Fables 221 to 240

AN OWL, accustomed to feed at night and to sleep during the day, was greatly disturbed by the noise of a Grasshopper and earnestly besought her to stop chirping. The Grasshopper refused to desist, and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated. When she saw that she could get no redress and that her words were despised, the Owl attacked the chatterer by a stratagem. “Since I cannot sleep,” she said, “on account of your song which, believe me, is sweet as the lyre of Apollo, I shall indulge myself in drinking some nectar which Pallas lately gave me. If you do not dislike it, come to me and we will drink it together.” The Grasshopper, who was thirsty, and pleased with the praise of her voice, eagerly flew up. The Owl came forth from her hollow, seized her, and put her to death.

An Owl, used to feeding at night and sleeping during the day, was greatly disturbed by a Grasshopper’s noise. She begged the Grasshopper to stop chirping. The Grasshopper refused, and the more the Owl pleaded, the louder she chirped. When the Owl saw that her pleas were ignored and would bring no relief, she tried a trick. “Since your song keeps me from sleeping,” she said, “I will treat myself to some nectar Pallas recently gave me. Believe me, your song is as sweet as Apollo’s lyre. If you would enjoy the nectar, come to me and we will drink together.” The Grasshopper was thirsty and pleased by the praise of her voice, so she eagerly flew up. The Owl came out of her hollow, seized the Grasshopper, and killed her.

A FOWLER, taking his bird-lime and his twigs, went out to catch birds. Seeing a thrush sitting upon a tree, he wished to take it, and fitting his twigs to a proper length, watched intently, having his whole thoughts directed towards the sky. While thus looking upwards, he unknowingly trod upon a Viper asleep just before his feet. The Viper, turning about, stung him, and falling into a swoon, the man said to himself, “Woe is me! that while I purposed to hunt another, I am myself fallen unawares into the snares of death.”

A bird catcher took his bird-lime, a sticky substance used to trap birds, and his twigs, and went out hunting. He saw a thrush sitting in a tree and wanted to catch it. He adjusted his twigs to the right length and watched closely, with all his attention fixed on the sky. While looking up, he unknowingly stepped on a Viper sleeping just in front of his feet. The Viper turned and bit him. As the man fainted, he said to himself, “How terrible! While I was trying to hunt another creature, I have unknowingly fallen into death’s trap myself.”

A HORSE, proud of his fine trappings, met an Ass on the highway. The Ass, being heavily laden, moved slowly out of the way. “Hardly,” said the Horse, “can I resist kicking you with my heels.” The Ass held his peace, and made only a silent appeal to the justice of the gods. Not long afterwards the Horse, having become broken-winded, was sent by his owner to the farm. The Ass, seeing him drawing a dungcart, thus derided him: “Where, O boaster, are now all thy gay trappings, thou who are thyself reduced to the condition you so lately treated with contempt?”

A HORSE, proud of his fine harness, met an Ass on the highway. The Ass was carrying a heavy load and moved slowly out of the way. “I can hardly stop myself from kicking you with my hind legs,” said the Horse. The Ass said nothing and silently appealed to the gods for justice. Not long afterward, the Horse developed breathing problems, so his owner sent him to the farm. The Ass saw him pulling a manure cart and mocked him: “Where are all your fine decorations now, you boaster? You yourself have been reduced to the same condition you treated with contempt so recently.”

THREE BULLS for a long time pastured together. A Lion lay in ambush in the hope of making them his prey, but was afraid to attack them while they kept together. Having at last by guileful speeches succeeded in separating them, he attacked them without fear as they fed alone, and feasted on them one by one at his own leisure.

THREE BULLS had grazed together for a long time. A Lion hid nearby, hoping to catch and eat them. But he was afraid to attack the bulls while they stayed together. At last, he tricked them into separating with his lies. Then he attacked them without fear as each bull grazed alone. He feasted on them one by one, taking his time.

Union is strength.

Unity is strength.

A WOLF saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a steep precipice, where he had no chance of reaching her. He called to her and earnestly begged her to come lower down, lest she fall by some mishap; and he added that the meadows lay where he was standing, and that the herbage was most tender. She replied, “No, my friend, it is not for the pasture that you invite me, but for yourself, who are in want of food.”

A Wolf saw a Goat feeding at the top of a steep cliff, where he had no chance of reaching her. He called to her and pleaded with her to come down lower so she would not fall by accident. He added that there were meadows where he stood, and the grass was very tender. She replied, “No, my friend, you are not inviting me down for the grass. You are inviting me down for yourself, because you need food.”

A FLY sat on the axle-tree of a chariot, and addressing the Draught-Mule said, “How slow you are! Why do you not go faster? See if I do not prick your neck with my sting.” The Draught-Mule replied, “I do not heed your threats; I only care for him who sits above you, and who quickens my pace with his whip, or holds me back with the reins. Away, therefore, with your insolence, for I know well when to go fast, and when to go slow.”

