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Title:Aesop'sFables

Author:Aesop

Translator:GeorgeFylerTownsend

ReleaseDate:June25,2008[EBook#21]

LastUpdated:October28,2016

Language:English

***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKAESOP'SFABLES***

ProducedbyDavidWidger

AESOP’SFABLES

ByAesop

TranslatedbyGeorgeFylerTownsend

AlphabetizedTitles

CONTENTS

AESOP’SFABLES

TheWolfAndTheLamb

TheBatAndTheWeasels

TheAssAndTheGrasshopper

TheLionAndTheMouse

TheCharcoal-BurnerAndTheFuller

TheFatherAndHisSons

TheBoyHuntingLocusts

TheCockandtheJewel

TheKingdomoftheLion

TheWolfandtheCrane

TheFishermanPiping

HerculesandtheWagoner

TheAntsandtheGrasshopper

TheTravelerandHisDog

TheDogandtheShadow

TheMoleandHisMother

TheHerdsmanandtheLostBull

TheHareandtheTortoise

ThePomegranate,Apple-Tree,andBramble

TheFarmerandtheStork

TheFarmerandtheSnake

TheFawnandHisMother

TheBearandtheFox

TheSwallowandtheCrow

TheMountaininLabor

TheAss,theFox,andtheLion

TheTortoiseandtheEagle

TheFliesandtheHoney-Pot

TheManandtheLion

TheFarmerandtheCranes

TheDogintheManger

TheFoxandtheGoat

TheBearandtheTwoTravelers

TheOxenandtheAxle-Trees

TheThirstyPigeon

TheRavenandtheSwan

TheGoatandtheGoatherd

TheMiser

TheSickLion

TheHorseandGroom

TheAssandtheLapdog

TheLioness

TheBoastingTraveler

TheCatandtheCock

ThePiglet,theSheep,andtheGoat

TheBoyandtheFilberts

TheLioninLove

TheLaborerandtheSnake

TheWolfinSheep’sClothing

TheAssandtheMule

TheFrogsAskingforaKing

TheBoysandtheFrogs

TheSickStag

TheSaltMerchantandHisAss

TheOxenandtheButchers

TheLion,theMouse,andtheFox

TheVainJackdaw

TheGoatherdandtheWildGoats

Oldfriendscannotwithimpunitybesacrificed.

TheMischievousDog

TheFoxWhoHadLostHisTail

TheBoyandtheNettles

TheManandHisTwoSweethearts

TheAstronomer

TheWolvesandtheSheep

TheOldWomanandthePhysician

TheFightingCocksandtheEagle

TheChargerandtheMiller

TheFoxandtheMonkey

TheHorseandHisRider

TheBellyandtheMembers

TheVineandtheGoat

JupiterandtheMonkey

TheWidowandHerLittleMaidens

TheShepherd’sBoyandtheWolf

TheCatandtheBirds

TheKidandtheWolf

TheOxandtheFrog

TheShepherdandtheWolf

TheFatherandHisTwoDaughters

TheFarmerandHisSons

TheCrabandItsMother

TheHeiferandtheOx

TheSwallow,theSerpent,andtheCourtofJustice

TheThiefandHisMother

TheOldManandDeath

TheFir-TreeandtheBramble

TheMouse,theFrog,andtheHawk

TheManBittenbyaDog

TheTwoPots

TheWolfandtheSheep

TheAethiop

TheFishermanandHisNets

TheHuntsmanandtheFisherman

TheOldWomanandtheWine-Jar

TheFoxandtheCrow

TheTwoDogs

TheStagintheOx-Stall

TheHawk,theKite,andthePigeons

TheWidowandtheSheep

TheWildAssandtheLion

TheEagleandtheArrow

TheSickKite

TheLionandtheDolphin

TheLionandtheBoar

TheOne-EyedDoe

TheShepherdandtheSea

TheAss,theCock,andtheLion

TheMiceandtheWeasels

TheMiceinCouncil

TheWolfandtheHousedog

TheRiversandtheSea

ThePlayfulAss

TheThreeTradesmen

TheMasterandHisDogs

TheWolfandtheShepherds

TheDolphins,theWhales,andtheSprat

TheAssCarryingtheImage

TheTwoTravelersandtheAxe

TheOldLion

TheOldHound

TheBeeandJupiter

TheMilk-WomanandHerPail

TheSeasideTravelers

TheBrazierandHisDog

TheAssandHisShadow

TheAssandHisMasters

TheOakandtheReeds

TheFishermanandtheLittleFish

TheHunterandtheWoodman

TheWildBoarandtheFox

TheLioninaFarmyard

MercuryandtheSculptor

TheSwanandtheGoose

TheSwollenFox

TheFoxandtheWoodcutter

TheBirdcatcher,thePartridge,andtheCock

TheMonkeyandtheFishermen

TheFleaandtheWrestler

TheTwoFrogs

TheCatandtheMice

TheLion,theBear,andtheFox

TheDoeandtheLion

TheFarmerandtheFox

TheSeagullandtheKite

ThePhilosopher,theAnts,andMercury

TheMouseandtheBull

TheLionandtheHare

ThePeasantandtheEagle

TheImageofMercuryandtheCarpenter

TheBullandtheGoat

TheDancingMonkeys

TheFoxandtheLeopard

TheMonkeysandTheirMother

TheOaksandJupiter

TheHareandtheHound

TheTravelerandFortune

TheBaldKnight

TheShepherdandtheDog

TheLamp

TheLion,theFox,andtheAss

TheBull,theLioness,andtheWild-BoarHunter

TheOakandtheWoodcutters

TheHenandtheGoldenEggs

TheAssandtheFrogs

Menoftenbearlittlegrievancesbetterthanlarge

TheCrowandtheRaven

TheTreesandtheAxe

TheCrabandtheFox

TheWomanandHerHen

TheAssandtheOldShepherd

TheKitesandtheSwans

TheWolvesandtheSheepdogs

TheHaresandtheFoxes

TheBowmanandLion

TheCamel

TheWaspandtheSnake

TheDogandtheHare

TheBullandtheCalf

TheStag,theWolf,andtheSheep

ThePeacockandtheCrane

TheFoxandtheHedgehog

TheEagle,theCat,andtheWildSow

TheThiefandtheInnkeeper

TheMule

TheHartandtheVine

TheSerpentandtheEagle

TheCrowandthePitcher

TheTwoFrogs

TheWolfandtheFox

TheWalnut-Tree

TheGnatandtheLion

TheMonkeyandtheDolphin

TheJackdawandtheDoves

TheHorseandtheStag

TheKidandtheWolf

TheProphet

TheFoxandtheMonkey

TheThiefandtheHousedog

TheMan,theHorse,theOx,andtheDog

TheApesandtheTwoTravelers

TheWolfandtheShepherd

TheHaresandtheLions

TheLarkandHerYoungOnes

TheFoxandtheLion

TheWeaselandtheMice

TheBoyBathing

TheAssandtheWolf

TheSellerofImages

TheFoxandtheGrapes

TheManandHisWife

ThePeacockandJuno

TheHawkandtheNightingale

TheDog,theCock,andtheFox

TheWolfandtheGoat

TheLionandtheBull

TheGoatandtheAss

TheTownMouseandtheCountryMouse

TheWolf,theFox,andtheApe

TheFlyandtheDraught-Mule

TheFishermen

TheLionandtheThreeBulls

TheFowlerandtheViper

TheHorseandtheAss

TheFoxandtheMask

TheGeeseandtheCranes

TheBlindManandtheWhelp

TheDogsandtheFox

TheCobblerTurnedDoctor

TheWolfandtheHorse

TheBrotherandtheSister

TheWasps,thePartridges,andtheFarmer

TheCrowandMercury

TheNorthWindandtheSun

TheTwoMenWhoWereEnemies

TheGamecocksandthePartridge

TheQuackFrog

TheLion,theWolf,andtheFox

TheDog’sHouse

TheWolfandtheLion

TheBirds,theBeasts,andtheBat

TheSpendthriftandtheSwallow

TheFoxandtheLion

TheOwlandtheBirds

TheTrumpeterTakenPrisoner

TheAssintheLion’sSkin

TheSparrowandtheHare

TheFleaandtheOx

TheGoodsandtheIlls

TheDoveandtheCrow

MercuryandtheWorkmen

TheEagleandtheJackdaw

TheFoxandtheCrane

Jupiter,Neptune,Minerva,andMomus

TheEagleandtheFox

TheManandtheSatyr

TheAssandHisPurchaser

TheTwoBags

TheStagatthePool

TheJackdawandtheFox

TheLarkBuryingHerFather

TheGnatandtheBull

TheBitchandHerWhelps

TheDogsandtheHides

TheShepherdandtheSheep

TheGrasshopperandtheOwl

TheMonkeyandtheCamel

ThePeasantandtheApple-Tree

TheTwoSoldiersandtheRobber

TheTreesUndertheProtectionoftheGods

TheMotherandtheWolf

TheAssandtheHorse

TruthandtheTraveler

TheManslayer

TheLionandtheFox

TheLionandtheEagle

TheHenandtheSwallow

TheBuffoonandtheCountryman

TheCrowandtheSerpent

TheHunterandtheHorseman

TheKing’sSonandthePaintedLion

TheCatandVenus

TheShe-GoatsandTheirBeards

TheMiller,HisSon,andTheirAss

TheCrowandtheSheep

TheFoxandtheBramble

TheWolfandtheLion

TheDogandtheOyster

TheAntandtheDove

ThePartridgeandtheFowler

TheFleaandtheMan

TheThievesandtheCock

TheDogandtheCook

TheTravelersandthePlane-Tree

TheHaresandtheFrogs

TheLion,Jupiter,andtheElephant

TheLambandtheWolf

TheRichManandtheTanner

TheShipwreckedManandtheSea

TheMulesandtheRobbers

TheViperandtheFile

TheLionandtheShepherd

TheCamelandJupiter

ThePantherandtheShepherds

TheAssandtheCharger

TheEagleandHisCaptor

TheBaldManandtheFly

TheOlive-TreeandtheFig-Tree

TheEagleandtheKite

TheAssandHisDriver

TheThrushandtheFowler

TheRoseandtheAmaranth

TheFrogs’ComplaintAgainsttheSun

LIFEOFAESOP

PREFACE

FOOTNOTES

AESOP’SFABLES

TheWolfAndTheLamb

WOLF,meetingwithaLambastrayfromthefold,resolvednottolayviolenthandsonhim,buttofindsomepleatojustifytotheLambtheWolf’srighttoeathim. He thus addressed him: “Sirrah, last year you grossly insulted me.”“Indeed,”bleatedtheLambinamournfultoneofvoice,“Iwasnotthenborn.”ThensaidtheWolf,“Youfeedinmypasture.”“No,goodsir,”repliedtheLamb,“I have not yet tasted grass.” Again said theWolf, “You drink of my well.”“No,” exclaimed the Lamb, “I never yet drankwater, for as yetmymother’smilkisbothfoodanddrinktome.”UponwhichtheWolfseizedhimandatehimup,saying,“Well!Iwon’tremainsupperless,eventhoughyourefuteeveryoneofmyimputations.”Thetyrantwillalwaysfindapretextforhistyranny.

TheBatAndTheWeasels

ABATwhofelluponthegroundandwascaughtbyaWeaselpleadedtobesparedhislife.TheWeaselrefused,sayingthathewasbynaturetheenemyofallbirds.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotabird,butamouse,andthuswassetfree.Shortlyafterwards theBatagainfell to thegroundandwascaughtbyanotherWeasel,whomhelikewiseentreatednottoeathim.TheWeaselsaidthathehadaspecialhostilitytomice.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotamouse,butabat,andthusasecondtimeescaped.Itiswisetoturncircumstancestogoodaccount.


ANASS having heard someGrasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted;and,desiringtopossessthesamecharmsofmelody,demandedwhatsortoffoodtheylivedontogivethemsuchbeautifulvoices.Theyreplied,“Thedew.”TheAss resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died ofhunger.

TheLionAndTheMouse

ALIONwasawakenedfromsleepbyaMouserunningoverhisface.Risingupangrily,hecaughthimandwasabouttokillhim,whentheMousepiteouslyentreated, saying: “If youwould only sparemy life, Iwould be sure to repayyourkindness.”TheLionlaughedandlethimgo.IthappenedshortlyafterthisthattheLionwascaughtbysomehunters,whoboundhimbystrongropestotheground.TheMouse, recognizing his roar, came andgnawed the ropewith histeeth,andsethimfree,exclaiming:“You ridiculed the ideaofmyeverbeingable tohelpyou,notexpecting to

receivefrommeanyrepaymentofyourfavor;nowyouknowthatitispossibleforevenaMousetoconferbenefitsonaLion.”


ACHARCOAL-BURNERcarriedonhistradeinhisownhouse.Onedayhemetafriend,aFuller,andentreatedhimtocomeandlivewithhim,sayingthattheyshouldbefarbetterneighborsandthattheirhousekeepingexpenseswouldbe lessened.TheFuller replied,“Thearrangement is impossibleas faras Iamconcerned,forwhateverIshouldwhiten,youwouldimmediatelyblackenagainwithyourcharcoal.”Likewilldrawlike.

TheFatherAndHisSons

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling amongthemselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, hedeterminedtogivethemapracticalillustrationoftheevilsofdisunion;andforthispurposeheoneday told them tobringhimabundleof sticks.When theyhaddoneso,heplacedthefaggotintothehandsofeachoftheminsuccession,and ordered them to break it in pieces. They triedwith all their strength, andwerenotabletodoit.Henextopenedthefaggot,tookthesticksseparately,onebyone, andagainput them intohis sons’hands,uponwhich theybroke themeasily.Hethenaddressedtheminthesewords:“Mysons,ifyouareofonemind,and unite to assist each other, youwill be as this faggot, uninjured by all theattemptsofyourenemies;butifyouaredividedamongyourselves,youwillbebrokenaseasilyasthesesticks.”


ABOYwashuntingforlocusts.Hehadcaughtagoodlynumber,whenhesawaScorpion, andmistakinghim for a locust, reachedout his hand to takehim.TheScorpion,showinghissting,said:“Ifyouhadbut touchedme,myfriend,youwouldhavelostme,andallyourlocuststoo!”

TheCockandtheJewel

ACOCK,scratchingforfoodforhimselfandhishens,foundapreciousstoneandexclaimed:“Ifyourownerhadfoundthee,andnotI,hewouldhavetakenthee up, and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for nopurpose.Iwouldratherhaveonebarleycornthanallthejewelsintheworld.”

TheKingdomoftheLion

THEBEASTSofthefieldandforesthadaLionastheirking.Hewasneitherwrathful,cruel,nortyrannical,butjustandgentleasakingcouldbe.Duringhisreignhemadearoyalproclamationforageneralassemblyofall thebirdsandbeasts,anddrewupconditionsforauniversalleague,inwhichtheWolfandtheLamb, thePantherand theKid, theTigerand theStag, theDogand theHare,shouldlivetogetherinperfectpeaceandamity.TheHaresaid,“Oh,howIhavelongedtoseethisday,inwhichtheweakshalltaketheirplacewithimpunitybythesideofthestrong.”AndaftertheHaresaidthis,heranforhislife.

TheWolfandtheCrane

AWOLFwhohadabonestuckinhisthroathiredaCrane,foralargesum,toput her head into his mouth and draw out the bone. When the Crane hadextractedtheboneanddemandedthepromisedpayment,theWolf,grinningandgrinding his teeth, exclaimed: “Why, you have surely already had a sufficientrecompense,inhavingbeenpermittedtodrawoutyourheadinsafetyfromthemouthandjawsofawolf.”Inservingthewicked,expectnoreward,andbethankfulifyouescapeinjury

foryourpains.

TheFishermanPiping

AFISHERMANskilled inmusic tookhisfluteandhisnets to theseashore.Standingonaprojectingrock,heplayedseveraltunesinthehopethatthefish,attractedbyhismelody,wouldoftheirownaccorddanceintohisnet,whichhehadplacedbelow.Atlast,havinglongwaitedinvain,helaidasidehisflute,andcastinghisnetintothesea,madeanexcellenthauloffish.Whenhesawthemleapingaboutinthenetupontherockhesaid:“Oyoumostperversecreatures,when I piped you would not dance, but now that I have ceased you do somerrily.”


ACARTERwasdrivingawagonalongacountrylane,whenthewheelssankdowndeepintoarut.Therusticdriver,stupefiedandaghast,stoodlookingatthewagon,anddidnothingbututter loudcriestoHerculestocomeandhelphim.Hercules,itissaid,appearedandthusaddressedhim:“Putyourshoulderstothewheels,myman.Goadonyourbullocks,andnevermorepray tomeforhelp,until you have done your best to help yourself, or depend upon it you willhenceforthprayinvain.”Self-helpisthebesthelp.


THEANTSwere spendinga finewinter’sdaydryinggraincollected in thesummertime. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestlybeggedforalittlefood.TheAntsinquiredofhim,“Whydidyounottreasureupfood during the summer?”He replied, “I had not leisure enough. I passed thedaysinsinging.”Theythensaidinderision:“Ifyouwerefoolishenoughtosingallthesummer,youmustdancesupperlesstobedinthewinter.”


ATRAVELERabout to setoutona journey sawhisDog standat thedoorstretching himself. He asked him sharply: “Why do you stand there gaping?Everythingisreadybutyou,socomewithmeinstantly.”TheDog,wagginghistail,replied:“O,master!Iamquiteready;itisyouforwhomIamwaiting.”Theloitereroftenblamesdelayonhismoreactivefriend.

TheDogandtheShadow

ADOG,crossingabridgeovera streamwithapieceof flesh inhismouth,saw his own shadow in thewater and took it for that of anotherDog,with apiece ofmeat double his own in size.He immediately let go of his own, andfiercely attacked the otherDog to get his larger piece from him.He thus lostboth: thatwhichhegrasped at in thewater, because itwas a shadow; andhisown,becausethestreamsweptitaway.

TheMoleandHisMother

AMOLE,acreatureblindfrombirth,oncesaidtohisMother:“IamsurethanIcansee,Mother!”Inthedesiretoprovetohimhismistake,hisMotherplacedbefore him a few grains of frankincense, and asked, “What is it?”The youngMolesaid,“Itisapebble.”HisMotherexclaimed:“Myson,Iamafraidthatyouarenotonlyblind,butthatyouhavelostyoursenseofsmell.”


AHERDSMAN tending his flock in a forest lost aBull-calf from the fold.Afteralongandfruitlesssearch,hemadeavowthat,ifhecouldonlydiscoverthethiefwhohadstolentheCalf,hewouldofferalambinsacrificetoHermes,Pan,andtheGuardianDeitiesoftheforest.Notlongafterwards,asheascendeda small hillock, he saw at its foot aLion feeding on theCalf.Terrified at thesight,heliftedhiseyesandhishandstoheaven,andsaid:“JustnowIvowedtoofferalambtotheGuardianDeitiesoftheforestifIcouldonlyfindoutwhohadrobbedme;butnowthatIhavediscoveredthethief,Iwouldwillinglyaddafull-grownBulltotheCalfIhavelost,ifImayonlysecuremyownescapefromhiminsafety.”


AHAREonedayridiculedtheshortfeetandslowpaceoftheTortoise,whoreplied,laughing:“Thoughyoubeswiftasthewind,Iwillbeatyouinarace.”The Hare, believing her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to theproposal;andtheyagreedthattheFoxshouldchoosethecourseandfixthegoal.Onthedayappointedfortheracethetwostartedtogether.TheTortoiseneverforamomentstopped,butwentonwithaslowbutsteadypacestraighttotheendofthecourse.TheHare,lyingdownbythewayside,fellfastasleep.Atlastwakingup,andmovingasfastashecould,hesawtheTortoisehadreachedthegoal,andwascomfortablydozingafterherfatigue.Slowbutsteadywinstherace.


THEPOMEGRANATE andApple-Tree disputed as towhichwas themostbeautiful.When their strifewas at its height, aBramble from the neighboringhedgeliftedupitsvoice,andsaidinaboastfultone:“Pray,mydearfriends,inmypresenceatleastceasefromsuchvaindisputings.”


AFARMERplacednetsonhisnewly-sownplowlandsandcaughtanumberofCranes,whichcame topickuphis seed.With themhe trappedaStork thathadfracturedhisleginthenetandwasearnestlybeseechingtheFarmertosparehis life. “Pray save me,Master,” he said, “and let me go free this once.Mybrokenlimbshouldexciteyourpity.Besides,IamnoCrane,IamaStork,abirdofexcellentcharacter;andseehowI loveandslaveformyfatherandmother.Look too, at my feathers—they are not the least like those of a Crane.” TheFarmer laughed aloud and said, “Itmaybe all asyou say, I onlyknow this: Ihave taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you must die in theircompany.”Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.


ONEWINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozenwith cold.He hadcompassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The Snake wasquickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit itsbenefactor, inflictingonhimamortalwound. “Oh,”cried theFarmerwithhislastbreath,“Iamrightlyservedforpityingascoundrel.”Thegreatestkindnesswillnotbindtheungrateful.

TheFawnandHisMother

AYOUNGFAWNoncesaid tohisMother,“Youare larger thanadog,andswifter,andmoreusedtorunning,andyouhaveyourhornsasadefense;why,then,OMother!dothehoundsfrightenyouso?”Shesmiled,andsaid:“Iknowfullwell,myson,thatallyousayistrue.Ihavetheadvantagesyoumention,butwhenIheareventhebarkofasingledogIfeelreadytofaint,andflyawayasfastasIcan.”Noargumentswillgivecouragetothecoward.

TheBearandtheFox

ABEARboastedverymuchofhisphilanthropy,sayingthatofallanimalshewasthemosttenderinhisregardforman,forhehadsuchrespectforhimthathewould not even touch his dead body. A Fox hearing these words said with asmiletotheBear,“Oh!thatyouwouldeatthedeadandnottheliving.”


THESWALLOWand theCrowhad a contention about their plumage.TheCrowputanendtothedisputebysaying,“Yourfeathersareallverywellinthespring,butmineprotectmeagainstthewinter.”Fairweatherfriendsarenotworthmuch.

TheMountaininLabor

A MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises wereheard, and crowds of people came from all parts to seewhatwas thematter.Whiletheywereassembledinanxiousexpectationofsometerriblecalamity,outcameaMouse.Don’tmakemuchadoaboutnothing.


THE ASS and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for theirmutualprotection,wentoutintotheforesttohunt.TheyhadnotproceededfarwhentheymetaLion.TheFox,seeingimminentdanger,approachedtheLionandpromisedtocontriveforhimthecaptureoftheAssiftheLionwouldpledgehiswordnottoharmtheFox.Then,uponassuringtheAssthathewouldnotbeinjured,theFoxledhimtoadeeppitandarrangedthatheshouldfallintoit.TheLion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, andattackedtheAssathisleisure.


ATORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of herhardfate,thatnoonewouldteachhertofly.AnEagle,hoveringnear,heardherlamentationanddemandedwhatrewardshewouldgivehimifhewouldtakeheraloftandfloatherintheair.“Iwillgiveyou,”shesaid,“alltherichesoftheRedSea.” “I will teach you to fly then,” said the Eagle; and taking her up in histalonshecarriedheralmosttothecloudssuddenlyhelethergo,andshefellona lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in themomentofdeath:“Ihavedeservedmypresent fate; forwhathad I todowithwingsandclouds,whocanwithdifficultymoveaboutontheearth?”Ifmenhadalltheywished,theywouldbeoftenruined.


A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had beenoverturned in a housekeeper’s room, and placing their feet in it, ate greedily.Theirfeet,however,becamesosmearedwiththehoneythattheycouldnotusetheir wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they wereexpiring,theyexclaimed,“Ofoolishcreaturesthatweare,forthesakeofalittlepleasurewehavedestroyedourselves.”Pleasureboughtwithpains,hurts.

TheManandtheLion

AMANandaLiontraveledtogetherthroughtheforest.Theysoonbegantoboast of their respective superiority to each other in strength and prowess.Astheyweredisputing,theypassedastatuecarvedinstone,whichrepresented“aLionstrangledbyaMan.”Thetravelerpointedtoitandsaid:“Seethere!Howstrong we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts.” The Lionreplied: “This statuewasmadebyoneof youmen. IfweLions knewhow toerectstatues,youwouldseetheManplacedunderthepawoftheLion.”Onestoryisgood,tillanotheristold.


SOMECRANESmadetheirfeedinggroundsonsomeplowlandsnewlysownwithwheat.ForalongtimetheFarmer,brandishinganemptysling,chasedthemawaybytheterrorheinspired;butwhenthebirdsfoundthattheslingwasonlyswungintheair,theyceasedtotakeanynoticeofitandwouldnotmove.TheFarmer,onseeingthis,chargedhisslingwithstones,andkilledagreatnumber.Theremainingbirdsatonceforsookhisfields,cryingtoeachother,“Itistimefor us to be off to Liliput: for this man is no longer content to scare us, butbeginstoshowusinearnestwhathecando.”Ifwordssufficenot,blowsmustfollow.

TheDogintheManger

ADOGlayinamanger,andbyhisgrowlingandsnappingpreventedtheoxenfromeatingthehaywhichhadbeenplacedforthem.“WhataselfishDog!”saidoneofthemtohiscompanions;“hecannoteatthehayhimself,andyetrefusestoallowthosetoeatwhocan.”

TheFoxandtheGoat

AFOXoneday fell intoadeepwellandcould findnomeansofescape.AGoat,overcomewiththirst,cametothesamewell,andseeingtheFox,inquiredif thewaterwasgood.Concealinghis sadplightunderamerryguise, theFoxindulgedinalavishpraiseofthewater,sayingitwasexcellentbeyondmeasure,and encouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of his thirst,thoughtlessly jumpeddown,but justashedrank, theFox informedhimof thedifficulty theywereboth inandsuggesteda schemefor theircommonescape.“If,”saidhe,“youwillplaceyourforefeetuponthewallandbendyourhead,Iwillrunupyourbackandescape,andwillhelpyououtafterwards.”TheGoatreadilyassentedand theFox leapeduponhisback.Steadyinghimselfwith theGoat’shorns,hesafelyreachedthemouthofthewellandmadeoffasfastashecould.WhentheGoatupbraidedhimforbreakinghispromise,heturnedaroundandcriedout,“Youfoolisholdfellow!Ifyouhadasmanybrainsinyourheadasyouhavehairsinyourbeard,youwouldneverhavegonedownbeforeyouhadinspectedthewayup,norhaveexposedyourselftodangersfromwhichyouhadnomeansofescape.”Lookbeforeyouleap.


TWOMENweretravelingtogether,whenaBearsuddenlymetthemontheirpath.Oneof themclimbedupquickly intoa treeandconcealedhimself in thebranches.Theother,seeingthathemustbeattacked,fellflatontheground,andwhentheBearcameupandfelthimwithhissnout,andsmelthimallover,heheldhisbreath,andfeigned theappearanceofdeathasmuchashecould.TheBear soon lefthim, for it is saidhewillnot touchadeadbody.Whenhewasquitegone,theotherTravelerdescendedfromthetree,andjocularlyinquiredofhis friend what it was the Bear had whispered in his ear. “He gave me thisadvice,”hiscompanionreplied.“Nevertravelwithafriendwhodesertsyouattheapproachofdanger.”Misfortuneteststhesincerityoffriends.


AHEAVYWAGONwas being dragged along a country lane by a team ofOxen. The Axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly; whereupon the Oxen,turning round, thus addressed thewheels: “Hullo there!why do youmake somuchnoise?Webearallthelabor,andwe,notyou,oughttocryout.”Thosewhosuffermostcryouttheleast.

TheThirstyPigeon

APIGEON,oppressedbyexcessivethirst,sawagobletofwaterpaintedonasignboard.Notsupposingittobeonlyapicture,sheflewtowardsitwithaloudwhir and unwittingly dashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly.Havingbrokenherwingsbytheblow,shefelltotheground,andwascaughtbyoneofthebystanders.Zealshouldnotoutrundiscretion.

