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Aesop's Fables Nodrm

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PrefaceTHE TALE, the Parable, and the Fable are all common andpopularmodesofconveying instruction.Each isdistinguishedby itsownspecialcharacteristics.TheTaleconsists simply inthe narration of a story either founded on facts, or createdsolelyby the imagination, andnotnecessarily associatedwiththe teachingof anymoral lesson.TheParable is thedesigneduse of language purposely intended to convey a hidden andsecret meaning other than that contained in the wordsthemselves;andwhichmayormaynotbearaspecialreferencetothehearer,orreader.TheFablepartlyagreeswith,andpartlydiffersfrombothofthese.Itwillcontain,liketheTale,ashortbut real narrative; it will seek, like the Parable, to convey ahiddenmeaning,andthatnotsomuchbytheuseof language,as by the skilful introduction of fictitious characters; and yetunliketoeitherTaleorParable,itwilleverkeepinview,asitshighprerogative,andinseparableattribute,thegreatpurposeofinstruction, andwill necessarily seek to inculcate somemoralmaxim,socialduty,orpoliticaltruth.ThetrueFable, if itrisetoitshighrequirements,everaimsatonegreatendandpurposerepresentation of human motive, and the improvement ofhuman conduct, and yet it so conceals its design under thedisguise of fictitious characters, by clothing with speech theanimalsofthefield,thebirdsoftheair,thetreesofthewood,or thebeastsof the forest, that the readershall receiveadvicewithout perceiving the presence of the adviser. Thus thesuperiority of the counsellor, which often renders counselunpalatable,iskeptoutofview,andthelessoncomeswiththegreater acceptance when the reader is led, unconsciously to"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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himself, to have his sympathies enlisted in behalf of what ispure,honorable,andpraiseworthy,andtohavehis indignationexcited against what is low, ignoble, and unworthy. The truefabulist,therefore,dischargesamostimportantfunction.Heisneither a narrator, nor an allegorist. He is a great teacher, acorrector of morals, a censor of vice, and a commender ofvirtue.InthisconsiststhesuperiorityoftheFableovertheTaleortheParable.Thefabulististocreatealaugh,butyet,underamerryguise,toconveyinstruction.Phaedrus,thegreatimitatorofAesop, plainly indicates this double purpose to be the trueofficeofthewriteroffables.

Duplex libelli dos est: quod risummovet, Et quod prudentivitamconsiliomonet.

The continual observance of this twofold aim creates thecharm, and accounts for the universal favor, of the fables ofAesop. “The fable,” saysProfessorK.O.Mueller, “originatedin Greece in an intentional travestie of human affairs. The‘ainos,’ as its name denotes, is an admonition, or rather areproof veiled, either from fear of an excess of frankness, orfromaloveoffunandjest,beneaththefictionofanoccurrencehappeningamongbeasts;andwhereverwehaveanyancientandauthentic account of theAesopian fables,we find it to be thesame.”[1]Theconstructionofafableinvolvesaminuteattentionto(1)

the narration itself; (2) the deduction of themoral; and (3) acareful maintenance of the individual characteristics of thefictitious personages introduced into it. The narration shouldrelatetoonesimpleaction,consistentwithitself,andneitherbe"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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overladen with a multiplicity of details, nor distracted by avariety of circumstances. The moral or lesson should be soplain, and so intimately interwoven with, and so necessarilydependent on, the narration, that every reader should becompelledtogivetoitthesameundeniableinterpretation.Theintroduction of the animals or fictitious characters should bemarked with an unexceptionable care and attention to theirnatural attributes, and to the qualities attributed to them byuniversalpopularconsent.TheFoxshouldbealwayscunning,theHare timid, theLionbold, theWolfcruel, theBullstrong,theHorseproud,andtheAsspatient.Manyofthesefablesarecharacterized by the strictest observance of these rules. Theyare occupied with one short narrative, from which the moralnaturally flows, and with which it is intimately associated.“‘Tis the simple manner,” says Dodsley, [2] “in which themorals of Aesop are interwoven with his fables thatdistinguisheshim,andgiveshim thepreferenceoverallothermythologists.His ‘Mountain delivered of aMouse,’ producesthemoral of his fable in ridicule of pompous pretenders; andhis Crow, when she drops her cheese, lets fall, as it were byaccident,thestrongestadmonitionagainstthepowerofflattery.There is no need of a separate sentence to explain it; nopossibilityofimpressingitdeeper,bythatloadwetoooftenseeof accumulated reflections.”[3]An equal amount of praise isdue for the consistency with which the characters of theanimals, fictitiously introduced, are marked. While they aremadetodepictthemotivesandpassionsofmen,theyretain,inan eminent degree, their own special features of craft orcounsel,ofcowardiceorcourage,ofgenerosityorrapacity.These terms of praise, it must be confessed, cannot be

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bestowedonallthefablesinthiscollection.Manyofthemlackthatunityofdesign,thatcloseconnectionofthemoralwiththenarrative, thatwise choice in the introduction of the animals,which constitute the charm and excellency of true Aesopianfable. This inferiority of some to others is sufficientlyaccounted for in thehistoryof theoriginanddescentof thesefables.Thegreatbulkof themarenot the immediateworkofAesop. Many are obtained from ancient authors prior to thetime inwhich he lived.Thus, the fable of the “Hawk and theNightingale” is relatedbyHesiod; [4] the “EaglewoundedbyanArrow,wingedwithitsownFeathers,”byAeschylus;[5]the“Fox avenging hiswrongs on the Eagle,” byArchilochus. [6]Manyofthemagainareoflaterorigin,andaretobetracedtothemonks of themiddle ages: and yet this collection, thoughthus made up of fables both earlier and later than the era ofAesop,rightfullybearshisname,becausehecomposedsolargeanumber(allframedinthesamemould,andconformedtothesame fashion, and stampedwith the same lineaments, image,and superscription) as to secure to himself the right to beconsidered the father ofGreek fables, and the founder of thisclassofwriting,whichhaseversincebornehisname,andhassecuredforhim,throughallsucceedingages,thepositionofthefirstofmoralists.[7]ThefableswereinthefirstinstanceonlynarratedbyAesop,

andforalongtimewerehandeddownbytheuncertainchanneloforal tradition.Socrates ismentionedbyPlato [8]ashavingemployed his timewhile in prison, awaiting the return of thesacred ship from Delphos which was to be the signal of hisdeath, in turning some of these fables into verse, but he thusversifiedonlysuchasheremembered.DemetriusPhalereus,a"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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philosopheratAthensabout300B.C.,issaidtohavemadethefirstcollectionofthesefables.Phaedrus,aslavebybirthorbysubsequent misfortunes, and admitted by Augustus to thehonors of a freedman, imitatedmany of these fables in Latiniambics about the commencement of the Christian era.Aphthonius,arhetoricianofAntioch,A.D.315,wroteatreatiseon,andconverted intoLatinprose, someof these fables.Thistranslation is the more worthy of notice, as it illustrates acustom of common use, both in these and in later times. Therhetoricians and philosophers were accustomed to give theFables of Aesop as an exercise to their scholars, not onlyinviting them to discuss the moral of the tale, but also topracticeandtoperfectthemselvestherebyinstyleandrulesofgrammar,bymaking for themselvesnewandvariousversionsof the fables. Ausonius, [9] the friend of the EmperorValentinian, and the latest poet of eminence in the WesternEmpire,hashandeddownsomeofthesefablesinverse,whichJulianus Titianus, a contemporary writer of no great name,translated into prose. Avienus, also a contemporary ofAusonius, put someof these fables intoLatin elegiacs,whicharegivenbyNevelet(inabookweshallrefertohereafter),andareoccasionallyincorporatedwiththeeditionsofPhaedrus.Sevencenturieselapsedbeforethenextnoticeisfoundofthe

