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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Aesop's Fables, by Aesop
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Aesop's Fables
+
+Author: Aesop
+
+Release Date: February 27, 2004 [EBook #11339]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AESOP'S FABLES ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Suzanne Shell, Greg Chapman and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+ÆSOP'S FABLES
+
+
+A NEW TRANSLATION
+
+BY V. S. VERNON JONES
+
+
+WITH AN INTRODUCTION
+
+BY G. K. CHESTERTON
+
+
+AND ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+BY ARTHUR RACKHAM
+
+
+1912 EDITION
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+_Æsop embodies an epigram not uncommon in human history; his fame
+is all the more deserved because he never deserved it. The firm
+foundations of common sense, the shrewd shots at uncommon sense, that
+characterise all the Fables, belong not him but to humanity. In
+the earliest human history whatever is authentic is universal: and
+whatever is universal is anonymous. In such cases there is always
+some central man who had first the trouble of collecting them, and
+afterwards the fame of creating them. He had the fame; and, on the
+whole, he earned the fame. There must have been something great and
+human, something of the human future and the human past, in such a
+man: even if he only used it to rob the past or deceive the future.
+The story of Arthur may have been really connected with the most
+fighting Christianity of falling Rome or with the most heathen
+traditions hidden in the hills of Wales. But the word "Mappe" or
+"Malory" will always mean King Arthur; even though we find older and
+better origins than the Mabinogian; or write later and worse versions
+than the "Idylls of the King." The nursery fairy tales may have come
+out of Asia with the Indo-European race, now fortunately extinct; they
+may have been invented by some fine French lady or gentleman like
+Perrault: they may possibly even be what they profess to be. But we
+shall always call the best selection of such tales "Grimm's Tales":
+simply because it is the best collection.
+
+The historical Æsop, in so far as he was historical, would seem to
+have been a Phrygian slave, or at least one not to be specially and
+symbolically adorned with the Phrygian cap of liberty. He lived, if he
+did live, about the sixth century before Christ, in the time of that
+Croesus whose story we love and suspect like everything else in
+Herodotus. There are also stories of deformity of feature and a ready
+ribaldry of tongue: stories which (as the celebrated Cardinal said)
+explain, though they do not excuse, his having been hurled over a high
+precipice at Delphi. It is for those who read the Fables to judge
+whether he was really thrown over the cliff for being ugly and
+offensive, or rather for being highly moral and correct. But there is
+no kind of doubt that the general legend of him may justly rank him
+with a race too easily forgotten in our modern comparisons: the race
+of the great philosophic slaves. Æsop may have been a fiction like
+Uncle Remus: he was also, like Uncle Remus, a fact. It is a fact that
+slaves in the old world could be worshipped like Æsop, or loved like
+Uncle Remus. It is odd to note that both the great slaves told their
+best stories about beasts and birds.
+
+But whatever be fairly due to Æsop, the human tradition called Fables
+is not due to him. This had gone on long before any sarcastic freedman
+from Phrygia had or had not been flung off a precipice; this has
+remained long after. It is to our advantage, indeed, to realise the
+distinction; because it makes Æsop more obviously effective than any
+other fabulist. Grimm's Tales, glorious as they are, were collected by
+two German students. And if we find it hard to be certain of a German
+student, at least we know more about him than We know about a Phrygian
+slave. The truth is, of course, that Æsop's Fables are not Æsop's
+fables, any more than Grimm's Fairy Tales were ever Grimm's fairy
+tales. But the fable and the fairy tale are things utterly distinct.
+There are many elements of difference; but the plainest is plain
+enough. There can be no good fable with human beings in it. There can
+be no good fairy tale without them.
+
+Æsop, or Babrius (or whatever his name was), understood that, for
+a fable, all the persons must be impersonal. They must be like
+abstractions in algebra, or like pieces in chess. The lion must always
+be stronger than the wolf, just as four is always double of two. The
+fox in a fable must move crooked, as the knight in chess must move
+crooked. The sheep in a fable must march on, as the pawn in chess must
+march on. The fable must not allow for the crooked captures of the
+pawn; it must not allow for what Balzac called "the revolt of a sheep"
+The fairy tale, on the other hand, absolutely revolves on the pivot
+of human personality. If no hero were there to fight the dragons, we
+should not even know that they were dragons. If no adventurer were
+cast on the undiscovered island--it would remain undiscovered. If the
+miller's third son does not find the enchanted garden where the seven
+princesses stand white and frozen--why, then, they will remain white
+and frozen and enchanted. If there is no personal prince to find the
+Sleeping Beauty she will simply sleep. Fables repose upon quite the
+opposite idea; that everything is itself, and will in any case speak
+for itself. The wolf will be always wolfish; the fox will be always
+foxy. Something of the same sort may have been meant by the animal
+worship, in which Egyptian and Indian and many other great peoples
+have combined. Men do not, I think, love beetles or cats or crocodiles
+with a wholly personal love; they salute them as expressions of that
+abstract and anonymous energy in nature which to any one is awful, and
+to an atheist must be frightful. So in all the fables that are or are
+not Æsop's all the animal forces drive like inanimate forces, like
+great rivers or growing trees. It is the limit and the loss of all
+such things that they cannot be anything but themselves: it is their
+tragedy that they could not lose their souls.
+
+This is the immortal justification of the Fable: that we could not
+teach the plainest truths so simply without turning men into chessmen.
+We cannot talk of such simple things without using animals that do
+not talk at all. Suppose, for a moment, that you turn the wolf into a
+wolfish baron, or the fox into a foxy diplomatist. You will at once
+remember that even barons are human, you will be unable to forget
+that even diplomatists are men. You will always be looking for that
+accidental good-humour that should go with the brutality of any brutal
+man; for that allowance for all delicate things, including virtue,
+that should exist in any good diplomatist. Once put a thing on two
+legs instead of four and pluck it of feathers and you cannot help
+asking for a human being, either heroic, as in the fairy tales, or
+un-heroic, as in the modern novels.
+
+But by using animals in this austere and arbitrary style as they are
+used on the shields of heraldry or the hieroglyphics of the ancients,
+men have really succeeded in handing down those tremendous truths that
+are called truisms. If the chivalric lion be red and rampant, it is
+rigidly red and rampant; if the sacred ibis stands anywhere on one
+leg, it stands on one leg for ever. In this language, like a large
+animal alphabet, are written some of the first philosophic certainties
+of men. As the child learns A for Ass or B for Bull or C for Cow, so
+man has learnt here to connect the simpler and stronger creatures with
+the simpler and stronger truths. That a flowing stream cannot befoul
+its own fountain, and that any one who says it does is a tyrant and a
+liar; that a mouse is too weak to fight a lion, but too strong for the
+cords that can hold a lion; that a fox who gets most out of a flat
+dish may easily get least out of a deep dish; that the crow whom the
+gods forbid to sing, the gods nevertheless provide with cheese; that
+when the goat insults from a mountain-top it is not the goat that
+insults, but the mountain: all these are deep truths deeply graven on
+the rocks wherever men have passed. It matters nothing how old they
+are, or how new; they are the alphabet of humanity, which like so
+many forms of primitive picture-writing employs any living symbol
+in preference to man. These ancient and universal tales are all of
+animals; as the latest discoveries in the oldest pre-historic caverns
+are all of animals. Man, in his simpler states, always felt that he
+himself was something too mysterious to be drawn. But the legend he
+carved under these cruder symbols was everywhere the same; and whether
+fables began with Æsop or began with Adam, whether they were German
+and mediæval as Reynard the Fox, or as French and Renaissance as
+La Fontaine, the upshot is everywhere essentially the same: that
+superiority is always insolent, because it is always accidental; that
+pride goes before a fall; and that there is such a thing as being too
+clever by half. You will not find any other legend but this written
+upon the rocks by any hand of man. There is every type and time of
+fable: but there is only one moral to the fable; because there is only
+one moral to everything_.
+
+G. K. CHESTERTON
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE GRAPES
+
+THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGGS
+
+THE CAT AND THE MICE
+
+THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
+
+THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER
+
+THE MICE IN COUNCIL
+
+THE BAT AND THE WEASELS
+
+THE DOG AND THE SOW
+
+THE FOX AND THE CROW
+
+THE HORSE AND THE GROOM
+
+THE WOLF AND THE LAMB
+
+THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE
+
+THE CAT AND THE BIRDS
+
+THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW
+
+THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR
+
+THE MOON AND HER MOTHER
+
+MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN
+
+THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION
+
+THE LION AND THE MOUSE
+
+THE CROW AND THE PITCHER
+
+THE BOYS AND THE FROGS
+
+THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN
+
+THE MISTRESS AND HER SERVANTS
+
+THE GOODS AND THE ILLS
+
+THE HARES AND THE FROGS
+
+THE FOX AND THE STORK
+
+THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
+
+THE STAG IN THE OX-STALL
+
+THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL
+
+THE DOLPHINS, THE WHALES, AND THE SPRAT
+
+THE FOX AND THE MONKEY
+
+THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG
+
+THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+THE FROGS' COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SUN
+
+THE DOG, THE COCK, AND THE FOX
+
+THE GNAT AND THE BULL
+
+THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELLERS
+
+THE SLAVE AND THE LION
+
+THE FLEA AND THE MAN
+
+THE BEE AND JUPITER
+
+THE OAK AND THE REEDS
+
+THE BLIND MAN AND THE CUB
+
+THE BOY AND THE SNAILS
+
+THE APES AND THE TWO TRAVELLERS
+
+THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS
+
+THE SHEPHERD'S BOY AND THE WOLF
+
+THE FOX AND THE GOAT
+
+THE FISHERMAN AND THE SPRAT
+
+THE BOASTING TRAVELLER
+
+THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER
+
+THE ASS AND HIS SHADOW
+
+THE FARMER AND HIS SONS
+
+THE DOG AND THE COOK
+
+THE MONKEY AS KING
+
+THE THIEVES AND THE COCK
+
+THE FARMER AND FORTUNE
+
+JUPITER AND THE MONKEY
+
+FATHER AND SONS
+
+THE LAMP
+
+THE OWL AND THE BIRDS
+
+THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN
+
+THE SHE-GOATS AND THEIR BEARDS
+
+THE OLD LION
+
+THE BOY BATHING
+
+THE QUACK FROG
+
+THE SWOLLEN FOX
+
+THE MOUSE, THE FROG, AND THE HAWK
+
+THE BOY AND THE NETTLES
+
+THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE-TREE
+
+THE JACKDAW AND THE PIGEONS
+
+JUPITER AND THE TORTOISE
+
+THE DOG IN THE MANGER
+
+THE TWO BAGS
+
+THE OXEN AND THE AXLETREES
+
+THE BOY AND THE FILBERTS
+
+THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING
+
+THE OLIVE-TREE AND THE FIG-TREE
+
+THE LION AND THE BOAR
+
+THE WALNUT-TREE
+
+THE MAN AND THE LION
+
+THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE
+
+THE KID ON THE HOUSETOP
+
+THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL
+
+THE VAIN JACKDAW
+
+THE TRAVELLER AND HIS DOG
+
+THE SHIPWRECKED MAN AND THE SEA
+
+THE WILD BOAR AND THE FOX
+
+MERCURY AND THE SCULPTOR
+
+THE FAWN AND HIS MOTHER
+
+THE FOX AND THE LION
+
+THE EAGLE AND HIS CAPTOR
+
+THE BLACKSMITH AND HIS DOG
+
+THE STAG AT THE POOL
+
+THE DOG AND THE SHADOW
+
+MERCURY AND THE TRADESMEN
+
+THE MICE AND THE WEASELS
+
+THE PEACOCK AND JUNO
+
+THE BEAR AND THE FOX
+
+THE ASS AND THE OLD PEASANT
+
+THE OX AND THE FROG
+
+THE MAN AND THE IMAGE
+
+HERCULES AND THE WAGGONER
+
+THE POMEGRANATE, THE APPLE-TREE, AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX
+
+THE BLACKAMOOR
+
+THE TWO SOLDIERS AND THE ROBBER
+
+THE LION AND THE WILD ASS
+
+THE MAN AND THE SATYR
+
+THE IMAGE-SELLER
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE ARROW
+
+THE RICH MAN AND THE TANNER
+
+THE WOLF, THE MOTHER, AND HER CHILD
+
+THE OLD WOMAN AND THE WINE-JAR
+
+THE LIONESS AND THE VIXEN
+
+THE VIPER AND THE FILE
+
+THE CAT AND THE COCK
+
+THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
+
+THE SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE
+
+THE OXEN AND THE BUTCHERS
+
+THE WOLF AND THE LION
+
+THE SHEEP, THE WOLF, AND THE STAG
+
+THE LION AND THE THREE BULLS
+
+THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER
+
+THE GOAT AND THE VINE
+
+THE TWO POTS
+
+THE OLD HOUND
+
+THE CLOWN AND THE COUNTRYMAN
+
+THE LARK AND THE FARMER
+
+THE LION AND THE ASS
+
+THE PROPHET
+
+THE HOUND AND THE HARE
+
+THE LION, THE MOUSE, AND THE FOX
+
+THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER
+
+THE WOLF AND THE CRANE
+
+THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SOW
+
+THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP
+
+THE TUNNY-FISH AND THE DOLPHIN
+
+THE THREE TRADESMEN
+
+THE MOUSE AND THE BULL
+
+THE HARE AND THE HOUND
+
+THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE
+
+THE LION AND THE BULL
+
+THE WOLF, THE FOX, AND THE APE
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE COCKS
+
+THE ESCAPED JACKDAW
+
+THE FARMER AND THE FOX
+
+VENUS AND THE CAT
+
+THE CROW AND THE SWAN
+
+THE STAG WITH ONE EYE
+
+THE FLY AND THE DRAUGHT-MULE
+
+THE COCK AND THE JEWEL
+
+THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD
+
+THE FARMER AND THE STORK
+
+THE CHARGER AND THE MILLER
+
+THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL
+
+THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
+
+THE FARMER AND THE VIPER
+
+THE TWO FROGS
+
+THE COBBLER TURNED DOCTOR
+
+THE ASS, THE COCK, AND THE LION
+
+THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS
+
+THE BALD MAN AND THE FLY
+
+THE ASS AND THE WOLF
+
+THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL
+
+THE SICK MAN AND THE DOCTOR
+
+THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE-TREE
+
+THE FLEA AND THE OX
+
+THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT
+
+THE MAN AND HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS
+
+THE EAGLE, THE JACKDAW, AND THE SHEPHERD
+
+THE WOLF AND THE BOY
+
+THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASS
+
+THE STAG AND THE VINE
+
+THE LAMB CHASED BY A WOLF
+
+THE ARCHER AND THE LION
+
+THE WOLF AND THE GOAT
+
+THE SICK STAG
+
+THE ASS AND THE MULE
+
+BROTHER AND SISTER
+
+THE HEIFER AND THE OX
+
+THE KINGDOM OF THE LION
+
+THE ASS AND HIS DRIVER
+
+THE LION AND THE HARE
+
+THE WOLVES AND THE DOGS
+
+THE BULL AND THE CALF
+
+THE TREES AND THE AXE
+
+THE ASTRONOMER
+
+THE LABOURER AND THE SNAKE
+
+THE CAGE-BIRD AND THE BAT
+
+THE ASS AND HIS PURCHASER
+
+THE KID AND THE WOLF
+
+THE DEBTOR AND HIS SOW
+
+THE BALD HUNTSMAN
+
+THE HERDSMAN AND THE LOST BULL
+
+THE MULE
+
+THE HOUND AND THE FOX
+
+THE FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTERS
+
+THE THIEF AND THE INNKEEPER
+
+THE PACK-ASS AND THE WILD ASS
+
+THE ASS AND HIS MASTERS
+
+THE PACK-ASS, THE WILD ASS, AND THE LION
+
+THE ANT
+
+THE FROGS AND THE WELL
+
+THE CRAB AND THE FOX
+
+THE FOX AND THE GRASSHOPPER
+
+THE FARMER, HIS BOY, AND THE ROOKS
+
+THE ASS AND THE DOG
+
+THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAGE
+
+THE ATHENIAN AND THE THEBAN
+
+THE GOATHERD AND THE GOAT
+
+THE SHEEP AND THE DOG
+
+THE SHEPHERD AND THE WOLF
+
+THE LION, JUPITER, AND THE ELEPHANT
+
+THE PIG AND THE SHEEP
+
+THE GARDENER AND HIS DOG
+
+THE RIVERS AND THE SEA
+
+THE LION IN LOVE
+
+THE BEE-KEEPER
+
+THE WOLF AND THE HORSE
+
+THE BAT, THE BRAMBLE, AND THE SEAGULL
+
+THE DOG AND THE WOLF
+
+THE WASP AND THE SNAKE
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE
+
+THE FOWLER AND THE LARK
+
+THE FISHERMAN PIPING
+
+THE WEASEL AND THE MAN
+
+THE PLOUGHMAN, THE ASS, AND THE OX
+
+DEMADES AND HIS FABLE
+
+THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN
+
+THE CROW AND THE SNAKE
+
+THE DOGS AND THE FOX
+
+THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE HAWK
+
+THE ROSE AND THE AMARANTH
+
+THE MAN, THE HORSE, THE OX, AND THE DOG
+
+THE WOLVES, THE SHEEP, AND THE RAM
+
+THE SWAN
+
+THE SNAKE AND JUPITER
+
+THE WOLF AND HIS SHADOW
+
+THE PLOUGHMAN AND THE WOLF
+
+MERCURY AND THE MAN BITTEN BY AN ANT
+
+THE WILY LION
+
+THE PARROT AND THE CAT
+
+THE STAG AND THE LION
+
+THE IMPOSTOR
+
+THE DOGS AND THE HIDES
+
+THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE ASS
+
+THE FOWLER, THE PARTRIDGE, AND THE COCK
+
+THE GNAT AND THE LION
+
+THE FARMER AND HIS DOGS
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE FOX
+
+THE BUTCHER AND HIS CUSTOMERS
+
+HERCULES AND MINERVA
+
+THE FOX WHO SERVED A LION
+
+THE QUACK DOCTOR
+
+THE LION, THE WOLF, AND THE FOX
+
+HERCULES AND PLUTUS
+
+THE FOX AND THE LEOPARD
+
+THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOG
+
+THE CROW AND THE RAVEN
+
+THE WITCH
+
+THE OLD MAN AND DEATH
+
+THE MISER
+
+THE FOXES AND THE RIVER
+
+THE HORSE AND THE STAG
+
+THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+THE FOX AND THE SNAKE
+
+THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE STAG
+
+THE MAN WHO LOST HIS SPADE
+
+THE PARTRIDGE AND THE FOWLER
+
+THE RUNAWAY SLAVE
+
+THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMAN
+
+THE SERPENT AND THE EAGLE
+
+THE ROGUE AND THE ORACLE
+
+THE HORSE AND THE ASS
+
+THE DOG CHASING A WOLF
+
+GRIEF AND HIS DUE
+
+THE HAWK, THE KITE, AND THE PIGEONS
+
+THE WOMAN AND THE FARMER
+
+PROMETHEUS AND THE MAKING OF MAN
+
+THE SWALLOW AND THE CROW
+
+THE HUNTER AND THE HORSEMAN
+
+THE GOATHERD AND THE WILD GOATS
+
+THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE SWALLOW
+
+THE TRAVELLER AND FORTUNE
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+=IN COLOUR=
+
+
+THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
+
+THE MOON AND HER MOTHER
+
+THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER
+
+THE QUACK FROG
+
+THE SHIPWRECKED MAN AND THE SEA
+
+THE BLACKAMOOR
+
+THE TWO POTS
+
+VENUS AND THE CAT
+
+THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE-TREE
+
+THE TREES AND THE AXE
+
+THE LION, JUPITER, AND THE ELEPHANT
+
+THE GNAT AND THE LION
+
+
+=IN BLACK AND WHITE=
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE GRAPES
+
+THE FOX AND THE CROW
+
+THE CAT AND THE BIRDS
+
+THE CROW AND THE PITCHER
+
+THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN
+
+THE FOX AND THE STORK
+
+THE GNAT AND THE BULL
+
+THE FLEA AND THE MAN
+
+THE OAK AND THE REEDS
+
+THE THIEVES AND THE COCK
+
+THE OWL AND THE BIRDS
+
+THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN
+
+THE BOY BATHING
+
+THE DOG IN THE MANGER
+
+THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING
+
+KING LOG
+
+THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL
+
+THE FOX AND THE LION
+
+THE DOG AND THE SHADOW
+
+THE BEAR AND THE FOX
+
+THE OX AND THE FROG
+
+THE MAN AND THE SATYR
+
+THE OLD WOMAN AND THE WINE-JAR
+
+THE CAT AND THE COCK
+
+THE SHEEP, THE WOLF, AND THE STAG
+
+THE GOAT AND THE VINE
+
+THE HOUND AND THE HARE
+
+THE WOLF AND THE CRANE
+
+THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE
+
+THE WOLF, THE FOX, AND THE APE
+
+THE COCK AND THE JEWEL
+
+THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
+
+THE BALD MAN AND THE FLY
+
+THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL
+
+THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASS
+
+THE WOLF AND THE GOAT
+
+THE KINGDOM OF THE LION
+
+THE KID AND THE WOLF
+
+THE MULE
+
+THE FROGS AND THE WELL
+
+THE GOATHERD AND THE GOAT
+
+THE WOLF AND THE HORSE
+
+THE FISHERMAN PIPING
+
+THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN
+
+THE WOLF AND HIS SHADOW
+
+THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE ASS
+
+THE GNAT AND THE LION
+
+THE FOX AND THE LEOPARD
+
+THE MISER
+
+THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMAN
+
+THE HORSE AND THE ASS
+
+
+
+
+ÆSOP'S FABLES
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE GRAPES
+
+
+A hungry Fox saw some fine bunches of Grapes hanging from a vine that
+was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by
+jumping as high as he could into the air. But it was all in vain, for
+they were just out of reach: so he gave up trying, and walked away
+with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, "I thought those
+Grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour."
+
+
+
+
+THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGGS
+
+
+A Man and his Wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid
+a Golden Egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to
+think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird
+must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to
+secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But when they cut it
+open they found it was just like any other goose. Thus, they neither
+got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the
+daily addition to their wealth.
+
+    Much wants more and loses all.
+
+
+
+
+THE CAT AND THE MICE
+
+
+There was once a house that was overrun with Mice. A Cat heard of
+this, and said to herself, "That's the place for me," and off she went
+and took up her quarters in the house, and caught the Mice one by one
+and ate them. At last the Mice could stand it no longer, and they
+determined to take to their holes and stay there. "That's awkward,"
+said the Cat to herself: "the only thing to do is to coax them out by
+a trick." So she considered a while, and then climbed up the wall and
+let herself hang down by her hind legs from a peg, and pretended to
+be dead. By and by a Mouse peeped out and saw the Cat hanging there.
+"Aha!" it cried, "you're very clever, madam, no doubt: but you may
+turn yourself into a bag of meal hanging there, if you like, yet you
+won't catch us coming anywhere near you."
+
+    If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of
+    those whom you have once found to be dangerous.
+
+
+
+
+THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
+
+
+There was once a Dog who used to snap at people and bite them without
+any provocation, and who was a great nuisance to every one who came to
+his master's house. So his master fastened a bell round his neck to
+warn people of his presence. The Dog was very proud of the bell, and
+strutted about tinkling it with immense satisfaction. But an old dog
+came up to him and said, "The fewer airs you give yourself the better,
+my friend. You don't think, do you, that your bell was given you as a
+reward of merit? On the contrary, it is a badge of disgrace."
+
+    Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHARCOAL-BURNER AND THE FULLER
+
+
+There was once a Charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself.
+A Fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same
+neighbourhood; and the Charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance
+and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would
+come and share his house: "We shall get to know one another better
+that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be
+diminished." The Fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn't think
+of it, sir: why, everything I take such pains to whiten would be
+blackened in no time by your charcoal."
+
+
+
+
+THE MICE IN COUNCIL
+
+
+Once upon a time all the Mice met together in Council, and discussed
+the best means of securing themselves against the attacks of the cat.
+After several suggestions had been debated, a Mouse of some standing
+and experience got up and said, "I think I have hit upon a plan which
+will ensure our safety in the future, provided you approve and carry
+it out. It is that we should fasten a bell round the neck of our enemy
+the cat, which will by its tinkling warn us of her approach." This
+proposal was warmly applauded, and it had been already decided to
+adopt it, when an old Mouse got upon his feet and said, "I agree with
+you all that the plan before us is an admirable one: but may I ask who
+is going to bell the cat?"
