Reading Help Aesop's Fables
they were playing one day as children, they happened by chance to `
` look together into a mirror that was placed on their mother's `
` chair. The boy congratulated himself on his good looks; 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 on herself. She ran off to her father. to be avenged `
` on her Brother, and spitefully accused him of having, as a boy, `
` made use of that which belonged only to girls. The father `
` embraced them both, and bestowing his kisses and affection `
` impartially on each, said, "I wish you both would look into the `
` mirror every day: you, my son, that you may not spoil your beauty `
` by evil conduct; and you, my daughter, that you may make up for `
` your lack of beauty by your virtues." `
` `
` `
` The Wasps, the Partridges, and the Farmer `
` `
` THE WASPS and the Partridges, overcome with thirst, came to a `
` Farmer and besought him to give them some water to drink. They `
` promised amply to repay him the favor which they asked. The `
` Partridges declared that they would dig around his vines and make `
` them produce finer grapes. The Wasps said that they would keep `
` guard and drive off thieves with their stings. But the Farmer `
` interrupted them, saying: "I have already two oxen, who, without `
` making any promises, do all these things. It is surely better `
` for me to give the water to them than to you." `
` `
` `
` The Crow and Mercury `
` `
` A CROW caught in a snare prayed to Apollo to release him, making `
` a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. But when rescued `
` from his danger, he forgot his promise. Shortly afterwards, `
` again caught in a snare, he passed by Apollo and made the same `
` promise to offer frankincense to Mercury. Mercury soon appeared `
` and said to him, "O thou most base fellow? how can I believe `
` thee, who hast disowned and wronged thy former patron?' `
` `
` `
` The North Wind and the Sun `
` `
` THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the most `
` powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who `
` could first strip a wayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind `
` first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener `
` his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, `
` until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the Wind called `
` upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sun suddenly shone out `
` with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays `
` than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly `
` overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in `
` his path. `
` `
` Persuasion is better than Force. `
` `
` `
` The Two Men Who Were Enemies `
` `
` TWO MEN, deadly enemies to each other, were sailing in the same `
` vessel. Determined to keep as far apart as possible, the one `
` seated himself in the stem, and the other in the prow of the `
` ship. A violent storm arose, and with the vessel in great danger `
` of sinking, the one in the stern inquired of the pilot which of `
` the two ends of the ship would go down first. On his replying `
` that he supposed it would be the prow, the Man said, "Death would `
` not be grievous to me, if I could only see my Enemy die before `
` me." `
` `
` `
` The Gamecocks and the Partridge `
` `
` A MAN had two Gamecocks in his poultry-yard. One day by chance `
` he found a tame Partridge for sale. He purchased it and brought `
` it home to be reared with his Gamecocks. When the Partridge was `
` put into the poultry-yard, they struck at it and followed it `
` about, so that the Partridge became grievously troubled and `
` supposed that he was thus evilly treated because he was a `
` stranger. Not long afterwards he saw the Cocks fighting together `
` and not separating before one had well beaten the other. He then `
` said to himself, "I shall no longer distress myself at being `
` struck at by these Gamecocks, when I see that they cannot even `
` refrain from quarreling with each other." `
` `
` `
` The Quack Frog `
` `
` A FROG once upon a time came forth from his home in the marsh and `
` proclaimed to all the beasts that he was a learned physician, `
` skilled in the use of drugs and able to heal all diseases. A Fox `
` asked him, "How can you pretend to prescribe for others, when you `
` are unable to heal your own lame gait and wrinkled skin?' `
` `
` `
` The Lion, the Wolf, and the Fox `
` `
` A LION, growing old, lay sick in his cave. All the beasts came `
` to visit their king, except the Fox. The Wolf therefore, `
` thinking that he had a capital opportunity, accused the Fox to `
` the Lion of not paying any respect to him who had the rule over `
` them all and of not coming to visit him. At that very moment the `
