Fables 121 to 140

A LION, worn out with years and powerless from disease, lay on the ground at the point of death. A Boar rushed upon him, and avenged with a stroke of his tusks a long-remembered injury. Shortly afterwards the Bull with his horns gored him as if he were an enemy. When the Ass saw that the huge beast could be assailed with impunity, he let drive at his forehead with his heels. The expiring Lion said, “I have reluctantly brooked the insults of the brave, but to be compelled to endure such treatment from thee, a disgrace to Nature, is indeed to die a double death.”

A LION, worn out by age and weakened by disease, lay on the ground, close to death. A Boar rushed at him and struck him with his tusks, taking revenge for a long-remembered injury. Shortly afterward, the Bull gored him with his horns as if the Lion were an enemy. When the Ass saw that the huge beast could be attacked without consequence, he kicked the Lion’s forehead with his heels. The dying Lion said, “I have grudgingly put up with insults from the brave. But being forced to endure such treatment from you, a disgrace to nature, is truly to die twice.”

A WOLF, passing by, saw some Shepherds in a hut eating a haunch of mutton for their dinner. Approaching them, he said, “What a clamor you would raise if I were to do as you are doing!”

A Wolf passing by saw some Shepherds in a hut eating a leg of mutton for dinner. He walked up to them and said, “What a fuss you would make if I did what you’re doing!”

SOME TRAVELERS, journeying along the seashore, climbed to the summit of a tall cliff, and looking over the sea, saw in the distance what they thought was a large ship. They waited in the hope of seeing it enter the harbor, but as the object on which they looked was driven nearer to shore by the wind, they found that it could at the most be a small boat, and not a ship. When however it reached the beach, they discovered that it was only a large faggot of sticks, and one of them said to his companions, “We have waited for no purpose, for after all there is nothing to see but a load of wood.”

Some travelers were walking along the seashore when they climbed to the top of a tall cliff. Looking out over the sea, they saw what they thought was a large ship in the distance. They waited, hoping to see the ship enter the harbor. But as the wind drove the object closer to shore, they realized it could only be a small boat at most. When the object reached the beach, however, they discovered it was only a large bundle of sticks. One traveler said to his companions, “We have waited for nothing. After all, there is nothing to see but a load of wood.”

Our mere anticipations of life outrun its realities.

Our expectations of life go beyond what life actually offers.

A TRAVELER hired an Ass to convey him to a distant place. The day being intensely hot, and the sun shining in its strength, the Traveler stopped to rest, and sought shelter from the heat under the Shadow of the Ass. As this afforded only protection for one, and as the Traveler and the owner of the Ass both claimed it, a violent dispute arose between them as to which of them had the right to the Shadow. The owner maintained that he had let the Ass only, and not his Shadow. The Traveler asserted that he had, with the hire of the Ass, hired his Shadow also. The quarrel proceeded from words to blows, and while the men fought, the Ass galloped off.

A traveler rented a donkey to carry him to a distant place. The day was intensely hot, and the sun was shining at full strength. So the traveler stopped to rest and took shelter from the heat in the donkey’s shade. The shade offered protection for only one person, but both the traveler and the donkey’s owner claimed it. So a fierce argument broke out over who had the right to the shade. The owner insisted that he had rented out only the donkey, not its shade. The traveler insisted that renting the donkey included renting its shade. The argument turned into a fistfight, and while the men fought, the donkey galloped away.

In quarreling about the shadow we often lose the substance.

When we argue over the shadow, we often lose the real thing.

AN ASS, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner. The Ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master’s occupation, said, groaning: “It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him.”

An Ass belonged to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work. He asked Jupiter to free him from his current work and give him another master. Jupiter warned him that he would regret his request, then had him sold to a tile-maker. Soon, the Ass found that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field. So he asked for another change of master. Jupiter told him that this would be the last time he could grant the Ass’s request. Then Jupiter had him sold to a tanner. The Ass found that his new master was even worse. When he noticed what his master did for a living, he groaned and said: “I would have been better off being starved by my first master or overworked by my second. My present owner will tan my hide even after I am dead and make me useful to him.”