TheRavenandtheSwan

ARAVENsawaSwananddesired tosecure forhimself thesamebeautifulplumage.SupposingthattheSwan’ssplendidwhitecolorarosefromhiswashingin thewater inwhich he swam, theRaven left the altars in the neighborhoodwherehepickeduphisliving,andtookupresidenceinthelakesandpools.Butcleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color,whilethroughwantoffoodheperished.ChangeofhabitcannotalterNature.


AGOATHERDhadsoughttobringbackastraygoattohisflock.Hewhistledandsoundedhishorninvain;thestragglerpaidnoattentiontothesummons.Atlast theGoatherd threwastone,andbreaking itshorn,begged theGoatnot totell hismaster. TheGoat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the hornwill speakthoughIbesilent.”Donotattempttohidethingswhichcannotbehid.

TheMiser

AMISERsoldallthathehadandboughtalumpofgold,whichheburiedinaholeinthegroundbythesideofanoldwallandwenttolookatdaily.Oneofhisworkmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch hismovements.He soondiscovered the secretof thehidden treasure, anddiggingdown,cametothelumpofgold,andstoleit.TheMiser,onhisnextvisit,foundthe hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. Aneighbor,seeinghimovercomewithgriefandlearningthecause,said,“Praydonotgrieveso;butgoandtakeastone,andplaceitinthehole,andfancythatthegoldisstilllyingthere.Itwilldoyouquitethesameservice;forwhenthegoldwasthere,youhaditnot,asyoudidnotmaketheslightestuseofit.”

TheSickLion

ALION,unablefromoldageandinfirmitiestoprovidehimselfwithfoodbyforce,resolvedtodosobyartifice.Hereturnedtohisden,andlyingdownthere,pretendedtobesick,takingcarethathissicknessshouldbepubliclyknown.Thebeastsexpressedtheirsorrow,andcameonebyonetohisden,wheretheLiondevoured them. After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the FoxdiscoveredthetrickandpresentinghimselftotheLion,stoodontheoutsideofthe cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was. “I am verymiddling,”repliedtheLion,“butwhydoyoustandwithout?Prayenterwithintotalkwithme.”“No,thankyou,”saidtheFox.“Inoticethattherearemanyprintsoffeetenteringyourcave,butIseenotraceofanyreturning.”Heiswisewhoiswarnedbythemisfortunesofothers.

TheHorseandGroom

AGROOMusedtospendwholedaysincurrycombingandrubbingdownhisHorse, 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, youshouldgroommeless,andfeedmemore.”

TheAssandtheLapdog

AMANhadanAss,andaMalteseLapdog,averygreatbeauty.TheAsswasleftinastableandhadplentyofoatsandhaytoeat,justasanyotherAsswould.The Lapdog knewmany tricks andwas a great favoritewith hismaster,whooftenfondledhimandseldomwentouttodinewithoutbringinghimhomesometidbittoeat.TheAss,onthecontrary,hadmuchworktodoingrindingthecorn-mill and in carryingwood from the forestorburdens from the farm.HeoftenlamentedhisownhardfateandcontrasteditwiththeluxuryandidlenessoftheLapdog,tillatlastonedayhebrokehiscordsandhalter,andgallopedintohismaster’shouse,kickinguphisheelswithoutmeasure,andfriskingandfawningaswellashecould.Henext tried to jumpabouthismasterashehadseentheLapdogdo,buthebrokethetableandsmashedallthedishesuponittoatoms.Hethenattempted to lickhismaster,and jumpeduponhisback.Theservants,hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of theirmaster, quicklyrelievedhim,anddroveouttheAsstohisstablewithkicksandclubsandcuffs.TheAss,ashereturnedtohisstallbeatennearlytodeath,thuslamented:“Ihavebroughtitallonmyself!WhycouldInothavebeencontentedtolaborwithmycompanions,andnotwishtobeidleallthedaylikethatuselesslittleLapdog!”

TheLioness

ACONTROVERSYprevailedamongthebeastsofthefieldastowhichoftheanimalsdeservedthemostcreditforproducingthegreatestnumberofwhelpsatabirth.TheyrushedclamorouslyintothepresenceoftheLionessanddemandedofherthesettlementofthedispute.“Andyou,”theysaid,“howmanysonshaveyouatabirth?”TheLionesslaughedatthem,andsaid:“Why!Ihaveonlyone;butthatoneisaltogetherathoroughbredLion.”Thevalueisintheworth,notinthenumber.

TheBoastingTraveler

AMANwhohadtraveledinforeignlandsboastedverymuch,onreturningtohisowncountry,ofthemanywonderfulandheroicfeatshehadperformedinthedifferentplaceshehadvisited.Amongotherthings,hesaidthatwhenhewasatRhodes he had leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leapanywherenearhimastothat,therewereinRhodesmanypersonswhosawhimdo it andwhom he could call aswitnesses.One of the bystanders interruptedhim, saying: “Now, my good man, if this be all true there is no need ofwitnesses.SupposethistobeRhodes,andleapforus.”

TheCatandtheCock

ACATcaughtaCock,andponderedhowhemightfindareasonableexcuseforeatinghim.Heaccusedhimofbeinganuisance tomenbycrowing in thenighttime and not permitting them to sleep. The Cock defended himself bysaying that hedid this for thebenefit ofmen, that theymight rise in time fortheir labors. The Cat replied, “Although you abound in specious apologies, Ishallnotremainsupperless;”andhemadeamealofhim.


AYOUNGPIGwasshutupinafold-yardwithaGoatandaSheep.Ononeoccasion when the shepherd laid hold of him, he grunted and squeaked andresistedviolently.TheSheepand theGoat complainedofhisdistressingcries,saying, “Heoftenhandlesus, andwedonot cryout.”To this thePig replied,“Yourhandlingandmineareverydifferentthings.Hecatchesyouonlyforyourwool,oryourmilk,buthelaysholdonmeformyverylife.”


ABOYputhishandintoapitcherfulloffilberts.Hegraspedasmanyashecouldpossiblyhold, butwhenhe tried to pull out his hand, hewaspreventedfromdoingsobytheneckofthepitcher.Unwillingtolosehisfilberts,andyetunable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented hisdisappointment.Abystandersaidtohim,“Besatisfiedwithhalfthequantity,andyouwillreadilydrawoutyourhand.”Donotattempttoomuchatonce.

TheLioninLove

A LION demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in marriage. The Father,unwillingtogrant,andyetafraidtorefusehisrequest,hituponthisexpedienttoridhimselfofhisimportunities.HeexpressedhiswillingnesstoaccepttheLionasthesuitorofhisdaughterononecondition:thatheshouldallowhimtoextracthisteeth,andcutoffhisclaws,ashisdaughterwasfearfullyafraidofboth.TheLioncheerfullyassentedtotheproposal.Butwhenthetoothless,clawlessLionreturnedtorepeathisrequest,theWoodman,nolongerafraid,setuponhimwithhisclub,anddrovehimawayintotheforest.


ASNAKE,havingmadehisholeclose to theporchofacottage, inflictedamortal bite on the Cottager’s infant son. Grieving over his loss, the FatherresolvedtokilltheSnake.Thenextday,whenitcameoutofitsholeforfood,hetookuphisaxe,butbyswingingtoohastily,misseditsheadandcutoffonlytheendofitstail.AftersometimetheCottager,afraidthattheSnakewouldbitehimalso,endeavoredtomakepeace,andplacedsomebreadandsaltinthehole.TheSnake,slightlyhissing,said:“Therecanhenceforthbenopeacebetweenus;forwheneverIseeyouIshallrememberthelossofmytail,andwheneveryouseemeyouwillbethinkingofthedeathofyourson.”Noonetrulyforgetsinjuriesinthepresenceofhimwhocausedtheinjury.


ONCEUPONATIMEaWolfresolvedtodisguisehisappearanceinordertosecure foodmore easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pasturedwith theflockdeceivingtheshepherdbyhiscostume.Intheeveninghewasshutupbytheshepherdinthefold;thegatewasclosed,andtheentrancemadethoroughlysecure.Buttheshepherd,returningtothefoldduringthenighttoobtainmeatforthenextday,mistakenlycaughtuptheWolf insteadofasheep,andkilledhiminstantly.Harmseek,harmfind.

TheAssandtheMule

AMULETEERsetforthonajourney,drivingbeforehimanAssandaMule,bothwellladen.TheAss,aslongashetraveledalongtheplain,carriedhisloadwithease,butwhenhebegantoascendthesteeppathofthemountain,felthisloadtobemorethanhecouldbear.Heentreatedhiscompaniontorelievehimofasmallportion,thathemightcarryhometherest;buttheMulepaidnoattentiontotherequest.TheAssshortlyafterwardsfelldowndeadunderhisburden.Notknowingwhatelsetodoinsowildaregion,theMuleteerplacedupontheMuletheloadcarriedbytheAssinadditiontohisown,andatthetopofallplacedthehideoftheAss,afterhehadskinnedhim.TheMule,groaningbeneathhisheavyburden,saidtohimself:“Iamtreatedaccordingtomydeserts.IfIhadonlybeenwillingtoassisttheAssalittleinhisneed,Ishouldnotnowbebearing,togetherwithhisburden,himselfaswell.”


THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors toJupiterentreatingforaKing.Perceivingtheirsimplicity,hecastdownahugelogintothelake.TheFrogswereterrifiedatthesplashoccasionedbyitsfallandhidthemselvesinthedepthsofthepool.Butassoonastheyrealizedthatthehugelogwasmotionless, they swam again to the top of thewater, dismissed theirfears,climbedup,andbegansquattingonitincontempt.Aftersometimetheybegantothinkthemselvesill-treatedintheappointmentofsoinertaRuler,andsentaseconddeputationtoJupitertopraythathewouldsetoverthemanothersovereign.HethengavethemanEeltogovernthem.WhentheFrogsdiscoveredhiseasygoodnature,theysentyetathirdtimetoJupitertobeghimtochoosefor themstillanotherKing.Jupiter,displeasedwithall theircomplaints,sentaHeron,whopreyedupontheFrogsdaybydaytilltherewerenonelefttocroakuponthelake.

TheBoysandtheFrogs

SOMEBOYS,playingnearapond,sawanumberofFrogsinthewaterandbegan to pelt themwith stones. They killed several of them,when one of theFrogs,liftinghisheadoutofthewater,criedout:“Praystop,myboys:whatissporttoyou,isdeathtous.”

TheSickStag

A SICK STAG lay down in a quiet corner of its pasture-ground. Hiscompanions came in great numbers to inquire after his health, and each onehelpedhimselftoashareofthefoodwhichhadbeenplacedforhisuse;sothathedied,notfromhissickness,butfromthefailureofthemeansofliving.Evilcompanionsbringmorehurtthanprofit.


APEDDLERdrove hisAss to the seashore to buy salt.His road home layacrossastreamintowhichhisAss,makingafalsestep,fellbyaccidentandroseup againwith his load considerably lighter, as thewatermelted the sack.ThePeddlerretracedhisstepsandrefilledhispannierswithalargerquantityofsaltthanbefore.Whenhecameagaintothestream,theAssfelldownonpurposeinthe same spot, and, regaining his feet with the weight of his load muchdiminished, brayed triumphantly as if he had obtained what he desired. ThePeddler saw through his trick and drove him for the third time to the coast,whereheboughtacargoofspongesinsteadofsalt.TheAss,againplayingthefool,felldownonpurposewhenhereachedthestream,butthespongesbecameswollenwithwater, greatly increasing his load.And thus his trick recoiled onhim,forhenowcarriedonhisbackadoubleburden.


THEOXENonceuponatimesoughttodestroytheButchers,whopracticedatradedestructivetotheirrace.Theyassembledonacertaindaytocarryouttheirpurpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest.But one of themwhowasexceedinglyold(formanyafieldhadheplowed)thusspoke:“TheseButchers,itistrue,slaughterus,buttheydosowithskillfulhands,andwithnounnecessarypain.Ifwegetridof them,weshall fall into thehandsofunskillfuloperators,and thus suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that though all theButchersshouldperish,yetwillmenneverwantbeef.”Donotbeinahurrytochangeoneevilforanother.


ALION,fatiguedbytheheatofasummer’sday,fellfastasleepinhisden.AMouseranoverhismaneandearsandwokehimfromhisslumbers.Heroseupandshookhimself ingreatwrath,andsearchedeverycornerofhisdentofindtheMouse.AFoxseeinghimsaid:“AfineLionyouare, tobefrightenedofaMouse.”“‘TisnottheMouseIfear,”saidtheLion;“Iresenthisfamiliarityandill-breeding.”Littlelibertiesaregreatoffenses.

TheVainJackdaw

JUPITERDETERMINED,itissaid,tocreateasovereignoverthebirds,andmade proclamation that on a certain day they should all present themselvesbeforehim,whenhewouldhimselfchoosethemostbeautifulamongthemtobeking.TheJackdaw,knowinghisownugliness,searchedthroughthewoodsandfields, and collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of hiscompanions, and stuck them in all parts of his body, hoping thereby tomakehimselfthemostbeautifulofall.Whentheappointeddayarrived,andthebirdshadassembledbeforeJupiter,theJackdawalsomadehisappearanceinhismanyfeathered finery.Butwhen Jupiter proposed tomake him king because of thebeautyofhisplumage, thebirds indignantlyprotested, andeachplucked fromhimhisownfeathers,leavingtheJackdawnothingbutaJackdaw.


AGOATHERD,drivinghisflockfromtheirpastureateventide,foundsomeWildGoatsmingledamongthem,andshutthemuptogetherwithhisownforthenight.Thenextday it snowedveryhard, so thathecouldnot take theherd totheirusualfeedingplaces,butwasobligedtokeeptheminthefold.Hegavehisown goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the strangersmoreabundantlyinthehopeofenticingthemtostaywithhimandofmakingthemhisown.When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and theWild Goatsscamperedawayas fastas theycould to themountains.TheGoatherdscoldedthem for their ingratitude in leavinghim,whenduring the stormhehad takenmorecareofthemthanofhisownherd.Oneofthem,turningabout,saidtohim:“Thatistheveryreasonwhywearesocautious;forifyouyesterdaytreatedusbetter than theGoatsyouhavehadso long, it isplainalso that ifotherscameafterus,youwouldinthesamemannerpreferthemtoourselves.”

Oldfriendscannotwithimpunitybesacrificedfornewones.

TheMischievousDog

ADOGused to runupquietly to theheels of everyonehemet, and tobitethemwithoutnotice.HismastersuspendedabellabouthisnecksothattheDogmight give notice of his presence wherever he went. Thinking it a mark ofdistinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over themarketplace.One day an old hound said to him: “Why do youmake such anexhibitionofyourself?Thatbellthatyoucarryisnot,believeme,anyorderofmerit,butonthecontraryamarkofdisgrace,apublicnoticetoallmentoavoidyouasanillmannereddog.”Notorietyisoftenmistakenforfame.


A FOX caught in a trap escaped, but in so doing lost his tail. Thereafter,feelinghislifeaburdenfromtheshameandridiculetowhichhewasexposed,heschemed toconvinceall theotherFoxes thatbeing taillesswasmuchmoreattractive,thusmakingupforhisowndeprivation.HeassembledagoodmanyFoxesandpubliclyadvisedthemtocutofftheirtails,sayingthattheywouldnotonlylookmuchbetterwithoutthem,butthattheywouldgetridoftheweightofthebrush,whichwasaverygreatinconvenience.Oneoftheminterruptinghimsaid, “If you had not yourself lost your tail, my friend, you would not thuscounselus.”

TheBoyandtheNettles

A BOY was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother, saying,“Althoughithurtsmeverymuch,Ionlytoucheditgently.”“Thatwasjustwhyitstungyou,”saidhisMother.“ThenexttimeyoutouchaNettle,graspitboldly,anditwillbesoftassilktoyourhand,andnotintheleasthurtyou.”Whateveryoudo,dowithallyourmight.


AMIDDLE-AGEDMAN,whose hair had begun to turn gray, courted twowomenatthesametime.Oneofthemwasyoung,andtheotherwelladvancedin years. The elder woman, ashamed to be courted by a man younger thanherself,madeapoint,wheneverheradmirervisitedher,topulloutsomeportionofhisblackhairs.Theyounger,onthecontrary,notwishingtobecomethewifeofanoldman,wasequallyzealousinremovingeverygrayhairshecouldfind.Thusitcametopassthatbetweenthembothheverysoonfoundthathehadnotahairleftonhishead.Thosewhoseektopleaseeverybodypleasenobody.

TheAstronomer

AN ASTRONOMER used to go out at night to observe the stars. Oneevening,ashewanderedthroughthesuburbswithhiswholeattentionfixedonthesky,he fellaccidentally intoadeepwell.Whilehe lamentedandbewailedhissoresandbruises,andcriedloudlyforhelp,aneighborrantothewell,andlearningwhathadhappenedsaid:“Harkye,old fellow,why, instriving topryintowhatisinheaven,doyounotmanagetoseewhatisonearth?”


“WHYSHOULD there alwaysbe this fear and slaughter betweenus?” saidtheWolves to theSheep.“Thoseevil-disposedDogshavemuch toanswerfor.Theyalwaysbarkwheneverweapproachyouandattackusbeforewehavedoneanyharm.Ifyouwouldonlydismissthemfromyourheels,theremightsoonbetreatiesofpeaceandreconciliationbetweenus.”TheSheep,poorsillycreatures,wereeasilybeguiledanddismissedtheDogs,whereupontheWolvesdestroyedtheunguardedflockattheirownpleasure.


ANOLDWOMANhaving lost theuseofhereyes,called inaPhysician tohealthem,andmadethisbargainwithhiminthepresenceofwitnesses:thatifheshouldcureherblindness,heshouldreceivefromherasumofmoney;butifher infirmity remained, she should give him nothing. This agreement beingmade,thePhysician,timeaftertime,appliedhissalvetohereyes,andoneveryvisittooksomethingaway,stealingallherpropertylittlebylittle.Andwhenhehadgotallshehad,hehealedheranddemandedthepromisedpayment.TheOldWoman,whensherecoveredhersightandsawnoneofhergoodsinherhouse,wouldgive himnothing.ThePhysician insisted onhis claim, and, as she stillrefused, summonedher before the Judge.TheOldWoman, standingup in theCourt,argued:“Thismanherespeaksthetruthinwhathesays;forIdidpromiseto give him a sum ofmoney if I should recovermy sight: but if I continuedblind, Iwas to give him nothing.Now he declares that I am healed. I on thecontraryaffirmthatIamstillblind;forwhenIlosttheuseofmyeyes,Isawinmyhousevariouschattelsandvaluablegoods:butnow,thoughheswearsIamcuredofmyblindness,Iamnotabletoseeasinglethinginit.”


TWOGAMECOCKSwerefiercelyfightingforthemasteryofthefarmyard.Oneat lastput theother toflight.ThevanquishedCockskulkedawayandhidhimselfinaquietcorner,whiletheconqueror,flyinguptoahighwall,flappedhiswingsandcrowedexultinglywithallhismight.AnEaglesailingthroughtheairpounceduponhimandcarriedhimoff inhis talons.ThevanquishedCockimmediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputedmastery.Pridegoesbeforedestruction.


ACHARGER,feelingtheinfirmitiesofage,wassenttoworkinamillinsteadofgoingouttobattle.Butwhenhewascompelledtogrindinsteadofservinginthewars,hebewailedhischangeoffortuneandcalledtomindhisformerstate,saying, “Ah!Miller, I had indeed togo campaigningbefore, but Iwasbarbedfrom counter to tail, and a man went along to groomme; and now I cannotunderstandwhatailedmetopreferthemillbeforethebattle.”“Forbear,”saidtheMillertohim,“harpingonwhatwasofyore,foritisthecommonlotofmortalstosustaintheupsanddownsoffortune.”

TheFoxandtheMonkey

AMONKEYoncedancedinanassemblyoftheBeasts,andsopleasedthemallbyhisperformancethattheyelectedhimtheirKing.AFox,envyinghimthehonor,discoveredapieceofmeatlyinginatrap,andleadingtheMonkeytotheplacewhereitwas,saidthatshehadfoundastore,buthadnotusedit,shehadkeptitforhimastreasuretroveofhiskingdom,andcounseledhimtolayholdofit. TheMonkey approached carelessly andwas caught in the trap; and on hisaccusing the Fox of purposely leading him into the snare, she replied, “OMonkey, and are you, with such amind as yours, going to be King over theBeasts?”

TheHorseandHisRider

AHORSESOLDIERtooktheutmostpainswithhischarger.Aslongas thewarlasted,helookeduponhimashisfellow-helperinallemergenciesandfedhimcarefullywithhayandcorn.Butwhen thewarwasover,heonlyallowedhim chaff to eat andmade him carry heavy loads ofwood, subjecting him tomuch slavish drudgery and ill-treatment.Warwas again proclaimed, however,and when the trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier put on hischargeritsmilitarytrappings,andmounted,beingcladinhisheavycoatofmail.The Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no longer equal to theburden,and said tohismaster, “Youmustnowgo to thewaron foot, foryouhavetransformedmefromaHorseintoanAss;andhowcanyouexpectthatIcanagainturninamomentfromanAsstoaHorse?”


THE MEMBERS of the Body rebelled against the Belly, and said, “Whyshouldwebeperpetuallyengagedinadministeringtoyourwants,whileyoudonothingbut take your rest, and enjoyyourself in luxury and self-indulgence?”TheMemberscarriedouttheirresolveandrefusedtheirassistancetotheBelly.The whole Body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet, mouth, andeyes,whentoolate,repentedoftheirfolly.

TheVineandtheGoat

AVINEwasluxuriantinthetimeofvintagewithleavesandgrapes.AGoat,passingby,nibbleditsyoungtendrilsanditsleaves.TheVineaddressedhimandsaid:“Whydoyouthusinjuremewithoutacause,andcropmyleaves?Istherenoyounggrassleft?ButIshallnothavetowaitlongformyjustrevenge;forifyounowshouldcropmyleaves,andcutmedowntomyroot,Ishallprovidethewinetopouroveryouwhenyouareledasavictimtothesacrifice.”

JupiterandtheMonkey

JUPITERISSUEDaproclamationtoallthebeastsoftheforestandpromiseda royal reward to the onewhose offspring should be deemed the handsomest.TheMonkeycamewiththerestandpresented,withallamother’stenderness,aflat-nosed,hairless, ill-featuredyoungMonkeyasacandidatefor thepromisedreward. A general laugh saluted her on the presentation of her son. Sheresolutelysaid,“IknownotwhetherJupiterwillallot theprize tomyson,butthis I do know, that he is at least in the eyes of me his mother, the dearest,handsomest,andmostbeautifulofall.”


AWIDOWwhowasfondofcleaninghadtwolittlemaidenstowaitonher.Shewas in the habit ofwaking them early in themorning, at cockcrow. Themaidens, aggravated by such excessive labor, resolved to kill the cock whorousedtheirmistresssoearly.Whentheyhaddonethis,theyfoundthattheyhadonly prepared for themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no longerhearingthehourfromthecock,wokethemuptotheirworkinthemiddleofthenight.


ASHEPHERD-BOY,whowatched a flock of sheep near a village, broughtoutthevillagersthreeorfourtimesbycryingout,“Wolf!Wolf!”andwhenhisneighborscametohelphim,laughedatthemfortheirpains.TheWolf,however,did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in anagonyofterror:“Pray,docomeandhelpme;theWolfiskillingthesheep;”butnoonepaidanyheedtohiscries,norrenderedanyassistance.TheWolf,havingnocauseoffear,athisleisurelaceratedordestroyedthewholeflock.Thereisnobelievingaliar,evenwhenhespeaksthetruth.

TheCatandtheBirds

ACAT,hearingthattheBirdsinacertainaviarywereailingdressedhimselfupasaphysician,and, takinghiscaneandabagof instrumentsbecominghisprofession,went to call on them.He knocked at the door and inquired of theinmates how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy toprescribeforthemandcurethem.Theyreplied,“Weareallverywell,andshallcontinue so, if youwill only be good enough to go away, and leave us asweare.”

TheKidandtheWolf

AKIDstandingontheroofofahouse,outofharm’sway,sawaWolfpassingbyandimmediatelybegantotauntandrevilehim.TheWolf, lookingup,said,“Sirrah! Ihear thee:yet it isnot thouwhomockestme,but the roofonwhichthouartstanding.”Timeandplaceoftengivetheadvantagetotheweakoverthestrong.

TheOxandtheFrog

ANOXdrinkingatapooltrodonabroodofyoungfrogsandcrushedoneofthemtodeath.TheMothercomingup,andmissingoneofhersons,inquiredofhisbrotherswhathadbecomeofhim.“Heisdead,dearMother;forjustnowaveryhugebeastwithfourgreatfeetcametothepoolandcrushedhimtodeathwithhisclovenheel.”TheFrog,puffingherselfout,inquired,“ifthebeastwasasbigasthatinsize.”“Cease,Mother,topuffyourselfout,”saidherson,“anddo not be angry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than successfullyimitatethehugenessofthatmonster.”

TheShepherdandtheWolfASHEPHERDoncefoundthewhelpofaWolfandbroughtitup,and

afterawhiletaughtittosteallambsfromtheneighboringflocks.The

Wolf,havingshownhimselfanaptpupil,saidtotheShepherd,“Since

youhavetaughtmetosteal,youmustkeepasharplookout,oryouwill

losesomeofyourownflock.”


AMANhadtwodaughters,theonemarriedtoagardener,andtheothertoatile-maker.Afteratimehewenttothedaughterwhohadmarriedthegardener,andinquiredhowshewasandhowallthingswentwithher.Shesaid,“Allthingsareprosperingwithme,andIhaveonlyonewish,thattheremaybeaheavyfallofrain,inorderthattheplantsmaybewellwatered.”Notlongafter,hewenttothedaughterwhohadmarried the tilemaker, and likewise inquiredofherhowshefared;shereplied,“Iwantfornothing,andhaveonlyonewish,thatthedryweathermaycontinue,andthesunshinehotandbright,sothatthebricksmightbedried.”Hesaidtoher,“Ifyoursisterwishesforrain,andyoufordryweather,withwhichofthetwoamItojoinmywishes?”

TheFarmerandHisSons

AFATHER,beingonthepointofdeath,wishedtobesurethathissonswouldgivethesameattentiontohisfarmashehimselfhadgivenit.Hecalledthemtohis bedside and said, “My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of myvineyards.” The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks andcarefullydugovereveryportionof their land.Theyfoundno treasure,but thevinesrepaidtheirlaborbyanextraordinaryandsuperabundantcrop.

TheCrabandItsMother

ACRABsaidtoherson,“Whydoyouwalksoone-sided,mychild?Itisfarmore becoming to go straight forward.” The youngCrab replied: “Quite true,dearMother;andifyouwillshowmethestraightway,Iwillpromisetowalkinit.”TheMothertriedinvain,andsubmittedwithoutremonstrancetothereproofofherchild.Exampleismorepowerfulthanprecept.

TheHeiferandtheOx

AHEIFERsawanOxhardatworkharnessedtoaplow,andtormentedhimwith reflections on his unhappy fate in being compelled to labor. Shortlyafterwards,attheharvestfestival,theownerreleasedtheOxfromhisyoke,butboundtheHeiferwithcordsandledhimawaytothealtartobeslaininhonorofthe occasion. TheOx sawwhatwas being done, and saidwith a smile to theHeifer: “For this you were allowed to live in idleness, because you werepresentlytobesacrificed.”


ASWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwellingwithmen,builtherselfanestinthewallofaCourtofJusticeandtherehatchedsevenyoungbirds.ASerpentglidingpastthenestfromitsholeinthewallateuptheyoung unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamentedgreatlyandexclaimed:“Woetomeastranger!thatinthisplacewhereallothers’rightsareprotected,Ialoneshouldsufferwrong.”


