Reading Help Aesop's Fables
The Fisherman and the Little Fish `
` `
` A FISHERMAN who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught `
` a single small Fish as the result of his day's labor. The Fish, `
` panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: "O Sir, what `
` good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I am not yet `
` come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back into `
` the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of `
` the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome `
` profit of me." The Fisherman replied, "I should indeed be a very `
` simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I `
` were to forego my present certain gain." `
` `
` `
` The Hunter and the Woodman `
` `
` A HUNTER, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. `
` He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any `
` marks of his footsteps or knew where his lair was. "I will," `
` said the man, "at once show you the Lion himself." The Hunter, `
` turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear, `
` replied, "No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his track `
` only I am in search of, not the Lion himself." `
` `
` The hero is brave in deeds as well as words. `
` `
` `
` The Wild Boar and the Fox `
` `
` A WILD BOAR stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the `
` trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his `
` teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman `
` or hound. He replied, "I do it advisedly; for it would never do `
` to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be `
` using them." `
` `
` `
` The Lion in a Farmyard `
` `
` A LION entered a farmyard. The Farmer, wishing to catch him, `
` shut the gate. When the Lion found that he could not escape, he `
` flew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked the oxen. `
` The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed for his own safety, opened `
` the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the Farmer `
` grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but `
` his wife, who had been a spectator to all that took place, said, `
` "On my word, you are rightly served, for how could you for a `
` moment think of shutting up a Lion along with you in your `
` farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes if you only `
` hear his roar at a distance?' `
` `
` `
` Mercury and the Sculptor `
` `
` MERCURY ONCE DETERMINED to learn in what esteem he was held among `
` mortals. For this purpose he assumed the character of a man and `
` visited in this disguise a Sculptor's studio having looked at `
` various statues, he demanded the price of two figures of Jupiter `
` and Juno. When the sum at which they were valued was named, he `
` pointed to a figure of himself, saying to the Sculptor, "You will `
` certainly want much more for this, as it is the statue of the `
` Messenger of the Gods, and author of all your gain." The `
` Sculptor replied, "Well, if you will buy these, I'll fling you `
` that into the bargain." `
` `
` `
` The Swan and the Goose `
` `
` A CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He `
` fed the one for his table and kept the other for the sake of its `
` song. When the time came for killing the Goose, the cook went to `
` get him at night, when it was dark, and he was not able to `
` distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the `
` Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatened with death, `
` burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice, `
` and preserved his life by his melody. `
` `
` `
` The Swollen Fox `
` `
` A VERY HUNGRY FOX, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds `
` in the hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty `
` meal. When he finished, he was so full that he was not able to `
` get out, and began to groan and lament his fate. Another Fox `
` passing by heard his cries, and coming up, inquired the cause of `
` his complaining. On learning what had happened, he said to him, `
` "Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become `
` such as you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get `
` out." `
` `
` `
` The Fox and the Woodcutter `
` `
` A FOX, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter `
` felling an oak and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. `
` The Woodcutter advised him to take shelter in his own hut, so the `
` Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner. The huntsman soon came `
` up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if he had seen `
` the Fox. He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, `
` all the time he was speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay `
` hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing `
` his word, hastened forward in the chase. As soon as they were `
` well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the `
` Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, `
` "You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you `
` leave me without a word of thanks." The Fox replied, "Indeed, I `
` should have thanked you fervently if your deeds had been as good `
` as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to your `
` speech." `
` `
` `
` The Birdcatcher, the Partridge, and the Cock `
` `
` A BIRDCATCHER was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs when a `
` friend unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quite empty, as `
` he had caught nothing, and he had to kill a pied Partridge, which `
` he had tamed for a decoy. The bird entreated earnestly for his `
` life: "What would you do without me when next you spread your `
` nets? Who would chirp you to sleep, or call for you the covey of `
` answering birds?' The Birdcatcher spared his life, and determined `
` to pick out a fine young Cock just attaining to his comb. But `
` the Cock expostulated in piteous tones from his perch: "If you `
` kill me, who will announce to you the appearance of the dawn? `
` Who will wake you to your daily tasks or tell you when it is time `
` to visit the bird-trap in the morning?' He replied, "What you say `
` is true. You are a capital bird at telling the time of day. But `
` my friend and I must have our dinners." `
` `
` Necessity knows no law. `
` `
` `
` The Monkey and the Fishermen `
