Fables 101 to 120

A WILD ASS and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion agreed to assist the Wild Ass with his strength, while the Wild Ass gave the Lion the benefit of his greater speed. When they had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, the Lion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it into three shares. “I will take the first share,” he said, “because I am King: and the second share, as a partner with you in the chase: and the third share (believe me) will be a source of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and set off as fast as you can.”

A WILD ASS and a Lion formed a partnership so they could catch the forest animals more easily. The Lion agreed to use his strength to help the Wild Ass. In return, the Wild Ass offered the Lion his greater speed. Once they had caught as many animals as they needed, the Lion took charge of dividing the catch. He split it into three shares. “I will take the first share,” he said, “because I am King. I will take the second share because I was your partner in the hunt. As for the third share, believe me, you will suffer greatly unless you willingly give it up to me. You must also leave as fast as you can.”

Might makes right.

Power decides what is right.

A LION roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance, saying that of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, since the one was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The Dolphin gladly consented to this request. Not long afterwards the Lion had a combat with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin, though quite willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by any means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The Dolphin replied, “Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the power of living upon the land.”

A LION roaming along the seashore saw a Dolphin lift its head out of the waves. The Lion suggested forming an alliance. He said that, of all animals, they ought to be the closest friends. After all, he was the king of beasts on land, and the Dolphin ruled all creatures in the ocean. The Dolphin gladly agreed. Not long afterward, the Lion fought a wild bull and called on the Dolphin for help. Although the Dolphin was quite willing to help, he could not, because he had no way to reach land. The Lion angrily called him a traitor. The Dolphin replied, “No, my friend, do not blame me. Blame Nature, who gave me rule over the sea but completely denied me the ability to live on land.”

AN EAGLE sat on a lofty rock, watching the movements of a Hare whom he sought to make his prey. An archer, who saw the Eagle from a place of concealment, took an accurate aim and wounded him mortally. The Eagle gave one look at the arrow that had entered his heart and saw in that single glance that its feathers had been furnished by himself. “It is a double grief to me,” he exclaimed, “that I should perish by an arrow feathered from my own wings.”

An Eagle sat on a high rock, watching a Hare he wanted to catch and eat. An archer saw the Eagle from a hiding place, aimed carefully, and shot him, fatally wounding him. The Eagle glanced at the arrow in his heart and saw at once that its feathers were his own. “My grief is twice as great,” he cried, “because I am dying from an arrow feathered with my own feathers.”

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 offered up to them?”

A kite, sick and dying, said to his mother: “Mother! Do not mourn, but pray to the gods at once so that I may live longer.” She replied, “Oh, my son, which of the gods do you think will pity you? Is there a single god you have not offended by stealing part of the sacrifices from their very altars?”

We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in adversity.

We must make friends in good times if we want their help in hard times.

ON A SUMMER DAY, when the great heat induced a general thirst among the beasts, a Lion and a Boar came at the same moment to a small well to drink. They fiercely disputed which of them should drink first, and were soon engaged in the agonies of a mortal combat. When they stopped suddenly to catch their breath for a fiercer renewal of the fight, they saw some Vultures waiting in the distance to feast on the one that should fall first. They at once made up their quarrel, saying, “It is better for us to make friends, than to become the food of Crows or Vultures.”

On a summer day, the intense heat made the animals thirsty. A Lion and a Boar arrived at a small well at the same time to drink. They argued fiercely over who should drink first and soon began a desperate fight to the death. They suddenly stopped to catch their breath before fighting even harder. As they paused, they saw some Vultures waiting in the distance to feast on whichever animal fell first. The Lion and the Boar immediately ended their quarrel, saying, “It is better for us to become friends than to become food for Crows or Vultures.”

THE MICE summoned a council to decide how they might best devise means of warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy the Cat. Among the many plans suggested, the one that found most favour was the proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, so that the Mice, being warned by the sound of the tinkling, might run away and hide themselves in their holes at his approach. But when the Mice further debated who among them should thus “bell the Cat,” there was no one found to do it.

