Aesop's Fables Translated by George Fyler Townsend

The Wolf and the Lamb

WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to

lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the

Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him:

"Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated

the Lamb in a mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then

said the Wolf, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied

the Lamb, "I have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf,

"You drink of my well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet

drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is both food and drink

to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying,

"Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute every

one of my imputations." The tyrant will always find a pretext for

his tyranny.

The Bat and the Weasels

A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel pleaded

to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he was by

nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he was

not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly

afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by

another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The

Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat

assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second

time escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

The Ass and the Grasshopper

AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly

enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody,

demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such

beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that

he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.

The Lion and the Mouse

A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face.

Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when

the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare

my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lion

laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the

Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by st ropes to the

ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope

with his teeth, and set him free, exclaim

"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you,

expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; I now

you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to con benefits on

a Lion."

The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller

A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house. One day

he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live

with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and

that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The Fuller

replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned,

for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again

with your charcoal."

Like will draw like.

The Father and His Sons

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling

among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his

exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration

of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told

them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he

placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,

and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all

their strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the

faggot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put

them into his sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He

then addressed them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one

mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot,

uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are

divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these

sticks."

The Boy Hunting Locusts

A BOY was hunting for locusts. He had caught a goodly number,

when he saw a Scorpion, and mistaking him for a locust, reached

out his hand to take him. The Scorpion, showing his sting, said:

If you had but touched me, my friend, you would have lost me, and

all your locusts too!"

The Cock and the Jewel

A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a

precious stone and exclaimed: "If your owner had found thee, and

not I, he would have taken thee up, and have set thee in thy

first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose. I would

rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world."

The Kingdom of the Lion

THE BEASTS of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He

was neither wrathful, cruel, nor tyrannical, but just and gentle

as a king could be. During his reign he made a royal

proclamation for a general assembly of all the birds and beasts,

and drew up conditions for a universal league, in which the Wolf

and the Lamb, the Panther and the Kid, the Tiger and the Stag,

the Dog and the Hare, should live together in perfect peace and

amity. The Hare said, "Oh, how I have longed to see this day, in

which the weak shall take their place with impunity by the side

of the strong." And after the Hare said this, he ran for his

life.

The Wolf and the Crane

A WOLF who had a bone stuck in his throat hired a Crane, for a

large sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out the bone.

When the Crane had extracted the bone and demanded the promised

payment, the Wolf, grinning and grinding his teeth, exclaimed:

"Why, you have surely already had a sufficient recompense, in

having been permitted to draw out your head in safety from the

mouth and jaws of a wolf."

In serving the wicked, expect no reward, and be thankful if you

escape injury for your pains.

The Fisherman Piping

A FISHERMAN skilled in music took his flute and his nets to the

seashore. Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes

in the hope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of

their own accord dance into his net, which he had placed below.

At last, having long waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and

casting his net into the sea, made an excellent haul of fish.

When he saw them leaping about in the net upon the rock he said:

"O you most perverse creatures, when I piped you would not dance,

but now that I have ceased you do so merrily."

Hercules and the Wagoner

A CARTER was driving a wagon along a country lane, when the

wheels sank down deep into a rut. The rustic driver, stupefied

and aghast, stood looking at the wagon, and did nothing but utter

loud cries to Hercules to come and help him. Hercules, it is

said, appeared and thus addressed him: "Put your shoulders to the

wheels, my man. Goad on your bullocks, and never more pray to me

for help, until you have done your best to help yourself, or

depend upon it you will henceforth pray in vain."

Self-help is the best help.

The Ants and the Grasshopper

THE ANTS were spending a fine winter's day drying grain collected

in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed

by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of

him, "Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?' He

replied, "I had not leisure enough. I passed the days in

singing." They then said in derision: "If you were foolish enough

to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the

winter."

The Traveler and His Dog

A TRAVELER about to set out on a journey saw his Dog stand at the

door stretching himself. He asked him sharply: "Why do you stand

there gaping? Everything is ready but you, so come with me

instantly." The Dog, wagging his tail, replied: "O, master! I am

quite ready; it is you for whom I am waiting."