+
+
+
+
+THE BAT AND THE WEASELS
+
+
+A Bat fell to the ground and was caught by a Weasel, and was just
+going to be killed and eaten when it begged to be let go. The Weasel
+said he couldn't do that because he was an enemy of all birds on
+principle. "Oh, but," said the Bat, "I'm not a bird at all: I'm a
+mouse." "So you are," said the Weasel, "now I come to look at you";
+and he let it go. Some time after this the Bat was caught in just the
+same way by another Weasel, and, as before, begged for its life. "No,"
+said the Weasel, "I never let a mouse go by any chance." "But I'm not
+a mouse," said the Bat; "I'm a bird." "Why, so you are," said the
+Weasel; and he too let the Bat go.
+
+    Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG AND THE SOW
+
+
+A Dog and a Sow were arguing and each claimed that its own young ones
+were finer than those of any other animal. "Well," said the Sow at
+last, "mine can see, at any rate, when they come into the world: but
+yours are born blind."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE CROW
+
+
+A Crow was sitting on a branch of a tree with a piece of cheese in her
+beak when a Fox observed her and set his wits to work to discover
+some way of getting the cheese. Coming and standing under the tree he
+looked up and said, "What a noble bird I see above me! Her beauty is
+without equal, the hue of her plumage exquisite. If only her voice is
+as sweet as her looks are fair, she ought without doubt to be Queen of
+the Birds." The Crow was hugely flattered by this, and just to show
+the Fox that she could sing she gave a loud caw. Down came the cheese,
+of course, and the Fox, snatching it up, said, "You have a voice,
+madam, I see: what you want is wits."
+
+
+
+
+THE HORSE AND THE GROOM
+
+
+There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and
+combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a
+portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit. The
+Horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at last cried
+to the Groom, "If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must
+comb me less and feed me more."
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE LAMB
+
+
+A Wolf came upon a Lamb straying from the flock, and felt some
+compunction about taking the life of so helpless a creature without
+some plausible excuse; so he cast about for a grievance and said
+at last, "Last year, sirrah, you grossly insulted me." "That is
+impossible, sir," bleated the Lamb, "for I wasn't born then." "Well,"
+retorted the Wolf, "you feed in my pastures." "That cannot be,"
+replied the Lamb, "for I have never yet tasted grass." "You drink from
+my spring, then," continued the Wolf. "Indeed, sir," said the poor
+Lamb, "I have never yet drunk anything but my mother's milk." "Well,
+anyhow," said the Wolf, "I'm not going without my dinner": and he
+sprang upon the Lamb and devoured it without more ado.
+
+
+
+
+THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE
+
+
+A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage. "Look at
+my brilliant colours," said she, "and see how much finer they are than
+your poor feathers." "I am not denying," replied the Crane, "that
+yours are far gayer than mine; but when it comes to flying I can
+soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any
+dunghill cock."
+
+
+
+
+THE CAT AND THE BIRDS
+
+
+A Cat heard that the Birds in an aviary were ailing. So he got himself
+up as a doctor, and, taking with him a set of the instruments proper
+to his profession, presented himself at the door, and inquired after
+the health of the Birds. "We shall do very well," they replied,
+without letting him in, "when we've seen the last of you."
+
+    A villain may disguise himself, but he will not deceive the wise.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW
+
+
+A Spendthrift, who had wasted his fortune, and had nothing left but
+the clothes in which he stood, saw a Swallow one fine day in early
+spring. Thinking that summer had come, and that he could now do
+without his coat, he went and sold it for what it would fetch. A
+change, however, took place in the weather, and there came a sharp
+frost which killed the unfortunate Swallow. When the Spendthrift saw
+its dead body he cried, "Miserable bird! Thanks to you I am perishing
+of cold myself."
+
+    One swallow does not make summer.
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD WOMAN AND THE DOCTOR
+
+
+An Old Woman became almost totally blind from a disease of the eyes,
+and, after consulting a Doctor, made an agreement with him in the
+presence of witnesses that she should pay him a high fee if he
+cured her, while if he failed he was to receive nothing. The Doctor
+accordingly prescribed a course of treatment, and every time he paid
+her a visit he took away with him some article out of the house, until
+at last, when he visited her for the last time, and the cure was
+complete, there was nothing left. When the Old Woman saw that the
+house was empty she refused to pay him his fee; and, after repeated
+refusals on her part, he sued her before the magistrates for payment
+of her debt. On being brought into court she was ready with her
+defence. "The claimant," said she, "has stated the facts about our
+agreement correctly. I undertook to pay him a fee if he cured me, and
+he, on his part, promised to charge nothing if he failed. Now, he says
+I am cured; but I say that I am blinder than ever, and I can prove
+what I say. When my eyes were bad I could at any rate see well enough
+to be aware that my house contained a certain amount of furniture and
+other things; but now, when according to him I am cured, I am entirely
+unable to see anything there at all."
+
+
+
+
+THE MOON AND HER MOTHER
+
+
+The Moon once begged her Mother to make her a gown. "How can I?"
+replied she; "there's no fitting your figure. At one time you're a New
+Moon, and at another you're a Full Moon; and between whiles you're
+neither one nor the other."
+
+
+
+
+MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN
+
+
+A Woodman was felling a tree on the bank of a river, when his axe,
+glancing off the trunk, flew out of his hands and fell into the water.
+As he stood by the water's edge lamenting his loss, Mercury appeared
+and asked him the reason for his grief; and on learning what had
+happened, out of pity for his distress he dived into the river and,
+bringing up a golden axe, asked him if that was the one he had lost.
+The Woodman replied that it was not, and Mercury then dived a second
+time, and, bringing up a silver axe, asked if that was his. "No, that
+is not mine either," said the Woodman. Once more Mercury dived into
+the river, and brought up the missing axe. The Woodman was overjoyed
+at recovering his property, and thanked his benefactor warmly; and the
+latter was so pleased with his honesty that he made him a present of
+the other two axes. When the Woodman told the story to his companions,
+one of these was filled with envy of his good fortune and determined
+to try his luck for himself. So he went and began to fell a tree at
+the edge of the river, and presently contrived to let his axe drop
+into the water. Mercury appeared as before, and, on learning that his
+axe had fallen in, he dived and brought up a golden axe, as he had
+done on the previous occasion. Without waiting to be asked whether
+it was his or not the fellow cried, "That's mine, that's mine," and
+stretched out his hand eagerly for the prize: but Mercury was so
+disgusted at his dishonesty that he not only declined to give him the
+golden axe, but also refused to recover for him the one he had let
+fall into the stream.
+
+    Honesty is the best policy.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION
+
+
+An Ass and a Fox went into partnership and sallied out to forage for
+food together. They hadn't gone far before they saw a Lion coming
+their way, at which they were both dreadfully frightened. But the Fox
+thought he saw a way of saving his own skin, and went boldly up to the
+Lion and whispered in his ear, "I'll manage that you shall get hold of
+the Ass without the trouble of stalking him, if you'll promise to let
+me go free." The Lion agreed to this, and the Fox then rejoined his
+companion and contrived before long to lead him by a hidden pit, which
+some hunter had dug as a trap for wild animals, and into which he
+fell. When the Lion saw that the Ass was safely caught and couldn't
+get away, it was to the Fox that he first turned his attention, and he
+soon finished him off, and then at his leisure proceeded to feast upon
+the Ass.
+
+    Betray a friend, and you'll often find you have ruined yourself.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE MOUSE
+
+
+A Lion asleep in his lair was waked up by a Mouse running over his
+face. Losing his temper he seized it with his paw and was about to
+kill it. The Mouse, terrified, piteously entreated him to spare its
+life. "Please let me go," it cried, "and one day I will repay you for
+your kindness." The idea of so insignificant a creature ever being
+able to do anything for him amused the Lion so much that he laughed
+aloud, and good-humouredly let it go. But the Mouse's chance came,
+after all. One day the Lion got entangled in a net which had been
+spread for game by some hunters, and the Mouse heard and recognised
+his roars of anger and ran to the spot. Without more ado it set to
+work to gnaw the ropes with its teeth, and succeeded before long in
+setting the Lion free. "There!" said the Mouse, "you laughed at me
+when I promised I would repay you: but now you see, even a Mouse can
+help a Lion."
+
+
+
+
+THE CROW AND THE PITCHER
+
+
+A thirsty Crow found a Pitcher with some water in it, but so little
+was there that, try as she might, she could not reach it with her
+beak, and it seemed as though she would die of thirst within sight of
+the remedy. At last she hit upon a clever plan. She began dropping
+pebbles into the Pitcher, and with each pebble the water rose a little
+higher until at last it reached the brim, and the knowing bird was
+enabled to quench her thirst.
+
+    Necessity is the mother of invention.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOYS AND THE FROGS
+
+
+Some mischievous Boys were playing on the edge of a pond, and,
+catching sight of some Frogs swimming about in the shallow water, they
+began to amuse themselves by pelting them with stones, and they killed
+several of them. At last one of the Frogs put his head out of the
+water and said, "Oh, stop! stop! I beg of you: what is sport to you is
+death to us."
+
+
+
+
+THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN
+
+
+A dispute arose between the North Wind and the Sun, each claiming
+that he was stronger than the other. At last they agreed to try their
+powers upon a traveller, to see which could soonest strip him of his
+cloak. The North Wind had the first try; and, gathering up all his
+force for the attack, he came whirling furiously down upon the man,
+and caught up his cloak as though he would wrest it from him by one
+single effort: but the harder he blew, the more closely the man
+wrapped it round himself. Then came the turn of the Sun. At first he
+beamed gently upon the traveller, who soon unclasped his cloak and
+walked on with it hanging loosely about his shoulders: then he shone
+forth in his full strength, and the man, before he had gone many
+steps, was glad to throw his cloak right off and complete his journey
+more lightly clad.
+
+    Persuasion is better than force
+
+
+
+
+THE MISTRESS AND HER SERVANTS
+
+
+A Widow, thrifty and industrious, had two servants, whom she kept
+pretty hard at work. They were not allowed to lie long abed in the
+mornings, but the old lady had them up and doing as soon as the cock
+crew. They disliked intensely having to get up at such an hour,
+especially in winter-time: and they thought that if it were not for
+the cock waking up their Mistress so horribly early, they could
+sleep longer. So they caught it and wrung its neck. But they weren't
+prepared for the consequences. For what happened was that their
+Mistress, not hearing the cock crow as usual, waked them up earlier
+than ever, and set them to work in the middle of the night.
+
+
+
+
+THE GOODS AND THE ILLS
+
+
+There was a time in the youth of the world when Goods and Ills entered
+equally into the concerns of men, so that the Goods did not prevail
+to make them altogether blessed, nor the Ills to make them wholly
+miserable. But owing to the foolishness of mankind the Ills multiplied
+greatly in number and increased in strength, until it seemed as though
+they would deprive the Goods of all share in human affairs, and banish
+them from the earth. The latter, therefore, betook themselves to
+heaven and complained to Jupiter of the treatment they had received,
+at the same time praying him to grant them protection from the Ills,
+and to advise them concerning the manner of their intercourse with
+men. Jupiter granted their request for protection, and decreed that
+for the future they should not go among men openly in a body, and so
+be liable to attack from the hostile Ills, but singly and unobserved,
+and at infrequent and unexpected intervals. Hence it is that the earth
+is full of Ills, for they come and go as they please and are never far
+away; while Goods, alas! come one by one only, and have to travel all
+the way from heaven, so that they are very seldom seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE HARES AND THE FROGS
+
+
+The Hares once gathered together and lamented the unhappiness of their
+lot, exposed as they were to dangers on all sides and lacking the
+strength and the courage to hold their own. Men, dogs, birds and
+beasts of prey were all their enemies, and killed and devoured them
+daily: and sooner than endure such persecution any longer, they one
+and all determined to end their miserable lives. Thus resolved
+and desperate, they rushed in a body towards a neighbouring pool,
+intending to drown themselves. On the bank were sitting a number of
+Frogs, who, when they heard the noise of the Hares as they ran, with
+one accord leaped into the water and hid themselves in the depths.
+Then one of the older Hares who was wiser than the rest cried out to
+his companions, "Stop, my friends, take heart; don't let us destroy
+ourselves after all: see, here are creatures who are afraid of us, and
+who must, therefore, be still more timid than ourselves."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE STORK
+
+
+A Fox invited a Stork to dinner, at which the only fare provided was a
+large flat dish of soup. The Fox lapped it up with great relish, but
+the Stork with her long bill tried in vain to partake of the savoury
+broth. Her evident distress caused the sly Fox much amusement. But not
+long after the Stork invited him in turn, and set before him a pitcher
+with a long and narrow neck, into which she could get her bill with
+ease. Thus, while she enjoyed her dinner, the Fox sat by hungry and
+helpless, for it was impossible for him to reach the tempting contents
+of the vessel.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
+
+
+A Wolf resolved to disguise himself in order that he might prey upon a
+flock of sheep without fear of detection. So he clothed himself in a
+sheepskin, and slipped among the sheep when they were out at pasture.
+He completely deceived the shepherd, and when the flock was penned
+for the night he was shut in with the rest. But that very night as it
+happened, the shepherd, requiring a supply of mutton for the table,
+laid hands on the Wolf in mistake for a Sheep, and killed him with his
+knife on the spot.
+
+
+
+
+THE STAG IN THE OX-STALL
+
+
+A Stag, chased from his lair by the hounds, took refuge in a farmyard,
+and, entering a stable where a number of oxen were stalled, thrust
+himself under a pile of hay in a vacant stall, where he lay concealed,
+all but the tips of his horns. Presently one of the Oxen said to him,
+"What has induced you to come in here? Aren't you aware of the risk
+you are running of being captured by the herdsmen?" To which he
+replied, "Pray let me stay for the present. When night comes I shall
+easily escape under cover of the dark." In the course of the afternoon
+more than one of the farm-hands came in, to attend to the wants of
+the cattle, but not one of them noticed the presence of the Stag, who
+accordingly began to congratulate himself on his escape and to express
+his gratitude to the Oxen. "We wish you well," said the one who had
+spoken before, "but you are not out of danger yet. If the master
+comes, you will certainly be found out, for nothing ever escapes his
+keen eyes." Presently, sure enough, in he came, and made a great to-do
+about the way the Oxen were kept. "The beasts are starving," he cried;
+"here, give them more hay, and put plenty of litter under them." As he
+spoke, he seized an armful himself from the pile where the Stag lay
+concealed, and at once detected him. Calling his men, he had him
+seized at once and killed for the table.
+
+
+
+
+THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL
+
+
+A farmer's daughter had been out to milk the cows, and was returning
+to the dairy carrying her pail of milk upon her head. As she walked
+along, she fell a-musing after this fashion: "The milk in this pail
+will provide me with cream, which I will make into butter and take to
+market to sell. With the money I will buy a number of eggs, and these,
+when hatched, will produce chickens, and by and by I shall have quite
+a large poultry-yard. Then I shall sell some of my fowls, and with the
+money which they will bring in I will buy myself a new gown, which
+I shall wear when I go to the fair; and all the young fellows will
+admire it, and come and make love to me, but I shall toss my head
+and have nothing to say to them." Forgetting all about the pail, and
+suiting the action to the word, she tossed her head. Down went the
+pail, all the milk was spilled, and all her fine castles in the air
+vanished in a moment!
+
+    Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOLPHINS, THE WHALES, AND THE SPRAT
+
+
+The Dolphins quarrelled with the Whales, and before very long they
+began fighting with one another. The battle was very fierce, and had
+lasted some time without any sign of coming to an end, when a Sprat
+thought that perhaps he could stop it; so he stepped in and tried to
+persuade them to give up fighting and make friends. But one of the
+Dolphins said to him contemptuously, "We would rather go on fighting
+till we're all killed than be reconciled by a Sprat like you!"
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE MONKEY
+
+
+A Fox and a Monkey were on the road together, and fell into a dispute
+as to which of the two was the better born. They kept it up for some
+time, till they came to a place where the road passed through a
+cemetery full of monuments, when the Monkey stopped and looked about
+him and gave a great sigh. "Why do you sigh?" said the Fox. The Monkey
+pointed to the tombs and replied, "All the monuments that you see here
+were put up in honour of my forefathers, who in their day were eminent
+men." The Fox was speechless for a moment, but quickly recovering he
+said, "Oh! don't stop at any lie, sir; you're quite safe: I'm sure
+none of your ancestors will rise up and expose you."
+
+    Boasters brag most when they cannot be detected.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG
+
+
+There was once a man who had an Ass and a Lap-dog. The Ass was housed
+in the stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat and was as well off
+as an ass could be. The little Dog was made a great pet of by his
+master, who fondled him and often let him lie in his lap; and if he
+went out to dinner, he would bring back a tit-bit or two to give him
+when he ran to meet him on his return. The Ass had, it is true, a good
+deal of work to do, carting or grinding the corn, or carrying the
+burdens of the farm: and ere long he became very jealous, contrasting
+his own life of labour with the ease and idleness of the Lap-dog. At
+last one day he broke his halter, and frisking into the house just as
+his master sat down to dinner, he pranced and capered about, mimicking
+the frolics of the little favourite, upsetting the table and smashing
+the crockery with his clumsy efforts. Not content with that, he even
+tried to jump on his master's lap, as he had so often seen the dog
+allowed to do. At that the servants, seeing the danger their master
+was in, belaboured the silly Ass with sticks and cudgels, and drove
+him back to his stable half dead with his beating. "Alas!" he cried,
+"all this I have brought on myself. Why could I not be satisfied with
+my natural and honourable position, without wishing to imitate the
+ridiculous antics of that useless little Lap-dog?"
+
+
+
+
+THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+
+A Fir-tree was boasting to a Bramble, and said, somewhat
+contemptuously, "You poor creature, you are of no use whatever. Now,
+look at me: I am useful for all sorts of things, particularly when men
+build houses; they can't do without me then." But the Bramble replied,
+"Ah, that's all very well: but you wait till they come with axes and
+saws to cut you down, and then you'll wish you were a Bramble and not
+a Fir."
+
+    Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many
+    obligations.
+
+
+
+
+THE FROGS' COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SUN
+
+
+Once upon a time the Sun was about to take to himself a wife. The
+Frogs in terror all raised their voices to the skies, and Jupiter,
+disturbed by the noise, asked them what they were croaking about. They
+replied, "The Sun is bad enough even while he is single, drying up our
+marshes with his heat as he does. But what will become of us if he
+marries and begets other Suns?"
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG, THE COCK, AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Dog and a Cock became great friends, and agreed to travel together.
+At nightfall the Cock flew up into the branches of a tree to roost,
+while the Dog curled himself up inside the trunk, which was hollow. At
+break of day the Cock woke up and crew, as usual. A Fox heard, and,
+wishing to make a breakfast of him, came and stood under the tree and
+begged him to come down. "I should so like," said he, "to make the
+acquaintance of one who has such a beautiful voice." The Cock replied,
+"Would you just wake my porter who sleeps at the foot of the tree?
+He'll open the door and let you in." The Fox accordingly rapped on the
+trunk, when out rushed the Dog and tore him in pieces.
+
+
+
+
+THE GNAT AND THE BULL
+
+
+A Gnat alighted on one of the horns of a Bull, and remained sitting
+there for a considerable time. When it had rested sufficiently and was
+about to fly away, it said to the Bull, "Do you mind if I go now?" The
+Bull merely raised his eyes and remarked, without interest, "It's all
+one to me; I didn't notice when you came, and I shan't know when you
+go away."
+
+    We may often be of more consequence in our own eyes than in the
+    eyes of our neighbours.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELLERS
+
+
+Two Travellers were on the road together, when a Bear suddenly
+appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a tree at
+the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches and hid there.
+The other was not so nimble as his companion; and, as he could not
+escape, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead. The
+Bear came up and sniffed all round him, but he kept perfectly still
+and held his breath: for they say that a bear will not touch a dead
+body. The Bear took him for a corpse, and went away. When the coast
+was clear, the Traveller in the tree came down, and asked the other
+what it was the Bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to
+his ear. The other replied, "He told me never again to travel with a
+friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger."
+
+    Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.
+
+
+
+
+THE SLAVE AND THE LION
+
+
+A Slave ran away from his master, by whom he had been most cruelly
+treated, and, in order to avoid capture, betook himself into the
+desert. As he wandered about in search of food and shelter, he came to
+a cave, which he entered and found to be unoccupied. Really, however,
+it was a Lion's den, and almost immediately, to the horror of the
+wretched fugitive, the Lion himself appeared. The man gave himself
+up for lost: but, to his utter astonishment, the Lion, instead of
+springing upon him and devouring him, came and fawned upon him, at
+the same time whining and lifting up his paw. Observing it to be much
+swollen and inflamed, he examined it and found a large thorn embedded
+in the ball of the foot. He accordingly removed it and dressed
+the wound as well as he could: and in course of time it healed up
+completely. The Lion's gratitude was unbounded; he looked upon the man
+as his friend, and they shared the cave for some time together. A day
+came, however, when the Slave began to long for the society of his
+fellow-men, and he bade farewell to the Lion and returned to the town.
+Here he was presently recognised and carried off in chains to his
+former master, who resolved to make an example of him, and ordered
+that he should be thrown to the beasts at the next public spectacle in
+the theatre. On the fatal day the beasts were loosed into the arena,
+and among the rest a Lion of huge bulk and ferocious aspect; and then
+the wretched Slave was cast in among them. What was the amazement of
+the spectators, when the Lion after one glance bounded up to him and
+lay down at his feet with every expression of affection and delight!
+It was his old friend of the cave! The audience clamoured that
+the Slave's life should be spared: and the governor of the town,
+marvelling at such gratitude and fidelity in a beast, decreed that
+both should receive their liberty.
+
+
+
+
+THE FLEA AND THE MAN
+
+
+A Flea bit a Man, and bit him again, and again, till he could stand it
+no longer, but made a thorough search for it, and at last succeeded
+in catching it. Holding it between his finger and thumb, he said--or
+rather shouted, so angry was he--"Who are you, pray, you wretched
+little creature, that you make so free with my person?" The Flea,
+terrified, whimpered in a weak little voice, "Oh, sir! pray let me
+go; don't kill me! I am such a little thing that I can't do you much
+harm." But the Man laughed and said, "I am going to kill you now, at
+once: whatever is bad has got to be destroyed, no matter how slight
+the harm it does."
+
+    Do not waste your pity on a scamp.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEE AND JUPITER
+
+
+A Queen Bee from Hymettus flew up to Olympus with some fresh honey
+from the hive as a present to Jupiter, who was so pleased with the
+gift that he promised to give her anything she liked to ask for. She
+said she would be very grateful if he would give stings to the bees,
+to kill people who robbed them of their honey. Jupiter was greatly
+displeased with this request, for he loved mankind: but he had given
+his word, so he said that stings they should have. The stings he gave
+them, however, were of such a kind that whenever a bee stings a man
+the sting is left in the wound and the bee dies.
+
+    Evil wishes, like fowls, come home to roost.
+
+
+
+
+THE OAK AND THE REEDS
+
+
+An Oak that grew on the bank of a river was uprooted by a severe
+gale of wind, and thrown across the stream. It fell among some Reeds
+growing by the water, and said to them, "How is it that you, who are
+so frail and slender, have managed to weather the storm, whereas I,
+with all my strength, have been torn up by the roots and hurled into
+the river?" "You were stubborn," came the reply, "and fought against
+the storm, which proved stronger than you: but we bow and yield to
+every breeze, and thus the gale passed harmlessly over our heads."
+
+
+
+
+THE BLIND MAN AND THE CUB
+
+
+There was once a Blind Man who had so fine a sense of touch that, when
+any animal was put into his hands, he could tell what it was merely by
+the feel of it. One day the Cub of a Wolf was put into his hands, and
+he was asked what it was. He felt it for some time, and then said,
+"Indeed, I am not sure whether it is a Wolf's Cub or a Fox's: but this
+I know--it would never do to trust it in a sheepfold."
+
+    Evil tendencies are early shown.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOY AND THE SNAILS
+
+
+A Farmer's Boy went looking for Snails, and, when he had picked up
+both his hands full, he set about making a fire at which to roast
+them; for he meant to eat them. When it got well alight and the Snails
+began to feel the heat, they gradually withdrew more and more into
+their shells with the hissing noise they always make when they do so.
+When the Boy heard it, he said, "You abandoned creatures, how can you
+find heart to whistle when your houses are burning?"
+
+
+
+
+THE APES AND THE TWO TRAVELLERS
+
+
+Two men were travelling together, one of whom never spoke the truth,
+whereas the other never told a lie: and they came in the course of
+their travels to the land of Apes. The King of the Apes, hearing of
+their arrival, ordered them to be brought before him; and by way of
+impressing them with his magnificence, he received them sitting on
+a throne, while the Apes, his subjects, were ranged in long rows on
+either side of him. When the Travellers came into his presence he
+asked them what they thought of him as a King. The lying Traveller
+said, "Sire, every one must see that you are a most noble and mighty
+monarch." "And what do you think of my subjects?" continued the King.