The Mice called a meeting to decide how best to warn themselves when their great enemy, the Cat, approached. Many plans were suggested, but the most popular was to tie a bell around the Cat’s neck. The tinkling would warn the Mice, so they could run away and hide in their holes as the Cat approached. But when the Mice discussed who among them would “bell the Cat,” no one was willing to do it.

A DOE blind in one eye was accustomed to graze as near to the edge of the cliff as she possibly could, in the hope of securing her greater safety. She turned her sound eye towards the land that she might get the earliest tidings of the approach of hunter or hound, and her injured eye towards the sea, from whence she entertained no anticipation of danger. Some boatmen sailing by saw her, and taking a successful aim, mortally wounded her. Yielding up her last breath, she gasped forth this lament: “O wretched creature that I am! to take such precaution against the land, and after all to find this seashore, to which I had come for safety, so much more perilous.”

A doe blind in one eye used to graze as close to the cliff’s edge as she could. She hoped to keep herself safer there. She kept her good eye turned toward the land to spot any approaching hunter or hound as early as possible. Her injured eye faced the sea, where she expected no danger. Some boatmen sailing past saw her, took aim, and struck her, fatally wounding her. With her last breath, she gasped out this lament: “What a miserable creature I am! I took such care to guard against danger from the land. Yet this seashore, where I came for safety, turned out to be so much more dangerous.”

THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, in which much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the victors. The Mice thought that the cause of their frequent defeats was that they had no leaders set apart from the general army to command them, and that they were exposed to dangers from lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that were most renowned for their family descent, strength, and counsel, as well as those most noted for their courage in the fight, so that they might be better marshaled in battle array and formed into troops, regiments, and battalions. When all this was done, and the army disciplined, and the herald Mouse had duly proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen generals bound their heads with straws, that they might be more conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun, when a great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered off as fast as they could to their holes. The generals, not being able to get in on account of the ornaments on their heads, were all captured and eaten by the Weasels.

The Weasels and the Mice were constantly at war, and much blood was shed. The Weasels always won. The Mice thought they kept losing because they had no leaders appointed to command the rest of the army. They also believed a lack of discipline put them in danger. So they chose leaders from the Mice best known for their ancestry, strength, and wisdom. They also chose those best known for their courage in battle. The aim was to organize the Mice better for battle, arranging them into troops, regiments, and battalions. Once these preparations were complete and the army was disciplined, the Mouse herald formally declared war by challenging the Weasels. The newly chosen generals tied straws around their heads so all their troops could see them more easily. The battle had barely begun when the Mice suffered a crushing defeat and fled to their holes. But the generals could not get into the holes because of the decorations on their heads. All the generals were captured and eaten by the Weasels.

The more honour the more danger.

The greater the honor, the greater the danger.

A SHEPHERD, keeping watch over his sheep near the shore, saw the Sea very calm and smooth, and longed to make a voyage with a view to commerce. He sold all his flock, invested it in a cargo of dates, and set sail. But a very great tempest came on, and the ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all his merchandise overboard, and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship. Not long afterwards when someone passed by and observed the unruffled calm of the Sea, he interrupted him and said, “It is again in want of dates, and therefore looks quiet.”

A SHEPHERD watching his sheep near the shore saw that the Sea was very calm and smooth. He longed to set sail to trade. He sold his entire flock, used all the money to buy a cargo of dates, and set sail. But a terrible storm struck, and the ship was in danger of sinking. So he threw all his goods overboard and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship. Not long afterward, someone passing by remarked on how calm the Sea was. The shepherd interrupted him and said, “The Sea wants dates again, and that is why it looks so quiet.”

AN ASS and a Cock were in a straw-yard together when a Lion, desperate from hunger, approached the spot. 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 as fast as he could. 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.

An Ass and a Cock were together in a straw-covered yard when a Lion approached, desperate with hunger. The Lion was about to leap at the Ass when the Cock crowed loudly. Lions are said to have a particular dislike of a Cock’s crow. The Lion fled as fast as he could. Seeing the Lion frightened by nothing more than a Cock’s crow, the Ass found the courage to attack him. So the Ass galloped after the Lion. The Ass had not gone far when the Lion turned around, seized him, and tore him to pieces.

