Fables 81 to 100

A SWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: “Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where all others’ rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong.”

A Swallow returned from abroad. She especially liked living near people, so she built a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice. There she hatched seven young birds. A Serpent slipped out of its hole in the wall and past the nest, eating all the featherless chicks. When the Swallow found her nest empty, she cried bitterly and exclaimed: “How sad my fate is as a stranger! Here, where everyone else’s rights are protected, I alone suffer injustice.”

A RIVER carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot said to the Brass Pot, “Pray keep at a distance and do not come near me, for if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall be broken in pieces, and besides, I by no means wish to come near you.”

A river carried two Pots downstream, one made of earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot said to the Brass Pot, “Please keep your distance and do not come near me. If you touch me even slightly, I will break into pieces. Besides, I have no wish at all to come near you.”

Equals make the best friends.

People who are equals make the best friends.

A SHEPHERD once found the whelp of a Wolf and brought it up, and after a while taught it to steal lambs from the neighboring flocks. The Wolf, having shown himself an apt pupil, said to the Shepherd, “Since you have taught me to steal, you must keep a sharp lookout, or you will lose some of your own flock.”

A Shepherd once found a Wolf pup and raised it. After a while, he taught the Wolf to steal lambs from nearby flocks. The Wolf learned quickly and said to the Shepherd, “Since you have taught me to steal, you must watch closely, or you will lose some of your own flock.”

A CRAB said to her son, “Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? It is far more becoming to go straight forward.” The young Crab replied: “Quite true, dear Mother; and if you will show me the straight way, I will promise to walk in it.” The Mother tried in vain, and submitted without remonstrance to the reproof of her child.

A CRAB said to her son, “Why do you walk sideways, my child? Walking straight ahead looks much better.” The young Crab replied: “Quite true, dear Mother. And if you show me how to walk straight, I promise to do the same.” The Mother tried but failed, and accepted her child's criticism without protest.

Example is more powerful than precept.

Leading by example is more powerful than giving instructions.

A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all things went with her. She said, “All things are prospering with me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of rain, in order that the plants may be well watered.” Not long after, he went to the daughter who had married the tilemaker, and likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, “I want for nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks might be dried.” He said to her, “If your sister wishes for rain, and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my wishes?”

A man had two daughters. One was married to a gardener, and the other to a tile-maker. After a while, he visited the daughter married to the gardener. He asked how she was and how everything was going. She said, “Everything is going well for me, and I have only one wish. I hope there will be heavy rain so that the plants will be well watered.” Not long afterward, he visited the daughter married to the tile-maker and also asked how she was doing. She replied, “I have everything I need, and I have only one wish. I hope the weather stays dry and the sun shines hot and bright so that the bricks can dry.” He said to her, “If your sister wishes for rain and you for dry weather, whose wish should I share?”

A BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, “I wish to say something to my Mother in her ear.” She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, “Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that lesson-book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful death.”

A boy stole a schoolbook from a classmate and took it home to his mother. She not only chose not to beat him, but encouraged him. The next time, he stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she praised him again. As he grew into adulthood, he went on to steal things of even greater value. At last, he was caught in the act. His hands were tied behind his back, and he was led away to the place of public execution. His mother followed in the crowd, beating her chest violently in grief. Then the young man said, “I want to whisper something in my mother’s ear.” She came close, and he quickly caught her ear between his teeth and bit it off. His mother scolded him for being a cruel, unnatural son. He replied, “Ah! If you had beaten me when I first stole that schoolbook and brought it to you, I would not have ended up here. Nor would I be on my way to a shameful death.”

AN OLD MAN was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in carrying the faggots to the city for sale one day, became very wearied with his long journey. He sat down by the wayside, and throwing down his load, besought “Death” to come. “Death” immediately appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly replied, “That, lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my shoulders.”

An old man worked cutting wood in the forest. One day, while carrying bundles of wood to the city to sell, he grew exhausted from the long journey. He sat down beside the road, dropped his load, and begged “Death” to come. “Death” immediately appeared in answer to his call and asked why he had called him. The Old Man quickly replied, “So you can lift the load and put it back on my shoulders.”

A FIR-TREE said boastingly to the Bramble, “You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses.” The Bramble answered: “You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree.”

A Fir-Tree boasted to the Bramble, “You are no use at all. But I am used everywhere to build roofs and houses.” The Bramble replied: “You poor creature, if you only remembered the axes and saws about to cut you down, you would have reason to wish you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree.”

Better poverty without care, than riches with.

Better to be poor without worries than rich with them.

THE PURCHASER of a black servant was persuaded that the color of his skin arose from dirt contracted through the neglect of his former masters. On bringing him home he resorted to every means of cleaning, and subjected the man to incessant scrubbings. The servant caught a severe cold, but he never changed his color or complexion.

A man who bought a black servant was convinced that the servant’s skin color came from dirt. He believed the dirt had built up because the servant’s former masters had neglected him. After bringing the servant home, the buyer tried every way to clean him and scrubbed him constantly. The servant caught a severe cold, but his skin color never changed.

