Fables 181 to 200

A HOUND having started a Hare on the hillside pursued her for some distance, at one time biting her with his teeth as if he would take her life, and at another fawning upon her, as if in play with another dog. The Hare said to him, “I wish you would act sincerely by me, and show yourself in your true colors. If you are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on me?”

A Hound startled a Hare on a hillside and chased her for some distance. Sometimes he bit her as if he meant to kill her. At other times, he acted affectionately toward her, as if playing with another dog. The Hare said to him, “I wish you would be honest with me and show your true colors. If you are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If you are an enemy, why do you act so affectionately toward me?”

No one can be a friend if you know not whether to trust or distrust him.

No one can be your friend if you don’t know whether to trust or distrust them.

THE HARES waged war with the Eagles, and called upon the Foxes to help them. They replied, “We would willingly have helped you, if we had not known who you were, and with whom you were fighting.”

The Hares went to war with the Eagles and asked the Foxes to help them. The Foxes replied, “We would gladly have helped you if we hadn't known who you were and who you were fighting.”

Count the cost before you commit yourselves.

Consider the cost before you commit.

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.”

A Bull was trying with all his strength to squeeze through a narrow passage leading to his stall. A young Calf came up and offered to go ahead and show him how to get through. “Save yourself the trouble,” said the Bull. “I knew that way long before you were born.”

A STAG asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, and said that the Wolf would be his surety. The Sheep, fearing some fraud was intended, excused herself, saying, “The Wolf is accustomed to seize what he wants and to run off; and you, too, can quickly outstrip me in your rapid flight. How then shall I be able to find you, when the day of payment comes?”

A Stag asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat. He said the Wolf would guarantee repayment. The Sheep feared they were planning some trick, so she declined, saying, “The Wolf usually grabs what he wants and runs off. And you, too, can run much faster than I can. How will I be able to find you when payment is due?”

Two blacks do not make one white.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

AN EAGLE made her nest at the top of a lofty oak; a Cat, having found a convenient hole, moved into the middle of the trunk; and a Wild Sow, with her young, took shelter in a hollow at its foot. The Cat cunningly resolved to destroy this chance-made colony. To carry out her design, she climbed to the nest of the Eagle, and said, “Destruction is preparing for you, and for me too, unfortunately. The Wild Sow, whom you see daily digging up the earth, wishes to uproot the oak, so she may on its fall seize our families as food for her young.” Having thus frightened the Eagle out of her senses, she crept down to the cave of the Sow, and said, “Your children are in great danger; for as soon as you go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared to pounce upon one of your little pigs.” Having instilled these fears into the Sow, she went and pretended to hide herself in the hollow of the tree. When night came she went forth with silent foot and obtained food for herself and her kittens, but feigning to be afraid, she kept a lookout all through the day. Meanwhile, the Eagle, full of fear of the Sow, sat still on the branches, and the Sow, terrified by the Eagle, did not dare to go out from her cave. And thus they both, along with their families, perished from hunger, and afforded ample provision for the Cat and her kittens.

An Eagle built her nest at the top of a tall oak. A Cat found a suitable hole halfway up the trunk and moved in. A Wild Sow and her young took shelter in a hollow at the foot of the tree. The Cat came up with a cunning plan to destroy the neighbors chance had brought together. To carry out her plan, she climbed to the Eagle’s nest and said, “Disaster is coming for you and, unfortunately, for me too. The Wild Sow you see digging up the earth every day wants to uproot the oak. When the tree falls, she plans to seize our families to feed her young.” After frightening the Eagle out of her senses, the Cat crept down to the Sow’s hollow and said, “Your children are in great danger. As soon as you go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is ready to swoop down on one of your little pigs.” After planting these fears in the Sow’s mind, the Cat went back to her own hollow and pretended to hide. When night came, she slipped out silently and found food for herself and her kittens. But she pretended to be afraid and kept watch all day. Meanwhile, the Eagle was so afraid of the Sow that she stayed still on the branches. The Sow, terrified of the Eagle, did not dare leave her hollow. So both mothers and their families died of hunger, providing plenty of food for the Cat and her kittens.

AT ONE TIME a very large and strong Wolf was born among the wolves, who exceeded all his fellow-wolves in strength, size, and swiftness, so that they unanimously decided to call him “Lion.” The Wolf, with a lack of sense proportioned to his enormous size, thought that they gave him this name in earnest, and, leaving his own race, consorted exclusively with the lions. An old sly Fox, seeing this, said, “May I never make myself so ridiculous as you do in your pride and self-conceit; for even though you have the size of a lion among wolves, in a herd of lions you are definitely a wolf.”