False confidence often leads into danger.

False confidence often leads to danger.

THE RIVERS joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, “Why is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?” The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, said, “Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made briny.”

The Rivers came together to complain to the Sea, saying, “When we flow into you, we are fresh and sweet. Why do you change us, making us salty and unfit to drink?” The Sea realized the Rivers meant to blame him and said, “Please stop flowing into me. Then you will not become salty.”

A WILD BOAR stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound. He replied, “I do it advisedly; for it would never do to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be using them.”

A WILD BOAR stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk. A Fox passing by asked why he was sharpening his tusks when no hunter or hunting dog threatened him. He replied, “I’m doing this for a reason. I shouldn’t have to sharpen my weapons just when I need to use them.”

To be well prepared for war is the best guarantee of peace.

Being well prepared for war is the best way to ensure peace.

A FARMER’S daughter was carrying her Pail of milk from the field to the farmhouse, when she fell a-musing. “The money for which this milk will be sold, will buy at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready for the market when poultry will fetch the highest price, so that by the end of the year I shall have money enough from my share to buy a new gown. In this dress I will go to the Christmas parties, where all the young fellows will propose to me, but I will toss my head and refuse them every one.” At this moment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fell the milk pail to the ground, and all her imaginary schemes perished in a moment.

A farmer’s daughter was carrying her pail of milk from the field to the farmhouse when she began daydreaming. “The money from selling this milk will buy at least three hundred eggs. Even allowing for mishaps, the eggs will hatch into two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will be ready for market when poultry sells for the highest price. So by the end of the year, my share of the money will be enough to buy a new dress. I will wear this dress to the Christmas parties, where all the young men will propose to me. But I will toss my head and turn down every one of them.” Just then, she tossed her head as she had imagined doing. The milk pail fell to the ground, and all her imaginary plans were ruined in an instant.

A BEE from Mount Hymettus, the queen of the hive, ascended to Olympus to present Jupiter some honey fresh from her combs. Jupiter, delighted with the offering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She therefore besought him, saying, “Give me, I pray thee, a sting, that if any mortal shall approach to take my honey, I may kill him.” Jupiter was much displeased, for he loved the race of man, but could not refuse the request because of his promise. He thus answered the Bee: “You shall have your request, but it will be at the peril of your own life. For if you use your sting, it shall remain in the wound you make, and then you will die from the loss of it.”

A BEE from Mount Hymettus, the queen of the hive, went up to Olympus. She brought Jupiter some honey fresh from her combs. Jupiter was delighted with the honey and promised to give her whatever she asked for. So she begged him, saying, “Please give me a sting so that if any mortal comes to take my honey, I may kill him.” Jupiter was very displeased because he loved humankind. But he could not refuse her request because of his promise. So he answered the Bee: “You shall have what you ask for, but you will risk your own life. For if you use your sting, the sting will stay in the wound you make. Then you will die from losing your sting.”

Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost.

Wishes for harm, like chickens, come back home to roost.

A WOLF, meeting a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about his neck asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet compelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever he went. “The master,” he replied. Then said the Wolf: “May no friend of mine ever be in such a plight; for the weight of this chain is enough to spoil the appetite.”

A Wolf met a big, well-fed Mastiff wearing a wooden collar around his neck. The Wolf asked who fed him so well yet made him drag that heavy log everywhere he went. “My master,” the Mastiff replied. Then the Wolf said: “May no friend of mine ever be in such a situation. The weight of this chain alone is enough to ruin anyone’s appetite.”

A GREAT CITY was besieged, and its inhabitants were called together to consider the best means of protecting it from the enemy. A Bricklayer earnestly recommended bricks as affording the best material for an effective resistance. A Carpenter, with equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as a preferable method of defense. Upon which a Currier stood up and said, “Sirs, I differ from you altogether: there is no material for resistance equal to a covering of hides; and nothing so good as leather.”

