Fables 1 to 20

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 strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaiming:

A Lion woke up when a Mouse ran over his face. He rose angrily, caught the Mouse, and was about to kill him. But the Mouse begged for his life, saying: “If you would only spare my life, I would certainly repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed and let him go. Soon afterward, some hunters caught the Lion and tied him to the ground with strong ropes. The Mouse recognized the Lion’s roar and came to help. He chewed through the rope with his teeth and set the Lion free, exclaiming:

“You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion.”

“You laughed at the idea that I could ever help you. You never expected me to repay your kindness. Now you know that even a Mouse can help a Lion.”

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.

A Wolf met a Lamb who had strayed from the flock. He decided not to attack the Lamb outright. Instead, he would find an excuse to convince the Lamb he had a right to eat him. He said to the Lamb: “You there, last year you badly insulted me.” “But,” bleated the Lamb sadly, “I wasn’t born yet.” Then the Wolf said, “You feed in my pasture.” “No, good sir,” replied the Lamb, “I haven’t tasted grass yet.” Again the Wolf said, “You drink from my well.” “No,” cried the Lamb, “I’ve never drunk water. My mother’s milk is still both food and drink to me.” At that, the Wolf grabbed the Lamb and ate him, saying, “Well! I won’t go without supper, even though you’ve disproved every one of my accusations.” A tyrant will always find an excuse for his tyranny.

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.

An Ass heard some Grasshoppers chirping and was delighted by their song. Wanting to sing just as beautifully, he asked what food the Grasshoppers ate to give them such beautiful voices. The Grasshoppers replied, “The dew.” The Ass decided to live on dew alone, and soon died of hunger.

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.”

A Wolf had a bone stuck in his throat. He hired a Crane for a large sum to put her head into his mouth and remove the bone. When the Crane pulled out the bone and asked for the promised payment, the Wolf grinned and ground his teeth. He exclaimed: “Why, surely you’ve already been paid enough by being allowed to pull your head safely from a wolf’s mouth and jaws!”

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

When you serve wicked people, expect no reward. And be thankful if you escape being hurt for your efforts.

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.”

A father had several sons who were constantly quarreling with one another. When his advice failed to settle their disputes, he decided to show them the dangers of division through a practical example. So one day he told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. Once they had brought the bundle, he handed it to each son in turn and ordered him to break it. They tried with all their strength, but none could break the bundle. Next, he untied the bundle and handed the sticks to his sons one at a time. They broke the sticks easily. Then he said to them, “My sons, if you agree and work together to help one another, you will be like this bundle. All your enemies’ attempts to harm you will fail. But if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”

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.

A Bat fell to the ground and was caught by a Weasel. The Bat begged the Weasel to spare his life. The Weasel refused, saying he was a natural enemy of all birds. The Bat assured the Weasel that he was not a bird but a mouse, so the Weasel let him go. Shortly afterward, the Bat fell to the ground again and was caught by another Weasel. Again, the Bat begged the Weasel not to eat him. The Weasel said he especially hated mice. The Bat assured the Weasel that he was not a mouse but a bat, so he escaped a second time.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

It is wise to make the most of your circumstances.

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.”

A ROOSTER, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a precious stone and exclaimed: “If your owner had found you instead of me, he would have picked you up. He would have restored you to your former place. But finding you has done me no good. I would rather have one grain of barley than all the jewels in the world.”

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.”

The Swallow and the Crow argued about their feathers. The Crow ended the argument by saying, “Your feathers are all very well in spring, but mine protect me in winter.”

Fair weather friends are not worth much.

Friends who are only there when things are going well are not worth much.

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 animals of the field and forest had a Lion as their king. He was not angry, cruel, or tyrannical, but as fair and gentle as a king could be. During his reign, he issued a royal announcement calling all the birds and beasts to a meeting. He drew up terms for an alliance among them all. Under these terms, the Wolf and the Lamb, the Panther and the Kid, the Tiger and the Stag, and the Dog and the Hare would live together in perfect peace and friendship. The Hare said, “Oh, how I have longed to see this day, when the weak can stand safely beside the strong.” And after the Hare said this, he ran for his life.

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.”

A traveler about to leave on a journey saw his Dog stretching at the door. He asked sharply: “Why are you standing there yawning? Everything is ready except you, so come with me right now.” The Dog wagged his tail and replied: “Oh, master! I’m quite ready. You’re the one I’m waiting for.”