FablesofAesop.During this longperiod these fables seem tohavesufferedaneclipse,tohavedisappearedandtohavebeenforgotten; and it is at the commencement of the fourteenthcentury,whentheByzantineemperorswerethegreatpatronsoflearning,andamidst thesplendorsofanAsiaticcourt, thatwenext find honors paid to the name and memory of Aesop.MaximusPlanudes,alearnedmonkofConstantinople,madea"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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collectionofaboutahundredandfiftyofthesefables.Littleisknownofhishistory.Planudes,however,wasnomererecluse,shut up in his monastery. He took an active part in publicaffairs. In 1327A.D. hewas sent on a diplomaticmission toVenicebytheEmperorAndronicustheElder.Thisbroughthiminto immediate contact with the Western Patriarch, whoseinterestshehenceforthadvocatedwithsomuchzealastobringonhimsuspicionandpersecutionfromtherulersoftheEasternChurch.Planudeshasbeenexposedtoatwo-foldaccusation.HeischargedontheonehandwithhavinghadbeforehimacopyofBabrias(towhomweshallhaveoccasiontoreferatgreaterlengthintheendofthisPreface),andtohavehadthebadtaste“totranspose,”ortoturnhispoeticalversionintoprose:andheisasserted,ontheotherhand,nevertohaveseentheFablesofAesopatall,buttohavehimselfinventedandmadethefableswhich he palmed off under the name of the famous Greekfabulist. The truth lies between these two extremes. Planudesmayhaveinventedsomefewfables,orhaveinsertedsomethatwere current in his day; but there is an abundance ofunanswerable internal evidence to prove that he had anacquaintancewith the veritable fables ofAesop, although theversionshehadaccesstowereprobablycorrupt,ascontainedinthe various translations and disquisitional exercises of therhetoriciansandphilosophers.Hiscollectionis interestingandimportant, not only as the parent source or foundation of theearlier printedversionsofAesop, but as thedirect channel ofattractingtothesefablestheattentionofthelearned.The eventual re-introduction, however, of these Fables of

Aesop to their high place in the general literature ofChristendom,istobelookedforintheWestratherthaninthe"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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East. The calamities gradually thickening round the EasternEmpire, and the fall of Constantinople, 1453A.D., combinedwithothereventstopromotetherapidrestorationoflearninginItaly; and with that recovery of learning the revival of aninterest in the Fables of Aesop is closely identified. Thesefables, indeed, were among the first writings of an earlierantiquity that attracted attention.They took their placebesidetheHolyScripturesandtheancientclassicauthors,inthemindsofthegreatstudentsofthatday.LorenzoValla,oneofthemostfamous promoters of Italian learning, not only translated intoLatin the Iliad of Homer and the Histories of Herodotus andThucydides,butalsotheFablesofAesop.These fables, again,were among the books brought into an

extendedcirculationbytheagencyoftheprintingpress.BonusAccursius, as early as 1475–1480, printed the collection ofthese fables, made by Planudes, which, within five yearsafterwards, Caxton translated into English, and printed at hispressinWest-minsterAbbey,1485.[10]Itmustbementionedalsothatthelearningofthisagehasleftpermanenttracesofitsinfluenceonthesefables,[11]bycausingtheinterpolationwiththem of some of those amusing stories which were sofrequently introduced into the public discourses of the greatpreachersof thosedays,andofwhichspecimensareyet tobefound in the extant sermons of Jean Raulin, Meffreth, andGabriel Barlette. [12] The publication of this erawhichmostprobablyhasinfluencedthesefables,isthe“LiberFacetiarum,”[13] a book consisting of a hundred jests and stories, by thecelebrated Poggio Bracciolini, published A.D. 1471, fromwhichthetwofablesofthe“Miller,hisSon,andtheAss,”andthe“FoxandtheWoodcutter,”areundoubtedlyselected."******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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TheknowledgeofthesefablesrapidlyspreadfromItalyintoGermany, and theirpopularitywas increasedby the favor andsanctiongiventothembythegreatfathersoftheReformation,who frequently used them as vehicles for satire and protestagainst the tricks and abusesof theRomish ecclesiastics.Thezealous and renownedCamerarius,who took an active part inthe preparation of the Confession ofAugsburgh, found time,amidst his numerous avocations, to prepare a version for thestudents in the university of Tubingen, in which he was aprofessor.MartinLuthertranslatedtwentyofthesefables,andwas urged by Melancthon to complete the whole; whileGottfried Arnold, the celebrated Lutheran theologian, andlibrariantoFrederickI,kingofPrussia,mentionsthatthegreatReformer valued the Fables of Aesop next after the HolyScriptures. In 1546 A.D. the second printed edition of thecollectionoftheFablesmadebyPlanudes,wasissuedfromtheprinting-pressofRobertStephens,inwhichwereinsertedsomeadditional fables from a MS. in the Bibliotheque du Roy atParis.Thegreatestadvance,however, towardsa re-introductionof

theFablesofAesoptoaplaceintheliteratureoftheworld,wasmade in the early part of the seventeenth century. In the year1610, a learned Swiss, Isaac Nicholas Nevelet, sent forth thethird printed edition of these fables, in a work entitled“MythologiaAesopica.”Thiswasanobleefforttodohonortothe great fabulist, and was the most perfect collection ofAesopianfableseveryetpublished.Itconsisted,inadditiontothecollectionoffablesgivenbyPlanudesandreprintedinthevarious earlier editions, of one hundred and thirty-six newfables(neverbeforepublished)fromMSS.intheLibraryofthe"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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Vatican,offortyfablesattributedtoAphthonius,andofforty-three fromBabrias. Italsocontained theLatinversionsof thesame fables by Phaedrus, Avienus, and other authors. Thisvolume of Nevelet forms a complete “Corpus FabularumAesopicarum;”andtohislaborsAesopoweshisrestorationtouniversalfavorasoneofthewisemoralistsandgreatteachersof mankind. During the interval of three centuries which haselapsed since the publication of this volume of Nevelet’s, nobook,withtheexceptionoftheHolyScriptures,hashadawidercirculationthanAesop’sFables.TheyhavebeentranslatedintothegreaternumberofthelanguagesbothofEuropeandoftheEast, and have been read, and will be read, for generations,alikebyJew,Heathen,Mohammedan,andChristian.Theyare,atthepresenttime,notonlyengraftedintotheliteratureofthecivilized world, but are familiar as household words in thecommon intercourse and daily conversation of the inhabitantsofallcountries.ThiscollectionofNevelet’sisthegreatculminatingpointin

the history of the revival of the fame and reputation ofAesopian Fables. It is remarkable, also, as containing in itspreface the germ of an idea, which has been since proved tohavebeencorrectbyastrangechainofcircumstances.Neveletintimates an opinion, that a writer named Babrias would befound to be the veritable author of the existing form ofAesopianFables.Thisintimationhassincegivenrisetoaseriesofinquiries,theknowledgeofwhichisnecessary,inthepresentday, to a full understanding of the true position ofAesop inconnectionwiththewritingsthatbearhisname.The history of Babrias is so strange and interesting, that it

might not unfitly be enumerated among the curiosities of"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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literature. He is generally supposed to have been a Greek ofAsiaMinor,ofoneoftheIonicColonies,buttheexactperiodinwhichhelivedandwroteisyetunsettled.Heisplaced,byonecritic,[14]asfarbackastheinstitutionoftheAchaianLeague,B.C.250;byanotheraslateastheEmperorSeverus,whodiedA.D.235;whileothersmakehimacontemporarywithPhaedrusinthetimeofAugustus.AtwhatevertimehewrotehisversionofAesop, by some strange accident it seems to have entirelydisappeared, and to have been lost sight of. His name ismentioned byAvienus; by Suidas, a celebrated critic, at thecloseof theeleventhcentury,whogivesinhis lexiconseveralisolatedversesofhisversionofthefables;andbyJohnTzetzes,agrammarianandpoetofConstantinople,wholivedduringthelatterhalfofthetwelfthcentury.Nevelet,intheprefacetothevolumewhichwehavedescribed,pointsoutthattheFablesofPlanudes could not be the work ofAesop, as they contain areferenceintwoplacesto“Holymonks,”andgiveaversefromtheEpistle ofSt. James as an “Epimith” to oneof the fables,and suggestsBabrias as their author.FrancisVavassor, [15] alearnedFrenchjesuit,enteredatgreaterlengthonthissubject,and produced further proofs from internal evidence, from theuseof thewordPiraeusindescribingtheharbourofAthens,anamewhichwasnotgiven till twohundredyearsafterAesop,andfromtheintroductionofothermodernwords,thatmanyofthese fables must have been at least committed to writingposterior to the time of Aesop, and more boldly suggestsBabrias as their author or collector. [16] These variousreferencestoBabriasinducedDr.PlichardBentley,atthecloseof the seventeenth century, to examine more minutely theexisting versions of Aesop’s Fables, and he maintained that"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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manyofthemcould,withaslightchangeofwords,beresolvedinto the Scazonic [17] iambics, inwhichBabrias is known tohave written: and, with a greater freedom than the evidencethenjustified,heputforth,inbehalfofBabrias,aclaimtotheexclusive authorship of these fables. Such a seeminglyextravagant theory, thus roundly asserted, excited muchopposition.Dr. Bentley [18]metwith an able antagonist in amember of the University of Oxford, the Hon. Mr. CharlesBoyle, [19] afterwards Earl of Orrery. Their letters anddisputationsonthissubject,enlivenedonbothsideswithmuchwit and learning, will ever bear a conspicuous place in theliterary history of the seventeenth century. The arguments ofDr.BentleywereyetfurtherdefendedafewyearslaterbyMr.ThomasTyrwhitt, awell-read scholar,whogaveuphighcivildistinctionsthathemightdevotehimselfthemoreunreservedlyto literary pursuits. Mr. Tyrwhitt published, A.D. 1776, aDissertation on Babrias, and a collection of his fables incholiambic meter found in a MS. in the Bodleian Library atOxford. Francesco de Furia, a learned Italian, contributedfurther testimony to the correctness of the supposition thatBabrias hadmade a veritable collection of fables by printingfrom a MS. contained in the Vatican library several fablesnever before published. In the year 1844, however, new andunexpectedlightwasthrownuponthissubject.AveritablecopyofBabriaswasfoundinamannerassingularasweretheMSS.ofQuinctilian’sInstitutes,andofCicero’sOrationsbyPoggioin themonastery of St. GallA.D. 1416.M.Menoides, at thesuggestion ofM.Villemain,Minister of Public Instruction toKingLouisPhilippe,hadbeenentrustedwithacommissiontosearchforancientMSS.,andincarryingouthisinstructionshe"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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foundaMS.attheconventofSt.Laura,onMountAthos,whichproved to be a copy of the long suspected and wished-forcholiambic version of Babrias. This MS. was found to bedivided into two books, the one containing a hundred andtwenty-five, and the other ninety-five fables. This discoveryattracted very general attention, not only as confirming, in asingular manner, the conjectures so boldly made by a longchain of critics, but as bringing to light valuable literarytreasurestendingtoestablishthereputation,andtoconfirmtheantiquityandauthenticityofthegreatmassofAesopianFable.TheFables thus recoveredwere soonpublished.They foundamost worthy editor in the late distinguished Sir GeorgeCornewallLewis,andatranslatorequallyqualifiedforhistask,in the Reverend James Davies, M.A., sometime a scholar ofLincolnCollege,Oxford,andhimselfarelationoftheirEnglisheditor.Thus,afteraneclipseofmanycenturies,Babriasshinesout as the earliest, and most reliable collector of veritableAesopianFables.