What’s bred in the bone will stick to the flesh.

The traits you’re born with will stay with you.

A MOUSE who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

A Mouse who always lived on land had the bad luck to become close friends with a Frog. The Frog lived mostly in the water. One day, the Frog wanted to cause trouble, so he tied the Mouse’s foot tightly to his own. With their feet tied together, the Frog first led his friend to the meadow where they usually found food. Then he gradually led the Mouse toward the pool where he lived. When they reached the edge, the Frog suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with him. The Frog greatly enjoyed the water and swam around croaking, as if he had done a good deed. The poor Mouse soon drowned. His dead body floated on the surface, still tied to the Frog’s foot. A Hawk spotted the Mouse’s body, swooped down, and grabbed the body with his talons. The Hawk carried the Mouse high into the air. Since the Frog was still tied to the Mouse’s leg, he too was carried off as a prisoner. The Hawk ate the Frog.

Harm hatch, harm catch.

Plot harm, and you'll suffer harm.

A FISHERMAN, engaged in his calling, made a very successful cast and captured a great haul of fish. He managed by a skillful handling of his net to retain all the large fish and to draw them to the shore; but he could not prevent the smaller fish from falling back through the meshes of the net into the sea.

A FISHERMAN cast his net while at work and caught a great haul of fish. By skillfully handling his net, he kept all the large fish inside and pulled them to shore. But he could not stop the smaller fish from slipping through the net’s openings and back into the sea.

A WOLF, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in his lair. Being in want of food, he called to a Sheep who was passing, and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing close beside him. “For,” he said, “if you will bring me drink, I will find means to provide myself with meat.” “Yes,” said the Sheep, “if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless make me provide the meat also.”

A WOLF lay sick and badly injured in his den after being bitten by dogs. He needed food, so he called to a Sheep passing by. He asked the Sheep to fetch some water from a stream flowing close beside him. “For,” he said, “if you bring me a drink, I will find a way to get myself some meat.” “Yes,” said the Sheep, “if I brought you a drink, you would no doubt make me provide the meat too.”

Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

Hypocritical words are easy to see through.

AN OLD WOMAN found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime old wine and which still retained the fragrant smell of its former contents. She greedily placed it several times to her nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, “O most delicious! How nice must the Wine itself have been, when it leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a perfume!”

An old woman found an empty jar that had recently held fine, aged wine. The jar still carried the fragrant smell of the wine. She eagerly held the jar to her nose several times, moving it back and forth, and said, “Oh, how delicious! How wonderful the wine itself must have been to leave such a sweet scent in the jar!”

The memory of a good deed lives.

The memory of a good deed lives on.

A MAN who had been bitten by a Dog went about in quest of someone who might heal him. A friend, meeting him and learning what he wanted, said, “If you would be cured, take a piece of bread, and dip it in the blood from your wound, and go and give it to the Dog that bit you.” The Man who had been bitten laughed at this advice and said, “Why? If I should do so, it would be as if I should beg every Dog in the town to bite me.”

A Man who had been bitten by a Dog went looking for someone who could heal him. A friend met him and learned what he wanted. The friend said, “If you want to be healed, take a piece of bread and dip it in the blood from your wound. Then go and give the bread to the Dog that bit you.” The Man who had been bitten laughed at the advice and said, “Why? If I did that, it would be as if I were begging every Dog in town to bite me.”

Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of injuring you.

Helping people with bad intentions gives them more ways to harm you.

A HUNTSMAN, returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden with fish. The Huntsman wished to have the fish, and their owner experienced an equal longing for the contents of the game-bag. They quickly agreed to exchange the produce of their day’s sport. Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they made for some time the same exchange day after day. Finally a neighbor said to them, “If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy by frequent use the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again wish to retain the fruits of his own sport.”

A hunter was returning from the field with his dogs when he happened to meet a fisherman. The fisherman was bringing home a basket full of fish. The hunter wanted the fish, and the fisherman was equally eager for the game in the hunter’s bag. They quickly agreed to trade what they had caught that day. Both were so pleased with the trade that they repeated it every day for some time. Finally, a neighbor said to them, “If you keep doing this, you will soon lose the pleasure of trading through constant repetition. Each of you will again want to keep what you have caught.”

Abstain and enjoy.

Hold back and enjoy.

A CROW having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree and held it in her beak. A Fox, seeing this, longed to possess the meat himself, and by a wily stratagem succeeded. “How handsome is the Crow,” he exclaimed, “in the beauty of her shape and in the fairness of her complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to her beauty, she would deservedly be considered the Queen of Birds!” This he said deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute the reflection cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw and dropped the flesh. The Fox quickly picked it up, and thus addressed the Crow: “My good Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is wanting.”

A Crow stole a piece of meat and perched in a tree, holding the meat in her beak. A Fox saw her and wanted the meat for himself. He succeeded through a clever trick. “How beautiful the Crow is,” he exclaimed, “with her lovely shape and beautiful coloring! Oh, if her voice were only as lovely as her looks, she would deserve to be called Queen of Birds!” The Fox was being deceitful. But the Crow wanted to disprove his criticism of her voice, so she let out a loud caw. As she did, she dropped the meat. The Fox quickly picked up the meat and said to the Crow: “My good Crow, your voice is fine, but you lack good sense.”