MERCURY once determined to learn in what esteem he was held among mortals. For this purpose he assumed the character of a man and visited in this disguise a Sculptor’s studio having looked at various statues, he demanded the price of two figures of Jupiter and Juno. When the sum at which they were valued was named, he pointed to a figure of himself, saying to the Sculptor, “You will certainly want much more for this, as it is the statue of the Messenger of the Gods, and author of all your gain.” The Sculptor replied, “Well, if you will buy these, I’ll fling you that into the bargain.”

MERCURY once decided to find out how highly mortals thought of him. To do so, he disguised himself as a man and visited a Sculptor’s studio. After looking at several statues, he asked the price of two figures, one of Jupiter and one of Juno. When the Sculptor told him the price, Mercury pointed to a statue of himself. He said to the Sculptor, “You will certainly want much more for this statue. It shows the Messenger of the Gods, who is responsible for all your earnings.” The Sculptor replied, “Well, if you buy these two figures, I’ll throw in that statue for free.”

A FOX, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter felling an oak and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Woodcutter advised him to take shelter in his own hut, so the Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner. The huntsman soon came up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if he had seen the Fox. He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he was speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing his word, hastened forward in the chase. As soon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, “You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you leave me without a word of thanks.” The Fox replied, “Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently if your deeds had been as good as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to your speech.”

A Fox fleeing the hounds came across a Woodcutter cutting down an oak. He begged the Woodcutter to show him a safe hiding place. The Woodcutter told him to hide in his hut, so the Fox crept inside and hid in a corner. The huntsman soon arrived with his hounds and asked the Woodcutter if he had seen the Fox. The Woodcutter said he had not, but pointed to the hut where the Fox was hiding throughout his answer. The huntsman paid no attention to the gestures. Instead, he believed the Woodcutter’s words and hurried on with the chase. As soon as the huntsman and hounds were well away, the Fox left without acknowledging the Woodcutter. The Woodcutter called after him and scolded him, saying, “You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, yet you leave without a word of thanks.” The Fox replied, “Indeed, I would have thanked you warmly if your actions had been as good as your words. And I would have thanked you if your hands had not betrayed what you said.”

A VERY LARGE OAK was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thus addressed: “I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds.” They replied, “You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken, and escape.”

A VERY LARGE OAK was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds and said to them: “I wonder how you, so light and weak, are not completely crushed by these strong winds.” The Reeds replied, “You fight and struggle against the wind, so you are destroyed. We, on the other hand, bend with even the slightest breeze. So we stay unbroken and escape.”

Stoop to conquer.

Humble yourself to win.

A LION entered a farmyard. The Farmer, wishing to catch him, shut the gate. When the Lion found that he could not escape, he flew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked the oxen. The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed for his own safety, opened the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the Farmer grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but his wife, who had been a spectator to all that took place, said, “On my word, you are rightly served, for how could you for a moment think of shutting up a Lion along with you in your farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes if you only hear his roar at a distance?”

A LION entered a farmyard. The Farmer wanted to catch him, so he shut the gate. When the Lion found he could not escape, he attacked the sheep and killed them. Then he attacked the oxen. The Farmer began to fear for his own safety, so he opened the gate and let the Lion out. After the Lion left, the Farmer bitterly mourned the loss of his sheep and oxen. But his wife, who had watched everything happen, said, “Honestly, you got what you deserved. How could you even think of locking a Lion in your farmyard with you? You know you tremble with fear if you so much as hear his roar in the distance!”

A WOLF, having stolen a lamb from a fold, was carrying him off to his lair. A Lion met him in the path, and seizing the lamb, took it from him. Standing at a safe distance, the Wolf exclaimed, “You have unrighteously taken that which was mine from me!” To which the Lion jeeringly replied, “It was righteously yours, eh? The gift of a friend?”

