Reading Help Aesop's Fables
replied, "Thank you. But I can't think that you, who refuse me a `
` little matter now. will by and by confer on me a greater `
` benefit." `
` `
` `
` Truth and the Traveler `
` `
` A WAYFARING MAN, traveling in the desert, met a woman standing `
` alone and terribly dejected. He inquired of her, "Who art thou?" `
` "My name is Truth," she replied. "And for what cause," he asked, `
` "have you left the city to dwell alone here in the wilderness?" `
` She made answer, "Because in former times, falsehood was with `
` few, but is now with all men." `
` `
` The Manslayer `
` `
` A MAN committed a murder, and was pursued by the relations of the `
` man whom he murdered. On his reaching the river Nile he saw a `
` Lion on its bank and being fearfully afraid, climbed up a tree. `
` He found a serpent in the upper branches of the tree, and again `
` being greatly alarmed, he threw himself into the river, where a `
` crocodile caught him and ate him. Thus the earth, the air, and `
` the water alike refused shelter to a murderer. `
` `
` The Lion and the Fox `
` `
` A FOX entered into partnership with a Lion on the pretense of `
` becoming his servant. Each undertook his proper duty in `
` accordance with his own nature and powers. The Fox discovered `
` and pointed out the prey; the Lion sprang on it and seized it. `
` The Fox soon became jealous of the Lion carrying off the Lion's `
` share, and said that he would no longer find out the prey, but `
` would capture it on his own account. The next day he attempted `
` to snatch a lamb from the fold, but he himself fell prey to the `
` huntsmen and hounds. `
` `
` The Lion and the Eagle `
` `
` AN EAGLE stayed his flight and entreated a Lion to make an `
` alliance with him to their mutual advantage. The Lion replied, `
` "I have no objection, but you must excuse me for requiring you to `
` find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust anyone as a `
` friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he `
` pleases?' `
` `
` Try before you trust. `
` `
` The Hen and the Swallow `
` `
` A HEN finding the eggs of a viper and carefully keeping them `
` warm, nourished them into life. A Swallow, observing what she `
` had done, said, "You silly creature! why have you hatched these `
` vipers which, when they shall have grown, will inflict injury on `
` all, beginning with yourself?' `
` `
` The Buffoon and the Countryman `
` `
` A RICH NOBLEMAN once opened the theaters without charge to the `
` people, and gave a public notice that he would handsomely reward `
` any person who invented a new amusement for the occasion. `
` Various public performers contended for the prize. Among them `
` came a Buffoon well known among the populace for his jokes, and `
` said that he had a kind of entertainment which had never been `
` brought out on any stage before. This report being spread about `
` made a great stir, and the theater was crowded in every part. `
` The Buffoon appeared alone upon the platform, without any `
` apparatus or confederates, and the very sense of expectation `
` caused an intense silence. He suddenly bent his head towards his `
` bosom and imitated the squeaking of a little pig so admirably `
` with his voice that the audience declared he had a porker under `
` his cloak, and demanded that it should be shaken out. When that `
` was done and nothing was found, they cheered the actor, and `
` loaded him with the loudest applause. A Countryman 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 he `
` would do the same thing on the next day, though in a much more `
` natural way. On the morrow a still larger crowd assembled in the `
` theater, but now partiality for their favorite actor very `
` generally prevailed, and the audience came rather to ridicule the `
` Countryman than to see the spectacle. Both of the performers `
` appeared on the stage. The Buffoon grunted and squeaked away `
` first, and obtained, as on the preceding day, the applause and `
` cheers of the spectators. Next the Countryman commenced, and `
` pretending that he concealed a little pig beneath his clothes `
` (which in truth he did, but not suspected by the audience ) `
` contrived to take hold of and to pull his ear causing the pig to `
` squeak. The Crowd, however, cried out with one consent that the `
` Buffoon had given a far more exact imitation, and clamored for `
` the Countryman to be kicked out of the theater. On this the `
` rustic produced the little pig from his cloak and showed by the `
` most positive proof the greatness of their mistake. "Look here," `
` he said, "this shows what sort of judges you are." `
` `
` The Crow and the Serpent `
` `
` A CROW in great want of food saw a Serpent asleep in a sunny `
` nook, and flying down, greedily seized him. The Serpent, turning `
` about, bit the Crow with a mortal wound. In the agony of death, `
` the bird exclaimed: "O unhappy me! who have found in that which I `
` deemed a happy windfall the source of my destruction." `
` `
` The Hunter and the Horseman `
` `
` A CERTAIN HUNTER, having snared a hare, placed it upon his `
