Fables 21 to 40

THE ASS and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.

The Ass and the Fox became partners to protect each other and went into the forest to hunt. They had not gone far when they met a Lion. Seeing the immediate danger, the Fox approached the Lion. The Fox promised to help the Lion capture the Ass if the Lion promised not to harm the Fox. Then the Fox assured the Ass that he would not be hurt. The Fox led the Ass to a deep pit and made sure the Ass fell into it. Seeing that the Ass was trapped, the Lion immediately seized the Fox, then attacked the Ass at his leisure.

A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper’s room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, “O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves.”

A number of flies were drawn to a jar of honey that had tipped over in a housekeeper’s room. The flies stepped into the honey and ate greedily. But their feet became so coated with honey that they could not use their wings or free themselves. The flies suffocated. Just as they were dying, they cried out, “How foolish we are! For a little pleasure, we have destroyed ourselves.”

Pleasure bought with pains, hurts.

Pleasure that comes at the cost of pain hurts.

A CONTROVERSY prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the greatest number of whelps at a birth. They rushed clamorously into the presence of the Lioness and demanded of her the settlement of the dispute. “And you,” they said, “how many sons have you at a birth?” The Lioness laughed at them, and said: “Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether a thoroughbred Lion.”

The animals of the field argued over who deserved the most credit for having the most young at one birth. They rushed noisily to the Lioness and demanded that she settle the dispute. “And you,” the animals asked, “how many sons do you have at one birth?” The Lioness laughed at them and said: “Why! I have only one, but that one is a true, purebred Lion.”

The value is in the worth, not in the number.

Value lies in quality, not quantity.

ONE WINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound. “Oh,” cried the Farmer with his last breath, “I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel.”

One winter, a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen from the cold. He felt sorry for the Snake, picked it up, and held it against his chest inside his coat. The warmth quickly revived the Snake. Following its natural instincts, the Snake bit the Farmer who had helped it, giving him a fatal wound. “Oh,” cried the Farmer with his last breath, “I deserve this for feeling sorry for a scoundrel.”

The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.

Even the greatest kindness will not win the loyalty of an ungrateful person.

A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a statue carved in stone, which represented “a Lion strangled by a Man.” The traveler pointed to it and said: “See there! How strong we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts.” The Lion replied: “This statue was made by one of you men. If we Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed under the paw of the Lion.”

A Man and a Lion traveled together through the forest. Soon, each began boasting that he was stronger and more skilled than the other. As they argued, they passed a stone statue showing “a Lion being strangled by a Man.” The Man pointed to the statue and said: “Look there! See how strong we are, and how we defeat even the king of beasts.” The Lion replied: “This statue was made by one of you men. If we Lions knew how to make statues, you would see the Man under the Lion’s paw.”

One story is good, till another is told.

One story sounds convincing until another is told.

THE POMEGRANATE and Apple-Tree disputed as to which was the most beautiful. When their strife was at its height, a Bramble from the neighboring hedge lifted up its voice, and said in a boastful tone: “Pray, my dear friends, in my presence at least cease from such vain disputings.”

The Pomegranate and Apple-Tree argued about which of them was more beautiful. When their argument reached its peak, a Bramble in the nearby hedge spoke up in a boastful tone: “Please, my dear friends, stop such pointless arguments, at least in my presence.”

A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. “Pray save me, Master,” he said, “and let me go free this once. My broken limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers—they are not the least like those of a Crane.” The Farmer laughed aloud and said, “It may be all as you say, I only know this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in their company.”

A Farmer set nets on his newly planted fields and caught several Cranes that came to eat his seeds. Along with the Cranes, he caught a Stork that broke his leg in the net. The Stork begged the Farmer to spare his life. “Please save me, Master,” he said, “and let me go free just this once. My broken leg should make you feel sorry for me. Besides, I am not a Crane. I am a Stork, a bird of excellent character. See how I love my father and mother and work hard for them. Look at my feathers too. My feathers are nothing like a Crane’s.” The Farmer laughed out loud and said, “Everything you say may be true. I know only this: I caught you with these thieves, the Cranes, and you must die with them.”

Birds of a feather flock together.

Similar people stick together.

A MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises were heard, and crowds of people came from all parts to see what was the matter. While they were assembled in anxious expectation of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse.

A mountain once shook violently. Loud groans and noises could be heard, and crowds came from all parts to see what was wrong. As the people waited anxiously for some terrible disaster, out came a Mouse.

Don’t make much ado about nothing.

Don’t make a big fuss over nothing.

A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, “Oh! that you would eat the dead and not the living.”

A BEAR boasted a great deal about his kindness toward humans. He said that, of all animals, he cared most tenderly for people. He respected them so much that he would not even touch a dead human body. A Fox heard these words and said to the Bear with a smile, “Oh! If only you would eat the dead and not the living.”

A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float her in the air. “I will give you,” she said, “all the riches of the Red Sea.” “I will teach you to fly then,” said the Eagle; and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: “I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the earth?”

A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the seabirds about her bad luck. No one would teach her to fly. An Eagle hovering nearby heard her complaint. He asked what reward she would give him if he took her up and let her float in the air. “I will give you,” she said, “all the riches of the Red Sea.” “Then I will teach you to fly,” said the Eagle. He picked her up in his talons and carried her almost to the clouds. Suddenly he let her go, and she fell onto a high mountain, smashing her shell to pieces. As she died, the Tortoise cried out: “I deserve this fate. What business did I have with wings and clouds when I can barely move about on the ground?”

If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.

If people had everything they wished for, they would often be ruined.

A FOX one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape. “If,” said he, “you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.” The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat’s horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could. When the Goat upbraided him for breaking his promise, he turned around and cried out, “You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.”

One day, a Fox fell into a deep well and could find no way out. A Goat, desperately thirsty, came to the same well. Seeing the Fox, he asked if the water was good. The Fox hid his trouble by acting cheerful and praised the water lavishly. He said the water was incredibly good and encouraged the Goat to come down. Thinking only of his thirst, the Goat jumped down without a thought. But just as he drank, the Fox explained that they were both trapped. He suggested a plan for them both to escape. “If you put your front feet against the wall and lower your head,” he said, “I will climb up your back and get out. Then I will help you out.” The Goat readily agreed, and the Fox jumped onto his back. Using the Goat’s horns to steady himself, the Fox safely reached the top of the well. Then he ran off as fast as he could. When the Goat scolded him for breaking his promise, the Fox turned around and called out, “You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would have checked the way out before jumping in. You would never have put yourself in danger with no way to escape.”

Look before you leap.

Think before you act.

A RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself the same beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendid white color arose from his washing in the water in which he swam, the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools. But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, while through want of food he perished.

A Raven saw a Swan and wanted the same beautiful feathers for himself. He thought the Swan’s brilliant white color came from washing in the water where he swam. So the Raven left the nearby altars where he found his food and moved to the lakes and pools. But no matter how often he washed his feathers, he could not change their color. Meanwhile, he died from lack of food.

Change of habit cannot alter Nature.

Changing habits cannot change nature.

A PIGEON, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted on a signboard. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

A PIGEON, terribly thirsty, saw a cup of water painted on a signboard. Not realizing the water was only a picture, she flew toward it with a loud whir of her wings. She accidentally crashed into the signboard, giving herself a terrible jolt. The blow broke her wings, so she fell to the ground and was caught by someone standing nearby.

Zeal should not outrun discretion.

Enthusiasm should not get ahead of good judgment.

A DOG lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented the oxen from eating the hay which had been placed for them. “What a selfish Dog!” said one of them to his companions; “he cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can.”

A dog lay in a manger, growling and snapping to keep the oxen from eating the hay left for them. “What a selfish Dog!” one ox said to the others. “He cannot eat the hay himself, yet he refuses to let those who can eat it.”

A HEAVY WAGON was being dragged along a country lane by a team of Oxen. The Axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly; whereupon the Oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: “Hullo there! why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you, ought to cry out.”

A team of Oxen was pulling a heavy wagon along a country lane. The axles groaned and creaked terribly. So the Oxen turned around and said to the wheels: “Hey there! Why do you make so much noise? We do all the work. We should be the ones crying out, not you.”

Those who suffer most cry out the least.

People who suffer the most cry out the least.

SOME CRANES made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying to each other, “It is time for us to be off to Liliput: for this man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in earnest what he can do.”