A CERTAIN poor widow had one solitary Sheep. At shearing time, wishing to take his fleece and to avoid expense, she sheared him herself, but used the shears so unskillfully that with the fleece she sheared the flesh. The Sheep, writhing with pain, said, “Why do you hurt me so, Mistress? What weight can my blood add to the wool? If you want my flesh, there is the butcher, who will kill me in an instant; but if you want my fleece and wool, there is the shearer, who will shear and not hurt me.”

A poor widow had just one Sheep. When shearing time came, she wanted his fleece but hoped to save money by shearing him herself. But she handled the shears so clumsily that she cut his skin along with his wool. The Sheep, twisting in pain, said, “Why are you hurting me like this, Mistress? How much weight can my blood add to the wool? If you want my meat, there is the butcher, who will kill me in an instant. But if you want my fleece and wool, there is the shearer, who will shear me without hurting me.”

The least outlay is not always the greatest gain.

Spending the least does not always bring the greatest gain.

AN ASS climbed up to the roof of a building, and frisking about there, broke in the tiling. The owner went up after him and quickly drove him down, beating him severely with a thick wooden cudgel. The Ass said, “Why, I saw the Monkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if it afforded you very great amusement.”

An Ass climbed onto the roof of a building and broke the roof tiles while playing around. The owner went up after him and quickly drove him down, beating him severely with a thick wooden club. The Ass said, “Why, I saw the Monkey do the very same thing yesterday. And you all laughed heartily, as if you found the Monkey’s behavior very amusing.”

A STAG, roundly chased by the hounds and blinded by fear to the danger he was running into, took shelter in a farmyard and hid himself in a shed among the oxen. An Ox gave him this kindly warning: “O unhappy creature! why should you thus, of your own accord, incur destruction and trust yourself in the house of your enemy?” The Stag replied: “Only allow me, friend, to stay where I am, and I will undertake to find some favourable opportunity of effecting my escape.” At the approach of the evening the herdsman came to feed his cattle, but did not see the Stag; and even the farm-bailiff with several laborers passed through the shed and failed to notice him. The Stag, congratulating himself on his safety, began to express his sincere thanks to the Oxen who had kindly helped him in the hour of need. One of them again answered him: “We indeed wish you well, but the danger is not over. There is one other yet to pass through the shed, who has as it were a hundred eyes, and until he has come and gone, your life is still in peril.” At that moment the master himself entered, and having had to complain that his oxen had not been properly fed, he went up to their racks and cried out: “Why is there such a scarcity of fodder? There is not half enough straw for them to lie on. Those lazy fellows have not even swept the cobwebs away.” While he thus examined everything in turn, he spied the tips of the antlers of the Stag peeping out of the straw. Then summoning his laborers, he ordered that the Stag should be seized and killed.

A STAG was being chased hard by hounds. Blinded by fear, he did not see the danger he was running into. He took shelter in a farmyard and hid in a shed among the oxen. An Ox gave him this friendly warning: “You poor creature! Why would you choose to risk your life by hiding in your enemy’s home?” The Stag replied: “Just let me stay here, friend, and I promise to find a good chance to escape.” As evening approached, the herdsman came to feed his cattle but did not see the Stag. Even the farm manager and several laborers passed through the shed without noticing him. The Stag congratulated himself on being safe. He began thanking the Oxen sincerely for kindly helping him when he needed them. One of them warned him again: “We certainly wish you well, but the danger is not over. There is still one more person who will pass through the shed, and he seems to have a hundred eyes. Until he has come and gone, your life is still in danger.” At that moment, the master himself entered. He had reason to complain that his oxen had not been properly fed, so he went to their feeding racks. He cried out: “Why is there so little feed? There is not even half enough straw for them to lie on. Those lazy fellows have not even swept away the cobwebs.” As he inspected everything in turn, he spotted the tips of the Stag’s antlers sticking out of the straw. Then he called his laborers and ordered them to seize and kill the Stag.

A MAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, and a Housedog, taught to watch the house. When he returned home after a good day’s sport, he always gave the Housedog a large share of his spoil. The Hound, feeling much aggrieved at this, reproached his companion, saying, “It is very hard to have all this labor, while you, who do not assist in the chase, luxuriate on the fruits of my exertions.” The Housedog replied, “Do not blame me, my friend, but find fault with the master, who has not taught me to labor, but to depend for subsistence on the labor of others.”

A man had two dogs: a Hound, trained to help him hunt, and a Housedog, trained to guard the house. Whenever the man came home after a good day’s hunting, he gave the Housedog a large share of the catch. The Hound felt deeply wronged and complained to his companion, saying, “It’s very unfair that I do all the work. You don’t help with the hunt, yet you enjoy so much of what I catch.” The Housedog replied, “Don’t blame me, my friend. Blame our master, who hasn’t taught me to work, but to depend on the work of others for my food.”

Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their parents.

Children should not be blamed for their parents' faults.