Aesop’s Fables 5
The Ass and the Lapdog
A Farmer one day came to the stables to see to his beasts of burden: among
them was his favourite Ass, that was always well fed and often carried his
master. With the Farmer came his Lapdog, who danced about and licked his
hand and frisked about as happy as could be. The Farmer felt in his pocket,
gave the Lapdog some dainty food, and sat down while he gave his orders to
his servants. The Lapdog jumped into his master's lap, and lay there
blinking while the Farmer stroked his ears. The Ass, seeing this, broke loose
from his halter and commenced prancing about in imitation of the Lapdog.
The Farmer could not hold his sides with laughter, so the Ass went up to
him, and putting his feet upon the Farmer's shoulder attempted to climb into
his lap. The Farmer's servants rushed up with sticks and pitchforks and soon
taught the Ass that .Clumsy jesting is no joke.
The Lion and the Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down
upon him; this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him,
and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O King," cried the little
Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I
may be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled
at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and
let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters
who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went
in search of a waggon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened
to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, went up to him
and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I
not right?" said the little Mouse. Little friends may prove great friends.
The Swallow and the Other Birds
It happened that a Countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field
where a Swallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their
food. "Beware of that man," quoth the Swallow. "Why, what is he doing?"
said the others. "That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful to pick up every
one of the seeds, or else you will repent it." The birds paid no heed to the
Swallow's words, and by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord,
Aesop’s Fables 6
and of the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the
Swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of that very hemp. "What did
I tell you?" said the Swallow. Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to
your ruin.
The Frogs Desiring a King
The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just
suited them; they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody
troubling with them. But some of them thought that this was not right, that
they should have a king and a proper constitution, so they determined to
send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted. "Mighty Jove,"
they cried, "send unto us a king that will rule over us and keep us in order."
Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log,
which came downrplashto the swamp. The Frogs were frightened out of
their lives by the commotion made in their midst, and all rushed to the bank
to look at the horrible monster; but after a time, seeing that it did not move,
one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log, and even
dared to touch it; still it did not move. Then the greatest hero of the Frogs
jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it,
thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same; and for some time the Frogs
went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of
their new King Log lying in their midst. But this did not suit them, so they
sent another petition to Jove, and said to him, "We want a real king; one that
will really rule over us." Now this made Jove angry, so he sent among them
a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up. Then the Frogs
repented when too late. Better no rule than cruel rule.
The Mountains in Labour
One day the Countrymen noticed that the Mountains were in labour; smoke
came out of their summits, the earth was quaking at their feet, trees were
crashing, and huge rocks were tumbling. They felt sure that something
horrible was going to happen. They all gathered together in one place to see
what terrible thing this could be. They waited and they waited, but nothing
came. At last there was a still more violent earthquake, and a huge gap
appeared in the side of the Mountains. They all fell down upon their knees
Aesop’s Fables 7
and waited. At last, and at last, a teeny, tiny mouse poked its little head and
bristles out of the gap and came running down towards them, and ever after
they used to say:
"Much outcry, little outcome."
The Hares and the Frogs
The Hares were so persecuted by the other beasts, they did not know where
to go. As soon as they saw a single animal approach them, off they used to
run. One day they saw a troop of wild Horses stampeding about, and in
quite a panic all the Hares scuttled off to a lake hard by, determined to
drown themselves rather than live in such a continual state of fear. But just
as they got near the bank of the lake, a troop of Frogs, frightened in their
turn by the approach of the Hares scuttled off, and jumped into the water.
"Truly," said one of the Hares, "things are not so bad as they seem: "There is
always someone worse off than yourself."
The Wolf and the Kid
A Kid was perched up on the top of a house, and looking down saw a Wolf
passing under him. Immediately he began to revile and attack his enemy.
"Murderer and thief," he cried, "what do you here near honest folks' houses?
How dare you make an appearance where your vile deeds are known?"
"Curse away, my young friend," said the Wolf. "It is easy to be brave from a
safe distance."
