Reading Help Aesop's Fables
The Mole and His Mother `
` `
` A MOLE, a creature blind from birth, once said to his Mother: "I `
` am sure than I can see, Mother!" In the desire to prove to him `
` his mistake, his Mother placed before him a few grains of `
` frankincense, and asked, "What is it?' The young Mole said, "It `
` is a pebble." His Mother exclaimed: "My son, I am afraid that you `
` are not only blind, but that you have lost your sense of smell. `
` `
` `
` The Herdsman and the Lost Bull `
` `
` A HERDSMAN tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calf from `
` the fold. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow that, `
` if he could only discover the thief who had stolen the Calf, he `
` would offer a lamb in sacrifice to Hermes, Pan, and the Guardian `
` Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, as he ascended a `
` small hillock, he saw at its foot a Lion feeding on the Calf. `
` Terrified at the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands to `
` heaven, and said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the `
` Guardian Deities of the forest if I could only find out who had `
` robbed me; but now that I have discovered the thief, I would `
` willingly add a full-grown Bull to the Calf I have lost, if I may `
` only secure my own escape from him in safety." `
` `
` `
` The Hare and the Tortoise `
` `
` A HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the `
` Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the `
` wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her `
` assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and `
` they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the `
` goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started `
` together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on `
` with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. `
` The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last `
` waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise `
` had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her `
` fatigue. `
` `
` Slow but steady wins the race. `
` `
` `
` The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble `
` `
` THE POMEGRANATE and Apple-Tree disputed as to which was the most `
` beautiful. When their strife was at its height, a Bramble from `
` the neighboring hedge lifted up its voice, and said in a boastful `
` tone: "Pray, my dear friends, in my presence at least cease from `
` such vain disputings." `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and the Stork `
` `
` A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a `
` number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he `
` trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was `
` earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. "Pray save `
` me, Master," he said, "and let me go free this once. My broken `
` limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a `
` Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and `
` slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers-- `
` they are not the least like those of a Crane." The Farmer `
` laughed aloud and said, "It may be all as you say, I only know `
` this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you `
` must die in their company." `
` `
` Birds of a feather flock together. `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and the Snake `
` `
` ONE WINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He `
` had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. `
` The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its `
` natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal `
` wound. "Oh," cried the Farmer with his last breath, "I am `
` rightly served for pitying a scoundrel." `
` `
` The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful. `
` `
` `
` The Fawn and His Mother `
` `
` A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Mother, "You are larger than a dog, `
` and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as `
` a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?" `
` She smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say `
` is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even `
` the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as `
` fast as I can." `
` `
` No arguments will give courage to the coward. `
` `
` `
` The Bear and the Fox `
` `
` A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all `
` animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had `
` such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. `
` A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, "Oh! `
` that you would eat the dead and not the living." `
` `
` `
` The Swallow and the Crow `
` `
` THE SWALLOW and the Crow had a contention about their plumage. `
` The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying, "Your feathers are `
` all very well in the spring, but mine protect me against the `
` winter." `
` `
` Fair weather friends are not worth much. `
` `
` `
` The Mountain in Labor `
` `
` A MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises `
` were heard, and crowds of people came from all parts to see what `
` was the matter. While they were assembled in anxious expectation `
` of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse. `
` `
` Don't make much ado about nothing. `
` `
` `
` The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion `
` `
` THE ASS and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for `
` their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They `
` had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing `
` imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for `
` him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not `
` to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not `
` be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he `
` should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, `
` immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his `
` leisure. `
` `
` `
` The Tortoise and the Eagle `
` `
` A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the `
` sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. `
` An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what `
` reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float `
` her in the air. "I will give you," she said, "all the riches of `
` the Red Sea." "I will teach you to fly then," said the Eagle; and `
` taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds `
` suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing `
` her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of `
` death: "I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do `
` with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the `
` earth?' `
` `
` If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined. `
` `
` `
` The Flies and the Honey-Pot `
` `
` A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been `
` overturned in a housekeeper's room, and placing their feet in it, `
` ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the `
` honey that they could not use their wings, nor release `
` themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, `
` they exclaimed, "O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of `
` a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves." `
` `
` Pleasure bought with pains, hurts. `
` `
` `
` The Man and the Lion `
` `
` A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon `
` began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in `
` strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a `
` statue carved in stone, which represented "a Lion strangled by a `
` Man." The traveler pointed to it and said: "See there! How strong `
` we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts." The `
` Lion replied: "This statue was made by one of you men. If we `
` Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed `
` under the paw of the Lion." `
` `
` One story is good, till another is told. `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and the Cranes `
` `
` SOME CRANES made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly `
` sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an `
` empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when `
` the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they `
` ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, `
` on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great `
` number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying `
` to each other, "It is time for us to be off to Liliput: for this `
` man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in `
` earnest what he can do." `
` `
` If words suffice not, blows must follow. `
