The Stag and the Fawn.

A Stag, grown old and mischievous, was, according to custom, stampingwith his foot, making offers with his head, and bellowing so terriblythat the whole herd quaked for fear of him; when one of the littleFawns, coming up, addressed him thus: "Pray, what is the reason thatyou, who are so formidable at all other times, if you do but hear thecry of the hounds, are ready to fly out of your skin for fear?" "Whatyou observe is true," replied the Stag, "though I know not how toaccount for it. I am indeed vigorous and able, and often resolve thatnothing shall ever dismay my courage; but, alas! I no sooner hear thevoice of a hound but my spirits fail me, and I cannot help making off asfast as my legs can carry me."

The greatest braggarts are the greatest cowards.

The Partridge and the Fowler.

A Fowler caught a Partridge, and was about to kill him. The Partridgeearnestly besought him to spare his life, saying: "Pray, master, permitme to live, and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense foryour mercy to me." The Fowler replied: "I shall now with the lessscruple take your life, because you are willing to save it at the costof betraying your friends and relations;" and without more ado hetwisted his neck and put him in his bag with his other game.

Those who would sacrifice their friends to save themselves from harm arenot entitled to mercy.

The Farmer and the Stork.

A Farmer placed his nets on his newly sown plough lands, and caught aquantity of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trappeda Stork also. The Stork, having his leg fractured by the net, earnestlybesought 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; andsee how I love and slave for my father and mother. Look too at myfeathers, they are not the least like to those of a Crane." The Farmerlaughed aloud, and said: "It may be all as you say; I only know this, Ihave taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in theircompany."

Birds of a feather flock together.

The Ass and his Driver.

An Ass, being driven along the high road, suddenly started off, andbolted to the brink of a deep precipice. When he was in the act ofthrowing himself over, his owner, seizing him by the tail, endeavored topull him back. The Ass persisting in his effort, the man let him go,and said: "Conquer; but conquer to your cost."

The perverse generally come to harm.

The Hare and the Hound

A Hound having started a Hare from his form, after a long run, gave upthe chase. A Goat-herd, seeing him stop, mocked him, saying: "The littleone is the best runner of the two." The hound replied; "You do not seethe difference between us; I was only running for a dinner, but he forhis life."

Incentive spurs effort.

The Kites and the Swans.

The Kites of old time had, equally with the Swans, the privilege ofsong. But having heard the neigh of the horse, they were so enchantedwith 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 presentblessings.

The Dog in the Manger.

A Dog lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented theoxen from eating the hay which had been placed for them. "What aselfish Dog!" said one of them to his companions; "he cannot eat the hayhimself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can."

We should not deprive others of blessings because we cannot enjoy themourselves.

The Crow and the Serpent.

A Crow, in great want of food, saw a Serpent asleep in a sunny nook, andflying down, greedily seized him. The Serpent, turning about, bit theCrow with a mortal wound. The Crow in the agony of death exclaimed: "Ounhappy me! who have found in that which I deemed a most happy windfallthe source of my certain destruction."

What seem to be blessings are not always so.

The Cat and the Fox.

As the Cat and the Fox were talking politics together, Reynard said:"Let things turn out ever so bad, he did not care, for he had a thousandtricks for them yet, before they should hurt him." "But pray," says he,"Mrs. Puss, suppose there should be an invasion, what course do youdesign to take?" "Nay," says the Cat, "I have but one shift for it, andif that won't do, I am undone." "I am sorry for you," replies Reynard,"with all my heart, and would gladly help you, but indeed, neighbor, astimes go, it is not good to trust; we must even be every one forhimself, as the saying is." These words were scarcely out of his mouth,when they were alarmed with a pack of hounds, that came upon them infull cry. The Cat, by the help of her single shift, ran up a tree, andsat securely among the top branches; from whence she beheld Reynard,who had not been able to get out of sight, overtaken with his thousandtricks, and torn in as many pieces by the dogs which had surrounded him.

A little common sense is often of more value than much cunning.

The Eagle and the Arrow.

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

The misfortunes arising from a man's own misconduct are the hardest tobear.

The Dog Invited to Supper.

A Gentleman, having prepared a great feast, invited a Friend to supper;and the Gentleman's Dog, meeting the Friend's Dog, "Come," said he, "mygood fellow, and sup with us to-night." The Dog was delighted with theinvitation, and as he stood by and saw the preparations for the feast,said to himself: "Capital fare indeed! this is, in truth, good luck. Ishall revel in dainties, and I will take good care to lay in an amplestock to-night, for I may have nothing to eat to-morrow." As he saidthis to himself, he wagged his tail, and gave a sly look at his friendwho had incited him. But his tail wagging to and fro caught the cook'seye, who, seeing a stranger, straightway seized him by the legs, andthrew him out the window to the street below. When he reached theground, he set off yelping down the street; upon which the neighbors'dogs ran up to him and asked him how he liked his supper. "In faith,"said he, with a sorry smile, "I hardly know, for we drank so deeply,that I can't even tell you which way I got out."

Those who enter by the back stairs must not complain if they are thrownout by the window.

The Frogs Asking for a King.

The Frogs, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors toJupiter entreating for a King. He, perceiving their simplicity, castdown a huge log into the lake. The Frogs, terrified at the splashoccasioned by its fall, hid themselves in the depth of the pool. But nosooner did they see that the huge log continued motionless, than theyswam again to the top of the water, dismissed their fears, and came soto despise it as to climb up, and to squat upon it. After some time theybegan to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so inert aRuler, and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to pray that he would setover them another sovereign. He then gave them an Eel to govern them.When the Frogs discovered his easy good-nature, they yet a third timesent to Jupiter to beg that he would once more choose for them anotherKing. Jupiter, displeased at their complaints, sent a Heron, who preyedupon the Frogs day by day, till there were none left to complain.

When you seek to change your condition, be sure that you can better it.

The Prophet.

A Wizard, sitting in the market-place, told the fortunes of thepassers-by. A person ran up in great haste, and announced to him thatthe doors of his house had been broken open, and that all his goodswere being stolen. He sighed heavily, and hastened away as fast as hecould run. A neighbor saw him running, and said: "Oh! you follow those?you say you can foretell the fortunes of others; how is it you did notforesee your own?"

The Dog and his Master's Dinner.

A Dog had been taught to take his master's dinner to him every day. Ashe smelled the good things in the basket, he was sorely tempted to tastethem, but he resisted the temptation and continued day after day tocarry the basket faithfully. One day all the dogs in the neighborhoodfollowed him with longing eyes and greedy jaws, and tried to steal thedinner from the basket. At first the faithful dog tried to run awayfrom them, but they pressed him so close that at last he stopped toargue with them. This was what the thieves desired, and they soonridiculed him to that extent that he said: "Very well, I will dividewith you," and he seized the best piece of chicken in the basket, andleft the rest for the others to enjoy.

He who stops to parley with temptation, will be very likely to yield.

The Buffoon and the Countryman.

A rich nobleman once opened the theater to the public without charge,and gave notice that he would handsomely reward any one who wouldproduce a new amusem*nt. A Buffoon, well known for his jokes, said thathe had a kind of entertainment that had never been produced in atheater. This report, being spread about, created a great stir in theplace, and the theater was crowded to see the new entertainment. TheBuffoon appeared, and imitated the squeaking of a little pig soadmirably with his voice, that the audience declared that he had aporker under his cloak, and demanded that it should be shaken out. Whenthat was done, and yet nothing was found, they cheered the actor, withthe loudest applause. A countryman in the crowd proclaimed that he woulddo the same thing on the next day. On the morrow a still larger crowdassembled in the theater. Both of the performers appeared on the stage.The Buffoon grunted and squeaked, and obtained, as on the precedingday, the applause and cheers of the spectators. Next the Countrymancommenced, and pretending that he concealed a little pig beneath hisclothes (which in truth he did), contrived to lay hold of and to pullhis ear, when he began to squeak. The crowd, however, cried out that theBuffoon had given a far more exact imitation. On this the Rusticproduced the pig, and showed them the greatness of their mistake.

Critics are not always to be depended upon.

The Boar and the Ass.

A little scoundrel of an Ass, happening to meet with a Boar, had a mindto be arch upon him, and so, says he: "Your humble servant." The Boar,somewhat nettled at his familiarity, bristled up to him, and told him hewas surprised to hear him utter so impudent an untruth, and was justgoing to show his resentment by giving him a rip in the flank; butwisely stifling his passion, he contented himself with saying: "Go, yousorry beast! I do not care to foul my tusks with the blood of so base acreature."

