Fables 241 to 260

IN THE WINTERTIME, a Dog curled up in as small a space as possible on account of the cold, determined to make himself a house. However when the summer returned again, he lay asleep stretched at his full length and appeared to himself to be of a great size. Now he considered that it would be neither an easy nor a necessary work to make himself such a house as would accommodate him.

In winter, a Dog curled up as tightly as possible because of the cold and decided to build himself a house. But when summer returned, he slept stretched out to his full length and thought he was very large. He now thought building a house big enough to hold him would be neither easy nor necessary.

THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the most powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could first strip a wayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the Wind called upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.

The North Wind and the Sun argued about who was more powerful. They agreed that whoever first made a passing traveler take off his clothes would be the winner. The North Wind tried first and blew with all his might. But the sharper his gusts grew, the tighter the Traveler wrapped his cloak around himself. At last, the Wind gave up all hope of winning and asked the Sun to try. The Sun suddenly shone with all his warmth. As soon as the Traveler felt the Sun’s pleasant rays, he took off one piece of clothing after another. Finally, overcome by the heat, he undressed and bathed in a stream along his path.

Persuasion is better than Force.

Persuasion is better than force.

A CROW caught in a snare prayed to Apollo to release him, making a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. But when rescued from his danger, he forgot his promise. Shortly afterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed by Apollo and made the same promise to offer frankincense to Mercury. Mercury soon appeared and said to him, “O thou most base fellow? how can I believe thee, who hast disowned and wronged thy former patron?”

A crow caught in a snare prayed to Apollo to free him. He promised to offer some frankincense at Apollo’s shrine. But once he was rescued from danger, he forgot his promise. Soon afterward, he was caught in a snare again. This time, he passed over Apollo and made the same promise to offer frankincense to Mercury. Mercury soon appeared and said to him, “You scoundrel! How can I believe you when you have rejected and wronged your former protector?”

A FOX invited a Crane to supper and provided nothing for his entertainment but some soup made of pulse, which was poured out into a broad flat stone dish. The soup fell out of the long bill of the Crane at every mouthful, and his vexation at not being able to eat afforded the Fox much amusement. The Crane, in his turn, asked the Fox to sup with him, and set before her a flagon with a long narrow mouth, so that he could easily insert his neck and enjoy its contents at his leisure. The Fox, unable even to taste it, met with a fitting requital, after the fashion of her own hospitality.

A Fox invited a Crane to supper and served him nothing but bean soup in a broad, flat stone dish. The soup spilled from the Crane’s long bill with every mouthful. The Fox was greatly amused by his frustration at being unable to eat. In turn, the Crane invited the Fox to supper and served her food in a jug with a long, narrow neck. He could easily put his neck inside and enjoy the food at his leisure. The Fox could not even taste the food. She received a fitting repayment for her own kind of hospitality.

ROAMING BY the mountainside at sundown, a Wolf saw his own shadow become greatly extended and magnified, and he said to himself, “Why should I, being of such an immense size and extending nearly an acre in length, be afraid of the Lion? Ought I not to be acknowledged as King of all the collected beasts?” While he was indulging in these proud thoughts, a Lion fell upon him and killed him. He exclaimed with a too late repentance, “Wretched me! this overestimation of myself is the cause of my destruction.”

As he roamed the mountainside at sundown, a Wolf saw his own shadow grow much longer and larger. He said to himself, “Why should I fear the Lion when I am so huge and stretch nearly an acre in length? Shouldn’t I be recognized as King of all the beasts?” While he was enjoying these proud thoughts, a Lion attacked and killed him. Too late, the Wolf cried out in regret, “How foolish I am! Thinking too highly of myself has caused my destruction.”

THE BIRDS waged war with the Beasts, and each were by turns the conquerors. A Bat, fearing the uncertain issues of the fight, always fought on the side which he felt was the strongest. When peace was proclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent to both combatants. Therefore being condemned by each for his treachery, he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforth concealed himself in dark hiding-places, flying always alone and at night.

The Birds went to war with the Beasts, and each side took turns winning. A Bat feared the uncertain outcome of the fighting, so he always fought for the side he thought was strongest. When peace was declared, both sides saw his deceit. Both sides condemned him for his betrayal, so he was driven out of the daylight. From then on, he hid in dark places and always flew alone at night.