` `
` `
`
` `
` A MOLE, a creature blind from birth, once said to his Mother: "I `
` am sure than I can see, Mother!" In the desire to prove to him `
` his mistake, his Mother placed before him a few grains of `
` frankincense, and asked, "What is it?' The young Mole said, "It `
` is a pebble." His Mother exclaimed: "My son, I am afraid that you `
` are not only blind, but that you have lost your sense of smell. `
` `
` `
` The Herdsman and the Lost Bull `
` `
` A HERDSMAN tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calf from `
` the fold. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow that, `
` if he could only discover the thief who had stolen the Calf, he `
` would offer a lamb in sacrifice to Hermes, Pan, and the Guardian `
` Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, as he ascended a `
` small hillock, he saw at its foot a Lion feeding on the Calf. `
` Terrified at the sight, he lifted his eyes and his hands to `
` heaven, and said: "Just now I vowed to offer a lamb to the `
` Guardian Deities of the forest if I could only find out who had `
` robbed me; but now that I have discovered the thief, I would `
` willingly add a full-grown Bull to the Calf I have lost, if I may `
` only secure my own escape from him in safety." `
` `
` `
` The Hare and the Tortoise `
` `
` A HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the `
` Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the `
` wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her `
` assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and `
` they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the `
` goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started `
` together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on `
` with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. `
` The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last `
` waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise `
` had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her `
` fatigue. `
` `
` Slow but steady wins the race. `
` `
` `
` The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble `
` `
` THE POMEGRANATE and Apple-Tree disputed as to which was the most `
` beautiful. When their strife was at its height, a Bramble from `
` the neighboring hedge lifted up its voice, and said in a boastful `
` tone: "Pray, my dear friends, in my presence at least cease from `
` such vain disputings." `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and the Stork `
` `
` A FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands and caught a `
` number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed. With them he `
` trapped a Stork that had fractured his leg in the net and was `
` earnestly beseeching the Farmer to spare his life. "Pray save `
` me, Master," he said, "and let me go free this once. My broken `
` limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am no Crane, I am a `
` Stork, a bird of excellent character; and see how I love and `
` slave for my father and mother. Look too, at my feathers-- `
` they are not the least like those of a Crane." The Farmer `
` laughed aloud and said, "It may be all as you say, I only know `
` this: I have taken you with these robbers, the Cranes, and you `
` must die in their company." `
` `
` Birds of a feather flock together. `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and the Snake `
` `
` ONE WINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He `
` had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. `
` The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its `
` natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal `
` wound. "Oh," cried the Farmer with his last breath, "I am `
` rightly served for pitying a scoundrel." `
` `
` The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful. `
` `
` `
` The Fawn and His Mother `
` `
` A YOUNG FAWN once said to his Mother, "You are larger than a dog, `
` and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as `
` a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?" `
` She smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say `
` is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even `
` the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as `
` fast as I can." `
` `
` No arguments will give courage to the coward. `
` `
` `
` The Bear and the Fox `
` `
` A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all `
` animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had `
` such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. `
` A Fox hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, "Oh! `
` that you would eat the dead and not the living." `
` `
` `
` The Swallow and the Crow `
` `
` THE SWALLOW and the Crow had a contention about their plumage. `
` The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying, "Your feathers are `
` all very well in the spring, but mine protect me against the `
` winter." `
` `
` Fair weather friends are not worth much. `
` `
` `
` The Mountain in Labor `
` `
` A MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises `
` were heard, and crowds of people came from all parts to see what `
` was the matter. While they were assembled in anxious expectation `
` of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse. `
` `
` Don't make much ado about nothing. `
` `
` `
` The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion `
` `
` THE ASS and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for `
` their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They `
` had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing `
` imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for `
` him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not `
` to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not `
` be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he `
` should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, `
` immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his `
` leisure. `
` `
` `
` The Tortoise and the Eagle `
` `
` A TORTOISE, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the `
` sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. `
` An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what `
` reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float `
` her in the air. "I will give you," she said, "all the riches of `
` the Red Sea." "I will teach you to fly then," said the Eagle; and `
` taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds `
` suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing `
` her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of `
` death: "I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do `
` with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the `
` earth?' `
` `
` If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined. `
` `
` `
` The Flies and the Honey-Pot `
` `
` A NUMBER of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been `
` overturned in a housekeeper's room, and placing their feet in it, `
` ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the `
` honey that they could not use their wings, nor release `
` themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, `
` they exclaimed, "O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of `
` a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves." `
` `
` Pleasure bought with pains, hurts. `
` `
` `
` The Man and the Lion `
` `
` A MAN and a Lion traveled together through the forest. They soon `
` began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in `
` strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a `
` statue carved in stone, which represented "a Lion strangled by a `
` Man." The traveler pointed to it and said: "See there! How strong `
` we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts." The `
` Lion replied: "This statue was made by one of you men. If we `
` Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed `
` under the paw of the Lion." `
` `
` One story is good, till another is told. `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and the Cranes `
` `
` SOME CRANES made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly `
` sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an `
` empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when `
` the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they `
` ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, `
` on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great `
` number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying `
` to each other, "It is time for us to be off to Liliput: for this `
` man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in `
` earnest what he can do." `
` `
` If words suffice not, blows must follow. `
` `
` `
`