Dignity cannot afford to quarrel with its inferiors.

The Fox and the Goat.

A Fox, having fallen into a well, could find no means of escape. A Goat,overcome with thirst, came to the well, and, seeing the Fox, inquired ifthe water was good. The Fox, concealing his sad plight under a merryguise, indulged in lavish praise of the water, saying it was beyondmeasure excellent, and encouraged him to descend. The Goat, mindful onlyof his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, when, just as he quenched histhirst, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in, andsuggested a scheme for their common escape. "If," said he, "you willplace your fore-feet upon the wall, and bend your head, I will run upyour back and escape, and will help you out." On the Goat readilyassenting to this proposal, the Fox leaped upon his back, and steadyinghimself with the goat's horns reached in safety the mouth of the well,and immediately made off as fast as he could. The Goat upbraided himwith the breach of his bargain, when he turned round and cried out:"You foolish fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you havehairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you hadinspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from whichyou had determined upon no means of escape."

Look before you leap.

The Oxen and the Butchers.

The Oxen, once on a time, sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiceda trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a certain day tocarry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. Oneof them, an exceedingly old one (for many a field had he ploughed), thusspoke: "These Butchers, it is true, slaughter us, but they do so withskillful hands, and with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, weshall fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer adouble death; for you may be assured that, though all the Butchersshould perish, yet will men never want beef."

Do not be in a hurry to change one evil for another.

The Horse and his Rider.

A Horse-soldier took great pains with his charger. As long as the warlasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all emergencies, andfed him carefully with hay and corn. When the war was over, he onlyallowed him chaff to eat, and made him carry heavy loads of wood, andsubjected him to much slavish drudgery and ill-treatment. War, however,being again proclaimed, the Soldier put on his charger its militarytrappings, and mounted, being clad in his heavy coat of mail. The Horsefell down straightway under the weight, no longer equal to the burden,and said to his master: "You must now e'en go to the war on foot, foryou have transformed me from a Horse into an Ass."

He who slights his friends when they are not needed must not expect themto serve him when he needs them.

The Dog and the Hare.

A Hound, having started a Hare on the hill-side, pursued her for somedistance, at one time biting her with his teeth as if he would take herlife, and at another time fawning upon her, as if in play with anotherdog. The Hare said to him: "I wish you would act sincerely by me, andshow yourself in your true colors. If you are a friend, why do you biteme so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on me?"

They are no friends whom you know not whether to trust or to distrust.

The Fawn and his Mother.

A young Fawn once said to his mother: "You are larger than a dog, andswifter, and more used to running; why, then, O Mother! are you alwaysin such a terrible fright of the hounds?" She smiled, and said: "I knowfull well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages youmention, but yet when I hear the bark of a single dog I feel ready tofaint."

No arguments will give courage to the coward.

The Lark and her Young Ones.

A Lark had made her nest in the young green wheat. The brood had almostgrown, when the owner of the field, overlooking his crop, said: "I mustsend to all my neighbors to help me with my harvest." One of the youngLarks heard him, and asked his mother to what place they should move forsafety. "There is no occasion to move yet, my son," she replied. Theowner of the field came a few days later, and said: "I will come myselfto-morrow, and will get in the harvest." Then the Lark said to herbrood: "It is time now to be off—he no longer trusts to his friends,but will reap the field himself."

Self-help is the best help.

The Bowman and the Lion.

A very skillful Bowman went to the mountains in search of game. All thebeasts of the forest fled at his approach. The Lion alone challenged himto combat. The Bowman immediately let fly an arrow; and said to theLion: "I send thee my messenger, that from him thou mayest learn what Imyself shall be when I assail thee." The Lion, thus wounded, rushed,away in great fear, and on a Fox exhorting him to be of good courage,and not to run away at the first attack, he replied: "You counsel me invain, for if he sends so fearful a messenger, how shall I abide theattack of the man himself?"

A man who can strike from a distance is no pleasant neighbor.

The Boy and the Filberts.

A Boy put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped as manyas he could possibly hold, but when he endeavored to pull out his hand,he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher, which wasmuch smaller than his closed hand. Unwilling to lose his filberts, andyet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears, and bitterlylamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him: "Be satisfied withhalf the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."

Do not attempt too much at once.

The Woman and her Hen.

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

Covetousness overreacheth itself.

The Lamb and the Wolf.

A Wolf pursued a Lamb, which fled for refuge to a certain temple. TheWolf called out to him and said: "The priest will slay you insacrifice, if he should catch you;" on which the Lamb replied: "It wouldbe better for me to be sacrificed in the temple, than to be eaten byyou."

It is safer to be among friends than enemies.

The Bear and the Gardener.

A Gardener, who lived alone, became discontented, and set out, one day,to seek a friend who would be a suitable companion. He had not gone farwhen he met a Bear, whom he invited to come and live with him. The Bearwas a very silly one, who was also discontented with living alone, so hewent home with the Gardener very willingly. The Gardener provided allthe food, and the only service he required of the Bear was to keep theflies off his face while he slept in the shade. One day, a fly insistedupon lighting on the Gardener's face, although he was brushed off againand again. The silly Bear finally became so enraged that he threw aheavy stone upon it. He killed the fly, but, alas! he also killed hisfriend.

Better have no friend at all than a foolish one.

The Heifer and the Ox.

A Heifer saw an Ox hard at work harnessed to a plough, and tormented himwith reflections on his unhappy fate in being compelled to labor.Shortly afterward, at the harvest home, the owner released the Ox fromhis yoke, but bound the Heifer with cords, and led her away to the altarto be slain in honor of the festival. The Ox saw what was being done,and said to the Heifer: "For this you were allowed to live in idleness,because you were presently to be sacrificed."

The lives of the idle can best be spared.

The Eagle and the Fox.

An Eagle and a Fox formed an intimate friendship, and decided to livenear each other. The Eagle built her nest in a tall tree, while the Foxcrept into the underwood and there produced her young. Not long after,when the Fox was ranging for food, the Eagle, being in want of provisionfor her young ones, swooped down and seized upon one of the little cubs,and feasted herself and brood. The Fox on her return, discovering whathad happened, was less grieved for the death of her young than for herinability to avenge them. A just retribution, however, quickly fell uponthe Eagle. While hovering near an altar, on which some villagers weresacrificing a goat, she suddenly seized a piece of flesh, and carriedwith it to her nest a burning cinder. A strong breeze soon fanned thespark into a flame, and the eaglets, as yet unfledged and helpless, wereroasted in their nest and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree.The Fox gobbled them up in the sight of the Eagle.

The tyrant is never safe from those whom he oppresses.

The Hawk and the Nightingale.

A Nightingale, sitting aloft upon an oak, was seen by a Hawk, who made aswoop down, and seized him. The Nightingale earnestly besought the Hawkto let him go, saying that he was not big enough to satisfy the hungerof a Hawk, who ought to pursue the larger birds. The Hawk said: "Ishould indeed have lost my senses if I should let go food ready to myhand, for the sake of pursuing birds which are not yet even withinsight."

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

The Hen and the Swallow.

A Hen finding the eggs of a viper, and carefully keeping them warm,nourished them into life. A Swallow observing what she had done, said:"You silly creature! Why have you hatched these vipers, which, when theyshall have grown, will surely inflict injury on all of us, beginningwith yourself?"

If we nourish evil, it will sooner or later turn upon us.

The Herdsman and the Lost Bull.

A Herdsman, tending kine in a forest, lost a Bull-calf from the fold.After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow that, if he could onlydiscover the thief who had stolen the Calf he would offer a lamb insacrifice to the Guardian Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, ashe ascended a small hillock, he saw at its foot a Lion feeding on theCalf. Terrified at the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands toheaven, and said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the GuardianDeities of the forest if I could only find out who had robbed me; butnow that I have discovered the thief, I would willingly add a full-grownBull to the Calf I have lost, and give them both to the guardians of theforest, if I may only secure my own escape from this terrible Lion insafety."

That which we are anxious to find, we are sometimes even more anxious toescape from, when we have succeeded in finding it.

The Shepherd's Boy and Wolf.

A Shepherd-boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought outthe villagers three or four times by crying out, "Wolf! Wolf!" and whenhis neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. TheWolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now reallyalarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: "Pray, do come and help me; theWolf is killing the sheep;" but no one paid any heed to his cries.

There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons.

The Pigeons, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, called upon the Hawkto defend them. He at once consented. When they had admitted him intothe cote, they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number ofthem in a single day, than the Kite could possibly pounce upon in awhole year.

Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.

The Farmer and the Cranes.

Some Cranes made their feeding grounds on some plough-lands newly sownwith wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an empty sling,chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when the birds foundthat the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take any noticeof it, and would not move. The farmer, on seeing this, charged his slingwith stones, and killed a great number. They at once forsook hisplough-lands, and cried to each other: "It is time for us to be off, forthis man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us inearnest what he can do."

If words suffice not, blows must follow.

The Cat and the Mice.

A certain house was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, made herway into it, and began to catch and eat them one by one. The Mice, beingcontinually devoured, kept themselves close in their holes. The Cat, nolonger able to get at them, perceived that she must tempt them forth bysome device. For this purpose she jumped upon a peg, and, suspendingherself from it, pretended to be dead. When the Mice came near shepounced among them and killed a great number. Pleased with the successof the trick, she tried another. She whitened herself with flour, andlay still on the heap of bags, as though she was one of them. The youngMice crept dangerously near her, but an old one peeping stealthily outsaid: "Ah, my good madam, though you should turn into a real flour-bag,I will not come too near you."

Avoid even appearances of danger.

The Father and his Sons.

A Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling amongthemselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations,he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had doneso, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of them in succession,and ordered them to break it in pieces. They each tried with all theirstrength, and were not able to do it. He next unclosed the fa*ggot, andtook the sticks, separately, one by one, and again put them into theirhands, on which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in thesewords: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other,you will be as this fa*ggot, uninjured by all attempts of your enemies;but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easilyas these sticks."

Disunited families are easily injured by others.

The Owl and the Grasshopper.

An Owl who was sitting in a hollow tree, dozing away a summer'safternoon, was very much disturbed by a rogue of a Grasshopper singingin the grass beneath. So far from keeping quiet, or moving away at therequest of the Owl, the Grasshopper sang all the more, and called her anold blinker, that only came out at night when all honest people had goneto bed. The Owl waited in silence for a time, and then artfullyaddressed the Grasshopper as follows: "Well, my dear, if one cannot beallowed to sleep, it is something to be kept awake by such a pleasantvoice. And now I think of it, I have a bottle of delicious nectar. Ifyou will come up, you shall have a drop." The silly Grasshopper, camehopping up to the Owl, who at once caught and killed him, and finishedher nap in comfort.

Flattery is not a proof of admiration.

The Fox and the Grapes.

A famished Fox saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from atrellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, butwearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them. At last sheturned away, beguiling herself of her disappointment, and saying: "TheGrapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought."

Revile not things beyond your reach.

The Ass carrying the Image.

An Ass once carried through the streets of the city a famous woodenImage, to be placed in one of its temples. The crowd as he passed alongmade lowly prostration before the Image. The Ass, thinking that theybowed their heads in token of respect for him, bristled up with prideand gave himself airs, and refused to move another step. The driver,seeing him thus stop, laid his whip lustily about his shoulders andsaid: "O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet come to this, that menpay worship to an Ass."

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

The Ass and the Lap-Dog.

A man had an Ass and a Maltese Lap-dog, a very great beauty. The Ass wasleft in a stable, and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as anyother Ass would. The Lap-dog was a great favorite with his master, andhe frisked and jumped about him in a manner pleasant to see. The Ass hadmuch work to do, in grinding the corn-mill, and in carrying wood fromthe forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hardfate, and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lap-dog,till at last one day he broke his halter, and galloped into his master'shouse, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning aswell as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seenthe Lap-dog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes uponit to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon hisback. The servants hearing the strange hubbub, and perceiving the dangerof their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to hisstable, with kicks, and clubs, and cuffs. The Ass, beaten nearly todeath, thus lamented: "I have brought it all on myself! Why could I nothave been contented to labor with my companions, and not try to live byidleness?"

The Tortoise and the Eagle.

A Tortoise, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds ofher hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hoveringnear, heard her lamentation, and demanded what reward she would givehim, if he would take her aloft, and float her in the air. "I will giveyou," she said, "all the riches of the Red Sea." "I will teach you tofly then," said the Eagle; and taking her up in his talons, he carriedher almost to the clouds,—when suddenly letting her go, she fell on alofty mountain, and dashed her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimedin the moment of death: "I have deserved my present fate; for what had Ito do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on theearth?"

If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.

The Porcupine and the Snakes.

A Porcupine, wanting to shelter himself, desired a nest of Snakes togive him admittance into their cave. They were prevailed upon, and lethim in accordingly; but were so annoyed with his sharp prickly quillsthat they soon repented of their easy compliance, and entreated thePorcupine to withdraw, and leave them their hole to themselves. "No,"says he, "let them quit the place that don't like it; for my part, I amwell enough satisfied as I am."

Hospitality is a virtue, but should be wisely exercised; we may bythoughtlessness entertain foes instead of friends.

The Fox who had Lost his Tail.

A Fox, caught in a trap, escaped with the loss of his "brush."Henceforth, feeling his life a burden from the shame and ridicule towhich he was exposed, he schemed to bring all the other Foxes into alike condition with himself. He publicly advised them to cut off theirtails, saying "that they would not only look much better without them,but that they would get rid of the weight of the brush." One of themsaid: "If you had not yourself lost your tail, my friend, you would notthus counsel us."

Advice prompted by selfishness should not be heeded.

The Old Lion.

A Lion, worn out with years, lay on the ground at the point of death. ABoar rushed upon him, and avenged with a stroke of his tusks a longremembered injury. Shortly afterwards the Bull with his horns gored himas if he were an enemy. When the Ass saw that the huge beast could beassailed with impunity, he let drive at his forehead with his heels.

The Ass and the Wolf.

An Ass, feeding in a meadow, saw a Wolf approaching to seize him, andimmediately pretended to be lame. The Wolf, coming up, inquired thecause of his lameness. The Ass said that he had a thorn in his foot, andrequested the Wolf to pull it out. The Wolf consenting, the Ass with hisheels kicked his teeth into his mouth, and galloped away. The Wolfsaid: "I am rightly served, for why did I attempt the art of healing,when my father only taught me the trade of a butcher?"

Every one to his trade.

The Horse and the Groom.

A Groom used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down hisHorse, but at the same time stole his oats, and sold them for his ownprofit. "Alas!" said the Horse, "if you really wish me to be in goodcondition, you should groom me less, and feed me more."

If you wish to do a service, do it right.

The Ass and his Shadow.

A traveler hired an Ass to convey him to a distant place. The day beingintensely hot, and the sun shining in its strength, the traveler stoppedto 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 theowner of the Ass both claimed it, a violent dispute arose between themas to which of them had the right to it. The owner maintained that hehad let the Ass only, and not his Shadow. The traveler asserted that hehad, with the hire of the Ass, hired his Shadow also. The quarrelproceeded from words to blows, and while the men fought the Ass gallopedoff.

In quarreling about the shadow we often lose the substance.

The Horse and the Loaded Ass.

An idle Horse, and an Ass laboring under a heavy burden, were travelingthe road together. The Ass, ready to faint under his heavy load,entreated the Horse to assist him, and lighten his burden, by takingsome of it upon his back. The Horse was ill-natured and refused to doit; upon which the poor Ass tumbled down in the midst of the highway,and expired. The countryman then took the whole burden, and laid itupon the Horse, together with the skin of the dead Ass.

Laziness often prepares a burden for its own back.

The Mules and the Robbers.

Two Mules laden with packs were trudging along. One carried panniersfilled with money, the other sacks of grain. The Mule carrying thetreasure walked with head erect, and tossed up and down the bellsfastened to his neck. His companion followed with quiet and easy step.All on a sudden Robbers rushed from their hiding-places upon them, andin the scuffle with their owners wounded the Mule carrying the treasure,which they greedily seized upon, while they took no notice of the grain.The Mule which had been wounded bewailed his misfortunes. The otherreplied: "I am glad that I was thought so little of, for I have lostnothing, nor am I hurt with any wound."

The conspicuous run the greatest risk.

The Lion and the Three Bulls.

Three Bulls for a long time pastured together. A Lion lay in ambush inthe hope of making them his prey, but was afraid to attack them whilstthey kept together. Having at last by guileful speeches succeeded inseparating them, he attacked them without fear, as they fed alone, andfeasted on them one by one at his own leisure.

In union is strength.

The Dog and the Shadow.