The Woodman and the Serpent
One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he saw
something black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw it was a
Serpent to all appearance dead. But he took it up and put it in his bosom to
warm while he hurried home. As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent
down on the hearth before the fire. The children watched it and saw it
slowly come to life again. Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but
thc Serpent raised its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the
Aesop’s Fables 8
child to death. So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the
Serpent in two. "Ah," said he, "No gratitude from the wicked."
The Bald Man and the Fly
There was once a Bald Man who sat down after work on a hot summer's day.
A Fly came up and kept buzzing about his bald pate, and stinging him from
time to time. The Man aimed a blow at his little enemy, but acks palm came
on his head instead; again the Fly tormented him, but this time the Man was
wiser and said:
"You will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies."
The Fox and the Stork
At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very
good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put
nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could
easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it, and
left the meal as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the
soup is not to your liking."
"Pray do not apologise," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit,
and come and dine with me soon." So a day was appointed when the Fox
should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for
their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in
which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to
lick the outside of the jar. "I will not apologise for the dinner," said the
Stork: "One bad turn deserves another."
The Fox and the Mask
A Fox had by some means got into the store-room of a theatre. Suddenly he
observed a face glaring down on him and began to be very frightened; but
looking more closely he found it was only a Mask such as actors use to put
over their face. "Ah," said the Fox, "you look very fine; it is a pity you have
not got any brains." Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.
Aesop’s Fables 9
The Jay and the Peacock
A Jay venturing into a yard where Peacocks used to walk, found there a
number of feathers which had fallen from the Peacocks when they were
moulting. He tied them all to his tail and strutted down towards the
Peacocks. When he came near them they soon discovered the cheat, and
striding up to him pecked at him and plucked away his borrowed plumes.
So the Jay could do no better than go back to the other Jays, who had
watched his behaviour from a distance; but they were equally annoyed with
him, and told him: "It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."
The Frog and the Ox
"Oh Father," said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, "I
have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns
on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two."
"Tush, child, tush," said the old Frog, "that was only Farmer White's Ox. It
isn't so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make
myself quite as broad; just you see." So he blew himself out, and blew
himself out, and blew himself out. "Was he as big as that?" asked he. "Oh,
much bigger than that," said the young Frog. Again the old one blew himself
out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.
"Bigger, father, bigger," was the reply. So the Frog took a deep breath, and
blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he
said: "I'm sure the Ox is not as big asBut at this moment he burst. Self-
conceit may lead to self-destruction.
Androcles
A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the
forest. As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down
moaning and groaning. At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion
did not pursue him, he turned back and went up to him. As he came near,
the Lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding, and Androcles
found that a huge thorn had got into it, and was causing all the pain. He
pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion, who was soon able to
Aesop’s Fables 10
rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. Then the Lion took
Androcles to his cave, and every day used to bring him meat from which to
live. But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured, and
the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the Lion, after the latter had been
kept without food for several days. The Emperor and all his Court came to
see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena.
Soon the Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring
towards his victim. But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognised
his friend, and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog.
The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him
the whole story. Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed, and the Lion
let loose to his native forest. Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.
The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts
A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts.
When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join.
The Birds that passed his perch said: "Come with us"; but he said: "I am a
Beast." Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up
and said: "Come with us"; but he said: "I am a Bird." Luckily at the last
moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the
Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned against him and
he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a
retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. "Ah," said the Bat, "I see
now,
"He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends."
The Hart and the Hunter
The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he
made there. "Ah," said he, "where can you see such noble horns as these,
with such antlers! I wish I had legs more worthy to bear such a noble
crown; it is a pity they are so slim and slight." At that moment a Hunter
approached and sent an arrow whistling after him. Away bounded the Hart,
and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out of sight of the
Hunter; but not noticing where he was going, he passed under some trees
Aesop’s Fables 11
with branches growing low down in which his antlers were caught, so that
the Hunter had time to come up. "Alas! alas!" cried the Hart:
"We often despise what is most useful to us."
The Serpent and the File
A Serpent in the course of its wanderings came into an armourer's shop. As
he glided over the floor he felt his skin pricked by a file lying there. In a
rage he turned round upon it and tried to dart his fangs into it; but he could
do no harm to heavy iron and had soon to give over his wrath. It is useless
attacking the insensible.