The loiterer often blames delay on his more active friend.

The Dog and the Shadow

A DOG, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in

his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it for that

of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size. He

immediately let go of his own, and fiercely attacked the other

Dog to get his larger piece from him. He thus lost both: that

which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and

his own, because the stream swept it away.

The Mole and His Mother

A MOLE, a creature blind from birth, once said to his Mother: "I

am sure than I can see, Mother!" In the desire to prove to him

his mistake, his Mother placed before him a few grains of

frankincense, and asked, "What is it?' The young Mole said, "It

is a pebble." His Mother exclaimed: "My son, I am afraid that you

are not only blind, but that you have lost your sense of smell.

The Herdsman and the Lost Bull

A HERDSMAN tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calf from

the fold. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow that,

if he could only discover the thief who had stolen the Calf, he

would offer a lamb in sacrifice to Hermes, Pan, and the Guardian

Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, as he ascended a

small hillock, he saw at its foot a Lion feeding on the Calf.

Terrified at the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands to

heaven, and said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the

Guardian Deities of the forest if I could only find out who had

robbed me; but now that I have discovered the thief, I would

willingly add a full-grown Bull to the Calf I have lost, if I may

only secure my own escape from him in safety."

The Hare and the Tortoise

A HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the

Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the

wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her

assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and

they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the

goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started

together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on

with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course.

The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last

waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise

had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her

fatigue.

Slow but steady wins the race.

The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble

THE POMEGRANATE and Apple-Tree disputed as to which was the most

beautiful. When their strife was at its height, a Bramble from

the neighboring hedge lifted up its voice, and said in a boastful

tone: "Pray, my dear friends, in my presence at least cease from

such vain disputings."

The Farmer and the Stork

A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a

number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he

trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was

earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. "Pray save

me, Master," he said, "and let me go free this once. My broken

limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a

Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and

slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers--

they are not the least like those of a Crane." The Farmer

laughed aloud and said, "It may be all as you say, I only know

this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you

must die in their company."

Birds of a feather flock together.

The Farmer and the Snake

ONE WINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He

had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom.

The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its

natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal

wound. "Oh," cried the Farmer with his last breath, "I am

rightly served for pitying a scoundrel."

The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.

The Fawn and His Mother

A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Mother, "You are larger than a dog,

and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as

a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?"

She smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say

is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even

the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as

fast as I can."

No arguments will give courage to the coward.

The Bear and the Fox

A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all

animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had

such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body.

A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, "Oh!

that you would eat the dead and not the living."

The Swallow and the Crow

THE SWALLOW and the Crow had a contention about their plumage.

The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying, "Your feathers are

all very well in the spring, but mine protect me against the

winter."

Fair weather friends are not worth much.

The Mountain in Labor

A MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises

were heard, and crowds of people came from all parts to see what

was the matter. While they were assembled in anxious expectation

of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse.

Don't make much ado about nothing.

The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion

THE ASS and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for

their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They

had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing

imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for

him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not

to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not

be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he

should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured,

immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his

leisure.

The Tortoise and the Eagle

A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the

sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly.

An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what

reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float

her in the air. "I will give you," she said, "all the riches of

the Red Sea." "I will teach you to fly then," said the Eagle; and

taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds

suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing

her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of

death: "I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do

with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the

earth?'

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

The Flies and the Honey-Pot

A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been

overturned in a housekeeper's room, and placing their feet in it,

ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the

honey that they could not use their wings, nor release

themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring,

they exclaimed, "O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of

a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves."

Pleasure bought with pains, hurts.

The Man and the Lion

A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon

began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in

strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a

statue carved in stone, which represented "a Lion strangled by a

Man." The traveler pointed to it and said: "See there! How strong

we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts." The

Lion replied: "This statue was made by one of you men. If we

Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed

under the paw of the Lion."

One story is good, till another is told.