A Dog, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in hismouth, saw his own shadow in the water, and took it for another Dog,with a piece of meat double his own in size. He therefore let go hisown, and fiercely attacked the other Dog, to get his larger piece fromhim. He thus lost both—that which he grasped at in the water, becauseit was a shadow and his own, because the stream swept it away.

It is not wise to be too greedy.

The Ants and the Grasshopper.

The Ants were employing a fine winter's day in drying grain collected inthe summer time. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by andearnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him: "Why didyou not treasure up food during the summer?" He replied: "I had notleisure; I passed the days in singing." They then said: "If you werefoolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bedin the winter."

Idleness brings want.

The Thirsty Pigeon.

A Pigeon, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water paintedon a sign-board. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towardit with a loud whirr, and unwittingly dashed against the sign-board andjarred herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fellto the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

Zeal should not outrun discretion.

The Flies and the Honey.

A Jar of Honey having been upset in a housekeeper's room, a number offlies were attracted by its sweetness, and placing their feet in it, ateit greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey thatthey could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and weresuffocated. Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, "O foolishcreatures that we are! For the sake of a little pleasure we havedestroyed ourselves."

The Great and the Little Fishes.

A Fisherman was drawing up a net which he had cast into the sea, full ofall sorts of fish. The Little Fish escaped through the meshes of thenet, and got back into the deep, but the Great Fish were all caught andhauled into the ship.

Our insignificance is often the cause of our safety.

The Wolves and the Sheep.

"Why should there always be this implacable warfare between us?" saidthe Wolves to the Sheep. "Those evil-disposed Dogs have much to answerfor. They always bark whenever we approach you, and attack us before wehave done any harm. If you would only dismiss them from your heels,there might soon be treaties of peace between us." The sheep, poorsilly creatures! were easily beguiled, and dismissed the Dogs. TheWolves destroyed the unguarded flock at their pleasure.

Change not friends for foes.

The Fox and the Stork.

The Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and provided nothing but a soup, ina wide, shallow dish. This he could lap up with ease; but the Stork, whocould but just dip in the point of his bill, was not a bit better. A fewdays after, he returned the compliment, and invited the Fox; butsuffered nothing to be brought to the table but some minced meat in aglass jar, the neck of which was so deep and so narrow, that, though theStork with his long bill could eat very well, all that the Fox could dowas to lick the brims. Reynard was heartily vexed, but owned that he hadbeen used as he deserved.

Those who practice cunning must expect to suffer by it.

The Bat and the Weasels.

A Bat, falling upon the ground, was caught by a Weasel, of whom heearnestly besought his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was bynature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was not abird, but a mouse, and thus saved his life. Shortly afterward the Batagain fell on the ground, and was caught by another Weasel, whom helikewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had a specialhostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but abat; and thus a second time escaped.

The Hare and the Tortoise.

A Hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise.The latter, laughing, said: "Though you be swift as the wind, I willbeat you in a race." The Hare, deeming her assertion to be simplyimpossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the Foxshould choose the course, and fix the goal. On the day appointed for therace they started together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, butwent on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course.The Hare, trusting to his native swiftness, cared little about the race,and lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, andmoving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal,and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue.

Perseverance is surer than swiftness.

Jupiter and the Monkey.

Jupiter issued a proclamation to all the beasts of the forest, andpromised a royal reward to the one whose offspring should be deemed thehandsomest. The Monkey came with the rest, and presented, with all amother's tenderness, a flat-nosed, hairless, ill-featured young Monkeyas a candidate for the promised reward. A general laugh saluted her onthe presentation of her son. She resolutely said: "I know not whetherJupiter will allot the prize to my son; but this I do know, that he isthe dearest, handsomest, and most beautiful of all who are here."

A mother's love blinds her to many imperfections.

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 thisexpedient. He expressed his willingness to accept him as the suitor ofhis daughter on one condition; that he should allow him to extract histeeth, and cut off his claws. The Lion cheerfully assented to theproposal: when, however, he next repeated his request, the woodman setupon him with his club.

The Miser.

A Miser had a lump of gold which he buried in the ground, coming to lookat the spot every day. One day he found that it was stolen, and he beganto tear his hair and loudly lament. A neighbor, seeing him, said: "Praydo not grieve so; bury a stone in the hole, and fancy it is the gold. Itwill serve you just as well, for when the gold was there you made no useof it."

The Wolf and the Goat.

A Wolf saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a steep precipice, where hehad not a chance of reaching her. He called to her, and earnestlybesought her to come lower down, lest she should by some mishap get afall; and he added that the meadows lay where he was standing, and thatthe herbage was most tender. She replied: "No, my friend, it is not ofme you are thinking, but of yourself."

Invitations prompted by selfishness are not to be accepted.

The Bald Knight.

A Bald Knight, who wore a wig, went out to hunt. A sudden puff of windblew off his hat and wig, at which a loud laugh rang forth from hiscompanions. He joined in the joke by saying: "What marvel that hairswhich are not mine should fly from me, when my own have forsaken eventhe man with whom they were born."

Those who cannot take care of their own, should not be entrusted withthe care of another's property.

The Fox and the Wood-Cutter.

A Fox, running before the hounds, came across a Wood-cutter felling anoak, and besought him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Wood-cutteradvised him to take shelter in his own hut. The Fox crept in, and hidhimself in a corner. The Huntsman came up, with his hounds, in a fewminutes, and inquired of the Wood-cutter if he had seen the Fox. Hedeclared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he wasspeaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hid. The Huntsman took no noticeof the signs, but, believing his word, hastened forward in the chase. Assoon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any noticeof the Wood-cutter; whereon he called to him, and reproached him,saying: "You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet youleave me without a word of thanks." The Fox replied: "Indeed, I shouldhave thanked you most fervently, if your deeds had been as good as yourwords."

The Kid and the Wolf.

A Kid, mounted on a high rock, bestowed all manner of abuse upon a Wolfon the ground below. The Wolf, looking up, replied: "Do not think, vaincreature, that you annoy me. I regard this ill language as coming notfrom you, but from the place on which you stand."

The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox.

A Lion and a Bear seized upon a kid at the same moment, and foughtfiercely for its possession. When they had fearfully lacerated eachother, and were faint from the long combat, they lay down exhausted withfatigue. A Fox who had gone round them at a distance several times, sawthem both stretched on the ground, and the Kid lying untouched in themiddle, ran in between them, and seizing the Kid, scampered off as fastas he could. The Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to getup, said: "Woe betide us, that we should have fought and belaboredourselves only to serve the turn of a Fox!"

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

The Stag in the Ox-Stall.

A Stag, hardly pressed by the hounds, and blind through fear to thedanger he was running into, took shelter in a farm-yard, and hid himselfin a shed among the oxen. An Ox gave him this kindly warning: "O unhappycreature! why should you thus, of your own accord, incur destruction,and trust yourself in the house of your enemy?" The Stag replied: "Doyou only suffer me, friend, to stay where I am, and I will undertake tofind some favorable opportunity of effecting my escape." At the approachof the evening the herdsman came to feed his cattle, but did not see theStag. The Stag, congratulating himself on his safety, began to expresshis sincere thanks to the Oxen who had kindly afforded him help in thehour 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 theshed, who has as it were a hundred eyes, and, until he has come andgone, your life is still in peril." At that moment the master himselfentered, and having had to complain that his oxen had not been properlyfed, he went up to their racks, and cried out: "Why is there such ascarcity 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 thusexamined everything, he spied the antlers of the Stag peeping out of thestraw. Summoning his laborers, he ordered that the Stag should bekilled.

What is safety for one is not always safety for another.

The Eagle and the Jackdaw.

An Eagle, flying down from his eyrie on a lofty rock, seized upon alamb, and carried him aloft in his talons. A Jackdaw who witnessed thecapture of the lamb, was stirred with envy, and determined to emulatethe strength and flight of the Eagle. He flew round with a great whirrof his wings, and settled upon a large sheep, with the intention ofcarrying it off, but his claws becoming entangled in its fleece, he wasunable to release himself, although he fluttered with his feathers asmuch as he could. The shepherd, seeing what had happened, ran up andcaught him. He at once clipped his wings, and, taking him home at night,gave him to his children.

We should not permit our ambition to lead us beyond the limits of ourpower.

The Three Tradesmen.

A great city was besieged, and its inhabitants were called together toconsider the best means of protecting it from the enemy. A Bricklayerpresent earnestly recommended bricks, as affording the best materialsfor an effectual resistance. A Carpenter, with equal energy, proposedtimber, as providing a preferable method of defense. Upon which aCurrier stood up, and said: "Sirs, I differ from you altogether; thereis no material for resistance equal to a covering of hides; and nothingso good as leather."