` Fox came in and heard these last words of the Wolf. The Lion `
` roaring out in a rage against him, the Fox sought an opportunity `
` to defend himself and said, "And who of all those who have come `
` to you have benefited you so much as I, who have traveled from `
` place to place in every direction, and have sought and learnt `
` from the physicians the means of healing you?' The Lion commanded `
` him immediately to tell him the cure, when he replied, "You must `
` flay a wolf alive and wrap his skin yet warm around you." The `
` Wolf was at once taken and flayed; whereon the Fox, turning to `
` him, said with a smile, "You should have moved your master not to `
` ill, but to good, will." `
` `
` `
` The Dog's House `
` `
` IN THE WINTERTIME, a Dog curled up in as small a space as `
` possible on account of the cold, determined to make himself a `
` house. However when the summer returned again, he lay asleep `
` stretched at his full length and appeared to himself to be of a `
` great size. Now he considered that it would be neither an easy `
` nor a necessary work to make himself such a house as would `
` accommodate him. `
` `
` `
` The Wolf and the Lion `
` `
` ROAMING BY the mountainside at sundown, a Wolf saw his own shadow `
` become greatly extended and magnified, and he said to himself, `
` "Why should I, being of such an immense size and extending nearly `
` an acre in length, be afraid of the Lion? Ought I not to be `
` acknowledged as King of all the collected beasts?' While he was `
` indulging in these proud thoughts, a Lion fell upon him and `
` killed him. He exclaimed with a too late repentance, "Wretched `
` me! this overestimation of myself is the cause of my `
` destruction." `
` `
` `
` The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat `
` `
` THE BIRDS waged war with the Beasts, and each were by turns the `
` conquerors. A Bat, fearing the uncertain issues of the fight, `
` always fought on the side which he felt was the strongest. When `
` peace was proclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent to both `
` combatants. Therefore being condemned by each for his treachery, `
` he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforth `
` concealed himself in dark hiding-places, flying always alone and `
` at night. `
` `
` `
` The Spendthrift and the Swallow `
` `
` A YOUNG MAN, a great spendthrift, had run through all his `
` patrimony and had but one good cloak left. One day he happened `
` to see a Swallow, which had appeared before its season, skimming `
` along a pool and twittering gaily. He supposed that summer had `
` come, and went and sold his cloak. Not many days later, winter `
` set in again with renewed frost and cold. When he found the `
` unfortunate Swallow lifeless on the ground, he said, "Unhappy `
` bird! what have you done? By thus appearing before the springtime `
` you have not only killed yourself, but you have wrought my `
` destruction also." `
` `
` `
` The Fox and the Lion `
` `
` A FOX saw a Lion confined in a cage, and standing near him, `
` bitterly reviled him. The Lion said to the Fox, "It is not thou `
` who revilest me; but this mischance which has befallen me." `
` `
` `
` The Owl and the Birds `
` `
` AN OWL, in her wisdom, counseled the Birds that when the acorn `
` first began to sprout, to pull it all up out of the ground and `
` not allow it to grow. She said acorns would produce mistletoe, `
` from which an irremediable poison, the bird- `
` lime, would be extracted and by which they would be captured. `
` The Owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax, which `
` men had sown, as it was a plant which boded no good to them. `
` And, lastly, the Owl, seeing an archer approach, predicted that `
` this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed with feathers `
` which would fly faster than the wings of the Birds themselves. `
` The Birds gave no credence to these warning words, but considered `
` the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad. But `
` afterwards, finding her words were true, they wondered at her `
` knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds. Hence it is `
` that when she appears they look to her as knowing all things, `
` while she no longer gives them advice, but in solitude laments `
` their past folly. `
` `
` `
` The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner `
` `
` A TRUMPETER, bravely leading on the soldiers, was captured by the `
` enemy. He cried out to his captors, "Pray spare me, and do not `
` take my life without cause or without inquiry. I have not slain `
` a single man of your troop. I have no arms, and carry nothing `
` but this one brass trumpet." "That is the very reason for which `
` you should be put to death," they said; "for, while you do not `