A Wolf had stolen a lamb from a pen and was carrying him off to his den. A Lion met the Wolf on the path, grabbed the lamb, and took him away. Standing at a safe distance, the Wolf shouted, “You had no right to take what was mine!” The Lion replied mockingly, “And you had a right to the lamb, did you? A gift from a friend?”

A BIRDCATCHER was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs when a friend unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quite empty, as he had caught nothing, and he had to kill a pied Partridge, which he had tamed for a decoy. The bird entreated earnestly for his life: “What would you do without me when next you spread your nets? Who would chirp you to sleep, or call for you the covey of answering birds?” The Birdcatcher spared his life, and determined to pick out a fine young Cock just attaining to his comb. But the Cock expostulated in piteous tones from his perch: “If you kill me, who will announce to you the appearance of the dawn? Who will wake you to your daily tasks or tell you when it is time to visit the bird-trap in the morning?” He replied, “What you say is true. You are a capital bird at telling the time of day. But my friend and I must have our dinners.”

A BIRDCATCHER was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs when a friend arrived unexpectedly. His bird-trap was empty because he had caught nothing. So he had to kill a speckled Partridge he had tamed to lure other birds into the trap. The bird begged for his life: “What would you do without me the next time you spread your nets? Who would chirp you to sleep or call a flock of birds to answer you?” The Birdcatcher spared his life and decided instead to choose a fine young Cock whose comb was just growing. But the Cock pleaded pitifully from his perch: “If you kill me, who will announce the dawn? Who will wake you for your daily work or tell you when to check the bird-trap in the morning?” The Birdcatcher replied, “What you say is true. You are an excellent bird for telling the time of day. But my friend and I must have our dinners.”

Necessity knows no law.

Necessity obeys no law.

AN ANT went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and being carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of drowning. A Dove sitting on a tree overhanging the water plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to her. The Ant climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank. Shortly afterwards a birdcatcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for the Dove, which sat in the branches. The Ant, perceiving his design, stung him in the foot. In pain the birdcatcher threw down the twigs, and the noise made the Dove take wing.

An Ant went to the riverbank to drink, but the rushing water swept her away. She was about to drown. A Dove sitting in a tree overhanging the water picked a leaf and dropped it near the Ant. The Ant climbed onto the leaf and floated safely to the bank. Soon afterward, a birdcatcher came and stood under the tree. He set out sticky twigs to catch the Dove, who was sitting in the branches. The Ant saw what he was planning and stung him in the foot. In pain, the birdcatcher dropped the twigs, and the noise made the Dove fly away.

THE HARES, oppressed by their own exceeding timidity and weary of the perpetual alarm to which they were exposed, with one accord determined to put an end to themselves and their troubles by jumping from a lofty precipice into a deep lake below. As they scampered off in large numbers to carry out their resolve, the Frogs lying on the banks of the lake heard the noise of their feet and rushed helter-skelter to the deep water for safety. On seeing the rapid disappearance of the Frogs, one of the Hares cried out to his companions: “Stay, my friends, do not do as you intended; for you now see that there are creatures who are still more timid than ourselves.”

THE HARES were weighed down by their own extreme fearfulness and tired of living in constant alarm. Together, they decided to end their lives and troubles by jumping off a high cliff into a deep lake below. As the Hares ran in large numbers to carry out their plan, the Frogs on the lakeshore heard their footsteps. The Frogs scrambled into the deep water for safety. Seeing how quickly the Frogs disappeared, one of the Hares called out to his companions: “Wait, my friends, do not go through with your plan. You can now see that some creatures are even more timid than we are.”

A MONKEY perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermen casting their nets into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. The Fishermen after a while gave up fishing, and on going home to dinner left their nets upon the bank. The Monkey, who is the most imitative of animals, descended from the treetop and endeavored to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and drowned. With his last breath he said to himself, “I am rightly served; for what business had I who had never handled a net to try and catch fish?”