Every man for his trade.

The Dancing Monkeys.

A Prince had some Monkeys trained to dance. Being naturally great mimicsof men's actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils; and whenarrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any ofthe courtiers. The spectacle was often repeated with great applause,till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocketa handful of nuts, and threw them upon the stage. The Monkeys, at thesight of the nuts, forgot their dancing, and became (as indeed theywere) Monkeys instead of actors, and pulling off their masks and tearingtheir robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancingspectacle thus came to an end, amidst the laughter and ridicule of theaudience.

They who assume a character will betray themselves by their actions.

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 offood 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 ashort time died of hunger.

Where one may live, another may starve.

The Ass in the Lion's Skin.

An Ass, having put on the Lion's skin, roamed about in the forest, andamused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met with inhis wanderings. At last, meeting a Fox, he tried to frighten him also,but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice, than he exclaimed:"I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard yourbray."

No disguise will hide one's true character.

The Boy Bathing.

A Boy bathing in a river was in danger of being drowned. He called outto a traveler passing by for help. The traveler, instead of holding outa helping hand, stood up unconcernedly, and scolded the boy for hisimprudence. "Oh, sir!" cried the youth, "pray help me now, and scold meafterwards."

Counsel, without help, is useless.

The co*ck and the Fox.

The Fox, passing early one summer's morning near a farm-yard, was caughtin a springe, which the farmer had planted there for that end. The co*ck,at a distance, saw what happened, and, hardly yet daring to trusthimself too near so dangerous a foe, approached him cautiously, andpeeped at him. Reynard addressed himself to him, with all the designingartifice imaginable. "Dear cousin," says he, "you see what anunfortunate accident has befallen me here, and all upon your account:for, as I was creeping through yonder hedge, in my way homeward, I heardyou crow, and was resolved to ask you how you did before I went anyfarther; but I met with this disaster; and therefore now I must ask youfor a knife to cut this string; or, at least, to conceal my misfortunetill I have gnawed it asunder." The co*ck, seeing how the case stood,made no reply, but posted away as fast as he could, and told the farmer,who came and killed the Fox.

To aid the vicious is to become a partner in their guilt.

The Viper and the File.

A Viper, entering the workshop of a smith, sought from the tools themeans of satisfying his hunger. He more particularly addressed himselfto a File, and asked of him the favor of a meal. The File replied: "Youmust indeed be a simple-minded fellow if you expect to get anything fromme, who am accustomed to take from every one, and never to give anythingin return."

The covetous are poor givers.

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, when the oxen, turninground, thus addressed the wheels: "Hallo there! why do you make so muchnoise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you, ought to cry out."

Those who suffer most cry out the least.

The Bear and the Bee-Hives.

A Bear that had found his way into a garden where Bees were kept beganto turn over the hives and devour the honey. The Bees settled in swarmsabout his head, and stung his eyes and nose so much, that, maddened withpain, he tore the skin from his head with his own claws.

The Thrush and the Swallow.

A young Thrush, who lived in an orchard once became acquainted with aSwallow. A friendship sprang up between them; and the Swallow, afterskimming the orchard and the neighboring meadow, would every now andthen come and visit the Thrush. The Thrush, hopping from branch tobranch, would welcome him with his most cheerful note. "O mother!" saidhe to his parent one day, "never had creature such a friend as I have inthis same Swallow."—"Nor ever any mother," replied the parent-bird,"such a silly son as I have in this same Thrush. Long before theapproach of winter, your friend will have left you; and while you sitshivering on a leafless bough he will be sporting under sunny skieshundreds of miles away."

The Sensible Ass.

An Old Fellow, in time of war, was allowing his Ass to feed in a greenmeadow, when he was alarmed by a sudden advance of the enemy. He triedevery means in his power to urge the Ass to fly, but in vain. "Theenemy are upon us!" said he. "And what will the enemy do?" asked theAss. "Will they put two pairs of panniers on my back, instead ofone?"—"No," answered the Man; "there is no fear of that."—"Why, then,"replied the Ass, "I'll not stir an inch. I am born to be a slave; and mygreatest enemy is he who gives me most to carry."

The Lion and the Ass.

A Lion and an Ass made an agreement to go out hunting together.By-and-by they came to a cave, where wild goats abode. The Lion took uphis station at the mouth of the cave, and the Ass, going within, kickedand brayed, and made a mighty fuss to frighten them out. When the Lionhad caught them, the Ass came out and asked him if he had not made anoble fight. "Yes, indeed," said the Lion; "and I assure you, you wouldhave frightened me too, if I had not known you to be an Ass."

The Fox and the Ape.

Upon the decease of the Lion, the beasts of the forest assembled tochoose another king. The Ape played so many grimaces, gambols, and antictricks, that he was elected by a large majority; and the crown wasplaced upon his head. The Fox, envious of this distinction, seeing, soonafter, a trap baited with a piece of meat, approached the new king, andsaid with mock humility: "May it please your majesty, I have found onyour domain a treasure, to which, if you will deign to accompany me, Iwill conduct you." The Ape thereupon set off with the Fox, and, onarriving at the spot, laid his paw upon the meat. Snap! went the trap,and caught him by the fingers. Mad with the shame and the pain, hereproached the Fox for a false thief and a traitor. Reynard laughedheartily, and said, with a sneer: "You a king, and not understand atrap!"

The Lion and the Wolf.

A Wolf, roaming by the mountain's side, saw his own shadow, as the sunwas setting, become greatly extended and magnified, and he said tohimself: "Why should I, being of such an immense size, and extendingnearly an acre in length, be afraid of the Lion? Ought I not to beacknowledged as King of all the collected beasts?" While he wasindulging in these proud thoughts, a Lion fell upon him, and killed him.He exclaimed with a too-late repentance, "Wretched me! thisover-estimation of myself is the cause of my destruction."

It is not wise, to hold too exalted an opinion of one's self.

The Miller, his Son and their Ass.

A miller and his Son were driving their Ass to a fair. On the way, theymet a troop of girls. "Look there!" cried one of them, "did you ever seesuch fools, to be trudging along on foot when they might be riding?"The old Man, hearing this, quietly bade his Son get on the Ass, andwalked along merrily by his side.

Presently they came to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There!"said one of them, "it proves what I was saying. What respect is shown toold age in these days? Do you see that idle young rogue riding, whilehis old father has to walk?—Get down, you scapegrace! and let the oldMan rest his weary limbs." Upon this the Father made his Son dismount,and got up himself. In this manner they had not proceeded far when theymet a company of women and children. "Why, you lazy old fellow!" criedseveral tongues at once, "how can you ride upon the beast, while thatpoor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you." Thegood-natured Miller immediately took up his Son behind him. They had nowalmost reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a townsman, "isthat Ass your own?" "Yes," says the old Man. "Oh! One would not havethought so by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are betterable to carry the poor beast than he you!" "Anything to please you,"said the old Man. So, alighting with his Son, they tied the Ass's legstogether, and by the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on theirshoulders over a bridge. The people ran out in crowds to laugh at thesight; till the Ass, not liking the noise nor his situation, kickedasunder the cords and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river. Uponthis the old Man made the best of his way home with his Son—convincedthat, by endeavoring to please every-body, he had succeeded in pleasingnobody, and lost his Ass into the bargain.

The Travelers and the Plane-Tree.

Two Travelers, worn out by the heat of the summer's sun, laid themselvesdown at noon under the wide-spreading branches of a Plane-tree. As theyrested under its shade, one of the Travelers said to the other: "What asingularly useless tree is the Plane. It bears no fruit, and is not ofthe least service to man." The Plane-tree interrupting him said: "Youungrateful fellows! Do you, while receiving benefits from me, andresting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless, andunprofitable?"

Some men despise their best blessings because they come without cost.

The Tortoise and the Two Ducks.

A Tortoise, becoming tired of her humble home, resolved to visit foreignlands, but she did not know which way to go. She repaired to two Ducksto show her the road, and they told her that the best way to travel wasthrough the air. On her imploring their help, they made her grasp astick with her mouth, and so they bore her aloft. As they flew along,the gaping people beneath shouted at sight of the spectacle. The vainTortoise mistook their shouts for applause. "I am surely a queen," saidshe. But, alas! as she opened her mouth to speak she lost her hold ofthe stick, and, falling to the ground, was dashed to pieces.

Those who are not able to roam should stay at home.

The Countryman and the Snake.