The Farmer and the Cranes

SOME CRANES made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly

sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an

empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when

the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they

ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer,

on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great

number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying

to each other, "It is time for us to be off to Liliput: for this

man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in

earnest what he can do."

If words suffice not, blows must follow.

The Dog in the Manger

A DOG lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented

the oxen from eating the hay which had been placed for them.

"What a selfish Dog!" said one of them to his companions; "he

cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat

who can."

The Fox and the Goat

A FOX one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of

escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and

seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his

sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish

praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and

encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his

thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox

informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a

scheme for their common escape. "If," said he, "you will place

your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up

your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards." The Goat

readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying

himself with the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the

well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided

him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out,

"You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head

as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down

before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to

dangers from which you had no means of escape."

Look before you leap.

The Bear and the Two Travelers

TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on

their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and

concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he

must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came

up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held

his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he

could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch

a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other Traveler

descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend

what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. "He gave me this

advice," his companion replied. "Never travel with a friend who

deserts you at the approach of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

The Oxen and the Axle-Trees

A HEAVY WAGON was being dragged along a country lane by a team of

Oxen. The Axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly; whereupon the

Oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: "Hullo there! why

do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not

you, ought to cry out."

Those who suffer most cry out the least.

The Thirsty Pigeon

A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water

painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture,

she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed

against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken

her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by

one of the bystanders.

Zeal should not outrun discretion.

The Raven and the Swan

A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same

beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan's splendid white

color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the

Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his

living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But

cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change

their color, while through want of food he perished.

Change of habit cannot alter Nature.

The Goat and the Goatherd

A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock.

He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no

attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone,

and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master.

The Goat replied, "Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak

though I be silent."

Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.

The Miser

A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he

buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and

went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent

visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon

discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down,

came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next

visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to

make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with

grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray do not grieve so; but

go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the

gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same

service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did

not make the slightest use of it."

The Sick Lion

A LION, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself

with food by force, resolved to do so by artifice. He returned

to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking

care that his sickness should be publicly known. The beasts

expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the

Lion devoured them. After many of the beasts had thus

disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself

to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful

distance, and asked him how he was. "I am very middling,"

replied the Lion, "but why do you stand without? Pray enter

within to talk with me." "No, thank you," said the Fox. "I

notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but

I see no trace of any returning."

He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others.

The Horse and Groom

A GROOM used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down

his Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them for

his own profit. "Alas!" said the Horse, "if you really wish me

to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me

more."

The Ass and the Lapdog

A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The

Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat,

just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was

a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and

seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to

eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding

the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens

from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and

contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at

last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his

master's house, kicking up his heels without measure, and

frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump

about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the

table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then

attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The

servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of

their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his

stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned

to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: "I have

brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to

labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day

like that useless little Lapdog!"

The Lioness

A CONTROVERSY prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which

of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the

greatest number of whelps at a birth. They rushed clamorously

into the presence of the Lioness and demanded of her the

settlement of the dispute. "And you," they said, "how many sons

have you at a birth?' The Lioness laughed at them, and said:

"Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether a thoroughbred

Lion."

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

The Boasting Traveler

A MAN who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on

returning to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic

feats he had performed in the different places he had visited.

Among other things, he said that when he was at Rhodes he had

leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap

anywhere near him as to that, there were in Rhodes many persons

who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses. One of

the bystanders interrupted him, saying: "Now, my good man, if

this be all true there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this

to be Rhodes, and leap for us."

The Cat and the Cock

A CAT caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find a reasonable

excuse for eating him. He accused him of being a nuisance to men

by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep.

The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the

benefit of men, that they might rise in time for their labors.

The Cat replied, "Although you abound in specious apologies, I

shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of him.

The Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat

A YOUNG PIG was shut up in a fold-yard with a Goat and a Sheep.

On one occasion when the shepherd laid hold of him, he grunted

and squeaked and resisted violently. The Sheep and the Goat

complained of his distressing cries, saying, "He often handles

us, and we do not cry out." To this the Pig replied, "Your

handling and mine are very different things. He catches you only

for your wool, or your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very

life."