A fly sat on the axle of a chariot and said to the Draught-Mule, “How slow you are! Why don’t you go faster? Just see if I don’t sting your neck.” The Draught-Mule replied, “Your threats don’t bother me. I only care about the driver sitting above you. He makes me go faster with his whip or slows me down with the reins. So stop being so rude. I know perfectly well when to go fast and when to go slow.”

SOME FISHERMEN were out trawling their nets. Perceiving them to be very heavy, they danced about for joy and supposed that they had taken a large catch. When they had dragged the nets to the shore they found but few fish: the nets were full of sand and stones, and the men were beyond measure cast down so much at the disappointment which had befallen them, but because they had formed such very different expectations. One of their company, an old man, said, “Let us cease lamenting, my mates, for, as it seems to me, sorrow is always the twin sister of joy; and it was only to be looked for that we, who just now were over-rejoiced, should next have something to make us sad.”

Some fishermen were hauling in their nets. Feeling how heavy the nets were, the men danced with joy, thinking they had caught a great many fish. But when they dragged the nets ashore, they found only a few fish. The nets were full of sand and stones. The men were deeply upset, not so much because of the disappointing catch, but because they had expected something so different. An old man among them said, “Let’s stop mourning, my friends. It seems to me that sorrow is always joy’s twin sister. So it was only to be expected that after being so overjoyed, we would have something to make us sad.”

A COUNTRY MOUSE invited a Town Mouse, an intimate friend, to pay him a visit and partake of his country fare. As they were on the bare plowlands, eating there wheat-stocks and roots pulled up from the hedgerow, the Town Mouse said to his friend, “You live here the life of the ants, while in my house is the horn of plenty. I am surrounded by every luxury, and if you will come with me, as I wish you would, you shall have an ample share of my dainties.” The Country Mouse was easily persuaded, and returned to town with his friend. On his arrival, the Town Mouse placed before him bread, barley, beans, dried figs, honey, raisins, and, last of all, brought a dainty piece of cheese from a basket. The Country Mouse, being much delighted at the sight of such good cheer, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms and lamented his own hard fate. Just as they were beginning to eat, someone opened the door, and they both ran off squeaking, as fast as they could, to a hole so narrow that two could only find room in it by squeezing. They had scarcely begun their repast again when someone else entered to take something out of a cupboard, whereupon the two Mice, more frightened than before, ran away and hid themselves. At last the Country Mouse, almost famished, said to his friend: “Although you have prepared for me so dainty a feast, I must leave you to enjoy it by yourself. It is surrounded by too many dangers to please me. I prefer my bare plowlands and roots from the hedgerow, where I can live in safety, and without fear.”

A Country Mouse invited a Town Mouse, a close friend, to visit and share his country food. They sat in the bare plowed fields, eating wheat stalks and roots pulled from the hedgerow. The Town Mouse said to his friend, “You live here like the ants, while my house is filled with plenty. I am surrounded by every luxury. If you come with me, as I hope you will, you can have a generous share of my treats.” The Country Mouse was easily persuaded and went back to town with his friend. When they arrived, the Town Mouse set out bread, barley, beans, dried figs, honey, and raisins. Last of all, he brought a delicious piece of cheese from a basket. The Country Mouse was delighted to see such good food. He warmly expressed his pleasure and complained about his own hard life. Just as they began to eat, someone opened the door. Both mice ran off squeaking as fast as they could. They hid in a hole so narrow that they could only fit by squeezing together. They had barely started eating again when someone else came in to take something from a cupboard. Even more frightened than before, the two Mice ran away and hid. At last, the Country Mouse, almost starving, said to his friend: “Although you have prepared such a wonderful feast for me, I must leave you to enjoy it alone. There are too many dangers around this feast for me to enjoy it. I prefer my bare plowed fields and roots from the hedgerow, where I can live safely and without fear.”

A WOLF accused a Fox of theft, but the Fox entirely denied the charge. An Ape undertook to adjudge the matter between them. When each had fully stated his case the Ape announced this sentence: “I do not think you, Wolf, ever lost what you claim; and I do believe you, Fox, to have stolen what you so stoutly deny.”

A Wolf accused a Fox of theft, but the Fox denied the charge completely. An Ape agreed to judge the dispute between them. After both had fully explained their cases, the Ape announced his decision: “I do not think you, Wolf, ever lost what you claim to have lost. And I do believe you, Fox, stole what you so firmly deny stealing.”

The dishonest, if they act honestly, get no credit.

Dishonest people get no credit if they act honestly.

