Reading Help Aesop's Fables
`
` The least outlay is not always the greatest gain. `
` `
` `
` The Wild Ass and the Lion `
` `
` A WILD ASS and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might `
` capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion `
` agreed to assist the Wild Ass with his strength, while the Wild `
` Ass gave the Lion the benefit of his greater speed. When they `
` had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, the Lion `
` undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it `
` into three shares. "I will take the first share," he said, `
` "because I am King: and the second share, as a partner with you `
` in the chase: and the third share (believe me) will be a source `
` of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and `
` set off as fast as you can." `
` `
` Might makes right. `
` `
` `
` The Eagle and the Arrow `
` `
` AN EAGLE sat on a lofty rock, watching the movements of a Hare `
` whom he sought to make his prey. An archer, who saw the Eagle `
` from a place of concealment, took an accurate aim and wounded him `
` mortally. The Eagle gave one look at the arrow that had entered `
` his heart and saw in that single glance that its feathers had `
` been furnished by himself. "It is a double grief to me," he `
` exclaimed, "that I should perish by an arrow feathered from my `
` own wings." `
` `
` `
` The Sick Kite `
` `
` A KITE, sick unto death, said to his mother: "O Mother! do not `
` mourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may be `
` prolonged." She replied, "Alas! my son, which of the gods do you `
` think will pity you? Is there one whom you have not outraged by `
` filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered `
` up to them?' `
` `
` We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in `
` adversity. `
` `
` `
` The Lion and the Dolphin `
` `
` A LION roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out `
` of the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance, `
` saying that of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, `
` since the one was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other `
` was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The `
` Dolphin gladly consented to this request. Not long afterwards `
` the Lion had a combat with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin `
` to help him. The Dolphin, though quite willing to give him `
` assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by any means `
` reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The Dolphin `
` replied, "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while `
` giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the `
` power of living upon the land." `
` `
` `
` The Lion and the Boar `
` `
` ON A SUMMER DAY, when the great heat induced a general thirst `
` among the beasts, a Lion and a Boar came at the same moment to a `
` small well to drink. They fiercely disputed which of them should `
` drink first, and were soon engaged in the agonies of a mortal `
` combat. When they stopped suddenly to catch their breath for a `
` fiercer renewal of the fight, they saw some Vultures waiting in `
` the distance to feast on the one that should fall first. They at `
` once made up their quarrel, saying, "It is better for us to make `
` friends, than to become the food of Crows or Vultures." `
` `
` `
` The One-Eyed Doe `
` `
` A DOE blind in one eye was accustomed to graze as near to the `
` edge of the cliff as she possibly could, in the hope of securing `
` her greater safety. She turned her sound eye towards the land `
` that she might get the earliest tidings of the approach of hunter `
` or hound, and her injured eye towards the sea, from whence she `
` entertained no anticipation of danger. Some boatmen sailing by `
` saw her, and taking a successful aim, mortally wounded her. `
` Yielding up her last breath, she gasped forth this lament: "O `
` wretched creature that I am! to take such precaution against the `
` land, and after all to find this seashore, to which I had come `
` for safety, so much more perilous." `
` `
` `
` The Shepherd and the Sea `
` `
` A SHEPHERD, keeping watch over his sheep near the shore, saw the `
` Sea very calm and smooth, and longed to make a voyage with a view `
` to commerce. He sold all his flock, invested it in a cargo of `
` dates, and set sail. But a very great tempest came on, and the `
` ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all his merchandise `
` overboard, and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship. `
` Not long afterwards when someone passed by and observed the `
` unruffled calm of the Sea, he interrupted him and said, "It is `
` again in want of dates, and therefore looks quiet." `
` `
` `
` The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion `
` `
` AN ASS and a Cock were in a straw-yard together when a Lion, `
` desperate from hunger, approached the spot. He was about to `
` spring upon the Ass, when the Cock (to the sound of whose voice `
` the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion) crowed loudly, and `
` the Lion fled away as fast as he could. The Ass, observing his `
` trepidation at the mere crowing of a Cock summoned courage to `
` attack him, and galloped after him for that purpose. He had run `
` no long distance, when the Lion, turning about, seized him and `
` tore him to pieces. `
` `
` False confidence often leads into danger. `
` `
` `
` The Mice and the Weasels `
` `
` THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, `
` in which much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the `
` victors. The Mice thought that the cause of their frequent `
` defeats was that they had no leaders set apart from the general `
` army to command them, and that they were exposed to dangers from `
` lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that `
` were most renowned for their family descent, strength, and `
` counsel, as well as those most noted for their courage in the `
` fight, so that they might be better marshaled in battle array and `