The Boy and the Filberts

A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped

as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out

his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the

pitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to

withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his

disappointment. A bystander said to him, "Be satisfied with half

the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."

Do not attempt too much at once.

The Lion in Love

A LION demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in marriage. The

Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse his request,

hit upon this expedient to rid himself of his importunities. He

expressed his willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his

daughter on one condition: that he should allow him to extract

his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter was fearfully

afraid of both. The Lion cheerfully assented to the proposal.

But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to repeat his

request, the Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his

club, and drove him away into the forest.

The Laborer and the Snake

A SNAKE, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage,

inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager's infant son. Grieving

over his loss, the Father resolved to kill the Snake. The next

day, when it came out of its hole for food, he took up his axe,

but by swinging too hastily, missed its head and cut off only the

end of its tail. After some time the Cottager, afraid that the

Snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed

some bread and salt in the hole. The Snake, slightly hissing,

said: "There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever

I see you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you

see me you will be thinking of the death of your son."

No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused

the injury.

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

ONCE UPON A TIME a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in

order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a

sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his

costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the

fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly

secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night

to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf

instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.

Harm seek. harm find.

The Ass and the Mule

A MULETEER set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and

a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along

the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to

ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more

than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of

a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule

paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards

fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in

so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load

carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all

placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule,

groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: "I am treated

according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist

the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing,

together with his burden, himself as well."

The Frogs Asking for a King

THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent

ambassadors to Jupiter entreating for a King. Perceiving their

simplicity, he cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs

were terrified at the splash occasioned by its fall and hid

themselves in the depths of the pool. But as soon as they

realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the

top of the water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, and began

squatting on it in contempt. After some time they began to think

themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so inert a Ruler,

and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to pray that he would set

over them another sovereign. He then gave them an Eel to govern

them. When the Frogs discovered his easy good nature, they sent

yet a third time to Jupiter to beg him to choose for them still

another King. Jupiter, displeased with all their complaints,

sent a Heron, who preyed upon the Frogs day by day till there

were none left to croak upon the lake.

The Boys and the Frogs

SOME BOYS, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the

water and began to pelt them with stones. They killed several of

them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water,

cried out: "Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to

us."

The Sick Stag

A SICK STAG lay down in a quiet corner of its pasture-ground.

His companions came in great numbers to inquire after his health,

and each one helped himself to a share of the food which had been

placed for his use; so that he died, not from his sickness, but

from the failure of the means of living.

Evil companions bring more hurt than profit.

The Salt Merchant and His Ass

A PEDDLER drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road

home lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step,

fell by accident and rose up again with his load considerably

lighter, as the water melted the sack. The Peddler retraced his

steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt

than before. When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down

on purpose in the same spot, and, regaining his feet with the

weight of his load much diminished, brayed triumphantly as if he

had obtained what he desired. The Peddler saw through his trick

and drove him for the third time to the coast, where he bought a

cargo of sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again playing the

fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the

sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load.

And thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his

back a double burden.

The Oxen and the Butchers

THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who

practiced a trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a

certain day to carry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns

for the contest. But one of them who was exceedingly old (for

many a field had he plowed) thus spoke: "These Butchers, it is

true, slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and with

no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall fall into

the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer a double

death: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchers

should perish, yet will men never want beef."

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

The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox

A LION, fatigued by the heat of a summer's day, fell fast asleep

in his den. A Mouse ran over his mane and ears and woke him from

his slumbers. He rose up and shook himself in great wrath, and

searched every corner of his den to find the Mouse. A Fox seeing

him said: "A fine Lion you are, to be frightened of a Mouse."

"'Tis not the Mouse I fear," said the Lion; "I resent his

familiarity and ill-breeding."

Little liberties are great offenses.