Once, a very large and powerful Wolf was born among the wolves. He was stronger, larger, and faster than all the other wolves, so they all agreed to call him “Lion.” The Wolf’s lack of sense matched his enormous size, and he thought the wolves meant the name seriously. So he left his own kind and spent time only with lions. A sly old Fox saw what the Wolf was doing and said, “May I never make myself as ridiculous as you do with your pride and self-importance. For although you are the size of a lion among wolves, among lions you are definitely a wolf.”

A MULE, frolicsome from lack of work and from too much corn, galloped about in a very extravagant manner, and said to himself: “My father surely was a high-mettled racer, and I am his own child in speed and spirit.” On the next day, being driven a long journey, and feeling very wearied, he exclaimed in a disconsolate tone: “I must have made a mistake; my father, after all, could have been only an ass.”

A mule felt playful because he had no work to do and had eaten too much grain. He galloped around wildly and said to himself: “My father must have been a spirited racehorse. I take after him in both speed and spirit.” The next day, he was driven on a long journey and grew very tired. He cried out sadly: “I must have been mistaken. After all, my father could only have been a donkey.”

A WIZARD, sitting in the marketplace, was telling the fortunes of the passers-by when a person ran up in great haste, and announced to him that the doors of his house had been broken open and that all his goods were being stolen. He sighed heavily and hastened away as fast as he could run. A neighbor saw him running and said, “Oh! you fellow there! you say you can foretell the fortunes of others; how is it you did not foresee your own?”

A WIZARD sat in the marketplace, telling fortunes for people passing by. Someone ran up to him in a great hurry with news. The doors of the wizard’s house had been broken open, and all his belongings were being stolen. He sighed heavily and hurried away as fast as he could run. A neighbor saw him running and said, “Hey, you there! You say you can predict other people’s fortunes. How come you didn’t foresee your own?”

TWO FROGS were neighbors. One inhabited a deep pond, far removed from public view; the other lived in a gully containing little water, and traversed by a country road. The Frog that lived in the pond warned his friend to change his residence and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that he would enjoy greater safety from danger and more abundant food. The other refused, saying that he felt it so very hard to leave a place to which he had become accustomed. A few days afterwards a heavy wagon passed through the gully and crushed him to death under its wheels.

TWO FROGS were neighbors. One lived in a deep pond, far from public view. The other lived in a gully with little water, where a country road passed through. The Frog in the pond warned his friend to move and urged him to come live with him. He said his friend would be safer and have more food in the pond. The other refused, saying he found leaving a familiar place too difficult. A few days later, a heavy wagon passed through the gully and crushed him to death under its wheels.

A willful man will have his way to his own hurt.

A stubborn man will insist on getting his way, even when it harms him.

A SERPENT and an Eagle were struggling with each other in deadly conflict. The Serpent had the advantage, and was about to strangle the bird. A countryman saw them, and running up, loosed the coil of the Serpent and let the Eagle go free. The Serpent, irritated at the escape of his prey, injected his poison into the drinking horn of the countryman. The rustic, ignorant of his danger, was about to drink, when the Eagle struck his hand with his wing, and, seizing the drinking horn in his talons, carried it aloft.

A Serpent and an Eagle were locked in a fight to the death. The Serpent had the upper hand and was about to strangle the Eagle. A farmer saw them and ran over. He uncoiled the Serpent from around the Eagle and set the bird free. Angry that his prey had escaped, the Serpent put his venom into the farmer’s drinking horn. Unaware of the danger, the farmer was about to drink when the Eagle struck his hand with his wing. Then the Eagle grabbed the drinking horn in his talons and carried it high into the air.

A CROW perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it with delight. When he reached it, he discovered to his grief that it contained so little water that he could not possibly get at it. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts were in vain. At last he collected as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with his beak into the pitcher, until he brought the water within his reach and thus saved his life.

A crow dying of thirst saw a pitcher and flew eagerly toward it, hoping to find water. When he reached the pitcher, he was disappointed to find too little water for him to reach. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts failed. At last, he gathered as many stones as he could carry. He dropped them into the pitcher one by one with his beak until the water rose within his reach. In this way, he saved his life.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Need drives invention.

