Reading Help Aesop's Fables
A FIR-TREE said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for `
` nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." `
` The Bramble answered: 'You poor creature, if you would only call `
` to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you `
` would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a `
` Fir-Tree." `
` `
` Better poverty without care, than riches with. `
` `
` `
` The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk `
` `
` A MOUSE who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed `
` an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part `
` in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the `
` foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the `
` Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where `
` they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he `
` gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until `
` reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the `
` Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam `
` croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse `
` was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about `
` on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed `
` it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft. The `
` Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also `
` carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk. `
` `
` Harm hatch, harm catch. `
` `
` `
` The Man Bitten by a Dog `
` `
` A MAN who had been bitten by a Dog went about in quest of someone `
` who might heal him. A friend, meeting him and learning what he `
` wanted, said, "If you would be cured, take a piece of bread, and `
` dip it in the blood from your wound, and go and give it to the `
` Dog that bit you." The Man who had been bitten laughed at this `
` advice and said, "Why? If I should do so, it would be as if I `
` should beg every Dog in the town to bite me." `
` `
` Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of `
` injuring you. `
` `
` `
` The Two Pots `
` `
` A RIVER carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of `
` earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot said to the `
` Brass Pot, "Pray keep at a distance and do not come near me, for `
` if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall be broken in pieces, `
` and besides, I by no means wish to come near you." `
` `
` Equals make the best friends. `
` `
` `
` The Wolf and the Sheep `
` `
` A WOLF, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in `
` his lair. Being in want of food, he called to a Sheep who was `
` passing, and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing `
` close beside him. "For," he said, "if you will bring me drink, I `
` will find means to provide myself with meat." "Yes," said the `
` Sheep, "if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless `
` make me provide the meat also." `
` `
` Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through. `
` `
` `
` The Aethiop `
` `
` THE PURCHASER of a black servant was persuaded that the color of `
` his skin arose from dirt contracted through the neglect of his `
` former masters. On bringing him home he resorted to every means `
` of cleaning, and subjected the man to incessant scrubbings. The `
` servant caught a severe cold, but he never changed his color or `
` complexion. `
` `
` What's bred in the bone will stick to the flesh. `
` `
` `
` The Fisherman and His Nets `
` `
` A FISHERMAN, engaged in his calling, made a very successful cast `
` and captured a great haul of fish. He managed by a skillful `
` handling of his net to retain all the large fish and to draw them `
` to the shore; but he could not prevent the smaller fish from `
` falling back through the meshes of the net into the sea. `
` `
` `
` The Huntsman and the Fisherman `
` `
` A HUNTSMAN, returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by `
` chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden `
` with fish. The Huntsman wished to have the fish, and their owner `
` experienced an equal longing for the contents of the game-bag. `
` They quickly agreed to exchange the produce of their day's sport. `
` Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they made for some `
` time the same exchange day after day. Finally a neighbor said to `
` them, "If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy by `
` frequent use the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again `
` wish to retain the fruits of his own sport." `
` `
` Abstain and enjoy. `
` `
` `
` The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar `
` `
` AN OLD WOMAN found an empty jar which had lately been full of `
` prime old wine and which still retained the fragrant smell of its `
` former contents. She greedily placed it several times to her `
` nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, "O most `
` delicious! How nice must the Wine itself have been, when it `
` leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a `
` perfume!" `
` `
` The memory of a good deed lives. `
` `
` `
` The Fox and the Crow `
` `
` A CROW having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree and held it `
` in her beak. A Fox, seeing this, longed to possess the meat `
` himself, and by a wily stratagem succeeded. "How handsome is the `
` Crow," he exclaimed, in the beauty of her shape and in the `
` fairness of her complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to `
` her beauty, she would deservedly be considered the Queen of `
` Birds!" This he said deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute `
` the reflection cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw and dropped `
` the flesh. The Fox quickly picked it up, and thus addressed the `
` Crow: "My good Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is `
` wanting." `
` `
` `
` The Two Dogs `
` `
` A MAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, `
` and a Housedog, taught to watch the house. When he returned home `
` after a good day's sport, he always gave the Housedog a large `
` share of his spoil. The Hound, feeling much aggrieved at this, `