ABOYstolealesson-bookfromoneofhisschoolfellowsandtookithometohisMother.Shenotonlyabstained frombeatinghim,butencouragedhim.Henexttimestoleacloakandbroughtittoher,andsheagaincommendedhim.TheYouth,advancedtoadulthood,proceededtostealthingsofstillgreatervalue.Atlasthewascaughtintheveryact,andhavinghishandsboundbehindhim,wasledawaytotheplaceofpublicexecution.HisMotherfollowedinthecrowdandviolentlybeatherbreast in sorrow,whereupon theyoungmansaid,“Iwish tosaysomethingtomyMotherinherear.”Shecameclosetohim,andhequicklyseized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. TheMother upbraided him as anunnaturalchild,whereonhereplied,“Ah!ifyouhadbeatenmewhenIfirststoleandbrought toyou that lesson-book, I shouldnothavecome to this,norhavebeenthusledtoadisgracefuldeath.”

TheOldManandDeath

ANOLDMANwasemployedincuttingwoodintheforest,and,incarryingthe faggots to the city for sale one day, became very wearied with his longjourney. He sat down by the wayside, and throwing down his load, besought“Death”tocome.“Death”immediatelyappearedinanswertohissummonsandaskedforwhatreasonhehadcalledhim.TheOldManhurriedlyreplied,“That,liftinguptheload,youmayplaceitagainuponmyshoulders.”


AFIR-TREEsaidboastingly to theBramble,“Youareuseful fornothingatall;whileIameverywhereusedforroofsandhouses.”TheBrambleanswered:“Youpoorcreature,ifyouwouldonlycalltomindtheaxesandsawswhichareabouttohewyoudown,youwouldhavereasontowishthatyouhadgrownupaBramble,notaFir-Tree.”Betterpovertywithoutcare,thanricheswith.


AMOUSEwhoalways livedon the land, by anunlucky chance formed anintimateacquaintancewithaFrog,wholivedforthemostpartinthewater.TheFrog,onedayintentonmischief,boundthefootoftheMousetightlytohisown.Thusjoinedtogether,theFrogfirstofallledhisfriendtheMousetothemeadowwheretheywereaccustomedtofindtheirfood.Afterthis,hegraduallyledhimtowards thepool inwhichhe lived,until reaching theverybrink,he suddenlyjumpedin,draggingtheMousewithhim.TheFrogenjoyedthewateramazingly,andswamcroakingabout,asifhehaddoneagooddeed.TheunhappyMousewas soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on thesurface,tiedtothefootoftheFrog.AHawkobservedit,and,pouncinguponitwithhis talons, carried it aloft.TheFrog,being still fastened to the legof theMouse,wasalsocarriedoffaprisoner,andwaseatenbytheHawk.Harmhatch,harmcatch.

TheManBittenbyaDog

AMANwhohadbeenbittenbyaDogwentaboutinquestofsomeonewhomight heal him.A friend,meetinghimand learningwhat hewanted, said, “Ifyouwould be cured, take a piece of bread, and dip it in the blood fromyourwound, and go and give it to theDog that bit you.” TheManwho had beenbittenlaughedatthisadviceandsaid,“Why?IfIshoulddoso,itwouldbeasifIshouldbegeveryDoginthetowntobiteme.”Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of injuring

you.

TheTwoPots

ARIVERcarrieddowninitsstreamtwoPots,onemadeofearthenwareandtheotherofbrass.TheEarthenPotsaidtotheBrassPot,“Praykeepatadistanceanddonotcomenearme,forifyoutouchmeeversoslightly,Ishallbebrokeninpieces,andbesides,Ibynomeanswishtocomenearyou.”Equalsmakethebestfriends.

TheWolfandtheSheep

AWOLF,sorelywoundedandbittenbydogs,laysickandmaimedinhislair.Beinginwantoffood,hecalledtoaSheepwhowaspassing,andaskedhimtofetchsomewaterfromastreamflowingclosebesidehim.“For,”hesaid,“ifyouwillbringmedrink,Iwillfindmeanstoprovidemyselfwithmeat.”“Yes,”saidthe Sheep, “if I should bring you the draught, youwould doubtlessmakemeprovidethemeatalso.”Hypocriticalspeechesareeasilyseenthrough.

TheAethiop

THEPURCHASERofablackservantwaspersuadedthatthecolorofhisskinarosefromdirtcontractedthroughtheneglectofhisformermasters.Onbringinghim home he resorted to every means of cleaning, and subjected the man toincessantscrubbings.Theservantcaughtaseverecold,butheneverchangedhiscolororcomplexion.What’sbredinthebonewillsticktotheflesh.


A FISHERMAN, engaged in his calling, made a very successful cast andcaptured a great haul of fish.Hemanaged by a skillful handling of his net toretainallthelargefishandtodrawthemtotheshore;buthecouldnotpreventthesmallerfishfromfallingbackthroughthemeshesofthenetintothesea.


AHUNTSMAN,returningwithhisdogsfromthefield,fellinbychancewitha Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden with fish. TheHuntsmanwishedtohavethefish,andtheirownerexperiencedanequallongingforthecontentsofthegame-bag.Theyquicklyagreedtoexchangetheproduceoftheirday’ssport.Eachwassowellpleasedwithhisbargainthattheymadeforsometimethesameexchangedayafterday.Finallyaneighborsaidtothem,“Ifyougooninthisway,youwillsoondestroybyfrequentusethepleasureofyourexchange,andeachwillagainwishtoretainthefruitsofhisownsport.”Abstainandenjoy.


ANOLDWOMANfoundanempty jarwhichhad latelybeen fullofprimeoldwineandwhichstill retained thefragrantsmellof its formercontents.Shegreedily placed it several times to her nose, and drawing it backwards andforwards said, “Omost delicious! How nice must theWine itself have been,whenitleavesbehindintheveryvesselwhichcontaineditsosweetaperfume!”Thememoryofagooddeedlives.

TheFoxandtheCrow

ACROWhavingstolenabitofmeat,perchedinatreeandhelditinherbeak.AFox,seeingthis,longedtopossessthemeathimself,andbyawilystratagemsucceeded. “Howhandsome is theCrow,”heexclaimed, “in thebeautyofhershapeandinthefairnessofhercomplexion!Oh,ifhervoicewereonlyequaltoher beauty, shewould deservedly be considered theQueen ofBirds!”This hesaid deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute the reflection cast upon hervoice, setupa loudcawanddropped the flesh.TheFoxquicklypicked itup,andthusaddressedtheCrow:“MygoodCrow,yourvoiceisrightenough,butyourwitiswanting.”

TheTwoDogs

AMAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, and aHousedog,taughttowatchthehouse.Whenhereturnedhomeafteragoodday’ssport, he always gave the Housedog a large share of his spoil. The Hound,feelingmuch aggrieved at this, reproached his companion, saying, “It is veryhardtohaveallthislabor,whileyou,whodonotassistinthechase,luxuriateonthefruitsofmyexertions.”TheHousedogreplied,“Donotblameme,myfriend,butfindfaultwiththemaster,whohasnottaughtmetolabor,buttodependforsubsistenceonthelaborofothers.”Childrenarenottobeblamedforthefaultsoftheirparents.


ASTAG,roundlychasedbythehoundsandblindedbyfeartothedangerhewasrunninginto,tookshelterinafarmyardandhidhimselfinashedamongtheoxen.AnOxgavehim thiskindlywarning:“Ounhappycreature!whyshouldyouthus,ofyourownaccord,incurdestructionandtrustyourselfinthehouseofyourenemy?”TheStagreplied:“Onlyallowme,friend,tostaywhereIam,andIwillundertaketofindsomefavorableopportunityofeffectingmyescape.”Attheapproachoftheeveningtheherdsmancametofeedhiscattle,butdidnotseetheStag;andeventhefarm-bailiffwithseverallaborerspassedthroughtheshedandfailedtonoticehim.TheStag,congratulatinghimselfonhissafety,begantoexpresshissincerethankstotheOxenwhohadkindlyhelpedhiminthehourofneed. One of them again answered him: “We indeed wish you well, but thedangerisnotover.Thereisoneotheryettopassthroughtheshed,whohasasitwereahundredeyes,anduntilhehascomeandgone,yourlifeisstillinperil.”Atthatmomentthemasterhimselfentered,andhavinghadtocomplainthathisoxenhadnotbeenproperlyfed,hewentuptotheirracksandcriedout:“Whyistheresuchascarcityoffodder?Thereisnothalfenoughstrawforthemtolieon.Those lazy fellows have not even swept the cobwebs away.” While he thusexaminedeverythinginturn,hespiedthetipsoftheantlersoftheStagpeepingoutofthestraw.Thensummoninghislaborers,heorderedthattheStagshouldbeseizedandkilled.


THEPIGEONS,terrifiedbytheappearanceofaKite,calledupontheHawkto defend them. He at once consented.When they had admitted him into thecote,theyfoundthathemademorehavocandslewalargernumberoftheminonedaythantheKitecouldpounceuponinawholeyear.Avoidaremedythatisworsethanthedisease.

TheWidowandtheSheep

ACERTAINpoorwidowhadonesolitarySheep.Atshearingtime,wishingtotakehisfleeceandtoavoidexpense,sheshearedhimherself,butusedtheshearsso unskillfully thatwith the fleece she sheared the flesh. The Sheep,writhingwithpain,said,“Whydoyouhurtmeso,Mistress?Whatweightcanmybloodaddtothewool?Ifyouwantmyflesh,thereisthebutcher,whowillkillmeinan instant; but if youwantmy fleece andwool, there is the shearer,whowillshearandnothurtme.”Theleastoutlayisnotalwaysthegreatestgain.


AWILDASSandaLionenteredintoanalliancesothattheymightcapturethebeastsoftheforestwithgreaterease.TheLionagreedtoassisttheWildAsswith his strength,while theWildAss gave theLion the benefit of his greaterspeed.When they had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, theLionundertooktodistribute theprey,andfor thispurposedividedit into threeshares.“Iwilltakethefirstshare,”hesaid,“becauseIamKing:andthesecondshare,asapartnerwithyouinthechase:andthethirdshare(believeme)willbeasourceofgreateviltoyou,unlessyouwillinglyresignittome,andsetoffasfastasyoucan.”Mightmakesright.

TheEagleandtheArrow

ANEAGLEsatonaloftyrock,watchingthemovementsofaHarewhomhesought to make his prey. An archer, who saw the Eagle from a place ofconcealment,tookanaccurateaimandwoundedhimmortally.TheEaglegaveonelookatthearrowthathadenteredhisheartandsawinthatsingleglancethatits feathers had been furnished by himself. “It is a double grief to me,” heexclaimed,“thatIshouldperishbyanarrowfeatheredfrommyownwings.”

TheSickKite

AKITE,sickuntodeath,saidtohismother:“OMother!donotmourn,butatonce invoke thegods thatmy lifemaybeprolonged.”She replied, “Alas!myson,whichofthegodsdoyouthinkwillpityyou?Isthereonewhomyouhavenotoutragedbyfilchingfromtheirveryaltarsapartofthesacrificeoffereduptothem?”Wemustmakefriendsinprosperityifwewouldhavetheirhelpinadversity.


ALION roaming by the seashore saw aDolphin lift up its head out of thewaves,andsuggestedthattheycontractanalliance,sayingthatofalltheanimalsthey ought to be the best friends, since the onewas the king of beasts on theearth,and theotherwas thesovereignrulerofall the inhabitantsof theocean.TheDolphingladlyconsentedtothisrequest.NotlongafterwardstheLionhadacombatwithawildbull, andcalledon theDolphin tohelphim.TheDolphin,thoughquitewillingtogivehimassistance,wasunabletodoso,ashecouldnotby anymeans reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. TheDolphinreplied,“Nay,myfriend,blamenotme,butNature,which,whilegivingmethesovereigntyofthesea,hasquitedeniedmethepoweroflivingupontheland.”

TheLionandtheBoar

ONASUMMERDAY,whenthegreatheatinducedageneralthirstamongthebeasts, aLion and aBoar came at the samemoment to a smallwell to drink.Theyfiercelydisputedwhichofthemshoulddrinkfirst,andweresoonengagedin the agoniesof amortal combat.When they stopped suddenly to catch theirbreathforafiercerrenewalofthefight,theysawsomeVultureswaitinginthedistance to feast on the one that should fall first. They at oncemade up theirquarrel,saying,“Itisbetterforustomakefriends,thantobecomethefoodofCrowsorVultures.”

TheOne-EyedDoe

ADOEblindinoneeyewasaccustomedtograzeasneartotheedgeofthecliffasshepossiblycould,inthehopeofsecuringhergreatersafety.Sheturnedher sound eye towards the land that she might get the earliest tidings of theapproachofhunterorhound,andherinjuredeyetowardsthesea,fromwhencesheentertainednoanticipationofdanger.Someboatmensailingbysawher,andtakingasuccessfulaim,mortallywoundedher.Yieldingupherlastbreath,shegaspedforththislament:“OwretchedcreaturethatIam!totakesuchprecautionagainst the land, and after all to find this seashore, to which I had come forsafety,somuchmoreperilous.”


ASHEPHERD,keepingwatchoverhissheepneartheshore,sawtheSeaverycalmandsmooth,and longed tomakeavoyagewithaview tocommerce.Hesoldallhis flock, invested it inacargoofdates,andset sail.Butaverygreattempest came on, and the ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all hismerchandiseoverboard,andbarelyescapedwithhislifeintheemptyship.NotlongafterwardswhensomeonepassedbyandobservedtheunruffledcalmoftheSea, he interrupted him and said, “It is again in want of dates, and thereforelooksquiet.”


ANASS and aCockwere in a straw-yard togetherwhen aLion, desperatefromhunger,approachedthespot.Hewasabout tospringupontheAss,whenthe Cock (to the sound of whose voice the Lion, it is said, has a singularaversion)crowed loudly,and theLion fledawayas fast ashecould.TheAss,observinghis trepidationat themerecrowingofaCocksummonedcouragetoattackhim,andgallopedafterhimforthatpurpose.Hehadrunnolongdistance,whentheLion,turningabout,seizedhimandtorehimtopieces.Falseconfidenceoftenleadsintodanger.


THEWEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, inwhichmuchbloodwas shed.TheWeaselswere always the victors.TheMicethoughtthatthecauseoftheirfrequentdefeatswasthattheyhadnoleaderssetapart from thegeneral army tocommand them,and that theywereexposed todangersfromlackofdiscipline.TheythereforechoseasleadersMicethatweremostrenownedfortheirfamilydescent,strength,andcounsel,aswellasthosemostnotedfortheircourageinthefight,sothattheymightbebettermarshaledinbattlearrayandformed into troops, regiments,andbattalions.Whenall thiswasdone,andthearmydisciplined,andtheheraldMousehaddulyproclaimedwar by challenging theWeasels, the newly chosen generals bound their headswith straws, that theymight bemore conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcelyhadthebattlebegun,whenagreatroutoverwhelmedtheMice,whoscamperedoffasfastastheycouldtotheirholes.Thegenerals,notbeingabletogetinonaccount of the ornaments on their heads, were all captured and eaten by theWeasels.Themorehonorthemoredanger.

TheMiceinCouncil

THEMICEsummonedacounciltodecidehowtheymightbestdevisemeansofwarningthemselvesoftheapproachoftheirgreatenemytheCat.Amongthemanyplanssuggested, theone that foundmost favorwas theproposal to tieabelltotheneckoftheCat,sothattheMice,beingwarnedbythesoundofthetinkling,mightrunawayandhidethemselvesintheirholesathisapproach.Butwhen theMice further debated who among them should thus “bell the Cat,”therewasnoonefoundtodoit.


AWOLF,meetingabigwell-fedMastiffwithawoodencollarabouthisneckaskedhimwhoitwasthatfedhimsowellandyetcompelledhimtodragthatheavylogaboutwhereverhewent.“Themaster,”hereplied.ThensaidtheWolf:“Maynofriendofmineeverbeinsuchaplight;fortheweightofthischainisenoughtospoiltheappetite.”

TheRiversandtheSea

THERIVERSjoinedtogethertocomplaintotheSea,saying,“Whyisitthatwhen we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you work in us such achange, andmake us salty and unfit to drink?” The Sea, perceiving that theyintendedtothrowtheblameonhim,said,“Prayceasetoflowintome,andthenyouwillnotbemadebriny.”

ThePlayfulAss

ANASSclimbeduptotheroofofabuilding,andfriskingaboutthere,brokeinthetiling.Theownerwentupafterhimandquicklydrovehimdown,beatinghim severely with a thick wooden cudgel. The Ass said, “Why, I saw theMonkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if itaffordedyouverygreatamusement.”

TheThreeTradesmen

A GREAT CITY was besieged, and its inhabitants were called together toconsiderthebestmeansofprotectingitfromtheenemy.ABricklayerearnestlyrecommendedbricksasaffordingthebestmaterialforaneffectiveresistance.ACarpenter, with equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as a preferable method ofdefense. Upon which a Currier stood up and said, “Sirs, I differ from youaltogether: there isnomaterial for resistanceequal toacoveringofhides;andnothingsogoodasleather.”Everymanforhimself.

TheMasterandHisDogs

ACERTAINMAN,detainedbyastorminhiscountryhouse,firstofallkilledhissheep,andthenhisgoats, for themaintenanceofhishousehold.Thestormstillcontinuing,hewasobligedtoslaughterhisyokeoxenforfood.Onseeingthis,hisDogstookcounseltogether,andsaid,“Itistimeforustobeoff,forifthemastersparenothisoxen,whoworkforhisgain,howcanweexpecthimtospareus?”Heisnottobetrustedasafriendwhomistreatshisownfamily.


AWOLF,passingby,sawsomeShepherdsinahuteatingahaunchofmuttonfortheirdinner.Approachingthem,hesaid,“WhataclamoryouwouldraiseifIweretodoasyouaredoing!”


THEDOLPHINSandWhaleswagedafiercewarwitheachother.Whenthebattlewasatitsheight,aSpratlifteditsheadoutofthewavesandsaidthathewouldreconciletheirdifferencesiftheywouldaccepthimasanumpire.OneoftheDolphinsreplied,“Wewouldfarratherbedestroyedinourbattlewitheachotherthanadmitanyinterferencefromyouinouraffairs.”


ANASSoncecarriedthroughthestreetsofacityafamouswoodenImage,tobe placed in one of its Temples. As he passed along, the crowdmade lowlyprostrationbefore theImage.TheAss, thinking that theybowed theirheads intoken of respect for himself, bristled up with pride, gave himself airs, andrefused tomove another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid hiswhiplustily about his shoulders and said, “O you perverse dull-head! it is not yetcometothis,thatmenpayworshiptoanAss.”Theyarenotwisewhogivetothemselvesthecreditduetoothers.


TWOMENwerejourneyingtogether.Oneofthempickedupanaxethatlayupon the path, and said, “I have found an axe.” “Nay,my friend,” replied theother,“donotsay‘I,’but‘We’havefoundanaxe.”Theyhadnotgonefarbeforetheysawtheowneroftheaxepursuingthem,andhewhohadpickeduptheaxesaid, “We are undone.” “Nay,” replied the other, “keep to your first mode ofspeech,myfriend;whatyouthoughtrightthen,thinkrightnow.Say‘I,’not‘We’areundone.”Hewhosharesthedangeroughttosharetheprize.

TheOldLion

ALION,wornoutwithyearsandpowerlessfromdisease,layonthegroundatthepointofdeath.ABoarrusheduponhim,andavengedwithastrokeofhistusksalong-rememberedinjury.ShortlyafterwardstheBullwithhishornsgoredhim as if hewere an enemy.When theAss saw that the huge beast could beassailedwithimpunity,heletdriveathisforeheadwithhisheels.TheexpiringLion said, “I have reluctantly brooked the insults of the brave, but to becompelledtoenduresuchtreatmentfromthee,adisgracetoNature,isindeedtodieadoubledeath.”

TheOldHound

AHOUND,who in thedaysofhisyouthandstrengthhadneveryielded toanybeastoftheforest,encounteredinhisoldageaboarinthechase.Heseizedhimboldlybytheear,butcouldnotretainhisholdbecauseofthedecayofhisteeth,sothat theboarescaped.Hismaster,quicklycomingup,wasverymuchdisappointed, and fiercely abused thedog.TheHound lookedup and said, “Itwasnotmyfaultmaster:myspiritwasasgoodasever,butIcouldnothelpmyinfirmities.IratherdeservetobepraisedforwhatIhavebeen,thantobeblamedforwhatIam.”

TheBeeandJupiter

ABEEfromMountHymettus,thequeenofthehive,ascendedtoOlympustopresent Jupiter some honey fresh from her combs. Jupiter, delighted with theoffering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She thereforebesought him, saying, “Giveme, I pray thee, a sting, that if anymortal shallapproachtotakemyhoney,Imaykillhim.”Jupiterwasmuchdispleased,forhelovedtheraceofman,butcouldnotrefusetherequestbecauseofhispromise.He thus answered theBee: “You shall have your request, but itwill be at theperilofyourownlife.Forifyouuseyoursting,itshallremaininthewoundyoumake,andthenyouwilldiefromthelossofit.”Evilwishes,likechickens,comehometoroost.


AFARMER’S daughterwas carrying her Pail ofmilk from the field to thefarmhouse, when she fell a-musing. “The money for which this milk will besold,willbuyat least threehundredeggs.Theeggs, allowing for allmishaps,will produce twohundred and fifty chickens.The chickenswill become readyforthemarketwhenpoultrywillfetchthehighestprice,sothatbytheendoftheyearIshallhavemoneyenoughfrommysharetobuyanewgown.InthisdressIwillgo to theChristmasparties,whereall theyoung fellowswillpropose tome, but Iwill tossmy head and refuse them every one.”At thismoment shetossedherheadinunisonwithherthoughts,whendownfellthemilkpailtotheground,andallherimaginaryschemesperishedinamoment.

TheSeasideTravelers

SOMETRAVELERS, journeyingalongtheseashore,climbedto thesummitofa tall cliff, and lookingover the sea, saw in thedistancewhat they thoughtwasalargeship.Theywaitedinthehopeofseeingitentertheharbor,butastheobjectonwhichtheylookedwasdrivennearertoshorebythewind,theyfoundthat it could at the most be a small boat, and not a ship. When however itreachedthebeach,theydiscoveredthatitwasonlyalargefaggotofsticks,andoneofthemsaidtohiscompanions,“Wehavewaitedfornopurpose,forafterallthereisnothingtoseebutaloadofwood.”Ourmereanticipationsoflifeoutrunitsrealities.

TheBrazierandHisDog

ABRAZIERhadalittleDog,whichwasagreatfavoritewithhismaster,andhisconstantcompanion.WhilehehammeredawayathismetalstheDogslept;butwhen,ontheotherhand,hewenttodinnerandbegantoeat,theDogwokeupandwaggedhistail,asifhewouldaskforashareofhismeal.Hismasteroneday, pretending tobe angry and shakinghis stick at him, said, “Youwretchedlittlesluggard!whatshallIdotoyou?WhileIamhammeringontheanvil,yousleepon themat;andwhenIbegin toeataftermytoil,youwakeupandwagyour tail for food.Doyounotknowthat labor is thesourceofeveryblessing,andthatnonebutthosewhoworkareentitledtoeat?”

TheAssandHisShadow

ATRAVELERhiredanAsstoconveyhimtoadistantplace.Thedaybeingintenselyhot,andthesunshininginitsstrength,theTravelerstoppedtorest,andsoughtshelterfromtheheatundertheShadowoftheAss.Asthisaffordedonlyprotectionforone,andastheTravelerandtheowneroftheAssbothclaimedit,aviolentdispute arosebetween themas towhichof themhad the right to theShadow.TheownermaintainedthathehadlettheAssonly,andnothisShadow.TheTraveler asserted that he had,with the hire of theAss, hired his Shadowalso.Thequarrelproceededfromwordstoblows,andwhilethemenfought,theAssgallopedoff.Inquarrelingabouttheshadowweoftenlosethesubstance.

TheAssandHisMasters

ANASS, belonging to an herb-sellerwho gave him too little food and toomuchworkmadeapetitiontoJupitertobereleasedfromhispresentserviceandprovidedwithanothermaster.Jupiter,afterwarninghimthathewouldrepenthisrequest,causedhimtobesoldtoatile-maker.Shortlyafterwards,findingthathehadheavier loads tocarryandharderwork in thebrick-field,hepetitionedforanotherchangeofmaster.Jupiter,tellinghimthatitwouldbethelasttimethathecouldgranthisrequest,ordainedthathebesoldtoa tanner.TheAssfoundthat he had fallen intoworse hands, and noting hismaster’s occupation, said,groaning:“Itwouldhavebeenbetterformetohavebeeneitherstarvedbytheone,ortohavebeenoverworkedbytheotherofmyformermasters,thantohavebeenboughtbymypresentowner,whowillevenafterIamdeadtanmyhide,andmakemeusefultohim.”

TheOakandtheReeds

A VERY LARGE OAK was uprooted by the wind and thrown across astream.ItfellamongsomeReeds,whichitthusaddressed:“Iwonderhowyou,whoaresolightandweak,arenotentirelycrushedbythesestrongwinds.”Theyreplied, “You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you aredestroyed; while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, andthereforeremainunbroken,andescape.”Stooptoconquer.


AFISHERMANwholivedontheproduceofhisnets,onedaycaughtasinglesmallFishas theresultofhisday’s labor.TheFish,pantingconvulsively, thusentreated for his life: “OSir,what good can I be to you, and how little am Iworth?Iamnotyetcometomyfullsize.Praysparemylife,andputmebackinto the sea. I shall soonbecomea large fish fit for the tablesof the rich, andthen you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me.” TheFishermanreplied,“Ishouldindeedbeaverysimplefellowif,forthechanceofagreateruncertainprofit,Iweretoforegomypresentcertaingain.”


AHUNTER,notverybold,wassearchingforthetracksofaLion.Heaskedamanfellingoaksintheforestifhehadseenanymarksofhisfootstepsorknewwherehislairwas.“Iwill,”saidtheman,“atonceshowyoutheLionhimself.”TheHunter, turning very pale and chatteringwith his teeth from fear, replied,“No,thankyou.Ididnotaskthat;itishistrackonlyIaminsearchof,nottheLionhimself.”Theheroisbraveindeedsaswellaswords.


AWILDBOARstoodunderatreeandrubbedhistusksagainstthetrunk.AFoxpassingbyaskedhimwhyhe thussharpenedhis teethwhen therewasnodanger threatening from either huntsman or hound. He replied, “I do itadvisedly;foritwouldneverdotohavetosharpenmyweaponsjustatthetimeIoughttobeusingthem.”

TheLioninaFarmyard

ALIONenteredafarmyard.TheFarmer,wishingtocatchhim,shutthegate.WhentheLionfoundthathecouldnotescape,heflewuponthesheepandkilledthem,andthenattackedtheoxen.TheFarmer,beginningtobealarmedforhisownsafety,openedthegateandreleasedtheLion.OnhisdeparturetheFarmergrievouslylamentedthedestructionofhissheepandoxen,buthiswife,whohadbeenaspectatortoallthattookplace,said,“Onmyword,youarerightlyserved,forhowcouldyouforamomentthinkofshuttingupaLionalongwithyouinyourfarmyardwhenyouknowthatyoushakeinyourshoesifyouonlyhearhisroaratadistance?”


MERCURY ONCE DETERMINED to learn in what esteem he was heldamongmortals.Forthispurposeheassumedthecharacterofamanandvisitedin this disguise a Sculptor’s studio having looked at various statues, hedemandedthepriceoftwofiguresofJupiterandJuno.Whenthesumatwhichtheywere valuedwas named, he pointed to a figure of himself, saying to theSculptor,“Youwillcertainlywantmuchmoreforthis,asit is thestatueoftheMessenger of the Gods, and author of all your gain.” The Sculptor replied,“Well,ifyouwillbuythese,I’llflingyouthatintothebargain.”

TheSwanandtheGoose

ACERTAINrichmanboughtinthemarketaGooseandaSwan.Hefedtheoneforhistableandkepttheotherforthesakeofitssong.WhenthetimecameforkillingtheGoose,thecookwenttogethimatnight,whenitwasdark,andhewasnot able to distinguishonebird from theother.Bymistakehe caught theSwan instead of theGoose. The Swan, threatenedwith death, burst forth intosongand thusmadehimselfknownbyhisvoice,andpreservedhis lifebyhismelody.