A Villager found a Snake under a hedge, almost dead with cold. He couldnot help having a compassion for the poor creature, so he brought ithome, and laid it upon the hearth near the fire; but it had not lainthere long, before (being revived with the heat) it began to erectit*elf, and fly at his wife and children. The Countryman, hearing anoutcry, and perceiving what the matter was, caught up a mattock, andsoon dispatched him, upbraiding him at the same time in these words: "Isthis, vile wretch, the reward you make to him that saved your life?"

Kindness to the ungrateful and the vicious is thrown away.

The Madman who Sold Wisdom.

A Madman once set himself up in the market place, and with loud criesannounced that he would sell Wisdom. The people at once crowded abouthim, and some gave him gold for his wares, but they each got only a blowon the ear and a bunch of thread, and were well laughed at by theircompanions. One of them, however, took it more seriously than theothers, and asked a wise sage what it meant. "It means," said the sage,"that if one would not be hurt by a Madman, he must put a bunch ofthread over his ears." So the Madman was really selling Wisdom.

The Leopard and the Fox.

A Leopard, being no longer able, by reason of old age, to pursue hisprey, feigned illness, and gave out that he would confer great favorsupon any animal that would cure him. A cunning Fox heard of theproclamation, and lost no time in visiting the Leopard, first makinghimself look as much like a physician as he could. On seeing him, theLeopard declared that such a distinguished looking animal could notfail to cure him. This so flattered the Fox that he came near, and atonce fell a victim to his vanity, being unable to flee because of thedisguise, which fettered his limbs.

Flattery is a dangerous weapon in the hands of an enemy.

The Hare afraid of his Ears.

The Lion, being badly hurt by the horns of a goat, swore in a great ragethat every animal with horns should be banished from his kingdom. Asilly Hare, seeing the shadow of his ears, was in great fear lest theyshould be taken for horns, and scampered away.

The Peaco*ck and the Crane.

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

Fine feathers don't make fine birds.

The Mouse and the Weasel.

A little starveling Mouse had made his way with some difficulty into abasket of corn, where, finding the entertainment so good, he stuffed andcrammed himself to such an extent, that when he would have got out againhe found the hole was too small to allow his puffed-up body to pass. Ashe sat at the hole groaning over his fate, a Weasel, who was brought tothe spot by his cries, thus addressed him: "Stop there, my friend, andfast till you are thin; for you will never come out till you reduceyourself to the same condition as when you entered."

The Fox and the Tiger.

A skillful archer, coming into the woods, directed his arrows sosuccessfully that he slew many wild beasts, and pursued several others.This put the whole savage kind into a fearful consternation, and madethem fly to the most retired thickets for refuge. At last, the Tigerresumed courage, and, bidding them not be afraid, said that he alonewould engage the enemy; telling them they might depend upon his valorand strength to revenge their wrongs. In the midst of these threats,while he was lashing himself with his tail, and tearing up the groundfor anger, an arrow pierced his ribs, and hung by its barbed point inhis side. He set up an hideous and loud roar, occasioned by the anguishwhich he felt, and endeavored to draw out the painful dart with histeeth; when the Fox, approaching him, inquired with an air of surprisewho it was that could have strength and courage enough to wound somighty and valorous a beast! "Ah!" says the Tiger, "I was mistaken in myreckoning: it was that invincible man yonder."

There is always some vulnerable point in the strongest armor.

The Fox and the Turkeys.

A Fox spied some turkeys roosting in a tree. He managed to attracttheir attention and then ran about the tree, pretended to climb, walkedon his hind legs, and did all sorts of tricks. Filled with fear, theTurkeys watched every one of his movements until they became dizzy, and,one by one, fell from their safe perch.

By too much attention to danger, we may fall victims to it.

The Eagle, the Cat, and the Wild Sow.

An Eagle had made her nest at the top of a lofty oak. A Cat, havingfound a convenient hole, lived with her kittens in the middle of thetrunk; and a Wild Sow with her young had taken shelter in a hollow atit* foot. The Cat resolved to destroy by her arts this chance-madecolony. She climbed to the nest of the Eagle, and said: "Destruction ispreparing for you, and for me too. The Wild Sow, whom you may see dailydigging up the earth, wishes to uproot the oak, that she may, on itsfall, seize our families as food." Then she crept down to the cave ofthe Sow and said: "Your children are in great danger; for as soon as youshall go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared topounce upon one of your little pigs." When night came, she went forthwith silent foot and obtained food for herself and her kittens; but,feigning to be afraid, she kept a look-out all through the day.Meanwhile, the Eagle, full of fear of the Sow, sat still on thebranches, and the Sow, terrified by the Eagle, did not dare to go outfrom her cave; and thus they each, with their families, perished fromhunger.

Those who stir up enmities are not to be trusted.

The Peaco*ck and the Magpie.

The Birds once met together to choose a king; and, among others, thePeaco*ck was a candidate. Spreading his showy tail, and stalking up anddown with affected grandeur, he caught the eyes of the silly multitudeby his brilliant appearance, and was elected with acclamation. TheMagpie then stepped forth into the midst of the assembly, and thusaddressed the new king: "May it please your majesty, elect to permit ahumble admirer to propose a question. As our king, we put our lives andfortunes in your hands. If, therefore, the Eagle, the Vulture, and theKite, should make a descent upon us, what means would you take for ourdefense?" This pithy question opened the eyes of the Birds to theweakness of their choice and they canceled the election.

The Two Goats.

Two Goats started at the same moment, from opposite ends, to cross arude bridge that was only wide enough for one to cross at a time.Meeting at the middle of the bridge, neither would give way to theother. They locked horns and fought for the right of way, until theyboth fell into the torrent below and were drowned.

The Dove and the Ant.

An Ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, beingcarried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of beingdrowned. A Dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked aleaf, and let it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant, climbing onto it, floated in safety to the bank. Shortly afterwards a bird catchercame close and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for theDove, which sat in the branches. The Ant, perceiving his design, stunghim in the foot. He suddenly threw down the twigs, and thereupon madethe Dove take wing.

The grateful heart will always find opportunities to show its gratitude.

The Eagle and the Beetle.

The Eagle and the Beetle were at enmity together, and they destroyed oneanother's nests. The Eagle gave the first provocation in seizing uponand in eating the young ones of the Beetle. The Beetle got by stealth atthe Eagle's eggs, and rolled them out of the nest, and followed theEagle even into the presence of Jupiter. On the Eagle making hiscomplaint, Jupiter ordered him to make his nest in his lap; and whileJupiter had the eggs in his lap, the Beetle came flying about him, andJupiter, rising up unawares to drive him away from his head, threw downthe eggs, and broke them.

The weak often revenge themselves on those who use them ill, even thoughthey be the more powerful.

The Mule.

A Mule, frolicsome from want of work and from overmuch corn, gallopedabout in a very extravagant manner, and said to himself: "My fathersurely was a high-mettled racer, and I am his own child in speed andspirit." On the next day, being driven a long journey, and feeling veryweary, he exclaimed in a disconsolate tone: "I must have made a mistake;my father, after all, could have been only an ass."

The Cat, the Weasel and the Rabbit.

While a Rabbit was absent from his hole one day, a Weasel tookpossession of it. On the Rabbit's return, seeing the Weasel's nosesticking out, he said: "You must leave this hole immediately. There isonly room for one, and it has always belonged to me and my fathersbefore me." "The more reason that you should give it up now," said theWeasel, "and leave its possession to me." As they could not settle thedispute, they agreed to leave the question of ownership to a wise oldCat, to whom they went without more ado. "I am deaf," said the Cat. "Putyour noses close to my ears." No sooner had they done so, than sheclapped a paw upon each of them, and killed them both.

The strong are apt to settle all questions by the rule of might.

The Rat and the Frog.

A Rat in an evil day made acquaintance with a Frog, and they set off ontheir travels together. The Frog, on pretense of great affection, and ofkeeping his companion out of harm's way, tied the Rat's foot to his ownhind-leg, and thus they proceeded for some distance by land. Presentlythey came to some water, and the Frog, bidding the Rat have goodcourage, began to swim across. They had scarcely, however, arrivedmidway, when the Frog took a sudden plunge to the bottom, dragging theunfortunate Rat after him. But the struggling and floundering of the Ratmade so great a commotion in the water that it attracted the attentionof a Kite, who, pouncing down and bearing off the Rat, carried away theFrog at the same time in his train.

Inconsiderate and ill-matched alliances generally end in ruin; and theman who compasses the destruction of his neighbor, is often caught inhis own snare.

The Widow and the Sheep.