A THIEF hired a room in a tavern and stayed a while in the hope of stealing something which should enable him to pay his reckoning. When he had waited some days in vain, he saw the Innkeeper dressed in a new and handsome coat and sitting before his door. The Thief sat down beside him and talked with him. As the conversation began to flag, the Thief yawned terribly and at the same time howled like a wolf. The Innkeeper said, “Why do you howl so fearfully?” “I will tell you,” said the Thief, “but first let me ask you to hold my clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces. I know not, sir, when I got this habit of yawning, nor whether these attacks of howling were inflicted on me as a judgment for my crimes, or for any other cause; but this I do know, that when I yawn for the third time, I actually turn into a wolf and attack men.” With this speech he commenced a second fit of yawning and again howled like a wolf, as he had at first. The Innkeeper, hearing his tale and believing what he said, became greatly alarmed and, rising from his seat, attempted to run away. The Thief laid hold of his coat and entreated him to stop, saying, “Pray wait, sir, and hold my clothes, or I shall tear them to pieces in my fury, when I turn into a wolf.” At the same moment he yawned the third time and set up a terrible howl. The Innkeeper, frightened lest he should be attacked, left his new coat in the Thief’s hand and ran as fast as he could into the inn for safety. The Thief made off with the coat and did not return again to the inn.

A Thief rented a room in a tavern and stayed a while, hoping to steal something to pay his bill. After several days without success, he saw the Innkeeper sitting outside his door in a handsome new coat. The Thief sat beside him and began talking. As the conversation slowed, the Thief gave an enormous yawn and howled like a wolf at the same time. The Innkeeper said, “Why do you howl so terribly?” “I will tell you,” said the Thief, “but first, please hold my clothes, or I will tear them to pieces. I do not know, sir, when I developed this habit of yawning. Nor do I know whether these howling fits are a punishment for my crimes or have some other cause. But I do know that when I yawn for the third time, I actually turn into a wolf and attack people.” Then he began yawning a second time and howled like a wolf again, just as before. The Innkeeper believed the Thief’s story and became very frightened. He got up and tried to run away. The Thief grabbed his coat and begged him to stay, saying, “Please wait, sir, and hold my clothes. Otherwise, I will tear them to pieces in my fury when I turn into a wolf.” At that moment, he yawned for the third time and let out a terrible howl. Afraid he would be attacked, the Innkeeper left his new coat in the Thief’s hand. He ran as fast as he could into the inn for safety. The Thief escaped with the coat and never returned to the inn.

Every tale is not to be believed.

Not every story should be believed.

A HART, hard pressed in the chase, hid himself beneath the large leaves of a Vine. The huntsmen, in their haste, overshot the place of his concealment. Supposing all danger to have passed, the Hart began to nibble the tendrils of the Vine. One of the huntsmen, attracted by the rustling of the leaves, looked back, and seeing the Hart, shot an arrow from his bow and struck it. The Hart, at the point of death, groaned: “I am rightly served, for I should not have maltreated the Vine that saved me.”

A Hart, closely pursued by hunters, hid beneath the large leaves of a Vine. In their hurry, the hunters rushed past his hiding place. Thinking all danger had passed, the Hart began nibbling the Vine’s tendrils. One of the hunters heard the leaves rustling and looked back. When he saw the Hart, he shot an arrow from his bow and struck the animal. As he lay dying, the Hart groaned: “I deserve this, for I should not have harmed the Vine that saved me.”

A GNAT came and said to a Lion, “I do not in the least fear you, nor are you stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You can scratch with your claws and bite with your teeth an a woman in her quarrels. I repeat that I am altogether more powerful than you; and if you doubt it, let us fight and see who will conquer.” The Gnat, having sounded his horn, fastened himself upon the Lion and stung him on the nostrils and the parts of the face devoid of hair. While trying to crush him, the Lion tore himself with his claws, until he punished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over the Lion, and, buzzing about in a song of triumph, flew away. But shortly afterwards he became entangled in the meshes of a cobweb and was eaten by a spider. He greatly lamented his fate, saying, “Woe is me! that I, who can wage war successfully with the hugest beasts, should perish myself from this spider, the most inconsiderable of insects!”

A GNAT came up to a Lion and said, “I am not at all afraid of you. You are no stronger than I am. What makes you so strong? You can scratch with your claws and bite with your teeth, like a woman in a quarrel. I say again that I am far more powerful than you. If you doubt me, let us fight and see who wins.” The Gnat sounded his horn, landed on the Lion, and stung his nostrils and the hairless parts of his face. While trying to crush the Gnat, the Lion clawed himself until he was badly hurt. So the Gnat defeated the Lion and flew away, buzzing a song of victory. But soon afterward, he became tangled in a spiderweb and was eaten by a spider. He bitterly mourned his fate, saying, “How terrible! I can fight and defeat the largest beasts, yet I must die because of this spider, the most insignificant of insects!”

A FAMISHED FOX saw some clusters of ripe black grapes hanging from a trellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying: “The Grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought.”

A STARVING FOX saw some bunches of ripe black grapes hanging from a vine growing on a trellis. She tried all her tricks to reach the grapes, but only wore herself out because she could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying: “The grapes are sour, and not ripe as I thought.”

