[Illustration]
A Fisherman who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a
single small fish as the result of his day's labor. The fish, panting
convulsively, thus entreated for his life: "O Sir, what good can I be
to you, and how little am I worth! I am not yet come to my full size.
Pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. I shall soon become a
large fish, fit for the tables of the rich; and then you can catch me
again, and make a handsome profit of me." The fisherman replied: "I
should be a very simple fellow, if I were to forego my certain gain for
an uncertain profit."
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The Ass and his Purchaser.
A man wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he
should try him before he bought him. He took the Ass home, and put him
in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which he left all the
others, and joined himself at once to the most idle and the greatest
eater of them all. The man put a halter on him, and led him back to his
owner, saying: "I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just such
another as the one whom he chose for his companion."
A man is known by the company he keeps.
The Shepherd and the Sheep.
A Shepherd, driving his Sheep to a wood, saw an oak of unusual size,
full of acorns, and, spreading his cloak under the branches, he climbed
up into the tree, and shook down the acorns. The sheep, eating the
acorns, frayed and tore the cloak. The Shepherd coming down, and seeing
what was done, said: "O you most ungrateful creatures! you provide wool
to make garments for all other men, but you destroy the clothes of him
who feeds you."
The basest ingratitude is that which injures those who serve us.
The Fox and the Crow.
[Illustration]
A Crow, having stolen a bit of flesh, perched in a tree, and held it in
her beak. A Fox, seeing her, longed to possess himself of the flesh, and
by a wily stratagem succeeded. "How handsome is the Crow," he exclaimed,
"in the beauty of her shape and in the fairness of her complexion! Oh,
if her voice were only equal to her beauty, she would deservedly be
considered the Queen of Birds!" This he said deceitfully, having greater
admiration for the meat than for the crow. But the Crow, all her vanity
aroused by the cunning flattery, and anxious to refute the reflection
cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw, and dropped the flesh. The Fox
quickly picked it up, and thus addressed the Crow: "My good Crow, your
voice is right enough, but your wit is wanting."
He who listens to flattery is not wise, for it has no good purpose.
The Swallow and the Crow.
The Swallow and the Crow had a contention about their plumage. The 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."
Fine weather friends are not worth much.
The Hen and the Golden Eggs.
[Illustration]
A Cottager and his wife had a Hen, which laid every day a golden egg.
They supposed that it must contain a great lump of gold in its inside,
and killed it in order that they might get it, when, to their surprise,
they found that the Hen differed in no respect from their other hens.
The foolish pair, thus hoping to become rich all at once, deprived
themselves of the gain of which they were day by day assured.
[Illustration]
The Old Man and Death.
An old man was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in carrying
the fagots into the city for sale. One day, being very wearied with his
long journey, he sat down by the wayside, and, throwing down his load,
besought "Death" to come. "Death" immediately appeared, in answer to his
summons, and asked for what reason he had called him. The old man
replied: "That, lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my
shoulders."
We do not always like to be taken at our word.
The Fox and the Leopard.
[Illustration]
The Fox and the Leopard disputed which was the more beautiful of the
two. The Leopard exhibited one by one the various spots which decorated
his skin. The Fox, interrupting him, said: "And how much more beautiful
than you am I, who am decorated, not in body, but in mind."
People are not to be judged by their coats.
The Mountain in Labor.
A Mountain was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises were heard;
and crowds of people came from all parts to see what was the matter.
While they were assembled in anxious expectation of some terrible
calamity, out came a Mouse.
Don't make much ado about nothing.
The Bear and the Two Travelers.
[Illustration]
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, accosting his friend, jocularly inquired
"what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear?" His friend replied: "He
gave me this advice: Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the
approach of danger."
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
The Sick Kite.
A Kite, sick unto death, said to his mother: "O Mother! do not mourn,
but at once invoke the gods that my life may be prolonged." She replied:
"Alas! my son, which of the gods do you think will pity you? Is there
one whom you have not outraged by filching from their very altars a part
of the sacrifice which had been offered up to them?"
We must make friends in prosperity, if we would have their help in
adversity.
The Wolf and the Crane.
[Illustration]
A Wolf, having a bone stuck in his throat, hired a Crane, for a large
sum, to put her head into his throat 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 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 Cat and the Cock.
[Illustration]
A Cat caught a Cock, and took counsel with himself how he might find a
reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him as being a nuisance to
men, by crowing in the night time, 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 betimes, for their labors. The Cat replied:
"Although you abound in specious apologies, I shall not remain
supperless;" and he made a meal of him.
It does no good to deny those who make false accusations knowingly.
The Wolf and the Horse.
[Illustration]
A Wolf coming out of a field of oats met with a Horse, and thus
addressed him: "I would advise you to go into that field. It is full of
capital oats, which I have left untouched for you, as you are a friend
the very sound of whose teeth it will be a pleasure to me to hear." The
Horse replied: "If oats had been the food for wolves, you would never
have indulged your ears at the cost of your belly."
Men of evil reputation, when they perform a good deed, fail to get
credit for it.