+"They," said the Traveller, "are in every way worthy of their royal
+master." The Ape was so delighted with his answer that he gave him
+a very handsome present. The other Traveller thought that if his
+companion was rewarded so splendidly for telling a lie, he himself
+would certainly receive a still greater reward for telling the truth;
+so, when the Ape turned to him and said, "And what, sir, is your
+opinion?" he replied, "I think you are a very fine Ape, and all your
+subjects are fine Apes too." The King of the Apes was so enraged at
+his reply that he ordered him to be taken away and clawed to death.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND HIS BURDENS
+
+
+A Pedlar who owned an Ass one day bought a quantity of salt, and
+loaded up his beast with as much as he could bear. On the way home the
+Ass stumbled as he was crossing a stream and fell into the water. The
+salt got thoroughly wetted and much of it melted and drained away, so
+that, when he got on his legs again, the Ass found his load had become
+much less heavy. His master, however, drove him back to town and
+bought more salt, which he added to what remained in the panniers, and
+started out again. No sooner had they reached a stream than the Ass
+lay down in it, and rose, as before, with a much lighter load. But his
+master detected the trick, and turning back once more, bought a large
+number of sponges, and piled them on the back of the Ass. When they
+came to the stream the Ass again lay down: but this time, as the
+sponges soaked up large quantities of water, he found, when he got up
+on his legs, that he had a bigger burden to carry than ever.
+
+    You may play a good card once too often.
+
+
+
+
+THE SHEPHERD'S BOY AND THE WOLF
+
+
+A Shepherd's Boy was tending his flock near a village, and thought it
+would be great fun to hoax the villagers by pretending that a Wolf was
+attacking the sheep: so he shouted out, "Wolf! wolf!" and when the
+people came running up he laughed at them for their pains. He did
+this more than once, and every time the villagers found they had been
+hoaxed, for there was no Wolf at all. At last a Wolf really did come,
+and the Boy cried, "Wolf! wolf!" as loud as he could: but the people
+were so used to hearing him call that they took no notice of his cries
+for help. And so the Wolf had it all his own way, and killed off sheep
+after sheep at his leisure.
+
+    You cannot believe a liar even when he tells the truth.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE GOAT
+
+
+A Fox fell into a well and was unable to get out again. By and by a
+thirsty Goat came by, and seeing the Fox in the well asked him if the
+water was good. "Good?" said the Fox, "it's the best water I ever
+tasted in all my life. Come down and try it yourself." The Goat
+thought of nothing but the prospect of quenching his thirst, and
+jumped in at once. When he had had enough to drink, he looked about,
+like the Fox, for some way of getting out, but could find none.
+Presently the Fox said, "I have an idea. You stand on your hind legs,
+and plant your forelegs firmly against the side of the well, and then
+I'll climb on to your back, and, from there, by stepping on your
+horns, I can get out. And when I'm out, I'll help you out too." The
+Goat did as he was requested, and the Fox climbed on to his back and
+so out of the well; and then he coolly walked away. The Goat called
+loudly after him and reminded him of his promise to help him out: but
+the Fox merely turned and said, "If you had as much sense in your head
+as you have hair in your beard you wouldn't have got into the well
+without making certain that you could get out again."
+
+    Look before your leap.
+
+
+
+
+THE FISHERMAN AND THE SPRAT
+
+
+A Fisherman cast his net into the sea, and when he drew it up again it
+contained nothing but a single Sprat that begged to be put back into
+the water. "I'm only a little fish now," it said, "but I shall grow
+big one day, and then if you come and catch me again I shall be of
+some use to you." But the Fisherman replied, "Oh, no, I shall keep you
+now I've got you: if I put you back, should I ever see you again? Not
+likely!"
+
+
+
+
+THE BOASTING TRAVELLER
+
+
+A Man once went abroad on his travels, and when he came home he
+had wonderful tales to tell of the things he had done in foreign
+countries. Among other things, he said he had taken part in a
+jumping-match at Rhodes, and had done a wonderful jump which no one
+could beat. "Just go to Rhodes and ask them," he said; "every one will
+tell you it's true." But one of those who were listening said, "If you
+can jump as well as all that, we needn't go to Rhodes to prove it.
+Let's just imagine this is Rhodes for a minute: and now--jump!"
+
+    Deeds, not words.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER
+
+
+An Old Crab said to her son, "Why do you walk sideways like that, my
+son? You ought to walk straight." The Young Crab replied, "Show me
+how, dear mother, and I'll follow your example." The Old Crab tried,
+but tried in vain, and then saw how foolish she had been to find fault
+with her child.
+
+    Example is better than precept.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND HIS SHADOW
+
+
+A certain man hired an Ass for a journey in summertime, and started
+out with the owner following behind to drive the beast. By and by, in
+the heat of the day, they stopped to rest, and the traveller wanted to
+lie down in the Ass's Shadow; but the owner, who himself wished to be
+out of the sun, wouldn't let him do that; for he said he had hired the
+Ass only, and not his Shadow: the other maintained that his bargain
+secured him complete control of the Ass for the time being. From words
+they came to blows; and while they were belabouring each other the Ass
+took to his heels and was soon out of sight.
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND HIS SONS
+
+
+A Farmer, being at death's door, and desiring to impart to his Sons a
+secret of much moment, called them round him and said, "My sons, I am
+shortly about to die; I would have you know, therefore, that in my
+vineyard there lies a hidden treasure. Dig, and you will find it." As
+soon as their father was dead, the Sons took spade and fork and turned
+up the soil of the vineyard over and over again, in their search for
+the treasure which they supposed to lie buried there. They found none,
+however: but the vines, after so thorough a digging, produced a crop
+such as had never before been seen.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG AND THE COOK
+
+
+A rich man once invited a number of his friends and acquaintances to
+a banquet. His dog thought it would be a good opportunity to invite
+another Dog, a friend of his; so he went to him and said, "My master
+is giving a feast: there'll be a fine spread, so come and dine with me
+to-night." The Dog thus invited came, and when he saw the preparations
+being made in the kitchen he said to himself, "My word, I'm in luck:
+I'll take care to eat enough to-night to last me two or three days."
+At the same time he wagged his tail briskly, by way of showing his
+friend how delighted he was to have been asked. But just then the Cook
+caught sight of him, and, in his annoyance at seeing a strange Dog in
+the kitchen, caught him up by the hind legs and threw him out of the
+window. He had a nasty fall, and limped away as quickly as he could,
+howling dismally. Presently some other dogs met him, and said, "Well,
+what sort of a dinner did you get?" To which he replied, "I had a
+splendid time: the wine was so good, and I drank so much of it, that I
+really don't remember how I got out of the house!"
+
+    Be shy of favours bestowed at the expense of others.
+
+
+
+
+THE MONKEY AS KING
+
+
+At a gathering of all the animals the Monkey danced and delighted them
+so much that they made him their King. The Fox, however, was very much
+disgusted at the promotion of the Monkey: so having one day found a
+trap with a piece of meat in it, he took the Monkey there and said to
+him, "Here is a dainty morsel I have found, sire; I did not take it
+myself, because I thought it ought to be reserved for you, our King.
+Will you be pleased to accept it?" The Monkey made at once for the
+meat and got caught in the trap. Then he bitterly reproached the Fox
+for leading him into danger; but the Fox only laughed and said, "O
+Monkey, you call yourself King of the Beasts and haven't more sense
+than to be taken in like that!"
+
+
+
+
+THE THIEVES AND THE COCK
+
+
+Some Thieves broke into a house, and found nothing worth taking except
+a Cock, which they seized and carried off with them. When they were
+preparing their supper, one of them caught up the Cock, and was about
+to wring his neck, when he cried out for mercy and said, "Pray do not
+kill me: you will find me a most useful bird, for I rouse honest men
+to their work in the morning by my crowing." But the Thief replied
+with some heat, "Yes, I know you do, making it still harder for us to
+get a livelihood. Into the pot you go!"
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND FORTUNE
+
+
+A Farmer was ploughing one day on his farm when he turned up a pot of
+golden coins with his plough. He was overjoyed at his discovery, and
+from that time forth made an offering daily at the shrine of the
+Goddess of the Earth. Fortune was displeased at this, and came to him
+and said, "My man, why do you give Earth the credit for the gift which
+I bestowed upon you? You never thought of thanking me for your good
+luck; but should you be unlucky enough to lose what you have gained
+I know very well that I, Fortune, should then come in for all the
+blame."
+
+    Show gratitude where gratitude is due.
+
+
+
+
+JUPITER AND THE MONKEY
+
+
+Jupiter issued a proclamation to all the beasts, and offered a
+prize to the one who, in his judgment, produced the most beautiful
+offspring. Among the rest came the Monkey, carrying a baby monkey in
+her arms, a hairless, flat-nosed little fright. When they saw it, the
+gods all burst into peal on peal of laughter; but the Monkey hugged
+her little one to her, and said, "Jupiter may give the prize to
+whomsoever he likes: but I shall always think my baby the most
+beautiful of them all."
+
+
+
+
+FATHER AND SONS
+
+
+A certain man had several Sons who were always quarrelling with one
+another, and, try as he might, he could not get them to live together
+in harmony. So he determined to convince them of their folly by the
+following means. Bidding them fetch a bundle of sticks, he invited
+each in turn to break it across his knee. All tried and all failed:
+and then he undid the bundle, and handed them the sticks one by one,
+when they had no difficulty at all in breaking them. "There, my boys,"
+said he, "united you will be more than a match for your enemies: but
+if you quarrel and separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy
+of those who attack you."
+
+    Union is strength.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMP
+
+
+A Lamp, well filled with oil, burned with a clear and steady light,
+and began to swell with pride and boast that it shone more brightly
+than the sun himself. Just then a puff of wind came and blew it out.
+Some one struck a match and lit it again, and said, "You just keep
+alight, and never mind the sun. Why, even the stars never need to be
+relit as you had to be just now."
+
+
+
+
+THE OWL AND THE BIRDS
+
+
+The Owl is a very wise bird; and once, long ago, when the first oak
+sprouted in the forest, she called all the other Birds together and
+said to them, "You see this tiny tree? If you take my advice, you will
+destroy it now when it is small: for when it grows big, the mistletoe
+will appear upon it, from which birdlime will be prepared for your
+destruction." Again, when the first flax was sown, she said to them,
+"Go and eat up that seed, for it is the seed of the flax, out of which
+men will one day make nets to catch you." Once more, when she saw the
+first archer, she warned the Birds that he was their deadly enemy, who
+would wing his arrows with their own feathers and shoot them. But they
+took no notice of what she said: in fact, they thought she was rather
+mad, and laughed at her. When, however, everything turned out as she
+had foretold, they changed their minds and conceived a great respect
+for her wisdom. Hence, whenever she appears, the Birds attend upon
+her in the hope of hearing something that may be for their good. She,
+however, gives them advice no longer, but sits moping and pondering on
+the folly of her kind.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKIN
+
+
+An Ass found a Lion's Skin, and dressed himself up in it. Then he went
+about frightening every one he met, for they all took him to be a
+lion, men and beasts alike, and took to their heels when they saw
+him coming. Elated by the success of his trick, he loudly brayed in
+triumph. The Fox heard him, and recognised him at once for the Ass he
+was, and said to him, "Oho, my friend, it's you, is it? I, too, should
+have been afraid if I hadn't heard your voice."
+
+
+
+
+THE SHE-GOATS AND THEIR BEARDS
+
+
+Jupiter granted beards to the She-Goats at their own request, much
+to the disgust of the he-Goats, who considered this to be an
+unwarrantable invasion of their rights and dignities. So they sent a
+deputation to him to protest against his action. He, however, advised
+them not to raise any objections. "What's in a tuft of hair?" said he.
+"Let them have it if they want it. They can never be a match for you
+in strength."
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD LION
+
+
+A Lion, enfeebled by age and no longer able to procure food for
+himself by force, determined to do so by cunning. Betaking himself to
+a cave, he lay down inside and feigned to be sick: and whenever any of
+the other animals entered to inquire after his health, he sprang upon
+them and devoured them. Many lost their lives in this way, till one
+day a Fox called at the cave, and, having a suspicion of the truth,
+addressed the Lion from outside instead of going in, and asked him how
+he did. He replied that he was in a very bad way: "But," said he, "why
+do you stand outside? Pray come in." "I should have done so," answered
+the Fox, "if I hadn't noticed that all the footprints point towards
+the cave and none the other way."
+
+
+
+
+THE BOY BATHING
+
+
+A Boy was bathing in a river and got out of his depth, and was in
+great danger of being drowned. A man who was passing along a road
+heard his cries for help, and went to the riverside and began to scold
+him for being so careless as to get into deep water, but made no
+attempt to help him. "Oh, sir," cried the Boy, "please help me first
+and scold me afterwards."
+
+    Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.
+
+
+
+
+THE QUACK FROG
+
+
+Once upon a time a Frog came forth from his home in the marshes and
+proclaimed to all the world that he was a learned physician, skilled
+in drugs and able to cure all diseases. Among the crowd was a Fox, who
+called out, "You a doctor! Why, how can you set up to heal others when
+you cannot even cure your own lame legs and blotched and wrinkled
+skin?"
+
+    Physician, heal thyself.
+
+
+
+
+THE SWOLLEN FOX
+
+
+A hungry Fox found in a hollow tree a quantity of bread and meat,
+which some shepherds had placed there against their return. Delighted
+with his find he slipped in through the narrow aperture and greedily
+devoured it all. But when he tried to get out again he found himself
+so swollen after his big meal that he could not squeeze through the
+hole, and fell to whining and groaning over his misfortune. Another
+Fox, happening to pass that way, came and asked him what the matter
+was; and, on learning the state of the case, said, "Well, my friend, I
+see nothing for it but for you to stay where you are till you shrink
+to your former size; you'll get out then easily enough."
+
+
+
+
+THE MOUSE, THE FROG, AND THE HAWK
+
+
+A Mouse and a Frog struck up a friendship; they were not well mated,
+for the Mouse lived entirely on land, while the Frog was equally
+at home on land or in the water. In order that they might never be
+separated, the Frog tied himself and the Mouse together by the leg
+with a piece of thread. As long as they kept on dry land all went
+fairly well; but, coming to the edge of a pool, the Frog jumped in,
+taking the Mouse with him, and began swimming about and croaking with
+pleasure. The unhappy Mouse, however, was soon drowned, and floated
+about on the surface in the wake of the Frog. There he was spied by a
+Hawk, who pounced down on him and seized him in his talons. The Frog
+was unable to loose the knot which bound him to the Mouse, and thus
+was carried off along with him and eaten by the Hawk.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOY AND THE NETTLES
+
+
+A Boy was gathering berries from a hedge when his hand was stung by a
+Nettle. Smarting with the pain, he ran to tell his mother, and said
+to her between his sobs, "I only touched it ever so lightly, mother."
+"That's just why you got stung, my son," she said; "if you had grasped
+it firmly, it wouldn't have hurt you in the least."
+
+
+
+
+THE PEASANT AND THE APPLE-TREE
+
+
+A Peasant had an Apple-tree growing in his garden, which bore no
+fruit, but merely served to provide a shelter from the heat for the
+sparrows and grasshoppers which sat and chirped in its branches.
+Disappointed at its barrenness he determined to cut it down, and went
+and fetched his axe for the purpose. But when the sparrows and the
+grasshoppers saw what he was about to do, they begged him to spare
+it, and said to him, "If you destroy the tree we shall have to seek
+shelter elsewhere, and you will no longer have our merry chirping to
+enliven your work in the garden." He, however, refused to listen to
+them, and set to work with a will to cut through the trunk. A few
+strokes showed that it was hollow inside and contained a swarm of bees
+and a large store of honey. Delighted with his find he threw down his
+axe, saying, "The old tree is worth keeping after all."
+
+    Utility is most men's test of worth.
+
+
+
+
+THE JACKDAW AND THE PIGEONS
+
+
+A Jackdaw, watching some Pigeons in a farmyard, was filled with envy
+when he saw how well they were fed, and determined to disguise himself
+as one of them, in order to secure a share of the good things they
+enjoyed. So he painted himself white from head to foot and joined the
+flock; and, so long as he was silent, they never suspected that he
+was not a pigeon like themselves. But one day he was unwise enough
+to start chattering, when they at once saw through his disguise and
+pecked him so unmercifully that he was glad to escape and join his own
+kind again. But the other jackdaws did not recognise him in his white
+dress, and would not let him feed with them, but drove him away: and
+so he became a homeless wanderer for his pains.
+
+
+
+
+JUPITER AND THE TORTOISE
+
+
+Jupiter was about to marry a wife, and determined to celebrate the
+event by inviting all the animals to a banquet. They all came except
+the Tortoise, who did not put in an appearance, much to Jupiter's
+surprise. So when he next saw the Tortoise he asked him why he had not
+been at the banquet. "I don't care for going out," said the Tortoise;
+"there's no place like home." Jupiter was so much annoyed by this
+reply that he decreed that from that time forth the Tortoise should
+carry his house upon his back, and never be able to get away from home
+even if he wished to.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG IN THE MANGER
+
+
+A Dog was lying in a Manger on the hay which had been put there for
+the cattle, and when they came and tried to eat, he growled and
+snapped at them and wouldn't let them get at their food. "What a
+selfish beast," said one of them to his companions; "he can't eat
+himself and yet he won't let those eat who can."
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO BAGS
+
+
+Every man carries Two Bags about with him, one in front and one
+behind, and both are packed full of faults. The Bag in front contains
+his neighbours' faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men
+do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.
+
+
+
+
+THE OXEN AND THE AXLETREES
+
+
+A pair of Oxen were drawing a heavily loaded waggon along the highway,
+and, as they tugged and strained at the yoke, the Axletrees creaked
+and groaned terribly. This was too much for the Oxen, who turned round
+indignantly and said, "Hullo, you there! Why do you make such a noise
+when we do all the work?"
+
+    They complain most who suffer least.
+
+
+
+
+THE BOY AND THE FILBERTS
+
+
+A Boy put his hand into a jar of Filberts, and grasped as many as his
+fist could possibly hold. But when he tried to pull it out again, he
+found he couldn't do so, for the neck of the jar was too small to
+allow of the passage of so large a handful. Unwilling to lose his nuts
+but unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears. A bystander, who
+saw where the trouble lay, said to him, "Come, my boy, don't be so
+greedy: be content with half the amount, and you'll be able to get
+your hand out without difficulty."
+
+    Do not attempt too much at once.
+
+
+
+
+THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KING
+
+
+Time was when the Frogs were discontented because they had no one to
+rule over them: so they sent a deputation to Jupiter to ask him to
+give them a King. Jupiter, despising the folly of their request, cast
+a log into the pool where they lived, and said that that should be
+their King. The Frogs were terrified at first by the splash, and
+scuttled away into the deepest parts of the pool; but by and by, when
+they saw that the log remained motionless, one by one they ventured to
+the surface again, and before long, growing bolder, they began to feel
+such contempt for it that they even took to sitting upon it. Thinking
+that a King of that sort was an insult to their dignity, they sent to
+Jupiter a second time, and begged him to take away the sluggish King
+he had given them, and to give them another and a better one. Jupiter,
+annoyed at being pestered in this way, sent a Stork to rule over them,
+who no sooner arrived among them than he began to catch and eat the
+Frogs as fast as he could.
+
+
+
+
+THE OLIVE-TREE AND THE FIG-TREE
+
+
+An Olive-tree taunted a Fig-tree with the loss of her leaves at a
+certain season of the year. "You," she said, "lose your leaves every
+autumn, and are bare till the spring: whereas I, as you see, remain
+green and flourishing all the year round." Soon afterwards there came
+a heavy fall of snow, which settled on the leaves of the Olive so that
+she bent and broke under the weight; but the flakes fell harmlessly
+through the bare branches of the Fig, which survived to bear many
+another crop.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE BOAR
+
+
+One hot and thirsty day in the height of summer a Lion and a Boar came
+down to a little spring at the same moment to drink. In a trice they
+were quarrelling as to who should drink first. The quarrel soon became
+a fight and they attacked one another with the utmost fury. Presently,
+stopping for a moment to take breath, they saw some vultures seated on
+a rock above evidently waiting for one of them to be killed, when they
+would fly down and feed upon the carcase. The sight sobered them at
+once, and they made up their quarrel, saying, "We had much better be
+friends than fight and be eaten by vultures."
+
+
+
+
+THE WALNUT-TREE
+
+
+A Walnut-tree, which grew by the roadside, bore every year a plentiful
+crop of nuts. Every one who passed by pelted its branches with sticks
+and stones, in order to bring down the fruit, and the tree suffered
+severely. "It is hard," it cried, "that the very persons who enjoy my
+fruit should thus reward me with insults and blows."
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN AND THE LION
+
+
+A Man and a Lion were companions on a journey, and in the course of
+conversation they began to boast about their prowess, and each claimed
+to be superior to the other in strength and courage. They were still
+arguing with some heat when they came to a cross-road where there
+was a statue of a Man strangling a Lion. "There!" said the Man
+triumphantly, "look at that! Doesn't that prove to you that we are
+stronger than you?" "Not so fast, my friend," said the Lion: "that is
+only your view of the case. If we Lions could make statues, you may be
+sure that in most of them you would see the Man underneath."
+
+    There are two sides to every question.
+
+
+
+
+THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE
+
+
+A Tortoise, discontented with his lowly life, and envious of the birds
+he saw disporting themselves in the air, begged an Eagle to teach him
+to fly. The Eagle protested that it was idle for him to try, as nature
+had not provided him with wings; but the Tortoise pressed him with
+entreaties and promises of treasure, insisting that it could only be
+a question of learning the craft of the air. So at length the Eagle
+consented to do the best he could for him, and picked him up in his
+talons. Soaring with him to a great height in the sky he then let him
+go, and the wretched Tortoise fell headlong and was dashed to pieces
+on a rock.
+
+
+
+
+THE KID ON THE HOUSETOP
+
+
+A Kid climbed up on to the roof of an outhouse, attracted by the
+grass and other things that grew in the thatch; and as he stood there
+browsing away, he caught sight of a Wolf passing below, and jeered at
+him because he couldn't reach him. The Wolf only looked up and said,
+"I hear you, my young friend; but it is not you who mock me, but the
+roof on which you are standing."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL
+
+
+A fox once fell into a trap, and after a struggle managed to get free,
+but with the loss of his brush. He was then so much ashamed of his
+appearance that he thought life was not worth living unless he could
+persuade the other Foxes to part with their tails also, and thus
+divert attention from his own loss. So he called a meeting of all the
+Foxes, and advised them to cut off their tails: "They're ugly things
+anyhow," he said, "and besides they're heavy, and it's tiresome to be
+always carrying them about with you." But one of the other Foxes said,
+"My friend, if you hadn't lost your own tail, you wouldn't be so keen
+on getting us to cut off ours."
+
+
+
+
+THE VAIN JACKDAW
+
+
+Jupiter announced that he intended to appoint a king over the birds,
+and named a day on which they were to appear before his throne, when
+he would select the most beautiful of them all to be their ruler.
+Wishing to look their best on the occasion they repaired to the banks
+of a stream, where they busied themselves in washing and preening
+their feathers. The Jackdaw was there along with the rest, and
+realised that, with his ugly plumage, he would have no chance of being
+chosen as he was: so he waited till they were all gone, and then
+picked up the most gaudy of the feathers they had dropped, and
+fastened them about his own body, with the result that he looked gayer
+than any of them. When the appointed day came, the birds assembled
+before Jupiter's throne; and, after passing them in review, he was
+about to make the Jackdaw king, when all the rest set upon the
+king-elect, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and exposed him for
+the Jackdaw that he was.
+
+
+
+
+THE TRAVELLER AND HIS DOG
+
+
+A Traveller was about to start on a journey, and said to his Dog, who
+was stretching himself by the door, "Come, what are you yawning for?
+Hurry up and get ready: I mean you to go with me." But the Dog merely
+wagged his tail and said quietly, "I'm ready, master: it's you I'm
+waiting for."
+
+
+
+
+THE SHIPWRECKED MAN AND THE SEA
+
+
+A Shipwrecked Man cast up on the beach fell asleep after his struggle
+with the waves. When he woke up, he bitterly reproached the Sea for
+its treachery in enticing men with its smooth and smiling surface,
+and then, when they were well embarked, turning in fury upon them and
+sending both ship and sailors to destruction. The Sea arose in the
+form of a woman, and replied, "Lay not the blame on me, O sailor, but
+on the Winds. By nature I am as calm and safe as the land itself: but
+the Winds fall upon me with their gusts and gales, and lash me into a
+fury that is not natural to me."
+
+
+
+
+THE WILD BOAR AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Wild Boar was engaged in whetting his tusks upon the trunk of a tree
+in the forest when a Fox came by and, seeing what he was at, said to
+him, "Why are you doing that, pray? The huntsmen are not out to-day,
+and there are no other dangers at hand that I can see." "True, my
+friend," replied the Boar, "but the instant my life is in danger I
+shall need to use my tusks. There'll be no time to sharpen them then."
