Reading Help Aesop's Fables
their resolve and refused their assistance to the Belly. The `
` whole Body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet, `
` mouth, and eyes, when too late, repented of their folly. `
` `
` `
` The Vine and the Goat `
` `
` A VINE was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and `
` grapes. A Goat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its `
` leaves. The Vine addressed him and said: "Why do you thus injure `
` me without a cause, and crop my leaves? Is there no young grass `
` left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; for `
` if you now should crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I `
` shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are led as a `
` victim to the sacrifice." `
` `
` `
` Jupiter and the Monkey `
` `
` JUPITER ISSUED a proclamation to all the beasts of the forest and `
` promised a royal reward to the one whose offspring should be `
` deemed the handsomest. The Monkey came with the rest and `
` presented, with all a mother's tenderness, a flat-nosed, `
` hairless, ill-featured young Monkey as a candidate for the `
` promised reward. A general laugh saluted her on the presentation `
` of her son. She resolutely said, "I know not whether Jupiter `
` will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that he is at `
` least in the eyes of me his mother, the dearest, handsomest, and `
` most beautiful of all." `
` `
` `
` The Widow and Her Little Maidens `
` `
` A WIDOW who was fond of cleaning had two little maidens to wait `
` on her. She was in the habit of waking them early in the `
` morning, at cockcrow. The maidens, aggravated by such excessive `
` labor, resolved to kill the cock who roused their mistress so `
` early. When they had done this, they found that they had only `
` prepared for themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no `
` longer hearing the hour from the cock, woke them up to their work `
` in the middle of the night. `
` `
` `
` The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf `
` `
` A SHEPHERD-BOY, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, `
` brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, `
` "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at `
` them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. `
` The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of `
` terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the `
` sheep"; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any `
` assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure `
` lacerated or destroyed the whole flock. `
` `
` There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth. `
` `
` `
` The Cat and the Birds `
` `
` A CAT, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing `
` dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag `
` of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He `
` knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did, `
` saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for `
` them and cure them. They replied, "We are all very well, and `
` shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, `
` and leave us as we are." `
` `
` `
` The Kid and the Wolf `
` `
` A KID standing on the roof of a house, out of harm's way, saw a `
` Wolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and revile him. `
` The Wolf, looking up, said, "Sirrah! I hear thee: yet it is not `
` thou who mockest me, but the roof on which thou art standing." `
` `
` Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the `
` strong. `
` `
` `
` The Ox and the Frog `
` `
` AN OX drinking at a pool trod on a brood of young frogs and `
` crushed one of them to death. The Mother coming up, and missing `
` one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what had become of him. `
` "He is dead, dear Mother; for just now a very huge beast with `
` four great feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with `
` his cloven heel." The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, "if `
` the beast was as big as that in size." "Cease, Mother, to puff `
` yourself out," said her son, "and do not be angry; for you would, `
` I assure you, sooner burst than successfully imitate the hugeness `
` of that monster." `
` `
` `
` The Shepherd and the Wolf `
` `
` A SHEPHERD once found the whelp of a Wolf and brought it up, and `
` after a while taught it to steal lambs from the neighboring `
` flocks. The Wolf, having shown himself an apt pupil, said to the `
` Shepherd, "Since you have taught me to steal, you must keep a `
` sharp lookout, or you will lose some of your own flock." `
` `
` `
` The Father and His Two Daughters `
` `
` A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the `
` other to a tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who `
` had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all `
` things went with her. She said, "All things are prospering with `
` me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of `
` rain, in order that the plants may be well watered." Not long `
` after, he went to the daughter who had married the tilemaker, and `
` likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, "I want for `
` nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may `
` continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks `
` might be dried." He said to her, "If your sister wishes for rain, `
` and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my `
` wishes?' `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and His Sons `
` `
` A FATHER, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his `
` sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had `
` given it. He called them to his bedside and said, "My sons, `
` there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards." The sons, `
` after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug `
` over every portion of their land. They found no treasure, but `
` the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and `
` superabundant crop. `
` `
` `
` The Crab and Its Mother `
` `