` formed into troops, regiments, and battalions. When all this was `
` done, and the army disciplined, and the herald Mouse had duly `
` proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen `
` generals bound their heads with straws, that they might be more `
` conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun, `
` when a great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered off as fast `
` as they could to their holes. The generals, not being able to `
` get in on account of the ornaments on their heads, were all `
` captured and eaten by the Weasels. `
` `
` The more honor the more danger. `
` `
` `
` The Mice in Council `
` `
` THE MICE summoned a council to decide how they might best devise `
` means of warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy `
` the Cat. Among the many plans suggested, the one that found most `
` favor was the proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, so `
` that the Mice, being warned by the sound of the tinkling, might `
` run away and hide themselves in their holes at his approach. But `
` when the Mice further debated who among them should thus "bell `
` the Cat," there was no one found to do it. `
` `
` `
` The Wolf and the Housedog `
` `
` A WOLF, meeting a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about `
` his neck asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet `
` compelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever he went. `
` "The master," he replied. Then said the Wolf: "May no friend of `
` mine ever be in such a plight; for the weight of this chain is `
` enough to spoil the appetite." `
` `
` `
` The Rivers and the Sea `
` `
` THE RIVERS joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, "Why `
` is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you `
` work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?" `
` The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, `
` said, "Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made `
` briny." `
` `
` `
` The Playful Ass `
` `
` AN ASS climbed up to the roof of a building, and frisking about `
` there, broke in the tiling. The owner went up after him and `
` quickly drove him down, beating him severely with a thick wooden `
` cudgel. The Ass said, "Why, I saw the Monkey do this very thing `
` yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if it afforded you `
` very great amusement." `
` `
` `
` The Three Tradesmen `
` `
` A GREAT CITY was besieged, and its inhabitants were called `
` together to consider the best means of protecting it from the `
` enemy. A Bricklayer earnestly recommended bricks as affording `
` the best material for an effective resistance. A Carpenter, with `
` equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as a preferable method of `
` defense. Upon which a Currier stood up and said, "Sirs, I differ `
` from you altogether: there is no material for resistance equal to `
` a covering of hides; and nothing so good as leather." `
` `
` Every man for himself. `
` `
` `
` The Master and His Dogs `
` `
`
` The least outlay is not always the greatest gain. `
` `
` `
` The Wild Ass and the Lion `
` `
` A WILD ASS and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might `
` capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion `
` agreed to assist the Wild Ass with his strength, while the Wild `
` Ass gave the Lion the benefit of his greater speed. When they `
` had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, the Lion `
` undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it `
` into three shares. "I will take the first share," he said, `
` "because I am King: and the second share, as a partner with you `
` in the chase: and the third share (believe me) will be a source `
` of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and `
` set off as fast as you can." `
` `
` Might makes right. `
` `
` `
` The Eagle and the Arrow `
` `
` AN EAGLE sat on a lofty rock, watching the movements of a Hare `
` whom he sought to make his prey. An archer, who saw the Eagle `
` from a place of concealment, took an accurate aim and wounded him `
` mortally. The Eagle gave one look at the arrow that had entered `
` his heart and saw in that single glance that its feathers had `
` been furnished by himself. "It is a double grief to me," he `
` exclaimed, "that I should perish by an arrow feathered from my `
` own wings." `
` `
` `
` The Sick Kite `
` `
` A KITE, sick unto death, said to his mother: "O Mother! do not `
` mourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may be `
` prolonged." She replied, "Alas! my son, which of the gods do you `
` think will pity you? Is there one whom you have not outraged by `
` filching from their very altars a part of the sacrifice offered `
` up to them?' `
` `
` We must make friends in prosperity if we would have their help in `
` adversity. `
` `
` `
` The Lion and the Dolphin `
` `
` A LION roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out `
` of the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance, `
` saying that of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, `
` since the one was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other `
` was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The `
` Dolphin gladly consented to this request. Not long afterwards `
` the Lion had a combat with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin `
` to help him. The Dolphin, though quite willing to give him `
` assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by any means `
` reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The Dolphin `
` replied, "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while `
` giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the `
` power of living upon the land." `
` `
` `
` The Lion and the Boar `
` `
` ON A SUMMER DAY, when the great heat induced a general thirst `
` among the beasts, a Lion and a Boar came at the same moment to a `
` small well to drink. They fiercely disputed which of them should `
` drink first, and were soon engaged in the agonies of a mortal `
