Fables 61 to 80

A BOY was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother, saying, “Although it hurts me very much, I only touched it gently.” “That was just why it stung you,” said his Mother. “The next time you touch a Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurt you.”

A boy was stung by a nettle. He ran home and told his mother, “Although the sting hurts very much, I only touched the nettle gently.” “That’s exactly why it stung you,” his mother said. “The next time you touch a nettle, grab it firmly. It will feel as soft as silk against your hand and won’t hurt you at all.”

Whatever you do, do with all your might.

Whatever you do, give it all your effort.

AN ASTRONOMER used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning what had happened said: “Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on earth?”

An astronomer used to go out at night to study the stars. One evening, he wandered through the suburbs with all his attention fixed on the sky. As he walked, he accidentally fell into a deep well. While he moaned about his cuts and bruises and shouted for help, a neighbor ran to the well. After learning what had happened, the neighbor said: “Listen, old fellow, why try to discover what is in heaven when you can't see what is on earth?”

“WHY SHOULD there always be this fear and slaughter between us?” said the Wolves to the Sheep. “Those evil-disposed Dogs have much to answer for. They always bark whenever we approach you and attack us before we have done any harm. If you would only dismiss them from your heels, there might soon be treaties of peace and reconciliation between us.” The Sheep, poor silly creatures, were easily beguiled and dismissed the Dogs, whereupon the Wolves destroyed the unguarded flock at their own pleasure.

“Why must there always be fear and killing between us?” said the Wolves to the Sheep. “Those wicked Dogs have a lot to answer for. They always bark whenever we come near you and attack us before we have done any harm. If you would only send them away, we might soon agree to make peace and settle our differences.” The Sheep, poor foolish creatures, were easily tricked and sent the Dogs away. Then the Wolves killed the unprotected flock as they pleased.

A CAT, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. They replied, “We are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, and leave us as we are.”

A Cat heard that the Birds in a certain aviary were sick, so he dressed up as a doctor. He took his cane and a bag of medical instruments and went to visit them. He knocked at the door and asked the Birds how they were all feeling. He said that if they were sick, he would be happy to prescribe treatment and cure them. The Birds replied, “We are all very well, and we will stay that way if you would kindly go away and leave us as we are.”

JUPITER DETERMINED, it is said, to create a sovereign over the birds, and made proclamation that on a certain day they should all present themselves before him, when he would himself choose the most beautiful among them to be king. The Jackdaw, knowing his own ugliness, searched through the woods and fields, and collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his companions, and stuck them in all parts of his body, hoping thereby to make himself the most beautiful of all. When the appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembled before Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made his appearance in his many feathered finery. But when Jupiter proposed to make him king because of the beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly protested, and each plucked from him his own feathers, leaving the Jackdaw nothing but a Jackdaw.

It is said that Jupiter decided to appoint a ruler over the birds. He announced that all the birds must appear before him on a certain day. He would choose the most beautiful bird himself and make that bird king. The Jackdaw, knowing he was ugly, searched the woods and fields. He gathered feathers that had fallen from the other birds’ wings and stuck them all over his body. He hoped these feathers would make him the most beautiful bird of all. When the appointed day came, the birds gathered before Jupiter. The Jackdaw appeared too, dressed in his splendid collection of feathers. But when Jupiter proposed making him king because of his beautiful feathers, the birds protested angrily. Each bird pulled its own feathers off him, leaving the Jackdaw nothing but a Jackdaw.

A KID standing on the roof of a house, out of harm’s way, saw a Wolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and revile him. The Wolf, looking up, said, “Sirrah! I hear thee: yet it is not thou who mockest me, but the roof on which thou art standing.”

A young goat stood on the roof of a house, safely out of reach. He saw a Wolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and insult him. The Wolf looked up and said, “You rascal! I hear you. But you aren’t the one mocking me. It’s the roof you’re standing on.”

Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the strong.

The right time and place often give the weak an advantage over the strong.

AN OLD WOMAN having lost the use of her eyes, called in a Physician to heal them, and made this bargain with him in the presence of witnesses: that if he should cure her blindness, he should receive from her a sum of money; but if her infirmity remained, she should give him nothing. This agreement being made, the Physician, time after time, applied his salve to her eyes, and on every visit took something away, stealing all her property little by little. And when he had got all she had, he healed her and demanded the promised payment. The Old Woman, when she recovered her sight and saw none of her goods in her house, would give him nothing. The Physician insisted on his claim, and, as she still refused, summoned her before the Judge. The Old Woman, standing up in the Court, argued: “This man here speaks the truth in what he says; for I did promise to give him a sum of money if I should recover my sight: but if I continued blind, I was to give him nothing. Now he declares that I am healed. I on the contrary affirm that I am still blind; for when I lost the use of my eyes, I saw in my house various chattels and valuable goods: but now, though he swears I am cured of my blindness, I am not able to see a single thing in it.”

