Fables 41 to 60

A GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons. At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak though I be silent.”

A Goatherd tried to bring a stray goat back to his flock. He whistled and blew his horn, but the goat ignored his calls. Finally, the Goatherd threw a stone and broke the goat’s horn. He begged the Goat not to tell his master. The Goat replied, “You silly fellow, the broken horn will speak even if I stay silent.”

Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.

Do not try to hide things that cannot be hidden.

A MAN who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on returning to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic feats he had performed in the different places he had visited. Among other things, he said that when he was at Rhodes he had leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap anywhere near him as to that, there were in Rhodes many persons who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses. One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying: “Now, my good man, if this be all true there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this to be Rhodes, and leap for us.”

A man who had traveled abroad returned to his own country and boasted about his many amazing, heroic deeds. He claimed to have performed them in the different places he had visited. Among other things, he said he had jumped so far at Rhodes that no man alive could come close. He added that many people in Rhodes had seen him make the jump and could serve as witnesses. One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying: “Now, my good man, if all you say is true, there is no need for witnesses. Imagine we are in Rhodes, and jump for us.”

A LION demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in marriage. The Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse his request, hit upon this expedient to rid himself of his importunities. He expressed his willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his daughter on one condition: that he should allow him to extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter was fearfully afraid of both. The Lion cheerfully assented to the proposal. But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to repeat his request, the Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his club, and drove him away into the forest.

A Lion demanded to marry a woodcutter’s daughter. The father did not want to agree, but he was afraid to refuse. So he came up with a plan to put an end to the Lion’s repeated requests. He said he would accept the Lion as his daughter’s suitor on one condition. The Lion must let the father pull out his teeth and cut off his claws. His daughter, he explained, was terribly afraid of both. The Lion gladly agreed. But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to ask again, the Woodman was no longer afraid. He attacked the Lion with his club and drove him away into the forest.

A MISER sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, “Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it.”

A MISER sold everything he owned and bought a lump of gold. He buried the gold in a hole beside an old wall and went to look at the gold daily. One of his workers noticed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch him. The worker soon discovered the hidden treasure, dug up the gold, and stole it. On his next visit, the Miser found the hole empty and began tearing his hair and crying out in grief. A neighbor saw how upset he was and learned what had happened. The neighbor said, “Please don’t grieve so much. Instead, take a stone, put the stone in the hole, and imagine the gold is still lying there. The stone will do you just as much good. Even when the gold was there, you might as well not have had the gold, because you never used it at all.”

A young Pig was shut up in a fold-yard with a Goat and a Sheep. On one occasion the shepherd laid hold of him, when he grunted, and squeaked, and resisted violently. The Sheep and the Goat complained of his distressing cries, and said, “He often handles us, and we do not cry out.” To this he replied, “Your handling and mine are very different things. He catches you only for your wool, or your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very life.”

A young Pig was shut in a pen with a Goat and a Sheep. One day, the shepherd grabbed the Pig, who grunted, squealed, and struggled violently. The Sheep and the Goat complained about his distressing cries and said, “He often handles us, and we don’t cry out.” The Pig replied, “Being handled means something very different for you than for me. He catches you only for your wool or your milk, but he grabs me to take my life.”

A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him, “Be satisfied with half the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand.”

A boy put his hand into a pitcher full of hazelnuts. He grabbed as many as he could hold, but the pitcher’s narrow neck kept him from pulling his hand out. He refused to let go of the nuts, but he could not free his hand. He burst into tears and cried bitterly over his disappointment. Someone standing nearby said to him, “Be satisfied with half as many nuts, and you’ll easily pull your hand out.”

Do not attempt too much at once.

Don't try to do too much at once.

THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors to Jupiter entreating for a King. Perceiving their simplicity, he cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash occasioned by its fall and hid themselves in the depths of the pool. But as soon as they realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, and began squatting on it in contempt. After some time they began to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so inert a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to pray that he would set over them another sovereign. He then gave them an Eel to govern them. When the Frogs discovered his easy good nature, they sent yet a third time to Jupiter to beg him to choose for them still another King. Jupiter, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron, who preyed upon the Frogs day by day till there were none left to croak upon the lake.

The Frogs, unhappy at having no ruler, sent messengers to Jupiter to beg for a king. Seeing how simple-minded the Frogs were, Jupiter threw a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified by the splash and hid in the depths of the pool. But as soon as they realized the huge log did not move, they swam back to the surface. No longer afraid, they climbed onto the log and began squatting on it to show their contempt. After some time, the Frogs began to feel mistreated at being given such an inactive ruler. They sent a second group of messengers to Jupiter to ask for another king. Jupiter then gave them an Eel to rule them. When the Frogs discovered the Eel's easygoing nature, they sent messengers to Jupiter a third time, begging for another king. Jupiter, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron. The Heron ate the Frogs day after day until none were left to croak on the lake.

A SNAKE, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage, inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager’s infant son. Grieving over his loss, the Father resolved to kill the Snake. The next day, when it came out of its hole for food, he took up his axe, but by swinging too hastily, missed its head and cut off only the end of its tail. After some time the Cottager, afraid that the Snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed some bread and salt in the hole. The Snake, slightly hissing, said: “There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever I see you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you see me you will be thinking of the death of your son.”