+
+
+
+
+MERCURY AND THE SCULPTOR
+
+
+Mercury was very anxious to know in what estimation he was held by
+mankind; so he disguised himself as a man and walked into a Sculptor's
+studio, where there were a number of statues finished and ready for
+sale. Seeing a statue of Jupiter among the rest, he inquired the price
+of it. "A crown," said the Sculptor. "Is that all?" said he, laughing;
+"and" (pointing to one of Juno) "how much is that one?" "That," was
+the reply, "is half a crown." "And how much might you be wanting for
+that one over there, now?" he continued, pointing to a statue of
+himself. "That one?" said the Sculptor; "Oh, I'll throw him in for
+nothing if you'll buy the other two."
+
+
+
+
+THE FAWN AND HIS MOTHER
+
+
+A Hind said to her Fawn, who was now well grown and strong, "My son,
+Nature has given you a powerful body and a stout pair of horns, and I
+can't think why you are such a coward as to run away from the hounds."
+Just then they both heard the sound of a pack in full cry, but at a
+considerable distance. "You stay where you are," said the Hind; "never
+mind me": and with that she ran off as fast as her legs could carry
+her.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE LION
+
+
+A Fox who had never seen a Lion one day met one, and was so terrified
+at the sight of him that he was ready to die with fear. After a time
+he met him again, and was still rather frightened, but not nearly so
+much as he had been when he met him first. But when he saw him for the
+third time he was so far from being afraid that he went up to him and
+began to talk to him as if he had known him all his life.
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE AND HIS CAPTOR
+
+
+A Man once caught an Eagle, and after clipping his wings turned him
+loose among the fowls in his hen-house, where he moped in a corner,
+looking very dejected and forlorn. After a while his Captor was glad
+enough to sell him to a neighbour, who took him home and let his wings
+grow again. As soon as he had recovered the use of them, the Eagle
+flew out and caught a hare, which he brought home and presented to his
+benefactor. A fox observed this, and said to the Eagle, "Don't waste
+your gifts on him! Go and give them to the man who first caught you;
+make _him_ your friend, and then perhaps he won't catch you and clip
+your wings a second time."
+
+
+
+
+THE BLACKSMITH AND HIS DOG
+
+
+A Blacksmith had a little Dog, which used to sleep when his master was
+at work, but was very wide awake indeed when it was time for meals.
+One day his master pretended to be disgusted at this, and when he had
+thrown him a bone as usual, he said, "What on earth is the good of a
+lazy cur like you? When I am hammering away at my anvil, you just curl
+up and go to sleep: but no sooner do I stop for a mouthful of food
+than you wake up and wag your tail to be fed."
+
+    Those who will not work deserve to starve.
+
+
+
+
+THE STAG AT THE POOL
+
+
+A thirsty Stag went down to a pool to drink. As he bent over the
+surface he saw his own reflection in the water, and was struck with
+admiration for his fine spreading antlers, but at the same time he
+felt nothing but disgust for the weakness and slenderness of his legs.
+While he stood there looking at himself, he was seen and attacked by
+a Lion; but in the chase which ensued, he soon drew away from his
+pursuer, and kept his lead as long as the ground over which he ran was
+open and free of trees. But coming presently to a wood, he was caught
+by his antlers in the branches, and fell a victim to the teeth and
+claws of his enemy. "Woe is me!" he cried with his last breath; "I
+despised my legs, which might have saved my life: but I gloried in my
+horns, and they have proved my ruin."
+
+    What is worth most is often valued least.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG AND THE SHADOW
+
+
+A Dog was crossing a plank bridge over a stream with a piece of meat
+in his mouth, when he happened to see his own reflection in the water.
+He thought it was another dog with a piece of meat twice as big; so
+he let go his own, and flew at the other dog to get the larger piece.
+But, of course, all that happened was that he got neither; for one was
+only a shadow, and the other was carried away by the current.
+
+
+
+
+MERCURY AND THE TRADESMEN
+
+
+When Jupiter was creating man, he told Mercury to make an infusion of
+lies, and to add a little of it to the other ingredients which went to
+the making of the Tradesmen. Mercury did so, and introduced an equal
+amount into each in turn--the tallow-chandler, and the greengrocer,
+and the haberdasher, and all, till he came to the horse-dealer, who
+was last on the list, when, finding that he had a quantity of the
+infusion still left, he put it all into him. This is why all Tradesmen
+lie more or less, but they none of them lie like a horse-dealer.
+
+
+
+
+THE MICE AND THE WEASELS
+
+
+There was war between the Mice and the Weasels, in which the Mice
+always got the worst of it, numbers of them being killed and eaten by
+the Weasels. So they called a council of war, in which an old Mouse
+got up and said, "It's no wonder we are always beaten, for we have no
+generals to plan our battles and direct our movements in the field."
+Acting on his advice, they chose the biggest Mice to be their leaders,
+and these, in order to be distinguished from the rank and file,
+provided themselves with helmets bearing large plumes of straw. They
+then led out the Mice to battle, confident of victory: but they were
+defeated as usual, and were soon scampering as fast as they could to
+their holes. All made their way to safety without difficulty except
+the leaders, who were so hampered by the badges of their rank that
+they could not get into their holes, and fell easy victims to their
+pursuers.
+
+    Greatness carries its own penalties.
+
+
+
+
+THE PEACOCK AND JUNO
+
+
+The Peacock was greatly discontented because he had not a beautiful
+voice like the nightingale, and he went and complained to Juno about
+it. "The nightingale's song," said he, "is the envy of all the birds;
+but whenever I utter a sound I become a laughing-stock." The goddess
+tried to console him by saying, "You have not, it is true, the power
+of song, but then you far excel all the rest in beauty: your neck
+flashes like the emerald and your splendid tail is a marvel of
+gorgeous colour." But the Peacock was not appeased. "What is the use,"
+said he, "of being beautiful, with a voice like mine?" Then Juno
+replied, with a shade of sternness in her tones, "Fate has allotted to
+all their destined gifts: to yourself beauty, to the eagle strength,
+to the nightingale song, and so on to all the rest in their degree;
+but you alone are dissatisfied with your portion. Make, then, no more
+complaints. For, if your present wish were granted, you would quickly
+find cause for fresh discontent."
+
+
+
+
+THE BEAR AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Bear was once bragging about his generous feelings, and saying how
+refined he was compared with other animals. (There is, in fact, a
+tradition that a Bear will never touch a dead body.) A Fox, who heard
+him talking in this strain, smiled and said, "My friend, when you are
+hungry, I only wish you _would_ confine your attention to the dead and
+leave the living alone."
+
+    A hypocrite deceives no one but himself.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND THE OLD PEASANT
+
+
+An old Peasant was sitting in a meadow watching his Ass, which was
+grazing close by, when all of a sudden he caught sight of armed men
+stealthily approaching. He jumped up in a moment, and begged the Ass
+to fly with him as fast as he could, "Or else," said he, "we shall
+both be captured by the enemy." But the Ass just looked round lazily
+and said, "And if so, do you think they'll make me carry heavier loads
+than I have to now?" "No," said his master. "Oh, well, then," said the
+Ass, "I don't mind if they do take me, for I shan't be any worse off."
+
+
+
+
+THE OX AND THE FROG
+
+
+Two little Frogs were playing about at the edge of a pool when an Ox
+came down to the water to drink, and by accident trod on one of them
+and crushed the life out of him. When the old Frog missed him, she
+asked his brother where he was. "He is dead, mother," said the little
+Frog; "an enormous big creature with four legs came to our pool this
+morning and trampled him down in the mud." "Enormous, was he? Was he
+as big as this?" said the Frog, puffing herself out to look as big
+as possible. "Oh! yes, _much_ bigger," was the answer. The Frog puffed
+herself out still more. "Was he as big as this?" said she. "Oh! yes,
+yes, mother, _MUCH_ bigger," said the little Frog. And yet again she
+puffed and puffed herself out till she was almost as round as a ball.
+"As big as...?" she began--but then she burst.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN AND THE IMAGE
+
+
+A poor Man had a wooden Image of a god, to which he used to pray daily
+for riches. He did this for a long time, but remained as poor as ever,
+till one day he caught up the Image in disgust and hurled it with all
+his strength against the wall. The force of the blow split open the
+head and a quantity of gold coins fell out upon the floor. The Man
+gathered them up greedily, and said, "O you old fraud, you! When I
+honoured you, you did me no good whatever: but no sooner do I treat
+you to insults and violence than you make a rich man of me!"
+
+
+
+
+HERCULES AND THE WAGGONER
+
+
+A Waggoner was driving his team along a muddy lane with a full load
+behind them, when the wheels of his waggon sank so deep in the mire
+that no efforts of his horses could move them. As he stood there,
+looking helplessly on, and calling loudly at intervals upon Hercules
+for assistance, the god himself appeared, and said to him, "Put your
+shoulder to the wheel, man, and goad on your horses, and then you may
+call on Hercules to assist you. If you won't lift a finger to help
+yourself, you can't expect Hercules or any one else to come to your
+aid."
+
+    Heaven helps those who help themselves.
+
+
+
+
+THE POMEGRANATE, THE APPLE-TREE, AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+
+A Pomegranate and an Apple-tree were disputing about the quality of
+their fruits, and each claimed that its own was the better of the two.
+High words passed between them, and a violent quarrel was imminent,
+when a Bramble impudently poked its head out of a neighbouring hedge
+and said, "There, that's enough, my friends; don't let us quarrel."
+
+
+
+
+THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Lion and a Bear were fighting for possession of a kid, which they
+had both seized at the same moment. The battle was long and fierce,
+and at length both of them were exhausted, and lay upon the ground
+severely wounded and gasping for breath. A Fox had all the time been
+prowling round and watching the fight: and when he saw the combatants
+lying there too weak to move, he slipped in and seized the kid, and
+ran off with it. They looked on helplessly, and one said to the other,
+"Here we've been mauling each other all this while, and no one the
+better for it except the Fox!"
+
+
+
+
+THE BLACKAMOOR
+
+
+A Man once bought an Ethiopian slave, who had a black skin like all
+Ethiopians; but his new master thought his colour was due to his
+late owner's having neglected him, and that all he wanted was a good
+scrubbing. So he set to work with plenty of soap and hot water, and
+rubbed away at him with a will, but all to no purpose: his skin
+remained as black as ever, while the poor wretch all but died from the
+cold he caught.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO SOLDIERS AND THE ROBBER
+
+
+Two Soldiers travelling together were set upon by a Robber. One of
+them ran away, but the other stood his ground, and laid about him so
+lustily with his sword that the Robber was fain to fly and leave
+him in peace. When the coast was clear the timid one ran back, and,
+flourishing his weapon, cried in a threatening voice, "Where is he?
+Let me get at him, and I'll soon let him know whom he's got to deal
+with." But the other replied, "You are a little late, my friend: I
+only wish you had backed me up just now, even if you had done no more
+than speak, for I should have been encouraged, believing your words to
+be true. As it is, calm yourself, and put up your sword: there is no
+further use for it. You may delude others into thinking you're as
+brave as a lion: but I know that, at the first sign of danger, you run
+away like a hare."
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE WILD ASS
+
+
+A Lion and a Wild Ass went out hunting together: the latter was to run
+down the prey by his superior speed, and the former would then come
+up and despatch it. They met with great success; and when it came to
+sharing the spoil the Lion divided it all into three equal portions.
+"I will take the first," said he, "because I am King of the beasts; I
+will also take the second, because, as your partner, I am entitled to
+half of what remains; and as for the third--well, unless you give it
+up to me and take yourself off pretty quick, the third, believe me,
+will make you feel very sorry for yourself!"
+
+    Might makes right.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN AND THE SATYR
+
+
+A Man and a Satyr became friends, and determined to live together. All
+went well for a while, until one day in winter-time the Satyr saw the
+Man blowing on his hands. "Why do you do that?" he asked. "To warm
+my hands," said the Man. That same day, when they sat down to supper
+together, they each had a steaming hot bowl of porridge, and the Man
+raised his bowl to his mouth and blew on it. "Why do you do that?"
+asked the Satyr. "To cool my porridge," said the Man. The Satyr got up
+from the table. "Good-bye," said he, "I'm going: I can't be friends
+with a man who blows hot and cold with the same breath."
+
+
+
+
+THE IMAGE-SELLER
+
+
+A certain man made a wooden Image of Mercury, and exposed it for sale
+in the market. As no one offered to buy it, however, he thought he
+would try to attract a purchaser by proclaiming the virtues of the
+Image. So he cried up and down the market, "A god for sale! a god for
+sale! One who'll bring you luck and keep you lucky!" Presently one of
+the bystanders stopped him and said, "If your god is all you make
+him out to be, how is it you don't keep him and make the most of him
+yourself?" "I'll tell you why," replied he; "he brings gain, it is
+true, but he takes his time about it; whereas I want money at once."
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE ARROW
+
+
+An Eagle sat perched on a lofty rock, keeping a sharp look-out for
+prey. A huntsman, concealed in a cleft of the mountain and on the
+watch for game, spied him there and shot an Arrow at him. The shaft
+struck him full in the breast and pierced him through and through. As
+he lay in the agonies of death, he turned his eyes upon the Arrow.
+"Ah! cruel fate!" he cried, "that I should perish thus: but oh! fate
+more cruel still, that the Arrow which kills me should be winged with
+an Eagle's feathers!"
+
+
+
+
+THE RICH MAN AND THE TANNER
+
+
+A Rich Man took up his residence next door to a Tanner, and found the
+smell of the tan-yard so extremely unpleasant that he told him he must
+go. The Tanner delayed his departure, and the Rich Man had to speak
+to him several times about it; and every time the Tanner said he was
+making arrangements to move very shortly. This went on for some time,
+till at last the Rich Man got so used to the smell that he ceased to
+mind it, and troubled the Tanner with his objections no more.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF, THE MOTHER, AND HER CHILD
+
+
+A hungry Wolf was prowling about in search of food. By and by,
+attracted by the cries of a Child, he came to a cottage. As he
+crouched beneath the window, he heard the Mother say to the Child,
+"Stop crying, do! or I'll throw you to the Wolf." Thinking she really
+meant what she said, he waited there a long time in the expectation of
+satisfying his hunger. In the evening he heard the Mother fondling her
+Child and saying, "If the naughty Wolf comes, he shan't get my little
+one: Daddy will kill him." The Wolf got up in much disgust and walked
+away: "As for the people in that house," said he to himself, "you
+can't believe a word they say."
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD WOMAN AND THE WINE-JAR
+
+
+An old Woman picked up an empty Wine-jar which had once contained a
+rare and costly wine, and which still retained some traces of its
+exquisite bouquet. She raised it to her nose and sniffed at it again
+and again. "Ah," she cried, "how delicious must have been the liquid
+which has left behind so ravishing a smell."
+
+
+
+
+THE LIONESS AND THE VIXEN
+
+
+A Lioness and a Vixen were talking together about their young, as
+mothers will, and saying how healthy and well-grown they were, and
+what beautiful coats they had, and how they were the image of their
+parents. "My litter of cubs is a joy to see," said the Fox; and then
+she added, rather maliciously, "But I notice you never have more than
+one." "No," said the Lioness grimly, "but that one's a lion."
+
+    Quality, not quantity.
+
+
+
+
+THE VIPER AND THE FILE
+
+
+A Viper entered a carpenter's shop, and went from one to another of
+the tools, begging for something to eat. Among the rest, he addressed
+himself to the File, and asked for the favour of a meal. The File
+replied in a tone of pitying contempt, "What a simpleton you must be
+if you imagine you will get anything from me, who invariably take from
+every one and never give anything in return."
+
+    The covetous are poor givers.
+
+
+
+
+THE CAT AND THE COCK
+
+
+A Cat pounced on a Cock, and cast about for some good excuse for
+making a meal off him, for Cats don't as a rule eat Cocks, and she
+knew she ought not to. At last she said, "You make a great nuisance of
+yourself at night by crowing and keeping people awake: so I am going
+to make an end of you." But the Cock defended himself by saying that
+he crowed in order that men might wake up and set about the day's work
+in good time, and that they really couldn't very well do without him.
+"That may be," said the Cat, "but whether they can or not, I'm not
+going without my dinner"; and she killed and ate him.
+
+    The want of a good excuse never kept a villain from crime.
+
+
+
+
+THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
+
+
+A Hare was one day making fun of a Tortoise for being so slow upon his
+feet. "Wait a bit," said the Tortoise; "I'll run a race with you, and
+I'll wager that I win." "Oh, well," replied the Hare, who was much
+amused at the idea, "let's try and see"; and it was soon agreed that
+the fox should set a course for them, and be the judge. When the time
+came both started off together, but the Hare was soon so far ahead
+that he thought he might as well have a rest: so down he lay and fell
+fast asleep. Meanwhile the Tortoise kept plodding on, and in time
+reached the goal. At last the Hare woke up with a start, and dashed on
+at his fastest, but only to find that the Tortoise had already won the
+race.
+
+    Slow and steady wins the race.
+
+
+
+
+THE SOLDIER AND HIS HORSE
+
+
+A Soldier gave his Horse a plentiful supply of oats in time of war,
+and tended him with the utmost care, for he wished him to be strong to
+endure the hardships of the field, and swift to bear his master, when
+need arose, out of the reach of danger. But when the war was over he
+employed him on all sorts of drudgery, bestowing but little attention
+upon him, and giving him, moreover, nothing but chaff to eat. The time
+came when war broke out again, and the Soldier saddled and bridled his
+Horse, and, having put on his heavy coat of mail, mounted him to ride
+off and take the field. But the poor half-starved beast sank down
+under his weight, and said to his rider, "You will have to go into
+battle on foot this time. Thanks to hard work and bad food, you have
+turned me from a Horse into an ass; and you cannot in a moment turn me
+back again into a Horse."
+
+
+
+
+THE OXEN AND THE BUTCHERS
+
+
+Once upon a time the Oxen determined to be revenged upon the Butchers
+for the havoc they wrought in their ranks, and plotted to put them to
+death on a given day. They were all gathered together discussing how
+best to carry out the plan, and the more violent of them were engaged
+in sharpening their horns for the fray, when an old Ox got up upon his
+feet and said, "My brothers, you have good reason, I know, to hate
+these Butchers, but, at any rate, they understand their trade and do
+what they have to do without causing unnecessary pain. But if we kill
+them, others, who have no experience, will be set to slaughter us, and
+will by their bungling inflict great sufferings upon us. For you may
+be sure that, even though all the Butchers perish, mankind will never
+go without their beef."
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE LION
+
+
+A wolf stole a lamb from the flock, and was carrying it off to devour
+it at his leisure when he met a Lion, who took his prey away from him
+and walked off with it. He dared not resist, but when the Lion had
+gone some distance he said, "It is most unjust of you to take what's
+mine away from me like that." The Lion laughed and called out in
+reply, "It was justly yours, no doubt! The gift of a friend, perhaps,
+eh?"
+
+
+
+
+THE SHEEP, THE WOLF, AND THE STAG
+
+
+A Stag once asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, saying that
+his friend the Wolf would be his surety. The Sheep, however, was
+afraid that they meant to cheat her; so she excused herself, saying,
+"The Wolf is in the habit of seizing what he wants and running off
+with it without paying, and you, too, can run much faster than I. So
+how shall I be able to come up with either of you when the debt falls
+due?"
+
+    Two blacks do not make a white.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE THREE BULLS
+
+
+Three Bulls were grazing in a meadow, and were watched by a Lion, who
+longed to capture and devour them, but who felt that he was no match
+for the three so long as they kept together. So he began by false
+whispers and malicious hints to foment jealousies and distrust among
+them. This stratagem succeeded so well that ere long the Bulls grew
+cold and unfriendly, and finally avoided each other and fed each one
+by himself apart. No sooner did the Lion see this than he fell upon
+them one by one and killed them in turn.
+
+    The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes.
+
+
+
+
+THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER
+
+
+A Young Man, who fancied himself something of a horseman, mounted
+a Horse which had not been properly broken in, and was exceedingly
+difficult to control. No sooner did the Horse feel his weight in the
+saddle than he bolted, and nothing would stop him. A friend of the
+Rider's met him in the road in his headlong career, and called out,
+"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" To which he, pointing to the
+Horse, replied, "I've no idea: ask him."
+
+
+
+
+THE GOAT AND THE VINE
+
+
+A Goat was straying in a vineyard, and began to browse on the tender
+shoots of a Vine which bore several fine bunches of grapes. "What have
+I done to you," said the Vine, "that you should harm me thus? Isn't
+there grass enough for you to feed on? All the same, even if you eat
+up every leaf I have, and leave me quite bare, I shall produce
+wine enough to pour over you when you are led to the altar to be
+sacrificed."
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO POTS
+
+
+Two Pots, one of earthenware and the other of brass, were carried away
+down a river in flood. The Brazen Pot urged his companion to keep
+close by his side, and he would protect him. The other thanked him,
+but begged him not to come near him on any account: "For that," he
+said, "is just what I am most afraid of. One touch from you and I
+should be broken in pieces."
+
+    Equals make the best friends.
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD HOUND
+
+
+A Hound who had served his master well for years, and had run down
+many a quarry in his time, began to lose his strength and speed owing
+to age. One day, when out hunting, his master started a powerful wild
+boar and set the Hound at him. The latter seized the beast by the ear,
+but his teeth were gone and he could not retain his hold; so the
+boar escaped. His master began to scold him severely, but the Hound
+interrupted him with these words: "My will is as strong as ever,
+master, but my body is old and feeble. You ought to honour me for what
+I have been instead of abusing me for what I am."
+
+
+
+
+THE CLOWN AND THE COUNTRYMAN
+
+
+A Nobleman announced his intention of giving a public entertainment in
+the theatre, and offered splendid prizes to all who had any novelty
+to exhibit at the performance. The announcement attracted a crowd of
+conjurers, jugglers, and acrobats, and among the rest a Clown, very
+popular with the crowd, who let it be known that he was going to
+give an entirely new turn. When the day of the performance came,
+the theatre was filled from top to bottom some time before the
+entertainment began. Several performers exhibited their tricks, and
+then the popular favourite came on empty-handed and alone. At once
+there was a hush of expectation: and he, letting his head fall upon
+his breast, imitated the squeak of a pig to such perfection that the
+audience insisted on his producing the animal, which, they said, he
+must have somewhere concealed about his person. He, however, convinced
+them that there was no pig there, and then the applause was deafening.
+Among the spectators was a Countryman, who disparaged the Clown's
+performance and announced that he would give a much superior
+exhibition of the same trick on the following day. Again the theatre
+was filled to overflowing, and again the Clown gave his imitation
+amidst the cheers of the crowd. The Countryman, meanwhile, before
+going on the stage, had secreted a young porker under his smock; and
+when the spectators derisively bade him do better if he could, he gave
+it a pinch in the ear and made it squeal loudly. But they all with one
+voice shouted out that the Clown's imitation was much more true to
+life. Thereupon he produced the pig from under his smock and said
+sarcastically, "There, that shows what sort of judges you are!"
+
+
+
+
+THE LARK AND THE FARMER
+
+
+A Lark nested in a field of corn, and was rearing her brood under
+cover of the ripening grain. One day, before the young were fully
+fledged, the Farmer came to look at the crop, and, finding it
+yellowing fast, he said, "I must send round word to my neighbours to
+come and help me reap this field." One of the young Larks overheard
+him, and was very much frightened, and asked her mother whether they
+hadn't better move house at once. "There's no hurry," replied she;
+"a man who looks to his friends for help will take his time about a
+thing." In a few days the Farmer came by again, and saw that the grain
+was overripe and falling out of the ears upon the ground. "I must put
+it off no longer," he said; "This very day I'll hire the men and set
+them to work at once." The Lark heard him and said to her young,
+"Come, my children, we must be off: he talks no more of his friends
+now, but is going to take things in hand himself."
+
+    Self-help is the best help.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE ASS
+
+
+A Lion and an Ass set up as partners and went a-hunting together. In
+course of time they came to a cave in which there were a number of
+wild goats. The Lion took up his stand at the mouth of the cave, and
+waited for them to come out; while the Ass went inside and brayed for
+all he was worth in order to frighten them out into the open. The Lion
+struck them down one by one as they appeared; and when the cave was
+empty the Ass came out and said, "Well, I scared them pretty well,
+didn't I?" "I should think you did," said the Lion: "why, if I hadn't
+known you were an Ass, I should have turned and run myself."
+
+
+
+
+THE PROPHET
+
+
+A Prophet sat in the market-place and told the fortunes of all who
+cared to engage his services. Suddenly there came running up one who
+told him that his house had been broken into by thieves, and that they
+had made off with everything they could lay hands on. He was up in a
+moment, and rushed off, tearing his hair and calling down curses on
+the miscreants. The bystanders were much amused, and one of them said,
+"Our friend professes to know what is going to happen to others,
+but it seems he's not clever enough to perceive what's in store for
+himself."
+
+
+
+
+THE HOUND AND THE HARE
+
+
+A young Hound started a Hare, and, when he caught her up, would at one
+moment snap at her with his teeth as though he were about to kill her,
+while at another he would let go his hold and frisk about her, as if
+he were playing with another dog. At last the Hare said, "I wish you
+would show yourself in your true colours! If you are my friend, why do
+you bite me? If you are my enemy, why do you play with me?"