Some cranes fed in fields newly plowed and sown with wheat. For a long time, the Farmer scared them away by waving an empty sling. But when the birds realized he only swung the sling in the air, they ignored it and refused to move. Seeing this, the Farmer loaded his sling with stones and killed many of the cranes. The remaining birds immediately left his fields, calling to each other, “It is time for us to leave for Liliput. This man is no longer content to scare us. Now he is beginning to show us what he can really do.”

If words suffice not, blows must follow.

If words aren't enough, blows must follow.

A LION, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with food by force, resolved to do so by artifice. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them. After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was. “I am very middling,” replied the Lion, “but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to talk with me.” “No, thank you,” said the Fox. “I notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any returning.”

A LION was too old and weak to catch food by force, so he decided to use a trick instead. He returned to his den, lay down, and pretended to be sick. He made sure the other animals heard about his illness. The animals expressed their sorrow and came one by one to his den, where the Lion ate them. After many animals had disappeared this way, the Fox discovered the trick and came to see the Lion. He stood outside the cave at a respectful distance and asked the Lion how he was. “I’m not very well,” replied the Lion, “but why are you standing outside? Please come in and talk with me.” “No, thank you,” said the Fox. “I notice many footprints going into your cave, but I see no sign of any coming out.”

He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others.

A wise person takes warning from the misfortunes of others.

TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned the appearance of death as much as he could. The Bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. “He gave me this advice,” his companion replied. “Never travel with a friend who deserts you at the approach of danger.”

Two men were traveling together when a Bear suddenly appeared on their path. One man quickly climbed a tree and hid in the branches. The other man saw that he was about to be attacked, so he lay flat on the ground. The Bear came up, touched him with his snout, and sniffed him all over. As the Bear examined him, the man held his breath and pretended to be dead as best he could. The Bear soon left him, for people say a Bear will not touch a dead body. Once the Bear was completely gone, the other Traveler climbed down from the tree. He jokingly asked his friend what the Bear had whispered in his ear. “He gave me this advice,” his companion replied. “Never travel with a friend who abandons you when danger approaches.”

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

Hard times test how genuine friends are.

A FOX caught in a trap escaped, but in so doing lost his tail. Thereafter, feeling his life a burden from the shame and ridicule to which he was exposed, he schemed to convince all the other Foxes that being tailless was much more attractive, thus making up for his own deprivation. He assembled a good many Foxes and publicly advised them to cut off their tails, saying that they would not only look much better without them, but that they would get rid of the weight of the brush, which was a very great inconvenience. One of them interrupting him said, “If you had not yourself lost your tail, my friend, you would not thus counsel us.”

A FOX escaped from a trap but lost his tail in the process. Afterward, shame and ridicule made his life feel like a burden. So he plotted to convince all the other Foxes that having no tail was much more attractive. In this way, he hoped to make up for his own loss. He gathered many Foxes and publicly advised them to cut off their tails. He said they would not only look much better without tails, but also escape the weight of carrying them. That weight, he said, was a great inconvenience. One of the Foxes interrupted him and said, “If you had not lost your own tail, my friend, you would not give us this advice.”

A CAT caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him of being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep. The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the benefit of men, that they might rise in time for their labours. The Cat replied, “Although you abound in specious apologies, I shall not remain supperless;” and he made a meal of him.

A Cat caught a Cock and wondered how he could find a reasonable excuse to eat him. He accused the Cock of bothering people by crowing at night and keeping them awake. The Cock defended himself, saying he crowed for people's benefit so they could get up in time for work. The Cat replied, “Although you have plenty of excuses that sound convincing, I won't go without supper.” Then he ate the Cock.

ONCE UPON A TIME a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.

Once upon a time, a Wolf decided to disguise himself so he could find food more easily. He covered himself in a sheep’s skin and grazed with the flock, fooling the shepherd with his disguise. In the evening, the shepherd shut him in the sheep pen with the flock. The shepherd closed the gate and secured the entrance completely. But during the night, the shepherd returned to the pen to get meat for the next day. By mistake, he grabbed the Wolf instead of a sheep and killed him instantly.

Harm seek, harm find.

Seek harm, and you will find harm.