` `
` A MONKEY perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermen casting `
` their nets into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. `
` The Fishermen after a while gave up fishing, and on going home to `
` dinner left their nets upon the bank. The Monkey, who is the `
` most imitative of animals, descended from the treetop and `
` endeavored to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he `
` threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and `
` drowned. With his last breath he said to himself, "I am rightly `
` served; for what business had I who had never handled a net to `
` try and catch fish?' `
` `
` `
` The Flea and the Wrestler `
` `
` A FLEA settled upon the bare foot of a Wrestler and bit him, `
` causing the man to call loudly upon Hercules for help. When the `
` Flea a second time hopped upon his foot, he groaned and said, "O `
` Hercules! if you will not help me against a Flea, how can I hope `
` for your assistance against greater antagonists?' `
` `
` `
` The Two Frogs `
` `
` TWO FROGS dwelt in the same pool. When the pool dried up under `
` the summer's heat, they left it and set out together for another `
` home. As they went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply `
` supplied with water, and when they saw it, one of the Frogs said `
` to the other, "Let us descend and make our abode in this well: it `
` will furnish us with shelter and food." The other replied with `
` greater caution, "But suppose the water should fail us. How can `
` we get out again from so great a depth?' `
` `
` Do nothing without a regard to the consequences. `
` `
` `
` The Cat and the Mice `
` `
` A CERTAIN HOUSE was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, `
` made her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one. `
` Fearing for their lives, the Mice kept themselves close in their `
` holes. The Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived `
` that she must tempt them forth by some device. For this purpose `
` she jumped upon a peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended `
` to be dead. One of the Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and `
` said, "Ah, my good madam, even though you should turn into a `
` meal-bag, we will not come near you." `
` `
` `
` The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox `
` `
` A LION and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, and fought `
` fiercely for its possession. When they had fearfully lacerated `
` each other and were faint from the long combat, they lay down `
` exhausted with fatigue. A Fox, who had gone round them at a `
` distance several times, saw them both stretched on the ground `
` with the Kid lying untouched in the middle. He ran in between `
` them, and seizing the Kid scampered off as fast as he could. The `
` Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to get up, said, `
` "Woe be to us, that we should have fought and belabored ourselves `
` only to serve the turn of a Fox." `
` `
` It sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another `
` all the profit. `
` `
` `
` The Doe and the Lion `
` `
` A DOE hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging `
`
` `
` A FISHERMAN who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught `
` a single small Fish as the result of his day's labor. The Fish, `
` panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: "O Sir, what `
` good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I am not yet `
` come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back into `
` the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of `
` the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome `
` profit of me." The Fisherman replied, "I should indeed be a very `
` simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I `
` were to forego my present certain gain." `
` `
` `
` The Hunter and the Woodman `
` `
` A HUNTER, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. `
` He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any `
` marks of his footsteps or knew where his lair was. "I will," `
` said the man, "at once show you the Lion himself." The Hunter, `
` turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear, `
` replied, "No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his track `
` only I am in search of, not the Lion himself." `
` `
` The hero is brave in deeds as well as words. `
` `
` `
` The Wild Boar and the Fox `
` `
` A WILD BOAR stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the `
` trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his `
` teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman `
` or hound. He replied, "I do it advisedly; for it would never do `
` to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be `
` using them." `
` `
` `
` The Lion in a Farmyard `
` `
` A LION entered a farmyard. The Farmer, wishing to catch him, `
` shut the gate. When the Lion found that he could not escape, he `
` flew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked the oxen. `
` The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed for his own safety, opened `
` the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the Farmer `
` grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but `
` his wife, who had been a spectator to all that took place, said, `
` "On my word, you are rightly served, for how could you for a `
` moment think of shutting up a Lion along with you in your `
` farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes if you only `
` hear his roar at a distance?' `
` `
` `
` Mercury and the Sculptor `
` `
` MERCURY ONCE DETERMINED to learn in what esteem he was held among `
` mortals. For this purpose he assumed the character of a man and `
` visited in this disguise a Sculptor's studio having looked at `
` various statues, he demanded the price of two figures of Jupiter `
` and Juno. When the sum at which they were valued was named, he `
` pointed to a figure of himself, saying to the Sculptor, "You will `
` certainly want much more for this, as it is the statue of the `
` Messenger of the Gods, and author of all your gain." The `
` Sculptor replied, "Well, if you will buy these, I'll fling you `
` that into the bargain." `
` `
` `
` The Swan and the Goose `
` `
` A CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and a Swan. He `