+
+    He is no friend who plays double.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION, THE MOUSE, AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Lion was lying asleep at the mouth of his den when a Mouse ran over
+his back and tickled him so that he woke up with a start and began
+looking about everywhere to see what it was that had disturbed him. A
+Fox, who was looking on, thought he would have a joke at the expense
+of the Lion; so he said, "Well, this is the first time I've seen a
+Lion afraid of a Mouse." "Afraid of a Mouse?" said the Lion testily:
+"not I! It's his bad manners I can't stand."
+
+
+
+
+THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER
+
+
+A Trumpeter marched into battle in the van of the army and put courage
+into his comrades by his warlike tunes. Being captured by the enemy,
+he begged for his life, and said, "Do not put me to death; I have
+killed no one: indeed, I have no weapons, but carry with me only my
+trumpet here." But his captors replied, "That is only the more reason
+why we should take your life; for, though you do not fight yourself,
+you stir up others to do so."
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE CRANE
+
+
+A Wolf once got a bone stuck in his throat. So he went to a Crane and
+begged her to put her long bill down his throat and pull it out. "I'll
+make it worth your while," he added. The Crane did as she was asked,
+and got the bone out quite easily. The Wolf thanked her warmly, and
+was just turning away, when she cried, "What about that fee of mine?"
+"Well, what about it?" snapped the Wolf, baring his teeth as he spoke;
+"you can go about boasting that you once put your head into a Wolf's
+mouth and didn't get it bitten off. What more do you want?"
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE, THE CAT, AND THE WILD SOW
+
+
+An Eagle built her nest at the top of a high tree; a Cat with her
+family occupied a hollow in the trunk half-way down; and a Wild Sow
+and her young took up their quarters at the foot. They might have got
+on very well as neighbours had it not been for the evil cunning of the
+Cat. Climbing up to the Eagle's nest she said to the Eagle, "You and I
+are in the greatest possible danger. That dreadful creature, the Sow,
+who is always to be seen grubbing away at the foot of the tree, means
+to uproot it, that she may devour your family and mine at her ease."
+Having thus driven the Eagle almost out of her senses with terror, the
+Cat climbed down the tree, and said to the Sow, "I must warn you
+against that dreadful bird, the Eagle. She is only waiting her chance
+to fly down and carry off one of your little pigs when you take them
+out, to feed her brood with." She succeeded in frightening the Sow as
+much as the Eagle. Then she returned to her hole in the trunk, from
+which, feigning to be afraid, she never came forth by day. Only by
+night did she creep out unseen to procure food for her kittens. The
+Eagle, meanwhile was afraid to stir from her nest, and the Sow dared
+not leave her home among the roots: so that in time both they and
+their families perished of hunger, and their dead bodies supplied the
+Cat with ample food for her growing family.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE SHEEP
+
+
+A Wolf was worried and badly bitten by dogs, and lay a long time for
+dead. By and by he began to revive, and, feeling very hungry, called
+out to a passing Sheep and said, "Would you kindly bring me some water
+from the stream close by? I can manage about meat, if only I could
+get something to drink." But this Sheep was no fool. "I can quite
+understand", said he, "that if I brought you the water, you would have
+no difficulty about the meat. Good-morning."
+
+
+
+
+THE TUNNY-FISH AND THE DOLPHIN
+
+
+A Tunny-fish was chased by a Dolphin and splashed through the water at
+a great rate, but the Dolphin gradually gained upon him, and was just
+about to seize him when the force of his flight carried the Tunny on
+to a sandbank. In the heat of the chase the Dolphin followed him, and
+there they both lay out of the water, gasping for dear life. When the
+Tunny saw that his enemy was doomed like himself, he said, "I don't
+mind having to die now: for I see that he who is the cause of my death
+is about to share the same fate."
+
+
+
+
+THE THREE TRADESMEN
+
+
+The citizens of a certain city were debating about the best material
+to use in the fortifications which were about to be erected for the
+greater security of the town. A Carpenter got up and advised the use
+of wood, which he said was readily procurable and easily worked. A
+Stone-mason objected to wood on the ground that it was so inflammable,
+and recommended stones instead. Then a Tanner got on his legs and
+said, "In my opinion there's nothing like leather."
+
+    Every man for himself.
+
+
+
+
+THE MOUSE AND THE BULL
+
+
+A Bull gave chase to a Mouse which had bitten him in the nose: but the
+Mouse was too quick for him and slipped into a hole in a wall. The
+Bull charged furiously into the wall again and again until he was
+tired out, and sank down on the ground exhausted with his efforts.
+When all was quiet, the Mouse darted out and bit him again. Beside
+himself with rage he started to his feet, but by that time the Mouse
+was back in his hole again, and he could do nothing but bellow and
+fume in helpless anger. Presently he heard a shrill little voice say
+from inside the wall, "You big fellows don't always have it your own
+way, you see: sometimes we little ones come off best."
+
+    The battle is not always to the strong.
+
+
+
+
+THE HARE AND THE HOUND
+
+
+A Hound started a Hare from her form, and pursued her for some
+distance; but as she gradually gained upon him, he gave up the chase.
+A rustic who had seen the race met the Hound as he was returning, and
+taunted him with his defeat. "The little one was too much for you,"
+said he. "Ah, well," said the Hound, "don't forget it's one thing to
+be running for your dinner, but quite another to be running for your
+life."
+
+
+
+
+THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE
+
+
+A Town Mouse and a Country Mouse were acquaintances, and the Country
+Mouse one day invited his friend to come and see him at his home in
+the fields. The Town Mouse came, and they sat down to a dinner of
+barleycorns and roots, the latter of which had a distinctly earthy
+flavour. The fare was not much to the taste of the guest, and
+presently he broke out with "My poor dear friend, you live here no
+better than the ants. Now, you should just see how I fare! My larder
+is a regular horn of plenty. You must come and stay with me, and
+I promise you you shall live on the fat of the land." So when he
+returned to town he took the Country Mouse with him, and showed him
+into a larder containing flour and oatmeal and figs and honey and
+dates. The Country Mouse had never seen anything like it, and sat down
+to enjoy the luxuries his friend provided: but before they had well
+begun, the door of the larder opened and some one came in. The two
+Mice scampered off and hid themselves in a narrow and exceedingly
+uncomfortable hole. Presently, when all was quiet, they ventured out
+again; but some one else came in, and off they scuttled again. This
+was too much for the visitor. "Good-bye," said he, "I'm off. You live
+in the lap of luxury, I can see, but you are surrounded by dangers;
+whereas at home I can enjoy my simple dinner of roots and corn in
+peace."
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE BULL
+
+
+A Lion saw a fine fat Bull pasturing among a herd of cattle and cast
+about for some means of getting him into his clutches; so he sent him
+word that he was sacrificing a sheep, and asked if he would do him the
+honour of dining with him. The Bull accepted the invitation, but, on
+arriving at the Lion's den, he saw a great array of saucepans and
+spits, but no sign of a sheep; so he turned on his heel and walked
+quietly away. The Lion called after him in an injured tone to ask the
+reason, and the Bull turned round and said, "I have reason enough.
+When I saw all your preparations it struck me at once that the victim
+was to be a Bull and not a sheep."
+
+    The net is spread in vain in sight of the bird.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF, THE FOX, AND THE APE
+
+
+A Wolf charged a Fox with theft, which he denied, and the case was
+brought before an Ape to be tried. When he had heard the evidence on
+both sides, the Ape gave judgment as follows: "I do not think," he
+said, "that you, O Wolf, ever lost what you claim; but all the same I
+believe that you, Fox, are guilty of the theft, in spite of all your
+denials."
+
+    The dishonest get no credit, even if they act honestly.
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE COCKS
+
+
+There were two Cocks in the same farmyard, and they fought to decide
+who should be master. When the fight was over, the beaten one went and
+hid himself in a dark corner; while the victor flew up on to the roof
+of the stables and crowed lustily. But an Eagle espied him from high
+up in the sky, and swooped down and carried him off. Forthwith the
+other Cock came out of his corner and ruled the roost without a rival.
+
+    Pride comes before a fall.
+
+
+
+
+THE ESCAPED JACKDAW
+
+
+A Man caught a Jackdaw and tied a piece of string to one of its legs,
+and then gave it to his children for a pet. But the Jackdaw didn't at
+all like having to live with people; so, after a while, when he seemed
+to have become fairly tame and they didn't watch him so closely, he
+slipped away and flew back to his old haunts. Unfortunately, the
+string was still on his leg, and before long it got entangled in the
+branches of a tree and the Jackdaw couldn't get free, try as he would.
+He saw it was all up with him, and cried in despair, "Alas, in gaining
+my freedom I have lost my life."
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Farmer was greatly annoyed by a Fox, which came prowling about his
+yard at night and carried off his fowls. So he set a trap for him and
+caught him; and in order to be revenged upon him, he tied a bunch of
+tow to his tail and set fire to it and let him go. As ill-luck would
+have it, however, the Fox made straight for the fields where the corn
+was standing ripe and ready for cutting. It quickly caught fire and
+was all burnt up, and the Farmer lost all his harvest.
+
+    Revenge is a two-edged sword.
+
+
+
+
+VENUS AND THE CAT
+
+
+A Cat fell in love with a handsome young man, and begged the goddess
+Venus to change her into a woman. Venus was very gracious about it,
+and changed her at once into a beautiful maiden, whom the young man
+fell in love with at first sight and shortly afterwards married. One
+day Venus thought she would like to see whether the Cat had changed
+her habits as well as her form; so she let a mouse run loose in the
+room where they were. Forgetting everything, the young woman had no
+sooner seen the mouse than up she jumped and was after it like a shot:
+at which the goddess was so disgusted that she changed her back again
+into a Cat.
+
+
+
+
+THE CROW AND THE SWAN
+
+
+A Crow was filled with envy on seeing the beautiful white plumage of a
+Swan, and thought it was due to the water in which the Swan constantly
+bathed and swam. So he left the neighbourhood of the altars, where he
+got his living by picking up bits of the meat offered in sacrifice,
+and went and lived among the pools and streams. But though he bathed
+and washed his feathers many times a day, he didn't make them any
+whiter, and at last died of hunger into the bargain.
+
+    You may change your habits, but not your nature.
+
+
+
+
+THE STAG WITH ONE EYE
+
+
+A Stag, blind of one eye, was grazing close to the sea-shore and kept
+his sound eye turned towards the land, so as to be able to perceive
+the approach of the hounds, while the blind eye he turned towards the
+sea, never suspecting that any danger would threaten him from that
+quarter. As it fell out, however, some sailors, coasting along the
+shore, spied him and shot an arrow at him, by which he was mortally
+wounded. As he lay dying, he said to himself, "Wretch that I am! I
+bethought me of the dangers of the land, whence none assailed me: but
+I feared no peril from the sea, yet thence has come my ruin."
+
+    Misfortune often assails us from an unexpected quarter.
+
+
+
+
+THE FLY AND THE DRAUGHT-MULE
+
+
+A Fly sat on one of the shafts of a cart and said to the Mule who was
+pulling it, "How slow you are! Do mend your pace, or I shall have to
+use my sting as a goad." The Mule was not in the least disturbed.
+"Behind me, in the cart," said he, "sits my master. He holds the
+reins, and flicks me with his whip, and him I obey, but I don't want
+any of your impertinence. _I_ know when I may dawdle and when I may
+not."
+
+
+
+
+THE COCK AND THE JEWEL
+
+
+A Cock, scratching the ground for something to eat, turned up a Jewel
+that had by chance been dropped there. "Ho!" said he, "a fine thing
+you are, no doubt, and, had your owner found you, great would his joy
+have been. But for me! give me a single grain of corn before all the
+jewels in the world."
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD
+
+
+A Wolf hung about near a flock of sheep for a long time, but made no
+attempt to molest them. The Shepherd at first kept a sharp eye on him,
+for he naturally thought he meant mischief: but as time went by and
+the Wolf showed no inclination to meddle with the flock, he began to
+look upon him more as a protector than as an enemy: and when one day
+some errand took him to the city, he felt no uneasiness at leaving
+the Wolf with the sheep. But as soon as his back was turned the
+Wolf attacked them and killed the greater number. When the Shepherd
+returned and saw the havoc he had wrought, he cried, "It serves me
+right for trusting my flock to a Wolf."
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE STORK
+
+
+A Farmer set some traps in a field which he had lately sown with corn,
+in order to catch the cranes which came to pick up the seed. When he
+returned to look at his traps he found several cranes caught, and
+among them a Stork, which begged to be let go, and said, "You ought
+not to kill me: I am not a crane, but a Stork, as you can easily see
+by my feathers, and I am the most honest and harmless of birds." But
+the Farmer replied, "It's nothing to me what you are: I find you among
+these cranes, who ruin my crops, and, like them, you shall suffer."
+
+    If you choose bad companions no one will believe that you are
+    anything but bad yourself.
+
+
+
+
+THE CHARGER AND THE MILLER
+
+
+A Horse, who had been used to carry his rider into battle, felt
+himself growing old and chose to work in a mill instead. He now no
+longer found himself stepping out proudly to the beating of the drums,
+but was compelled to slave away all day grinding the corn. Bewailing
+his hard lot, he said one day to the Miller, "Ah me! I was once a
+splendid war-horse, gaily caparisoned, and attended by a groom
+whose sole duty was to see to my wants. How different is my present
+condition! I wish I had never given up the battlefield for the mill."
+The Miller replied with asperity, "It's no use your regretting the
+past. Fortune has many ups and downs: you must just take them as they
+come."
+
+
+
+
+THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE OWL
+
+
+An Owl, who lived in a hollow tree, was in the habit of feeding by
+night and sleeping by day; but her slumbers were greatly disturbed
+by the chirping of a Grasshopper, who had taken up his abode in the
+branches. She begged him repeatedly to have some consideration for her
+comfort, but the Grasshopper, if anything, only chirped the louder. At
+last the Owl could stand it no longer, but determined to rid
+herself of the pest by means of a trick. Addressing herself to the
+Grasshopper, she said in her pleasantest manner, "As I cannot sleep
+for your song, which, believe me, is as sweet as the notes of Apollo's
+lyre, I have a mind to taste some nectar, which Minerva gave me
+the other day. Won't you come in and join me?" The Grasshopper was
+flattered by the praise of his song, and his mouth, too, watered at
+the mention of the delicious drink, so he said he would be delighted.
+No sooner had he got inside the hollow where the Owl was sitting than
+she pounced upon him and ate him up.
+
+
+
+
+THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANTS
+
+
+One fine day in winter some Ants were busy drying their store of corn,
+which had got rather damp during a long spell of rain. Presently up
+came a Grasshopper and begged them to spare her a few grains, "For,"
+she said, "I'm simply starving." The Ants stopped work for a moment,
+though this was against their principles. "May we ask," said they,
+"what you were doing with yourself all last summer? Why didn't you
+collect a store of food for the winter?" "The fact is," replied the
+Grasshopper, "I was so busy singing that I hadn't the time." "If you
+spent the summer singing," replied the Ants, "you can't do better than
+spend the winter dancing." And they chuckled and went on with their
+work.
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND THE VIPER
+
+
+One winter a Farmer found a Viper frozen and numb with cold, and out
+of pity picked it up and placed it in his bosom. The Viper was no
+sooner revived by the warmth than it turned upon its benefactor and
+inflicted a fatal bite upon him; and as the poor man lay dying, he
+cried, "I have only got what I deserved, for taking compassion on so
+villainous a creature."
+
+    Kindness is thrown away upon the evil.
+
+
+
+
+THE TWO FROGS
+
+
+Two Frogs were neighbours. One lived in a marsh, where there was
+plenty of water, which frogs love: the other in a lane some distance
+away, where all the water to be had was that which lay in the ruts
+after rain. The Marsh Frog warned his friend and pressed him to come
+and live with him in the marsh, for he would find his quarters there
+far more comfortable and--what was still more important--more safe.
+But the other refused, saying that he could not bring himself to move
+from a place to which he had become accustomed. A few days afterwards
+a heavy waggon came down the lane, and he was crushed to death under
+the wheels.
+
+
+
+
+THE COBBLER TURNED DOCTOR
+
+
+A very unskilful Cobbler, finding himself unable to make a living at
+his trade, gave up mending boots and took to doctoring instead. He
+gave out that he had the secret of a universal antidote against all
+poisons, and acquired no small reputation, thanks to his talent for
+puffing himself. One day, however, he fell very ill; and the King of
+the country bethought him that he would test the value of his remedy.
+Calling, therefore, for a cup, he poured out a dose of the antidote,
+and, under pretence of mixing poison with it, added a little water,
+and commanded him to drink it. Terrified by the fear of being
+poisoned, the Cobbler confessed that he knew nothing about medicine,
+and that his antidote was worthless. Then the King summoned his
+subjects and addressed them as follows: "What folly could be greater
+than yours? Here is this Cobbler to whom no one will send his boots
+to be mended, and yet you have not hesitated to entrust him with your
+lives!"
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS, THE COCK, AND THE LION
+
+
+An Ass and a Cock were in a cattle-pen together. Presently a Lion, who
+had been starving for days, came along and was just about to fall
+upon the Ass and make a meal of him when the Cock, rising to his full
+height and flapping his wings vigorously, uttered a tremendous crow.
+Now, if there is one thing that frightens a Lion, it is the crowing of
+a Cock: and this one had no sooner heard the noise than he fled.
+The Ass was mightily elated at this, and thought that, if the Lion
+couldn't face a Cock, he would be still less likely to stand up to an
+Ass: so he ran out and pursued him. But when the two had got well out
+of sight and hearing of the Cock, the Lion suddenly turned upon the
+Ass and ate him up.
+
+    False confidence often leads to disaster.
+
+
+
+
+THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS
+
+
+The Members of the Body once rebelled against the Belly. "You," they
+said to the Belly, "live in luxury and sloth, and never do a stroke of
+work; while we not only have to do all the hard work there is to be
+done, but are actually your slaves and have to minister to all your
+wants. Now, we will do so no longer, and you can shift for yourself
+for the future." They were as good as their word, and left the Belly
+to starve. The result was just what might have been expected: the
+whole Body soon began to fail, and the Members and all shared in the
+general collapse. And then they saw too late how foolish they had
+been.
+
+
+
+
+THE BALD MAN AND THE FLY
+
+
+A Fly settled on the head of a Bald Man and bit him. In his eagerness
+to kill it, he hit himself a smart slap. But the Fly escaped, and said
+to him in derision, "You tried to kill me for just one little bite;
+what will you do to yourself now, for the heavy smack you have just
+given yourself?" "Oh, for that blow I bear no grudge," he replied,
+"for I never intended myself any harm; but as for you, you
+contemptible insect, who live by sucking human blood, I'd have borne a
+good deal more than that for the satisfaction of dashing the life out
+of you!"
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND THE WOLF
+
+
+An Ass was feeding in a meadow, and, catching sight of his enemy the
+Wolf in the distance, pretended to be very lame and hobbled painfully
+along. When the Wolf came up, he asked the Ass how he came to be so
+lame, and the Ass replied that in going through a hedge he had trodden
+on a thorn, and he begged the Wolf to pull it out with his teeth, "In
+case," he said, "when you eat me, it should stick in your throat and
+hurt you very much." The Wolf said he would, and told the Ass to lift
+up his foot, and gave his whole mind to getting out the thorn. But the
+Ass suddenly let out with his heels and fetched the Wolf a fearful
+kick in the mouth, breaking his teeth; and then he galloped off at
+full speed. As soon as he could speak the Wolf growled to himself,
+"It serves me right: my father taught me to kill, and I ought to have
+stuck to that trade instead of attempting to cure."
+
+
+
+
+THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL
+
+
+At a gathering of all the beasts the Monkey gave an exhibition of
+dancing and entertained the company vastly. There was great applause
+at the finish, which excited the envy of the Camel and made him desire
+to win the favour of the assembly by the same means. So he got up from
+his place and began dancing, but he cut such a ridiculous figure as he
+plunged about, and made such a grotesque exhibition of his ungainly
+person, that the beasts all fell upon him with ridicule and drove him
+away.
+
+
+
+
+THE SICK MAN AND THE DOCTOR
+
+
+A Sick Man received a visit from his Doctor, who asked him how he was.
+"Fairly well, Doctor," said he, "but I find I sweat a great deal."
+"Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign." On his next visit he
+asked the same question, and his patient replied, "I'm much as usual,
+but I've taken to having shivering fits, which leave me cold all
+over." "Ah," said the Doctor, "that's a good sign too." When he came
+the third time and inquired as before about his patient's health, the
+Sick Man said that he felt very feverish. "A very good sign," said the
+Doctor; "you are doing very nicely indeed." Afterwards a friend came
+to see the invalid, and on asking him how he did, received this reply:
+"My dear friend, I'm dying of good signs."
+
+
+
+
+THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE-TREE
+
+
+Two Travellers were walking along a bare and dusty road in the heat of
+a summer's day. Coming presently to a Plane-tree, they joyfully turned
+aside to shelter from the burning rays of the sun in the deep shade of
+its spreading branches. As they rested, looking up into the tree, one
+of them remarked to his companion, "What a useless tree the Plane is!
+It bears no fruit and is of no service to man at all." The Plane-tree
+interrupted him with indignation. "You ungrateful creature!" it cried:
+"you come and take shelter under me from the scorching sun, and then,
+in the very act of enjoying the cool shade of my foliage, you abuse me
+and call me good for nothing!"
+
+    Many a service is met with ingratitude.
+
+
+
+
+THE FLEA AND THE OX
+
+
+A Flea once said to an Ox, "How comes it that a big strong fellow like
+you is content to serve mankind, and do all their hard work for them,
+while I, who am no bigger than you see, live on their bodies and drink
+my fill of their blood, and never do a stroke for it all?" To which
+the Ox replied, "Men are very kind to me, and so I am grateful to
+them: they feed and house me well, and every now and then they show
+their fondness for me by patting me on the head and neck." "They'd pat
+me, too," said the Flea, "if I let them: but I take good care they
+don't, or there would be nothing left of me."
+
+
+
+
+THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT
+
+
+The Birds were at war with the Beasts, and many battles were fought
+with varying success on either side. The Bat did not throw in his lot
+definitely with either party, but when things went well for the Birds
+he was found fighting in their ranks; when, on the other hand, the
+Beasts got the upper hand, he was to be found among the Beasts. No one
+paid any attention to him while the war lasted: but when it was over,
+and peace was restored, neither the Birds nor the Beasts would have
+anything to do with so double-faced a traitor, and so he remains to
+this day a solitary outcast from both.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN AND HIS TWO SWEETHEARTS
+
+
+A Man of middle age, whose hair was turning grey, had two Sweethearts,
+an old woman and a young one. The elder of the two didn't like having
+a lover who looked so much younger than herself; so, whenever he came
+to see her, she used to pull the dark hairs out of his head to make
+him look old. The younger, on the other hand, didn't like him to look
+so much older than herself, and took every opportunity of pulling out
+the grey hairs, to make him look young. Between them, they left not a
+hair in his head, and he became perfectly bald.
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE, THE JACKDAW, AND THE SHEPHERD
+
+
+One day a Jackdaw saw an Eagle swoop down on a lamb and carry it off
+in its talons. "My word," said the Jackdaw, "I'll do that myself." So
+it flew high up into the air, and then came shooting down with a
+great whirring of wings on to the back of a big ram. It had no sooner
+alighted than its claws got caught fast in the wool, and nothing it
+could do was of any use: there it stuck, flapping away, and only
+making things worse instead of better. By and by up came the Shepherd.
+"Oho," he said, "so that's what you'd be doing, is it?" And he
+took the Jackdaw, and clipped its wings and carried it home to his
+children. It looked so odd that they didn't know what to make of it.
+"What sort of bird is it, father?" they asked. "It's a Jackdaw," he
+replied, "and nothing but a Jackdaw: but it wants to be taken for an
+Eagle."
+
+    If you attempt what is beyond your power, your trouble will be
+    wasted and you court not only misfortune but ridicule.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE BOY
+
+
+A Wolf, who had just enjoyed a good meal and was in a playful mood,
+caught sight of a Boy lying flat upon the ground, and, realising that
+he was trying to hide, and that it was fear of himself that made him
+do this, he went up to him and said, "Aha, I've found you, you see;
+but if you can say three things to me, the truth of which cannot be
+disputed, I will spare your life." The Boy plucked up courage and
+thought for a moment, and then he said, "First, it is a pity you saw
+me; secondly, I was a fool to let myself be seen; and thirdly, we all
+hate wolves because they are always making unprovoked attacks upon our
+flocks." The Wolf replied, "Well, what you say is true enough from
+your point of view; so you may go."
+
+
+
+
+THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASS
+
+
+A Miller, accompanied by his young Son, was driving his Ass to market
+in hopes of finding a purchaser for him. On the road they met a troop
+of girls, laughing and talking, who exclaimed, "Did you ever see such
+a pair of fools? To be trudging along the dusty road when they might
+be riding!" The Miller thought there was sense in what they said;
+so he made his Son mount the Ass, and himself walked at the side.