The following are the sources from which the presenttranslationhasbeenprepared:

Babrii Fabulae Aesopeae. George Cornewall Lewis. Oxford,1846.

Babrii Fabulae Aesopeae. E codice manuscripto partemsecundam edidit. George Cornewall Lewis. London: Parker,1857.

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MythologicaAesopica.OperaetstudiaIsaaciNicholaiNeveleti.Frankfort,1610.

Fabulae Aesopiacae, quales ante Planudem ferebantur cura etstudioFranciscideFuria.Lipsiae,1810.

------.ExrecognitioneCaroliHalmii.Lipsiae,PhaedriFabulaeEsopiae.DelphinClassics.1822.

GeorgeFylerTownsend

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TheWolfandtheLambAWOLF,meetingwithaLambastrayfromthefold,resolvednottolayviolenthandsonhim,buttofindsomepleatojustifytotheLambtheWolf’srighttoeathim.Hethusaddressedhim:“Sirrah, last year you grossly insultedme.” “Indeed,” bleatedtheLamb in amournful toneofvoice, “Iwasnot thenborn.”ThensaidtheWolf,“Youfeedinmypasture.”“No,goodsir,”repliedtheLamb,“Ihavenotyettastedgrass.”AgainsaidtheWolf, “Youdrinkofmywell.” “No,”exclaimed theLamb,“Ineveryetdrankwater,forasyetmymother’smilkisbothfoodanddrinktome.”UponwhichtheWolfseizedhimandatehimup,saying,“Well!Iwon’tremainsupperless,eventhoughyourefuteeveryoneofmyimputations.”

Thetyrantwillalwaysfindapretextforhistyranny.

TheBatandtheWeaselsABATwhofelluponthegroundandwascaughtbyaWeaselpleadedtobesparedhislife.TheWeaselrefused,sayingthathewasbynaturetheenemyofallbirds.TheBatassuredhimthathewasnotabird,butamouse,and thuswasset free.Shortlyafterwards theBatagain fell to thegroundandwascaughtbyanotherWeasel,whomhelikewiseentreatednottoeathim.TheWeasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat

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assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus asecondtimeescaped.

Itiswisetoturncircumstancestogoodaccount.

TheAssandtheGrasshopperANASS,havingheardsomeGrasshopperschirping,washighlyenchanted;and,desiringtopossessthesamecharmsofmelody,demandedwhat sort of food they lived on to give them suchbeautiful voices. They replied, “The dew.” TheAss resolvedthathewould liveonlyupondew,and ina short timediedofhunger.

TheLionandtheMouseALIONwasawakenedfromsleepbyaMouserunningoverhisface. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to killhim,whentheMousepiteouslyentreated,saying:“Ifyouwouldonlysparemylife,Iwouldbesuretorepayyourkindness.”TheLionlaughedandlethimgo.IthappenedshortlyafterthisthattheLionwascaughtbysomehunters,whoboundhimbystrongropestotheground.TheMouse,recognizinghisroar,cameandgnawedtheropewithhisteeth,andsethimfree,exclaiming:

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“Youridiculedtheideaofmyeverbeingabletohelpyou,notexpectingtoreceivefrommeanyrepaymentofyourfavor;nowyouknowthatitispossibleforevenaMousetoconferbenefitsonaLion.”

TheCharcoal-BurnerandtheFullerACHARCOAL-BURNERcarriedonhistradeinhisownhouse.Onedayhemet a friend, aFuller, andentreatedhim to comeand live with him, saying that they should be far betterneighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would belessened.TheFullerreplied,“ThearrangementisimpossibleasfarasIamconcerned,forwhateverIshouldwhiten,youwouldimmediatelyblackenagainwithyourcharcoal.”

Likewilldrawlike.

TheFatherandHisSonsA FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetuallyquarreling among themselves. When he failed to heal theirdisputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them apractical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for thispurposeheoneday told themtobringhimabundleofsticks.Whentheyhaddoneso,heplacedthefaggotintothehandsof

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each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it inpieces.They triedwithall theirstrength,andwerenotable todoit.Henextopenedthefaggot,tookthesticksseparately,oneby one, and again put them into his sons’ hands, uponwhichtheybrokethemeasily.Hethenaddressedtheminthesewords:“Mysons,ifyouareofonemind,andunitetoassisteachother,youwillbeasthisfaggot,uninjuredbyalltheattemptsofyourenemies;butifyouaredividedamongyourselves,youwillbebrokenaseasilyasthesesticks.”

TheBoyHuntingLocustsA BOY was hunting for locusts. He had caught a goodlynumber, when he saw a Scorpion, and mistaking him for alocust,reachedouthishandtotakehim.TheScorpion,showinghis sting, said: “If you had but touched me, my friend, youwouldhavelostme,andallyourlocuststoo!”

TheCockandtheJewelACOCK,scratchingforfoodforhimselfandhishens,foundaprecious stoneandexclaimed: “Ifyourownerhad found thee,andnotI,hewouldhavetakentheeup,andhavesettheeinthyfirstestate;butIhavefoundtheefornopurpose.Iwouldratherhaveonebarleycornthanallthejewelsintheworld.”

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TheKingdomoftheLionTHEBEASTSof thefieldandforesthadaLionas theirking.He was neither wrathful, cruel, nor tyrannical, but just andgentle as a king could be. During his reign he made a royalproclamationforageneralassemblyofallthebirdsandbeasts,and drew up conditions for a universal league, in which theWolfandtheLamb,thePantherandtheKid,theTigerandtheStag, the Dog and the Hare, should live together in perfectpeaceandamity.TheHaresaid,“Oh,howIhavelongedtoseethisday,inwhichtheweakshalltaketheirplacewithimpunitybythesideofthestrong.”Andafter theHaresaidthis,heranforhislife.

TheWolfandtheCraneAWOLFwhohadabonestuckinhisthroathiredaCrane,foralarge sum, to put her head into his mouth and draw out thebone.WhentheCranehadextractedtheboneanddemandedthepromised payment, theWolf, grinning and grinding his teeth,exclaimed: “Why, you have surely already had a sufficientrecompense,inhavingbeenpermittedtodrawoutyourheadinsafetyfromthemouthandjawsofawolf.”

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Inservingthewicked,expectnoreward,andbethankfulifyouescapeinjuryforyourpains.

TheFishermanPipingAFISHERMANskilledinmusictookhisfluteandhisnetstothe seashore.Standingonaprojecting rock,heplayed severaltunes in thehope that thefish,attractedbyhismelody,wouldof their own accord dance into his net, which he had placedbelow.At last, having long waited in vain, he laid aside hisflute,andcastinghisnetintothesea,madeanexcellenthauloffish.Whenhesawthemleapingaboutinthenetupontherockhe said: “O you most perverse creatures, when I piped youwouldnotdance,butnowthatIhaveceasedyoudosomerrily.”