A YOUNG MAN, a great spendthrift, had run through all his patrimony and had but one good cloak left. One day he happened to see a Swallow, which had appeared before its season, skimming along a pool and twittering gaily. He supposed that summer had come, and went and sold his cloak. Not many days later, winter set in again with renewed frost and cold. When he found the unfortunate Swallow lifeless on the ground, he said, “Unhappy bird! what have you done? By thus appearing before the springtime you have not only killed yourself, but you have wrought my destruction also.”

A YOUNG MAN who spent recklessly had used up all his inheritance and had only one good cloak left. One day he happened to see a Swallow that had arrived before its usual season. The bird was skimming over a pool and chirping cheerfully. He thought summer had come, so he went and sold his cloak. Not many days later, winter returned with fresh frost and cold. When he found the unfortunate Swallow dead on the ground, he said, “Poor bird! What have you done? By appearing before spring, you have not only killed yourself but ruined me too.”

A TRUMPETER, bravely leading on the soldiers, was captured by the enemy. He cried out to his captors, “Pray spare me, and do not take my life without cause or without inquiry. I have not slain a single man of your troop. I have no arms, and carry nothing but this one brass trumpet.” “That is the very reason for which you should be put to death,” they said; “for, while you do not fight yourself, your trumpet stirs all the others to battle.”

A trumpeter bravely leading the soldiers forward was captured by the enemy. He cried out to his captors, “Please spare me. Do not take my life without a reason or without looking into what I have done. I have not killed a single man in your army. I have no weapons and carry only this brass trumpet.” “That is the very reason you should be put to death,” his captors said. “Although you do not fight yourself, your trumpet urges all the others into battle.”

AN OWL, in her wisdom, counseled the Birds that when the acorn first began to sprout, to pull it all up out of the ground and not allow it to grow. She said acorns would produce mistletoe, from which an irremediable poison, the bird-lime, would be extracted and by which they would be captured. The Owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax, which men had sown, as it was a plant which boded no good to them. And, lastly, the Owl, seeing an archer approach, predicted that this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed with feathers which would fly faster than the wings of the Birds themselves. The Birds gave no credence to these warning words, but considered the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad. But afterwards, finding her words were true, they wondered at her knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds. Hence it is that when she appears they look to her as knowing all things, while she no longer gives them advice, but in solitude laments their past folly.

An Owl, in her wisdom, advised the Birds to pull acorns out of the ground as soon as they sprouted. She warned them not to let the acorns grow. She said acorns would produce mistletoe, from which people would extract bird-lime, a poison with no cure. The bird-lime would be used to capture the Birds. Next, the Owl advised them to pull up the flax seeds that men had sown. She said the plant would bring them no good. Finally, seeing an archer approach, the Owl predicted that this man, though traveling on foot, would devise arrows with feathers. These arrows would fly faster than the Birds themselves. The Birds did not believe these warnings. Instead, they thought the Owl had lost her mind and called her mad. But later, when her words proved true, the Birds marveled at her knowledge and considered her the wisest of birds. That is why, whenever she appears, the Birds look to her as one who knows all things. But she no longer gives them advice. Instead, she mourns their past foolishness in solitude.

ALL the Goods were once driven out by the Ills from that common share which they each had in the affairs of mankind; for the Ills by reason of their numbers had prevailed to possess the earth. The Goods wafted themselves to heaven and asked for a righteous vengeance on their persecutors. They entreated Jupiter that they might no longer be associated with the Ills, as they had nothing in common and could not live together, but were engaged in unceasing warfare; and that an indissoluble law might be laid down for their future protection. Jupiter granted their request and decreed that henceforth the Ills should visit the earth in company with each other, but that the Goods should one by one enter the habitations of men. Hence it arises that Ills abound, for they come not one by one, but in troops, and by no means singly: while the Goods proceed from Jupiter, and are given, not alike to all, but singly, and separately; and one by one to those who are able to discern them.

All the Goods were once driven out of their shared role in human affairs by the Ills. Because the Ills were greater in number, they had gained control of the earth. The Goods floated up to heaven and asked for just punishment for their persecutors. The Goods begged Jupiter to keep them apart from the Ills. The two had nothing in common and could not live together, but were constantly at war. The Goods also asked for a law that could never be broken to protect them in the future. Jupiter granted their request. He ruled that from then on, the Ills would visit the earth together. But the Goods would enter people's homes one at a time. That is why Ills are so plentiful. They come not one at a time, but in crowds, never alone. The Goods, however, come from Jupiter and are not given equally to everyone. Instead, the Goods are given separately, one at a time, to those who can recognize them.

AN ASS, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in the forest and amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met in his wanderings. At last coming upon a Fox, he tried to frighten him also, but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, “I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard your bray.”