TheSwollenFox

AVERYHUNGRYFOX, seeing somebreadandmeat leftby shepherds inthe hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty meal.When hefinished,hewassofullthathewasnotabletogetout,andbegantogroanandlamenthisfate.AnotherFoxpassingbyheardhiscries,andcomingup,inquiredthecauseofhiscomplaining.On learningwhathadhappened,he said tohim,“Ah, youwill have to remain there,my friend, until youbecome such as youwerewhenyoucreptin,andthenyouwilleasilygetout.”


AFOX,runningbeforethehounds,cameacrossaWoodcutterfellinganoakandbeggedhimtoshowhimasafehiding-place.TheWoodcutteradvisedhimtotakeshelterinhisownhut,sotheFoxcreptinandhidhimselfinacorner.Thehuntsmansooncameupwithhishoundsand inquiredof theWoodcutter ifhehadseentheFox.Hedeclaredthathehadnotseenhim,andyetpointed,allthetimehewasspeaking,tothehutwheretheFoxlayhidden.Thehuntsmantooknonoticeofthesigns,butbelievinghisword,hastenedforwardinthechase.Assoonastheywerewellaway,theFoxdepartedwithouttakinganynoticeoftheWoodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, “Youungratefulfellow,youoweyourlifetome,andyetyouleavemewithoutawordof thanks.” The Fox replied, “Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently ifyour deeds had been as good as yourwords, and if your hands had not beentraitorstoyourspeech.”


ABIRDCATCHERwasabouttositdowntoadinnerofherbswhenafriendunexpectedlycamein.Thebird-trapwasquiteempty,ashehadcaughtnothing,andhehad tokill apiedPartridge,whichhehad tamed for adecoy.Thebirdentreatedearnestlyforhislife:“Whatwouldyoudowithoutmewhennextyouspreadyournets?Whowouldchirpyou to sleep,or call foryou thecoveyofansweringbirds?”TheBirdcatchersparedhislife,anddeterminedtopickoutafineyoungCockjustattainingtohiscomb.ButtheCockexpostulatedinpiteoustonesfromhisperch:“Ifyoukillme,whowillannouncetoyoutheappearanceofthedawn?Whowillwakeyoutoyourdailytasksortellyouwhenitistimetovisitthebird-trapinthemorning?”Hereplied,“Whatyousayistrue.Youareacapital bird at telling the time of day. But my friend and I must have ourdinners.”Necessityknowsnolaw.


AMONKEYpercheduponaloftytreesawsomeFishermencastingtheirnetsinto a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. The Fishermen after awhilegaveupfishing,andongoinghometodinnerlefttheirnetsuponthebank.TheMonkey,whoisthemostimitativeofanimals,descendedfromthetreetopandendeavoredtodoastheyhaddone.Havinghandledthenet,hethrewitintotheriver,butbecametangledinthemeshesanddrowned.Withhislastbreathhesaid to himself, “I am rightly served; forwhat business had I who had neverhandledanettotryandcatchfish?”


AFLEAsettleduponthebarefootofaWrestlerandbithim,causingthemantocallloudlyuponHerculesforhelp.WhentheFleaasecondtimehoppeduponhis foot, he groaned and said, “OHercules! if youwill not helpme against aFlea,howcanIhopeforyourassistanceagainstgreaterantagonists?”

TheTwoFrogs

TWO FROGS dwelt in the same pool. When the pool dried up under thesummer’sheat,theyleftitandsetouttogetherforanotherhome.Astheywentalong theychanced topass adeepwell, amply suppliedwithwater, andwhenthey saw it, oneof theFrogs said to theother, “Letusdescendandmakeourabode in thiswell: itwill furnishuswith shelter and food.”Theother repliedwithgreatercaution,“Butsupposethewatershouldfailus.Howcanwegetoutagainfromsogreatadepth?”Donothingwithoutaregardtotheconsequences.

TheCatandtheMice

ACERTAINHOUSEwasoverrunwithMice.ACat,discoveringthis,madeherway into it andbegan to catchandeat themonebyone.Fearing for theirlives,theMicekeptthemselvescloseintheirholes.TheCatwasnolongerabletogetatthemandperceivedthatshemusttemptthemforthbysomedevice.Forthispurposeshejumpeduponapeg,andsuspendingherselffromit,pretendedtobe dead. One of theMice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and said, “Ah,mygoodmadam,even thoughyoushould turn intoameal-bag,wewillnotcomenearyou.”


ALIONandaBearseizedaKidatthesamemoment,andfoughtfiercelyforitspossession.Whentheyhadfearfullylaceratedeachotherandwerefaintfromthe longcombat, they laydownexhaustedwith fatigue.AFox,whohadgoneroundthematadistanceseveral times,sawthembothstretchedonthegroundwiththeKidlyinguntouchedinthemiddle.Heraninbetweenthem,andseizingtheKidscamperedoffasfastashecould.TheLionandtheBearsawhim,butnotbeingable togetup, said, “Woebe tous, thatweshouldhave foughtandbelaboredourselvesonlytoservetheturnofaFox.”Itsometimeshappensthatonemanhasallthetoil,andanotheralltheprofit.

TheDoeandtheLion

ADOEhardpressedbyhunterssoughtrefugeinacavebelongingtoaLion.The Lion concealed himself on seeing her approach, but when she was safewithinthecave,spranguponherandtorehertopieces.“Woeisme,”exclaimedtheDoe,“whohaveescapedfromman,onlytothrowmyselfintothemouthofawildbeast?”Inavoidingoneevil,caremustbetakennottofallintoanother.

TheFarmerandtheFox

AFARMER,whoboreagrudgeagainstaFoxfor robbinghispoultryyard,caught himat last, andbeingdetermined to take an ample revenge, tied someropewellsoakedinoiltohistail,andsetitonfire.TheFoxbyastrangefatalityrushedtothefieldsoftheFarmerwhohadcapturedhim.Itwasthetimeofthewheat harvest; but the Farmer reaped nothing that year and returned homegrievingsorely.


ASEAGULLhavingbolteddown too large a fish, burst its deepgullet-bagand laydownon theshore todie.AKitesawhimandexclaimed:“Yourichlydeserveyourfate;forabirdoftheairhasnobusinesstoseekitsfoodfromthesea.”Everymanshouldbecontenttomindhisownbusiness.


A PHILOSOPHERwitnessed from the shore the shipwreck of a vessel, ofwhich the crew and passengers were all drowned. He inveighed against theinjustice of Providence, which would for the sake of one criminal perchancesailing in the ship allow so many innocent persons to perish. As he wasindulginginthesereflections,hefoundhimselfsurroundedbyawholearmyofAnts,nearwhosenesthewasstanding.Oneofthemclimbedupandstunghim,andheimmediatelytrampledthemalltodeathwithhisfoot.Mercurypresentedhimself,andstrikingthePhilosopherwithhiswand,said,“Andareyouindeedtomake yourself a judge of the dealings of Providence,who hast thyself in asimilarmannertreatedthesepoorAnts?”

TheMouseandtheBull

ABULLwasbittenbyaMouseand,angeredbythewound,triedtocapturehim. But theMouse reached his hole in safety. Though theBull dug into thewallswithhishorns,hetiredbeforehecouldroutouttheMouse,andcrouchingdown,wenttosleepoutsidethehole.TheMousepeepedout,creptfurtivelyuphisflank,andagainbitinghim,retreatedtohishole.TheBullrisingup,andnotknowingwhattodo,wassadlyperplexed.AtwhichtheMousesaid,“Thegreatdo not always prevail. There are times when the small and lowly are thestrongesttodomischief.”

TheLionandtheHare

ALIONcameacrossaHare,whowasfastasleep.Hewas just in theactofseizingher,when a fine youngHart trotted by, andhe left theHare to followhim. TheHare, scared by the noise, awoke and scudded away. The LionwasunableafteralongchasetocatchtheHart,andreturnedtofeedupontheHare.On finding that the Hare also had run off, he said, “I am rightly served, forhaving let go of the food that I had in my hand for the chance of obtainingmore.”


APEASANTfoundanEaglecapturedinatrap,andmuchadmiringthebird,sethimfree.TheEagledidnotproveungratefultohisdeliverer,forseeingthePeasantsittingunderawallwhichwasnotsafe,heflewtowardhimandwithhistalons snatched abundle fromhis head.When thePeasant rose inpursuit, theEagleletthebundlefallagain.Takingitup,themanreturnedtothesameplace,tofindthatthewallunderwhichhehadbeensittinghadfallentopieces;andhemarveledattheservicerenderedhimbytheEagle.


AVERYPOORMAN,aCarpenterbytrade,hadawoodenimageofMercury,beforewhichhemadeofferingsdaybyday, andbegged the idol tomakehimrich, but in spiteof his entreatieshebecamepoorer andpoorer.At last, beingveryangry,hetookhisimagedownfromitspedestalanddasheditagainstthewall.When its head was knocked off, out came a stream of gold, which theCarpenter quickly picked up and said, “Well, I think thou art altogethercontradictoryandunreasonable;forwhenIpaidyouhonor,Ireapednobenefits:butnowthatImaltreatyouIamloadedwithanabundanceofriches.”

TheBullandtheGoat

A BULL, escaping from a Lion, hid in a cave which some shepherds hadrecently occupied. As soon as he entered, a He-Goat left in the cave sharplyattacked him with his horns. The Bull quietly addressed him: “Butt away asmuchasyouwill. I haveno fearofyou,butof theLion.Let thatmonstergoawayandIwillsoonletyouknowwhatistherespectivestrengthofaGoatandaBull.”Itshowsanevildispositiontotakeadvantageofafriendindistress.

TheDancingMonkeys

APRINCEhadsomeMonkeystrainedtodance.Beingnaturallygreatmimicsofmen’sactions,theyshowedthemselvesmostaptpupils,andwhenarrayedintheir rich clothes andmasks, they danced aswell as any of the courtiers.Thespectaclewasoftenrepeatedwithgreatapplause,tillononeoccasionacourtier,bentonmischief, tookfromhispocketahandfulofnutsandthrewthemuponthestage.TheMonkeysatthesightofthenutsforgottheirdancingandbecame(as indeed theywere)Monkeys instead of actors. Pulling off theirmasks andtearing their robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancingspectaclethuscametoanendamidstthelaughterandridiculeoftheaudience.

TheFoxandtheLeopard

THEFOXandtheLeoparddisputedwhichwasthemorebeautifulofthetwo.TheLeopardexhibitedonebyone thevarious spotswhichdecoratedhis skin.ButtheFox,interruptinghim,said,“AndhowmuchmorebeautifulthanyouamI,whoamdecorated,notinbody,butinmind.”


THEMONKEY, it is said, has two young ones at each birth. TheMotherfondles one and nurtures itwith the greatest affection and care, but hates andneglectstheother.IthappenedoncethattheyoungonewhichwascaressedandlovedwassmotheredbythetoogreataffectionoftheMother,whilethedespisedonewasnurturedandrearedinspiteoftheneglecttowhichitwasexposed.Thebestintentionswillnotalwaysensuresuccess.

TheOaksandJupiter

THEOAKSpresentedacomplainttoJupiter,saying,“Webearfornopurposetheburdenof life, asof all the trees thatgrowweare themost continually inperiloftheaxe.”Jupitermadeanswer:“Youhaveonlytothankyourselvesforthemisfortunestowhichyouareexposed:forifyoudidnotmakesuchexcellentpillarsandposts,andproveyourselvessoserviceable to thecarpentersandthefarmers,theaxewouldnotsofrequentlybelaidtoyourroots.”

TheHareandtheHound

AHOUNDstartedaHarefromhislair,butafteralongrun,gaveupthechase.A goat-herd seeing him stop, mocked him, saying “The little one is the bestrunnerofthetwo.”TheHoundreplied,“Youdonotseethedifferencebetweenus:Iwasonlyrunningforadinner,butheforhislife.”


ATRAVELERweariedfromalongjourneylaydown,overcomewithfatigue,on the very brink of a deepwell. Just as hewas about to fall into thewater,DameFortune,itissaid,appearedtohimandwakinghimfromhisslumberthusaddressedhim:“GoodSir,praywakeup:forifyoufallintothewell,theblamewillbethrownonme,andIshallgetanillnameamongmortals;forIfindthatmenaresuretoimputetheircalamitiestome,howevermuchbytheirownfollytheyhavereallybroughtthemonthemselves.”Everyoneismoreorlessmasterofhisownfate.

TheBaldKnight

ABALDKNIGHT,whoworeawig,wentouttohunt.Asuddenpuffofwindblewoffhishatandwig,atwhichaloudlaughrangforthfromhiscompanions.Hepulleduphishorse,andwithgreatgleejoinedinthejokebysaying,“Whatamarvel it is thathairswhicharenotmineshouldflyfromme,whentheyhaveforsakeneventhemanonwhoseheadtheygrew.”


ASHEPHERDpenninghissheepinthefoldforthenightwasabouttoshutupawolfwiththem,whenhisDogperceivingthewolfsaid,“Master,howcanyouexpectthesheeptobesafeifyouadmitawolfintothefold?”

TheLamp

ALAMP,soakedwithtoomuchoilandflaringbrightly,boastedthatitgavemore light than thesun.Thenasuddenpuffofwindarose,and theLampwasimmediatelyextinguished. Itsowner lit itagain,andsaid:“Boastnomore,buthenceforthbecontent togivethylight insilence.Knowthatnoteventhestarsneedtoberelit.”


THELION,theFoxandtheAssenteredintoanagreementtoassisteachotherin the chase. Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their return from theforestaskedtheAsstoallothisdueportiontoeachofthethreepartnersinthetreaty.TheAsscarefullydividedthespoilintothreeequalsharesandmodestlyrequestedthetwootherstomakethefirstchoice.TheLion,burstingoutintoagreatrage,devouredtheAss.ThenherequestedtheFoxtodohimthefavortomake a division. The Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one largeheapandlefttohimselfthesmallestpossiblemorsel.TheLionsaid,“Whohastaughtyou,myvery excellent fellow, the art of division?Youareperfect to afraction.”Hereplied,“IlearneditfromtheAss,bywitnessinghisfate.”Happyisthemanwholearnsfromthemisfortunesofothers.


ABULLfindinga lion’scubasleepgoredhim todeathwithhishorns.TheLioness came up, and bitterly lamented the death of her whelp. A wild-boarHunter,seeingherdistress,stoodatadistanceandsaidtoher,“Thinkhowmanymentherearewhohavereasontolamentthelossoftheirchildren,whosedeathshavebeencausedbyyou.”


THE WOODCUTTER cut down a Mountain Oak and split it in pieces,makingwedgesofitsownbranchesfordividingthetrunk.TheOaksaidwithasigh,“Idonotcareabouttheblowsoftheaxeaimedatmyroots,butIdogrieveatbeingtorninpiecesbythesewedgesmadefrommyownbranches.”Misfortunesspringingfromourselvesarethehardesttobear.


ACOTTAGERandhiswifehadaHenthatlaidagoldeneggeveryday.Theysupposed that theHenmust contain a great lump of gold in its inside, and inordertogetthegoldtheykilledit.Havingdoneso,theyfoundtotheirsurprisethattheHendifferedinnorespectfromtheirotherhens.Thefoolishpair, thushopingtobecomerichallatonce,deprivedthemselvesofthegainofwhichtheywereassureddaybyday.

TheAssandtheFrogs

ANASS,carryingaloadofwood,passedthroughapond.Ashewascrossingthrough thewaterhe losthis footing, stumbledand fell, andnotbeingable toriseon accountofhis load, groanedheavily.SomeFrogs frequenting thepoolheard his lamentation, and said, “Whatwould you do if you had to live herealwaysaswedo,whenyoumakesuchafussaboutamerefallintothewater?”

Menoftenbearlittlegrievanceswithlesscouragethantheydolarge

misfortunes.

TheCrowandtheRaven

ACROWwasjealousoftheRaven,becausehewasconsideredabirdofgoodomenandalwaysattractedtheattentionofmen,whonotedbyhisflightthegoodor evil course of future events. Seeing some travelers approaching, the Crowflewupintoatree,andperchingherselfononeofthebranches,cawedasloudlyas she could. The travelers turned towards the sound and wondered what itforeboded, when one of them said to his companion, “Let us proceed on ourjourney,myfriend,foritisonlythecawofacrow,andhercry,youknow,isnoomen.”Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, onlymake

themselvesridiculous.

TheTreesandtheAxe

AMANcameintoaforestandaskedtheTreestoprovidehimahandleforhisaxe. The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree. Nosoonerhadthemanfittedanewhandletohisaxefromit,thanhebegantouseitandquicklyfelledwithhisstrokesthenoblestgiantsoftheforest.Anoldoak,lamentingwhentoolatethedestructionofhiscompanions,saidtoaneighboringcedar,“Thefirststephaslostusall.Ifwehadnotgivenuptherightsoftheash,wemightyethaveretainedourownprivilegesandhavestoodforages.”

TheCrabandtheFox

ACRAB, forsaking the seashore, chose a neighboring greenmeadow as itsfeedingground.AFoxcameacrosshim,andbeingveryhungryatehimup.Justashewasonthepointofbeingeaten,theCrabsaid,“Iwelldeservemyfate,forwhat business had I on the land, when by my nature and habits I am onlyadaptedforthesea?”Contentmentwithourlotisanelementofhappiness.

TheWomanandHerHen

A WOMAN possessed a Hen that gave her an egg every day. She oftenponderedhowshemightobtaintwoeggsdailyinsteadofone,andatlast,togainherpurpose,determinedtogivetheHenadoubleallowanceofbarley.FromthatdaytheHenbecamefatandsleek,andneveroncelaidanotheregg.


ASHEPHERD,watchinghisAssfeedinginameadow,wasalarmedallofasuddenby thecriesof theenemy.Heappealed to theAss toflywithhim, lesttheyshouldbothbecaptured,buttheanimallazilyreplied,“WhyshouldI,pray?Do you think it likely the conquerorwill place onme two sets of panniers?”“No,” rejoined the Shepherd. “Then,” said the Ass, “as long as I carry thepanniers,whatmattersittomewhomIserve?”Inachangeofgovernmentthepoorchangenothingbeyondthenameoftheir

master.

TheKitesandtheSwans

TEEKITESofoldentimes,aswellastheSwans,hadtheprivilegeofsong.Buthavingheardtheneighofthehorse,theyweresoenchantedwiththesound,thattheytriedtoimitateit;and,intryingtoneigh,theyforgothowtosing.Thedesireforimaginarybenefitsofteninvolvesthelossofpresentblessings.


THEWOLVESthusaddressedtheSheepdogs:“Whyshouldyou,whoarelikeus insomany things,notbeentirelyofonemindwithus,and livewithusasbrothersshould?Wedifferfromyouinonepointonly.Weliveinfreedom,butyoubowdown toandslave formen,who in return foryour services flogyouwithwhipsandputcollarsonyournecks.Theymakeyoualsoguardtheirsheep,and while they eat the mutton throw only the bones to you. If you will bepersuadedbyus,youwillgiveusthesheep,andwewillenjoythemincommon,tillwe all are surfeited.”TheDogs listened favorably to these proposals, and,enteringthedenoftheWolves,theyweresetuponandtorntopieces.

TheHaresandtheFoxes

THEHARESwagedwarwiththeEagles,andcalledupontheFoxestohelpthem.Theyreplied,“Wewouldwillinglyhavehelpedyou,ifwehadnotknownwhoyouwere,andwithwhomyouwerefighting.”Countthecostbeforeyoucommityourselves.

TheBowmanandLion

AVERYSKILLFULBOWMANwent to themountains in searchof game,butall thebeastsof theforest fledathisapproach.TheLionalonechallengedhim to combat. The Bowman immediately shot out an arrow and said to theLion:“Isendtheemymessenger,thatfromhimthoumayestlearnwhatImyselfshallbewhenIassail thee.”ThewoundedLionrushedawayingreatfear,andwhenaFoxwhohadseenitallhappentoldhimtobeofgoodcourageandnottobackoffatthefirstattackhereplied:“Youcounselmeinvain;forifhesendssofearfulamessenger,howshallIabidetheattackofthemanhimself?”Beonguardagainstmenwhocanstrikefromadistance.

TheCamel

WHENMANfirstsawtheCamel,hewassofrightenedathisvastsizethatheran away.After a time, perceiving themeekness and gentleness of the beast’stemper, he summoned courage enough to approach him. Soon afterwards,observingthathewasananimalaltogetherdeficient inspirit,heassumedsuchboldnessastoputabridleinhismouth,andtoletachilddrivehim.Useservestoovercomedread.

TheWaspandtheSnake

A WASP seated himself upon the head of a Snake and, striking himunceasinglywithhis stings,woundedhim todeath.TheSnake, being in greattormentandnotknowinghowtoridhimselfofhisenemy,sawawagonheavilyladen with wood, and went and purposely placed his head under the wheels,saying,“AtleastmyenemyandIshallperishtogether.”

TheDogandtheHare

A HOUND having started a Hare on the hillside pursued her for somedistance,atonetimebitingherwithhisteethasifhewouldtakeherlife,andatanotherfawninguponher,asifinplaywithanotherdog.TheHaresaidtohim,“Iwishyouwouldactsincerelybyme,andshowyourselfinyourtruecolors.Ifyouareafriend,whydoyoubitemesohard?Ifanenemy,whydoyoufawnonme?”Noonecanbeafriendifyouknownotwhethertotrustordistrusthim.

TheBullandtheCalf

ABULLwasstrivingwithallhismighttosqueezehimselfthroughanarrowpassagewhichledtohisstall.AyoungCalfcameup,andofferedtogobeforeand showhim thewaybywhichhecouldmanage topass. “Saveyourself thetrouble,”saidtheBull;“Iknewthatwaylongbeforeyouwereborn.”


ASTAGaskedaSheeptolendhimameasureofwheat,andsaidthattheWolfwould be his surety. The Sheep, fearing some fraud was intended, excusedherself,saying,“TheWolfisaccustomedtoseizewhathewantsandtorunoff;andyou, too,canquicklyoutstripmeinyourrapidflight.Howthenshall Ibeabletofindyou,whenthedayofpaymentcomes?”Twoblacksdonotmakeonewhite.


A PEACOCK spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane that passed by,ridiculingtheashenhueofitsplumageandsaying,“Iamrobed,likeaking,ingoldandpurpleandall thecolorsof the rainbow;whileyouhavenotabitofcolor on yourwings.” “True,” replied theCrane; “but I soar to the heights ofheaven and lift upmy voice to the stars, while youwalk below, like a cock,amongthebirdsofthedunghill.”Finefeathersdon’tmakefinebirds.


AFOXswimmingacrossarapidriverwascarriedbytheforceofthecurrentintoaverydeepravine,wherehe layfora long timeverymuchbruised,sick,andunabletomove.Aswarmofhungryblood-suckingfliessettleduponhim.AHedgehog,passingby,sawhisanguishandinquiredifheshoulddriveawaytheflies thatwere tormenting him. “Bynomeans,” replied theFox; “pray do notmolestthem.”“Howisthis?”saidtheHedgehog;“doyounotwanttoberidofthem?”“No,”returnedtheFox,“fortheseflieswhichyouseearefullofblood,and stingme but little, and if you ridme of thesewhich are already satiated,othersmorehungrywill come in theirplace, andwilldrinkupall theblood Ihaveleft.”


ANEAGLEmadeher nest at the topof a lofty oak; aCat, having found aconvenienthole,movedintothemiddleofthetrunk;andaWildSow,withheryoung,tookshelterinahollowatitsfoot.TheCatcunninglyresolvedtodestroythischance-madecolony.Tocarryoutherdesign,sheclimbedtothenestoftheEagle,andsaid,“Destructionispreparingforyou,andformetoo,unfortunately.TheWildSow,whomyouseedailydiggingup theearth,wishes touproot theoak,soshemayonitsfallseizeourfamiliesasfoodforheryoung.”Havingthusfrightened theEagleoutofhersenses, shecreptdown to thecaveof theSow,andsaid,“Yourchildrenareingreatdanger;forassoonasyougooutwithyourlittertofindfood,theEagleispreparedtopounceupononeofyourlittlepigs.”HavinginstilledthesefearsintotheSow,shewentandpretendedtohideherselfin thehollowof the tree.Whennightcameshewentforthwithsilentfootandobtained food for herself andher kittens, but feigning to be afraid, shekept alookoutall through theday.Meanwhile, theEagle, fullof fearof theSow, satstillonthebranches,andtheSow,terrifiedbytheEagle,didnotdaretogooutfrom her cave. And thus they both, along with their families, perished fromhunger,andaffordedampleprovisionfortheCatandherkittens.


ATHIEFhiredaroominatavernandstayedawhileinthehopeofstealingsomethingwhichshouldenablehimtopayhisreckoning.Whenhehadwaitedsomedays invain,hesaw the Innkeeperdressed inanewandhandsomecoatandsittingbeforehisdoor.TheThiefsatdownbesidehimandtalkedwithhim.As the conversation began to flag, the Thief yawned terribly and at the sametimehowledlikeawolf.TheInnkeepersaid,“Whydoyouhowlsofearfully?”“Iwilltellyou,”saidtheThief,“butfirstletmeaskyoutoholdmyclothes,orIshalltearthemtopieces.Iknownot,sir,whenIgotthishabitofyawning,norwhether these attacks of howlingwere inflicted onme as a judgment formycrimes,orforanyothercause;butthisIdoknow,thatwhenIyawnforthethirdtime, I actually turn into a wolf and attack men.” With this speech hecommencedasecondfitofyawningandagainhowledlikeawolf,ashehadatfirst.TheInnkeeper,hearinghistaleandbelievingwhathesaid,becamegreatlyalarmedand,risingfromhisseat,attemptedtorunaway.TheThieflaidholdofhiscoatandentreatedhimtostop,saying,“Praywait,sir,andholdmyclothes,orIshalltearthemtopiecesinmyfury,whenIturnintoawolf.”Atthesamemoment he yawned the third time and set up a terrible howl. The Innkeeper,frightenedlestheshouldbeattacked, lefthisnewcoat intheThief’shandandranasfastashecouldintotheinnforsafety.TheThiefmadeoffwiththecoatanddidnotreturnagaintotheinn.Everytaleisnottobebelieved.

TheMule

AMULE, frolicsome from lack ofwork and from toomuch corn, gallopedaboutinaveryextravagantmanner,andsaidtohimself:“Myfathersurelywasahigh-mettledracer,andIamhisownchildinspeedandspirit.”Onthenextday,being driven a long journey, and feeling very wearied, he exclaimed in adisconsolatetone:“Imusthavemadeamistake;myfather,afterall,couldhavebeenonlyanass.”

TheHartandtheVine

AHART,hardpressedinthechase,hidhimselfbeneaththelargeleavesofaVine. The huntsmen, in their haste, overshot the place of his concealment.Supposingalldangertohavepassed,theHartbegantonibblethetendrilsoftheVine.Oneofthehuntsmen,attractedbytherustlingoftheleaves,lookedback,andseeingtheHart,shotanarrowfromhisbowandstruckit.TheHart,atthepointofdeath,groaned:“Iamrightlyserved, for I shouldnothavemaltreatedtheVinethatsavedme.”


ASERPENTandanEaglewerestrugglingwitheachotherindeadlyconflict.The Serpent had the advantage, and was about to strangle the bird. Acountrymansawthem,andrunningup,loosedthecoiloftheSerpentandlettheEaglegofree.TheSerpent,irritatedattheescapeofhisprey,injectedhispoisonintothedrinkinghornofthecountryman.Therustic,ignorantofhisdanger,wasabout todrink,when theEaglestruckhishandwithhiswing,and,seizing thedrinkinghorninhistalons,carrieditaloft.


ACROWperishingwiththirstsawapitcher,andhopingtofindwater,flewtoitwithdelight.Whenhereachedit,hediscoveredtohisgriefthatitcontainedsolittlewaterthathecouldnotpossiblygetatit.Hetriedeverythinghecouldthinkoftoreachthewater,butallhiseffortswereinvain.Atlasthecollectedasmanystones as he could carry and dropped themone by onewith his beak into thepitcher,untilhebroughtthewaterwithinhisreachandthussavedhislife.Necessityisthemotherofinvention.