+Presently they met some of his old cronies, who greeted them and said,
+"You'll spoil that Son of yours, letting him ride while you toil along
+on foot! Make him walk, young lazybones! It'll do him all the good in
+the world." The Miller followed their advice, and took his Son's place
+on the back of the Ass while the boy trudged along behind. They had
+not gone far when they overtook a party of women and children, and the
+Miller heard them say, "What a selfish old man! He himself rides in
+comfort, but lets his poor little boy follow as best he can on his own
+legs!" So he made his Son get up behind him. Further along the road
+they met some travellers, who asked the Miller whether the Ass he was
+riding was his own property, or a beast hired for the occasion. He
+replied that it was his own, and that he was taking it to market to
+sell. "Good heavens!" said they, "with a load like that the poor beast
+will be so exhausted by the time he gets there that no one will look
+at him. Why, you'd do better to carry him!" "Anything to please you,"
+said the old man, "we can but try." So they got off, tied the Ass's
+legs together with a rope and slung him on a pole, and at last reached
+the town, carrying him between them. This was so absurd a sight that
+the people ran out in crowds to laugh at it, and chaffed the Father
+and Son unmercifully, some even calling them lunatics. They had then
+got to a bridge over the river, where the Ass, frightened by the noise
+and his unusual situation, kicked and struggled till he broke the
+ropes that bound him, and fell into the water and was drowned.
+Whereupon the unfortunate Miller, vexed and ashamed, made the best
+of his way home again, convinced that in trying to please all he had
+pleased none, and had lost his Ass into the bargain.
+
+
+
+
+THE STAG AND THE VINE
+
+
+A Stag, pursued by the huntsmen, concealed himself under cover of a
+thick Vine. They lost track of him and passed by his hiding-place
+without being aware that he was anywhere near. Supposing all danger to
+be over, he presently began to browse on the leaves of the Vine. The
+movement drew the attention of the returning huntsmen, and one of
+them, supposing some animal to be hidden there, shot an arrow at a
+venture into the foliage. The unlucky Stag was pierced to the heart,
+and, as he expired, he said, "I deserve my fate for my treachery in
+feeding upon the leaves of my protector."
+
+    Ingratitude sometimes brings its own punishment.
+
+
+
+
+THE LAMB CHASED BY A WOLF
+
+
+A Wolf was chasing a Lamb, which took refuge in a temple. The Wolf
+urged it to come out of the precincts, and said, "If you don't, the
+priest is sure to catch you and offer you up in sacrifice on the
+altar." To which the Lamb replied, "Thanks, I think I'll stay where I
+am: I'd rather be sacrificed any day than be eaten up by a Wolf."
+
+
+
+
+THE ARCHER AND THE LION
+
+
+An Archer went up into the hills to get some sport with his bow, and
+all the animals fled at the sight of him with the exception of the
+Lion, who stayed behind and challenged him to fight. But he shot an
+arrow at the Lion and hit him, and said, "There, you see what my
+messenger can do: just you wait a moment and I'll tackle you myself."
+The Lion, however, when he felt the sting of the arrow, ran away as
+fast as his legs could carry him. A fox, who had seen it all happen,
+said to the Lion, "Come, don't be a coward: why don't you stay and
+show fight?" But the Lion replied, "You won't get me to stay, not you:
+why, when he sends a messenger like that before him, he must himself
+be a terrible fellow to deal with."
+
+    Give a wide berth to those who can do damage at a distance.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE GOAT
+
+
+A Wolf caught sight of a Goat browsing above him on the scanty herbage
+that grew on the top of a steep rock; and being unable to get at her,
+tried to induce her to come lower down. "You are risking your life up
+there, madam, indeed you are," he called out: "pray take my advice and
+come down here, where you will find plenty of better food." The Goat
+turned a knowing eye upon him. "It's little you care whether I get
+good grass or bad," said she: "what you want is to eat me."
+
+
+
+
+THE SICK STAG
+
+
+A Stag fell sick and lay in a clearing in the forest, too weak to move
+from the spot. When the news of his illness spread, a number of the
+other beasts came to inquire after his health, and they one and all
+nibbled a little of the grass that grew round the invalid till at last
+there was not a blade within his reach. In a few days he began to
+mend, but was still too feeble to get up and go in search of fodder;
+and thus he perished miserably of hunger owing to the thoughtlessness
+of his friends.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND THE MULE
+
+
+A certain man who had an Ass and a Mule loaded them both up one day
+and set out upon a journey. So long as the road was fairly level, the
+Ass got on very well: but by and by they came to a place among the
+hills where the road was very rough and steep, and the Ass was at his
+last gasp. So he begged the Mule to relieve him of a part of his load:
+but the Mule refused. At last, from sheer weariness, the Ass stumbled
+and fell down a steep place and was killed. The driver was in despair,
+but he did the best he could: he added the Ass's load to the Mule's,
+and he also flayed the Ass and put his skin on the top of the double
+load. The Mule could only just manage the extra weight, and, as he
+staggered painfully along, he said to himself, "I have only got what I
+deserved: if I had been willing to help the Ass at first, I should not
+now be carrying his load and his skin into the bargain."
+
+
+
+
+BROTHER AND SISTER
+
+
+A certain man had two children, a boy and a girl: and the boy was as
+good-looking as the girl was plain. One day, as they were playing
+together in their mother's chamber, they chanced upon a mirror and saw
+their own features for the first time. The boy saw what a handsome
+fellow he was, and began to boast to his Sister about his good looks:
+she, on her part, was ready to cry with vexation when she was aware of
+her plainness, and took his remarks as an insult to herself. Running
+to her father, she told him of her Brother's conceit, and accused him
+of meddling with his mother's things. He laughed and kissed them both,
+and said, "My children, learn from now onwards to make a good use of
+the glass. You, my boy, strive to be as good as it shows you to be
+handsome; and you, my girl, resolve to make up for the plainness of
+your features by the sweetness of your disposition."
+
+
+
+
+THE HEIFER AND THE OX
+
+
+A Heifer went up to an Ox, who was straining hard at the plough,
+and sympathised with him in a rather patronising sort of way on the
+necessity of his having to work so hard. Not long afterwards there was
+a festival in the village and every one kept holiday: but, whereas the
+Ox was turned loose into the pasture, the Heifer was seized and led
+off to sacrifice. "Ah," said the Ox, with a grim smile, "I see now why
+you were allowed to have such an idle time: it was because you were
+always intended for the altar."
+
+
+
+
+THE KINGDOM OF THE LION
+
+
+When the Lion reigned over the beasts of the earth he was never cruel
+or tyrannical, but as gentle and just as a King ought to be. During
+his reign he called a general assembly of the beasts, and drew up a
+code of laws under which all were to live in perfect equality and
+harmony: the wolf and the lamb, the tiger and the stag, the leopard
+and the kid, the dog and the hare, all should dwell side by side in
+unbroken peace and friendship. The hare said, "Oh! how I have longed
+for this day when the weak take their place without fear by the side
+of the strong!"
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND HIS DRIVER
+
+
+An Ass was being driven down a mountain road, and after jogging along
+for a while sensibly enough he suddenly quitted the track and rushed
+to the edge of a precipice. He was just about to leap over the edge
+when his Driver caught hold of his tail and did his best to pull him
+back: but pull as he might he couldn't get the Ass to budge from the
+brink. At last he gave up, crying, "All right, then, get to the bottom
+your own way; but it's the way to sudden death, as you'll find out
+quick enough."
+
+
+
+
+THE LION AND THE HARE
+
+
+A Lion found a Hare sleeping in her form, and was just going to devour
+her when he caught sight of a passing stag. Dropping the Hare, he at
+once made for the bigger game; but finding, after a long chase, that
+he could not overtake the stag, he abandoned the attempt and came back
+for the Hare. When he reached the spot, however, he found she was
+nowhere to be seen, and he had to go without his dinner. "It serves
+me right," he said; "I should have been content with what I had got,
+instead of hankering after a better prize."
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLVES AND THE DOGS
+
+
+Once upon a time the Wolves said to the Dogs, "Why should we continue
+to be enemies any longer? You are very like us in most ways: the main
+difference between us is one of training only. We live a life of
+freedom; but you are enslaved to mankind, who beat you, and put heavy
+collars round your necks, and compel you to keep watch over their
+flocks and herds for them, and, to crown all, they give you nothing
+but bones to eat. Don't put up with it any longer, but hand over the
+flocks to us, and we will all live on the fat of the land and feast
+together." The Dogs allowed themselves to be persuaded by these words,
+and accompanied the Wolves into their den. But no sooner were they
+well inside than the Wolves set upon them and tore them to pieces.
+
+    Traitors richly deserve their fate.
+
+
+
+
+THE BULL AND THE CALF
+
+
+A full-grown Bull was struggling to force his huge bulk through the
+narrow entrance to a cow-house where his stall was, when a young Calf
+came up and said to him, "If you'll step aside a moment, I'll show you
+the way to get through." The Bull turned upon him an amused look. "I
+knew that way," said he, "before you were born."
+
+
+
+
+THE TREES AND THE AXE
+
+
+A Woodman went into the forest and begged of the Trees the favour of a
+handle for his Axe. The principal Trees at once agreed to so modest a
+request, and unhesitatingly gave him a young ash sapling, out of which
+he fashioned the handle he desired. No sooner had he done so than he
+set to work to fell the noblest Trees in the wood. When they saw the
+use to which he was putting their gift, they cried, "Alas! alas! We
+are undone, but we are ourselves to blame. The little we gave has
+cost us all: had we not sacrificed the rights of the ash, we might
+ourselves have stood for ages."
+
+
+
+
+THE ASTRONOMER
+
+
+There was once an Astronomer whose habit it was to go out at night and
+observe the stars. One night, as he was walking about outside the town
+gates, gazing up absorbed into the sky and not looking where he was
+going, he fell into a dry well. As he lay there groaning, some one
+passing by heard him, and, coming to the edge of the well, looked down
+and, on learning what had happened, said, "If you really mean to say
+that you were looking so hard at the sky that you didn't even see
+where your feet were carrying you along the ground, it appears to me
+that you deserve all you've got."
+
+
+
+
+THE LABOURER AND THE SNAKE
+
+
+A Labourer's little son was bitten by a Snake and died of the wound.
+The father was beside himself with grief, and in his anger against
+the Snake he caught up an axe and went and stood close to the Snake's
+hole, and watched for a chance of killing it. Presently the Snake came
+out, and the man aimed a blow at it, but only succeeded in cutting off
+the tip of its tail before it wriggled in again. He then tried to get
+it to come out a second time, pretending that he wished to make up the
+quarrel. But the Snake said, "I can never be your friend because of my
+lost tail, nor you mine because of your lost child."
+
+    Injuries are never forgotten in the presence of those who caused
+    them.
+
+
+
+
+THE CAGE-BIRD AND THE BAT
+
+
+A Singing-bird was confined in a cage which hung outside a window, and
+had a way of singing at night when all other birds were asleep. One
+night a Bat came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked the Bird
+why she was silent by day and sang only at night. "I have a very good
+reason for doing so," said the Bird: "it was once when I was singing
+in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my voice, and set his
+nets for me and caught me. Since then I have never sung except by
+night." But the Bat replied, "It is no use your doing that now when
+you are a prisoner: if only you had done so before you were caught,
+you might still have been free."
+
+    Precautions are useless after the event.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND HIS PURCHASER
+
+
+A Man who wanted to buy an Ass went to market, and, coming across
+a likely-looking beast, arranged with the owner that he should be
+allowed to take him home on trial to see what he was like. When he
+reached home, he put him into his stable along with the other asses.
+The newcomer took a look round, and immediately went and chose a place
+next to the laziest and greediest beast in the stable. When the master
+saw this he put a halter on him at once, and led him off and handed
+him over to his owner again. The latter was a good deal surprised to
+see him back so soon, and said, "Why, do you mean to say you have
+tested him already?" "I don't want to put him through any more tests,"
+replied the other: "I could see what sort of beast he is from the
+companion he chose for himself."
+
+    A man is known by the company he keeps.
+
+
+
+
+THE KID AND THE WOLF
+
+
+A Kid strayed from the flock and was chased by a Wolf. When he saw he
+must be caught he turned round and said to the Wolf, "I know, sir,
+that I can't escape being eaten by you: and so, as my life is bound to
+be short, I pray you let it be as merry as may be. Will you not play
+me a tune to dance to before I die?" The Wolf saw no objection to
+having some music before his dinner: so he took out his pipe and began
+to play, while the Kid danced before him. Before many minutes were
+passed the gods who guarded the flock heard the sound and came up to
+see what was going on. They no sooner clapped eyes on the Wolf than
+they gave chase and drove him away. As he ran off, he turned and
+said to the Kid, "It's what I thoroughly deserve: my trade is the
+butcher's, and I had no business to turn piper to please you."
+
+
+
+
+THE DEBTOR AND HIS SOW
+
+
+A Man of Athens fell into debt and was pressed for the money by his
+creditor; but he had no means of paying at the time, so he begged for
+delay. But the creditor refused and said he must pay at once. Then the
+Debtor fetched a Sow--the only one he had--and took her to market
+to offer her for sale. It happened that his creditor was there too.
+Presently a buyer came along and asked if the Sow produced good
+litters. "Yes," said the Debtor, "very fine ones; and the remarkable
+thing is that she produces females at the Mysteries and males at the
+Panathenea." (Festivals these were: and the Athenians always sacrifice
+a sow at one, and a boar at the other; while at the Dionysia they
+sacrifice a kid.) At that the creditor, who was standing by, put in,
+"Don't be surprised, sir; why, still better, at the Dionysia this Sow
+has kids!"
+
+
+
+
+THE BALD HUNTSMAN
+
+
+A Man who had lost all his hair took to wearing a wig, and one day
+he went out hunting. It was blowing rather hard at the time, and he
+hadn't gone far before a gust of wind caught his hat and carried it
+off, and his wig too, much to the amusement of the hunt. But he quite
+entered into the joke, and said, "Ah, well! the hair that wig is made
+of didn't stick to the head on which it grew; so it's no wonder it
+won't stick to mine."
+
+
+
+
+THE HERDSMAN AND THE LOST BULL
+
+
+A Herdsman was tending his cattle when he missed a young Bull, one of
+the finest of the herd. He went at once to look for him, but, meeting
+with no success in his search, he made a vow that, if he should
+discover the thief, he would sacrifice a calf to Jupiter. Continuing
+his search, he entered a thicket, where he presently espied a lion
+devouring the lost Bull. Terrified with fear, he raised his hands to
+heaven and cried, "Great Jupiter, I vowed I would sacrifice a calf
+to thee if I should discover the thief: but now a full-grown Bull
+I promise thee if only I myself escape unhurt from his clutches."
+
+
+
+
+THE MULE
+
+
+One morning a Mule, who had too much to eat and too little to do,
+began to think himself a very fine fellow indeed, and frisked about
+saying, "My father was undoubtedly a high-spirited horse and I take
+after him entirely." But very soon afterwards he was put into the
+harness and compelled to go a very long way with a heavy load behind
+him. At the end of the day, exhausted by his unusual exertions, he
+said dejectedly to himself, "I must have been mistaken about my
+father; he can only have been an ass after all."
+
+
+
+
+THE HOUND AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Hound, roaming in the forest, spied a lion, and being well used
+to lesser game, gave chase, thinking he would make a fine quarry.
+Presently the lion perceived that he was being pursued; so, stopping
+short, he rounded on his pursuer and gave a loud roar. The Hound
+immediately turned tail and fled. A Fox, seeing him running away,
+jeered at him and said, "Ho! ho! There goes the coward who chased a
+lion and ran away the moment he roared!"
+
+
+
+
+THE FATHER AND HIS DAUGHTERS
+
+
+A Man had two Daughters, one of whom he gave in marriage to a
+gardener, and the other to a potter. After a time he thought he
+would go and see how they were getting on; and first he went to the
+gardener's wife. He asked her how she was, and how things were going
+with herself and her husband. She replied that on the whole they were
+doing very well: "But," she continued, "I do wish we could have some
+good heavy rain: the garden wants it badly." Then he went on to the
+potter's wife and made the same inquiries of her. She replied that she
+and her husband had nothing to complain of: "But," she went on, "I do
+wish we could have some nice dry weather, to dry the pottery." Her
+Father looked at her with a humorous expression on his face. "You want
+dry weather," he said, "and your sister wants rain. I was going to ask
+in my prayers that your wishes should be granted; but now it strikes
+me I had better not refer to the subject."
+
+
+
+
+THE THIEF AND THE INNKEEPER
+
+
+A Thief hired a room at an inn, and stayed there some days on the
+look-out for something to steal. No opportunity, however, presented
+itself, till one day, when there was a festival to be celebrated, the
+Innkeeper appeared in a fine new coat and sat down before the door of
+the inn for an airing. The Thief no sooner set eyes upon the coat than
+he longed to get possession of it. There was no business doing, so he
+went and took a seat by the side of the Innkeeper, and began talking
+to him. They conversed together for some time, and then the Thief
+suddenly yawned and howled like a wolf. The Innkeeper asked him in
+some concern what ailed him. The Thief replied, "I will tell you about
+myself, sir, but first I must beg you to take charge of my clothes
+for me, for I intend to leave them with you. Why I have these fits
+of yawning I cannot tell: maybe they are sent as a punishment for my
+misdeeds; but, whatever the reason, the facts are that when I have
+yawned three times I become a ravening wolf and fly at men's throats."
+As he finished speaking he yawned a second time and howled again as
+before. The Innkeeper, believing every word he said, and terrified
+at the prospect of being confronted with a wolf, got up hastily and
+started to run indoors; but the Thief caught him by the coat and tried
+to stop him, crying, "Stay, sir, stay, and take charge of my clothes,
+or else I shall never see them again." As he spoke he opened his mouth
+and began to yawn for the third time. The Innkeeper, mad with the fear
+of being eaten by a wolf, slipped out of his coat, which remained in
+the other's hands, and bolted into the inn and locked the door behind
+him; and the Thief then quietly stole off with his spoil.
+
+
+
+
+THE PACK-ASS AND THE WILD ASS
+
+
+A Wild Ass, who was wandering idly about, one day came upon a Pack-Ass
+lying at full length in a sunny spot and thoroughly enjoying himself.
+Going up to him, he said, "What a lucky beast you are! Your sleek coat
+shows how well you live: how I envy you!" Not long after the Wild Ass
+saw his acquaintance again, but this time he was carrying a heavy
+load, and his driver was following behind and beating him with a thick
+stick. "Ah, my friend," said the Wild Ass, "I don't envy you any more:
+for I see you pay dear for your comforts."
+
+    Advantages that are dearly bought are doubtful blessings.
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND HIS MASTERS
+
+
+A Gardener had an Ass which had a very hard time of it, what with
+scanty food, heavy loads, and constant beating. The Ass therefore
+begged Jupiter to take him away from the Gardener and hand him over
+to another master. So Jupiter sent Mercury to the Gardener to bid
+him sell the Ass to a Potter, which he did. But the Ass was as
+discontented as ever, for he had to work harder than before: so he
+begged Jupiter for relief a second time, and Jupiter very obligingly
+arranged that he should be sold to a Tanner. But when the Ass saw what
+his new master's trade was, he cried in despair, "Why wasn't I content
+to serve either of my former masters, hard as I had to work and badly
+as I was treated? for they would have buried me decently, but now I
+shall come in the end to the tanning-vat."
+
+    Servants don't know a good master till they have served a worse.
+
+
+
+
+THE PACK-ASS, THE WILD ASS, AND THE LION
+
+
+A Wild Ass saw a Pack-Ass jogging along under a heavy load, and
+taunted him with the condition of slavery in which he lived, in these
+words: "What a vile lot is yours compared with mine! I am free as the
+air, and never do a stroke of work; and, as for fodder, I have only to
+go to the hills and there I find far more than enough for my needs.
+But you! you depend on your master for food, and he makes you carry
+heavy loads every day and beats you unmercifully." At that moment a
+Lion appeared on the scene, and made no attempt to molest the Pack-Ass
+owing to the presence of the driver; but he fell upon the Wild Ass,
+who had no one to protect him, and without more ado made a meal of
+him.
+
+    It is no use being your own master unless you can stand up for
+    yourself.
+
+
+
+
+THE ANT
+
+
+Ants were once men and made their living by tilling the soil. But, not
+content with the results of their own work, they were always casting
+longing eyes upon the crops and fruits of their neighbours, which they
+stole, whenever they got the chance, and added to their own store. At
+last their covetousness made Jupiter so angry that he changed them
+into Ants. But, though their forms were changed, their nature remained
+the same: and so, to this day, they go about among the cornfields and
+gather the fruits of others' labour, and store them up for their own
+use.
+
+    You may punish a thief, but his bent remains.
+
+
+
+
+THE FROGS AND THE WELL
+
+
+Two Frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh
+dried up, and they left it to look for another place to live in: for
+frogs like damp places if they can get them. By and by they came to a
+deep well, and one of them looked down into it, and said to the other,
+"This looks a nice cool place: let us jump in and settle here." But
+the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied, "Not so
+fast, my friend: supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how
+should we get out again?"
+
+    Think twice before you act.
+
+
+
+
+THE CRAB AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Crab once left the sea-shore and went and settled in a meadow some
+way inland, which looked very nice and green and seemed likely to be a
+good place to feed in. But a hungry Fox came along and spied the Crab
+and caught him. Just as he was going to be eaten up, the Crab said,
+"This is just what I deserve; for I had no business to leave my
+natural home by the sea and settle here as though I belonged to the
+land."
+
+    Be content with your lot.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE GRASSHOPPER
+
+
+A Grasshopper sat chirping in the branches of a tree. A Fox heard her,
+and, thinking what a dainty morsel she would make, he tried to get her
+down by a trick. Standing below in full view of her, he praised her
+song in the most flattering terms, and begged her to descend, saying
+he would like to make the acquaintance of the owner of so beautiful a
+voice. But she was not to be taken in, and replied, "You are very much
+mistaken, my dear sir, if you imagine I am going to come down: I keep
+well out of the way of you and your kind ever since the day when I saw
+numbers of grasshoppers' wings strewn about the entrance to a fox's
+earth."
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER, HIS BOY, AND THE ROOKS
+
+
+A Farmer had just sown a field of wheat, and was keeping a careful
+watch over it, for numbers of Rooks and starlings kept continually
+settling on it and eating up the grain. Along with him went his Boy,
+carrying a sling: and whenever the Farmer asked for the sling the
+starlings understood what he said and warned the Rooks and they were
+off in a moment. So the Farmer hit on a trick. "My lad," said he, "we
+must get the better of these birds somehow. After this, when I want
+the sling, I won't say 'sling,' but just 'humph!' and you must then
+hand me the sling quickly." Presently back came the whole flock.
+"Humph!" said the Farmer; but the starlings took no notice, and he
+had time to sling several stones among them, hitting one on the head,
+another in the legs, and another in the wing, before they got out of
+range. As they made all haste away they met some cranes, who asked
+them what the matter was. "Matter?" said one of the Rooks; "it's those
+rascals, men, that are the matter. Don't you go near them. They have
+a way of saying one thing and meaning another which has just been the
+death of several of our poor friends."
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS AND THE DOG
+
+
+An Ass and a Dog were on their travels together, and, as they went
+along, they found a sealed packet lying on the ground. The Ass picked
+it up, broke the seal, and found it contained some writing, which he
+proceeded to read out aloud to the Dog. As he read on it turned out
+to be all about grass and barley and hay--in short, all the kinds of
+fodder that Asses are fond of. The Dog was a good deal bored with
+listening to all this, till at last his impatience got the better of
+him, and he cried, "Just skip a few pages, friend, and see if there
+isn't something about meat and bones." The Ass glanced all through the
+packet, but found nothing of the sort, and said so. Then the Dog said
+in disgust, "Oh, throw it away, do: what's the good of a thing like
+that?"
+
+
+
+
+THE ASS CARRYING THE IMAGE
+
+
+A certain man put an Image on the back of his Ass to take it to one of
+the temples of the town. As they went along the road all the people
+they met uncovered and bowed their heads out of reverence for the
+Image; but the Ass thought they were doing it out of respect for
+himself, and began to give himself airs accordingly. At last he became
+so conceited that he imagined he could do as he liked, and, by way of
+protest against the load he was carrying, he came to a full stop and
+flatly declined to proceed any further. His driver, finding him so
+obstinate, hit him hard and long with his stick, saying the while,
+"Oh, you dunder-headed idiot, do you suppose it's come to this, that
+men pay worship to an Ass?"
+
+    Rude shocks await those who take to themselves the credit that is
+    due to others.
+
+
+
+
+THE ATHENIAN AND THE THEBAN
+
+
+An Athenian and a Theban were on the road together, and passed the
+time in conversation, as is the way of travellers. After discussing
+a variety of subjects they began to talk about heroes, a topic that
+tends to be more fertile than edifying. Each of them was lavish in his
+praises of the heroes of his own city, until eventually the Theban
+asserted that Hercules was the greatest hero who had ever lived on
+earth, and now occupied a foremost place among the gods; while the
+Athenian insisted that Theseus was far superior, for his fortune had
+been in every way supremely blessed, whereas Hercules had at one time
+been forced to act as a servant. And he gained his point, for he was a
+very glib fellow, like all Athenians; so that the Theban, who was no
+match for him in talking, cried at last in some disgust, "All right,
+have your way; I only hope that, when our heroes are angry with us,
+Athens may suffer from the anger of Hercules, and Thebes only from
+that of Theseus."