` shoulders and set out homewards. On his way he met a man on `
` horseback who begged the hare of him, under the pretense of `
` purchasing it. However, when the Horseman got the hare, he rode `
` off as fast as he could. The Hunter ran after him, as if he was `
` sure of overtaking him, but the Horseman increased more and more `
` the distance between them. The Hunter, sorely against his will, `
` called out to him and said, "Get along with you! for I will now `
` make you a present of the hare." `
` `
` The King's Son and the Painted Lion `
` `
` A KING, whose only son was fond of martial exercises, had a dream `
` in which he was warned that his son would be killed by a lion. `
` Afraid the dream should prove true, he built for his son a `
` pleasant palace and adorned its walls for his amusement with all `
` kinds of life-sized animals, among which was the picture of a `
` lion. When the young Prince saw this, his grief at being thus `
` confined burst out afresh, and, standing near the lion, he said: `
` "O you most detestable of animals! through a lying dream of my `
` father's, which he saw in his sleep, I am shut up on your account `
` in this palace as if I had been a girl: what shall I now do to `
` you?' With these words he stretched out his hands toward a `
` thorn-tree, meaning to cut a stick from its branches so that he `
` might beat the lion. But one of the tree's prickles pierced his `
` finger and caused great pain and inflammation, so that the young `
` Prince fell down in a fainting fit. A violent fever suddenly set `
` in, from which he died not many days later. `
` `
` We had better bear our troubles bravely than try to escape them. `
` `
` `
` The Cat and Venus `
` `
` A CAT fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus `
` to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her `
` request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel, so that the `
` youth saw her and loved her, and took her home as his bride. `
` While the two were reclining in their chamber, Venus wishing to `
` discover if the Cat in her change of shape had also altered her `
` habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. The `
` Cat, quite forgetting her present condition, started up from the `
` couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus was much `
` disappointed and again caused her to return to her former shape. `
` `
` `
` Nature exceeds nurture. `
` `
` `
` The She-Goats and Their Beards `
` `
` THE SHE-GOATS having obtained a beard by request to Jupiter, the `
` He-Goats were sorely displeased and made complaint that the `
` females equaled them in dignity. "Allow them," said Jupiter, "to `
` enjoy an empty honor and to assume the badge of your nobler sex, `
` so long as they are not your equals in strength or courage." `
` `
` It matters little if those who are inferior to us in merit should `
` be like us in outside appearances. `
` `
` The Camel and the Arab `
` `
` AN 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 beast replied, not without a touch of reason: "Why do you `
` ask me? Is it that the level way through the desert is closed?" `
` `
` `
` The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass `
` `
` A MILLER and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair `
` to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of `
` women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look `
` there," cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be `
` trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?' The old `
` man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and `
` continued to walk along merrily by his side. Presently they came `
` up to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There," said one of `
` them, "it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to `
` old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his `
` old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let `
` the old man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the old man made his `
` son dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had not `
` proceeded far when they met a company of women and children: `
` "Why, you lazy old fellow," cried several tongues at once, "how `
` can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can `
` hardly keep pace by the side of you?' The good-natured Miller `
` immediately took up his son behind him. They had now almost `
` reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a citizen, "is `
` that Ass your own?' "Yes," replied the old man. "O, one would `
` not have thought so," said the other, "by the way you load him. `
` Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than `
` he you." "Anything to please you," said the old man; "we can but `
` try." So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass `
` together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on `
` their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. `
` This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at `