HerculesandtheWagonerACARTERwasdrivingawagonalongacountrylane,whenthewheels sankdowndeep intoa rut.The rusticdriver, stupefiedand aghast, stood looking at the wagon, and did nothing bututterloudcriestoHerculestocomeandhelphim.Hercules,itis said, appearedand thusaddressedhim:“Putyour shoulderstothewheels,myman.Goadonyourbullocks,andnevermorepray to me for help, until you have done your best to helpyourself,ordependuponityouwillhenceforthprayinvain.”

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Self-helpisthebesthelp.

TheAntsandtheGrasshopperTHE ANTS were spending a fine winter’s day drying graincollected in the summertime. A Grasshopper, perishing withfamine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. TheAntsinquiredofhim,“Whydidyounottreasureupfoodduringthe summer?”He replied, “I had not leisure enough. I passedthedays in singing.”They then said inderision: “Ifyouwerefoolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dancesupperlesstobedinthewinter.”

TheTravelerandHisDogATRAVELERabouttosetoutonajourneysawhisDogstandatthedoorstretchinghimself.Heaskedhimsharply:“Whydoyoustand theregaping?Everything is readybutyou, socomewith me instantly.” The Dog, wagging his tail, replied: “O,master!Iamquiteready;itisyouforwhomIamwaiting.”

Theloitereroftenblamesdelayonhismoreactivefriend.

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TheDogandtheShadowADOG,crossingabridgeoverastreamwithapieceoffleshinhismouth,sawhisownshadowinthewaterandtookitforthatofanotherDog,withapieceofmeatdoublehisowninsize.Heimmediately letgoofhisown,and fiercelyattacked theotherDog to get his larger piece from him.He thus lost both: thatwhichhegraspedatinthewater,becauseitwasashadow;andhisown,becausethestreamsweptitaway.

TheMoleandHisMotherAMOLE,acreatureblindfrombirth,oncesaidtohisMother:“I am sure than I can see,Mother!” In the desire to prove tohimhismistake,hisMotherplacedbeforehimafewgrainsoffrankincense,andasked,“Whatisit?”TheyoungMolesaid,“Itisapebble.”HisMotherexclaimed:“Myson,Iamafraidthatyou are not only blind, but that you have lost your sense ofsmell.”

TheHerdsmanandtheLostBullA HERDSMAN tending his flock in a forest lost a Bull-calffromthefold.Afteralongandfruitlesssearch,hemadeavow

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that,ifhecouldonlydiscoverthethiefwhohadstolentheCalf,he would offer a lamb in sacrifice to Hermes, Pan, and theGuardian Deities of the forest. Not long afterwards, as heascendeda smallhillock,hesawat its footaLion feedingontheCalf.Terrifiedatthesight,heliftedhiseyesandhishandstoheaven,andsaid: “JustnowIvowed tooffera lamb to theGuardianDeitiesoftheforestifIcouldonlyfindoutwhohadrobbedme; but now that I have discovered the thief, Iwouldwillinglyaddafull-grownBulltotheCalfIhavelost,ifImayonlysecuremyownescapefromhiminsafety.”

TheHareandtheTortoiseAHAREonedayridiculedtheshortfeetandslowpaceoftheTortoise, who replied, laughing: “Though you be swift as thewind, I will beat you in a race.” The Hare, believing herassertiontobesimplyimpossible,assentedtotheproposal;andtheyagreed that theFox shouldchoose the course and fix thegoal.Onthedayappointedfortheracethetwostartedtogether.TheTortoisenever foramoment stopped,butwentonwithaslowbutsteadypacestraighttotheendofthecourse.TheHare,lyingdownbythewayside,fellfastasleep.Atlastwakingup,andmovingasfastashecould,hesawtheTortoisehadreachedthegoal,andwascomfortablydozingafterherfatigue.

Slowbutsteadywinstherace.

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ThePomegranate,Apple-Tree,andBrambleTHE POMEGRANATE andApple-Tree disputed as to whichwas themost beautiful.When their strifewas at its height, aBramble from the neighboring hedge lifted up its voice, andsaidinaboastfultone:“Pray,mydearfriends,inmypresenceatleastceasefromsuchvaindisputings.”

TheFarmerandtheStorkA FARMER placed nets on his newly-sown plowlands andcaught a number of Cranes, which came to pick up his seed.With themhe trappedaStork thathadfracturedhis leg in thenet andwasearnestlybeseeching theFarmer to sparehis life.“Praysaveme,Master,”hesaid,“andletmegofreethisonce.My broken limb should excite your pity. Besides, I am noCrane,IamaStork,abirdofexcellentcharacter;andseehowIlove and slave for my father and mother. Look too, at myfeathers—they are not the least like those of a Crane.” TheFarmerlaughedaloudandsaid,“Itmaybeallasyousay,Ionlyknowthis:Ihavetakenyouwiththeserobbers,theCranes,andyoumustdieintheircompany.”

Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.

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TheFarmerandtheSnakeONEWINTER a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozenwithcold.Hehadcompassiononit,andtakingitup,placeditinhisbosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, andresuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting onhim a mortal wound. “Oh,” cried the Farmer with his lastbreath,“Iamrightlyservedforpityingascoundrel.”

Thegreatestkindnesswillnotbindtheungrateful.

TheFawnandHisMotherAYOUNG FAWN once said to his Mother, “You are largerthanadog,andswifter,andmoreusedtorunning,andyouhaveyour horns as a defense;why, then,OMother! do the houndsfrightenyouso?”Shesmiled,andsaid:“Iknowfullwell,myson,thatallyousayistrue.Ihavetheadvantagesyoumention,butwhen I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready tofaint,andflyawayasfastasIcan.”

Noargumentswillgivecouragetothecoward.

TheBearandtheFox

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ABEARboastedverymuchofhisphilanthropy,sayingthatofallanimalshewasthemosttenderinhisregardforman,forhehadsuchrespectforhimthathewouldnoteventouchhisdeadbody.AFoxhearingthesewordssaidwithasmiletotheBear,“Oh!thatyouwouldeatthedeadandnottheliving.”

TheSwallowandtheCrowTHE SWALLOW and the Crow had a contention about theirplumage.TheCrowputanendtothedisputebysaying,“Yourfeathers are all very well in the spring, but mine protect meagainstthewinter.”

Fairweatherfriendsarenotworthmuch.

TheMountaininLaborA MOUNTAIN was once greatly agitated. Loud groans andnoiseswereheard,andcrowdsofpeoplecamefromallpartstoseewhatwasthematter.Whiletheywereassembledinanxiousexpectationofsometerriblecalamity,outcameaMouse.

Don’tmakemuchadoaboutnothing.

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TheAss,theFox,andtheLionTHEASSandtheFox,havingenteredintopartnershiptogetherfor their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt.They had not proceeded far when theymet a Lion. The Fox,seeingimminentdanger,approachedtheLionandpromisedtocontriveforhimthecaptureoftheAssiftheLionwouldpledgehiswordnottoharmtheFox.Then,uponassuringtheAssthathe would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit andarranged that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that theAsswas secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attackedtheAssathisleisure.

TheTortoiseandtheEagleATORTOISE,lazilybaskinginthesun,complainedtothesea-birds of her hard fate, that no onewould teach her to fly.AnEagle,hoveringnear,heardherlamentationanddemandedwhatrewardshewouldgivehimifhewouldtakeheraloftandfloatherintheair.“Iwillgiveyou,”shesaid,“alltherichesoftheRed Sea.” “I will teach you to fly then,” said the Eagle; andtakingherup inhis talonshecarriedheralmost to thecloudssuddenlyhelethergo,andshefellonaloftymountain,dashingher shell to pieces.TheTortoise exclaimed in themoment ofdeath: “I havedeservedmypresent fate; forwhathad I todo

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withwingsandclouds,whocanwithdifficultymoveaboutontheearth?”

Ifmenhadalltheywished,theywouldbeoftenruined.

TheFliesandtheHoney-PotANUMBERofFlieswereattractedtoajarofhoneywhichhadbeenoverturnedinahousekeeper’sroom,andplacingtheirfeetinit,ategreedily.Theirfeet,however,becamesosmearedwiththe honey that they could not use their wings, nor releasethemselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring,theyexclaimed,“Ofoolishcreaturesthatweare,forthesakeofalittlepleasurewehavedestroyedourselves.”

Pleasureboughtwithpains,hurts.