There was a certain Widow who had an only Sheep, and, wishing to makethe most of his wool, she sheared him so closely that she cut his skinas well as his fleece. The Sheep, smarting under this treatment, criedout: "Why do you torture me thus? What will my blood add to the weightof the wool? If you want my flesh, Dame, send for the Butcher, who willput me out of my misery at once; but if you want my fleece, send for theShearer, who will clip my wool without drawing my blood."

Economy may be carried too far.

The Man Bitten by a Dog.

A Man who had been bitten by a Dog was going about asking who could curehim. One that met him said: "Sir, if you would be cured, take a bit ofbread and dip it in the blood of the wound, and give it to the dog thatbit you." The Man smiled, and said: "If I were to follow your advice, Ishould be bitten by all the dogs in the city."

He who proclaims himself ready to buy up his enemies will never want asupply of them.

The Horse and the Wolf.

A Wolf saw a Horse grazing in a field. Putting on a grave air, heapproached him and said: "Sir, you must be very ill; I have some skillas a physician, and if you will tell me where your ailment is, I shallbe glad to be of service." Said the horse: "If you will examine my foot,you will find what ails me." But as the wily Wolf approached him, with akick he sent him flying into the air.

The Goatherd and the Goats.

It was a stormy day, and the snow was falling fast, when a Goatherddrove his Goats, all white with snow, into a desert cave for shelter.There he found that a herd of Wild Goats, more numerous and larger thanhis own, had already taken possession. So, thinking to secure them all,he left his own Goats to take care of themselves, and threw the brancheswhich he had brought for them to the Wild Goats to browse on. But whenthe weather cleared up, he found his own Goats had perished from hunger,while the Wild Goats were off and away to the hills and woods. So theGoatherd returned a laughing-stock to his neighbors, having failed togain the Wild Goats, and having lost his own.

They who neglect their old friends for the sake of new ones, are rightlyserved if they lose both.

The Goose with the Golden Eggs.

A certain man had the good fortune to possess a Goose that laid him aGolden Egg every day. But dissatisfied with so slow an income, andthinking to seize the whole treasure at once, he killed the Goose, andcutting her open, found her—just what any other goose would be!

Much wants more, and loses all.

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar.

An Old Woman found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime oldwine, and which still retained the fragrant smell of its formercontents. She greedily placed it several times to her nose, and drawingit backwards and forwards, said: "O most delicious! How nice must theWine itself have been when it leaves behind in the very vessel whichcontained it so sweet a perfume!"

The memory of a good deed lives.

The Ass Carrying Salt.

A certain Huckster who kept an Ass, hearing that Salt was to be hadcheap at the sea-side, drove down his Ass thither to buy some. Havingloaded the beast as much as he could bear, he was driving him home,when, as they were passing a slippery ledge of rock, the Ass fell intothe stream below, and the Salt being melted, the Ass was relieved of hisburden, and having gained the bank with ease, pursued his journeyonward, light in body and in spirit. The Huckster soon afterwards setoff for the sea-shore for some more Salt, and loaded the Ass, ifpossible, yet more heavily than before. On their return, as they crossedthe stream into which he had formerly fallen, the Ass fell down onpurpose, and by the dissolving of the Salt, was again released from hisload. The Master, provoked at the loss, and thinking how he might curehim of this trick, on his next journey to the coast freighted the beastwith a load of sponges. When they arrived at the same stream as before,the Ass was at his old tricks again, and rolled himself into the water;but he found to his cost, as he proceeded homewards, that instead oflightening his burden, he had more than doubled its weight.

The same measures will not suit all circ*mstances.

The Gnat and the Bull.

A Gnat that had been buzzing about the head of a Bull, at lengthsettling himself down upon his horn, begged his pardon for incommodinghim; "but if," says he, "my weight at all inconveniences you, pray sayso, and I will be off in a moment." "Oh, never trouble your head aboutthat," says the Bull, "for 'tis all one to me whether you go or stay;and, to say the truth, I did not know you were there."

The smaller the Mind the greater the Conceit.

The Lion and the Gnat.

As a Gnat was buzzing around a Lion, the Lion said to him: "How dare youapproach so near? Be off, or I will kill you with the least stroke ofmy paw." The Gnat, knowing the advantage of his small size, and hisalertness, immediately challenged the boaster to combat, and alightingfirst upon his nose and then upon his tail, made the Lion so furiousthat he injured himself grievously with his paws. As the Gnat flew awayhe boasted of his own prowess in thus defeating the King of Beastswithout the slightest injury to himself. But, in his carelessness, heflew directly into a spider's web, and the spider instantly seized andkilled him.

The Lion, the Ass and the Fox Hunting.

The Lion, the Ass and the Fox formed a party to go out hunting. Theytook a large booty, and when the sport was ended, bethought themselvesof having a hearty meal. The Lion bade the Ass allot the spoil. So,dividing it into three equal parts, the Ass begged his friends to maketheir choice; at which the Lion, in great indignation, fell upon the Assand tore him to pieces. He then bade the Fox make a division; who,gathering the whole into one great heap, reserved but the smallest mitefor himself. "Ah! friend," says the Lion, "who taught you to make soequitable a division?" "I wanted no other lesson," replied the Fox,"than the Ass's fate."

Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.

The Dog Whose Ears were Cropped.

A Dog complained of the cruelty of her master in cutting off her ears,and was so ashamed of her appearance that she resolved to stay in herkennel with her family. A friendly hunting dog said to her: "If you hadbeen peaceful, and not always fighting, you would have saved your earsand your good looks. If you will fight, it is a kindness to crop yourears, that they may not give your enemy the advantage."

The Wind and the Sun.

A dispute once arose between the Wind and the Sun, which was thestronger of the two, and they agreed to settle the point upon thisissue—that whichever of the two soonest made a traveler take off hiscloak, should be accounted the more powerful. The Wind began, and blewwith all his might and main a blast, cold and fierce as a Thracianstorm; but the stronger he blew, the closer the traveler wrapped hiscloak around him, and the tighter he grasped it with his hands. Thenbroke out the Sun. With his welcome beams he dispersed the vapor and thecold; the traveler felt the genial warmth, and as the Sun shone brighterand brighter, he sat down, quite overcome with the heat, and taking offhis cloak, cast it on the ground.

Thus the Sun was declared the conqueror; and it has ever been deemedthat persuasion is better than force; and that the sunshine of a kindand gentle manner will sooner lay open a poor man's heart than all thethreatenings and force of blustering authority.

The Wild Boar and the Fox.

A Wild Boar was whetting his tusks against a tree, when a Fox coming by,asked why he did so; "for," said he, "I see no reason for it; there isneither hunter nor hound in sight, nor any other danger that I can see,at hand." "True," replied the Boar; "but when that danger does arise, Ishall have something else to do than to sharpen my weapons."

It is too late to whet the sword when the trumpet sounds to draw it.

The Hunter and the Wolf.

A greedy Hunter one day shot a fine Deer, and ere he could dress it, apretty Fawn came that way, and an arrow brought it to the ground. A Boarnow chanced to be passing, and the Hunter wounded it so that it lay uponthe ground as if dead. Not satisfied with this game, he must needspursue a Partridge that came fluttering near, and while he was doing sothe wounded Boar regained enough strength to spring upon him and killhim. A Wolf came that way, and seeing the four dead bodies, said: "Hereis food for a month; but I will save the best, and be content to-daywith the bow-string." But when he seized the string it loosened thefixed arrow, which shot him through the heart.

The greedy man and the miser cannot enjoy their gains.

The Astronomer.

An Astronomer used to walk out every night to gaze upon the stars. Ithappened one night that, with his whole thoughts rapt up in the skies,he fell into a well. One who heard his cries ran up to him, and said:"While you are trying to pry into the mysteries of heaven, you overlookthe common objects under your feet."

We should never look so high as to miss seeing the things that arearound us.

The Bulls and the Frogs.

Two Bulls lived in the same herd, and each aspiring to be the leader andmaster, they finally engaged in a fierce battle. An old Frog, who sat onthe bank of a stream near by, began to groan and to quake with fear. Athoughtless young Frog said to the old one: "Why need you be afraid?What is it to you that the Bulls fight for supremacy?" "Do you not see,"said the old Frog, "that one must defeat the other, and that thedefeated Bull, being driven from the field, will be forced to stay inthe marshes, and will thus trample us to death?"

The poor and weak are often made to suffer for the follies of thegreat.

The Thief and His Mother.