` it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling `
`
` little matter now. will by and by confer on me a greater `
` benefit." `
` `
` `
` Truth and the Traveler `
` `
` A WAYFARING MAN, traveling in the desert, met a woman standing `
` alone and terribly dejected. He inquired of her, "Who art thou?" `
` "My name is Truth," she replied. "And for what cause," he asked, `
` "have you left the city to dwell alone here in the wilderness?" `
` She made answer, "Because in former times, falsehood was with `
` few, but is now with all men." `
` `
` The Manslayer `
` `
` A MAN committed a murder, and was pursued by the relations of the `
` man whom he murdered. On his reaching the river Nile he saw a `
` Lion on its bank and being fearfully afraid, climbed up a tree. `
` He found a serpent in the upper branches of the tree, and again `
` being greatly alarmed, he threw himself into the river, where a `
` crocodile caught him and ate him. Thus the earth, the air, and `
` the water alike refused shelter to a murderer. `
` `
` The Lion and the Fox `
` `
` A FOX entered into partnership with a Lion on the pretense of `
` becoming his servant. Each undertook his proper duty in `
` accordance with his own nature and powers. The Fox discovered `
` and pointed out the prey; the Lion sprang on it and seized it. `
` The Fox soon became jealous of the Lion carrying off the Lion's `
` share, and said that he would no longer find out the prey, but `
` would capture it on his own account. The next day he attempted `
` to snatch a lamb from the fold, but he himself fell prey to the `
` huntsmen and hounds. `
` `
` The Lion and the Eagle `
` `
` AN EAGLE stayed his flight and entreated a Lion to make an `
` alliance with him to their mutual advantage. The Lion replied, `
` "I have no objection, but you must excuse me for requiring you to `
` find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust anyone as a `
` friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he `
` pleases?' `
` `
` Try before you trust. `
` `
` The Hen and the Swallow `
` `
` A HEN finding the eggs of a viper and carefully keeping them `
` warm, nourished them into life. A Swallow, observing what she `
` had done, said, "You silly creature! why have you hatched these `
` vipers which, when they shall have grown, will inflict injury on `
` all, beginning with yourself?' `
` `
` The Buffoon and the Countryman `
` `
` A RICH NOBLEMAN once opened the theaters without charge to the `
` people, and gave a public notice that he would handsomely reward `
` any person who invented a new amusement for the occasion. `
` Various public performers contended for the prize. Among them `
` came a Buffoon well known among the populace for his jokes, and `
` said that he had a kind of entertainment which had never been `
` brought out on any stage before. This report being spread about `
` made a great stir, and the theater was crowded in every part. `
` The Buffoon appeared alone upon the platform, without any `
` apparatus or confederates, and the very sense of expectation `
` caused an intense silence. He suddenly bent his head towards his `
` bosom and imitated the squeaking of a little pig so admirably `
` with his voice that the audience declared he had a porker under `
` his cloak, and demanded that it should be shaken out. When that `
` was done and nothing was found, they cheered the actor, and `
` loaded him with the loudest applause. A Countryman 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 he `
` would do the same thing on the next day, though in a much more `
` natural way. On the morrow a still larger crowd assembled in the `
` theater, but now partiality for their favorite actor very `
` generally prevailed, and the audience came rather to ridicule the `
` Countryman than to see the spectacle. Both of the performers `
` appeared on the stage. The Buffoon grunted and squeaked away `
` first, and obtained, as on the preceding day, the applause and `
` cheers of the spectators. Next the Countryman commenced, and `
` pretending that he concealed a little pig beneath his clothes `
` (which in truth he did, but not suspected by the audience ) `
` contrived to take hold of and to pull his ear causing the pig to `
` squeak. The Crowd, however, cried out with one consent that the `
` Buffoon had given a far more exact imitation, and clamored for `
` the Countryman to be kicked out of the theater. On this the `
` rustic produced the little pig from his cloak and showed by the `
` most positive proof the greatness of their mistake. "Look here," `
` he said, "this shows what sort of judges you are." `
` `
` The Crow and the Serpent `
` `
` A CROW in great want of food saw a Serpent asleep in a sunny `
` nook, and flying down, greedily seized him. The Serpent, turning `
` about, bit the Crow with a mortal wound. In the agony of death, `
` the bird exclaimed: "O unhappy me! who have found in that which I `
` deemed a happy windfall the source of my destruction." `
` `
` The Hunter and the Horseman `
` `
` A CERTAIN HUNTER, having snared a hare, placed it upon his `