The Vain Jackdaw

JUPITER DETERMINED, it is said, to create a sovereign over the

birds, and made proclamation that on a certain day they should

all present themselves before him, when he would himself choose

the most beautiful among them to be king. The Jackdaw, knowing

his own ugliness, searched through the woods and fields, and

collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his

companions, and stuck them in all parts of his body, hoping

thereby to make himself the most beautiful of all. When the

appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembled before

Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made his appearance in his many

feathered finery. But when Jupiter proposed to make him king

because of the beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly

protested, and each plucked from him his own feathers, leaving

the Jackdaw nothing but a Jackdaw.

The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

A GOATHERD, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide,

found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up

together with his own for the night. The next day it snowed very

hard, so that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding

places, but was obliged to keep them in the fold. He gave his

own goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the

strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them to stay

with him and of making them his own. When the thaw set in, he

led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as

fast as they could to the mountains. The Goatherd scolded them

for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he

had taken more care of them than of his own herd. One of them,

turning about, said to him: "That is the very reason why we are

so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the

Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came

after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves."

Old friends cannot with impunity be sacrificed for new ones.

The Mischievous Dog

A DOG used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and

to bite them without notice. His master suspended a bell about

his neck so that the Dog might give notice of his presence

wherever he went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog

grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over the

marketplace. One day an old hound said to him: Why do you make

such an exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is not,

believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of

disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill

mannered dog."

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

The Fox Who Had Lost His Tail

A FOX caught in a trap escaped, but in so doing lost his tail.

Thereafter, feeling his life a burden from the shame and ridicule

to which he was exposed, he schemed to convince all the other

Foxes that being tailless was much more attractive, thus making

up for his own deprivation. He assembled a good many Foxes and

publicly advised them to cut off their tails, saying that they

would not only look much better without them, but that they would

get rid of the weight of the brush, which was a very great

inconvenience. One of them interrupting him said, "If you had

not yourself lost your tail, my friend, you would not thus

counsel us."

The Boy and the Nettles

A BOY was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother,

saying, "Although it hurts me very much, I only touched it

gently." "That was just why it stung you," said his Mother. "The

next time you touch a Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be

soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurt you."

Whatever you do, do with all your might.

The Man and His Two Sweethearts

A MIDDLE-AGED MAN, whose hair had begun to turn gray, courted two

women at the same time. One of them was young, and the other

well advanced in years. The elder woman, ashamed to be courted

by a man younger than herself, made a point, whenever her admirer

visited her, to pull out some portion of his black hairs. The

younger, on the contrary, not wishing to become the wife of an

old man, was equally zealous in removing every gray hair she

could find. Thus it came to pass that between them both he very

soon found that he had not a hair left on his head.

Those who seek to please everybody please nobody.

The Astronomer

AN ASTRONOMER used to go out at night to observe the stars. One

evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole

attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep

well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and

cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning

what had happened said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to

pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on

earth?'

The Wolves and the Sheep

"WHY SHOULD there always be this fear and slaughter between us?"

said the Wolves to the Sheep. "Those evil-disposed Dogs have

much to answer for. They always bark whenever we approach you

and attack us before we have done any harm. If you would only

dismiss them from your heels, there might soon be treaties of

peace and reconciliation between us." The Sheep, poor silly

creatures, were easily beguiled and dismissed the Dogs, whereupon

the Wolves destroyed the unguarded flock at their own pleasure.

The Old Woman and the Physician

AN OLD WOMAN having lost the use of her eyes, called in a

Physician to heal them, and made this bargain with him in the

presence of witnesses: that if he should cure her blindness, he

should receive from her a sum of money; but if her infirmity

remained, she should give him nothing. This agreement being

made, the Physician, time after time, applied his salve to her

eyes, and on every visit took something away, stealing all her

property little by little. And when he had got all she had, he

healed her and demanded the promised payment. The Old Woman,

when she recovered her sight and saw none of her goods in her

house, would give him nothing. The Physician insisted on his

claim, and. as she still refused, summoned her before the Judge.