A Schoolboy stole a horn-book from one of his schoolfellows, and broughtit home to his mother. Instead of chastising him, she rather encouragedhim in the deed. In course of time the boy, now grown into a man, beganto steal things of greater value, until, at last, being caught in thevery act, he was brought to the Judge and sentenced to be hung. As hewas being led to the scaffold, the mother bowed herself to the groundwith grief. A neighbor seeing her thus, said to her: "It is too late foryou to moan and sob now. If you had been as much grieved when hecommitted his first theft, you would have corrected him in time, andthus have saved yourself this sorrowful day."

Nip evil in the bud.

The Man and His Two Wives.

In days when a man was allowed more wives than one, a middle-agedbachelor, who could be called neither young nor old, and whose hair wasonly just beginning to turn gray, must needs fall in love with two womenat once, and marry them both. The one was young and blooming, and wishedher husband to appear as youthful as herself; the other was somewhatmore advanced in age, and was as anxious that her husband should appeara suitable match for her. So, while the young one seized everyopportunity of pulling out the good man's gray hairs, the old one wasas industrious in plucking out every black hair she could find, till hefound that, between the one and the other, he had not a hair left.

He that submits his principles to the influence and caprices of oppositeparties will end in having no principles at all.

The Heifer, the Goat, the Sheep and the Lion.

A Heifer, a Goat, a Sheep, and a Lion formed a partnership, and agreedto divide their earnings. The Goat having snared a stag, they sent forthe Lion to divide it for them. The Lion said: "I will make fourparts—the first shall be mine as judge; the second, because I amstrongest; the third, because I am bravest; and the fourth—I will killany one who dares touch it."

He who will steal a part will steal the whole.

The Camel and the Travelers.

Two Travelers on a desert saw a Camel in the distance, and were greatlyfrightened at his huge appearance, thinking it to be some huge monster.While they hid behind some low shrubs, the animal came nearer, and theydiscovered that it was only a harmless Camel which had excited theirfears.

Distance exaggerates dangers.

The Swan and the Goose.

A certain rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He fed theone for his table, and kept the other for the sake of its song. When thetime came for killing the Goose, the cook went to take him at night,when it was dark, and he was not able to distinguish one bird from theother, and he caught the Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatenedwith death, burst forth into song, and thus made himself known by hisvoice, and preserved his life by his melody.

Sweet words may deliver us from peril, when harsh words would fail.

The Dolphins and the Sprat.

The Dolphins and the Whales were at war with one another, and the Spratstepped in and endeavored to separate them. But one of the Dolphinscried out: "We would rather perish in the contest, than be reconciled byyou."

The Shepherd and the Sea.

A Shepherd moved down his flock to feed near the shore, and beholdingthe Sea lying in a smooth calm, he was seized with a strong desire tosail over it. So he sold all his sheep and bought a cargo of Dates, andloaded a vessel, and set sail. He had not gone far when a storm arose;his ship was wrecked, and his Dates and everything lost, and he himselfwith difficulty escaped to land. Not long after, when the Sea was againcalm, and one of his friends came up to him and was admiring its repose,he said: "Have a care, my good fellow, of that smooth surface, it isonly looking out for your Dates."

The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp.

Some Bees had built their comb in the hollow trunk of an oak. The Dronesasserted that it was their doing, and belonged to them. The cause wasbrought into court before Judge Wasp. Knowing something of the parties,he thus addressed them: "The plaintiffs and defendants are so much alikein shape and color as to render the ownership a doubtful matter. Leteach party take a hive to itself, and build up a new comb, that from theshape of the cells and the taste of the honey, the lawful proprietors ofthe property in dispute may appear." The Bees readily assented to theWasp's plan. The Drones declined it. Whereupon the Wasp gave judgment:"It is clear now who made the comb, and who cannot make it; the Courtadjudges the honey to the Bees."

Professions are best tested by deeds.

The Wolf, the Goat and the Kid.

As an old Goat was going forth to pasture, she carefully latched herdoor, and bid her kid not to open it to any one who could not give thispass-word: "Beware of the Wolf and all his race." A Wolf happened to bepassing, and overheard what the old Goat said. When she was gone, hewent to the door, and, knocking, said: "Beware of the Wolf and all hisrace." But the Kid, peeping through a crack, said: "Show me a white pawand I will open the door." As the Wolf could not do this, he had todepart, no better than he came.

Two sureties are better than one.

The Fox and the Hedgehog.

A Fox, while crossing over a river, was driven by the stream into anarrow gorge, and lay there for a long time unable to get out, coveredwith myriads of horse-flies that had fastened themselves upon him. AHedgehog, who was wandering in that direction, saw him, and takingcompassion on him, asked him if he should drive away the flies that wereso tormenting him. But the Fox begged him to do nothing of the sort."Why not?" asked the Hedgehog. "Because," replied the Fox, "these fliesthat are upon me now are already full, and draw but little blood, butshould you remove them, a swarm of fresh and hungry ones will come, whowill not leave a drop of blood in my body."

When we throw off rulers or dependents, who have already made the mostof us, we do but, for the most part, lay ourselves open to others, whowill make us bleed yet more freely.

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 Dogslept; 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 ofhis meal. His master one day, pretending to be angry, and shaking hisstick at him, said: "You wretched little sluggard! what shall I do toyou? While I am hammering on the anvil, you sleep on the mat, and when Ibegin to eat after my toil, you wake up and wag your tail for food. Doyou not know that labor is the source of every blessing, and that nonebut those who work are entitled to eat?"

The Wild Ass and the Lion.

A Wild Ass and a Lion entered into an alliance that they might capturethe beasts of the forest with the greater ease. The Lion agreed toassist the Wild Ass with strength, while the Wild Ass gave the Lion thebenefit of his greater speed. When they had taken as many beasts astheir necessities required, the Lion undertook to distribute the prey,and for this purpose divided it into three shares. "I will take thefirst share," he said, "because I am king; and the second share, as apartner with you in the chase; and the third share (believe me) will bea source of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, andset off as fast as you can."

Might makes right.

The Father and His Two Daughters.

A man had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other toa tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who had married thegardener, 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 bewell watered." Not long after he went to the daughter who had marriedthe tile-maker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied:"I want for nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather maycontinue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might bedried." He said to her: "If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dryweather, with which of the two am I to join my wishes?"

The Fir Tree and the Bramble.

A Fir Tree said boastingly to the Bramble: "You are useful for nothingat all, while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." The Bramblemade answer: "You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axesand saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wishthat you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir Tree."

Better poverty without care, than riches with.

The Fox and the Monkey.

A Monkey once danced in an assembly of the Beasts, and so pleased themall by his performance that they elected him their king. A Fox envyinghim the honor, discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap, and leadingthe Monkey to the place where it was, said "that she had found a store,but had not used it, but had kept it for him as treasure trove of hiskingdom, and counseled him to lay hold of it." The Monkey approachedcarelessly, and was caught in the trap; and on his accusing the Fox ofpurposely leading him into the snare, she replied: "O Monkey, and areyou, with such a mind as yours, going to be king over the Beasts?"

The Farmer and His Sons.

A Farmer being on the point of death, wished to insure from his sons thesame attention to his farm as he had himself given it. He called them tohis bedside, and said: "My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one ofmy vineyards." The sons, after his death, took their spades andmattocks, and carefully dug over every portion of their land. They foundno treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary andsuperabundant crop.

The Cat and the Birds.

A Cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing, dressedhimself up as a physician, and, taking with him his cane and theinstruments becoming his profession, went to the aviary, knocked at thedoor, and inquired of the inmates how they all did, saying that if theywere ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. Theyreplied: "We are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will onlybe good enough to go away, and leave us as we are."

The Stag, the Wolf and the Sheep.

A Stag asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, and said that theWolf 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 out-strip me in your rapidflight. How then shall I be able to find you when the day of paymentcomes?"

Two blacks do not make one white.

The Raven and the Swan.

A Raven saw a Swan, and desired to secure for himself a like beauty ofplumage. Supposing that his splendid white color arose from his washingin the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in theneighborhood of which he picked up his living, and took up his abode inthe lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, hecould not change their color, while through want of food he perished.

Change of habit cannot alter nature.

The Lioness.

A controversy prevailed among the beasts of the field, as to which ofthe animals deserved the most credit for producing the greatest numberof whelps at a birth. They rushed clamorously into the presence of theLioness, and demanded of her the settlement of the dispute. "And you,"they said, "how many sons have you at a birth?" The Lioness laughed atthem, and said: "Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether athorough-bred Lion."

The value is in the worth, not in the number.

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