TheTwoFrogs

TWOFROGSwereneighbors.Oneinhabitedadeeppond,farremovedfrompublicview;theotherlivedinagullycontaininglittlewater,andtraversedbyacountry road.TheFrog that lived in thepondwarnedhis friend to changehisresidence and entreated him to come and livewith him, saying that hewouldenjoy greater safety from danger andmore abundant food. The other refused,saying that he felt it so very hard to leave a place to which he had becomeaccustomed.Afewdaysafterwardsaheavywagonpassedthroughthegullyandcrushedhimtodeathunderitswheels.Awillfulmanwillhavehiswaytohisownhurt.

TheWolfandtheFox

ATONETIMEaverylargeandstrongWolfwasbornamongthewolves,whoexceeded all his fellow-wolves in strength, size, and swiftness, so that theyunanimously decided to call him “Lion.” The Wolf, with a lack of senseproportioned to his enormous size, thought that they gave him this name inearnest,and,leavinghisownrace,consortedexclusivelywiththelions.AnoldslyFox,seeingthis,said,“MayInevermakemyselfsoridiculousasyoudoinyourprideandself-conceit;foreventhoughyouhavethesizeofalionamongwolves,inaherdoflionsyouaredefinitelyawolf.”

TheWalnut-Tree

AWALNUTTREEstandingby theroadsideboreanabundantcropoffruit.Forthesakeofthenuts,thepassers-bybrokeitsbrancheswithstonesandsticks.TheWalnut-Treepiteouslyexclaimed,“Owretchedme!thatthosewhomIcheerwithmyfruitshouldrepaymewiththesepainfulrequitals!”

TheGnatandtheLion

AGNATcameandsaidtoaLion,“Idonotintheleastfearyou,norareyoustrongerthanIam.Forinwhatdoesyourstrengthconsist?Youcanscratchwithyourclawsandbitewithyourteethanawomaninherquarrels.Irepeat thatIamaltogethermorepowerfulthanyou;andifyoudoubtit,letusfightandseewhowill conquer.”TheGnat,havingsoundedhishorn, fastenedhimselfupontheLionandstunghimonthenostrilsandthepartsofthefacedevoidofhair.While trying to crush him, the Lion tore himself with his claws, until hepunishedhimselfseverely.TheGnatthusprevailedovertheLion,and,buzzingabout in a song of triumph, flew away. But shortly afterwards he becameentangled in the meshes of a cobweb and was eaten by a spider. He greatlylamentedhis fate, saying, “Woe isme! that I,who canwagewar successfullywith the hugest beasts, should perish myself from this spider, the mostinconsiderableofinsects!”


ASAILOR,boundonalongvoyage,tookwithhimaMonkeytoamusehimwhileonshipboard.AshesailedoffthecoastofGreece,aviolenttempestarosein which the ship was wrecked and he, his Monkey, and all the crew wereobligedtoswimfortheirlives.ADolphinsawtheMonkeycontendingwiththewaves, and supposinghim tobe aman (whomhe is always said to befriend),cameandplacedhimselfunderhim,toconveyhimonhisbackinsafetytotheshore.When theDolphinarrivedwithhisburden insightof landnot far fromAthens,heaskedtheMonkeyifhewereanAthenian.Thelatterrepliedthathewas,andthathewasdescendedfromoneofthemostnoblefamiliesinthatcity.TheDolphintheninquiredifheknewthePiraeus(thefamousharborofAthens).Supposingthatamanwasmeant,theMonkeyansweredthatheknewhimverywell and that he was an intimate friend. The Dolphin, indignant at thesefalsehoods,dippedtheMonkeyunderthewateranddrownedhim.


AJACKDAW,seeingsomeDoves inacoteabundantlyprovidedwith food,painted himself white and joined them in order to share their plentifulmaintenance.TheDoves, as long ashewas silent, supposedhim tobeoneofthemselvesandadmittedhimtotheircote.Butwhenonedayheforgothimselfand began to chatter, they discovered his true character and drove him forth,pecking him with their beaks. Failing to obtain food among the Doves, hereturnedtotheJackdaws.Theytoo,notrecognizinghimonaccountofhiscolor,expelledhimfromlivingwiththem.Sodesiringtwoends,heobtainedneither.

TheHorseandtheStag

AT ONE TIME the Horse had the plain entirely to himself. Then a Stagintrudedintohisdomainandsharedhispasture.TheHorse,desiringtorevengehimselfonthestranger,askedamanifhewerewillingtohelphiminpunishingtheStag.ThemanrepliedthatiftheHorsewouldreceiveabitinhismouthandagree tocarryhim,hewouldcontriveeffectiveweaponsagainst theStag.TheHorseconsentedandallowed theman tomounthim.From thathourhe foundthat instead of obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to theserviceofman.

TheKidandtheWolf

AKID,returningwithoutprotectionfromthepasture,waspursuedbyaWolf.Seeinghecouldnotescape,heturnedround,andsaid:“Iknow,friendWolf,thatImustbeyourprey,butbeforeIdieIwouldaskofyouonefavoryouwillplaymeatunetowhichImaydance.”TheWolfcomplied,andwhilehewaspipingand the Kid was dancing, some hounds hearing the sound ran up and beganchasing theWolf.Turning to theKid,hesaid,“It is justwhat Ideserve; for I,whoamonlyabutcher,shouldnothaveturnedpipertopleaseyou.”

TheProphet

AWIZARD,sittinginthemarketplace,wastellingthefortunesofthepassers-bywhenapersonranupingreathaste,andannouncedtohimthatthedoorsofhis house had been broken open and that all his goodswere being stolen.Hesighedheavilyandhastenedawayasfastashecouldrun.Aneighborsawhimrunningandsaid,“Oh!youfellowthere!yousayyoucanforetellthefortunesofothers;howisityoudidnotforeseeyourown?”

TheFoxandtheMonkey

A FOX and a Monkey were traveling together on the same road. As theyjourneyed, they passed through a cemetery full of monuments. “All thesemonuments which you see,” said the Monkey, “are erected in honor of myancestors,whowere in their day freedmenandcitizensofgreat renown.”TheFoxreplied,“Youhavechosenamostappropriatesubjectforyourfalsehoods,asIamsurenoneofyourancestorswillbeabletocontradictyou.”Afalsetaleoftenbetraysitself.


ATHIEFcameinthenighttobreakintoahouse.Hebroughtwithhimseveralslicesofmeat inorder topacify theHousedog,so thathewouldnotalarmhismasterbybarking.AstheThiefthrewhimthepiecesofmeat,theDogsaid,“Ifyouthinktostopmymouth,youwillbegreatlymistaken.Thissuddenkindnessat your handswill onlymakememorewatchful, lest under these unexpectedfavors to myself, you have some private ends to accomplish for your ownbenefit,andformymaster’sinjury.”


AHORSE,Ox,andDog,driventogreatstraitsbythecold,soughtshelterandprotectionfromMan.Hereceivedthemkindly,lightedafire,andwarmedthem.HelettheHorsemakefreewithhisoats,gavetheOxanabundanceofhay,andfedtheDogwithmeatfromhisowntable.Gratefulforthesefavors,theanimalsdetermined to repay him to the best of their ability. For this purpose, theydivided the termofhis lifebetween them,andeachendowedoneportionof itwith the qualities which chiefly characterized himself. The Horse chose hisearliestyearsandgavethemhisownattributes:henceeverymanisinhisyouthimpetuous, headstrong, and obstinate inmaintaining his own opinion.TheOxtookunderhispatronagethenexttermoflife,andthereforemaninhismiddleage is fond of work, devoted to labor, and resolute to amass wealth and tohusbandhisresources.TheendoflifewasreservedfortheDog,whereforetheoldmanisoftensnappish,irritable,hardtoplease,andselfish,tolerantonlyofhisownhousehold,butaverse tostrangersandtoallwhodonotadminister tohiscomfortortohisnecessities.


TWOMEN,onewhoalwaysspokethetruthandtheotherwhotoldnothingbutlies,weretravelingtogetherandbychancecametothelandofApes.OneoftheApes,whohadraisedhimselftobeking,commandedthemtobeseizedandbroughtbeforehim,thathemightknowwhatwassaidofhimamongmen.HeorderedatthesametimethatalltheApesbearrangedinalongrowonhisrighthand and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him, aswas the customamongmen.After these preparations he signified that the twomen should bebroughtbeforehim,andgreetedthemwiththissalutation:“WhatsortofakingdoIseemtoyoutobe,Ostrangers?”TheLyingTravelerreplied,“Youseemtomeamostmightyking.” “Andwhat isyour estimateof thoseyou seearoundme?”“These,”hemadeanswer,“areworthycompanionsofyourself,fitatleasttobeambassadorsand leadersofarmies.”TheApeandallhiscourt,gratifiedwith the lie, commanded thatahandsomepresentbegiven to the flatterer.OnthisthetruthfulTravelerthoughttohimself,“Ifsogreatarewardbegivenforalie,withwhatgiftmaynotIberewarded,if,accordingtomycustom,Itellthetruth?”TheApequicklyturnedtohim.“AndprayhowdoIandthesemyfriendsaroundme seem to you?” “Thou art,” he said, “amost excellentApe, and allthesethycompanionsafterthyexampleareexcellentApestoo.”TheKingoftheApes,enragedathearingthesetruths,gavehimovertotheteethandclawsofhiscompanions.


AWOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt toinjure one of them. The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against him, asagainst an enemy, and kept a strict watch over hismovements. Butwhen theWolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make theslightestefforttoseizethem,theShepherdbegantolookuponhimasaguardianofhisflockratherthanasaplotterofevilagainstit;andwhenoccasioncalledhimonedayintothecity,heleftthesheepentirelyinhischarge.TheWolf,nowthathehadtheopportunity,felluponthesheep,anddestroyedthegreaterpartoftheflock.WhentheShepherdreturnedtofindhisflockdestroyed,heexclaimed:“Ihavebeenrightlyserved;whydidItrustmysheeptoaWolf?”

TheHaresandtheLions

THEHARES harangued the assembly, and argued that all should be equal.TheLionsmadethisreply:“Yourwords,OHares!aregood;buttheylackbothclawsandteethsuchaswehave.”


ALARKhadmadehernestintheearlyspringontheyounggreenwheat.Thebroodhadalmostgrowntotheirfullstrengthandattainedtheuseoftheirwingsandthefullplumageoftheirfeathers,whentheownerofthefield,lookingoverhisripecrop,said,“ThetimehascomewhenImustaskallmyneighborstohelpmewithmyharvest.”OneoftheyoungLarksheardhisspeechandrelatedittohismother,inquiringofhertowhatplacetheyshouldmoveforsafety.“Thereisnooccasiontomoveyet,myson,”shereplied;“themanwhoonlysendstohisfriends tohelphimwithhisharvest isnot really inearnest.”Theownerof thefield came again a few days later and saw thewheat shedding the grain fromexcessofripeness.Hesaid,“Iwillcomemyselftomorrowwithmylaborers,andwith asmany reapers as I can hire, andwill get in the harvest.”TheLark onhearingthesewordssaidtoherbrood,“Itistimenowtobeoff,mylittleones,forthemanisinearnestthistime;henolongertrustshisfriends,butwillreapthefieldhimself.”Self-helpisthebesthelp.

TheFoxandtheLion

WHENAFOXwhohadneveryetseenaLion,fellinwithhimbychanceforthefirsttimeintheforest,hewassofrightenedthathenearlydiedwithfear.Onmeetinghimforthesecondtime,hewasstillmuchalarmed,butnottothesameextentasatfirst.Onseeinghimthethirdtime,hesoincreasedinboldnessthathewentuptohimandcommencedafamiliarconversationwithhim.Acquaintancesoftensprejudices.

TheWeaselandtheMice

AWEASEL,inactivefromageandinfirmities,wasnotabletocatchmiceasheoncedid.Hethereforerolledhimselfinflourandlaydowninadarkcorner.AMouse, supposing him to be food, leapeduponhim, andwas instantly caughtandsqueezed todeath.Anotherperished inasimilarmanner,and thena third,andstillothersafterthem.AveryoldMouse,whohadescapedmanyatrapandsnare,observedfromasafedistancethetrickofhiscraftyfoeandsaid,“Ah!youthatliethere,mayyouprosperjustinthesameproportionasyouarewhatyoupretendtobe!”

TheBoyBathing

ABOYbathinginariverwasindangerofbeingdrowned.Hecalledouttoapassing traveler for help, but instead of holding out a helping hand, the manstoodbyunconcernedly,andscoldedtheboyforhisimprudence.“Oh,sir!”criedtheyouth,“prayhelpmenowandscoldmeafterwards.”Counselwithouthelpisuseless.

TheAssandtheWolf

AN ASS feeding in a meadow saw aWolf approaching to seize him, andimmediatelypretendedtobelame.TheWolf,comingup,inquiredthecauseofhislameness.TheAssrepliedthatpassingthroughahedgehehadtrodwithhisfootuponasharpthorn.HerequestedthattheWolfpullitout,lestwhenheatehim it should injurehis throat.TheWolfconsentedand liftedup the foot,andwasgivinghiswholemindtothediscoveryofthethorn,whentheAss,withhisheels,kickedhisteethintohismouthandgallopedaway.TheWolf,beingthusfearfully mauled, said, “I am rightly served, for why did I attempt the art ofhealing,whenmyfatheronlytaughtmethetradeofabutcher?”

TheSellerofImages

ACERTAINMANmadeawoodenimageofMercuryandoffereditforsale.Whennooneappearedwillingtobuyit,inordertoattractpurchasers,hecriedoutthathehadthestatuetosellofabenefactorwhobestowedwealthandhelpedtoheapupriches.Oneofthebystanderssaidtohim,“Mygoodfellow,whydoyousellhim,beingsuchaoneasyoudescribe,whenyoumayyourselfenjoythegood things he has to give?” “Why,” he replied, “I am in need of immediatehelp,andheiswonttogivehisgoodgiftsveryslowly.”

TheFoxandtheGrapes

AFAMISHEDFOXsawsomeclustersof ripeblackgrapeshanging fromatrellisedvine.Sheresortedtoallhertrickstogetatthem,butweariedherselfinvain, for she could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding herdisappointmentandsaying:“TheGrapesaresour,andnotripeasIthought.”

TheManandHisWife

A MAN had a Wife who made herself hated by all the members of hishousehold.Wishingtofindoutifshehadthesameeffectonthepersonsinherfather’shouse,hemadesomeexcusetosendherhomeonavisit toherfather.Afterashort timeshereturned,andwhenhe inquiredhowshehadgotonandhowtheservantshadtreatedher,shereplied,“Theherdsmenandshepherdscastonmelooksofaversion.”Hesaid,“OWife,ifyouweredislikedbythosewhogooutearlyinthemorningwiththeirflocksandreturnlateintheevening,whatmust have been felt towards you by those with whom you passed the wholeday!”Strawsshowhowthewindblows.

ThePeacockandJuno

THEPEACOCKmadecomplainttoJunothat,whilethenightingalepleasedeveryearwithhissong,hehimselfnosooneropenedhismouththanhebecamealaughingstocktoallwhoheardhim.TheGoddess,toconsolehim,said,“Butyoufarexcelinbeautyandinsize.Thesplendoroftheemeraldshinesinyourneck and you unfold a tail gorgeous with painted plumage.” “But for whatpurposehaveI,”said thebird,“thisdumbbeautyso longasIamsurpassedinsong?” “The lot of each,” replied Juno, “has been assigned by thewill of theFates—to thee, beauty; to the eagle, strength; to the nightingale, song; to theraven,favorable,andtothecrow,unfavorableauguries.Theseareallcontentedwiththeendowmentsallottedtothem.”


A NIGHTINGALE, sitting aloft upon an oak and singing according to hiswont, was seen by a Hawk who, being in need of food, swooped down andseizedhim.TheNightingale,abouttolosehislife,earnestlybeggedtheHawktolethimgo,sayingthathewasnotbigenoughtosatisfy thehungerofaHawkwho,ifhewantedfood,oughttopursuethelargerbirds.TheHawk,interruptinghim,said:“IshouldindeedhavelostmysensesifIshouldletgofoodreadyinmyhand,forthesakeofpursuingbirdswhicharenotyetevenwithinsight.”


ADOGandaCockbeinggreatfriends,agreedtotraveltogether.Atnightfallthey tookshelter ina thickwood.TheCockflyingup,perchedhimselfon thebranchesofatree,whiletheDogfoundabedbeneathinthehollowtrunk.Whenthemorningdawned, theCock, as usual, crowedvery loudly several times.AFoxheardthesound,andwishingtomakeabreakfastonhim,cameandstoodunderthebranches,sayinghowearnestlyhedesiredtomaketheacquaintanceoftheowner of somagnificent a voice.TheCock, suspectinghis civilities, said:“Sir, I wish youwould dome the favor of going around to the hollow trunkbelowme,andwakingmyporter,sothathemayopenthedoorandletyouin.”WhentheFoxapproachedthetree,theDogsprangoutandcaughthim,andtorehimtopieces.

TheWolfandtheGoat

AWOLFsawaGoatfeedingatthesummitofasteepprecipice,wherehehadnochanceof reachingher.He called toher and earnestlybeggedher to comelowerdown, lestshefallbysomemishap;andheadded that themeadows laywherehewasstanding,andthattheherbagewasmosttender.Shereplied,“No,myfriend,itisnotforthepasturethatyouinviteme,butforyourself,whoareinwantoffood.”

TheLionandtheBull

ALION, greatly desiring to capture aBull, and yet afraid to attack himonaccount of his great size, resorted to a trick to ensure his destruction. HeapproachedtheBullandsaid,“Ihaveslainafinesheep,myfriend;andifyouwillcomehomeandpartakeofhimwithme,Ishallbedelightedtohaveyourcompany.” The Lion said this in the hope that, as the Bull was in the act ofreclining toeat,hemightattackhimtoadvantage,andmakehismealonhim.TheBull,onapproachingtheLion’sden,sawthehugespitsandgiantcaldrons,andnosignwhateverofthesheep,and,withoutsayingaword,quietlytookhisdeparture. The Lion inquiredwhy hewent off so abruptlywithout a word ofsalutation to his host, who had not given him any cause for offense. “I havereasons enough,” said the Bull. “I see no indication whatever of your havingslaughtered a sheep, while I do see very plainly every preparation for yourdiningonabull.”

TheGoatandtheAss

AMANoncekeptaGoatandanAss.TheGoat,envyingtheAssonaccountofhisgreaterabundanceoffood,said,“Howshamefullyyouaretreated:atonetimegrindinginthemill,andatanothercarryingheavyburdens;”andhefurtheradvisedhimtopretendtobeepilepticandfallintoaditchandsoobtainrest.TheAsslistenedtohiswords,andfallingintoaditch,wasverymuchbruised.Hismaster, sending for a leech, asked his advice. He bade him pour upon thewoundsthelungsofaGoat.TheyatoncekilledtheGoat,andsohealedtheAss.


ACOUNTRYMOUSEinvitedaTownMouse,anintimatefriend,topayhima visit and partake of his country fare. As they were on the bare plowlands,eating there wheat-stocks and roots pulled up from the hedgerow, the TownMousesaidtohisfriend,“Youliveherethelifeoftheants,whileinmyhouseisthehornofplenty.Iamsurroundedbyeveryluxury,andifyouwillcomewithme,as Iwishyouwould,you shallhaveanample shareofmydainties.”TheCountryMousewaseasilypersuaded,andreturnedtotownwithhisfriend.Onhisarrival, theTownMouseplacedbeforehimbread,barley,beans,driedfigs,honey, raisins,and, lastofall,broughtadaintypieceofcheese fromabasket.The Country Mouse, being much delighted at the sight of such good cheer,expressedhissatisfactioninwarmtermsandlamentedhisownhardfate.Justasthey were beginning to eat, someone opened the door, and they both ran offsqueaking, as fast as they could, to a hole sonarrow that two couldonly findroom in it by squeezing. They had scarcely begun their repast again whensomeoneelseentered to takesomethingoutofacupboard,whereuponthe twoMice, more frightened than before, ran away and hid themselves. At last theCountry Mouse, almost famished, said to his friend: “Although you havepreparedformesodaintyafeast,Imustleaveyoutoenjoyitbyyourself.Itissurroundedbytoomanydangerstopleaseme.Iprefermybareplowlandsandrootsfromthehedgerow,whereIcanliveinsafety,andwithoutfear.”


AWOLFaccusedaFoxof theft,but theFoxentirelydeniedthecharge.AnApeundertooktoadjudgethematterbetweenthem.Wheneachhadfullystatedhiscase theApeannounced thissentence:“Idonot thinkyou,Wolf,ever lostwhatyouclaim;andIdobelieveyou,Fox, tohavestolenwhatyousostoutlydeny.”Thedishonest,iftheyacthonestly,getnocredit.


AFLYsatontheaxle-treeofachariot,andaddressingtheDraught-Mulesaid,“Howslowyouare!Whydoyounotgofaster?SeeifIdonotprickyourneckwithmysting.”TheDraught-Mule replied,“Idonotheedyour threats; Ionlycareforhimwhositsaboveyou,andwhoquickensmypacewithhiswhip,orholdsmebackwiththereins.Away,therefore,withyourinsolence,forIknowwellwhentogofast,andwhentogoslow.”

TheFishermen

SOMEFISHERMENwereouttrawlingtheirnets.Perceivingthemtobeveryheavy,theydancedaboutforjoyandsupposedthattheyhadtakenalargecatch.When theyhaddragged thenets to theshore theyfoundbut fewfish: thenetswere fullof sandandstones,and themenwerebeyondmeasurecastdownsomuch at the disappointment which had befallen them, but because they hadformedsuchverydifferentexpectations.Oneoftheircompany,anoldman,said,“Letusceaselamenting,mymates,for,asitseemstome,sorrowisalwaysthetwinsisterofjoy;anditwasonlytobelookedforthatwe,whojustnowwereover-rejoiced,shouldnexthavesomethingtomakeussad.”


THREEBULLSfora long timepastured together.ALion lay inambush inthehopeofmakingthemhisprey,butwasafraidtoattackthemwhiletheykepttogether.Having at last byguileful speeches succeeded in separating them,heattackedthemwithoutfearastheyfedalone,andfeastedonthemonebyoneathisownleisure.Unionisstrength.


A FOWLER, taking his bird-lime and his twigs, went out to catch birds.Seeingathrushsittinguponatree,hewishedtotakeit,andfittinghistwigstoaproperlength,watchedintently,havinghiswholethoughtsdirectedtowardsthesky.Whilethuslookingupwards,heunknowinglytroduponaViperasleepjustbeforehisfeet.TheViper,turningabout,stunghim,andfallingintoaswoon,theman said tohimself, “Woe isme! thatwhile I purposed tohunt another, I ammyselffallenunawaresintothesnaresofdeath.”

TheHorseandtheAss

AHORSE,proudofhisfinetrappings,metanAssonthehighway.TheAss,being heavily laden, moved slowly out of the way. “Hardly,” said the Horse,“canIresistkickingyouwithmyheels.”TheAssheldhispeace,andmadeonlyasilentappealtothejusticeofthegods.NotlongafterwardstheHorse,havingbecomebroken-winded,wassentbyhisownertothefarm.TheAss,seeinghimdrawingadungcart, thusderidedhim:“Where,Oboaster,arenowall thygaytrappings, thouwho are thyself reduced to the condition you so lately treatedwithcontempt?”

TheFoxandtheMask

A FOX entered the house of an actor and, rummaging through all hisproperties, came upon a Mask, an admirable imitation of a human head. Heplacedhispawsonitandsaid,“Whatabeautifulhead!Yetitisofnovalue,asitentirelylacksbrains.”


THE GEESE and the Cranes were feeding in the same meadow, when abirdcatchercametoensnare theminhisnets.TheCranes,being lightofwing,fledawayathisapproach;whiletheGeese,beingslowerofflightandheavierintheirbodies,werecaptured.


A BLIND MAN was accustomed to distinguishing different animals bytouching themwith his hands. Thewhelp of aWolfwas brought him,with arequestthathewouldfeelit,andsaywhatitwas.Hefeltit,andbeingindoubt,said:“IdonotquiteknowwhetheritisthecubofaFox,orthewhelpofaWolf,butthisIknowfullwell.Itwouldnotbesafetoadmithimtothesheepfold.”Eviltendenciesareshowninearlylife.

TheDogsandtheFox

SOMEDOGS,findingtheskinofalion,begantotearitinpieceswiththeirteeth.AFox,seeingthem,said,“Ifthislionwerealive,youwouldsoonfindoutthathisclawswerestrongerthanyourteeth.”Itiseasytokickamanthatisdown.


ACOBBLER unable tomake a living by his trade andmade desperate bypoverty,began topracticemedicine ina towninwhichhewasnotknown.Hesoldadrug,pretendingthatitwasanantidotetoallpoisons,andobtainedagreatnameforhimselfby long-windedpuffsandadvertisements.When theCobblerhappened to fall sick himself of a serious illness, the Governor of the towndeterminedtotesthisskill.Forthispurposehecalledforacup,andwhilefillingitwithwater,pretendedtomixpoisonwiththeCobbler’santidote,commandinghimtodrinkitonthepromiseofareward.TheCobbler,underthefearofdeath,confessedthathehadnoknowledgeofmedicine,andwasonlymadefamousbythestupidclamorsofthecrowd.TheGovernorthencalledapublicassemblyandaddressed the citizens: “Of what folly have you been guilty? You have nothesitated toentrustyourheads toaman,whomnoonecouldemploy tomakeeventheshoesfortheirfeet.”

TheWolfandtheHorse

AWOLFcomingoutofafieldofoatsmetaHorseandthusaddressedhim:“Iwouldadviseyou togo into that field. It is fullof fineoats,which Ihave leftuntouchedforyou,asyouareafriendwhomIwouldlovetohearenjoyinggoodeating.” TheHorse replied, “If oats had been the food of wolves, youwouldneverhaveindulgedyourearsatthecostofyourbelly.”Menofevilreputation,whentheyperformagooddeed,failtogetcreditforit.


AFATHERhadonesonandonedaughter,theformerremarkableforhisgoodlooks,thelatterforherextraordinaryugliness.Whiletheywereplayingonedayas children, they happened by chance to look together into amirror that wasplacedontheirmother’schair.Theboycongratulatedhimselfonhisgoodlooks;the girl grew angry, and could not bear the self-praises of her Brother,interpreting all he said (and how could she do otherwise?) into reflection onherself.She ranoff toher father, tobe avengedonherBrother, and spitefullyaccusedhimofhaving,asaboy,madeuseofthatwhichbelongedonlytogirls.The father embraced them both, and bestowing his kisses and affectionimpartiallyoneach,said,“Iwishyoubothwouldlookintothemirroreveryday:you,myson,thatyoumaynotspoilyourbeautybyevilconduct;andyou,mydaughter,thatyoumaymakeupforyourlackofbeautybyyourvirtues.”


THEWASPSandthePartridges,overcomewiththirst,cametoaFarmerandbesoughthimtogivethemsomewatertodrink.Theypromisedamplytorepayhim the favor which they asked. The Partridges declared that theywould digaroundhisvinesandmakethemproducefinergrapes.TheWaspssaidthattheywould keep guard and drive off thieves with their stings. But the Farmerinterrupted them, saying: “I have already twooxen,who,withoutmaking anypromises,doallthesethings.Itissurelybetterformetogivethewatertothemthantoyou.”

TheCrowandMercury

ACROWcaughtinasnareprayedtoApollotoreleasehim,makingavowtooffer some frankincense at his shrine. But when rescued from his danger, heforgot his promise. Shortly afterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed byApolloandmade the samepromise tooffer frankincense toMercury.Mercurysoon appeared and said to him, “O thoumost base fellow? how can I believethee,whohastdisownedandwrongedthyformerpatron?”


THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the mostpowerful,andagreedthatheshouldbedeclaredthevictorwhocouldfirststripawayfaringman of his clothes. TheNorthWind first tried his power and blewwithallhismight,butthekeenerhisblasts,theclosertheTravelerwrappedhiscloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, theWind calledupontheSuntoseewhathecoulddo.TheSunsuddenlyshoneoutwithallhiswarmth.TheTravelernosoonerfelthisgenialraysthanhetookoffonegarmentafteranother,andat last, fairlyovercomewithheat,undressedandbathed inastreamthatlayinhispath.PersuasionisbetterthanForce.


TWOMEN, deadly enemies to each other,were sailing in the samevessel.Determinedtokeepasfarapartaspossible,theoneseatedhimselfinthestem,andtheotherintheprowoftheship.Aviolentstormarose,andwiththevesselingreatdangerofsinking,theoneinthesterninquiredofthepilotwhichofthetwoendsof the shipwouldgodown first.Onhis replying thathe supposed itwouldbetheprow,theMansaid,“Deathwouldnotbegrievoustome,ifIcouldonlyseemyEnemydiebeforeme.”


AMANhadtwoGamecocksinhispoultry-yard.OnedaybychancehefoundatamePartridgeforsale.HepurchaseditandbroughtithometoberearedwithhisGamecocks.WhenthePartridgewasputintothepoultry-yard,theystruckatit and followed it about, so that thePartridge became grievously troubled andsupposed that hewas thus evilly treated because hewas a stranger. Not longafterwardshesawtheCocksfightingtogetherandnotseparatingbeforeonehadwellbeatentheother.Hethensaidtohimself,“IshallnolongerdistressmyselfatbeingstruckatbytheseGamecocks,whenIseethattheycannotevenrefrainfromquarrelingwitheachother.”

TheQuackFrog

A FROG once upon a time came forth from his home in the marsh andproclaimedtoallthebeaststhathewasalearnedphysician,skilledintheuseofdrugsandabletohealalldiseases.AFoxaskedhim,“Howcanyoupretendtoprescribe for others, when you are unable to heal your own lame gait andwrinkledskin?”


ALION,growingold, laysickinhiscave.All thebeastscametovisit theirking, except the Fox. The Wolf therefore, thinking that he had a capitalopportunity,accusedtheFoxtotheLionofnotpayinganyrespecttohimwhohadtheruleoverthemallandofnotcomingtovisithim.AtthatverymomenttheFoxcameinandheardtheselastwordsoftheWolf.TheLionroaringoutina rage againsthim, theFox sought anopportunity todefendhimself and said,“AndwhoofallthosewhohavecometoyouhavebenefitedyousomuchasI,whohavetraveledfromplacetoplace ineverydirection,andhavesoughtandlearntfromthephysiciansthemeansofhealingyou?”TheLioncommandedhimimmediatelytotellhimthecure,whenhereplied,“Youmustflayawolfaliveand wrap his skin yet warm around you.” The Wolf was at once taken andflayed;whereon theFox, turning to him, saidwith a smile, “You shouldhavemovedyourmasternottoill,buttogood,will.”

TheDog’sHouse

INTHEWINTERTIME,aDogcurledupinassmallaspaceaspossibleonaccount of the cold, determined tomake himself a house. Howeverwhen thesummerreturnedagain,helayasleepstretchedathisfulllengthandappearedtohimselftobeofagreatsize.Nowheconsideredthatitwouldbeneitheraneasynoranecessaryworktomakehimselfsuchahouseaswouldaccommodatehim.

TheWolfandtheLion

ROAMINGBY themountainside at sundown, aWolf saw his own shadowbecomegreatlyextendedandmagnified,andhesaidtohimself,“WhyshouldI,beingofsuchanimmensesizeandextendingnearlyanacreinlength,beafraidof the Lion? Ought I not to be acknowledged as King of all the collectedbeasts?”Whilehewasindulgingintheseproudthoughts,aLionfelluponhimand killed him.He exclaimedwith a too late repentance, “Wretchedme! thisoverestimationofmyselfisthecauseofmydestruction.”


THE BIRDS waged war with the Beasts, and each were by turns theconquerors.ABat,fearingtheuncertainissuesofthefight,alwaysfoughtonthesidewhichhefeltwasthestrongest.Whenpeacewasproclaimed,hisdeceitfulconductwasapparenttobothcombatants.Thereforebeingcondemnedbyeachfor his treachery, he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforthconcealedhimselfindarkhiding-places,flyingalwaysaloneandatnight.


AYOUNGMAN,agreatspendthrift,hadrunthroughallhispatrimonyandhadbutonegoodcloakleft.OnedayhehappenedtoseeaSwallow,whichhadappeared before its season, skimming along a pool and twittering gaily. Hesupposed thatsummerhadcome,andwentandsoldhiscloak.Notmanydayslater, winter set in again with renewed frost and cold. When he found theunfortunateSwallowlifelessontheground,hesaid,“Unhappybird!whathaveyou done? By thus appearing before the springtime you have not only killedyourself,butyouhavewroughtmydestructionalso.”

TheFoxandtheLion

AFOXsawaLionconfinedinacage,andstandingnearhim,bitterlyreviledhim. The Lion said to the Fox, “It is not thou who revilest me; but thismischancewhichhasbefallenme.”

TheOwlandtheBirds

ANOWL,inherwisdom,counseledtheBirdsthatwhentheacornfirstbegantosprout, topull itallupoutof thegroundandnotallowit togrow.Shesaidacornswouldproducemistletoe, fromwhich an irremediable poison, thebird-lime,wouldbeextractedandbywhich theywouldbecaptured.TheOwlnextadvisedthemtopluckuptheseedoftheflax,whichmenhadsown,asitwasaplant which boded no good to them. And, lastly, the Owl, seeing an archerapproach, predicted that this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armedwithfeatherswhichwouldflyfasterthanthewingsoftheBirdsthemselves.TheBirdsgavenocredence to thesewarningwords,but considered theOwl tobebesideherselfandsaidthatshewasmad.Butafterwards,findingherwordsweretrue,theywonderedatherknowledgeanddeemedhertobethewisestofbirds.Henceitisthatwhensheappearstheylooktoherasknowingallthings,whileshenolongergivesthemadvice,butinsolitudelamentstheirpastfolly.


ATRUMPETER,bravelyleadingonthesoldiers,wascapturedbytheenemy.He cried out to his captors, “Pray spareme, and do not takemy lifewithoutcauseorwithoutinquiry.Ihavenotslainasinglemanofyourtroop.Ihavenoarms,andcarrynothingbutthisonebrasstrumpet.”“Thatistheveryreasonforwhich you should be put to death,” they said; “for, while you do not fightyourself,yourtrumpetstirsalltheotherstobattle.”


AN ASS, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in the forest andamusedhimselfbyfrighteningallthefoolishanimalshemetinhiswanderings.AtlastcominguponaFox,hetriedtofrightenhimalso,buttheFoxnosoonerheard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, “Imight possibly have beenfrightenedmyself,ifIhadnotheardyourbray.”


AHAREpounceduponbyaneaglesobbedverymuchandutteredcrieslikeachild. A Sparrow upbraided her and said, “Where now is thy remarkableswiftnessof foot?Whywereyour feet so slow?”While theSparrowwas thusspeaking,ahawksuddenlyseizedhimandkilledhim.TheHarewascomfortedin her death, and expiring said, “Ah! you who so lately, when you supposedyourself safe, exultedovermy calamity, havenow reason to deplore a similarmisfortune.”

TheFleaandtheOx

A FLEA thus questioned an Ox: “What ails you, that being so huge andstrong,yousubmittothewrongsyoureceivefrommenandslaveforthemdayby day,while I, being so small a creature,mercilessly feed on their flesh anddrinktheirbloodwithoutstint?”TheOxreplied:“Idonotwishtobeungrateful,for I am loved and well cared for by men, and they often pat my head andshoulders.” “Woe’s me!” said the flea; “this very patting which you like,wheneverithappenstome,bringswithitmyinevitabledestruction.”

TheGoodsandtheIlls

ALL the Goods were once driven out by the Ills from that common sharewhich they each had in the affairs ofmankind; for the Ills by reason of theirnumbers had prevailed to possess the earth. TheGoodswafted themselves toheavenandaskedforarighteousvengeanceontheirpersecutors.TheyentreatedJupiterthattheymightnolongerbeassociatedwiththeIlls,astheyhadnothingincommonandcouldnotlivetogether,butwereengagedinunceasingwarfare;and that an indissoluble law might be laid down for their future protection.JupitergrantedtheirrequestanddecreedthathenceforththeIllsshouldvisittheearthincompanywitheachother,butthattheGoodsshouldonebyoneenterthehabitationsofmen.Hence it arises that Ills abound, for theycomenotonebyone, but in troops, and by no means singly: while the Goods proceed fromJupiter,andaregiven,notaliketoall,butsingly,andseparately;andonebyonetothosewhoareabletodiscernthem.

TheDoveandtheCrow

ADOVEshutupinacagewasboastingof thelargenumberofyoungoneswhichshehadhatched.ACrowhearingher,said:“Mygoodfriend,ceasefromthis unseasonable boasting. The larger the number of your family, the greateryourcauseofsorrow,inseeingthemshutupinthisprison-house.”

MercuryandtheWorkmen

A WORKMAN, felling wood by the side of a river, let his axe drop byaccidentintoadeeppool.Beingthusdeprivedofthemeansofhislivelihood,hesat down on the bank and lamented his hard fate. Mercury appeared anddemanded the cause of his tears. After he told him his misfortune, Mercuryplungedintothestream,and,bringingupagoldenaxe,inquiredifthatweretheonehehadlost.Onhissayingthatitwasnothis,Mercurydisappearedbeneaththewaterasecondtime,returnedwithasilveraxeinhishand,andagainaskedtheWorkmanifitwerehis.WhentheWorkmansaiditwasnot,hedivedintothepoolforthethirdtimeandbroughtuptheaxethathadbeenlost.TheWorkmanclaimed it and expressed his joy at its recovery. Mercury, pleased with hishonesty, gave him the golden and silver axes in addition to his own. TheWorkman, on his return to his house, related to his companions all that hadhappened.Oneofthematonceresolvedtotryandsecurethesamegoodfortuneforhimself.Herantotheriverandthrewhisaxeonpurposeintothepoolatthesameplace,andsatdownonthebanktoweep.Mercuryappearedtohimjustashehopedhewould;andhavinglearnedthecauseofhisgrief,plungedintothestreamandbroughtupagoldenaxe, inquiring ifhehad lost it.TheWorkmanseized itgreedily,anddeclared that truly itwas theverysameaxe thathehadlost.Mercury,displeasedathisknavery,notonlytookawaythegoldenaxe,butrefusedtorecoverforhimtheaxehehadthrownintothepool.


ANEAGLE,flyingdownfromhisperchonaloftyrock,seizeduponalambandcarriedhimaloftinhistalons.AJackdaw,whowitnessedthecaptureofthelamb,wasstirredwithenvyanddeterminedtoemulatethestrengthandflightoftheEagle.Heflewaroundwithagreatwhirofhiswingsandsettleduponalargeram,with the intentionofcarryinghimoff,buthisclawsbecameentangled inthe ram’s fleece and hewas not able to release himself, although he flutteredwithhisfeathersasmuchashecould.Theshepherd,seeingwhathadhappened,ranupandcaughthim.HeatonceclippedtheJackdaw’swings,andtakinghimhomeatnight,gavehimtohischildren.Ontheirsaying,“Father,whatkindofbirdisit?”hereplied,“TomycertainknowledgeheisaDaw;buthewouldlikeyoutothinkanEagle.”

TheFoxandtheCrane

AFOXinvitedaCranetosupperandprovidednothingforhisentertainmentbutsomesoupmadeofpulse,whichwaspouredoutintoabroadflatstonedish.The soup fell out of the long bill of the Crane at every mouthful, and hisvexationatnotbeingabletoeataffordedtheFoxmuchamusement.TheCrane,inhisturn,askedtheFoxtosupwithhim,andsetbeforeheraflagonwithalongnarrowmouth,sothathecouldeasilyinserthisneckandenjoyitscontentsathisleisure. The Fox, unable even to taste it, met with a fitting requital, after thefashionofherownhospitality.


ACCORDING to an ancient legend, the firstmanwasmade by Jupiter, thefirstbullbyNeptune,andthefirsthousebyMinerva.Onthecompletionoftheirlabors,adisputearoseastowhichhadmadethemostperfectwork.Theyagreedto 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 firstblamed the work of Neptune because he had not made the horns of the bullbelowhiseyes,sohemightbetterseewheretostrike.HethencondemnedtheworkofJupiter,becausehehadnotplacedtheheartofmanontheoutside,thateveryone might read the thoughts of the evil disposed and take precautionsagainsttheintendedmischief.And,lastly,heinveighedagainstMinervabecauseshe had not contrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so itsinhabitantsmightmoreeasily remove ifaneighborprovedunpleasant. Jupiter,indignantatsuchinveteratefaultfinding,drovehimfromhisofficeofjudge,andexpelledhimfromthemansionsofOlympus.

TheEagleandtheFox

ANEAGLEandaFoxformedanintimatefriendshipanddecidedtoliveneareachother.TheEaglebuilthernestinthebranchesofatalltree,whiletheFoxcreptintotheunderwoodandthereproducedheryoung.Notlongaftertheyhadagreeduponthisplan,theEagle,beinginwantofprovisionforheryoungones,swoopeddownwhile theFoxwasout, seizedupononeof the little cubs, andfeasted herself and her brood. The Fox on her return, discovered what hadhappened,butwaslessgrievedforthedeathofheryoungthanforherinabilitytoavengethem.Ajustretribution,however,quicklyfellupontheEagle.Whilehovering near an altar, on which some villagers were sacrificing a goat, shesuddenlyseizedapieceoftheflesh,andcarriedit,alongwithaburningcinder,tohernest.Astrongbreezesoonfannedthesparkintoaflame,andtheeaglets,asyetunfledgedandhelpless,wereroastedintheirnestanddroppeddowndeadatthebottomofthetree.There,inthesightoftheEagle,theFoxgobbledthemup.

TheManandtheSatyr

AMANandaSatyroncedranktogetherintokenofabondofalliancebeingformedbetweenthem.Oneverycoldwintryday,astheytalked,theManputhisfingerstohismouthandblewonthem.WhentheSatyraskedthereasonforthis,hetoldhimthathedidittowarmhishandsbecausetheyweresocold.Lateroninthedaytheysatdowntoeat,andthefoodpreparedwasquitescalding.TheManraisedoneofthedishesalittletowardshismouthandblewinit.WhentheSatyragaininquiredthereason,hesaidthathedidittocoolthemeat,whichwastoohot.“Icannolongerconsideryouasafriend,”saidtheSatyr,“afellowwhowiththesamebreathblowshotandcold.”


AMANwishedtopurchaseanAss,andagreedwithitsownerthatheshouldtryouttheanimalbeforeheboughthim.HetooktheAsshomeandputhiminthe straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all theothers and at once joined the one thatwasmost idle and the greatest eater ofthemall.Seeingthis,themanputahalteronhimandledhimbacktohisowner.Onbeingaskedhow, insoshorta time,hecouldhavemadea trialofhim,heanswered,“Idonotneedatrial;Iknowthathewillbejustthesameastheonehechoseforhiscompanion.”Amanisknownbythecompanyhekeeps.

TheTwoBags

EVERYMAN,accordingtoanancientlegend,isbornintotheworldwithtwobagssuspendedfromhisneckallbaginfrontfullofhisneighbors’faults,andalargebagbehindfilledwithhisownfaults.Henceitisthatmenarequicktoseethefaultsofothers,andyetareoftenblindtotheirownfailings.

TheStagatthePool

A STAG overpowered by heat came to a spring to drink. Seeing his ownshadow reflected in the water, he greatly admired the size and variety of hishorns,butfeltangrywithhimselfforhavingsuchslenderandweakfeet.Whilehewasthuscontemplatinghimself,aLionappearedatthepoolandcrouchedtospringuponhim.TheStag immediately took to flight,andexertinghisutmostspeed, as long as theplainwas smooth andopenkept himself easily at a safedistancefromtheLion.Butenteringawoodhebecameentangledbyhishorns,and theLionquickly cameup tohimand caught him.When too late, he thusreproachedhimself:“Woeisme!HowIhavedeceivedmyself!Thesefeetwhichwould have saved me I despised, and I gloried in these antlers which haveprovedmydestruction.”Whatismosttrulyvaluableisoftenunderrated.

TheJackdawandtheFox

A HALF-FAMISHED JACKDAW seated himself on a fig-tree, which hadproducedsomefruitentirelyoutofseason,andwaitedinthehopethatthefigswould ripen. A Fox seeing him sitting so long and learning the reason of hisdoing so, said to him, “You are indeed, sir, sadly deceiving yourself; you areindulgingahopestrongenoughtocheatyou,butwhichwillneverrewardyouwithenjoyment.”


THE LARK (according to an ancient legend) was created before the earthitself,andwhenherfatherdied,astherewasnoearth,shecouldfindnoplaceofburialforhim.Shelethimlieuninterredforfivedays,andonthesixthday,notknowingwhatelsetodo,sheburiedhiminherownhead.Hencesheobtainedhercrest,whichispopularlysaidtobeherfather’sgrave-hillock.Youth’sfirstdutyisreverencetoparents.

TheGnatandtheBull

AGNATsettledonthehornofaBull,andsattherealongtime.Justashewasabouttoflyoff,hemadeabuzzingnoise,andinquiredoftheBullifhewouldlikehimtogo.TheBullreplied,“Ididnotknowyouhadcome,andIshallnotmissyouwhenyougoaway.”Somemenareofmoreconsequenceintheirowneyesthanintheeyesoftheir

neighbors.


ABITCH,readytowhelp,earnestlybeggedashepherdforaplacewhereshemightlitter.Whenherrequestwasgranted,shebesoughtpermissiontorearherpuppies in thesamespot.Theshepherdagainconsented.Butat last theBitch,protected by the bodyguard of herWhelps,who had nowgrownup andwereable todefend themselves, assertedher exclusive right to theplaceandwouldnotpermittheshepherdtoapproach.

TheDogsandtheHides

SOMEDOGSfamishedwithhungersawanumberofcowhidessteepinginariver. Not being able to reach them, they agreed to drink up the river, but ithappenedthattheyburstthemselveswithdrinkinglongbeforetheyreachedthehides.Attemptnotimpossibilities.


ASHEPHERDdrivinghisSheeptoawood,sawanoakofunusualsizefullofacorns,andspreadinghiscloakunderthebranches,heclimbedupintothetreeandshookthemdown.TheSheepeatingtheacornsinadvertentlyfrayedandtorethecloak.WhentheShepherdcamedownandsawwhatwasdone,hesaid,“Oyoumostungratefulcreatures!Youprovidewooltomakegarmentsforallothermen,butyoudestroytheclothesofhimwhofeedsyou.”


AN OWL, accustomed to feed at night and to sleep during the day, wasgreatly disturbed by the noise of aGrasshopper and earnestly besought her tostopchirping.TheGrasshopperrefusedtodesist,andchirpedlouderandlouderthemoretheOwlentreated.Whenshesawthatshecouldgetnoredressandthatherwordsweredespised,theOwlattackedthechattererbyastratagem.“SinceIcannotsleep,”shesaid,“onaccountofyoursongwhich,believeme,issweetasthelyreofApollo,Ishall indulgemyselfindrinkingsomenectarwhichPallaslately gave me. If you do not dislike it, come to me and we will drink ittogether.”TheGrasshopper,whowasthirsty,andpleasedwiththepraiseofhervoice,eagerlyflewup.TheOwlcameforthfromherhollow,seizedher,andputhertodeath.


THE BEASTS of the forest gave a splendid entertainment at which theMonkeystoodupanddanced.Havingvastlydelightedtheassembly,hesatdownamidstuniversal applause.TheCamel, enviousof thepraisesbestowedon theMonkey and desiring to divert to himself the favor of the guests, proposed tostandupinhisturnanddancefortheiramusement.Hemovedaboutinsoutterlyridiculous amanner that theBeasts, in a fit of indignation, set uponhimwithclubsanddrovehimoutoftheassembly.Itisabsurdtoapeourbetters.


APEASANThad inhisgardenanApple-Treewhichboreno fruitbutonlyservedasaharborforthesparrowsandgrasshoppers.Heresolvedtocutitdown,andtakinghisaxeinhishand,madeaboldstrokeatitsroots.Thegrasshoppersandsparrowsentreatedhimnottocutdownthetreethatshelteredthem,buttospareit,andtheywouldsingtohimandlightenhislabors.Hepaidnoattentiontotheirrequest,butgavethetreeasecondandathirdblowwithhisaxe.Whenhereachedthehollowofthetree,hefoundahivefullofhoney.Havingtastedthehoneycomb,hethrewdownhisaxe,andlookingonthetreeassacred,tookgreatcareofit.Self-interestalonemovessomemen.


TWOSOLDIERStravelingtogetherweresetuponbyaRobber.Theonefledaway;theotherstoodhisgroundanddefendedhimselfwithhisstoutrighthand.TheRobberbeing slain, the timidcompanion ranupanddrewhis sword, andthen, throwingbackhis travelingcloak said, “I’ll at him, and I’ll takecareheshalllearnwhomhehasattacked.”Onthis,hewhohadfoughtwiththeRobbermadeanswer,“Ionlywishthatyouhadhelpedmejustnow,evenifithadbeenonlywith thosewords, for I shouldhavebeen themoreencouraged,believingthemtobetrue;butnowputupyourswordinitssheathandholdyourequallyuselesstongue,tillyoucandeceiveotherswhodonotknowyou.I,indeed,whohave experienced with what speed you run away, know right well that nodependencecanbeplacedonyourvalor.”


THEGODS,accordingtoanancient legend,madechoiceofcertaintrees tobeundertheirspecialprotection.Jupiterchosetheoak,Venusthemyrtle,Apollothe laurel,Cybele thepine, andHercules thepoplar.Minerva,wonderingwhytheyhadpreferred treesnotyieldingfruit, inquired thereasonfor theirchoice.Jupiterreplied,“Itislestweshouldseemtocovetthehonorforthefruit.”ButsaidMinerva, “Let anyone saywhat he will the olive ismore dear tome onaccount of its fruit.” Then said Jupiter, “My daughter, you are rightly calledwise;forunlesswhatwedoisuseful,thegloryofitisvain.”

TheMotherandtheWolf

AFAMISHEDWOLFwasprowlingaboutinthemorninginsearchoffood.Ashepassedthedoorofacottagebuiltintheforest,heheardaMothersaytoherchild,“Bequiet,orIwill throwyououtofthewindow,andtheWolfshalleatyou.”TheWolfsatalldaywaitingat thedoor.Intheeveningheheardthesamewomanfondlingherchildandsaying:“Youarequietnow,andiftheWolfshould come, we will kill him.” TheWolf, hearing these words, went home,gaspingwithcoldandhunger.Whenhereachedhisden,MistressWolfinquiredof him why he returned wearied and supperless, so contrary to his wont. Hereplied:“Why,forsooth!useIgavecredencetothewordsofawoman!”

TheAssandtheHorse

ANASSbesought aHorse to spare hima small portionof his feed. “Yes,”saidtheHorse;“ifanyremainsoutofwhatIamnoweatingIwillgiveityouforthesakeofmyownsuperiordignity,andifyouwillcomewhenIreachmyownstallintheevening,Iwillgiveyoualittlesackfullofbarley.”TheAssreplied,“Thankyou.ButIcan’tthinkthatyou,whorefusemealittlematternow,willbyandbyconferonmeagreaterbenefit.”

TruthandtheTraveler

AWAYFARINGMAN,travelinginthedesert,metawomanstandingaloneandterriblydejected.Heinquiredofher,“Whoartthou?”“MynameisTruth,”she replied. “And forwhat cause,” he asked, “have you left the city to dwellalone here in the wilderness?” She made answer, “Because in former times,falsehoodwaswithfew,butisnowwithallmen.”

TheManslayer

AMANcommitted amurder, andwas pursued by the relations of themanwhomhemurdered.OnhisreachingtheriverNilehesawaLiononitsbankandbeing fearfully afraid, climbed up a tree. He found a serpent in the upperbranchesofthetree,andagainbeinggreatlyalarmed,hethrewhimselfintotheriver,whereacrocodilecaughthimandatehim.Thustheearth,theair,andthewateralikerefusedsheltertoamurderer.

TheLionandtheFox

AFOXenteredintopartnershipwithaLiononthepretenseofbecominghisservant.Eachundertookhisproperdutyinaccordancewithhisownnatureandpowers.TheFoxdiscoveredandpointedouttheprey;theLionsprangonitandseizedit.TheFoxsoonbecamejealousoftheLioncarryingofftheLion’sshare,andsaidthathewouldnolongerfindouttheprey,butwouldcaptureitonhisownaccount.Thenextdayheattemptedtosnatchalambfromthefold,buthehimselffellpreytothehuntsmenandhounds.

TheLionandtheEagle

ANEAGLEstayedhis flightandentreatedaLion tomakeanalliancewithhimtotheirmutualadvantage.TheLionreplied,“Ihavenoobjection,butyoumustexcusemeforrequiringyoutofindsuretyforyourgoodfaith,forhowcanItrustanyoneasafriendwhoisabletoflyawayfromhisbargainwheneverhepleases?”Trybeforeyoutrust.

TheHenandtheSwallow

A HEN finding the eggs of a viper and carefully keeping them warm,nourished theminto life.ASwallow,observingwhatshehaddone, said,“Yousillycreature!whyhaveyouhatched theseviperswhich,whentheyshallhavegrown,willinflictinjuryonall,beginningwithyourself?”


ARICHNOBLEMANonceopenedthetheaterswithoutchargetothepeople,and gave a public notice that he would handsomely reward any person whoinvented a new amusement for the occasion. Various public performerscontended for theprize.Among themcame aBuffoonwell knownamong thepopulaceforhis jokes,andsaid thathehadakindofentertainmentwhichhadneverbeenbroughtoutonanystagebefore.Thisreportbeingspreadaboutmadeagreat stir, and the theaterwas crowded in everypart.TheBuffoon appearedalone upon the platform, without any apparatus or confederates, and the verysense of expectation caused an intense silence. He suddenly bent his headtowardshisbosomandimitatedthesqueakingofa littlepigsoadmirablywithhis voice that the audience declared he had a porker under his cloak, anddemanded that it should be shaken out.When thatwas done and nothingwasfound, they cheered the actor, and loaded him with the loudest applause. ACountryman in the crowd, observing all that has passed, said, “So help me,Hercules, he shall not beat me at that trick!” and at once proclaimed that hewoulddo thesamethingon thenextday, thoughinamuchmorenaturalway.Onthemorrowastill largercrowdassembledinthetheater,butnowpartialityfortheirfavoriteactorverygenerallyprevailed,andtheaudiencecamerathertoridicule the Countryman than to see the spectacle. Both of the performersappeared on the stage. The Buffoon grunted and squeaked away first, andobtained, as on the preceding day, the applause and cheers of the spectators.NexttheCountrymancommenced,andpretendingthatheconcealedalittlepigbeneathhisclothes (which in truthhedid,butnotsuspectedby theaudience)contrived to take hold of and to pull his ear causing the pig to squeak. TheCrowd, however, cried outwith one consent that theBuffoon had given a farmoreexactimitation,andclamoredfortheCountrymantobekickedoutofthetheater.Onthistherusticproducedthelittlepigfromhiscloakandshowedbythemostpositiveproofthegreatnessoftheirmistake.“Lookhere,”hesaid,“thisshowswhatsortofjudgesyouare.”


ACROW ingreatwant of food sawaSerpent asleep in a sunnynook, andflyingdown,greedilyseizedhim.TheSerpent,turningabout,bittheCrowwithamortalwound.Intheagonyofdeath,thebirdexclaimed:“Ounhappyme!whohave found in that which I deemed a happy windfall the source of mydestruction.”