A Monkey sitting high in a tree saw some Fishermen casting their nets into a river. He watched closely as the Fishermen worked. After a while, the Fishermen stopped fishing and went home for dinner, leaving their nets on the riverbank. The Monkey, the most imitative of all animals, climbed down from the treetop and tried to copy the Fishermen. He picked up a net and threw it into the river, but became tangled in its mesh and drowned. With his last breath, he said to himself, “I got what I deserved. What business did I have trying to catch fish when I had never handled a net?”

A CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He fed the one for his table and kept the other for the sake of its song. When the time came for killing the Goose, the cook went to get him at night, when it was dark, and he was not able to distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatened with death, burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice, and preserved his life by his melody.

A rich man bought a Goose and a Swan at the market. He fed the Goose to eat and kept the Swan for his song. When the time came to kill the Goose, the cook went to fetch him at night. It was dark, so the cook could not tell the birds apart. By mistake, he caught the Swan instead of the Goose. Facing death, the Swan burst into song. His voice revealed who he was, and his song saved his life.

A DOE hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a Lion. The Lion concealed himself on seeing her approach, but when she was safe within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to pieces. “Woe is me,” exclaimed the Doe, “who have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the mouth of a wild beast?”

A Doe fleeing close behind hunters took shelter in a cave belonging to a Lion. The Lion hid when he saw her approaching. But once she was safely inside the cave, he pounced on her and tore her to pieces. “How terrible,” cried the Doe, “to have escaped from humans, only to throw myself into a wild beast’s mouth!”

In avoiding one evil, care must be taken not to fall into another.

When avoiding one danger, be careful not to fall into another.

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 indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I were to forego my present certain gain.”

A Fisherman who made his living from his nets caught only one small Fish after a whole day’s work. The Fish, gasping and trembling, begged for his life: “Sir, what use can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I haven’t reached my full size yet. Please spare my life and put me back into the sea. I will soon grow into a large fish fit for a rich person’s table. Then you can catch me again and make a good profit from me.” The Fisherman replied, “I would be a fool to give up the certain gain I have now for the chance of a bigger profit.”

A HUNTER, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any marks of his footsteps or knew where his lair was. “I will,” said the man, “at once show you the Lion himself.” The Hunter, turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear, replied, “No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his track only I am in search of, not the Lion himself.”

A Hunter, who was not very brave, was looking for a Lion’s tracks. He asked a man cutting down oak trees in the forest if he had seen any of the Lion’s footprints. He also asked if the man knew where the Lion’s den was. “I’ll show you the Lion himself right away,” said the man. The Hunter turned very pale, and his teeth chattered with fear. “No, thank you,” he replied. “I didn’t ask to see the Lion. I’m only looking for his tracks, not the Lion himself.”

The hero is brave in deeds as well as words.

The hero is brave in actions as well as words.

A VERY HUNGRY FOX, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds in the hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty meal. When he finished, he was so full that he was not able to get out, and began to groan and lament his fate. Another Fox passing by heard his cries, and coming up, inquired the cause of his complaining. On learning what had happened, he said to him, “Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become such as you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get out.”

A VERY HUNGRY FOX saw some bread and meat that shepherds had left in the hollow of an oak tree. He crept into the hole and ate a hearty meal. When he finished, he was so full that he could not get out. He began to groan and complain about his fate. Another Fox passing by heard his cries, came over, and asked why he was complaining. When he learned what had happened, he said, “Ah, my friend, you will have to stay there until you are as thin as when you crept in. Then you will easily get out.”

TWO FROGS dwelt in the same pool. When the pool 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, and when they saw it, one of the Frogs said to the other, “Let us descend and make our abode in this well: it will furnish us with shelter and food.” The other replied with greater caution, “But suppose the water should fail us. How can we get out again from so great a depth?”

Two frogs lived in the same pool. When the pool dried up in the summer heat, they left and set out together to find another home. Along the way, they happened to pass a deep well with plenty of water. When they saw the well, one frog said to the other, “Let’s go down and live in this well. It will give us shelter and food.” The other frog replied more cautiously, “But suppose the water runs out. How can we get out again from so deep a well?”

Do nothing without a regard to the consequences.

Never do anything without considering the consequences.