An Old Woman who had lost her sight called in a Physician to treat her eyes. In front of witnesses, she made an agreement with him. If he cured her blindness, she would pay him a sum of money. But if she remained blind, she would pay him nothing. After they agreed, the Physician repeatedly applied ointment to her eyes. On every visit, he took something away, stealing all her belongings little by little. When he had taken everything she had, he cured her and demanded the promised payment. When the Old Woman regained her sight and saw none of her belongings in her house, she refused to pay. The Physician insisted on being paid. When she still refused, he summoned her before the Judge. The Old Woman stood up in court and argued: “This man is telling the truth. I did promise to pay him a sum of money if I regained my sight. But if I remained blind, I was to pay him nothing. Now he says I am cured. I say, on the contrary, that I am still blind. When I lost my sight, I could see various belongings and valuable goods in my house. But now, though he swears he has cured my blindness, I cannot see a single thing in my house.”

AN OX drinking at a pool trod on a brood of young frogs and crushed one of them to death. The Mother coming up, and missing one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what had become of him. “He is dead, dear Mother; for just now a very huge beast with four great feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with his cloven heel.” The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, “if the beast was as big as that in size.” “Cease, Mother, to puff yourself out,” said her son, “and do not be angry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than successfully imitate the hugeness of that monster.”

An Ox drinking at a pool stepped on a group of young frogs and crushed one to death. The Mother arrived and noticed one of her sons was missing. She asked his brothers what had happened to him. “He is dead, dear Mother. A huge beast with four great feet just came to the pool and crushed him with its split hoof.” The Frog puffed herself up and asked, “Was the beast as big as this?” “Stop puffing yourself up, Mother,” said her son, “and do not be angry. I assure you, you would burst before you could make yourself as huge as that monster.”

A FATHER, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had given it. He called them to his bedside and said, “My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards.” The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every portion of their land. They found no treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and superabundant crop.

A father was close to death. He wanted to be sure his sons would care for his farm as carefully as he had. He called them to his bedside and said, “My sons, a great treasure is hidden in one of my vineyards.” After their father's death, the sons took their spades and digging tools and carefully dug up every part of their land. They found no treasure, but the vines rewarded their hard work with an unusually large and abundant crop.

A HEIFER saw an Ox hard at work harnessed to a plow, and tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in being compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, the owner released the Ox from his yoke, but bound the Heifer with cords and led him away to the altar to be slain in honour of the occasion. The Ox saw what was being done, and said with a smile to the Heifer: “For this you were allowed to live in idleness, because you were presently to be sacrificed.”

A Heifer saw an Ox working hard, harnessed to a plow. The Heifer taunted him about his miserable fate, forced to work so hard. Soon afterward, at the harvest festival, the owner freed the Ox from his yoke. But he tied up the Heifer with ropes and led him to the altar to be killed for the celebration. The Ox saw what was happening and said to the Heifer with a smile: “You were allowed to live without working because you were soon to be sacrificed.”

TWO GAME COCKS were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.

Two roosters fought fiercely for control of the farmyard. At last, one drove the other away. The defeated rooster slunk away and hid in a quiet corner. Meanwhile, the winner flew up onto a high wall, flapped his wings, and crowed triumphantly as loudly as he could. An eagle gliding overhead swooped down on him and carried him off in its talons. The defeated rooster immediately came out of his corner and ruled the farmyard from then on, with no challenger.

Pride goes before destruction.

Pride comes before a downfall.

A CHARGER, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to work in a mill instead of going out to battle. But when he was compelled to grind instead of serving in the wars, he bewailed his change of fortune and called to mind his former state, saying, “Ah! Miller, I had indeed to go campaigning before, but I was barbed from counter to tail, and a man went along to groom me; and now I cannot understand what ailed me to prefer the mill before the battle.” “Forbear,” said the Miller to him, “harping on what was of yore, for it is the common lot of mortals to sustain the ups and downs of fortune.”

A WARHORSE, growing weak with age, was sent to work in a mill instead of going into battle. But when he was forced to grind grain instead of serving in war, he mourned his change in fortune. He remembered his former life and said, “Ah! Miller, I did have to go to war before. But I wore armor from chest to tail, and a man came along to groom me. Now I cannot understand what came over me to make me prefer the mill to battle.” “Stop,” the Miller told him, “dwelling on the past, for everyone must face the ups and downs of fortune.”

A MONKEY once danced in an assembly of the Beasts, and so pleased them all by his performance that they elected him their King. A Fox, envying him the honour, discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap, and leading the Monkey to the place where it was, said that she had found a store, but had not used it, she had kept it for him as treasure trove of his kingdom, and counseled him to lay hold of it. The Monkey approached carelessly and was caught in the trap; and on his accusing the Fox of purposely leading him into the snare, she replied, “O Monkey, and are you, with such a mind as yours, going to be King over the Beasts?”

A Monkey once danced at a gathering of the Beasts. His performance pleased them all so much that they elected him their King. A Fox, jealous of the honour, found a piece of meat in a trap and led the Monkey there. She said she had found some food but had not touched it. She had saved the meat for him as treasure found in his kingdom, and urged him to take it. The Monkey approached carelessly and was caught in the trap. When he accused the Fox of deliberately leading him into the trap, she replied, “Oh, Monkey, with a mind like yours, are you going to be King of the Beasts?”