+
+
+
+
+THE GOATHERD AND THE GOAT
+
+
+A Goatherd was one day gathering his flock to return to the fold, when
+one of his goats strayed and refused to join the rest. He tried for a
+long time to get her to return by calling and whistling to her, but
+the Goat took no notice of him at all; so at last he threw a stone at
+her and broke one of her horns. In dismay, he begged her not to tell
+his master: but she replied, "You silly fellow, my horn would cry
+aloud even if I held my tongue."
+
+    It's no use trying to hide what can't be hidden.
+
+
+
+
+THE SHEEP AND THE DOG
+
+
+Once upon a time the Sheep complained to the shepherd about the
+difference in his treatment of themselves and his Dog. "Your conduct,"
+said they, "is very strange and, we think, very unfair. We provide you
+with wool and lambs and milk and you give us nothing but grass, and
+even that we have to find for ourselves: but you get nothing at all
+from the Dog, and yet you feed him with tit-bits from your own table."
+Their remarks were overheard by the Dog, who spoke up at once and
+said, "Yes, and quite right, too: where would you be if it wasn't for
+me? Thieves would steal you! Wolves would eat you! Indeed, if I didn't
+keep constant watch over you, you would be too terrified even to
+graze!" The Sheep were obliged to acknowledge that he spoke the truth,
+and never again made a grievance of the regard in which he was held by
+his master.
+
+
+
+
+THE SHEPHERD AND THE WOLF
+
+
+A Shepherd found a Wolf's Cub straying in the pastures, and took him
+home and reared him along with his dogs. When the Cub grew to his full
+size, if ever a wolf stole a sheep from the flock, he used to join the
+dogs in hunting him down. It sometimes happened that the dogs failed
+to come up with the thief, and, abandoning the pursuit, returned home.
+The Wolf would on such occasions continue the chase by himself, and
+when he overtook the culprit, would stop and share the feast with him,
+and then return to the Shepherd. But if some time passed without a
+sheep being carried off by the wolves, he would steal one himself
+and share his plunder with the dogs. The Shepherd's suspicions were
+aroused, and one day he caught him in the act; and, fastening a rope
+round his neck, hung him on the nearest tree.
+
+    What's bred in the bone is sure to come out in the flesh.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION, JUPITER, AND THE ELEPHANT
+
+
+The Lion, for all his size and strength, and his sharp teeth and
+claws, is a coward in one thing: he can't bear the sound of a cock
+crowing, and runs away whenever he hears it. He complained bitterly
+to Jupiter for making him like that; but Jupiter said it wasn't his
+fault: he had done the best he could for him, and, considering this
+was his only failing, he ought to be well content. The Lion, however,
+wouldn't be comforted, and was so ashamed of his timidity that he
+wished he might die. In this state of mind, he met the Elephant and
+had a talk with him. He noticed that the great beast cocked up his
+ears all the time, as if he were listening for something, and he asked
+him why he did so. Just then a gnat came humming by, and the Elephant
+said, "Do you see that wretched little buzzing insect? I'm terribly
+afraid of its getting into my ear: if it once gets in, I'm dead and
+done for." The Lion's spirits rose at once when he heard this: "For,"
+he said to himself, "if the Elephant, huge as he is, is afraid of a
+gnat, I needn't be so much ashamed of being afraid of a cock, who is
+ten thousand times bigger than a gnat."
+
+
+
+
+THE PIG AND THE SHEEP
+
+
+A Pig found his way into a meadow where a flock of Sheep were grazing.
+The shepherd caught him, and was proceeding to carry him off to the
+butcher's when he set up a loud squealing and struggled to get free.
+The Sheep rebuked him for making such a to-do, and said to him, "The
+shepherd catches us regularly and drags us off just like that, and we
+don't make any fuss." "No, I dare say not," replied the Pig, "but my
+case and yours are altogether different: he only wants you for wool,
+but he wants me for bacon."
+
+
+
+
+THE GARDENER AND HIS DOG
+
+
+A Gardner's Dog fell into a deep well, from which his master used to
+draw water for the plants in his garden with a rope and a bucket.
+Failing to get the Dog out by means of these, the Gardener went down
+into the well himself in order to fetch him up. But the Dog thought he
+had come to make sure of drowning him; so he bit his master as soon as
+he came within reach, and hurt him a good deal, with the result that
+he left the Dog to his fate and climbed out of the well, remarking,
+"It serves me quite right for trying to save so determined a suicide."
+
+
+
+
+THE RIVERS AND THE SEA
+
+
+Once upon a time all the Rivers combined to protest against the action
+of the Sea in making their waters salt. "When we come to you," said
+they to the Sea, "we are sweet and drinkable: but when once we have
+mingled with you, our waters become as briny and unpalatable as your
+own." The Sea replied shortly, "Keep away from me and you'll remain
+sweet."
+
+
+
+
+THE LION IN LOVE
+
+
+A Lion fell deeply in love with the daughter of a cottager and wanted
+to marry her; but her father was unwilling to give her to so fearsome
+a husband, and yet didn't want to offend the Lion; so he hit upon the
+following expedient. He went to the Lion and said, "I think you will
+make a very good husband for my daughter: but I cannot consent to your
+union unless you let me draw your teeth and pare your nails, for my
+daughter is terribly afraid of them." The Lion was so much in love
+that he readily agreed that this should be done. When once, however,
+he was thus disarmed, the Cottager was afraid of him no longer, but
+drove him away with his club.
+
+
+
+
+THE BEE-KEEPER
+
+
+A Thief found his way into an apiary when the Bee-keeper was away,
+and stole all the honey. When the Keeper returned and found the hives
+empty, he was very much upset and stood staring at them for some time.
+Before long the bees came back from gathering honey, and, finding
+their hives overturned and the Keeper standing by, they made for him
+with their stings. At this he fell into a passion and cried, "You
+ungrateful scoundrels, you let the thief who stole my honey get off
+scot-free, and then you go and sting me who have always taken such
+care of you!"
+
+    When you hit back make sure you have got the right man.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND THE HORSE
+
+
+A Wolf on his rambles came to a field of oats, but, not being able to
+eat them, he was passing on his way when a Horse came along. "Look,"
+said the Wolf, "here's a fine field of oats. For your sake I have
+left it untouched, and I shall greatly enjoy the sound of your teeth
+munching the ripe grain." But the Horse replied, "If wolves could eat
+oats, my fine friend, you would hardly have indulged your ears at the
+cost of your belly."
+
+    There is no virtue in giving to others what is useless to oneself.
+
+
+
+
+THE BAT, THE BRAMBLE, AND THE SEAGULL
+
+
+A Bat, a Bramble, and a Seagull went into partnership and determined
+to go on a trading voyage together. The Bat borrowed a sum of money
+for his venture; the Bramble laid in a stock of clothes of various
+kinds; and the Seagull took a quantity of lead: and so they set out.
+By and by a great storm came on, and their boat with all the cargo
+went to the bottom, but the three travellers managed to reach land.
+Ever since then the Seagull flies to and fro over the sea, and every
+now and then dives below the surface, looking for the lead he's lost;
+while the Bat is so afraid of meeting his creditors that he hides away
+by day and only comes out at night to feed; and the Bramble catches
+hold of the clothes of every one who passes by, hoping some day to
+recognise and recover the lost garments.
+
+    All men are more concerned to recover what they lose than to
+    acquire what they lack.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG AND THE WOLF
+
+
+A Dog was lying in the sun before a farmyard gate when a Wolf pounced
+upon him and was just going to eat him up; but he begged for his life
+and said, "You see how thin I am and what a wretched meal I should
+make you now: but if you will only wait a few days my master is going
+to give a feast. All the rich scraps and pickings will fall to me and
+I shall get nice and fat: then will be the time for you to eat me."
+The Wolf thought this was a very good plan and went away. Some time
+afterwards he came to the farmyard again, and found the Dog lying out
+of reach on the stable roof. "Come down," he called, "and be eaten:
+you remember our agreement?" But the Dog said coolly, "My friend, if
+ever you catch me lying down by the gate there again, don't you wait
+for any feast."
+
+    Once bitten, twice shy.
+
+
+
+
+THE WASP AND THE SNAKE
+
+
+A Wasp settled on the head of a Snake, and not only stung him several
+times, but clung obstinately to the head of his victim. Maddened with
+pain the Snake tried every means he could think of to get rid of
+the creature, but without success. At last he became desperate, and
+crying, "Kill you I will, even at the cost of my own life," he laid
+his head with the Wasp on it under the wheel of a passing waggon, and
+they both perished together.
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE
+
+
+An Eagle was chasing a hare, which was running for dear life and was
+at her wits' end to know where to turn for help. Presently she espied
+a Beetle, and begged it to aid her. So when the Eagle came up
+the Beetle warned her not to touch the hare, which was under its
+protection. But the Eagle never noticed the Beetle because it was so
+small, seized the hare and ate her up. The Beetle never forgot this,
+and used to keep an eye on the Eagle's nest, and whenever the Eagle
+laid an egg it climbed up and rolled it out of the nest and broke it.
+At last the Eagle got so worried over the loss of her eggs that she
+went up to Jupiter, who is the special protector of Eagles, and begged
+him to give her a safe place to nest in: so he let her lay her eggs in
+his lap. But the Beetle noticed this and made a ball of dirt the size
+of an Eagle's egg, and flew up and deposited it in Jupiter's lap. When
+Jupiter saw the dirt, he stood up to shake it out of his robe, and,
+forgetting about the eggs, he shook them out too, and they were broken
+just as before. Ever since then, they say, Eagles never lay their eggs
+at the season when Beetles are about.
+
+    The weak will sometimes find ways to avenge an insult, even upon
+    the strong.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOWLER AND THE LARK
+
+
+A Fowler was setting his nets for little birds when a Lark came up
+to him and asked him what he was doing. "I am engaged in founding a
+city," said he, and with that he withdrew to a short distance and
+concealed himself. The Lark examined the nets with great curiosity,
+and presently, catching sight of the bait, hopped on to them in order
+to secure it, and became entangled in the meshes. The Fowler then ran
+up quickly and captured her. "What a fool I was!" said she: "but at
+any rate, if that's the kind of city you are founding, it'll be a long
+time before you find fools enough to fill it."
+
+
+
+
+THE FISHERMAN PIPING
+
+
+A Fisherman who could play the flute went down one day to the
+sea-shore with his nets and his flute; and, taking his stand on a
+projecting rock, began to play a tune, thinking that the music would
+bring the fish jumping out of the sea. He went on playing for some
+time, but not a fish appeared: so at last he threw down his flute and
+cast his net into the sea, and made a great haul of fish. When they
+were landed and he saw them leaping about on the shore, he cried, "You
+rascals! you wouldn't dance when I piped: but now I've stopped, you
+can do nothing else!"
+
+
+
+
+THE WEASEL AND THE MAN
+
+
+A Man once caught a Weasel, which was always sneaking about the house,
+and was just going to drown it in a tub of water, when it begged hard
+for its life, and said to him, "Surely you haven't the heart to put me
+to death? Think how useful I have been in clearing your house of the
+mice and lizards which used to infest it, and show your gratitude by
+sparing my life." "You have not been altogether useless, I grant you,"
+said the Man: "but who killed the fowls? Who stole the meat? No, no!
+You do much more harm than good, and die you shall."
+
+
+
+
+THE PLOUGHMAN, THE ASS, AND THE OX
+
+
+A Ploughman yoked his Ox and his Ass together, and set to work to
+plough his field. It was a poor makeshift of a team, but it was the
+best he could do, as he had but a single Ox. At the end of the day,
+when the beasts were loosed from the yoke, the Ass said to the Ox,
+"Well, we've had a hard day: which of us is to carry the master home?"
+The Ox looked surprised at the question. "Why," said he, "you, to be
+sure, as usual."
+
+
+
+
+DEMADES AND HIS FABLE
+
+
+Demades the orator was once speaking in the Assembly at Athens; but
+the people were very inattentive to what he was saying, so he stopped
+and said, "Gentlemen, I should like to tell you one of Æsop's fables."
+This made every one listen intently. Then Demades began: "Demeter, a
+Swallow, and an Eel were once travelling together, and came to a river
+without a bridge: the Swallow flew over it, and the Eel swam across";
+and then he stopped. "What happened to Demeter?" cried several people
+in the audience. "Demeter," he replied, "is very angry with you for
+listening to fables when you ought to be minding public business."
+
+
+
+
+THE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHIN
+
+
+When people go on a voyage they often take with them lap-dogs or
+monkeys as pets to wile away the time. Thus it fell out that a man
+returning to Athens from the East had a pet Monkey on board with him.
+As they neared the coast of Attica a great storm burst upon them, and
+the ship capsized. All on board were thrown into the water, and tried
+to save themselves by swimming, the Monkey among the rest. A Dolphin
+saw him, and, supposing him to be a man, took him on his back and
+began swimming towards the shore. When they got near the Piræus, which
+is the port of Athens, the Dolphin asked the Monkey if he was an
+Athenian. The Monkey replied that he was, and added that he came of
+a very distinguished family. "Then, of course, you know the Piræus,"
+continued the Dolphin. The Monkey thought he was referring to some
+high official or other, and replied, "Oh, yes, he's a very old friend
+of mine." At that, detecting his hypocrisy, the Dolphin was so
+disgusted that he dived below the surface, and the unfortunate Monkey
+was quickly drowned.
+
+
+
+
+THE CROW AND THE SNAKE
+
+
+A hungry Crow spied a Snake lying asleep in a sunny spot, and, picking
+it up in his claws, he was carrying it off to a place where he could
+make a meal of it without being disturbed, when the Snake reared its
+head and bit him. It was a poisonous Snake, and the bite was fatal,
+and the dying Crow said, "What a cruel fate is mine! I thought I had
+made a lucky find, and it has cost me my life!"
+
+
+
+
+THE DOGS AND THE FOX
+
+
+Some Dogs once found a lion's skin, and were worrying it with their
+teeth. Just then a Fox came by, and said, "You think yourselves very
+brave, no doubt; but if that were a live lion you'd find his claws a
+good deal sharper than your teeth."
+
+
+
+
+THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE HAWK
+
+
+A Nightingale was sitting on a bough of an oak and singing, as her
+custom was. A hungry Hawk presently spied her, and darting to the spot
+seized her in his talons. He was just about to tear her in pieces when
+she begged him to spare her life: "I'm not big enough," she pleaded,
+"to make you a good meal: you ought to seek your prey among the bigger
+birds." The Hawk eyed her with some contempt. "You must think me very
+simple," said he, "if you suppose I am going to give up a certain
+prize on the chance of a better of which I see at present no signs."
+
+
+
+
+THE ROSE AND THE AMARANTH
+
+
+A Rose and an Amaranth blossomed side by side in a garden, and the
+Amaranth said to her neighbour, "How I envy you your beauty and your
+sweet scent! No wonder you are such a universal favourite." But the
+Rose replied with a shade of sadness in her voice, "Ah, my dear
+friend, I bloom but for a time: my petals soon wither and fall, and
+then I die. But your flowers never fade, even if they are cut; for
+they are everlasting."
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN, THE HORSE, THE OX, AND THE DOG
+
+
+One winter's day, during a severe storm, a Horse, an Ox, and a Dog
+came and begged for shelter in the house of a Man. He readily admitted
+them, and, as they were cold and wet, he lit a fire for their comfort:
+and he put oats before the Horse, and hay before the Ox, while he fed
+the Dog with the remains of his own dinner. When the storm abated, and
+they were about to depart, they determined to show their gratitude in
+the following way. They divided the life of Man among them, and each
+endowed one part of it with the qualities which were peculiarly his
+own. The Horse took youth, and hence young men are high-mettled and
+impatient of restraint; the Ox took middle age, and accordingly men in
+middle life are steady and hard-working; while the Dog took old age,
+which is the reason why old men are so often peevish and ill-tempered,
+and, like dogs, attached chiefly to those who look to their comfort,
+while they are disposed to snap at those who are unfamiliar or
+distasteful to them.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLVES, THE SHEEP, AND THE RAM
+
+
+The Wolves sent a deputation to the Sheep with proposals for a lasting
+peace between them, on condition of their giving up the sheep-dogs to
+instant death. The foolish Sheep agreed to the terms; but an old Ram,
+whose years had brought him wisdom, interfered and said, "How can we
+expect to live at peace with you? Why, even with the dogs at hand to
+protect us, we are never secure from your murderous attacks!"
+
+
+
+
+THE SWAN
+
+
+The Swan is said to sing but once in its life--when it knows that it
+is about to die. A certain man, who had heard of the song of the Swan,
+one day saw one of these birds for sale in the market, and bought it
+and took it home with him. A few days later he had some friends
+to dinner, and produced the Swan, and bade it sing for their
+entertainment: but the Swan remained silent. In course of time, when
+it was growing old, it became aware of its approaching end and broke
+into a sweet, sad song. When its owner heard it, he said angrily, "If
+the creature only sings when it is about to die, what a fool I was
+that day I wanted to hear its song! I ought to have wrung its neck
+instead of merely inviting it to sing."
+
+
+
+
+THE SNAKE AND JUPITER
+
+
+A Snake suffered a good deal from being constantly trodden upon by man
+and beast, owing partly to the length of his body and partly to his
+being unable to raise himself above the surface of the ground: so
+he went and complained to Jupiter about the risks to which he was
+exposed. But Jupiter had little sympathy for him. "I dare say," said
+he, "that if you had bitten the first that trod on you, the others
+would have taken more trouble to look where they put their feet."
+
+
+
+
+THE WOLF AND HIS SHADOW
+
+
+A Wolf, who was roaming about on the plain when the sun was getting
+low in the sky, was much impressed by the size of his shadow, and said
+to himself, "I had no idea I was so big. Fancy my being afraid of a
+lion! Why, I, not he, ought to be King of the beasts"; and, heedless
+of danger, he strutted about as if there could be no doubt at all
+about it. Just then a lion sprang upon him and began to devour him.
+"Alas," he cried, "had I not lost sight of the facts, I shouldn't have
+been ruined by my fancies."
+
+
+
+
+THE PLOUGHMAN AND THE WOLF
+
+
+A Ploughman loosed his oxen from the plough, and led them away to the
+water to drink. While he was absent a half-starved Wolf appeared on
+the scene, and went up to the plough and began chewing the leather
+straps attached to the yoke. As he gnawed away desperately in the hope
+of satisfying his craving for food, he somehow got entangled in the
+harness, and, taking fright, struggled to get free, tugging at the
+traces as if he would drag the plough along with him. Just then the
+Ploughman came back, and seeing what was happening, he cried, "Ah, you
+old rascal, I wish you would give up thieving for good and take to
+honest work instead."
+
+
+
+
+MERCURY AND THE MAN BITTEN BY AN ANT
+
+
+A Man once saw a ship go down with all its crew, and commented
+severely on the injustice of the gods. "They care nothing for a man's
+character," said he, "but let the good and the bad go to their deaths
+together." There was an ant-heap close by where he was standing, and,
+just as he spoke, he was bitten in the foot by an Ant. Turning in a
+temper to the ant-heap he stamped upon it and crushed hundreds of
+unoffending ants. Suddenly Mercury appeared, and belaboured him with
+his staff, saying as he did so, "You villain, where's your nice sense
+of justice now?"
+
+
+
+
+THE WILY LION
+
+
+A Lion watched a fat Bull feeding in a meadow, and his mouth watered
+when he thought of the royal feast he would make, but he did not dare
+to attack him, for he was afraid of his sharp horns. Hunger, however,
+presently compelled him to do something: and as the use of force did
+not promise success, he determined to resort to artifice. Going up to
+the Bull in friendly fashion, he said to him, "I cannot help saying
+how much I admire your magnificent figure. What a fine head! What
+powerful shoulders and thighs! But, my dear friend, what in the world
+makes you wear those ugly horns? You must find them as awkward as they
+are unsightly. Believe me, you would do much better without them." The
+Bull was foolish enough to be persuaded by this flattery to have his
+horns cut off; and, having now lost his only means of defence, fell an
+easy prey to the Lion.
+
+
+
+
+THE PARROT AND THE CAT
+
+
+A Man once bought a Parrot and gave it the run of his house. It
+revelled in its liberty, and presently flew up on to the mantelpiece
+and screamed away to its heart's content. The noise disturbed the Cat,
+who was asleep on the hearthrug. Looking up at the intruder, she said,
+"Who may you be, and where have you come from?" The Parrot replied,
+"Your master has just bought me and brought me home with him." "You
+impudent bird," said the Cat, "how dare you, a newcomer, make a noise
+like that? Why, I was born here, and have lived here all my life, and
+yet, if I venture to mew, they throw things at me and chase me all
+over the place." "Look here, mistress," said the Parrot, "you just
+hold your tongue. My voice they delight in; but yours--yours is a
+perfect nuisance."
+
+
+
+
+THE STAG AND THE LION
+
+
+A Stag was chased by the hounds, and took refuge in a cave, where he
+hoped to be safe from his pursuers. Unfortunately the cave contained a
+Lion, to whom he fell an easy prey. "Unhappy that I am," he cried, "I
+am saved from the power of the dogs only to fall into the clutches of
+a Lion."
+
+    Out of the frying-pan into the fire.
+
+
+
+
+THE IMPOSTOR
+
+
+A certain man fell ill, and, being in a very bad way, he made a vow
+that he would sacrifice a hundred oxen to the gods if they would grant
+him a return to health. Wishing to see how he would keep his vow, they
+caused him to recover in a short time. Now, he hadn't an ox in the
+world, so he made a hundred little oxen out of tallow and offered
+them up on an altar, at the same time saying, "Ye gods, I call you to
+witness that I have discharged my vow." The gods determined to be even
+with him, so they sent him a dream, in which he was bidden to go to
+the sea-shore and fetch a hundred crowns which he was to find there.
+Hastening in great excitement to the shore, he fell in with a band of
+robbers, who seized him and carried him off to sell as a slave: and
+when they sold him a hundred crowns was the sum he fetched.
+
+    Do not promise more than you can perform.
+
+
+
+
+THE DOGS AND THE HIDES
+
+
+Once upon a time a number of Dogs, who were famished with hunger, saw
+some Hides steeping in a river, but couldn't get at them because the
+water was too deep. So they put their heads together, and decided to
+drink away at the river till it was shallow enough for them to reach
+the Hides. But long before that happened they burst themselves with
+drinking.
+
+
+
+
+THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE ASS
+
+
+A Lion, a Fox, and an Ass went out hunting together. They had soon
+taken a large booty, which the Lion requested the Ass to divide
+between them. The Ass divided it all into three equal parts, and
+modestly begged the others to take their choice; at which the Lion,
+bursting with fury, sprang upon the Ass and tore him to pieces.
+Then, glaring at the Fox, he bade him make a fresh division. The Fox
+gathered almost the whole in one great heap for the Lion's share,
+leaving only the smallest possible morsel for himself. "My dear
+friend," said the Lion, "how did you get the knack of it so well?" The
+Fox replied, "Me? Oh, I took a lesson from the Ass."
+
+    Happy is he who learns from the misfortunes of others.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOWLER, THE PARTRIDGE, AND THE COCK
+
+
+One day, as a Fowler was sitting down to a scanty supper of herbs and
+bread, a friend dropped in unexpectedly. The larder was empty; so he
+went out and caught a tame Partridge, which he kept as a decoy, and
+was about to wring her neck when she cried, "Surely you won't kill me?
+Why, what will you do without me next time you go fowling? How will
+you get the birds to come to your nets?" He let her go at this, and
+went to his hen-house, where he had a plump young Cock. When the Cock
+saw what he was after, he too pleaded for his life, and said, "If you
+kill me, how will you know the time of night? and who will wake you up
+in the morning when it is time to get to work?" The Fowler, however,
+replied, "You are useful for telling the time, I know; but, for all
+that, I can't send my friend supperless to bed." And therewith he
+caught him and wrung his neck.
+
+
+
+
+THE GNAT AND THE LION
+
+
+A Gnat once went up to a Lion and said, "I am not in the least afraid
+of you: I don't even allow that you are a match for me in strength.
+What does your strength amount to after all? That you can scratch
+with your claws and bite with your teeth--just like a woman in a
+temper--and nothing more. But I'm stronger than you: if you don't
+believe it, let us fight and see." So saying, the Gnat sounded his
+horn, and darted in and bit the Lion on the nose. When the Lion felt
+the sting, in his haste to crush him he scratched his nose badly, and
+made it bleed, but failed altogether to hurt the Gnat, which buzzed
+off in triumph, elated by its victory. Presently, however, it got
+entangled in a spider's web, and was caught and eaten by the spider,
+thus falling a prey to an insignificant insect after having triumphed
+over the King of the Beasts.