TheManandtheLionAMANandaLion traveled together through the forest.Theysoonbegantoboastoftheirrespectivesuperioritytoeachotherinstrengthandprowess.Astheyweredisputing,theypassedastatuecarvedinstone,whichrepresented“aLionstrangledbyaMan.” The traveler pointed to it and said: “See there! Howstrong we are, and how we prevail over even the king of

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beasts.”TheLionreplied:“Thisstatuewasmadebyoneofyoumen.IfweLionsknewhowtoerectstatues,youwouldseetheManplacedunderthepawoftheLion.”

Onestoryisgood,tillanotheristold.

TheFarmerandtheCranesSOME CRANES made their feeding grounds on someplowlandsnewlysownwithwheat.ForalongtimetheFarmer,brandishinganemptysling,chasedthemawaybytheterrorheinspired; but when the birds found that the sling was onlyswungintheair,theyceasedtotakeanynoticeofitandwouldnotmove. The Farmer, on seeing this, charged his slingwithstones,andkilledagreatnumber.Theremainingbirdsatonceforsookhisfields,cryingtoeachother,“ItistimeforustobeofftoLiliput:forthismanisnolongercontenttoscareus,butbeginstoshowusinearnestwhathecando.”

Ifwordssufficenot,blowsmustfollow.

TheDogintheMangerA DOG lay in a manger, and by his growling and snappingpreventedtheoxenfromeatingthehaywhichhadbeenplaced

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for them. “What a selfish Dog!” said one of them to hiscompanions;“hecannoteatthehayhimself,andyetrefusestoallowthosetoeatwhocan.”

TheFoxandtheGoatAFOXonedayfellintoadeepwellandcouldfindnomeansofescape.AGoat, overcomewith thirst, came to the samewell,andseeingtheFox,inquiredifthewaterwasgood.Concealinghissadplightunderamerryguise,theFoxindulgedinalavishpraiseofthewater,sayingitwasexcellentbeyondmeasure,andencouraging him to descend. The Goat, mindful only of histhirst,thoughtlesslyjumpeddown,butjustashedrank,theFoxinformedhimofthedifficultytheywerebothinandsuggesteda scheme for their common escape. “If,” said he, “you willplaceyourforefeetuponthewallandbendyourhead,Iwillrunupyourbackandescape,andwillhelpyououtafterwards.”TheGoat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back.SteadyinghimselfwiththeGoat’shorns,hesafelyreachedthemouthof thewellandmadeoffasfastashecould.WhentheGoatupbraidedhimforbreakinghispromise,heturnedaroundand cried out, “You foolish old fellow! If you had as manybrainsinyourheadasyouhavehairsinyourbeard,youwouldneverhavegonedownbeforeyouhadinspectedthewayup,norhaveexposedyourselftodangersfromwhichyouhadnomeansofescape.”

Lookbeforeyouleap."******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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TheBearandtheTwoTravelersTWOMENweretravelingtogether,whenaBearsuddenlymetthemontheirpath.Oneofthemclimbedupquicklyintoatreeandconcealedhimselfinthebranches.Theother,seeingthathemust be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the Bearcameupandfelthimwithhissnout,andsmelthimallover,heheldhisbreath,andfeignedtheappearanceofdeathasmuchashecould.TheBearsoonlefthim,foritissaidhewillnottoucha dead body. When he was quite gone, the other Travelerdescended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of his friendwhatitwastheBearhadwhisperedinhisear.“Hegavemethisadvice,”hiscompanionreplied.“Nevertravelwithafriendwhodesertsyouattheapproachofdanger.”

Misfortuneteststhesincerityoffriends.

TheOxenandtheAxle-TreesAHEAVYWAGONwasbeingdraggedalongacountrylanebya teamofOxen.TheAxle-trees groaned and creaked terribly;whereupontheOxen,turninground,thusaddressedthewheels:“Hullothere!whydoyoumakesomuchnoise?Webearallthelabor,andwe,notyou,oughttocryout.”

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Thosewhosuffermostcryouttheleast.

TheThirstyPigeonAPIGEON,oppressedbyexcessivethirst,sawagobletofwaterpaintedon a signboard.Not supposing it tobeonly a picture,she flew towards it with a loud whir and unwittingly dashedagainst the signboard, jarring herself terribly. Having brokenherwingsbytheblow,shefelltotheground,andwascaughtbyoneofthebystanders.

Zealshouldnotoutrundiscretion.

TheRavenandtheSwanA RAVEN saw a Swan and desired to secure for himself thesame beautiful plumage. Supposing that the Swan’s splendidwhite color arose from his washing in the water in which heswam, theRaven left the altars in theneighborhoodwherehepicked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes andpools.Butcleansinghisfeathersasoftenashewould,hecouldnotchangetheircolor,whilethroughwantoffoodheperished.

ChangeofhabitcannotalterNature.

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TheGoatandtheGoatherdA GOATHERD had sought to bring back a stray goat to hisflock.Hewhistledandsoundedhishorn invain; the stragglerpaidnoattentiontothesummons.AtlasttheGoatherdthrewastone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell hismaster.TheGoatreplied,“Why,yousillyfellow,thehornwillspeakthoughIbesilent.”

Donotattempttohidethingswhichcannotbehid.

TheMiserAMISERsoldallthathehadandboughtalumpofgold,whichheburiedinaholeinthegroundbythesideofanoldwallandwenttolookatdaily.Oneofhisworkmenobservedhisfrequentvisitstothespotanddecidedtowatchhismovements.Hesoondiscoveredthesecretofthehiddentreasure,anddiggingdown,cameto the lumpofgold,andstole it.TheMiser,onhisnextvisit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and tomakeloudlamentations.Aneighbor,seeinghimovercomewithgriefandlearningthecause,said,“Praydonotgrieveso;butgoandtakeastone,andplaceitinthehole,andfancythatthegoldis still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for

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whenthegoldwasthere,youhaditnot,asyoudidnotmaketheslightestuseofit.”

TheSickLionALION,unablefromoldageandinfirmitiestoprovidehimselfwithfoodbyforce,resolvedtodosobyartifice.Hereturnedtohisden,andlyingdownthere,pretendedtobesick,takingcarethat his sickness should be publicly known. The beastsexpressedtheirsorrow,andcameonebyonetohisden,wherethe Lion devoured them. After many of the beasts had thusdisappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presentinghimself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at arespectful distance, and asked him how he was. “I am verymiddling,” replied the Lion, “but why do you stand without?Pray enterwithin to talkwithme.” “No, thank you,” said theFox.“Inotice that therearemanyprintsof feetenteringyourcave,butIseenotraceofanyreturning.”

Heiswisewhoiswarnedbythemisfortunesofothers.

TheHorseandGroomA GROOM used to spend whole days in currycombing andrubbingdownhisHorse,butatthesametimestolehisoatsand

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sold them for his own profit. “Alas!” said theHorse, “if youreallywishme tobe ingoodcondition,youshouldgroommeless,andfeedmemore.”

TheAssandtheLapdogAMANhadanAss,andaMalteseLapdog,averygreatbeauty.TheAsswasleft inastableandhadplentyofoatsandhaytoeat,justasanyotherAsswould.TheLapdogknewmanytricksandwasagreatfavoritewithhismaster,whooftenfondledhimandseldomwentouttodinewithoutbringinghimhomesometidbittoeat.TheAss,onthecontrary,hadmuchworktodoingrindingthecorn-millandincarryingwoodfromtheforestorburdensfromthefarm.HeoftenlamentedhisownhardfateandcontrasteditwiththeluxuryandidlenessoftheLapdog,tillatlastonedayhebrokehiscordsandhalter,andgallopedintohismaster’s house, kicking up his heels without measure, andfriskingandfawningaswellashecould.HenexttriedtojumpabouthismasterashehadseentheLapdogdo,buthebrokethetable and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He thenattempted to lick hismaster, and jumped upon his back. Theservants,hearingthestrangehubbubandperceivingthedangeroftheirmaster,quicklyrelievedhim,anddroveouttheAsstohis stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as hereturned to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: “Ihave brought it all on myself! Why could I not have beencontentedtolaborwithmycompanions,andnotwishtobeidleallthedaylikethatuselesslittleLapdog!”"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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TheLionessACONTROVERSYprevailedamongthebeastsof thefieldastowhichoftheanimalsdeservedthemostcreditforproducingthe greatest number of whelps at a birth. They rushedclamorouslyintothepresenceoftheLionessanddemandedofher the settlement of the dispute. “And you,” they said, “howmanysonshaveyouatabirth?”TheLionesslaughedatthem,and said: “Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether athoroughbredLion.”

Thevalueisintheworth,notinthenumber.

TheBoastingTravelerAMANwhohadtraveledinforeignlandsboastedverymuch,on returning to his own country, of the many wonderful andheroic feats he had performed in the different places he hadvisited. Among other things, he said that when he was atRhodeshehadleapedtosuchadistancethatnomanofhisdaycouldleapanywherenearhimastothat,therewereinRhodesmany personswho saw him do it andwhom he could call aswitnesses. One of the bystanders interrupted him, saying:“Now, my good man, if this be all true there is no need of

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witnesses.SupposethistobeRhodes,andleapforus.”