The Two Soldiers and the Robber.
[Illustration]
Two Soldiers, traveling together, were set upon by a Robber. The one
fled away; the other stood his ground, and defended himself with his
stout right hand. The Robber being slain, the timid companion runs up
and draws his sword, and then, throwing back his traveling cloak, says:
"I'll at him, and I'll take care he shall learn whom he has attacked."
On this, he who had fought with the Robber made answer: "I only wish
that you had helped me just now, even if it had been only with those
words, for I should have been the more encouraged, believing them to be
true; but now put up your sword in its sheath and hold your equally
useless tongue, till you can deceive others who do not know you. I,
indeed, who have experienced with what speed you ran away, know right
well that no dependence can be placed on your valor."
When a coward is once found out, his pretensions of valor are useless.
The Monkey and the Cat.
A Monkey and a Cat lived in the same family, and it was hard to tell
which was the greatest thief. One day, as they were roaming about
together, they spied some chestnuts roasting in the ashes. "Come," said
the cunning Monkey, "we shall not go without our dinner to-day. Your
claws are better than mine for the purpose; you pull them out of the
hot ashes and you shall have half." Pussy pulled them out one by one,
burning her claws very much in doing so. When she had stolen them all,
she found that the Monkey had eaten every one.
A thief cannot be trusted, even by another thief.
The Two Frogs.
[Illustration]
Two frogs dwelt in the same pool. The pool being dried up under the
summer's heat, they left it and set out together for another home. As
they went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply supplied with
water, on seeing which, one of the Frogs said to the other: "Let us
descend and make our abode in this well." The other replied with greater
caution: "But suppose the water should fail us, how can we get out again
from so great a depth?"
Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.
The Vine and the Goat.
[Illustration]
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
said: "Why do you thus injure me 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 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."
Retribution is certain.
The Mouse and the Boasting Rat.
[Illustration]
A Mouse lived in a granary which became, after a while, the frequent
resort of a Cat. The Mouse was in great fear and did not know what to
do. In her strait, she bethought herself of a Rat who lived not far
away, and who had said in her hearing a hundred times that he was not
afraid of any cat living. She resolved to visit the bold Rat and ask
him to drive the Cat away. She found the Rat in his hole and relating
her story, besought his help. "Pooh!" said the Rat, "You should be bold
as I am; go straight about your affairs, and do not mind the Cat. I will
soon follow you, and drive him away." He thought, now, he must do
something to make good his boast. So he collected all the Rats in the
neighborhood, resolved to frighten the Cat by numbers. But when they all
came to the granary, they found that the Cat had already caught the
foolish Mouse, and a single growl from him sent them all scampering to
their holes.
Do not rely upon a boaster.
The Dogs and the Fox.
Some Dogs, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it in pieces with
their teeth. A Fox, seeing them, said: "If this lion were alive, you
would soon find out that his claws were stronger than your teeth."
It is easy to kick a man that is down.
The Thief and the House-Dog.
[Illustration]
A Thief came in the night to break into a house. He brought with him
several slices of meat, that he might pacify the House-dog, so that he
should not alarm his master by barking. As the Thief threw him the
pieces of meat, the Dog said: "If you think to stop my mouth, to relax
my vigilance, or even to gain my regard by these gifts, you will be
greatly mistaken. This sudden kindness at your hands will only make me
more watchful, lest under these unexpected favors to myself you have
some private ends to accomplish for your own benefit, and for my
master's injury. Besides, this is not the time that I am usually fed,
which makes me all the more suspicions of your intentions."
He who offers bribes needs watching, for his intentions are not honest.
The Sick Stag.
[Illustration]
A sick Stag lay down in a quiet corner of his 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 Fowler and the Ringdove.
A Fowler took his gun, and went into the woods a shooting. He spied a
Ringdove among the branches of an oak, and intended to kill it. He
clapped the piece to his shoulder, and took his aim accordingly. But,
just as he was going to pull the trigger, an adder, which he had trod
upon under the grass, stung him so painfully in the leg that he was
forced to quit his design, and threw his gun down in a passion. The
poison immediately infected his blood, and his whole body began to
mortify; which, when he perceived, he could not help owning it to be
just. "Fate," said he, "has brought destruction upon me while I was
contriving the death of another."
Men often fall into the trap which they prepare for others.
The Kid and the Wolf.
[Illustration]
A Kid, returning without protection from the pasture, was pursued by a
Wolf. He turned round, and said to the Wolf: "I know, friend Wolf, that
I must be your prey; but before I die, I would ask of you one favor,
that you will play me a tune, to which I may dance." The Wolf complied,
and while he was piping, and the Kid was dancing, the hounds, hearing
the sound, came up and gave chase to the Wolf. The Wolf, turning to the
Kid, said: "It is just what I deserve; for I, who am only a butcher,
should not have turned piper to please you."
Every one should keep his own colors.
The Blind Man and the Whelp.