A GREAT CITY was under siege, and its people gathered to discuss the best way to defend it from the enemy. A Bricklayer strongly recommended bricks as the best material for an effective defense. A Carpenter, just as enthusiastic, suggested wood as a better choice for defense. Then a Currier, who prepared leather, stood up and said, “Gentlemen, I disagree with you completely. No material offers better protection than a covering of animal hides, and nothing is as good as leather.”

Every man for himself.

Everyone for themselves.

AN ASS once carried through the streets of a city a famous wooden Image, to be placed in one of its Temples. As he passed along, the crowd made lowly prostration before the Image. The Ass, thinking that they bowed their heads in token of respect for himself, bristled up with pride, gave himself airs, and refused to move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid his whip lustily about his shoulders and said, “O you perverse dull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass.”

A donkey once carried a famous wooden statue through the streets of a city, headed for one of its temples. As he passed, the crowd bowed low before the statue. The donkey thought the people were bowing out of respect for him. Swelling with pride, he acted self-important and refused to take another step. Seeing the donkey stop, the driver whipped him hard across the shoulders and said, “You stubborn fool! People haven’t yet sunk so low that they worship a donkey.”

They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due to others.

People who take credit that belongs to others are not wise.

A CERTAIN MAN, detained by a storm in his country house, first of all killed his sheep, and then his goats, for the maintenance of his household. The storm still continuing, he was obliged to slaughter his yoke oxen for food. On seeing this, his Dogs took counsel together, and said, “It is time for us to be off, for if the master spare not his oxen, who work for his gain, how can we expect him to spare us?”

A man was trapped by a storm in his country house. He first killed his sheep, then his goats, to feed his household. The storm continued, so he had to slaughter his plowing oxen for food. Seeing this, his dogs talked among themselves and said, “It is time for us to leave. If our master will not spare his oxen, whose work brings him profit, how can we expect him to spare us?”

He is not to be trusted as a friend who mistreats his own family.

You cannot trust a man as a friend if he mistreats his own family.

A HOUND, who in the days of his youth and strength had never yielded to any beast of the forest, encountered in his old age a boar in the chase. He seized him boldly by the ear, but could not retain his hold because of the decay of his teeth, so that the boar escaped. His master, quickly coming up, was very much disappointed, and fiercely abused the dog. The Hound looked up and said, “It was not my fault master: my spirit was as good as ever, but I could not help my infirmities. I rather deserve to be praised for what I have been, than to be blamed for what I am.”

A HOUND had never been beaten by any beast of the forest when he was young and strong. In his old age, he came across a boar during a hunt. He boldly grabbed the boar by the ear, but his teeth were too worn to keep their grip. So the boar escaped. His master quickly caught up and was very disappointed. He angrily scolded the dog. The Hound looked up and said, “The escape was not my fault, master. My spirit was as strong as ever, but I could not help growing weak with age. I deserve praise for what I once was rather than blame for what I am now.”

TWO MEN were journeying together. One of them picked up an axe that lay upon the path, and said, “I have found an axe.” “Nay, my friend,” replied the other, “do not say ‘I,’ but ‘We’ have found an axe.” They had not gone far before they saw the owner of the axe pursuing them, and he who had picked up the axe said, “We are undone.” “Nay,” replied the other, “keep to your first mode of speech, my friend; what you thought right then, think right now. Say ‘I,’ not ‘We’ are undone.”

Two men were traveling together. One of them picked up an axe lying on the path and said, “I have found an axe.” “No, my friend,” replied the other, “don’t say ‘I.’ Say ‘We’ have found an axe.” The men had not gone far when they saw the axe’s owner chasing them. The man who had picked up the axe said, “We are in trouble.” “No,” replied the other, “stick to what you said before, my friend. If you thought that was right then, think the same now. Say ‘I,’ not ‘We,’ am in trouble.”

He who shares the danger ought to share the prize.

Anyone who shares the danger should share the reward.