ACERTAINHUNTER, having snared a hare, placed it upon his shouldersandsetouthomewards.Onhiswayhemetamanonhorsebackwhobeggedthehareofhim,underthepretenseofpurchasingit.However,whentheHorsemangotthehare,herodeoffasfastashecould.TheHunterranafterhim,asifhewas sure of overtaking him, but the Horseman increased more and more thedistancebetweenthem.TheHunter,sorelyagainsthiswill,calledouttohimandsaid,“Getalongwithyou!forIwillnowmakeyouapresentofthehare.”


AKING,whoseonlysonwasfondofmartialexercises,hadadreaminwhichhewaswarnedthathissonwouldbekilledbyalion.Afraidthedreamshouldprove true, hebuilt for his son apleasant palace and adorned itswalls for hisamusementwithallkindsoflife-sizedanimals,amongwhichwasthepictureofalion.WhentheyoungPrincesawthis,hisgriefatbeingthusconfinedburstoutafresh,and,standingnearthelion,hesaid:“Oyoumostdetestableofanimals!throughalyingdreamofmyfather’s,whichhesawinhissleep,IamshutuponyouraccountinthispalaceasifIhadbeenagirl:whatshallInowdotoyou?”Withthesewordshestretchedouthishandstowardathorn-tree,meaningtocuta stick from its branches so that hemight beat the lion.But one of the tree’spricklespiercedhis fingerandcausedgreatpainand inflammation, so that theyoungPrince fell down in a fainting fit.Aviolent fever suddenly set in, fromwhichhediednotmanydayslater.Wehadbetterbearourtroublesbravelythantrytoescapethem.

TheCatandVenus

A CAT fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus tochange her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request andtransformedherintoabeautifuldamsel,sothattheyouthsawherandlovedher,andtookherhomeashisbride.Whilethetwowererecliningintheirchamber,VenuswishingtodiscoveriftheCatinherchangeofshapehadalsoalteredherhabits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. The Cat, quiteforgetting her present condition, started up from the couch and pursued themouse,wishingtoeatit.Venuswasmuchdisappointedandagaincausedhertoreturntoherformershape.Natureexceedsnurture.


THE SHE-GOATS having obtained a beard by request to Jupiter, the He-Goatsweresorelydispleasedandmadecomplaintthatthefemalesequaledthemindignity.“Allowthem,”saidJupiter,“toenjoyanemptyhonorandtoassumethebadgeofyournoblersex,solongastheyarenotyourequalsinstrengthorcourage.”Itmatters little if thosewho are inferior to us inmerit should be like us in

outsideappearances.TheCamelandtheArabAN ARAB CAMEL-DRIVER, after completing the loading of his Camel,

asked him which he would like best, to go up hill or down. The poor beastreplied,notwithoutatouchofreason:“Whydoyouaskme?Isitthatthelevelwaythroughthedesertisclosed?”


AMILLERand his sonwere driving theirAss to a neighboring fair to sellhim. They had not gone far when theymet with a troop of women collectedroundawell, talkingand laughing. “Look there,” criedoneof them,“didyouever see such fellows, to be trudging along the roadon footwhen theymightride?” The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, andcontinuedtowalkalongmerrilybyhisside.Presentlytheycameuptoagroupofoldmeninearnestdebate.“There,”saidoneofthem,“itproveswhatIwasa-saying.Whatrespectisshowntooldageinthesedays?Doyouseethatidleladridingwhilehisoldfatherhastowalk?Getdown,youyoungscapegrace,andletthe old man rest his weary limbs.” Upon this the old man made his sondismount,andgotuphimself. In thismanner theyhadnotproceededfarwhentheymetacompanyofwomenandchildren:“Why,youlazyoldfellow,”criedseveraltonguesatonce,“howcanyourideuponthebeast,whilethatpoorlittlelad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?” The good-naturedMillerimmediately took up his son behind him. They had now almost reached thetown. “Pray, honest friend,” said a citizen, “is that Ass your own?” “Yes,”repliedtheoldman.“O,onewouldnothavethoughtso,”saidtheother,“bythewayyouloadhim.Why,youtwofellowsarebetterabletocarrythepoorbeastthanheyou.”“Anythingtopleaseyou,”saidtheoldman;“wecanbuttry.”So,alightingwithhisson,theytiedthelegsoftheAsstogetherandwiththehelpofapoleendeavoredtocarryhimontheirshouldersoverabridgeneartheentrancetothetown.Thisentertainingsightbroughtthepeopleincrowdstolaughatit,tilltheAss,notlikingthenoisenorthestrangehandlingthathewassubjectto,broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river.Upon this, the oldman, vexed and ashamed,made the best of hisway homeagain, convinced that by endeavoring to please everybody he had pleasednobody,andlosthisAssinthebargain.

TheCrowandtheSheep

A TROUBLESOME CROW seated herself on the back of a Sheep. TheSheep,muchagainsthiswill,carriedherbackwardandforwardforalongtime,andatlastsaid,“Ifyouhadtreatedadoginthisway,youwouldhavehadyourdesertsfromhissharpteeth.”TothistheCrowreplied,“Idespisetheweakandyieldtothestrong.IknowwhomImaybullyandwhomImustflatter;andIthusprolongmylifetoagoodoldage.”

TheFoxandtheBramble

AFOXwasmountingahedgewhenhelosthisfootingandcaughtholdofaBramble to save himself. Having pricked and grievously tom the soles of hisfeet,heaccusedtheBramblebecause,whenhehadfledtoherforassistance,shehadusedhimworsethanthehedgeitself.TheBramble, interruptinghim,said,“Butyoureallymusthavebeenoutofyoursensestofastenyourselfonme,whoammyselfalwaysaccustomedtofastenuponothers.”

TheWolfandtheLion

AWOLF,havingstolenalambfromafold,wascarryinghimofftohislair.ALionmethiminthepath,andseizingthelamb,tookitfromhim.Standingatasafe distance, theWolf exclaimed, “You have unrighteously taken that whichwasmine fromme!”Towhich theLion jeeringly replied, “Itwas righteouslyyours,eh?Thegiftofafriend?”

TheDogandtheOyster

ADOG, used to eating eggs, saw anOyster and, opening hismouth to itswidestextent, swallowed itdownwith theutmost relish, supposing it tobeanegg.Soonafterwardssufferinggreatpaininhisstomach,hesaid,“Ideserveallthistorment,formyfollyinthinkingthateverythingroundmustbeanegg.”They who act without sufficient thought, will often fall into unsuspected

danger.

TheAntandtheDove

ANANTwent to thebankof a river toquench its thirst, andbeing carriedawaybytherushofthestream,wasonthepointofdrowning.ADovesittingonatreeoverhangingthewaterpluckedaleafandletitfallintothestreamclosetoher.TheAntclimbedontoitandfloatedinsafetytothebank.Shortlyafterwardsa birdcatcher came and stood under the tree, and laid his lime-twigs for theDove,whichsat in thebranches.TheAnt,perceivinghisdesign, stunghim inthefoot. Inpain thebirdcatcher threwdownthe twigs,and thenoisemade theDovetakewing.


A FOWLER caught a Partridge and was about to kill it. The Partridgeearnestlybeggedhimtosparehis life,saying,“Pray,master,permitmeto liveandIwillenticemanyPartridgestoyouinrecompenseforyourmercytome.”TheFowlerreplied,“Ishallnowwithlessscrupletakeyourlife,becauseyouarewillingtosaveitatthecostofbetrayingyourfriendsandrelations.”

TheFleaandtheMan

AMAN,verymuchannoyedwithaFlea,caughthimatlast,andsaid,“Whoare you who dare to feed on my limbs, and to cost me so much trouble incatchingyou?”TheFleareplied,“Omydearsir,praysparemylife,anddestroymenot,forIcannotpossiblydoyoumuchharm.”TheMan,laughing,replied,“Nowyoushallcertainlydiebymineownhands,fornoevil,whetheritbesmallorlarge,oughttobetolerated.”


SOMETHIEVESbroke into a house and foundnothingbut aCock,whomtheystole,andgotoffasfastastheycould.Uponarrivingathometheypreparedto kill the Cock, who thus pleaded for his life: “Pray spare me; I am veryserviceabletomen.Iwakethemupinthenighttotheirwork.”“Thatistheveryreasonwhywemustthemorekillyou,”theyreplied;“forwhenyouwakeyourneighbors,youentirelyputanendtoourbusiness.”Thesafeguardsofvirtuearehatefultothosewithevilintentions.

TheDogandtheCook

A RICH MAN gave a great feast, to which he invited many friends andacquaintances.HisDogavailedhimselfoftheoccasiontoinviteastrangerDog,afriendofhis,saying,“Mymastergivesafeast,andthereisalwaysmuchfoodremaining; come and supwithme tonight.”TheDog thus invitedwent at thehourappointed,andseeingthepreparationsforsograndanentertainment,saidin the joyofhisheart, “Howglad Iam that I came! Idonotoftenget suchachance as this. I will take care and eat enough to last me both today andtomorrow.”Whilehewascongratulatinghimselfandwagginghistailtoconveyhispleasuretohisfriend,theCooksawhimmovingaboutamonghisdishesand,seizinghimbyhisforeandhindpaws,bundledhimwithoutceremonyoutofthewindow. He fell with force upon the ground and limped away, howlingdreadfully.Hisyellingsoonattractedotherstreetdogs,whocameuptohimandinquiredhowhehadenjoyedhissupper.Hereplied,“Why,totellyouthetruth,IdranksomuchwinethatIremembernothing.IdonotknowhowIgotoutofthehouse.”


TWO TRAVELERS, worn out by the heat of the summer’s sun, laidthemselvesdownatnoonunderthewidespreadingbranchesofaPlane-Tree.Asthey rested under its shade, one of the Travelers said to the other, “What asingularly useless tree is the Plane! It bears no fruit, and is not of the leastservice to man.” The Plane-Tree, interrupting him, said, “You ungratefulfellows!Doyou,whilereceivingbenefitsfrommeandrestingundermyshade,daretodescribemeasuseless,andunprofitable?”Somemenunderratetheirbestblessings.

TheHaresandtheFrogs

THEHARES, oppressed by their own exceeding timidity andweary of theperpetualalarmtowhichtheywereexposed,withoneaccorddeterminedtoputanendtothemselvesandtheirtroublesbyjumpingfromaloftyprecipiceintoadeep lake below. As they scampered off in large numbers to carry out theirresolve,theFrogslyingonthebanksofthelakeheardthenoiseoftheirfeetandrushed helter-skelter to the deep water for safety. On seeing the rapiddisappearanceoftheFrogs,oneoftheHarescriedouttohiscompanions:“Stay,myfriends,donotdoasyouintended;foryounowseethattherearecreatureswhoarestillmoretimidthanourselves.”


THE LION wearied Jupiter with his frequent complaints. “It is true, OJupiter!” he said, “that I am gigantic in strength, handsome in shape, andpowerfulinattack.Ihavejawswellprovidedwithteeth,andfeetfurnishedwithclaws,andIlorditoverallthebeastsoftheforest,andwhatadisgraceitis,thatbeing such as I am, I shouldbe frightenedby the crowingof a cock.” Jupiterreplied, “Why do you blame me without a cause? I have given you all theattributeswhichIpossessmyself,andyourcourageneverfailsyouexceptinthisone instance.”Onhearing this theLiongroanedand lamentedverymuchand,reproaching himself with his cowardice, wished that he might die. As thesethoughtspassedthroughhismind,hemetanElephantandcameclosetoholdaconversationwithhim.AfteratimeheobservedthattheElephantshookhisearsveryoften,andhe inquiredwhatwas thematterandwhyhisearsmovedwithsuchatremoreverynowandthen.JustatthatmomentaGnatsettledontheheadoftheElephant,andhereplied,“Doyouseethatlittlebuzzinginsect?Ifitentersmyear,myfateissealed.Ishoulddiepresently.”TheLionsaid,“Well,sincesohugeabeast isafraidofatinygnat,Iwillnomorecomplain,norwishmyselfdead.Ifindmyself,evenasIam,betteroffthantheElephant.”

TheLambandtheWolf

AWOLF pursued a Lamb, which fled for refuge to a certain Temple. TheWolf called out to him and said, “The Priest will slay you in sacrifice, if heshouldcatchyou.”OnwhichtheLambreplied,“ItwouldbebetterformetobesacrificedintheTemplethantobeeatenbyyou.”


ARICHMANlivednearaTanner,andnotbeingabletobeartheunpleasantsmellofthetan-yard,hepressedhisneighbortogoaway.TheTannerputoffhisdeparture from time to time, saying that hewould leave soon. But as he stillcontinuedtostay,astimewenton,therichmanbecameaccustomedtothesmell,andfeelingnomannerofinconvenience,madenofurthercomplaints.


ASHIPWRECKEDMAN,havingbeencastuponacertainshore,sleptafterhisbuffetingswiththedeep.Afterawhileheawoke,andlookingupontheSea,loadeditwithreproaches.Hearguedthatitenticedmenwiththecalmnessofitslooks, but when it had induced them to plow its waters, it grew rough anddestroyedthem.TheSea,assumingtheformofawoman,repliedtohim:“Blamenotme,mygoodsir,butthewinds,forIambymyownnatureascalmandfirmevenasthisearth;butthewindssuddenlyfallingonmecreatethesewaves,andlashmeintofury.”


TWO MULES well-laden with packs were trudging along. One carriedpanniers filled with money, the other sacks weighted with grain. The Mulecarryingthetreasurewalkedwithheaderect,asifconsciousofthevalueofhisburden,andtossedupanddowntheclear-tonedbellsfastenedtohisneck.Hiscompanionfollowedwithquietandeasystep.AllofasuddenRobbers rushedupon them from their hiding-places, and in the scuffle with their owners,wounded with a sword the Mule carrying the treasure, which they greedilyseizedwhiletakingnonoticeofthegrain.TheMulewhichhadbeenrobbedandwoundedbewailedhismisfortunes.Theother replied,“Iamindeedglad that Iwasthoughtsolittleof,forIhavelostnothing,noramIhurtwithanywound.”

TheViperandtheFile

ALION,enteringtheworkshopofasmith,soughtfromthetoolsthemeansofsatisfying his hunger. He more particularly addressed himself to a File, andasked of him the favor of a meal. The File replied, “You must indeed be asimple-minded fellow if you expect to get anything from me, who amaccustomedtotakefromeveryone,andnevertogiveanythinginreturn.”


ALION,roamingthroughaforest,troduponathorn.Soonafterwardhecameup toaShepherdand fawneduponhim,wagginghis tail as if to say, “I amasuppliant, and seek your aid.” The Shepherd boldly examined the beast,discovered the thorn, and placing his paw upon his lap, pulled it out; thusrelieved of his pain, the Lion returned into the forest. Some time after, theShepherd,beingimprisonedonafalseaccusation,wascondemned“tobecasttothe Lions” as the punishment for his imputed crime. But when the Lion wasreleasedfromhiscage,herecognizedtheShepherdasthemanwhohealedhim,andinsteadofattackinghim,approachedandplacedhisfootuponhislap.TheKing,assoonasheheard the tale,ordered theLion tobeset freeagain in theforest,andtheShepherdtobepardonedandrestoredtohisfriends.

TheCamelandJupiter

THE CAMEL, when he saw the Bull adorned with horns, envied him andwished that he himself could obtain the same honors.Hewent to Jupiter, andbesoughthimtogivehimhorns.Jupiter,vexedathisrequestbecausehewasnotsatisfied with his size and strength of body, and desired yet more, not onlyrefusedtogivehimhorns,butevendeprivedhimofaportionofhisears.


APANTHER,bysomemischance, fell intoapit.TheShepherdsdiscoveredhim, and some threw sticks at him and pelted himwith stones, while others,movedwith compassion towards one about to die even though no one shouldhurthim, threwinsomefoodtoprolonghis life.Atnight theyreturnedhome,notdreamingofanydanger,butsupposingthatonthemorrowtheywouldfindhimdead.ThePanther,however,whenhehadrecruitedhisfeeblestrength,freedhimselfwith a suddenbound from the pit, and hastened to his denwith rapidsteps.Afterafewdayshecameforthandslaughteredthecattle,and,killingtheShepherds who had attacked him, raged with angry fury. Then they who hadspared his life, fearing for their safety, surrendered to him their flocks andbeggedonly for their lives.To themthePanthermade this reply:“I rememberalikethosewhosoughtmylifewithstones,andthosewhogavemefoodaside,therefore,yourfears.Ireturnasanenemyonlytothosewhoinjuredme.”

TheAssandtheCharger

AN ASS congratulated a Horse on being so ungrudgingly and carefullyprovided for, while he himself had scarcely enough to eat and not even thatwithouthardwork.Butwhenwarbrokeout, aheavilyarmedsoldiermountedtheHorse,andridinghimtothecharge,rushedintotheverymidstoftheenemy.TheHorsewaswoundedandfelldeadonthebattlefield.ThentheAss,seeingallthesethings,changedhismind,andcommiseratedtheHorse.


ANEAGLEwasoncecapturedbyaman,whoimmediatelyclippedhiswingsand put him into his poultry-yardwith the other birds, atwhich treatment theEaglewasweigheddownwithgrief.Later,anotherneighborpurchasedhimandallowedhisfeatherstogrowagain.TheEagletookflight,andpouncinguponahare, brought it at once as an offering to his benefactor. A Fox, seeing this,exclaimed, “Donot cultivate the favorof thisman,butofyour formerowner,lestheshouldagainhuntforyouanddepriveyouasecondtimeofyourwings.”

TheBaldManandtheFly

AFLYbitthebareheadofaBaldManwho,endeavoringtodestroyit,gavehimselfaheavyslap.Escaping,theFlysaidmockingly,“Youwhohavewishedtorevenge,evenwithdeath,thePrickofatinyinsect,seewhatyouhavedonetoyourself to add insult to injury?” The Bald Man replied, “I can easily makepeacewithmyself,becauseIknowtherewasno intention tohurt.Butyou,anill-favoredandcontemptibleinsectwhodelightsinsuckinghumanblood,IwishthatIcouldhavekilledyouevenifIhadincurredaheavierpenalty.”


THEOLIVE-TREE ridiculed theFig-Treebecause,while shewasgreen alltheyear round, theFig-Tree changed its leaveswith the seasons.A showerofsnow fell upon them, and, finding theOlive full of foliage, it settled upon itsbranchesandbrokethemdownwithitsweight,atoncedespoilingitofitsbeautyandkilling the tree.But finding theFig-Treedenudedof leaves, the snow fellthroughtotheground,anddidnotinjureitatall.

TheEagleandtheKite

ANEAGLE, overwhelmedwith sorrow, sat upon the branches of a tree incompanywith aKite. “Why,” said theKite, “do I see youwith such a ruefullook?” “I seek,” she replied, “amate suitable forme, and amnot able to findone.”“Takeme,”returnedtheKite,“Iammuchstrongerthanyouare.”“Why,areyouabletosecurethemeansoflivingbyyourplunder?”“Well,Ihaveoftencaughtandcarriedawayanostrichinmytalons.”TheEagle,persuadedbythesewords,acceptedhimashermate.Shortlyafterthenuptials,theEaglesaid,“Flyoffandbringmebacktheostrichyoupromisedme.”TheKite,soaringaloftintotheair,broughtback theshabbiestpossiblemouse,stinkingfromthe lengthoftimeithadlainaboutthefields.“Isthis,”saidtheEagle,“thefaithfulfulfillmentofyourpromisetome?”TheKitereplied,“ThatImightattainyourroyalhand,there is nothing that Iwould not have promised, howevermuch I knew that Imustfailintheperformance.”

TheAssandHisDriver

ANASS,beingdrivenalongahighroad,suddenlystartedoffandbolted tothebrinkofadeepprecipice.Whilehewasintheactofthrowinghimselfover,hisownerseizedhimby the tail,endeavoring topullhimback.When theAsspersisted in his effort, theman let himgo and said, “Conquer, but conquer toyourcost.”


ATHRUSHwasfeedingonamyrtle-treeanddidnotmovefromitbecauseitsberriesweresodelicious.AFowlerobservedherstayingsolonginonespot,andhavingwellbird-limedhisreeds,caughther.TheThrush,beingat thepointofdeath,exclaimed,“OfoolishcreaturethatIam!ForthesakeofalittlepleasantfoodIhavedeprivedmyselfofmylife.”


ANAMARANTH planted in a garden near a Rose-Tree, thus addressed it:“Whata lovelyflower is theRose,a favoritealikewithGodsandwithmen. Ienvy you your beauty and your perfume.” The Rose replied, “I indeed, dearAmaranth, flourishbut for abrief season! Ifnocruelhandpluckme frommystem,yetImustperishbyanearlydoom.Butthouartimmortalanddostneverfade,butbloomestforeverinrenewedyouth.”


ONCEUPONATIME,whentheSunannouncedhisintentiontotakeawife,the Frogs lifted up their voices in clamor to the sky. Jupiter, disturbed by thenoiseoftheircroaking,inquiredthecauseoftheircomplaint.Oneofthemsaid,“TheSun,nowwhileheissingle,parchesupthemarsh,andcompelsustodiemiserably in our arid homes.What will be our future condition if he shouldbegetothersuns?”

LIFEOFAESOP

THELIFE andHistory ofAesop is involved, like that ofHomer, themostfamousofGreekpoets,inmuchobscurity.Sardis,thecapitalofLydia;Samos,aGreekisland;Mesembria,anancientcolonyinThrace;andCotiaeum,thechiefcityofaprovinceofPhrygia,contendforthedistinctionofbeingthebirthplaceofAesop.Althoughthehonorthusclaimedcannotbedefinitelyassignedtoanyone of these places, yet there are a few incidents now generally accepted byscholarsasestablishedfacts,relatingtothebirth,life,anddeathofAesop.Heis,byanalmostuniversal consent, allowed tohavebeenbornabout theyear620B.C., and to have been by birth a slave. He was owned by two masters insuccession,bothinhabitantsofSamos,XanthusandJadmon,thelatterofwhomgavehimhislibertyasarewardforhislearningandwit.Oneoftheprivilegesofa freedman in the ancient republics ofGreece, was the permission to take anactive interest in public affairs; and Aesop, like the philosophers Phaedo,Menippus, andEpictetus, in later times, raisedhimself from the indignityof aservileconditiontoapositionofhighrenown.Inhisdesirealiketoinstructandtobeinstructed,hetravelledthroughmanycountries,andamongotherscametoSardis,thecapitalofthefamouskingofLydia,thegreatpatron,inthatday,oflearningandoflearnedmen.HemetatthecourtofCroesuswithSolon,Thales,andothersages,andisrelatedsotohavepleasedhisroyalmaster,bytheparthetookintheconversationsheldwiththesephilosophers,thatheappliedtohimanexpression which has since passed into a proverb, “The Phrygian has spokenbetterthanall.”On the invitation of Croesus he fixed his residence at Sardis, and was

employedbythatmonarchinvariousdifficultanddelicateaffairsofState.InhisdischargeofthesecommissionshevisitedthedifferentpettyrepublicsofGreece.AtonetimeheisfoundinCorinth,andatanotherinAthens,endeavouring,bythe narration of some of hiswise fables, to reconcile the inhabitants of thosecities to the administration of their respective rulers Periander and Pisistratus.One of these ambassadorialmissions, undertaken at the command ofCroesus,wastheoccasionofhisdeath.Havingbeensent toDelphiwitha largesumofgold for distribution among the citizens, he was so provoked at theircovetousnessthatherefusedtodividethemoney,andsentitbacktohismaster.TheDelphians,enragedatthistreatment,accusedhimofimpiety,and,inspiteofhissacredcharacterasambassador,executedhimasapubliccriminal.Thiscruel

deathofAesopwasnotunavenged.ThecitizensofDelphiwerevisitedwithaseriesofcalamities,untiltheymadeapublicreparationoftheircrime;and,“ThebloodofAesop”becameawell-knownadage,bearingwitness to the truth thatdeedsofwrongwouldnotpassunpunished.Neitherdid thegreat fabulist lackposthumoushonors;forastatuewaserectedtohismemoryatAthens,theworkof Lysippus, one of the most famous of Greek sculptors. Phaedrus thusimmortalizestheevent:AesopoingentemstatuamposuereAttici,

Servumquecollocaruntaeternainbasi:

Paterehonorisscirentutcunctiviam;

Necgeneritribuisedvirtutigloriam.

Thesefewfactsareall thatcanbereliedonwithanydegreeofcertainty, inreferencetothebirth,life,anddeathofAesop.Theywerefirstbroughttolight,afterapatientsearchanddiligentperusalofancientauthors,byaFrenchman,M.ClaudeGaspardBachetdeMezeriac,whodeclined thehonorofbeing tutor toLouisXIIIofFrance,fromhisdesiretodevotehimselfexclusivelytoliterature.HepublishedhisLifeofAesop,AnnoDomini1632.ThelaterinvestigationsofahostofEnglishandGermanscholarshaveaddedverylittletothefactsgivenbyM.Mezeriac.Thesubstantialtruthofhisstatementshasbeenconfirmedbylatercriticism and inquiry. It remains to state, that prior to this publication of M.Mezeriac,thelifeofAesopwasfromthepenofMaximusPlanudes,amonkofConstantinople, who was sent on an embassy to Venice by the ByzantineEmperorAndronicustheelder,andwhowroteintheearlypartofthefourteenthcentury.His lifewasprefixed toall theearlyeditionsof these fables,andwasrepublished as late as 1727 by Archdeacon Croxall as the introduction to hiseditionofAesop.ThislifebyPlanudescontains,however,sosmallanamountoftruth,and isso fullofabsurdpicturesof thegrotesquedeformityofAesop,ofwondrousapocryphalstories,oflyinglegends,andgrossanachronisms,thatitisnowuniversallycondemnedasfalse,puerile,andunauthentic.101Itisgivenupinthepresentday,bygeneralconsent,asunworthyoftheslightestcredit.G.F.T.

PREFACE

THETALE,theParable,andtheFableareallcommonandpopularmodesofconveying instruction.Each is distinguishedby its own special characteristics.TheTaleconsistssimply in thenarrationofastoryeither foundedon facts,orcreated solely by the imagination, and not necessarily associated with theteaching of any moral lesson. The Parable is the designed use of languagepurposely intended to convey a hidden and secret meaning other than thatcontained in thewords themselves; andwhichmay ormay not bear a specialreferencetothehearer,orreader.TheFablepartlyagreeswith,andpartlydiffersfrombothofthese.Itwillcontain,liketheTale,ashortbutrealnarrative;itwillseek,liketheParable,toconveyahiddenmeaning,andthatnotsomuchbytheuse of language, as by the skilful introduction of fictitious characters; and yetunliketoeitherTaleorParable,itwilleverkeepinview,asitshighprerogative,and inseparable attribute, thegreatpurposeof instruction, andwill necessarilyseek to inculcate some moral maxim, social duty, or political truth. The trueFable,ifitrisetoitshighrequirements,everaimsatonegreatendandpurposerepresentation of humanmotive, and the improvement of human conduct, andyet it so conceals its design under the disguise of fictitious characters, byclothingwithspeechtheanimalsofthefield,thebirdsoftheair,thetreesofthewood, or the beasts of the forest, that the reader shall receive advicewithoutperceiving the presence of the adviser. Thus the superiority of the counsellor,which often renders counsel unpalatable, is kept out of view, and the lessoncomes with the greater acceptance when the reader is led, unconsciously tohimself,tohavehissympathiesenlistedinbehalfofwhatispure,honorable,andpraiseworthy, and tohavehis indignationexcitedagainstwhat is low, ignoble,andunworthy.Thetruefabulist,therefore,dischargesamostimportantfunction.He isneither anarrator, nor an allegorist.He is agreat teacher, a correctorofmorals, a censor of vice, and a commender of virtue. In this consists thesuperiorityoftheFableovertheTaleortheParable.Thefabulist is tocreatealaugh,butyet, under amerryguise, to convey instruction.Phaedrus, thegreatimitatorofAesop,plainlyindicatesthisdoublepurposetobethetrueofficeofthewriteroffables.Duplexlibellidosest:quodrisummovet,

Etquodprudentivitamconsiliomonet.