The loiterer often blames delay on his more active friend.

Someone who wastes time often blames delays on his more active friend.

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 ANTS were spending a fine winter day drying grain gathered during the summer. A Grasshopper, dying of hunger, passed by and desperately begged for a little food. The Ants asked him, “Why didn’t you store up food during the summer?” He replied, “I didn’t have enough time. I spent my days singing.” The Ants then said mockingly: “If you were foolish enough to sing all summer, you must dance off to bed without supper in winter.”

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.

One day, a Hare mocked the Tortoise’s short feet and slow pace. The Tortoise replied, laughing: “Though you are as fast as the wind, I will beat you in a race.” The Hare thought her claim was simply impossible, so he agreed to race. The two agreed that the Fox should choose the course and set the finish line. On the day set for the race, the Hare and the Tortoise started together. The Tortoise never stopped for a moment but kept going at a slow, steady pace straight to the finish. The Hare lay down beside the course and fell fast asleep. When he finally woke up, he ran as fast as he could. But he saw that the Tortoise had already reached the finish and was dozing comfortably after her tiring effort.

Slow but steady wins the race.

Slow but steady wins the race.

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.”

A CHARCOAL-BURNER worked in his own house. One day he met a friend, a Fuller, who cleaned and whitened cloth. He urged the Fuller to come and live with him. He said they would be much better neighbors and would spend less on housekeeping. The Fuller replied, “That arrangement would be impossible for me. Whatever I whitened, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal.”

Like will draw like.

Like attracts like.

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!”

A BOY was hunting for locusts. He had caught quite a few when he saw a Scorpion. Mistaking him for a locust, the boy reached out to catch him. The Scorpion showed his stinger and said: “If you had even touched me, my friend, you would have lost me and all your locusts too!”

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.”

A FISHERMAN who was a skilled musician took his flute and nets to the seashore. Standing on a rock that jutted out over the water, he played several tunes. He hoped the music would attract the fish and make them dance willingly into his net below. After waiting a long time with no success, he put down his flute and cast his net into the sea. He caught a great many fish. When he saw them jumping about in the net on the rock, he said: “Oh, you stubborn creatures! When I played, you would not dance, but now that I have stopped, you dance so merrily.”

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.

A Dog was crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of meat in his mouth. He saw his own reflection in the water and mistook it for another Dog. The other Dog seemed to have a piece of meat twice the size of his own. He immediately dropped his own meat and fiercely attacked the other Dog to take the larger piece. So he lost both pieces: the meat he tried to grab was only a reflection, and the stream swept his own meat away.

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.”

A WAGON DRIVER was traveling along a country lane when the wheels sank deep into a rut. Dazed and horrified, the country driver stood staring at the wagon. He did nothing but call loudly to Hercules to come and help him. Hercules is said to have appeared and spoken to him: “Put your shoulders against the wheels, my man. Urge your oxen forward. Never pray to me for help again until you have done your best to help yourself. Otherwise, you can be sure your prayers will go unanswered from now on.”

Self-help is the best help.

Helping yourself is the best help.

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.”

A Mole, blind from birth, once said to his Mother: “I’m sure I can see, Mother!” To show him his mistake, his Mother put a few grains of frankincense in front of him. She asked, “What is it?” The young Mole said, “It’s a pebble.” His Mother exclaimed: “My son, I’m afraid you’re not only blind, but you’ve also lost your sense of smell.”

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.”

A herdsman tending his flock in a forest lost a bull calf from the pen. After a long, unsuccessful search, he made a vow. If he could discover who had stolen the calf, he would sacrifice a lamb to Hermes, Pan, and the forest’s Guardian Deities. Soon afterward, as he climbed a small hill, he saw a lion at the bottom eating the calf. Terrified, he raised his eyes and hands to heaven and said: “Just now I vowed to sacrifice a lamb to the forest’s Guardian Deities if I could find who robbed me. But now that I have found the thief, I would gladly give a full-grown bull besides the calf I lost. I would do so if only I could escape safely from the lion.”

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.”

A young fawn once said to his Mother, “You are bigger than a dog, faster, and more used to running. You also have your horns to defend yourself. So why, Mother, are you so afraid of hounds?” She smiled and said: “I know very well, my son, that everything you say is true. I have all the advantages you mention. But when I hear even one dog bark, I feel faint and run away as fast as I can.”

No arguments will give courage to the coward.

No amount of reasoning will make a coward brave.