` A CRAB said to her son, "Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? `
` It is far more becoming to go straight forward." The young Crab `
` replied: "Quite true, dear Mother; and if you will show me the `
` straight way, I will promise to walk in it." The Mother tried in `
` vain, and submitted without remonstrance to the reproof of her `
` child. `
` `
` Example is more powerful than precept. `
` `
` `
` The Heifer and the Ox `
` `
` A HEIFER saw an Ox hard at work harnessed to a plow, and `
` tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in being `
` compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, `
` the owner released the Ox from his yoke, but bound the Heifer `
` with cords and led him away to the altar to be slain in honor of `
` the occasion. The Ox saw what was being done, and said with a `
` smile to the Heifer: "For this you were allowed to live in `
` idleness, because you were presently to be sacrificed." `
` `
` `
` The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice `
` `
` A SWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling `
` with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice `
` and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the `
` nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged `
` nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly `
` and exclaimed: "Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where `
` all others' rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong." `
` `
` `
` The Thief and His Mother `
` `
` A BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took `
` it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, `
` but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to `
` her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to `
` adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At `
` last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound `
` behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His `
` Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in `
` sorrow, whereupon the young man said, "I wish to say something to `
` my Mother in her ear." She came close to him, and he quickly `
` seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother `
` upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, "Ah! if `
` you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that `
` lesson-book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus `
` led to a disgraceful death." `
` `
` `
` The Old Man and Death `
` `
` AN OLD MAN was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in `
` carrying the faggots to the city for sale one day, became very `
` wearied with his long journey. He sat down by the wayside, and `
` throwing down his load, besought "Death" to come. "Death" `
` immediately appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what `
` reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly replied, "That, `
` lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my shoulders." `
` `
` `
` The Fir-Tree and the Bramble `
` `
` A FIR-TREE said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for `
`
` whole Body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet, `
` mouth, and eyes, when too late, repented of their folly. `
` `
` `
` The Vine and the Goat `
` `
` A VINE was luxuriant in the time of vintage with leaves and `
` grapes. A Goat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and its `
` leaves. The Vine addressed him and said: "Why do you thus injure `
` me without a cause, and crop my leaves? Is there no young grass `
` left? But I shall not have to wait long for my just revenge; for `
` if you now should crop my leaves, and cut me down to my root, I `
` shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are led as a `
` victim to the sacrifice." `
` `
` `
` Jupiter and the Monkey `
` `
` JUPITER ISSUED a proclamation to all the beasts of the forest and `
` promised a royal reward to the one whose offspring should be `
` deemed the handsomest. The Monkey came with the rest and `
` presented, with all a mother's tenderness, a flat-nosed, `
` hairless, ill-featured young Monkey as a candidate for the `
` promised reward. A general laugh saluted her on the presentation `
` of her son. She resolutely said, "I know not whether Jupiter `
` will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that he is at `
` least in the eyes of me his mother, the dearest, handsomest, and `
` most beautiful of all." `
` `
` `
` The Widow and Her Little Maidens `
` `
` A WIDOW who was fond of cleaning had two little maidens to wait `
` on her. She was in the habit of waking them early in the `
` morning, at cockcrow. The maidens, aggravated by such excessive `
` labor, resolved to kill the cock who roused their mistress so `
` early. When they had done this, they found that they had only `
` prepared for themselves greater troubles, for their mistress, no `
` longer hearing the hour from the cock, woke them up to their work `
` in the middle of the night. `
` `
` `
` The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf `
` `
` A SHEPHERD-BOY, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, `
` brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, `
` "Wolf! Wolf!" and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at `
` them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. `
` The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of `
` terror: "Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the `
` sheep"; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any `
` assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure `
` lacerated or destroyed the whole flock. `
` `
` There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth. `
` `
` `
` The Cat and the Birds `
` `
` A CAT, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing `
` dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag `
` of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He `
` knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did, `
` saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for `
` them and cure them. They replied, "We are all very well, and `
` shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, `
` and leave us as we are." `
` `
` `
` The Kid and the Wolf `
` `
` A KID standing on the roof of a house, out of harm's way, saw a `
` Wolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and revile him. `
` The Wolf, looking up, said, "Sirrah! I hear thee: yet it is not `
` thou who mockest me, but the roof on which thou art standing." `
` `
` Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the `
` strong. `
` `
` `
` The Ox and the Frog `
` `
` AN OX drinking at a pool trod on a brood of young frogs and `
` crushed one of them to death. The Mother coming up, and missing `
` one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what had become of him. `
` "He is dead, dear Mother; for just now a very huge beast with `
` four great feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with `
` his cloven heel." The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, "if `
` the beast was as big as that in size." "Cease, Mother, to puff `
` yourself out," said her son, "and do not be angry; for you would, `
` I assure you, sooner burst than successfully imitate the hugeness `
` of that monster." `
` `
` `
` The Shepherd and the Wolf `
` `
` A SHEPHERD once found the whelp of a Wolf and brought it up, and `
` after a while taught it to steal lambs from the neighboring `
` flocks. The Wolf, having shown himself an apt pupil, said to the `
` Shepherd, "Since you have taught me to steal, you must keep a `
` sharp lookout, or you will lose some of your own flock." `
` `
` `
` The Father and His Two Daughters `
` `
` A MAN had two daughters, the one married to a gardener, and the `
` other to a tile-maker. After a time he went to the daughter who `
` had married the gardener, and inquired how she was and how all `
` things went with her. She said, "All things are prospering with `
` me, and I have only one wish, that there may be a heavy fall of `
` rain, in order that the plants may be well watered." Not long `
` after, he went to the daughter who had married the tilemaker, and `
` likewise inquired of her how she fared; she replied, "I want for `
` nothing, and have only one wish, that the dry weather may `
` continue, and the sun shine hot and bright, so that the bricks `
` might be dried." He said to her, "If your sister wishes for rain, `
` and you for dry weather, with which of the two am I to join my `
` wishes?' `
` `
` `
` The Farmer and His Sons `
` `
` A FATHER, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his `
` sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had `
` given it. He called them to his bedside and said, "My sons, `
` there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards." The sons, `
` after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug `
` over every portion of their land. They found no treasure, but `
` the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and `
` superabundant crop. `
` `
` `
` The Crab and Its Mother `
` `
` A CRAB said to her son, "Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? `
` It is far more becoming to go straight forward." The young Crab `
` replied: "Quite true, dear Mother; and if you will show me the `
` straight way, I will promise to walk in it." The Mother tried in `
` vain, and submitted without remonstrance to the reproof of her `
` child. `
` `
` Example is more powerful than precept. `
` `
` `
` The Heifer and the Ox `
` `
` A HEIFER saw an Ox hard at work harnessed to a plow, and `
` tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in being `
` compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, `
` the owner released the Ox from his yoke, but bound the Heifer `
` with cords and led him away to the altar to be slain in honor of `
` the occasion. The Ox saw what was being done, and said with a `
` smile to the Heifer: "For this you were allowed to live in `
` idleness, because you were presently to be sacrificed." `
` `
` `
` The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice `
` `
` A SWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling `
` with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice `
` and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the `
` nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged `
` nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly `
` and exclaimed: "Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where `
` all others' rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong." `
` `
` `
` The Thief and His Mother `
` `
` A BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took `
` it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, `
` but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to `
` her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to `
` adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At `
` last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound `
` behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His `
` Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in `
` sorrow, whereupon the young man said, "I wish to say something to `
` my Mother in her ear." She came close to him, and he quickly `
` seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother `
` upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, "Ah! if `
` you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that `
` lesson-book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus `
` led to a disgraceful death." `
` `
` `
` The Old Man and Death `
` `
` AN OLD MAN was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in `
` carrying the faggots to the city for sale one day, became very `
` wearied with his long journey. He sat down by the wayside, and `
` throwing down his load, besought "Death" to come. "Death" `
` immediately appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what `
` reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly replied, "That, `
` lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my shoulders." `
` `
` `
` The Fir-Tree and the Bramble `
` `
` A FIR-TREE said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for `
`