The Man and the Wood
A Man came into a Wood one day with an axe in his hand, and begged all
the Trees to give him a small branch which he wanted for a particular
purpose. The Trees were good-natured and gave him one of their branches.
What did the Man do but fix it into the axe head, and soon set to work
cutting down tree after tree. Then the Trees saw how foolish they had been
in giving their enemy the means of destroying themselves.
The Dog and the Wolf
A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a
House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the Dog. "I knew how it
would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not
work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?"
"I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a place." "I
will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come with me to my master
and you shall share my work."
So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there
the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog's neck was very
much worn away, so he asked him how that had come about. "Oh, it is
nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the place where the collar is put on at
Aesop’s Fables 12
night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it." "Is
that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."
Better starve free than be a fat slave.
The Belly and the Members
One fine day it occurred to the Members of the Body that they were doing
all the work and the Belly was having all the food. So they held a meeting,
and after a long discussion, decided to strike work till the Belly consented to
take its proper share of the work. So for a day or two, the Hands refused to
take the food, the Mouth refused to receive it, and the Teeth had no work to
do. But after a day or two the Members began to find that they themselves
were not in a very active condition: the Hands could hardly move, and the
Mouth was all parched and dry, while the Legs were unable to support the
rest. So thus they found that even the Belly in its dull quiet way was doing
necessary work for the Body, and that all must work together or the Body
will go to pieces.
The Hart in the Ox-Stall
A Hart hotly pursued by the hounds fled for refuge into an ox-stall, and
buried itself in a truss of hay, leaving nothing to be seen but the tips of his
horns. Soon after the Hunters came up and asked if any one had seen the
Hart. The stable boys, who had been resting after their dinner, looked round,
but could see nothing, and the Hunters went away. Shortly afterwards the
master came in, and looking round, saw that something unusual had taken
place. He pointed to the truss of hay and said: "What are those two curious
things sticking out of the hay?" And when the stable boys came to look they
discovered the Hart, and soon made an end of him. He thus learnt that
Nothing escapes the master's eye.
The Fox and the Grapes
One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to
a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a
lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench my thirst," quoth he. Drawing back a
Aesop’s Fables 13
few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch. Turning
round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater
success. Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had
to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying: "I am sure
they are sour."
It is easy to despise what you cannot get.
The Horse, Hunter, and Stag
A quarrel had arisen between the Horse and the Stag, so the Horse came to a
Hunter to ask his help to take revenge on the Stag. The Hunter agreed, but
said: "If you desire to conquer the Stag, you must permit me to place this
piece of iron between your jaws, so that I may guide you with these reins,
and allow this saddle to be placed upon your back so that I may keep steady
upon you as we follow after the enemy." The Horse agreed to the
conditions, and the Hunter soon saddled and bridled him. Then with the aid
of the Hunter the Horse soon overcame the Stag, and said to the Hunter:
"Now, get off, and remove those things from my mouth and back." "Not so
fast, friend," said the Hunter. "I have now got you under bit and spur, and
prefer to keep you as you are at present."
If you allow men to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for
theirs.
The Peacock and Juno
A Peacock once placed a petition before Juno desiring to have the voice of a
nightingale in addition to his other attractions; but Juno refused his request.
When he persisted, and pointed out that he was her favourite bird, she said:
"Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything."
The Fox and the Lion
When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away
and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of
Aesop’s Fables 14
Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third
time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and
passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when
he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he
parted from the Lion without much ceremony. Familiarity breeds contempt.
The Lion and the Statue
A Man and a Lion were discussing the relative strength of men and lions in
general. The Man contended that he and his fellows were stronger than lions
by reason of their greater intelligence. "Come now with me," he cried, "and I
will soon prove that I am right." So he took him into the public gardens and
showed him a statue of Hercules overcoming the Lion and tearing his mouth
in two. "That is all very well," said the Lion, "but proves nothing, for it was
a man who made the statue."
We can easily represent things as we wish them to be.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and
singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great
toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling
and moiling in that way?"
"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend
you to do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we
have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and
continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and
found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day
corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.Then the
Grasshopper knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
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