` reproached his companion, saying, "It is very hard to have all `
` this labor, while you, who do not assist in the chase, luxuriate `
` on the fruits of my exertions." The Housedog replied, "Do not `
` blame me, my friend, but find fault with the master, who has not `
` taught me to labor, but to depend for subsistence on the labor of `
` others." `
` `
` Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their parents. `
` `
` `
` The Stag in the Ox-Stall `
` `
` A STAG, roundly chased by the hounds and blinded by fear to the `
` danger he was running into, took shelter in a farmyard and hid `
` himself in a shed among the oxen. An Ox gave him this kindly `
` warning: "O unhappy creature! why should you thus, of your own `
` accord, incur destruction and trust yourself in the house of your `
` enemy?' The Stag replied: "Only allow me, friend, to stay where I `
` am, and I will undertake to find some favorable opportunity of `
` effecting my escape." At the approach of the evening the herdsman `
` came to feed his cattle, but did not see the Stag; and even the `
` farm-bailiff with several laborers passed through the shed and `
` failed to notice him. The Stag, congratulating himself on his `
` safety, began to express his sincere thanks to the Oxen who had `
` kindly helped him in the hour of need. One of them again `
` answered him: "We indeed wish you well, but the danger is not `
` over. There is one other yet to pass through the shed, who has `
` as it were a hundred eyes, and until he has come and gone, your `
` life is still in peril." At that moment the master himself `
` entered, and having had to complain that his oxen had not been `
` properly fed, he went up to their racks and cried out: "Why is `
` there such a scarcity of fodder? There is not half enough straw `
` for them to lie on. Those lazy fellows have not even swept the `
` cobwebs away." While he thus examined everything in turn, he `
` spied the tips of the antlers of the Stag peeping out of the `
` straw. Then summoning his laborers, he ordered that the Stag `
` should be seized and killed. `
` `
` `
` The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons `
` `
` THE PIGEONS, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, called upon `
` the Hawk to defend them. He at once consented. When they had `
` admitted him into the cote, they found that he made more havoc `
` and slew a larger number of them in one day than the Kite could `
` pounce upon in a whole year. `
` `
` Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease. `
` `
` `
` The Widow and the Sheep `
` `
` A CERTAIN poor widow had one solitary Sheep. At shearing time, `
` wishing to take his fleece and to avoid expense, she sheared him `
` herself, but used the shears so unskillfully that with the fleece `
` she sheared the flesh. The Sheep, writhing with pain, said, "Why `
` do you hurt me so, Mistress? What weight can my blood add to the `
` wool? If you want my flesh, there is the butcher, who will kill `
` me in an instant; but if you want my fleece and wool, there is `
` the shearer, who will shear and not hurt me." `
` `
`
` nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." `
` The Bramble answered: 'You poor creature, if you would only call `
` to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you `
` would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a `
` Fir-Tree." `
` `
` Better poverty without care, than riches with. `
` `
` `
` The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk `
` `
` A MOUSE who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed `
` an intimate acquaintance with a Frog, who lived for the most part `
` in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the `
` foot of the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the `
` Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the meadow where `
` they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he `
` gradually led him towards the pool in which he lived, until `
` reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the `
` Mouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam `
` croaking about, as if he had done a good deed. The unhappy Mouse `
` was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about `
` on the surface, tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed `
` it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft. The `
` Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also `
` carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk. `
` `
` Harm hatch, harm catch. `
` `
` `
` The Man Bitten by a Dog `
` `
` A MAN who had been bitten by a Dog went about in quest of someone `
` who might heal him. A friend, meeting him and learning what he `
` wanted, said, "If you would be cured, take a piece of bread, and `
` dip it in the blood from your wound, and go and give it to the `
` Dog that bit you." The Man who had been bitten laughed at this `
` advice and said, "Why? If I should do so, it would be as if I `
` should beg every Dog in the town to bite me." `
` `
` Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of `
` injuring you. `
` `
` `
` The Two Pots `
` `
` A RIVER carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of `
` earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot said to the `
` Brass Pot, "Pray keep at a distance and do not come near me, for `
` if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall be broken in pieces, `
` and besides, I by no means wish to come near you." `
` `
` Equals make the best friends. `
` `
` `
` The Wolf and the Sheep `
` `
` A WOLF, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in `
` his lair. Being in want of food, he called to a Sheep who was `
` passing, and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing `
` close beside him. "For," he said, "if you will bring me drink, I `
` will find means to provide myself with meat." "Yes," said the `
` Sheep, "if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless `
` make me provide the meat also." `
` `
` Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through. `
` `
` `
` The Aethiop `
` `
` THE PURCHASER of a black servant was persuaded that the color of `
