The Dog and the Shadow
A DOG, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size. He immediately let go of his own, and fiercely attacked the other Dog to get his larger piece from him. He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and his own, because the stream swept it away.
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The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf
A sheperd boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out read more
The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf
A sheperd 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.
There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.
The Flies and the Honey-Pot
A number of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned read more
The Flies and the Honey-Pot
A number of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper's room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves.
Pleasure bought with pains, hurts.
The Farmer and the Snake
One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion read more
The Farmer and the Snake
One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound. Oh, cried the Farmer with his last breath, I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel.
The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.
The Ass and the Horse
AN ASS besought a Horse to spare him a small portion of his feed. read more
The Ass and the Horse
AN ASS besought a Horse to spare him a small portion of his feed.
Yes, said the Horse; if any remains out of what I am now
eating I will give it you for the sake of my own superior
dignity, and if you will come when I reach my own stall in the
evening, I will give you a little sack full of barley. The Ass
replied, Thank you. But I can't think that you, who refuse me a
little matter now. will by and by confer on me a greater
benefit.
The Shepherd and the Wolf
A shepherd once found the whelp of a Wolf and brought it up, and after read more
The Shepherd and the Wolf
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.
The Horse and Groom
A groom used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at read more
The Horse and Groom
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.
The Ass and the Grasshopper
An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the read more
The Ass and the Grasshopper
An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, The dew. The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.
The Boy and the Nettles
A boy was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother, saying, read more
The Boy and the Nettles
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.
Whatever you do, do with all your might.
The Mole and His Mother
A mole, a creature blind from birth, once said to his Mother: I am sure read more
The Mole and His Mother
A mole, a creature blind from birth, once said to his Mother: I am sure than I can see, Mother! In the desire to prove to him his mistake, his Mother placed before him a few grains of frankincense, and asked, What is it?' The young Mole said, It is a pebble. His Mother exclaimed: My son, I am afraid that you are not only blind, but that you have lost your sense of smell.