A HORSE SOLDIER took the utmost pains with his charger. As long as the war lasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all emergencies and fed him carefully with hay and corn. But when the war was over, he only allowed him chaff to eat and made him carry heavy loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish drudgery and ill-treatment. War was again proclaimed, however, and when the trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier put on his charger its military trappings, and mounted, being clad in his heavy coat of mail. The Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no longer equal to the burden, and said to his master, “You must now go to the war on foot, for you have transformed me from a Horse into an Ass; and how can you expect that I can again turn in a moment from an Ass to a Horse?”

A cavalry Soldier took the greatest care of his warhorse. As long as the war lasted, he treated the horse as his partner in all emergencies. He fed him carefully with hay and grain. But when the war ended, he gave the horse only chaff to eat and made him carry heavy loads of wood. He forced the horse into harsh labor and treated him badly. However, war was declared again, and a trumpet called the Soldier to rally around his flag. The Soldier fitted his warhorse with military gear and climbed onto him, wearing his heavy coat of mail. The Horse immediately collapsed under the weight, no longer strong enough to carry the load. He said to his master, “You must now go to war on foot, for you have turned me from a Horse into a Donkey. How can you expect me to turn back from a Donkey into a Horse in a moment?”

THE MEMBERS of the Body rebelled against the Belly, and said, “Why should we be perpetually engaged in administering to your wants, while you do nothing but take your rest, and enjoy yourself in luxury and self-indulgence?” The Members carried out their resolve and refused their assistance to the Belly. The whole Body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet, mouth, and eyes, when too late, repented of their folly.

The parts of the Body rebelled against the Belly and said, “Why should we keep working to meet your needs? You do nothing but rest and enjoy a life of luxury, indulging yourself.” The parts of the Body followed through on their decision and stopped helping the Belly. The whole Body quickly grew weak. The hands, feet, mouth, and eyes regretted their foolishness, but it was too late.

A WIDOW who was fond of cleaning had two little maidens to wait on her. She was in the habit of waking them early in the morning, at cockcrow. The maidens, aggravated by such excessive labor, resolved to kill the cock who roused their mistress so early. When they had done this, they found that they had only prepared for themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no longer hearing the hour from the cock, woke them up to their work in the middle of the night.

A widow who loved cleaning had two young girls to serve her. She would wake them early each morning when the rooster crowed. Frustrated by so much work, the girls decided to kill the rooster that woke their mistress so early. After killing the rooster, the girls found they had only made things worse for themselves. Without the rooster’s crow to tell her the time, their mistress woke them to work in the middle of the night.

A VINE was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and grapes. A Goat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its leaves. The Vine addressed him and said: “Why do you thus injure me without a cause, and crop my leaves? Is there no young grass left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; for if you now should crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are led as a victim to the sacrifice.”

A Vine was thick with leaves and grapes at harvest time. A Goat passing by nibbled its young shoots and leaves. The Vine said to him: “Why are you hurting me for no reason and eating my leaves? Is there no young grass left? But I will not have to wait long for my rightful revenge. For even if you eat my leaves now and cut me down to my roots, I will provide the wine. That wine will be poured over you when you are led away to be sacrificed.”

JUPITER ISSUED a proclamation to all the beasts of the forest and promised a royal reward to the one whose offspring should be deemed the handsomest. The Monkey came with the rest and presented, with all a mother’s tenderness, a flat-nosed, hairless, ill-featured young Monkey as a candidate for the promised reward. A general laugh saluted her on the presentation of her son. She resolutely said, “I know not whether Jupiter will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that he is at least in the eyes of me his mother, the dearest, handsomest, and most beautiful of all.”

JUPITER MADE an announcement to all the beasts of the forest. He promised a royal reward to the one whose offspring was judged the best-looking. The Monkey came with the others and presented her young son with all a mother’s tenderness. He was flat-nosed, hairless, and ugly, but she entered him for the promised reward. Everyone laughed when she presented him. She firmly said, “I don’t know whether Jupiter will give my son the prize. But I do know that, to me, his mother, he is the dearest, best-looking, and most beautiful of all.”

THE PIGEONS, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, called upon the Hawk to defend them. He at once consented. When they had admitted him into the cote, they found that he made more havoc and slew a larger number of them in one day than the Kite could pounce upon in a whole year.

THE PIGEONS were terrified when a Kite appeared and asked the Hawk to protect them. He agreed at once. Once the pigeons let him into their coop, they found that he caused more destruction in a single day. He also killed more of them that day than the Kite could catch in a whole year.

Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease.

Avoid a cure that is worse than the disease.

THE DOLPHINS and Whales waged a fierce war with each other. When the battle was at its height, a Sprat lifted its head out of the waves and said that he would reconcile their differences if they would accept him as an umpire. One of the Dolphins replied, “We would far rather be destroyed in our battle with each other than admit any interference from you in our affairs.”

The Dolphins and Whales fought a fierce war against each other. At the height of the battle, a Sprat lifted his head out of the waves. He offered to settle their differences if the Dolphins and Whales would accept him as a referee. One of the Dolphins replied, “We would much rather destroy each other in battle than let you interfere in our affairs.”