` shoulders and set out homewards. On his way he met a man on `
` horseback who begged the hare of him, under the pretense of `
` purchasing it. However, when the Horseman got the hare, he rode `
` off as fast as he could. The Hunter ran after him, as if he was `
` sure of overtaking him, but the Horseman increased more and more `
` the distance between them. The Hunter, sorely against his will, `
` called out to him and said, "Get along with you! for I will now `
` make you a present of the hare." `
` `
` The King's Son and the Painted Lion `
` `
` A KING, whose only son was fond of martial exercises, had a dream `
` in which he was warned that his son would be killed by a lion. `
` Afraid the dream should prove true, he built for his son a `
` pleasant palace and adorned its walls for his amusement with all `
` kinds of life-sized animals, among which was the picture of a `
` lion. When the young Prince saw this, his grief at being thus `
` confined burst out afresh, and, standing near the lion, he said: `
` "O you most detestable of animals! through a lying dream of my `
` father's, which he saw in his sleep, I am shut up on your account `
` in this palace as if I had been a girl: what shall I now do to `
` you?' With these words he stretched out his hands toward a `
` thorn-tree, meaning to cut a stick from its branches so that he `
` might beat the lion. But one of the tree's prickles pierced his `
` finger and caused great pain and inflammation, so that the young `
` Prince fell down in a fainting fit. A violent fever suddenly set `
` in, from which he died not many days later. `
` `
` We had better bear our troubles bravely than try to escape them. `
` `
` `
` The Cat and Venus `
` `
` A CAT fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus `
` to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her `
` request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel, so that the `
` youth saw her and loved her, and took her home as his bride. `
` While the two were reclining in their chamber, Venus wishing to `
` discover if the Cat in her change of shape had also altered her `
` habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. The `
` Cat, quite forgetting her present condition, started up from the `
` couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus was much `
` disappointed and again caused her to return to her former shape. `
` `
` `
` Nature exceeds nurture. `
` `
` `
` The She-Goats and Their Beards `
` `
` THE SHE-GOATS having obtained a beard by request to Jupiter, the `
` He-Goats were sorely displeased and made complaint that the `
` females equaled them in dignity. "Allow them," said Jupiter, "to `
` enjoy an empty honor and to assume the badge of your nobler sex, `
` so long as they are not your equals in strength or courage." `
` `
` It matters little if those who are inferior to us in merit should `
` be like us in outside appearances. `
` `
` The Camel and the Arab `
` `
` AN 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 beast replied, not without a touch of reason: "Why do you `
` ask me? Is it that the level way through the desert is closed?" `
` `
` `
` The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass `
` `
` A MILLER and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair `
` to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of `
` women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look `
` there," cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be `
` trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?' The old `
` man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and `
` continued to walk along merrily by his side. Presently they came `
` up to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There," said one of `
` them, "it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to `
` old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his `
` old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let `
` the old man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the old man made his `
` son dismount, and got up himself. In this manner they had not `
` proceeded far when they met a company of women and children: `
` "Why, you lazy old fellow," cried several tongues at once, "how `
` can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can `
` hardly keep pace by the side of you?' The good-natured Miller `
` immediately took up his son behind him. They had now almost `
` reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a citizen, "is `
` that Ass your own?' "Yes," replied the old man. "O, one would `
` not have thought so," said the other, "by the way you load him. `
` Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than `
` he you." "Anything to please you," said the old man; "we can but `
` try." So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass `
` together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on `
` their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town. `
` This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at `
` it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling `
`