A WALNUT TREE standing by the roadside bore an abundant crop of fruit. For the sake of the nuts, the passers-by broke its branches with stones and sticks. The Walnut-Tree piteously exclaimed, “O wretched me! that those whom I cheer with my fruit should repay me with these painful requitals!”

A WALNUT TREE growing by the roadside produced a large crop of nuts. To get the nuts, people passing by broke its branches with stones and sticks. The Walnut-Tree cried out pitifully, “Oh, how I suffer! The people I delight with my fruit repay me by hurting me!”

A KID, returning without protection from the pasture, was pursued by a Wolf. Seeing he could not escape, he turned round, and said: “I know, friend Wolf, that I must be your prey, but before I die I would ask of you one favour you will play me a tune to which I may dance.” The Wolf complied, and while he was piping and the Kid was dancing, some hounds hearing the sound ran up and began chasing the Wolf. Turning to the Kid, he said, “It is just what I deserve; for I, who am only a butcher, should not have turned piper to please you.”

A Kid was returning from the pasture without protection when a Wolf chased him. Seeing he could not escape, the Kid turned around and said: “I know, friend Wolf, that I must be your prey. But before I die, I would ask you one favor. Please play me a tune so I can dance.” The Wolf agreed and played a pipe while the Kid danced. Some hounds heard the sound, ran up, and began chasing the Wolf. Turning to the Kid, the Wolf said, “I deserve what has happened to me. I am only a butcher, and I should not have become a pipe player to please you.”

A SAILOR, bound on a long voyage, took with him a Monkey to amuse him while on shipboard. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violent tempest arose in which the ship was wrecked and he, his Monkey, and all the crew were obliged to swim for their lives. A Dolphin saw the Monkey contending with the waves, and supposing him to be a man (whom he is always said to befriend), came and placed himself under him, to convey him on his back in safety to the shore. When the Dolphin arrived with his burden in sight of land not far from Athens, he asked the Monkey if he were an Athenian. The latter replied that he was, and that he was descended from one of the most noble families in that city. The Dolphin then inquired if he knew the Piræus (the famous harbor of Athens). Supposing that a man was meant, the Monkey answered that he knew him very well and that he was an intimate friend. The Dolphin, indignant at these falsehoods, dipped the Monkey under the water and drowned him.

A sailor setting out on a long voyage took a Monkey with him for amusement aboard the ship. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violent storm arose and wrecked the ship. The sailor, his Monkey, and all the crew had to swim for their lives. A Dolphin saw the Monkey struggling in the waves and mistook him for a man. Dolphins are always said to befriend humans. So the Dolphin swam under the Monkey to carry him safely to shore on his back. When land came into view near Athens, the Dolphin asked the Monkey if he was an Athenian. The Monkey said he was and claimed to come from one of the city's noblest families. The Dolphin then asked if he knew the Piræus (the famous harbor of Athens). Thinking the Dolphin meant a man, the Monkey said he knew him very well and was a close friend. Outraged by these lies, the Dolphin plunged the Monkey underwater and drowned him.

AT ONE TIME the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stag intruded into his domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself on the stranger, asked a man if he were willing to help him in punishing the Stag. The man replied that if the Horse would receive a bit in his mouth and agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented and allowed the man to mount him. From that hour he found that instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of man.

Once the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stag entered his territory and shared his pasture. The Horse wanted revenge on the stranger, so he asked a man to help him punish the Stag. The man agreed, on condition that the Horse accept a bit in his mouth and let the man ride him. In return, the man would devise effective weapons against the Stag. The Horse agreed and let the man climb onto his back. From that moment on, the Horse found he had not gained revenge on the Stag. Instead, he had made himself a slave to man.

A JACKDAW, seeing some Doves in a cote abundantly provided with food, painted himself white and joined them in order to share their plentiful maintenance. The Doves, as long as he was silent, supposed him to be one of themselves and admitted him to their cote. But when one day he forgot himself and began to chatter, they discovered his true character and drove him forth, pecking him with their beaks. Failing to obtain food among the Doves, he returned to the Jackdaws. They too, not recognizing him on account of his color, expelled him from living with them. So desiring two ends, he obtained neither.

A Jackdaw saw some Doves in a birdhouse with plenty of food. He painted himself white and joined them so he could share their plentiful food. As long as he stayed silent, the Doves thought he was one of them and let him stay. But one day he forgot himself and began to chatter. The Doves discovered what he really was and drove him out, pecking him with their beaks. Unable to get food among the Doves, he returned to the Jackdaws. Because of his color, the Jackdaws did not recognize him either and would not let him live with them. So, by trying to have both, he ended up with neither.