TheCatandtheCockA CAT caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find areasonable excuse for eating him.He accused him of being anuisancetomenbycrowinginthenighttimeandnotpermittingthemtosleep.TheCockdefendedhimselfbysayingthathedidthisforthebenefitofmen,thattheymightriseintimefortheirlabors. The Cat replied, “Although you abound in speciousapologies, Ishallnotremainsupperless;”andhemadeamealofhim.

ThePiglet,theSheep,andtheGoatAYOUNGPIGwas shut up in a fold-yardwith aGoat and aSheep.Ononeoccasionwhentheshepherdlaidholdofhim,hegruntedandsqueakedandresistedviolently.TheSheepandtheGoat complained of his distressing cries, saying, “He oftenhandles us, and we do not cry out.” To this the Pig replied,“Yourhandlingandmineareverydifferent things.Hecatchesyouonlyforyourwool,oryourmilk,buthelaysholdonmeformyverylife.”

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TheBoyandtheFilbertsABOYputhishandintoapitcherfulloffilberts.Hegraspedasmanyashecouldpossiblyhold,butwhenhe tried topullouthis hand, hewas prevented from doing so by the neck of thepitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable towithdrawhishand,heburstintotearsandbitterlylamentedhisdisappointment. A bystander said to him, “Be satisfied withhalfthequantity,andyouwillreadilydrawoutyourhand.”

Donotattempttoomuchatonce.

TheLioninLoveALION demanded the daughter of awoodcutter inmarriage.The Father, unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse hisrequest, hit upon this expedient to rid himself of hisimportunities.Heexpressedhiswillingness toaccept theLionas the suitor of his daughter on one condition: that he shouldallow him to extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as hisdaughter was fearfully afraid of both. The Lion cheerfullyassentedtotheproposal.Butwhenthetoothless,clawlessLionreturnedtorepeathisrequest, theWoodman,nolongerafraid,setuponhimwithhisclub,anddrovehimawayintotheforest.

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TheLaborerandtheSnakeASNAKE,havingmadehisholeclosetotheporchofacottage,inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager’s infant son. Grievingover his loss, the Father resolved to kill the Snake. The nextday,whenitcameoutofitsholeforfood,hetookuphisaxe,butbyswingingtoohastily,misseditsheadandcutoffonlytheend of its tail.After some time the Cottager, afraid that theSnake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, andplaced some bread and salt in the hole. The Snake, slightlyhissing, said: “There can henceforth be no peace between us;forwheneverIseeyouIshallrememberthelossofmytail,andwheneveryouseemeyouwillbethinkingofthedeathofyourson.”

Noonetrulyforgetsinjuriesinthepresenceofhimwhocausedtheinjury.

TheWolfinSheep’sClothingONCE UPON A TIME a Wolf resolved to disguise hisappearanceinordertosecurefoodmoreeasily.Encasedintheskin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock, deceiving theshepherdbyhiscostume.Intheeveninghewasshutupbytheshepherdinthefold;thegatewasclosed,andtheentrancemadethoroughly secure. But the shepherd, returning to the fold

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during the night to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenlycaughtuptheWolfinsteadofasheep,andkilledhiminstantly.

Harmseek,harmfind.

TheAssandtheMuleAMULETEER set forth on a journey, driving before him anAssandaMule,bothwellladen.TheAss,aslongashetraveledalongtheplain,carriedhisloadwithease,butwhenhebegantoascendthesteeppathofthemountain,felthisloadtobemorethanhecouldbear.Heentreatedhiscompaniontorelievehimof a small portion, that hemight carryhome the rest; but theMule paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortlyafterwardsfelldowndeadunderhisburden.Notknowingwhatelse to do in so wild a region, theMuleteer placed upon theMuletheloadcarriedbytheAssinadditiontohisown,andatthe topofallplaced thehideof theAss, afterhehadskinnedhim. The Mule, groaning beneath his heavy burden, said tohimself: “I am treated according tomy deserts. If I had onlybeenwilling toassist theAssa little inhisneed, I shouldnotnowbebearing,togetherwithhisburden,himselfaswell.”

TheFrogsAskingforaKing

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THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sentambassadors to Jupiter entreating for aKing. Perceiving theirsimplicity, he cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogswere terrified at the splash occasioned by its fall and hidthemselves in the depths of the pool. But as soon as theyrealizedthat thehugelogwasmotionless, theyswamagain tothe top of the water, dismissed their fears, climbed up, andbegansquattingonitincontempt.Aftersometimetheybegantothinkthemselvesill-treatedintheappointmentofsoinertaRuler, and sent a second deputation to Jupiter to pray that hewouldsetover themanothersovereign.He thengave themanEel togovern them.When theFrogsdiscoveredhiseasygoodnature,theysentyetathirdtimetoJupitertobeghimtochoosefor them still another King. Jupiter, displeased with all theircomplaints, sent aHeron, who preyed upon the Frogs day bydaytilltherewerenonelefttocroakuponthelake.

TheBoysandtheFrogsSOMEBOYS,playingnearapond, sawanumberofFrogs inthe water and began to pelt them with stones. They killedseveralofthem,whenoneoftheFrogs,liftinghisheadoutofthewater,criedout:“Praystop,myboys:whatissporttoyou,isdeathtous.”

TheSickStag"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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ASICKSTAGlaydowninaquietcornerofitspasture-ground.His companions came in great numbers to inquire after hishealth,andeachonehelpedhimselftoashareofthefoodwhichhad been placed for his use; so that he died, not from hissickness,butfromthefailureofthemeansofliving.

Evilcompanionsbringmorehurtthanprofit.

TheSaltMerchantandHisAssAPEDDLERdrovehisAsstotheseashoretobuysalt.Hisroadhome lay across a stream intowhich hisAss,making a falsestep, fell by accident and rose up again with his loadconsiderablylighter,asthewatermeltedthesack.ThePeddlerretraced his steps and refilled his panniers with a largerquantityofsaltthanbefore.Whenhecameagaintothestream,theAss felldownonpurpose in thesamespot,and, regaininghis feetwith theweight of his loadmuch diminished, brayedtriumphantlyasifhehadobtainedwhathedesired.ThePeddlersaw through his trick and drove him for the third time to thecoast,whereheboughtacargoofspongesinsteadofsalt.TheAss, again playing the fool, fell down on purpose when hereachedthestream,butthespongesbecameswollenwithwater,greatlyincreasinghisload.Andthushistrickrecoiledonhim,forhenowcarriedonhisbackadoubleburden.

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TheOxenandtheButchersTHEOXENonceupona time sought todestroy theButchers,whopracticedatradedestructivetotheirrace.Theyassembledonacertaindaytocarryouttheirpurpose,andsharpenedtheirhornsforthecontest.Butoneofthemwhowasexceedinglyold(formanyafieldhadheplowed)thusspoke:“TheseButchers,it is true, slaughterus,but theydosowithskillfulhands,andwithnounnecessarypain. Ifweget ridof them,we shall fallintothehandsofunskillfuloperators,andthussufferadoubledeath: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchersshouldperish,yetwillmenneverwantbeef.”

Donotbeinahurrytochangeoneevilforanother.

TheLion,theMouse,andtheFoxALION,fatiguedbytheheatofasummer’sday,fellfastasleepinhisden.AMouseranoverhismaneandearsandwokehimfromhisslumbers.Heroseupandshookhimselfingreatwrath,andsearchedeverycornerofhisdentofindtheMouse.AFoxseeing him said: “A fine Lion you are, to be frightened of aMouse.”“‘TisnottheMouseIfear,”saidtheLion;“Iresenthisfamiliarityandill-breeding.”

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Littlelibertiesaregreatoffenses.

TheVainJackdawJUPITERDETERMINED,itissaid,tocreateasovereignoverthe birds, and made proclamation that on a certain day theyshould all present themselves before him, when he wouldhimselfchoosethemostbeautifulamongthemtobeking.TheJackdaw, knowing his own ugliness, searched through thewoods and fields, and collected the featherswhich had fallenfromthewingsofhiscompanions,andstucktheminallpartsofhisbody,hopingtherebytomakehimselfthemostbeautifulof all. When the appointed day arrived, and the birds hadassembled before Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made hisappearance in his many feathered finery. But when Jupiterproposed to make him king because of the beauty of hisplumage, the birds indignantly protested, and each pluckedfromhimhisownfeathers, leaving theJackdawnothingbutaJackdaw.