Thecontinualobservanceofthistwofoldaimcreatesthecharm,andaccounts

fortheuniversalfavor,ofthefablesofAesop.“Thefable,”saysProfessorK.O.Mueller,“originatedinGreeceinanintentional travestieofhumanaffairs.The‘ainos,’asitsnamedenotes,isanadmonition,orratherareproofveiled,eitherfromfearofanexcessoffrankness,orfromaloveoffunandjest,beneaththefiction of an occurrence happening among beasts; andwhereverwe have anyancientandauthenticaccountoftheAesopianfables,wefindittobethesame."1

The construction of a fable involves aminute attention to (1) the narrationitself; (2) the deduction of the moral; and (3) a careful maintenance of theindividual characteristics of the fictitious personages introduced into it. Thenarrationshouldrelatetoonesimpleaction,consistentwithitself,andneitherbeoverladen with a multiplicity of details, nor distracted by a variety ofcircumstances. The moral or lesson should be so plain, and so intimatelyinterwoven with, and so necessarily dependent on, the narration, that everyreadershouldbecompelledtogivetoitthesameundeniableinterpretation.Theintroduction of the animals or fictitious characters should be marked with anunexceptionablecareandattentiontotheirnaturalattributes,andtothequalitiesattributed to them by universal popular consent. The Fox should be alwayscunning,theHaretimid,theLionbold,theWolfcruel,theBullstrong,theHorseproud,andtheAsspatient.Manyofthesefablesarecharacterizedbythestrictestobservance of these rules. They are occupied with one short narrative, fromwhichthemoralnaturallyflows,andwithwhichitisintimatelyassociated.“‘Tisthe simple manner,” says Dodsley, 2 “in which the morals of Aesop areinterwovenwithhisfablesthatdistinguisheshim,andgiveshimthepreferenceoverallothermythologists.His‘MountaindeliveredofaMouse,’producesthemoral of his fable in ridiculeof pompouspretenders; andhisCrow,when shedrops her cheese, lets fall, as it were by accident, the strongest admonitionagainstthepowerofflattery.Thereisnoneedofaseparatesentencetoexplainit; no possibility of impressing it deeper, by that load we too often see ofaccumulatedreflections."3Anequalamountofpraiseisduefortheconsistencywith which the characters of the animals, fictitiously introduced, are marked.Whiletheyaremadetodepictthemotivesandpassionsofmen,theyretain,inaneminentdegree,theirownspecialfeaturesofcraftorcounsel,ofcowardiceorcourage,ofgenerosityorrapacity.These terms of praise, itmust be confessed, cannot be bestowed on all the

fables in this collection. Many of them lack that unity of design, that closeconnectionofthemoralwiththenarrative,thatwisechoiceintheintroductionoftheanimals,whichconstitutethecharmandexcellencyoftrueAesopianfable.

This inferiorityofsometoothers issufficientlyaccountedfor in thehistoryofthe origin and descent of these fables. The great bulk of them are not theimmediateworkofAesop.Manyareobtainedfromancientauthorspriortothetime inwhich he lived. Thus, the fable of the “Hawk and theNightingale” isrelated by Hesiod; 4 the “Eagle wounded by an Arrow, winged with its ownFeathers,” by Aeschylus; 5 the “Fox avenging his wrongs on the Eagle,” byArchilochus.6Manyofthemagainareoflaterorigin,andaretobetracedtothemonksofthemiddleages:andyetthiscollection,thoughthusmadeupoffablesbothearlierandlaterthantheeraofAesop,rightfullybearshisname,becausehecomposedso largeanumber(all framedin thesamemould,andconformedtothe same fashion, and stamped with the same lineaments, image, andsuperscription) as to secure to himself the right to be considered the father ofGreekfables,andthefounderofthisclassofwriting,whichhaseversincebornehisname,andhassecuredforhim,throughallsucceedingages,thepositionofthefirstofmoralists.7The fableswere in the first instanceonlynarratedbyAesop,and fora long

timewerehandeddownby theuncertain channel of oral tradition.Socrates ismentionedbyPlato8ashavingemployedhistimewhileinprison,awaitingthereturnofthesacredshipfromDelphoswhichwastobethesignalofhisdeath,inturning some of these fables into verse, but he thus versified only such as heremembered.DemetriusPhalereus, a philosopher atAthens about 300B.C., issaidtohavemadethefirstcollectionofthesefables.Phaedrus,aslavebybirthor by subsequent misfortunes, and admitted by Augustus to the honors of afreedman, imitated many of these fables in Latin iambics about thecommencementoftheChristianera.Aphthonius,arhetoricianofAntioch,A.D.315,wrotea treatiseon, andconverted intoLatinprose, someof these fables.This translation is the more worthy of notice, as it illustrates a custom ofcommonuse,bothintheseandinlatertimes.TherhetoriciansandphilosopherswereaccustomedtogivetheFablesofAesopasanexercisetotheirscholars,notonly inviting them todiscuss themoral of the tale, but also topractice and toperfect themselves thereby in style and rules of grammar, by making forthemselvesnewandvariousversionsofthefables.Ausonius,9thefriendoftheEmperorValentinian,andthelatestpoetofeminenceintheWesternEmpire,hashanded down some of these fables in verse, which Julianus Titianus, acontemporary writer of no great name, translated into prose. Avienus, also acontemporaryofAusonius,putsomeof thesefables intoLatinelegiacs,whicharegivenbyNevelet(inabookweshallrefertohereafter),andareoccasionallyincorporatedwiththeeditionsofPhaedrus.

Seven centuries elapsed before the next notice is found of the Fables ofAesop.Duringthislongperiodthesefablesseemtohavesufferedaneclipse,tohavedisappearedandtohavebeenforgotten;anditisatthecommencementofthefourteenthcentury,when theByzantineemperorswere thegreatpatronsoflearning,andamidstthesplendorsofanAsiaticcourt,thatwenextfindhonorspaidtothenameandmemoryofAesop.MaximusPlanudes,alearnedmonkofConstantinople,madeacollectionofaboutahundredandfiftyof thesefables.Littleisknownofhishistory.Planudes,however,wasnomererecluse,shutupinhismonastery.Hetookanactivepartinpublicaffairs.In1327A.D.hewassent on a diplomaticmission toVenice by theEmperorAndronicus theElder.This brought him into immediate contact with the Western Patriarch, whoseinterestshehenceforthadvocatedwithsomuchzealastobringonhimsuspicionand persecution from the rulers of the Eastern Church. Planudes has beenexposedtoatwo-foldaccusation.HeischargedontheonehandwithhavinghadbeforehimacopyofBabrias(towhomweshallhaveoccasiontoreferatgreaterlengthintheendofthisPreface),andtohavehadthebadtaste“totranspose,”orto turn his poetical version into prose: and he is asserted, on the other hand,nevertohaveseentheFablesofAesopatall,buttohavehimselfinventedandmade the fables which he palmed off under the name of the famous Greekfabulist.Thetruthliesbetweenthesetwoextremes.Planudesmayhaveinventedsomefewfables,orhaveinsertedsomethatwerecurrentinhisday;butthereisan abundance of unanswerable internal evidence to prove that he had anacquaintancewith the veritable fables ofAesop, although the versions he hadaccess to were probably corrupt, as contained in the various translations anddisquisitional exercises of the rhetoricians and philosophers. His collection isinteresting and important, not only as the parent source or foundation of theearlierprintedversionsofAesop,butasthedirectchannelofattractingtothesefablestheattentionofthelearned.Theeventualre-introduction,however,oftheseFablesofAesoptotheirhigh

place in the general literature ofChristendom, is to be looked for in theWestrather than in theEast. The calamities gradually thickening round theEasternEmpire,andthefallofConstantinople,1453A.D.combinedwithothereventstopromote the rapid restoration of learning in Italy; and with that recovery oflearning the revival of an interest in theFables ofAesop is closely identified.These fables, indeed,wereamong the firstwritingsof anearlier antiquity thatattracted attention. They took their place beside the Holy Scriptures and theancientclassicauthors, in themindsof thegreat studentsof thatday.LorenzoValla,oneofthemostfamouspromotersofItalianlearning,notonlytranslated

intoLatintheIliadofHomerandtheHistoriesofHerodotusandThucydides,butalsotheFablesofAesop.These fables, again, were among the books brought into an extended

circulation by the agency of the printing press. Bonus Accursius, as early as1475-1480, printed the collection of these fables, made by Planudes, which,within fiveyearsafterwards,Caxton translated intoEnglish, andprintedathispress in West-minster Abbey, 1485. 10 It must be mentioned also that thelearningofthisagehasleftpermanenttracesofitsinfluenceonthesefables,11bycausingtheinterpolationwiththemofsomeofthoseamusingstorieswhichweresofrequentlyintroducedintothepublicdiscoursesofthegreatpreachersofthosedays,andofwhichspecimensareyettobefoundintheextantsermonsofJeanRaulin,Meffreth,andGabrielBarlette.12Thepublicationofthiserawhichmostprobablyhasinfluencedthesefables,isthe“LiberFacetiarum,"13abookconsistingofahundred jestsandstories,by thecelebratedPoggioBracciolini,publishedA.D.1471,fromwhichthetwofablesofthe“Miller,hisSon,andtheAss,”andthe“FoxandtheWoodcutter,”areundoubtedlyselected.Theknowledgeof these fables rapidly spread from Italy intoGermany, and

their popularitywas increasedby the favor and sanctiongiven to themby thegreatfathersoftheReformation,whofrequentlyusedthemasvehiclesforsatireandprotestagainstthetricksandabusesoftheRomishecclesiastics.Thezealousand renowned Camerarius, who took an active part in the preparation of theConfession of Augsburgh, found time, amidst his numerous avocations, toprepareaversionforthestudentsintheuniversityofTubingen,inwhichhewasaprofessor.MartinLuther translated twentyof these fables, andwasurgedbyMelancthon to complete the whole; while Gottfried Arnold, the celebratedLutherantheologian,andlibrariantoFrederickI,kingofPrussia,mentionsthatthegreatReformervaluedtheFablesofAesopnextaftertheHolyScriptures.In1546A.D. the second printed edition of the collection of the Fablesmade byPlanudes,wasissuedfromtheprinting-pressofRobertStephens,inwhichwereinsertedsomeadditionalfablesfromaMS.intheBibliothequeduRoyatParis.The greatest advance, however, towards a re-introduction of the Fables of

Aesoptoaplaceintheliteratureoftheworld,wasmadeintheearlypartoftheseventeenthcentury.Intheyear1610,alearnedSwiss,IsaacNicholasNevelet,sentforththethirdprintededitionofthesefables,inaworkentitled“MythologiaAesopica.”Thiswasanobleefforttodohonortothegreatfabulist,andwasthemost perfect collection ofAesopian fables ever yet published. It consisted, inaddition to the collection of fables given by Planudes and reprinted in thevariousearliereditions,ofonehundredandthirty-sixnewfables(neverbefore

published)fromMSS.intheLibraryoftheVatican,offortyfablesattributedtoAphthonius,andofforty-threefromBabrias.ItalsocontainedtheLatinversionsof the same fables by Phaedrus, Avienus, and other authors. This volume ofNeveletformsacomplete“CorpusFabularumAesopicarum;”andtohis laborsAesopoweshis restoration touniversal favorasoneof thewisemoralistsandgreat teachers of mankind. During the interval of three centuries which haselapsed since the publication of this volume of Nevelet’s, no book, with theexception of the Holy Scriptures, has had a wider circulation than Aesop’sFables.TheyhavebeentranslatedintothegreaternumberofthelanguagesbothofEuropeandoftheEast,andhavebeenread,andwillberead,forgenerations,alike by Jew, Heathen,Mohammedan, and Christian. They are, at the presenttime,notonlyengraftedintotheliteratureofthecivilizedworld,butarefamiliaras household words in the common intercourse and daily conversation of theinhabitantsofallcountries.ThiscollectionofNevelet’sisthegreatculminatingpointinthehistoryofthe

revivalofthefameandreputationofAesopianFables.Itisremarkable,also,ascontaining in its preface the germof an idea,which has been since proved tohave been correct by a strange chain of circumstances. Nevelet intimates anopinion,thatawriternamedBabriaswouldbefoundtobetheveritableauthoroftheexistingformofAesopianFables.This intimationhassincegivenrise toaseriesofinquiries,theknowledgeofwhichisnecessary,inthepresentday,toafullunderstandingofthetruepositionofAesopinconnectionwiththewritingsthatbearhisname.ThehistoryofBabriasissostrangeandinteresting,thatitmightnotunfitlybe

enumeratedamongthecuriositiesofliterature.HeisgenerallysupposedtohavebeenaGreekofAsiaMinor,ofoneoftheIonicColonies,buttheexactperiodinwhichhelivedandwrote isyetunsettled.Heisplaced,byonecritic,14as farbackastheinstitutionoftheAchaianLeague,B.C.250;byanotheraslateastheEmperorSeverus,whodiedA.D.235;whileothersmakehimacontemporarywithPhaedrusinthetimeofAugustus.AtwhatevertimehewrotehisversionofAesop,by somestrangeaccident it seems tohaveentirelydisappeared, and tohave been lost sight of. His name is mentioned by Avienus; by Suidas, acelebratedcritic, at thecloseof theeleventhcentury,whogives inhis lexiconseveral isolated verses of his version of the fables; and by John Tzetzes, agrammarianandpoetofConstantinople,wholivedduring the latterhalfof thetwelfthcentury.Nevelet,intheprefacetothevolumewhichwehavedescribed,pointsoutthat theFablesofPlanudescouldnotbetheworkofAesop,astheycontain a reference in twoplaces to “Holymonks,” andgiveaverse from the

EpistleofSt.Jamesasan“Epimith”tooneofthefables,andsuggestsBabriasastheir author. Francis Vavassor, 15 a learned French jesuit, entered at greaterlengthonthissubject,andproducedfurtherproofsfrominternalevidence,fromtheuseofthewordPiraeusindescribingtheharbourofAthens,anamewhichwasnotgiventill twohundredyearsafterAesop,andfromtheintroductionofother modern words, that many of these fables must have been at leastcommitted towritingposterior to the timeofAesop,andmoreboldlysuggestsBabrias as their author or collector. 16 These various references to BabriasinducedDr.PlichardBentley,atthecloseoftheseventeenthcentury,toexaminemoreminutely theexistingversionsofAesop’sFables,andhemaintained thatmany of them could, with a slight change of words, be resolved into theScazonic 17 iambics, in which Babrias is known to have written: and, with agreater freedom than the evidence then justified, he put forth, in behalf ofBabrias, a claim to the exclusive authorshipof these fables.Such a seeminglyextravaganttheory,thusroundlyasserted,excitedmuchopposition.Dr.Bentley18metwithanableantagonistinamemberoftheUniversityofOxford,theHon.Mr.CharlesBoyle,19afterwardsEarlofOrrery.Theirlettersanddisputationsonthissubject,enlivenedonbothsideswithmuchwitandlearning,willeverbearaconspicuous place in the literary history of the seventeenth century. Thearguments of Dr. Bentley were yet further defended a few years later byMr.ThomasTyrwhitt,awell-readscholar,whogaveuphighcivildistinctionsthathemight devote himself themore unreservedly to literary pursuits.Mr. Tyrwhittpublished,A.D.1776,aDissertationonBabrias,andacollectionofhisfablesincholiambicmeterfoundinaMS.intheBodleianLibraryatOxford.FrancescodeFuria,alearnedItalian,contributedfurthertestimonytothecorrectnessofthesupposition that Babrias hadmade a veritable collection of fables by printingfrom a MS. contained in the Vatican library several fables never beforepublished. In the year 1844, however, new and unexpected light was thrownuponthissubject.AveritablecopyofBabriaswasfoundinamannerassingularasweretheMSS.ofQuinctilian’sInstitutes,andofCicero’sOrationsbyPoggioin themonasteryofSt.GallA.D.1416.M.Menoides,at thesuggestionofM.Villemain, Minister of Public Instruction to King Louis Philippe, had beenentrustedwithacommissiontosearchforancientMSS.,andincarryingouthisinstructionshefoundaMS.attheconventofSt.Laura,onMountAthos,whichprovedtobeacopyofthelongsuspectedandwished-forcholiambicversionofBabrias.ThisMS.wasfoundtobedividedintotwobooks,theonecontainingahundred and twenty-five, and the other ninety-five fables. This discoveryattractedverygeneralattention,notonlyasconfirming,inasingularmanner,theconjectures so boldlymadeby a long chain of critics, but as bringing to light

valuableliterarytreasurestendingtoestablishthereputation,andtoconfirmtheantiquityandauthenticityofthegreatmassofAesopianFable.TheFablesthusrecovered were soon published. They found a most worthy editor in the latedistinguishedSirGeorgeCornewallLewis,andatranslatorequallyqualifiedforhis task, in theReverend JamesDavies,M.A., sometime a scholar ofLincolnCollege,Oxford, and himself a relation of their English editor. Thus, after aneclipseofmanycenturies,Babrias shinesout as the earliest, andmost reliablecollectorofveritableAesopianFables.

Thefollowingarethesourcesfromwhichthepresenttranslationhas

beenprepared:

BabriiFabulaeAesopeae.GeorgeCornewallLewis.Oxford,1846.

BabriiFabulaeAesopeae.Ecodicemanuscriptopartemsecundamedidit.

GeorgeCornewallLewis.London:Parker,1857.

MythologicaAesopica.OperaetstudiaIsaaciNicholaiNeveleti.

Frankfort,1610.

FabulaeAesopiacae,qualesantePlanudemferebanturcuraetstudio

FranciscideFuria.Lipsiae,1810.

———.ExrecognitioneCaroliHalmii.Lipsiae,PhaedriFabulaeEsopiae.

DelphinClassics.1822.

GEORGEFYLERTOWNSEND

FOOTNOTES101(return)

[M.Bayle thus characterises this Life ofAesop by Planudes,“Tous leshabilesgensconviennentquec’estun roman,etquelesabsurditesgrossieresquil’onytrouvelerendentindignedetoute.”DictionnaireHistorique.Art.Esope.]

1(return)[ A History of the Literature of Ancient Greece, by K. O.Mueller.Vol.i,p.191.London,Parker,1858.]

2(return)[ Select Fables of Aesop, and other Fabulists. In three books,translatedbyRobertDodsley, accompaniedwith a selectionofnotes,andanEssayonFable.Birmingham,1864.P.60.]

3(return)[ Some of these fables had, no doubt, in the first instance, aprimaryandprivateinterpretation.Onthefirstoccasionoftheirbeing composed they were intended to refer to some passingevent, or to some individual acts of wrong-doing. Thus, thefablesofthe“EagleandtheFox”andofthe“FoxandMonkey”aresupposedtohavebeenwrittenbyArchilochus,toavengetheinjuries done him by Lycambes. So also the fables of the“SwollenFox”andofthe“FrogsaskingaKing”werespokenbyAesopfor theimmediatepurposeofreconcilingtheinhabitantsof Samos and Athens to their respective rulers, Periander andPisistratus; while the fable of the “Horse and Stag” wascomposedtocautiontheinhabitantsofHimeraagainstgrantinga bodyguard to Phalaris. In a similar manner, the fable fromPhaedrus, the “Marriage of the Sun,” is supposed to havereference to the contemplated union of Livia, the daughter ofDrusus, with Sejanus the favourite, and minister of Trajan.Thesefables,however,thoughthusoriginatinginspecialevents,and designed at first to meet special circumstances, are soadmirably constructed as to be fraughtwith lessons of generalutility,andofuniversalapplication.]

4(return)[Hesiod.OperaetDies,verse202.]

5(return)[Aeschylus.Fragmentof theMyrmidons.Aeschylusspeaksofthisfableasexistingbeforehisday.SeeScholiastontheAvesofAristophanes,line808.]

6(return)[Fragment.38,ed.Gaisford.SeealsoMueller’sHistoryoftheLiteratureofAncientGreece,vol.i.pp.190-193.]

7(return)[M.Baylehaswellput this inhisaccountofAesop.“Iln’ya

point d’apparence que les fables qui portent aujourd’hui sonnomsoient lesmemesqu’il avait faites; ellesviennentbiendelui pour la plupart, quant a la matiere et la pensee; mais lesparolessontd’unautre.”Andagain,“C’estdoncaHesiode,quej’aimerais mieux attribuer la gloire de l’invention; mais sansdouteil laissalachosetresimparfaite.Esopelaperfectionnesiheureusement, qu’on l’a regarde comme le vrai pere de cettesortedeproduction.”M.Bayle.DictionnaireHistorique.]

8(return)[PlatoinPhoedone.]

9(return)[ Apologos en! misit tibi Ab usque Rheni limite Ausoniusnomen Italum Praeceptor Augusti tui Aesopiam trimetriam;QuamvertitexilistyloPedestreconcinnansopusFandiTitianusartifex.AusoniiEpistola,xvi.75-80.]

10(return)[ Both these publications are in the British Museum, and areplaced in the library incasesunderglass, for the inspectionofthecurious.]

11(return)[ Fables may possibly have been not entirely unknown to themediaeval scholars. There are two celebrated works whichmight by some be classed amongst works of this description.The one is the “Speculum Sapientiae,” attributed to St. Cyril,ArchbishopofJerusalem,butofaconsiderablylaterorigin,andexistingonlyinLatin.Itisdividedintofourbooks,andconsistsof long conversations conducted by fictitious characters underthe figures the beasts of the field and forest, and aimed at therebukeofparticularclassesofmen,theboastful,theproud,theluxurious, the wrathful, &c. None of the stories are preciselythose of Aesop, and none have the concinnity, terseness, andunmistakable deduction of the lesson intended to be taught bythefable,soconspicuousinthegreatGreekfabulist.Theexacttitle of the book is this: “Speculum Sapientiae, B. CyrilliEpiscopi: alias quadripartitus apologeticus vocatus, in cujusquidemproverbiisomniset totiussapientiaespeculumclaretetfeliciter incipit.” The other is a larger work in two volumes,published in the fourteenth century by Caesar Heisterbach, aCistercian monk, under the title of “Dialogus Miraculorum,”reprintedin1851.Thisworkconsistsofconversationsinwhichmanystories are interwovenonallkindsof subjects. IthasnocorrespondencewiththepureAesopianfable.]

12(return)[ Post-medieval Preachers, by S. Baring-Gould. Rivingtons,1865.]

13(return)[ForanaccountofthisworkseetheLifeofPoggioBracciolini,bytheRev.WilliamShepherd.Liverpool.1801.]

14(return)[ Professor Theodore Bergh. See Classical Museum, No. viii.

July,1849.]15(return)

[Vavassor’streatise,entitled“DeLudicraDictione”waswrittenA.D. 1658, at the request of the celebratedM.Balzac (thoughpublished after his death), for the purpose of showing that theburlesque style of writing adopted by Scarron andD’Assouci,andatthattimesopopularinFrance,hadnosanctionfromtheancient classic writers. Francisci Vavassoris opera omnia.Amsterdam.1709.]

16(return)[ The claims of Babrias also found a warm advocate in thelearnedFrenchman,M.Bayle,who,inhisadmirabledictionary,(Dictionnaire Historique et Critique de Pierre Bayle. Paris,1820,) gives additional arguments in confirmation of theopinionsofhislearnedpredecessors,NeveletandVavassor.]

17(return)[ Scazonic, or halting, iambics; a choliambic (a lame, haltingiambic) differs from the iambic Senarius in always having aspondee or trichee for its last foot; the fifth foot, to avoidshortness of meter, being generally an iambic. See Fables ofBabrias, translated by Rev. James Davies. Lockwood, 1860.Preface,p.27.]

18(return)[SeeDr.Bentley’sDissertationsupontheEpistlesofPhalaris.]

19(return)[ Dr. Bentley’s Dissertations on the Epistles of Phalaris, andFablesofAesopexamined.BytheHonorableCharlesBoyle.]

ALPHABETIZEDTITLES

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W

TheAntandtheDove



TheAssandHisDriver

TheAssandtheHorse


TheAssandtheLapdog

TheAssandHisMasters

TheAssandHisShadow

TheAssandtheCharger

TheAssandtheFrogs



TheAssandtheWolf

TheAssandtheMule





TheAstronomer

TheBaldKnight

TheBaldManandtheFly

TheBatAndTheWeasels

TheBearandtheFox


TheBeeandJupiter






TheBoastingTraveler

TheBowmanandLion

TheBoyandtheNettles


TheBoyBathing


TheBoysandtheFrogs

TheBrazierandHisDog



TheBullandtheGoat

TheBullandtheCalf


TheCamel

TheCamelandJupiter

TheCatandtheBirds

TheCatandVenus

TheCatandtheCock

TheCatandtheMice




TheCockandtheJewel

TheCrabandItsMother

TheCrabandtheFox


TheCrowandMercury

TheCrowandtheRaven

TheCrowandtheSheep


TheDancingMonkeys

TheDoeandtheLion

TheDogintheManger

TheDogandtheCook

TheDogandtheOyster

TheDogandtheShadow

TheDogandtheHare


TheDogsandtheHides

TheDogsandtheFox

TheDog’sHouse


TheDoveandtheCrow

TheEagleandtheKite


TheEagleandtheFox


TheEagleandtheArrow



TheFarmerandHisSons



TheFarmerandtheFox

TheFatherAndHisSons


TheFawnandHisMother





TheFishermanPiping

TheFishermen

TheFleaandtheOx

TheFleaandtheMan





TheFoxandtheBramble

TheFoxandtheCrane

TheFoxandtheLion

TheFoxandtheMonkey

TheFoxandtheGrapes


TheFoxandtheLeopard

TheFoxandtheCrow

TheFoxandtheMonkey


TheFoxandtheMask


TheFoxandtheLion

TheFoxandtheGoat

Oldfriendscannotwithimpunitybesacrificed.





TheGnatandtheLion

TheGnatandtheBull

TheGoatandtheAss



TheGoodsandtheIlls


TheHareandtheHound


TheHaresandtheLions

TheHaresandtheFoxes

TheHaresandtheFrogs

TheHartandtheVine



TheHeiferandtheOx


TheHenandtheSwallow



TheHorseandtheAss

TheHorseandtheStag

TheHorseandHisRider

TheHorseandGroom





TheJackdawandtheFox


JupiterandtheMonkey


TheKidandtheWolf

TheKidandtheWolf

TheKingdomoftheLion


TheKitesandtheSwans


TheLambandtheWolf

TheLamp




TheLionandtheBull

TheLionandtheBoar

TheLionandtheHare

TheLionAndTheMouse

TheLionandtheEagle

TheLioninLove


TheLioninaFarmyard

TheLionandtheFox







TheLioness

TheManandHisWife

TheManBittenbyaDog

TheManandtheSatyr

TheManandtheLion



TheManslayer

TheMasterandHisDogs

Menoftenbearlittlegrievancesbetterthanlarge



TheMiceinCouncil



TheMischievousDog

TheMiser

TheMoleandHisMother





TheMotherandtheWolf

TheMountaininLabor

TheMouseandtheBull


TheMule



TheOakandtheReeds


TheOaksandJupiter


TheOldHound

TheOldManandDeath


TheOldLion


TheOne-EyedDoe

TheOwlandtheBirds

TheOxandtheFrog






ThePeacockandJuno





ThePlayfulAss


TheProphet

TheQuackFrog

TheRavenandtheSwan


TheRiversandtheSea




TheSeasideTravelers

TheSellerofImages





TheShepherdandtheWolf




TheSickKite

TheSickStag

TheSickLion



TheStagatthePool





TheSwanandtheGoose

TheSwollenFox





TheThirstyPigeon

TheThreeTradesmen







TheTreesandtheAxe



TruthandtheTraveler


TheTwoFrogs

TheTwoBags



TheTwoDogs

TheTwoPots

TheTwoFrogs

TheVainJackdaw

TheVineandtheGoat

TheViperandtheFile

TheWalnut-Tree

TheWaspandtheSnake


TheWeaselandtheMice

TheWidowandtheSheep





TheWolfandtheSheep

TheWolfandtheLion

TheWolfandtheFox

TheWolfandtheHorse

TheWolfAndTheLamb

TheWolfandtheCrane


TheWolfandtheGoat

TheWolfandtheLion






TheWomanandHerHen

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