+
+
+
+
+THE FARMER AND HIS DOGS
+
+
+A Farmer was snowed up in his farmstead by a severe storm, and was
+unable to go out and procure provisions for himself and his family. So
+he first killed his sheep and used them for food; then, as the storm
+still continued, he killed his goats; and, last of all, as the weather
+showed no signs of improving, he was compelled to kill his oxen and
+eat them. When his Dogs saw the various animals being killed and eaten
+in turn, they said to one another, "We had better get out of this or
+we shall be the next to go!"
+
+
+
+
+THE EAGLE AND THE FOX
+
+
+An Eagle and a Fox became great friends and determined to live near
+one another: they thought that the more they saw of each other the
+better friends they would be. So the Eagle built a nest at the top of
+a high tree, while the Fox settled in a thicket at the foot of it and
+produced a litter of cubs. One day the Fox went out foraging for food,
+and the Eagle, who also wanted food for her young, flew down into the
+thicket, caught up the Fox's cubs, and carried them up into the tree
+for a meal for herself and her family. When the Fox came back, and
+found out what had happened, she was not so much sorry for the loss of
+her cubs as furious because she couldn't get at the Eagle and pay her
+out for her treachery. So she sat down not far off and cursed her. But
+it wasn't long before she had her revenge. Some villagers happened to
+be sacrificing a goat on a neighbouring altar, and the Eagle flew down
+and carried off a piece of burning flesh to her nest. There was a
+strong wind blowing, and the nest caught fire, with the result that
+her fledglings fell half-roasted to the ground. Then the Fox ran to
+the spot and devoured them in full sight of the Eagle.
+
+    False faith may escape human punishment, but cannot escape the
+    divine.
+
+
+
+
+THE BUTCHER AND HIS CUSTOMERS
+
+
+Two Men were buying meat at a Butcher's stall in the market-place,
+and, while the Butcher's back was turned for a moment, one of them
+snatched up a joint and hastily thrust it under the other's cloak,
+where it could not be seen. When the Butcher turned round, he missed
+the meat at once, and charged them with having stolen it: but the one
+who had taken it said he hadn't got it, and the one who had got it
+said he hadn't taken it. The Butcher felt sure they were deceiving
+him, but he only said, "You may cheat me with your lying, but you
+can't cheat the gods, and they won't let you off so lightly."
+
+    Prevarication often amounts to perjury.
+
+
+
+
+HERCULES AND MINERVA
+
+
+Hercules was once travelling along a narrow road when he saw lying on
+the ground in front of him what appeared to be an apple, and as he
+passed he stamped upon it with his heel. To his astonishment, instead
+of being crushed it doubled in size; and, on his attacking it again
+and smiting it with his club, it swelled up to an enormous size and
+blocked up the whole road. Upon this he dropped his club, and stood
+looking at it in amazement. Just then Minerva appeared, and said to
+him, "Leave it alone, my friend; that which you see before you is the
+apple of discord: if you do not meddle with it, it remains small as it
+was at first, but if you resort to violence it swells into the thing
+you see."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX WHO SERVED A LION
+
+
+A Lion had a Fox to attend on him, and whenever they went hunting the
+Fox found the prey and the Lion fell upon it and killed it, and then
+they divided it between them in certain proportions. But the Lion
+always got a very large share, and the Fox a very small one, which
+didn't please the latter at all; so he determined to set up on his own
+account. He began by trying to steal a lamb from a flock of sheep: but
+the shepherd saw him and set his dogs on him. The hunter was now the
+hunted, and was very soon caught and despatched by the dogs.
+
+    Better servitude with safety than freedom with danger.
+
+
+
+
+THE QUACK DOCTOR
+
+
+A certain man fell sick and took to his bed. He consulted a number of
+doctors from time to time, and they all, with one exception, told him
+that his life was in no immediate danger, but that his illness would
+probably last a considerable time. The one who took a different view
+of his case, who was also the last to be consulted, bade him prepare
+for the worst: "You have not twenty-four hours to live," said he, "and
+I fear I can do nothing." As it turned out, however, he was quite
+wrong; for at the end of a few days the sick man quitted his bed and
+took a walk abroad, looking, it is true, as pale as a ghost. In the
+course of his walk he met the Doctor who had prophesied his death.
+"Dear me," said the latter, "how do you do? You are fresh from the
+other world, no doubt. Pray, how are our departed friends getting on
+there?" "Most comfortably," replied the other, "for they have drunk
+the water of oblivion, and have forgotten all the troubles of life. By
+the way, just before I left, the authorities were making arrangements
+to prosecute all the doctors, because they won't let sick men die in
+the course of nature, but use their arts to keep them alive. They were
+going to charge you along with the rest, till I assured them that you
+were no doctor, but a mere impostor."
+
+
+
+
+THE LION, THE WOLF, AND THE FOX
+
+
+A Lion, infirm with age, lay sick in his den, and all the beasts of
+the forest came to inquire after his health with the exception of the
+Fox. The Wolf thought this was a good opportunity for paying off old
+scores against the Fox, so he called the attention of the Lion to his
+absence, and said, "You see, sire, that we have all come to see how
+you are except the Fox, who hasn't come near you, and doesn't care
+whether you are well or ill." Just then the Fox came in and heard the
+last words of the Wolf. The Lion roared at him in deep displeasure,
+but he begged to be allowed to explain his absence, and said, "Not one
+of them cares for you so much as I, sire, for all the time I have
+been going round to the doctors and trying to find a cure for your
+illness." "And may I ask if you have found one?" said the Lion. "I
+have, sire," said the Fox, "and it is this: you must flay a Wolf
+and wrap yourself in his skin while it is still warm." The Lion
+accordingly turned to the Wolf and struck him dead with one blow of
+his paw, in order to try the Fox's prescription; but the Fox laughed
+and said to himself, "That's what comes of stirring up ill-will."
+
+
+
+
+HERCULES AND PLUTUS
+
+
+When Hercules was received among the gods and was entertained at a
+banquet by Jupiter, he responded courteously to the greetings of
+all with the exception of Plutus, the god of wealth. When Plutus
+approached him, he cast his eyes upon the ground, and turned away and
+pretended not to see him. Jupiter was surprised at this conduct on his
+part, and asked why, after having been so cordial with all the other
+gods, he had behaved like that to Plutus. "Sire," said Hercules, "I
+do not like Plutus, and I will tell you why. When we were on earth
+together I always noticed that he was to be found in the company of
+scoundrels."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE LEOPARD
+
+
+A Fox and a Leopard were disputing about their looks, and each claimed
+to be the more handsome of the two. The Leopard said, "Look at my
+smart coat; you have nothing to match that." But the Fox replied,
+"Your coat may be smart, but my wits are smarter still."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOG
+
+
+A Fox, in swimming across a rapid river, was swept away by the current
+and carried a long way downstream in spite of his struggles, until at
+last, bruised and exhausted, he managed to scramble on to dry
+ground from a backwater. As he lay there unable to move, a swarm of
+horseflies settled on him and sucked his blood undisturbed, for he was
+too weak even to shake them off. A Hedgehog saw him, and asked if he
+should brush away the flies that were tormenting him; but the Fox
+replied, "Oh, please, no, not on any account, for these flies have
+sucked their fill and are taking very little from me now; but, if you
+drive them off, another swarm of hungry ones will come and suck all
+the blood I have left, and leave me without a drop in my veins."
+
+
+
+
+THE CROW AND THE RAVEN
+
+
+A Crow became very jealous of a Raven, because the latter was
+regarded by men as a bird of omen which foretold the future, and was
+accordingly held in great respect by them. She was very anxious to
+get the same sort of reputation herself; and, one day, seeing some
+travellers approaching, she flew on to a branch of a tree at the
+roadside and cawed as loud as she could. The travellers were in some
+dismay at the sound, for they feared it might be a bad omen; till one
+of them, spying the Crow, said to his companions, "It's all right,
+my friends, we can go on without fear, for it's only a crow and that
+means nothing."
+
+    Those who pretend to be something they are not only make
+    themselves ridiculous.
+
+
+
+
+THE WITCH
+
+
+A Witch professed to be able to avert the anger of the gods by means
+of charms, of which she alone possessed the secret; and she drove a
+brisk trade, and made a fat livelihood out of it. But certain persons
+accused her of black magic and carried her before the judges, and
+demanded that she should be put to death for dealings with the Devil.
+She was found guilty and condemned to death: and one of the judges
+said to her as she was leaving the dock, "You say you can avert the
+anger of the gods. How comes it, then, that you have failed to disarm
+the enmity of men?"
+
+
+
+
+THE OLD MAN AND DEATH
+
+
+An Old Man cut himself a bundle of faggots in a wood and started to
+carry them home. He had a long way to go, and was tired out before he
+had got much more than half-way. Casting his burden on the ground, he
+called upon Death to come and release him from his life of toil. The
+words were scarcely out of his mouth when, much to his dismay, Death
+stood before him and professed his readiness to serve him. He was
+almost frightened out of his wits, but he had enough presence of mind
+to stammer out, "Good sir, if you'd be so kind, pray help me up with
+my burden again."
+
+
+
+
+THE MISER
+
+
+A Miser sold everything he had, and melted down his hoard of gold into
+a single lump, which he buried secretly in a field. Every day he went
+to look at it, and would sometimes spend long hours gloating over his
+treasure. One of his men noticed his frequent visits to the spot,
+and one day watched him and discovered his secret. Waiting his
+opportunity, he went one night and dug up the gold and stole it. Next
+day the Miser visited the place as usual, and, finding his treasure
+gone, fell to tearing his hair and groaning over his loss. In this
+condition he was seen by one of his neighbours, who asked him what
+his trouble was. The Miser told him of his misfortune; but the other
+replied, "Don't take it so much to heart, my friend; put a brick into
+the hole, and take a look at it every day: you won't be any worse off
+than before, for even when you had your gold it was of no earthly use
+to you."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOXES AND THE RIVER
+
+
+A number of Foxes assembled on the bank of a river and wanted to
+drink; but the current was so strong and the water looked so deep and
+dangerous that they didn't dare to do so, but stood near the edge
+encouraging one another not to be afraid. At last one of them, to
+shame the rest, and show how brave he was, said, "I am not a bit
+frightened! See, I'll step right into the water!" He had no sooner
+done so than the current swept him off his feet. When the others saw
+him being carried down-stream they cried, "Don't go and leave us! Come
+back and show us where we too can drink with safety." But he replied,
+"I'm afraid I can't yet: I want to go to the seaside, and this current
+will take me there nicely. When I come back I'll show you with
+pleasure."
+
+
+
+
+THE HORSE AND THE STAG
+
+
+There was once a Horse who used to graze in a meadow which he had all
+to himself. But one day a Stag came into the meadow, and said he had
+as good a right to feed there as the Horse, and moreover chose all the
+best places for himself. The Horse, wishing to be revenged upon his
+unwelcome visitor, went to a man and asked if he would help him to
+turn out the Stag. "Yes," said the man, "I will by all means; but I
+can only do so if you let me put a bridle in your mouth and mount on
+your back." The Horse agreed to this, and the two together very soon
+turned the Stag out of the pasture: but when that was done, the Horse
+found to his dismay that in the man he had got a master for good.
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLE
+
+
+In making his way through a hedge a Fox missed his footing and caught
+at a Bramble to save himself from falling. Naturally, he got badly
+scratched, and in disgust he cried to the Bramble, "It was your help
+I wanted, and see how you have treated me! I'd sooner have fallen
+outright." The Bramble, interrupting him, replied, "You must have lost
+your wits, my friend, to catch at me, who am myself always catching at
+others."
+
+
+
+
+THE FOX AND THE SNAKE
+
+
+A Snake, in crossing a river, was carried away by the current, but
+managed to wriggle on to a bundle of thorns which was floating by, and
+was thus carried at a great rate down-stream. A Fox caught sight of
+it from the bank as it went whirling along, and called out, "Gad! the
+passenger fits the ship!"
+
+
+
+
+THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE STAG
+
+
+A Lion lay sick in his den, unable to provide himself with food. So
+he said to his friend the Fox, who came to ask how he did, "My good
+friend, I wish you would go to yonder wood and beguile the big Stag,
+who lives there, to come to my den: I have a fancy to make my dinner
+off a stag's heart and brains." The Fox went to the wood and found the
+Stag and said to him, "My dear sir, you're in luck. You know the Lion,
+our King: well, he's at the point of death, and has appointed you his
+successor to rule over the beasts. I hope you won't forget that I was
+the first to bring you the good news. And now I must be going back to
+him; and, if you take my advice, you'll come too and be with him at
+the last." The Stag was highly flattered, and followed the Fox to the
+Lion's den, suspecting nothing. No sooner had he got inside than the
+Lion sprang upon him, but he misjudged his spring, and the Stag got
+away with only his ears torn, and returned as fast as he could to the
+shelter of the wood. The Fox was much mortified, and the Lion, too,
+was dreadfully disappointed, for he was getting very hungry in spite
+of his illness. So he begged the Fox to have another try at coaxing
+the Stag to his den. "It'll be almost impossible this time," said the
+Fox, "but I'll try"; and off he went to the wood a second time, and
+found the Stag resting and trying to recover from his fright. As soon
+as he saw the Fox he cried, "You scoundrel, what do you mean by trying
+to lure me to my death like that? Take yourself off, or I'll do you
+to death with my horns." But the Fox was entirely shameless. "What a
+coward you were," said he; "surely you didn't think the Lion meant any
+harm? Why, he was only going to whisper some royal secrets into your
+ear when you went off like a scared rabbit. You have rather disgusted
+him, and I'm not sure he won't make the wolf King instead, unless you
+come back at once and show you've got some spirit. I promise you he
+won't hurt you, and I will be your faithful servant." The Stag was
+foolish enough to be persuaded to return, and this time the Lion made
+no mistake, but overpowered him, and feasted right royally upon his
+carcase. The Fox, meanwhile, watched his chance and, when the Lion
+wasn't looking, filched away the brains to reward him for his trouble.
+Presently the Lion began searching for them, of course without
+success: and the Fox, who was watching him, said, "I don't think it's
+much use your looking for the brains: a creature who twice walked into
+a Lion's den can't have got any."
+
+
+
+
+THE MAN WHO LOST HIS SPADE
+
+
+A Man was engaged in digging over his vineyard, and one day on coming
+to work he missed his Spade. Thinking it may have been stolen by one
+of his labourers, he questioned them closely, but they one and all
+denied any knowledge of it. He was not convinced by their denials, and
+insisted that they should all go to the town and take oath in a temple
+that they were not guilty of the theft. This was because he had no
+great opinion of the simple country deities, but thought that the
+thief would not pass undetected by the shrewder gods of the town. When
+they got inside the gates the first thing they heard was the town
+crier proclaiming a reward for information about a thief who had
+stolen something from the city temple. "Well," said the Man to
+himself, "it strikes me I had better go back home again. If these town
+gods can't detect the thieves who steal from their own temples, it's
+scarcely likely they can tell me who stole my Spade."
+
+
+
+
+THE PARTRIDGE AND THE FOWLER
+
+
+A Fowler caught a Partridge in his nets, and was just about to wring
+its neck when it made a piteous appeal to him to spare its life and
+said, "Do not kill me, but let me live and I will repay you for your
+kindness by decoying other partridges into your nets." "No," said the
+Fowler, "I will not spare you. I was going to kill you anyhow, and
+after that treacherous speech you thoroughly deserve your fate."
+
+
+
+
+THE RUNAWAY SLAVE
+
+
+A Slave, being discontented with his lot, ran away from his master. He
+was soon missed by the latter, who lost no time in mounting his horse
+and setting out in pursuit of the fugitive. He presently came up with
+him, and the Slave, in the hope of avoiding capture, slipped into a
+treadmill and hid himself there. "Aha," said his master, "that's the
+very place for you, my man!"
+
+
+
+
+THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMAN
+
+
+A Hunter was searching in the forest for the tracks of a lion, and,
+catching sight presently of a Woodman engaged in felling a tree, he
+went up to him and asked him if he had noticed a lion's footprints
+anywhere about, or if he knew where his den was. The Woodman answered,
+"If you will come with me, I will show you the lion himself." The
+Hunter turned pale with fear, and his teeth chattered as he replied,
+"Oh, I'm not looking for the lion, thanks, but only for his tracks."
+
+
+
+
+THE SERPENT AND THE EAGLE
+
+
+An Eagle swooped down upon a Serpent and seized it in his talons with
+the intention of carrying it off and devouring it. But the Serpent was
+too quick for him and had its coils round him in a moment; and then
+there ensued a life-and-death struggle between the two. A countryman,
+who was a witness of the encounter, came to the assistance of the
+Eagle, and succeeded in freeing him from the Serpent and enabling him
+to escape. In revenge the Serpent spat some of his poison into the
+man's drinking-horn. Heated with his exertions, the man was about to
+slake his thirst with a draught from the horn, when the Eagle knocked
+it out of his hand, and spilled its contents upon the ground.
+
+    One good turn deserves another.
+
+
+
+
+THE ROGUE AND THE ORACLE
+
+
+A Rogue laid a wager that he would prove the Oracle at Delphi to be
+untrustworthy by procuring from it a false reply to an inquiry by
+himself. So he went to the temple on the appointed day with a small
+bird in his hand, which he concealed under the folds of his cloak,
+and asked whether what he held in his hand were alive or dead. If the
+Oracle said "dead," he meant to produce the bird alive: if the reply
+was "alive," he intended to wring its neck and show it to be dead. But
+the Oracle was one too many for him, for the answer he got was this:
+"Stranger, whether the thing that you hold in your hand be alive
+or dead is a matter that depends entirely on your own will."
+
+
+
+
+THE HORSE AND THE ASS
+
+
+A Horse, proud of his fine harness, met an Ass on the high-road. As
+the Ass with his heavy burden moved slowly out of the way to let him
+pass, the Horse cried out impatiently that he could hardly resist
+kicking him to make him move faster. The Ass held his peace, but did
+not forget the other's insolence. Not long afterwards the Horse became
+broken-winded, and was sold by his owner to a farmer. One day, as he
+was drawing a dung-cart, he met the Ass again, who in turn derided him
+and said, "Aha! you never thought to come to this, did you, you who
+were so proud! Where are all your gay trappings now?"
+
+
+
+
+THE DOG CHASING A WOLF
+
+
+A Dog was chasing a Wolf, and as he ran he thought what a fine fellow
+he was, and what strong legs he had, and how quickly they covered the
+ground. "Now, there's this Wolf," he said to himself, "what a poor
+creature he is: he's no match for me, and he knows it and so he runs
+away." But the Wolf looked round just then and said, "Don't you
+imagine I'm running away from you, my friend: it's your master I'm
+afraid of."
+
+
+
+
+GRIEF AND HIS DUE
+
+
+When Jupiter was assigning the various gods their privileges, it so
+happened that Grief was not present with the rest: but when all had
+received their share, he too entered and claimed his due. Jupiter was
+at a loss to know what to do, for there was nothing left for him.
+However, at last he decided that to him should belong the tears that
+are shed for the dead. Thus it is the same with Grief as it is with
+the other gods. The more devoutly men render to him his due, the
+more lavish is he of that which he has to bestow. It is not well,
+therefore, to mourn long for the departed; else Grief, whose sole
+pleasure is in such mourning, will be quick to send fresh cause for
+tears.
+
+
+
+
+THE HAWK, THE KITE, AND THE PIGEONS
+
+
+The Pigeons in a certain dovecote were persecuted by a Kite, who every
+now and then swooped down and carried off one of their number. So they
+invited a Hawk into the dovecote to defend them against their enemy.
+But they soon repented of their folly: for the Hawk killed more of
+them in a day than the Kite had done in a year.
+
+
+
+
+THE WOMAN AND THE FARMER
+
+
+A Woman, who had lately lost her husband, used to go every day to his
+grave and lament her loss. A Farmer, who was engaged in ploughing not
+far from the spot, set eyes upon the Woman and desired to have her
+for his wife: so he left his plough and came and sat by her side,
+and began to shed tears himself. She asked him why he wept; and he
+replied, "I have lately lost my wife, who was very dear to me, and
+tears ease my grief." "And I," said she, "have lost my husband." And
+so for a while they mourned in silence. Then he said, "Since you and I
+are in like case, shall we not do well to marry and live together? I
+shall take the place of your dead husband, and you, that of my dead
+wife." The Woman consented to the plan, which indeed seemed reasonable
+enough: and they dried their tears. Meanwhile, a thief had come
+and stolen the oxen which the Farmer had left with his plough. On
+discovering the theft, he beat his breast and loudly bewailed his
+loss. When the Woman heard his cries, she came and said, "Why, are you
+weeping still?" To which he replied, "Yes, and I mean it this time."
+
+
+
+
+PROMETHEUS AND THE MAKING OF MAN
+
+
+At the bidding of Jupiter, Prometheus set about the creation of Man
+and the other animals. Jupiter, seeing that Mankind, the only rational
+creatures, were far outnumbered by the irrational beasts, bade him
+redress the balance by turning some of the latter into men. Prometheus
+did as he was bidden, and this is the reason why some people have the
+forms of men but the souls of beasts.
+
+
+
+
+THE SWALLOW AND THE CROW
+
+
+A Swallow was once boasting to a Crow about her birth. "I was once a
+princess," said she, "the daughter of a King of Athens, but my husband
+used me cruelly, and cut out my tongue for a slight fault. Then, to
+protect me from further injury, I was turned by Juno into a bird."
+"You chatter quite enough as it is," said the Crow. "What you would
+have been like if you hadn't lost your tongue, I can't think."
+
+
+
+
+THE HUNTER AND THE HORSEMAN
+
+
+A Hunter went out after game, and succeeded in catching a hare, which
+he was carrying home with him when he met a man on horseback, who said
+to him, "You have had some sport I see, sir," and offered to buy it.
+The Hunter readily agreed; but the Horseman had no sooner got the
+hare in his hands than he set spurs to his horse and went off at full
+gallop. The Hunter ran after him for some little distance; but it soon
+dawned upon him that he had been tricked, and he gave up trying to
+overtake the Horseman, and, to save his face, called after him as loud
+as he could, "All right, sir, all right, take your hare: it was meant
+all along as a present."
+
+
+
+
+THE GOATHERD AND THE WILD GOATS
+
+
+A Goatherd was tending his goats out at pasture when he saw a number
+of Wild Goats approach and mingle with his flock. At the end of the
+day he drove them home and put them all into the pen together. Next
+day the weather was so bad that he could not take them out as usual:
+so he kept them at home in the pen, and fed them there. He only gave
+his own goats enough food to keep them from starving, but he gave the
+Wild Goats as much as they could eat and more; for he was very anxious
+for them to stay, and he thought that if he fed them well they
+wouldn't want to leave him. When the weather improved, he took them
+all out to pasture again; but no sooner had they got near the hills
+than the Wild Goats broke away from the flock and scampered off. The
+Goatherd was very much disgusted at this, and roundly abused them for
+their ingratitude. "Rascals!" he cried, "to run away like that after
+the way I've treated you!" Hearing this, one of them turned round and
+said, "Oh, yes, you treated us all right--too well, in fact; it was
+just that that put us on our guard. If you treat newcomers like
+ourselves so much better than your own flock, it's more than likely
+that, if another lot of strange goats joined yours, _we_ should then
+be neglected in favour of the last comers."
+
+
+
+
+THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE SWALLOW
+
+
+A Swallow, conversing with a Nightingale, advised her to quit the
+leafy coverts where she made her home, and to come and live with men,
+like herself, and nest under the shelter of their roofs. But the
+Nightingale replied, "Time was when I too, like yourself, lived among
+men: but the memory of the cruel wrongs I then suffered makes them
+hateful to me, and never again will I approach their dwellings."
+
+    The scene of past sufferings revives painful memories.
+
+
+
+
+THE TRAVELLER AND FORTUNE
+
+
+A Traveller, exhausted with fatigue after a long journey, sank down at
+the very brink of a deep well and presently fell asleep. He was within
+an ace of falling in, when Dame Fortune appeared to him and touched
+him on the shoulder, cautioning him to move further away. "Wake up,
+good sir, I pray you," she said; "had you fallen into the well, the
+blame would have been thrown not on your own folly but on me, Fortune."
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+[Illustration: THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE]
+
+[Illustration: THE MOON AND HER MOTHER]
+
+[Illustration: THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLE]
+
+[Illustration: THE CRAB AND HIS MOTHER]
+
+[Illustration: THE QUACK FROG]
+
+[Illustration: THE SHIPWRECKED MAN AND THE SEA]
+
+[Illustration: THE BLACKAMOOR]
+
+[Illustration: THE TWO POTS]
+
+[Illustration: VENUS AND THE CAT]
+
+[Illustration: THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE-TREE]
+
+[Illustration: THE TREES AND THE AXE]
+
+[Illustration: THE LION, JUPITER, AND THE ELEPHANT]
+
+[Illustration: THE GNAT AND THE LION]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Aesop's Fables, by Aesop
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