TheGoatherdandtheWildGoatsAGOATHERD,drivinghisflockfromtheirpastureateventide,foundsomeWildGoatsmingledamongthem,andshutthemuptogetherwithhisownforthenight.Thenextdayitsnowedvery

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hard, so that he couldnot take theherd to their usual feedingplaces, butwasobliged tokeep them in the fold.Hegavehisowngoats just sufficient food to keep themalive, but fed thestrangersmoreabundantlyinthehopeofenticingthemtostaywithhimandofmakingthemhisown.Whenthethawsetin,heledthemallouttofeed,andtheWildGoatsscamperedawayasfastastheycouldtothemountains.TheGoatherdscoldedthemfor their ingratitude in leavinghim,whenduring thestormhehadtakenmorecareofthemthanofhisownherd.Oneofthem,turningabout,saidtohim:“Thatistheveryreasonwhywearesocautious;forifyouyesterdaytreatedusbetterthantheGoatsyouhavehadso long, it isplainalso that ifotherscameafterus,youwouldinthesamemannerpreferthemtoourselves.”

Oldfriendscannotwithimpunitybesacrificedfornewones.

TheMischievousDogADOGusedtorunupquietlytotheheelsofeveryonehemet,and to bite themwithout notice. Hismaster suspended a bellabouthisnecksothattheDogmightgivenoticeofhispresencewherever hewent. Thinking it amark of distinction, theDoggrew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over themarketplace.Onedayanoldhoundsaidtohim:“Whydoyoumakesuchanexhibitionofyourself?Thatbellthatyoucarryisnot,believeme,anyorderofmerit,butonthecontraryamark"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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of disgrace, a public notice to allmen to avoid you as an ill-mannereddog.”

Notorietyisoftenmistakenforfame.

TheFoxWhoHadLostHisTailAFOXcaught in a trap escaped, but in sodoing lost his tail.Thereafter, feeling his life a burden from the shame andridicule towhichhewasexposed,he schemed toconvinceallthe other Foxes that being taillesswasmuchmore attractive,thusmakingupforhisowndeprivation.Heassembledagoodmany Foxes and publicly advised them to cut off their tails,sayingthattheywouldnotonlylookmuchbetterwithoutthem,but that theywould get rid of theweight of the brush,whichwasaverygreat inconvenience.Oneof theminterruptinghimsaid, “If you had not yourself lost your tail, my friend, youwouldnotthuscounselus.”

TheBoyandtheNettlesA BOY was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told hisMother, saying, “Although it hurts me very much, I onlytouched it gently.” “Thatwas justwhy it stungyou,” said hisMother.“ThenexttimeyoutouchaNettle,graspitboldly,and

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it will be soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurtyou.”

Whateveryoudo,dowithallyourmight.

TheManandHisTwoSweetheartsAMIDDLE-AGEDMAN,whose hair hadbegun to turn gray,courtedtwowomenatthesametime.Oneofthemwasyoung,and the other well advanced in years. The elder woman,ashamedtobecourtedbyamanyounger thanherself,madeapoint, whenever her admirer visited her, to pull out someportion of his black hairs. The younger, on the contrary, notwishingtobecomethewifeofanoldman,wasequallyzealousin removing every gray hair she could find. Thus it came topassthatbetweenthembothheverysoonfoundthathehadnotahairleftonhishead.

Thosewhoseektopleaseeverybodypleasenobody.

TheAstronomerANASTRONOMERusedtogooutatnighttoobservethestars.One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with hiswholeattentionfixedonthesky,hefellaccidentallyintoadeep

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well.While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises,and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, andlearningwhathadhappenedsaid:“Harkye,oldfellow,why,instrivingtopryintowhatisinheaven,doyounotmanagetoseewhatisonearth?”

TheWolvesandtheSheep“WHY SHOULD there always be this fear and slaughterbetween us?” said the Wolves to the Sheep. “Those evil-disposed Dogs have much to answer for. They always barkwheneverweapproachyouandattackusbeforewehavedoneany harm. If you would only dismiss them from your heels,there might soon be treaties of peace and reconciliationbetween us.” The Sheep, poor silly creatures, were easilybeguiled and dismissed the Dogs, whereupon the Wolvesdestroyedtheunguardedflockattheirownpleasure.

TheOldWomanandthePhysicianANOLDWOMANhavinglosttheuseofhereyes,calledinaPhysiciantohealthem,andmadethisbargainwithhiminthepresenceofwitnesses: that ifheshouldcureherblindness,heshould receive fromher a sumofmoney; but if her infirmityremained, she shouldgivehimnothing.This agreement being

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made, the Physician, time after time, applied his salve to hereyes,andoneveryvisit tooksomethingaway, stealingallherproperty little by little.Andwhen he had got all she had, hehealed her and demanded the promised payment. The OldWoman, when she recovered her sight and saw none of hergoods in her house, would give him nothing. The Physicianinsistedonhis claim, and, as she still refused, summonedherbefore the Judge. TheOldWoman, standing up in the Court,argued:“Thismanherespeaksthetruthinwhathesays;forIdidpromisetogivehimasumofmoneyifIshouldrecovermysight:butifIcontinuedblind,Iwastogivehimnothing.NowhedeclaresthatIamhealed.IonthecontraryaffirmthatIamstillblind;forwhenIlosttheuseofmyeyes,Isawinmyhousevariouschattelsandvaluablegoods:butnow,thoughheswearsIamcuredofmyblindness,Iamnotabletoseeasinglethinginit.”

TheFightingCocksandtheEagleTWOGAMECOCKSwerefiercelyfightingforthemasteryofthefarmyard.Oneatlastputtheothertoflight.ThevanquishedCockskulkedawayandhidhimselfinaquietcorner,whiletheconqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings andcrowedexultinglywithallhismight.AnEaglesailingthroughtheairpounceduponhimandcarriedhimoffinhistalons.ThevanquishedCockimmediatelycameoutofhiscorner,andruledhenceforthwithundisputedmastery.

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Pridegoesbeforedestruction.

TheChargerandtheMillerACHARGER,feeling the infirmitiesofage,wassent toworkin a mill instead of going out to battle. But when he wascompelledtogrindinsteadofservinginthewars,hebewailedhis change of fortune and called to mind his former state,saying,“Ah!Miller,Ihadindeedtogocampaigningbefore,butI was barbed from counter to tail, and a man went along togroomme;andnowIcannotunderstandwhatailedmetopreferthemill before the battle.” “Forbear,” said theMiller to him,“harping on what was of yore, for it is the common lot ofmortalstosustaintheupsanddownsoffortune.”

TheFoxandtheMonkeyAMONKEYoncedancedinanassemblyoftheBeasts,andsopleasedthemallbyhisperformancethattheyelectedhimtheirKing.AFox,envyinghimthehonor,discoveredapieceofmeatlying in a trap, and leading theMonkey to the placewhere itwas,saidthatshehadfoundastore,buthadnotusedit,shehadkeptitforhimastreasuretroveofhiskingdom,andcounseledhim to lay hold of it. TheMonkey approached carelessly andwascaughtinthetrap;andonhisaccusingtheFoxofpurposely

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leading him into the snare, she replied, “OMonkey, and areyou, with such a mind as yours, going to be King over theBeasts?”

TheHorseandHisRiderAHORSESOLDIERtooktheutmostpainswithhischarger.Aslongasthewarlasted,helookeduponhimashisfellow-helperinallemergenciesandfedhimcarefullywithhayandcorn.Butwhen thewarwasover, heonly allowedhimchaff to eat andmadehimcarryheavy loadsofwood,subjectinghimtomuchslavishdrudgeryandill-treatment.Warwasagainproclaimed,however,andwhenthetrumpetsummonedhimtohisstandard,the Soldier put on his charger its military trappings, andmounted,beingclad inhisheavycoatofmail.TheHorse felldown straightway under the weight, no longer equal to theburden,andsaidtohismaster,“Youmustnowgotothewaronfoot, for you have transformedme from aHorse into anAss;andhowcanyouexpectthatIcanagainturninamomentfromanAsstoaHorse?”

TheBellyandtheMembersTHEMEMBERS of the Body rebelled against the Belly, andsaid,“Whyshouldwebeperpetuallyengagedinadministering

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to your wants, while you do nothing but take your rest, andenjoy yourself in luxury and self-indulgence?” TheMemberscarried out their resolve and refused their assistance to theBelly. The whole Body quickly became debilitated, and thehands, feet,mouth, and eyes,when too late, repented of theirfolly.

TheVineandtheGoatAVINEwas luxuriant in the time of vintagewith leaves andgrapes.AGoat, passing by, nibbled its young tendrils and itsleaves. The Vine addressed him and said: “Why do you thusinjure me without a cause, and crop my leaves? Is there noyounggrassleft?ButIshallnothavetowaitlongformyjustrevenge; for if you now should crop my leaves, and cut medown to my root, I shall provide the wine to pour over youwhenyouareledasavictimtothesacrifice.”