[Illustration]
A Blind Man was accustomed to distinguish different animals by touching
them with his hands. The whelp of a Wolf was brought him, with a
request that he would feel it, and say what it was. He felt it, and
being in doubt, said: "I do not quite know whether it is the cub of a
Fox, or the whelp of a Wolf; but this I know full well, that it would
not be safe to admit him to the sheepfold."
Evil tendencies are shown early in life.
The Geese and the Cranes.
[Illustration]
The Geese and the Cranes fed in the same meadow. A bird-catcher came to
ensnare them in his nets. The Cranes, being light of wing, fled away at
his approach; while the Geese, being slower of flight and heavier in
their bodies, were captured.
Those who are caught are not always the most guilty.
The North Wind and the Sun.
[Illustration]
The North Wind and the Sun disputed which was the more powerful, and
agreed that he should be declared the victor who could first strip a
wayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind first tried his power, and
blew with all his might; but the keener became his blasts, the closer
the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, till at last, resigning all
hope of victory, he called upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sun
suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his
genial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last,
fairly overcome with heat, undressed, and bathed in a stream that lay in
his path.
Persuasion is better than Force.
[Illustration]
The Laborer and the Snake.
[Illustration]
A Snake, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicted
a severe bite on the Cottager's infant son, of which he died, to the
great grief of his parents. The father resolved to kill the Snake, and
the next day, on its coming out of its hole for food, took up his axe;
but, making too much haste to hit him as he wriggled away, missed his
head, and cut off only the end of his tail. After some time, the
Cottager, afraid lest the Snake should bite him also, endeavored to make
peace, and placed some bread and salt in his hole. The Snake said:
"There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see you I
shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will be
thinking of the death of your son."
It is hard to forget injuries in the presence of him who caused the
injury.
The Bull and the Calf.
A Bull was striving with all his might to squeeze himself through a
narrow passage which led to his stall. A young Calf came up and offered
to go before and show him the way by which he could manage to pass.
"Save yourself the trouble," said the Bull; "I knew that way long before
you were born."
Do not presume to teach your elders.
The Goat and the Ass.
A Man once kept a Goat and an Ass. The Goat, envying the Ass on account
of his greater abundance of food, said: "How shamefully you are treated;
at one time grinding in the mill, and at another carrying heavy
burdens;" and he further advised him that he should pretend to be
epileptic, and fall into a deep ditch and so obtain rest. The Ass gave
credence to his words, and, falling into a ditch, was very much bruised.
His master, sending for a leech, asked his advice. He bade him pour upon
the wounds the blood of a Goat. They at once killed the Goat, and so
healed the Ass.
In injuring others we are apt to receive a greater injury.
The Boasting Traveler.
A Man who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returning
to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic things he had done
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--and 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, interrupting him, said: "Now, my good
man, if this be all true, there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this to
be Rhodes and now for your leap."
Cure a boaster by putting his words to the test.
[Illustration]
The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion.
An Ass and a Cock were together, when a Lion, desperate from hunger,
approached. He was about to spring upon the Ass, when the Cock (to the
sound of whose voice the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion)
crowed loudly, and the Lion fled away. The Ass, observing his
trepidation at the mere crowing of a cock, summoned courage to attack
him, and galloped after him for that purpose. He had run no long
distance when the Lion, turning about, seized him and tore him to
pieces.
False confidence often leads into danger.
The Stag and the Fawn.
A Stag, grown old and mischievous, was, according to custom, stamping
with his foot, making offers with his head, and bellowing so terribly
that the whole herd quaked for fear of him; when one of the little
Fawns, coming up, addressed him thus: "Pray, what is the reason that
you, who are so formidable at all other times, if you do but hear the
cry of the hounds, are ready to fly out of your skin for fear?" "What
you observe is true," replied the Stag, "though I know not how to
account for it. I am indeed vigorous and able, and often resolve that
nothing shall ever dismay my courage; but, alas! I no sooner hear the
voice of a hound but my spirits fail me, and I cannot help making off as
fast as my legs can carry me."
The greatest braggarts are the greatest cowards.
The Partridge and the Fowler.
[Illustration]
A Fowler caught a Partridge, and was about to kill him. The Partridge
earnestly besought him to spare his life, saying: "Pray, master, permit
me to live, and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for
your mercy to me." The Fowler replied: "I shall now with the less
scruple take your life, because you are willing to save it at the cost
of betraying your friends and relations;" and without more ado he
twisted his neck and put him in his bag with his other game.
Those who would sacrifice their friends to save themselves from harm are
not entitled to mercy.
The Farmer and the Stork.
A Farmer placed his nets on his newly sown plough lands, and caught a
quantity of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trapped
a Stork also. The Stork, having his leg fractured by the net, earnestly
besought 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 to 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 Ass and his Driver.
[Illustration]
An Ass, being driven along the high road, suddenly started off, and
bolted to the brink of a deep precipice. When he was in the act of
throwing himself over, his owner, seizing him by the tail, endeavored to
pull him back. The Ass persisting in his effort, the man let him go,
and said: "Conquer; but conquer to your cost."
The perverse generally come to harm.