A Snake made its hole close to the porch of a cottage and fatally bit the Cottager’s infant son. Grieving over his loss, the Father decided to kill the Snake. The next day, when the Snake came out of its hole for food, the Father picked up his axe. But he swung too quickly, missed the Snake’s head, and cut off only the tip of its tail. Some time later, the Cottager feared that the Snake would bite him too, so he tried to make peace. He placed some bread and salt in the Snake’s hole. The Snake gave a soft hiss and said: “There can be no peace between us from now on. Whenever I see you, I will remember the loss of my tail. And whenever you see me, you will think of your son’s death.”

No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused the injury.

No one truly forgets being hurt when the person who hurt them is present.

A LION, fatigued by the heat of a summer’s day, fell fast asleep in his den. A Mouse ran over his mane and ears and woke him from his slumbers. He rose up and shook himself in great wrath, and searched every corner of his den to find the Mouse. A Fox seeing him said: “A fine Lion you are, to be frightened of a Mouse.” “’Tis not the Mouse I fear,” said the Lion; “I resent his familiarity and ill-breeding.”

A LION, worn out by the heat of a summer day, fell fast asleep in his den. A Mouse ran over his mane and ears and woke him up. The Lion got up and shook himself in a rage. He searched every corner of his den to find the Mouse. A Fox saw him and said: “What a fine Lion you are, afraid of a Mouse.” “It’s not the Mouse I’m afraid of,” said the Lion. “I resent his lack of respect and bad manners.”

Little liberties are great offenses.

Small oversteps are serious offenses.

A GROOM used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them for his own profit. “Alas!” said the Horse, “if you really wish me to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me more.”

A groom used to spend whole days brushing and rubbing down his Horse. But he also stole the Horse’s oats and sold them for his own profit. “Oh dear!” said the Horse. “If you really want me to be in good shape, you should groom me less and feed me more.”

A MULETEER set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: “I am treated according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing, together with his burden, himself as well.”

A mule driver set out on a journey with an Ass and a Mule walking ahead of him. Both animals carried heavy loads. As long as the Ass traveled across the plain, he carried his load easily. But when he began climbing the steep mountain path, his load became more than he could bear. He begged the Mule to take a small part of his load so he could carry the rest home. But the Mule ignored his request. Soon afterward, the Ass collapsed and died under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in such a wild region, the mule driver put the Ass’s load on the Mule. The Mule now carried both loads. After skinning the Ass, the driver placed the hide on top of everything. Groaning under his heavy burden, the Mule said to himself: “I am getting what I deserve. If only I had been willing to help the Ass a little when he needed me. Then I would not now be carrying both his load and the Ass himself.”

A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat, just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was a great favourite with his master, who often fondled him and seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his master’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, and frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: “I have brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day like that useless little Lapdog!”

A man owned an Ass and a very beautiful Maltese Lapdog. The Ass stayed in a stable with plenty of oats and hay to eat, just like any other Ass. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was his master’s great favorite. His master often petted him and rarely went out to dinner without bringing him home some treat to eat. The Ass, on the other hand, had plenty of hard work to do. He turned the grain mill and carried wood from the forest or loads from the farm. He often complained about his hard life and compared it with the Lapdog’s life of luxury and leisure. At last, one day, the Ass broke his ropes and halter and galloped into his master’s house. He kicked his heels wildly, romping and showing affection as best he could. Next, he tried to jump around his master, as he had seen the Lapdog do. But he broke the table and smashed all the dishes on it to pieces. Then he tried to lick his master and jumped onto his back. The servants heard the strange commotion and saw that their master was in danger. They quickly freed him and drove the Ass back to his stable with kicks, clubs, and blows. As the Ass returned to his stall, beaten nearly to death, he cried: “I have brought all this on myself! Why couldn’t I have been content to work alongside my companions? Why did I wish to be idle all day like that useless little Lapdog!”

THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a certain day to carry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. But one of them who was exceedingly old (for many a field had he plowed) thus spoke: “These Butchers, it is true, slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchers should perish, yet will men never want beef.”

Once upon a time, the Oxen wanted to destroy the Butchers, whose trade killed their kind. The Oxen gathered one day to carry out their plan and sharpened their horns for the fight. But one very old ox spoke up. He had plowed many a field. “These Butchers do slaughter us, but they do so skillfully and cause no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we will fall into unskilled hands and suffer a double death. For you can be sure that even if all the Butchers die, people will never stop wanting beef.”

Do not be in a hurry to change one evil for another.

Don't rush to trade one bad situation for another.

A SHEPHERD-BOY, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, “Wolf! Wolf!” and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: “Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep;” but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.

A Shepherd-boy watched a flock of sheep near a village. Three or four times, he brought the villagers out by shouting, “Wolf! Wolf!” When his neighbors came to help him, he laughed at them for their trouble. But the Wolf really did come at last. Now truly frightened, the Shepherd-boy shouted in terror: “Please, come and help me! The Wolf is killing the sheep!” But no one listened to his cries or came to help. With nothing to fear, the Wolf took his time tearing apart or killing the entire flock.