An Ass put on the Lion’s skin and wandered through the forest. He amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met along the way. At last, he came upon a Fox and tried to frighten him too. But as soon as the Fox heard his voice, he exclaimed, “I might have been frightened myself if I had not heard you bray.”

A HARE pounced upon by an eagle sobbed very much and uttered cries like a child. A Sparrow upbraided her and said, “Where now is thy remarkable swiftness of foot? Why were your feet so slow?” While the Sparrow was thus speaking, a hawk suddenly seized him and killed him. The Hare was comforted in her death, and expiring said, “Ah! you who so lately, when you supposed yourself safe, exulted over my calamity, have now reason to deplore a similar misfortune.”

A Hare was pounced on by an eagle and sobbed bitterly, crying like a child. A Sparrow mocked her and said, “Where is your famous speed now? Why were your feet so slow?” While the Sparrow was speaking, a hawk suddenly seized him and killed him. The Hare found comfort as she lay dying and said, “Ah! Just moments ago, when you thought you were safe, you gloated over my suffering. Now you have reason to mourn a similar misfortune.”

A FLEA thus questioned an Ox: “What ails you, that being so huge and strong, you submit to the wrongs you receive from men and slave for them day by day, while I, being so small a creature, mercilessly feed on their flesh and drink their blood without stint?” The Ox replied: “I do not wish to be ungrateful, for I am loved and well cared for by men, and they often pat my head and shoulders.” “Woe’s me!” said the flea; “this very patting which you like, whenever it happens to me, brings with it my inevitable destruction.”

A Flea asked an Ox: “Why do you let men mistreat you and work you like a slave every day? You are so huge and strong, while I am such a small creature. Yet I mercilessly feed on their flesh and drink their blood as much as I please.” The Ox replied: “I do not want to be ungrateful, because men love me and take good care of me. They often pat my head and shoulders.” “How unfortunate for me!” said the flea. “Whenever I get the very patting you enjoy, it means certain death for me.”

A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, “I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion.”

A man wanted to buy a donkey and agreed with the owner to try the animal before buying him. He took the donkey home and put him in the yard with his other donkeys. The new donkey left all the others and immediately joined the laziest donkey, who also ate the most. Seeing his choice, the man put a halter on the new donkey and led him back to his owner. The owner asked how he could have tested the donkey in so little time. The man answered, “I don’t need to test him. I know he will be just like the donkey he chose as his companion.”

A man is known by the company he keeps.

You can judge a man by the people he spends time with.

A DOVE shut up in a cage was boasting of the large number of young ones which she had hatched. A Crow hearing her, said: “My good friend, cease from this unseasonable boasting. The larger the number of your family, the greater your cause of sorrow, in seeing them shut up in this prison-house.”

A DOVE locked in a cage was boasting about how many chicks she had hatched. A Crow heard her and said: “My good friend, stop boasting when you have so little reason to be proud. The larger your family, the more sorrow you have, seeing them all locked up in this prison.”

A MAN and a Satyr once drank together in token of a bond of alliance being formed between them. One very cold wintry day, as they talked, the Man put his fingers to his mouth and blew on them. When the Satyr asked the reason for this, he told him that he did it to warm his hands because they were so cold. Later on in the day they sat down to eat, and the food prepared was quite scalding. The Man raised one of the dishes a little towards his mouth and blew in it. When the Satyr again inquired the reason, he said that he did it to cool the meat, which was too hot. “I can no longer consider you as a friend,” said the Satyr, “a fellow who with the same breath blows hot and cold.”

A Man and a Satyr once shared a drink to mark an alliance between them. One very cold winter day, as they talked, the Man put his fingers to his mouth and blew on them. The Satyr asked why. The Man explained that he was warming his hands because they were so cold. Later that day, they sat down to eat, and the food was scalding hot. The Man lifted one of the dishes a little toward his mouth and blew on the food. The Satyr again asked why. The Man said he was cooling the meat because it was too hot. “I can no longer call you a friend,” said the Satyr, “when you blow both hot and cold with the same breath.”

ACCORDING to an ancient legend, the first man was made by Jupiter, the first bull by Neptune, and the first house by Minerva. On the completion of their labours, a dispute arose as to which had made the most perfect work. They agreed to appoint Momus as judge, and to abide by his decision. Momus, however, being very envious of the handicraft of each, found fault with all. He first blamed the work of Neptune because he had not made the horns of the bull below his eyes, so he might better see where to strike. He then condemned the work of Jupiter, because he had not placed the heart of man on the outside, that everyone might read the thoughts of the evil disposed and take precautions against the intended mischief. And, lastly, he inveighed against Minerva because she had not contrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so its inhabitants might more easily remove if a neighbor proved unpleasant. Jupiter, indignant at such inveterate faultfinding, drove him from his office of judge, and expelled him from the mansions of Olympus.