The Old Woman, standing up in the Court, argued: "This man here

speaks the truth in what he says; for I did promise to give him a

sum of money if I should recover my sight: but if I continued

blind, I was to give him nothing. Now he declares that I am

healed. I on the contrary affirm that I am still blind; for when

I lost the use of my eyes, I saw in my house various chattels and

valuable goods: but now, though he swears I am cured of my

blindness, I am not able to see a single thing in it."

The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle

TWO GAME COCKS were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the

farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished

Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the

conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed

exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air

pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The

vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled

henceforth with undisputed mastery.

Pride goes before destruction.

The Charger and the Miller

A CHARGER, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to work in a

mill instead of going out to battle. But when he was compelled

to grind instead of serving in the wars, he bewailed his change

of fortune and called to mind his former state, saying, "Ah!

Miller, I had indeed to go campaigning before, but I was barbed

from counter to tail, and a man went along to groom me; and now I

cannot understand what ailed me to prefer the mill before the

battle." "Forbear," said the Miller to him, "harping on what was

of yore, for it is the common lot of mortals to sustain the ups

and downs of fortune."

The Fox and the Monkey

A MONKEY once danced in an assembly of the Beasts, and so pleased

them all by his performance that they elected him their King. A

Fox, envying him the honor, discovered a piece of meat lying in a

trap, and leading the Monkey to the place where it was, said that

she had found a store, but had not used it, she had kept it for him

as treasure trove of his kingdom, and counseled him to lay hold

of it. The Monkey approached carelessly and was caught in the

trap; and on his accusing the Fox of purposely leading him into

the snare, she replied, "O Monkey, and are you, with such a mind

as yours, going to be King over the Beasts?"

The Horse and His Rider

A HORSE SOLDIER took the utmost pains with his charger. As long

as the war lasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all

emergencies and fed him carefully with hay and corn. But when

the war was over, he only allowed him chaff to eat and made him

carry heavy loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish

drudgery and ill-treatment. War was again proclaimed, however,

and when the trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier

put on his charger its military trappings, and mounted, being

clad in his heavy coat of mail. The Horse fell down straightway

under the weight, no longer equal to the burden, and said to his

master, "You must now go to the war on foot, for you have

transformed me from a Horse into an Ass; and how can you expect

that I can again turn in a moment from an Ass to a Horse?'

The Belly and the Members

THE MEMBERS of the Body rebelled against the Belly, and said,

"Why should we be perpetually engaged in administering to your

wants, while you do nothing but take your rest, and enjoy

yourself in luxury and self-indulgence?' The Members carried out

their resolve and refused their assistance to the Belly. The

whole Body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet,

mouth, and eyes, when too late, repented of their folly.

The Vine and the Goat

A VINE was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and

grapes. A Goat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its

leaves. The Vine addressed him and said: "Why do you thus injure

me without a cause, and crop my leaves? Is there no young grass

left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; for

if you now should crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I

shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are led as a

victim to the sacrifice."

Jupiter and the Monkey

JUPITER ISSUED a proclamation to all the beasts of the forest and

promised a royal reward to the one whose offspring should be

deemed the handsomest. The Monkey came with the rest and

presented, with all a mother's tenderness, a flat-nosed,

hairless, ill-featured young Monkey as a candidate for the

promised reward. A general laugh saluted her on the presentation

of her son. She resolutely said, "I know not whether Jupiter

will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that he is at

least in the eyes of me his mother, the dearest, handsomest, and

most beautiful of all."

The Widow and Her Little Maidens

A WIDOW who was fond of cleaning had two little maidens to wait

on her. She was in the habit of waking them early in the

morning, at cockcrow. The maidens, aggravated by such excessive

labor, resolved to kill the cock who roused their mistress so

early. When they had done this, they found that they had only

prepared for themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no

longer hearing the hour from the cock, woke them up to their work

in the middle of the night.

The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf

A SHEPHERD-BOY, who watched a flock of sheep near a village,

brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out,

"Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at

them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last.

The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of

terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the

sheep"; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any

assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure

lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.

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

The Cat and the Birds

A CAT, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing

dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag

of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He

knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did,

saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for