There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

A liar can't be believed, even when he tells the truth.

SOME BOYS, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water and began to pelt them with stones. They killed several of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: “Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us.”

Some boys playing near a pond saw several Frogs in the water and began throwing stones at them. The boys had killed several Frogs when one of the Frogs raised his head out of the water. He cried out: “Please stop, boys. What is fun for you is death for us.”

A PEDDLER drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road home lay across a stream into which his Ass, making a false step, fell by accident and rose up again with his load considerably lighter, as the water melted the sack. The Peddler retraced his steps and refilled his panniers with a larger quantity of salt than before. When he came again to the stream, the Ass fell down on purpose in the same spot, and, regaining his feet with the weight of his load much diminished, brayed triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. The Peddler saw through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast, where he bought a cargo of sponges instead of salt. The Ass, again playing the fool, fell down on purpose when he reached the stream, but the sponges became swollen with water, greatly increasing his load. And thus his trick recoiled on him, for he now carried on his back a double burden.

A Peddler drove his Ass to the seashore to buy salt. His road home crossed a stream, where the Ass slipped and fell by accident. The Ass got up with a much lighter load because the water had dissolved the salt in his sacks. The Peddler went back and filled his carrying baskets with more salt than before. When they reached the stream again, the Ass fell on purpose in the same spot. He got back on his feet with a much lighter load. Then he brayed triumphantly, as if he had gotten what he wanted. The Peddler saw through the Ass’s trick and drove him to the coast for a third time. There, the Peddler bought a load of sponges instead of salt. The Ass foolishly tried the same trick again, falling on purpose when he reached the stream. But the sponges soaked up water and swelled, making his load much heavier. So his trick backfired, for he now carried twice the weight on his back.

A DOG used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and to bite them without notice. His master suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might give notice of his presence wherever he went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over the marketplace. One day an old hound said to him: “Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is not, believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill mannered dog.”

A Dog used to sneak up behind everyone he met and bite their heels without warning. His owner hung a bell around his neck so that people would hear the Dog coming wherever he went. The Dog thought the bell was a sign of honor and grew proud of it. He went all over the marketplace, making his bell jingle. One day an old hound said to him: “Why do you make such a show of yourself? Believe me, the bell you wear is not a badge of honor. On the contrary, your bell is a mark of shame. It warns everyone to avoid you because you are a badly behaved dog.”

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

Being known for bad things is often mistaken for fame.

A GOATHERD, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up together with his own for the night. The next day it snowed very hard, so that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was obliged to keep them in the fold. He gave his own goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them to stay with him and of making them his own. When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the mountains. The Goatherd scolded them for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he had taken more care of them than of his own herd. One of them, turning about, said to him: “That is the very reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves.”

A Goatherd was driving his flock home from the pasture one evening when he found some Wild Goats among them. He shut the Wild Goats in with his own goats for the night. The next day, it snowed so heavily that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding places. He had to keep them in the pen. He gave his own goats only enough food to keep them alive, but fed the newcomers more generously. He hoped to persuade the Wild Goats to stay and become part of his herd. When the snow began to melt, he led all the goats out to feed. The Wild Goats ran away to the mountains as fast as they could. The Goatherd scolded them for being ungrateful and leaving him. During the storm, he had cared for them better than for his own herd. One of them turned around and said to him: “That is exactly why we are so cautious. Yesterday you treated us better than the Goats you have had for so long. So it is clear that if others came after us, you would favor them over us in the same way.”

Old friends cannot with impunity be sacrificed for new ones.

You cannot abandon old friends for new ones without facing consequences.

A MIDDLE-AGED MAN, whose hair had begun to turn gray, courted two women at the same time. One of them was young, and the other well advanced in years. The elder woman, ashamed to be courted by a man younger than herself, made a point, whenever her admirer visited her, to pull out some portion of his black hairs. The younger, on the contrary, not wishing to become the wife of an old man, was equally zealous in removing every gray hair she could find. Thus it came to pass that between them both he very soon found that he had not a hair left on his head.

A middle-aged man whose hair had begun to turn gray was courting two women at the same time. One was young, and the other was much older. The older woman was ashamed to be courted by a man younger than herself. So whenever he visited her, she made a point of pulling out some of his black hairs. The younger woman, on the other hand, did not want to marry an old man. So she was just as eager to pull out every gray hair she could find. Between the two women, the man soon found he had no hair left on his head.

Those who seek to please everybody please nobody.

People who try to please everyone please no one.

A SICK STAG lay down in a quiet corner of its pasture-ground. His companions came in great numbers to inquire after his health, and each one helped himself to a share of the food which had been placed for his use; so that he died, not from his sickness, but from the failure of the means of living.

A SICK STAG lay down in a quiet corner of his pasture. His companions came in large numbers to ask how he was feeling. Each helped himself to some of the food set aside for the sick stag. So the stag died, not from his illness, but from lack of food.

Evil companions bring more hurt than profit.

Bad companions do more harm than good.