According to an ancient legend, Jupiter made the first man, Neptune the first bull, and Minerva the first house. When their work was finished, they argued over whose creation was the most perfect. They agreed to appoint Momus as judge and accept his decision. But Momus was very envious of each god’s work and found fault with all three. First, he criticized Neptune for not placing the bull’s horns below its eyes, so it could better see where to strike. Next, he criticized Jupiter for not placing the human heart on the outside. That way, everyone could read the thoughts of people with evil intentions and guard against the harm they planned. Finally, he attacked Minerva for not fitting iron wheels into her house’s foundation. With wheels, the people living there could move away more easily if a neighbor proved unpleasant. Jupiter was outraged by such relentless faultfinding. He removed Momus from his position as judge and banished him from the mansions of Olympus.

AN EAGLE, flying down from his perch on a lofty rock, seized upon a lamb and carried him aloft in his talons. A Jackdaw, who witnessed the capture of the lamb, was stirred with envy and determined to emulate the strength and flight of the Eagle. He flew around with a great whir of his wings and settled upon a large ram, with the intention of carrying him off, but his claws became entangled in the ram’s fleece and he was not able to release himself, although he fluttered with his feathers as much as he could. The shepherd, seeing what had happened, ran up and caught him. He at once clipped the Jackdaw’s wings, and taking him home at night, gave him to his children. On their saying, “Father, what kind of bird is it?” he replied, “To my certain knowledge he is a Daw; but he would like you to think an Eagle.”

An Eagle swooped down from his perch on a high rock, grabbed a lamb, and carried him skyward in his talons. A Jackdaw saw the Eagle catch the lamb and grew envious. He decided to match the Eagle’s strength and flight. With a loud whir of his wings, he flew around and landed on a large ram, intending to carry him off. But his claws got tangled in the ram’s fleece. He could not free himself, although he flapped his wings as hard as he could. The shepherd saw what had happened, ran over, and caught him. He immediately clipped the Jackdaw’s wings. That night, he took the bird home and gave him to his children. When the children asked, “Father, what kind of bird is it?” he replied, “I know for certain he is a Daw, but he would like you to think he is an Eagle.”

AN EAGLE and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided to live near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a tall tree, while the Fox crept into the underwood and there produced her young. Not long after they had agreed upon this plan, the Eagle, being in want of provision for her young ones, swooped down while the Fox was out, seized upon one of the little cubs, and feasted herself and her brood. The Fox on her return, discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them. A just retribution, however, quickly fell upon the Eagle. While hovering near an altar, on which some villagers were sacrificing a goat, she suddenly seized a piece of the flesh, and carried it, along with a burning cinder, to her nest. A strong breeze soon fanned the spark into a flame, and the eaglets, as yet unfledged and helpless, were roasted in their nest and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree. There, in the sight of the Eagle, the Fox gobbled them up.

An Eagle and a Fox became close friends and decided to live near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a tall tree. The Fox crept into the undergrowth and gave birth to her cubs there. Soon after they agreed on this arrangement, the Eagle needed food for her young. While the Fox was away, the Eagle swooped down and seized one of the cubs. She and her young feasted on the cub. When the Fox returned, she discovered what had happened. But she grieved less over her cub's death than over her inability to take revenge. Yet a just punishment soon fell on the Eagle. She was hovering near an altar where some villagers were sacrificing a goat. Suddenly, she snatched a piece of meat and carried it to her nest, along with a burning ember. A strong breeze soon fanned the ember into a flame. The young eagles, still helpless and unable to fly, were roasted in their nest. Their dead bodies fell to the foot of the tree. There, as the Eagle watched, the Fox gobbled them up.

EVERY MAN, according to an ancient legend, is born into the world with two bags suspended from his neck all bag in front full of his neighbors’ faults, and a large bag behind filled with his own faults. Hence it is that men are quick to see the faults of others, and yet are often blind to their own failings.

According to an ancient legend, every person is born with two bags hanging from their neck. The bag in front is full of their neighbors’ faults. The large bag behind is filled with their own faults. That is why people are quick to see others’ faults, yet are often blind to their own failings.