` fed the one for his table and kept the other for the sake of its `
` song. When the time came for killing the Goose, the cook went to `
` get him at night, when it was dark, and he was not able to `
` distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake he caught the `
` Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatened with death, `
` burst forth into song and thus made himself known by his voice, `
` and preserved his life by his melody. `
` `
` `
` The Swollen Fox `
` `
` A VERY HUNGRY FOX, seeing some bread and meat left by shepherds `
` in the hollow of an oak, crept into the hole and made a hearty `
` meal. When he finished, he was so full that he was not able to `
` get out, and began to groan and lament his fate. Another Fox `
` passing by heard his cries, and coming up, inquired the cause of `
` his complaining. On learning what had happened, he said to him, `
` "Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become `
` such as you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get `
` out." `
` `
` `
` The Fox and the Woodcutter `
` `
` A FOX, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter `
` felling an oak and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. `
` The Woodcutter advised him to take shelter in his own hut, so the `
` Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner. The huntsman soon came `
` up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if he had seen `
` the Fox. He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, `
` all the time he was speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay `
` hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing `
` his word, hastened forward in the chase. As soon as they were `
` well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the `
` Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, `
` "You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you `
` leave me without a word of thanks." The Fox replied, "Indeed, I `
` should have thanked you fervently if your deeds had been as good `
` as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to your `
` speech." `
` `
` `
` The Birdcatcher, the Partridge, and the Cock `
` `
` A BIRDCATCHER was about to sit down to a dinner of herbs when a `
` friend unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quite empty, as `
` he had caught nothing, and he had to kill a pied Partridge, which `
` he had tamed for a decoy. The bird entreated earnestly for his `
` life: "What would you do without me when next you spread your `
` nets? Who would chirp you to sleep, or call for you the covey of `
` answering birds?' The Birdcatcher spared his life, and determined `
` to pick out a fine young Cock just attaining to his comb. But `
` the Cock expostulated in piteous tones from his perch: "If you `
` kill me, who will announce to you the appearance of the dawn? `
` Who will wake you to your daily tasks or tell you when it is time `
` to visit the bird-trap in the morning?' He replied, "What you say `
` is true. You are a capital bird at telling the time of day. But `
` my friend and I must have our dinners." `
` `
` Necessity knows no law. `
` `
` `
` The Monkey and the Fishermen `
` `
` A MONKEY perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermen casting `
` their nets into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. `
` The Fishermen after a while gave up fishing, and on going home to `
` dinner left their nets upon the bank. The Monkey, who is the `
` most imitative of animals, descended from the treetop and `
` endeavored to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he `
` threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and `
` drowned. With his last breath he said to himself, "I am rightly `
` served; for what business had I who had never handled a net to `
` try and catch fish?' `
` `
` `
` The Flea and the Wrestler `
` `
` A FLEA settled upon the bare foot of a Wrestler and bit him, `
` causing the man to call loudly upon Hercules for help. When the `
` Flea a second time hopped upon his foot, he groaned and said, "O `
` Hercules! if you will not help me against a Flea, how can I hope `
` for your assistance against greater antagonists?' `
` `
` `
` The Two Frogs `
` `
` TWO FROGS dwelt in the same pool. When the pool dried up under `
` the summer's heat, they left it and set out together for another `
` home. As they went along they chanced to pass a deep well, amply `
` supplied with water, and when they saw it, one of the Frogs said `
` to the other, "Let us descend and make our abode in this well: it `
` will furnish us with shelter and food." The other replied with `
` greater caution, "But suppose the water should fail us. How can `
` we get out again from so great a depth?' `
` `
` Do nothing without a regard to the consequences. `
` `
` `
` The Cat and the Mice `
` `
` A CERTAIN HOUSE was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, `
` made her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one. `
` Fearing for their lives, the Mice kept themselves close in their `
` holes. The Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived `
` that she must tempt them forth by some device. For this purpose `
` she jumped upon a peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended `
` to be dead. One of the Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and `
` said, "Ah, my good madam, even though you should turn into a `
` meal-bag, we will not come near you." `
` `
` `
` The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox `
` `
` A LION and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, and fought `
` fiercely for its possession. When they had fearfully lacerated `
` each other and were faint from the long combat, they lay down `
` exhausted with fatigue. A Fox, who had gone round them at a `
` distance several times, saw them both stretched on the ground `
` with the Kid lying untouched in the middle. He ran in between `
` them, and seizing the Kid scampered off as fast as he could. The `
` Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to get up, said, `
` "Woe be to us, that we should have fought and belabored ourselves `
` only to serve the turn of a Fox." `
` `
` It sometimes happens that one man has all the toil, and another `
` all the profit. `
` `
` `
` The Doe and the Lion `
` `
` A DOE hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging `
`