` his skin arose from dirt contracted through the neglect of his `
` former masters. On bringing him home he resorted to every means `
` of cleaning, and subjected the man to incessant scrubbings. The `
` servant caught a severe cold, but he never changed his color or `
` complexion. `
` `
` What's bred in the bone will stick to the flesh. `
` `
` `
` The Fisherman and His Nets `
` `
` A FISHERMAN, engaged in his calling, made a very successful cast `
` and captured a great haul of fish. He managed by a skillful `
` handling of his net to retain all the large fish and to draw them `
` to the shore; but he could not prevent the smaller fish from `
` falling back through the meshes of the net into the sea. `
` `
` `
` The Huntsman and the Fisherman `
` `
` A HUNTSMAN, returning with his dogs from the field, fell in by `
` chance with a Fisherman who was bringing home a basket well laden `
` with fish. The Huntsman wished to have the fish, and their owner `
` experienced an equal longing for the contents of the game-bag. `
` They quickly agreed to exchange the produce of their day's sport. `
` Each was so well pleased with his bargain that they made for some `
` time the same exchange day after day. Finally a neighbor said to `
` them, "If you go on in this way, you will soon destroy by `
` frequent use the pleasure of your exchange, and each will again `
` wish to retain the fruits of his own sport." `
` `
` Abstain and enjoy. `
` `
` `
` The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar `
` `
` AN OLD WOMAN found an empty jar which had lately been full of `
` prime old wine and which still retained the fragrant smell of its `
` former contents. She greedily placed it several times to her `
` nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, "O most `
` delicious! How nice must the Wine itself have been, when it `
` leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a `
` perfume!" `
` `
` The memory of a good deed lives. `
` `
` `
` The Fox and the Crow `
` `
` A CROW having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree and held it `
` in her beak. A Fox, seeing this, longed to possess the meat `
` himself, and by a wily stratagem succeeded. "How handsome is the `
` Crow," he exclaimed, in the beauty of her shape and in the `
` fairness of her complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to `
` her beauty, she would deservedly be considered the Queen of `
` Birds!" This he said deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute `
` the reflection cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw and dropped `
` the flesh. The Fox quickly picked it up, and thus addressed the `
` Crow: "My good Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is `
` wanting." `
` `
` `
` The Two Dogs `
` `
` A MAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in his sports, `
` and a Housedog, taught to watch the house. When he returned home `
` after a good day's sport, he always gave the Housedog a large `
` share of his spoil. The Hound, feeling much aggrieved at this, `
` reproached his companion, saying, "It is very hard to have all `
` this labor, while you, who do not assist in the chase, luxuriate `
` on the fruits of my exertions." The Housedog replied, "Do not `
` blame me, my friend, but find fault with the master, who has not `
` taught me to labor, but to depend for subsistence on the labor of `
` others." `
` `
` Children are not to be blamed for the faults of their parents. `
` `
` `
` The Stag in the Ox-Stall `
` `
` A STAG, roundly chased by the hounds and blinded by fear to the `
` danger he was running into, took shelter in a farmyard and hid `
` himself in a shed among the oxen. An Ox gave him this kindly `
` warning: "O unhappy creature! why should you thus, of your own `
` accord, incur destruction and trust yourself in the house of your `
` enemy?' The Stag replied: "Only allow me, friend, to stay where I `
` am, and I will undertake to find some favorable opportunity of `
` effecting my escape." At the approach of the evening the herdsman `
` came to feed his cattle, but did not see the Stag; and even the `
` farm-bailiff with several laborers passed through the shed and `
` failed to notice him. The Stag, congratulating himself on his `
` safety, began to express his sincere thanks to the Oxen who had `
` kindly helped him in the hour of need. One of them again `
` answered him: "We indeed wish you well, but the danger is not `
` over. There is one other yet to pass through the shed, who has `
` as it were a hundred eyes, and until he has come and gone, your `
` life is still in peril." At that moment the master himself `
` entered, and having had to complain that his oxen had not been `
` properly fed, he went up to their racks and cried out: "Why is `
` there such a scarcity of fodder? There is not half enough straw `
` for them to lie on. Those lazy fellows have not even swept the `
` cobwebs away." While he thus examined everything in turn, he `
` spied the tips of the antlers of the Stag peeping out of the `
` straw. Then summoning his laborers, he ordered that the Stag `
` should be seized and killed. `
` `
` `
` The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons `
` `
` THE PIGEONS, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, called upon `
` the Hawk to defend them. He at once consented. When they had `
` admitted him into the cote, they found that he made more havoc `
` and slew a larger number of them in one day than the Kite could `
` pounce upon in a whole year. `
` `
` Avoid a remedy that is worse than the disease. `
` `
` `
` The Widow and the Sheep `
` `
` A CERTAIN poor widow had one solitary Sheep. At shearing time, `
` wishing to take his fleece and to avoid expense, she sheared him `
` herself, but used the shears so unskillfully that with the fleece `
` she sheared the flesh. The Sheep, writhing with pain, said, "Why `
` do you hurt me so, Mistress? What weight can my blood add to the `
` wool? If you want my flesh, there is the butcher, who will kill `
` me in an instant; but if you want my fleece and wool, there is `
` the shearer, who will shear and not hurt me." `
` `
`