` fight yourself, your trumpet stirs all the others to battle." `
` `
`
` look together into a mirror that was placed on their mother's `
` chair. The boy congratulated himself on his good looks; 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 on herself. She ran off to her father. to be avenged `
` on her Brother, and spitefully accused him of having, as a boy, `
` made use of that which belonged only to girls. The father `
` embraced them both, and bestowing his kisses and affection `
` impartially on each, said, "I wish you both would look into the `
` mirror every day: you, my son, that you may not spoil your beauty `
` by evil conduct; and you, my daughter, that you may make up for `
` your lack of beauty by your virtues." `
` `
` `
` The Wasps, the Partridges, and the Farmer `
` `
` THE WASPS and the Partridges, overcome with thirst, came to a `
` Farmer and besought him to give them some water to drink. They `
` promised amply to repay him the favor which they asked. The `
` Partridges declared that they would dig around his vines and make `
` them produce finer grapes. The Wasps said that they would keep `
` guard and drive off thieves with their stings. But the Farmer `
` interrupted them, saying: "I have already two oxen, who, without `
` making any promises, do all these things. It is surely better `
` for me to give the water to them than to you." `
` `
` `
` The Crow and Mercury `
` `
` A CROW caught in a snare prayed to Apollo to release him, making `
` a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. But when rescued `
` from his danger, he forgot his promise. Shortly afterwards, `
` again caught in a snare, he passed by Apollo and made the same `
` promise to offer frankincense to Mercury. Mercury soon appeared `
` and said to him, "O thou most base fellow? how can I believe `
` thee, who hast disowned and wronged thy former patron?' `
` `
` `
` The North Wind and the Sun `
` `
` THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the most `
` powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who `
` could first strip a wayfaring man of his clothes. The North Wind `
` first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener `
` his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, `
` until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the Wind called `
` upon the Sun to see what he could do. The Sun suddenly shone out `
` with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays `
` than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly `
` overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in `
` his path. `
` `
` Persuasion is better than Force. `
` `
` `
` The Two Men Who Were Enemies `
` `
` TWO MEN, deadly enemies to each other, were sailing in the same `
` vessel. Determined to keep as far apart as possible, the one `
` seated himself in the stem, and the other in the prow of the `
` ship. A violent storm arose, and with the vessel in great danger `
` of sinking, the one in the stern inquired of the pilot which of `
` the two ends of the ship would go down first. On his replying `
` that he supposed it would be the prow, the Man said, "Death would `
` not be grievous to me, if I could only see my Enemy die before `
` me." `
` `
` `
` The Gamecocks and the Partridge `
` `
` A MAN had two Gamecocks in his poultry-yard. One day by chance `
` he found a tame Partridge for sale. He purchased it and brought `
` it home to be reared with his Gamecocks. When the Partridge was `
` put into the poultry-yard, they struck at it and followed it `
` about, so that the Partridge became grievously troubled and `
` supposed that he was thus evilly treated because he was a `
` stranger. Not long afterwards he saw the Cocks fighting together `
` and not separating before one had well beaten the other. He then `
` said to himself, "I shall no longer distress myself at being `
` struck at by these Gamecocks, when I see that they cannot even `
` refrain from quarreling with each other." `
` `
` `
` The Quack Frog `
` `
` A FROG once upon a time came forth from his home in the marsh and `
` proclaimed to all the beasts that he was a learned physician, `
` skilled in the use of drugs and able to heal all diseases. A Fox `
` asked him, "How can you pretend to prescribe for others, when you `
` are unable to heal your own lame gait and wrinkled skin?' `
` `
` `
` The Lion, the Wolf, and the Fox `
` `
` A LION, growing old, lay sick in his cave. All the beasts came `
` to visit their king, except the Fox. The Wolf therefore, `
` thinking that he had a capital opportunity, accused the Fox to `
` the Lion of not paying any respect to him who had the rule over `
` them all and of not coming to visit him. At that very moment the `
` Fox came in and heard these last words of the Wolf. The Lion `