THE WASPS and the Partridges, overcome with thirst, came to a Farmer and besought him to give them some water to drink. They promised amply to repay him the favour which they asked. The Partridges declared that they would dig around his vines and make them produce finer grapes. The Wasps said that they would keep guard and drive off thieves with their stings. But the Farmer interrupted them, saying: “I have already two oxen, who, without making any promises, do all these things. It is surely better for me to give the water to them than to you.”

The Wasps and the Partridges were desperately thirsty, so they came to a Farmer and begged for some drinking water. They promised to repay him generously for the favor. The Partridges said they would dig around his vines and make them produce finer grapes. The Wasps said they would stand guard and drive off thieves with their stings. But the Farmer interrupted them, saying: “I already have two oxen who do all these things without making any promises. Surely it is better for me to give the water to them than to you.”

A FATHER had one son and one daughter, the former remarkable for his good looks, the latter for her extraordinary ugliness. While they were playing one day as children, they happened by chance to look together into a mirror that was placed on their mother’s chair. The boy congratulated himself on his good looks; the girl grew angry, and could not bear the self-praises of her Brother, interpreting all he said (and how could she do otherwise?) into reflection on herself. She ran off to her father, to be avenged on her Brother, and spitefully accused him of having, as a boy, made use of that which belonged only to girls. The father embraced them both, and bestowing his kisses and affection impartially on each, said, “I wish you both would look into the mirror every day: you, my son, that you may not spoil your beauty by evil conduct; and you, my daughter, that you may make up for your lack of beauty by your virtues.”

A father had one son and one daughter. The boy was remarkably handsome, while the girl was extraordinarily ugly. One day, while playing as children, they happened to look together into a mirror on their mother’s chair. The boy praised his own good looks. The girl grew angry and could not stand her brother’s self-praise. She took everything he said as a criticism of her own appearance. And how could she take it any other way? She ran to her father to get back at her brother. Spitefully, she accused the boy of using something meant only for girls. The father hugged them both, giving each the same kisses and affection. He said, “I wish you would both look in the mirror every day. You, my son, so that you may not spoil your beauty by behaving badly. And you, my daughter, so that you may make up for your lack of beauty with your virtues.”

SOME DOGS, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it in pieces with their teeth. A Fox, seeing them, said, “If this lion were alive, you would soon find out that his claws were stronger than your teeth.”

Some dogs found a lion’s skin and began tearing it to pieces with their teeth. A Fox saw the dogs and said, “If this lion were alive, you would soon learn that his claws were stronger than your teeth.”

It is easy to kick a man that is down.

It’s easy to kick a man when he’s down.

A BLIND MAN was accustomed to distinguishing different animals by touching them with his hands. The whelp of a Wolf was brought him, with a request that he would feel it, and say what it was. He felt it, and being in doubt, said: “I do not quite know whether it is the cub of a Fox, or the whelp of a Wolf, but this I know full well. It would not be safe to admit him to the sheepfold.”

A BLIND MAN was used to telling different animals apart by touching them with his hands. Someone brought him a young Wolf and asked him to feel the animal and say what it was. He felt the animal but was unsure. He said: “I’m not quite sure whether this is a Fox cub or a Wolf pup. But I know one thing for certain. It would not be safe to let this animal into the sheep pen.”

Evil tendencies are shown in early life.

Evil tendencies show up early in life.

A COBBLER unable to make a living by his trade and made desperate by poverty, began to practice medicine in a town in which he was not known. He sold a drug, pretending that it was an antidote to all poisons, and obtained a great name for himself by long-winded puffs and advertisements. When the Cobbler happened to fall sick himself of a serious illness, the Governor of the town determined to test his skill. For this purpose he called for a cup, and while filling it with water, pretended to mix poison with the Cobbler’s antidote, commanding him to drink it on the promise of a reward. The Cobbler, under the fear of death, confessed that he had no knowledge of medicine, and was only made famous by the stupid clamors of the crowd. The Governor then called a public assembly and addressed the citizens: “Of what folly have you been guilty? You have not hesitated to entrust your heads to a man, whom no one could employ to make even the shoes for their feet.”

A COBBLER could not earn a living making shoes. Driven to desperation by poverty, he began practicing medicine in a town where no one knew him. He sold a drug, claiming it was an antidote to all poisons. Through long-winded boasts and advertisements, he built a great reputation. When the Cobbler himself became seriously ill, the Governor of the town decided to test his skill. To do so, he called for a cup and filled it with water. He pretended to mix poison with the Cobbler’s antidote, then ordered him to drink the mixture, promising a reward. Fearing death, the Cobbler confessed that he knew nothing about medicine. He said he owed his fame only to the crowd’s foolish praise. The Governor then called a public meeting and addressed the citizens: “How foolish you have been! You have freely trusted your heads to a man no one would hire even to make shoes for their feet.”

A WOLF coming out of a field of oats met a Horse and thus addressed him: “I would advise you to go into that field. It is full of fine oats, which I have left untouched for you, as you are a friend whom I would love to hear enjoying good eating.” The Horse replied, “If oats had been the food of wolves, you would never have indulged your ears at the cost of your belly.”