` combat. When they stopped suddenly to catch their breath for a `
` fiercer renewal of the fight, they saw some Vultures waiting in `
` the distance to feast on the one that should fall first. They at `
` once made up their quarrel, saying, "It is better for us to make `
` friends, than to become the food of Crows or Vultures." `
` `
` `
` The One-Eyed Doe `
` `
` A DOE blind in one eye was accustomed to graze as near to the `
` edge of the cliff as she possibly could, in the hope of securing `
` her greater safety. She turned her sound eye towards the land `
` that she might get the earliest tidings of the approach of hunter `
` or hound, and her injured eye towards the sea, from whence she `
` entertained no anticipation of danger. Some boatmen sailing by `
` saw her, and taking a successful aim, mortally wounded her. `
` Yielding up her last breath, she gasped forth this lament: "O `
` wretched creature that I am! to take such precaution against the `
` land, and after all to find this seashore, to which I had come `
` for safety, so much more perilous." `
` `
` `
` The Shepherd and the Sea `
` `
` A SHEPHERD, keeping watch over his sheep near the shore, saw the `
` Sea very calm and smooth, and longed to make a voyage with a view `
` to commerce. He sold all his flock, invested it in a cargo of `
` dates, and set sail. But a very great tempest came on, and the `
` ship being in danger of sinking, he threw all his merchandise `
` overboard, and barely escaped with his life in the empty ship. `
` Not long afterwards when someone passed by and observed the `
` unruffled calm of the Sea, he interrupted him and said, "It is `
` again in want of dates, and therefore looks quiet." `
` `
` `
` The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion `
` `
` AN ASS and a Cock were in a straw-yard together when a Lion, `
` desperate from hunger, approached the spot. He was about to `
` spring upon the Ass, when the Cock (to the sound of whose voice `
` the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion) crowed loudly, and `
` the Lion fled away as fast as he could. The Ass, observing his `
` trepidation at the mere crowing of a Cock summoned courage to `
` attack him, and galloped after him for that purpose. He had run `
` no long distance, when the Lion, turning about, seized him and `
` tore him to pieces. `
` `
` False confidence often leads into danger. `
` `
` `
` The Mice and the Weasels `
` `
` THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, `
` in which much blood was shed. The Weasels were always the `
` victors. The Mice thought that the cause of their frequent `
` defeats was that they had no leaders set apart from the general `
` army to command them, and that they were exposed to dangers from `
` lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that `
` were most renowned for their family descent, strength, and `
` counsel, as well as those most noted for their courage in the `
` fight, so that they might be better marshaled in battle array and `
` formed into troops, regiments, and battalions. When all this was `
` done, and the army disciplined, and the herald Mouse had duly `
` proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen `
` generals bound their heads with straws, that they might be more `
` conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun, `
` when a great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered off as fast `
` as they could to their holes. The generals, not being able to `
` get in on account of the ornaments on their heads, were all `
` captured and eaten by the Weasels. `
` `
` The more honor the more danger. `
` `
` `
` The Mice in Council `
` `
` THE MICE summoned a council to decide how they might best devise `
` means of warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy `
` the Cat. Among the many plans suggested, the one that found most `
` favor was the proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, so `
` that the Mice, being warned by the sound of the tinkling, might `
` run away and hide themselves in their holes at his approach. But `
` when the Mice further debated who among them should thus "bell `
` the Cat," there was no one found to do it. `
` `
` `
` The Wolf and the Housedog `
` `
` A WOLF, meeting a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about `
` his neck asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet `
` compelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever he went. `
` "The master," he replied. Then said the Wolf: "May no friend of `
` mine ever be in such a plight; for the weight of this chain is `
` enough to spoil the appetite." `
` `
` `
` The Rivers and the Sea `
` `
` THE RIVERS joined together to complain to the Sea, saying, "Why `
` is it that when we flow into your tides so potable and sweet, you `
` work in us such a change, and make us salty and unfit to drink?" `
` The Sea, perceiving that they intended to throw the blame on him, `
` said, "Pray cease to flow into me, and then you will not be made `
` briny." `
` `
` `
` The Playful Ass `
` `
` AN ASS climbed up to the roof of a building, and frisking about `
` there, broke in the tiling. The owner went up after him and `
` quickly drove him down, beating him severely with a thick wooden `
` cudgel. The Ass said, "Why, I saw the Monkey do this very thing `
` yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if it afforded you `
` very great amusement." `
` `
` `
` The Three Tradesmen `
` `
` A GREAT CITY was besieged, and its inhabitants were called `
` together to consider the best means of protecting it from the `
` enemy. A Bricklayer earnestly recommended bricks as affording `
` the best material for an effective resistance. A Carpenter, with `
` equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as a preferable method of `
` defense. Upon which a Currier stood up and said, "Sirs, I differ `
` from you altogether: there is no material for resistance equal to `
` a covering of hides; and nothing so good as leather." `
` `
` Every man for himself. `
` `
` `
` The Master and His Dogs `
` `
`