` roaring out in a rage against him, the Fox sought an opportunity `
` to defend himself and said, "And who of all those who have come `
` to you have benefited you so much as I, who have traveled from `
` place to place in every direction, and have sought and learnt `
` from the physicians the means of healing you?' The Lion commanded `
` him immediately to tell him the cure, when he replied, "You must `
` flay a wolf alive and wrap his skin yet warm around you." The `
` Wolf was at once taken and flayed; whereon the Fox, turning to `
` him, said with a smile, "You should have moved your master not to `
` ill, but to good, will." `
` `
` `
` The Dog's House `
` `
` IN THE WINTERTIME, a Dog curled up in as small a space as `
` possible on account of the cold, determined to make himself a `
` house. However when the summer returned again, he lay asleep `
` stretched at his full length and appeared to himself to be of a `
` great size. Now he considered that it would be neither an easy `
` nor a necessary work to make himself such a house as would `
` accommodate him. `
` `
` `
` The Wolf and the Lion `
` `
` ROAMING BY the mountainside at sundown, a Wolf saw his own shadow `
` become greatly extended and magnified, and he said to himself, `
` "Why should I, being of such an immense size and extending nearly `
` an acre in length, be afraid of the Lion? Ought I not to be `
` acknowledged as King of all the collected beasts?' While he was `
` indulging in these proud thoughts, a Lion fell upon him and `
` killed him. He exclaimed with a too late repentance, "Wretched `
` me! this overestimation of myself is the cause of my `
` destruction." `
` `
` `
` The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat `
` `
` THE BIRDS waged war with the Beasts, and each were by turns the `
` conquerors. A Bat, fearing the uncertain issues of the fight, `
` always fought on the side which he felt was the strongest. When `
` peace was proclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent to both `
` combatants. Therefore being condemned by each for his treachery, `
` he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforth `
` concealed himself in dark hiding-places, flying always alone and `
` at night. `
` `
` `
` The Spendthrift and the Swallow `
` `
` A YOUNG MAN, a great spendthrift, had run through all his `
` patrimony and had but one good cloak left. One day he happened `
` to see a Swallow, which had appeared before its season, skimming `
` along a pool and twittering gaily. He supposed that summer had `
` come, and went and sold his cloak. Not many days later, winter `
` set in again with renewed frost and cold. When he found the `
` unfortunate Swallow lifeless on the ground, he said, "Unhappy `
` bird! what have you done? By thus appearing before the springtime `
` you have not only killed yourself, but you have wrought my `
` destruction also." `
` `
` `
` The Fox and the Lion `
` `
` A FOX saw a Lion confined in a cage, and standing near him, `
` bitterly reviled him. The Lion said to the Fox, "It is not thou `
` who revilest me; but this mischance which has befallen me." `
` `
` `
` The Owl and the Birds `
` `
` AN OWL, in her wisdom, counseled the Birds that when the acorn `
` first began to sprout, to pull it all up out of the ground and `
` not allow it to grow. She said acorns would produce mistletoe, `
` from which an irremediable poison, the bird- `
` lime, would be extracted and by which they would be captured. `
` The Owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax, which `
` men had sown, as it was a plant which boded no good to them. `
` And, lastly, the Owl, seeing an archer approach, predicted that `
` this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed with feathers `
` which would fly faster than the wings of the Birds themselves. `
` The Birds gave no credence to these warning words, but considered `
` the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad. But `
` afterwards, finding her words were true, they wondered at her `
` knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds. Hence it is `
` that when she appears they look to her as knowing all things, `
` while she no longer gives them advice, but in solitude laments `
` their past folly. `
` `
` `
` The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner `
` `
` A TRUMPETER, bravely leading on the soldiers, was captured by the `
` enemy. He cried out to his captors, "Pray spare me, and do not `
` take my life without cause or without inquiry. I have not slain `
` a single man of your troop. I have no arms, and carry nothing `
` but this one brass trumpet." "That is the very reason for which `
` you should be put to death," they said; "for, while you do not `
` fight yourself, your trumpet stirs all the others to battle." `
` `
`