A Wolf coming out of a field of oats met a Horse and said, “I suggest you go into that field. It is full of fine oats, and I have left them untouched for you. You are my friend, and I would love to hear you enjoying a good meal.” The Horse replied, “If wolves ate oats, you would never have pleased your ears at the expense of your stomach.”

Men of evil reputation, when they perform a good deed, fail to get credit for it.

Men with bad reputations get no credit when they do something good.

TWO MEN, deadly enemies to each other, were sailing in the same vessel. Determined to keep as far apart as possible, the one seated himself in the stem, and the other in the prow of the ship. A violent storm arose, and with the vessel in great danger of sinking, the one in the stern inquired of the pilot which of the two ends of the ship would go down first. On his replying that he supposed it would be the prow, the Man said, “Death would not be grievous to me, if I could only see my Enemy die before me.”

Two men who were bitter enemies were sailing on the same ship. Determined to stay as far apart as possible, one sat at the back and the other at the front. A violent storm arose, and the ship was in serious danger of sinking. The man at the back asked the pilot which end of the ship would sink first. The pilot replied that he thought the front would sink first. The man said, “Death would not trouble me if I could only see my enemy die before me.”

A MAN had two Gamecocks in his poultry-yard. One day by chance he found a tame Partridge for sale. He purchased it and brought it home to be reared with his Gamecocks. When the Partridge was put into the poultry-yard, they struck at it and followed it about, so that the Partridge became grievously troubled and supposed that he was thus evilly treated because he was a stranger. Not long afterwards he saw the Cocks fighting together and not separating before one had well beaten the other. He then said to himself, “I shall no longer distress myself at being struck at by these Gamecocks, when I see that they cannot even refrain from quarreling with each other.”

A man had two Gamecocks in his poultry yard. One day, he happened to find a tame Partridge for sale. He bought the Partridge and brought him home to be raised with his Gamecocks. When the Partridge was put in the yard, the Gamecocks attacked him and chased him around. The Partridge became very distressed and thought he was being treated so badly because he was a stranger. Not long afterward, he saw the Gamecocks fighting each other. They did not stop until one had badly beaten the other. The Partridge then said to himself, “I will no longer be upset when these Gamecocks attack me. I can see that they cannot even keep from fighting each other.”

A FOX saw a Lion confined in a cage, and standing near him, bitterly reviled him. The Lion said to the Fox, “It is not thou who revilest me; but this mischance which has befallen me.”

A Fox saw a Lion locked in a cage. The Fox stood near him and insulted him bitterly. The Lion said to the Fox, “You are not the one insulting me. My misfortune is.”

A FROG once upon a time came forth from his home in the marsh and proclaimed to all the beasts that he was a learned physician, skilled in the use of drugs and able to heal all diseases. A Fox asked him, “How can you pretend to prescribe for others, when you are unable to heal your own lame gait and wrinkled skin?”

Once upon a time, a Frog left his home in the marsh. He announced to all the animals that he was a highly trained doctor. He was skilled in using medicines and could cure all diseases. A Fox asked him, “How can you claim to treat others when you cannot cure your own limp and wrinkled skin?”

A LION, growing old, lay sick in his cave. All the beasts came to visit their king, except the Fox. The Wolf therefore, thinking that he had a capital opportunity, accused the Fox to the Lion of not paying any respect to him who had the rule over them all and of not coming to visit him. At that very moment the Fox came in and heard these last words of the Wolf. The Lion roaring out in a rage against him, the Fox sought an opportunity to defend himself and said, “And who of all those who have come to you have benefited you so much as I, who have traveled from place to place in every direction, and have sought and learnt from the physicians the means of healing you?” The Lion commanded him immediately to tell him the cure, when he replied, “You must flay a wolf alive and wrap his skin yet warm around you.” The Wolf was at once taken and flayed; whereon the Fox, turning to him, said with a smile, “You should have moved your master not to ill, but to good, will.”

A Lion was growing old and lay sick in his cave. All the beasts came to visit their king, except the Fox. So the Wolf, seeing a perfect opportunity, accused the Fox of disrespecting the Lion, who ruled over them all. The Fox had not even come to visit him. Just then, the Fox came in and heard the Wolf’s last words. The Lion roared at the Fox in anger, but the Fox looked for a chance to defend himself. He said, “Who among all your visitors has done as much for you as I have? I have traveled from place to place in every direction, asking doctors and learning how to cure you.” The Lion immediately ordered him to explain the cure. The Fox replied, “You must skin a wolf alive and wrap his skin around you while the skin is still warm.” The Wolf was immediately seized and skinned. Then the Fox turned to him and said with a smile, “You should have encouraged your master’s goodwill, not his anger.”