JupiterandtheMonkeyJUPITERISSUEDaproclamationtoallthebeastsoftheforestandpromisedaroyalrewardtotheonewhoseoffspringshouldbedeemedthehandsomest.TheMonkeycamewiththerestandpresented,withallamother’stenderness,aflat-nosed,hairless,ill-featured young Monkey as a candidate for the promised

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reward.Ageneral laughsalutedheron thepresentationofherson.Sheresolutelysaid,“IknownotwhetherJupiterwillallottheprizetomyson,butthisIdoknow,thatheisatleastintheeyes of me his mother, the dearest, handsomest, and mostbeautifulofall.”

TheWidowandHerLittleMaidensAWIDOWwhowasfondofcleaninghadtwolittlemaidenstowaitonher.Shewas in thehabitofwaking themearly in themorning, at cockcrow. The maidens, aggravated by suchexcessive labor, resolved to kill the cock who roused theirmistresssoearly.Whentheyhaddonethis,theyfoundthattheyhad only prepared for themselves greater troubles, for theirmistress,nolongerhearingthehourfromthecock,wokethemuptotheirworkinthemiddleofthenight.

TheShepherd’sBoyandtheWolfA SHEPHERD-BOY, who watched a flock of sheep near avillage,broughtoutthevillagersthreeorfourtimesbycryingout,“Wolf!Wolf!”andwhenhisneighborscametohelphim,laughed at them for their pains.TheWolf, however, did trulycomeatlast.TheShepherd-boy,nowreallyalarmed,shoutedinan agony of terror: “Pray, do come and helpme; theWolf is

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killing the sheep;” but no one paid any heed to his cries, norrenderedanyassistance.TheWolf,havingnocauseoffear,athisleisurelaceratedordestroyedthewholeflock.

Thereisnobelievingaliar,evenwhenhespeaksthetruth.

TheCatandtheBirdsACAT,hearing that theBirds inacertainaviarywereailing,dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and abag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call onthem.Heknockedatthedoorandinquiredoftheinmateshowtheyalldid,sayingthat if theywereill,hewouldbehappytoprescribe for them and cure them. They replied, “We are allvery well, and shall continue so, if you will only be goodenoughtogoaway,andleaveusasweare.”

TheKidandtheWolfAKIDstandingontheroofofahouse,outofharm’sway,sawaWolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and revilehim.TheWolf, lookingup,said,“Sirrah!Ihear thee:yet it isnot thou who mockest me, but the roof on which thou artstanding.”

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Timeandplaceoftengive theadvantage to theweakover thestrong.

TheOxandtheFrogANOXdrinkingatapool trodonabroodofyoungfrogsandcrushed one of them to death. The Mother coming up, andmissing one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what hadbecomeofhim.“Heisdead,dearMother;for justnowaveryhuge beastwith four great feet came to the pool and crushedhim to deathwith his cloven heel.” The Frog, puffing herselfout, inquired,“if thebeastwasasbigas that insize.”“Cease,Mother, to puff yourself out,” said her son, “and do not beangry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst thansuccessfullyimitatethehugenessofthatmonster.”

TheShepherdandtheWolfASHEPHERDoncefoundthewhelpofaWolfandbrought itup, and after a while taught it to steal lambs from theneighboring flocks. The Wolf, having shown himself an aptpupil,saidtotheShepherd,“Sinceyouhavetaughtmetosteal,youmustkeepasharp lookout,oryouwill losesomeofyourownflock.”

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TheFatherandHisTwoDaughtersAMANhadtwodaughters,theonemarriedtoagardener,andtheothertoatile-maker.Afteratimehewenttothedaughterwhohadmarried the gardener, and inquired how shewas andhow all things went with her. She said, “All things areprosperingwithme,andIhaveonlyonewish,thattheremaybea heavy fall of rain, in order that the plants may be wellwatered.” Not long after, he went to the daughter who hadmarried the tilemaker, and likewise inquired of her how shefared;shereplied,“Iwantfornothing,andhaveonlyonewish,that the dryweathermay continue, and the sun shine hot andbright, so that the bricksmight be dried.”He said to her, “Ifyoursisterwishesforrain,andyoufordryweather,withwhichofthetwoamItojoinmywishes?”

TheFarmerandHisSonsAFATHER,beingonthepointofdeath,wishedtobesurethathissonswouldgivethesameattentiontohisfarmashehimselfhadgivenit.Hecalledthemtohisbedsideandsaid,“Mysons,thereisagreattreasurehidinoneofmyvineyards.”Thesons,after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefullydug over every portion of their land. They found no treasure,but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and

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superabundantcrop.

TheCrabandItsMotherACRABsaidtoherson,“Whydoyouwalksoone-sided,mychild? It is far more becoming to go straight forward.” TheyoungCrab replied: “Quite true, dearMother; and if youwillshowme the straightway, I will promise towalk in it.” TheMothertriedinvain,andsubmittedwithoutremonstrancetothereproofofherchild.

Exampleismorepowerfulthanprecept.

TheHeiferandtheOxAHEIFER saw anOx hard atwork harnessed to a plow, andtormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in beingcompelled to labor.Shortlyafterwards, at theharvest festival,theownerreleasedtheOxfromhisyoke,butboundtheHeiferwithcordsandledhimawaytothealtartobeslaininhonoroftheoccasion.TheOxsawwhatwasbeingdone,andsaidwithasmile to the Heifer: “For this you were allowed to live inidleness,becauseyouwerepresentlytobesacrificed.”

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TheSwallow,theSerpent,andtheCourtofJusticeA SWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond ofdwellingwithmen,builtherselfanestinthewallofaCourtofJusticeandtherehatchedsevenyoungbirds.ASerpentglidingpast the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the youngunfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty,lamentedgreatlyandexclaimed:“Woetomeastranger!thatinthisplacewhereallothers’rightsareprotected,Ialoneshouldsufferwrong.”

TheThiefandHisMotherABOYstolea lesson-bookfromoneofhisschoolfellowsandtookithometohisMother.Shenotonlyabstainedfrombeatinghim, but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak andbrought it to her, and she again commended him.TheYouth,advancedtoadulthood,proceededtostealthingsofstillgreatervalue.At last he was caught in the very act, and having hishands boundbehindhim,was led away to the place of publicexecution.HisMotherfollowedinthecrowdandviolentlybeatherbreastinsorrow,whereupontheyoungmansaid,“Iwishtosay something to myMother in her ear.” She came close tohim,andhequicklyseizedherearwithhisteethandbititoff.TheMother upbraided him as an unnatural child,whereon hereplied, “Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole and

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broughttoyouthatlesson-book,Ishouldnothavecometothis,norhavebeenthusledtoadisgracefuldeath.”

TheOldManandDeathAN OLDMAN was employed in cutting wood in the forest,and,incarryingthefaggotstothecityforsaleoneday,becamevery wearied with his long journey. He sat down by thewayside, and throwing down his load, besought “Death” tocome.“Death”immediatelyappearedinanswertohissummonsand asked for what reason he had called him. The Old Manhurriedly replied, “That, lifting up the load, youmay place itagainuponmyshoulders.”

TheFir-TreeandtheBrambleAFIR-TREE said boastingly to theBramble, “You are usefulfor nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs andhouses.” The Bramble answered: “You poor creature, if youwouldonlycall tomind theaxesandsawswhichareabout tohew you down, you would have reason to wish that you hadgrownupaBramble,notaFir-Tree.”

Betterpovertywithoutcare,thanricheswith.

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TheMouse,theFrog,andtheHawkAMOUSEwhoalwayslivedontheland,byanunluckychanceformedanintimateacquaintancewithaFrog,wholivedforthemost part in thewater.TheFrog, one day intent onmischief,bound the foot of theMouse tightly to his own. Thus joinedtogether, the Frog first of all led his friend theMouse to themeadowwhere theywereaccustomed to find their food.Afterthis,hegradually ledhim towards thepool inwhichhe lived,untilreachingtheverybrink,hesuddenlyjumpedin,draggingtheMouse with him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly,andswamcroakingabout,as ifhehaddoneagooddeed.TheunhappyMousewassoonsuffocatedbythewater,andhisdeadbodyfloatedaboutonthesurface,tiedtothefootoftheFrog.AHawkobservedit,and,pouncinguponitwithhistalons,carrieditaloft.TheFrog,beingstillfastenedtothelegoftheMouse,wasalsocarriedoffaprisoner,andwaseatenbytheHawk.

Harmhatch,harmcatch.

TheManBittenbyaDogAMANwhohadbeenbittenbyaDogwentabout inquestofsomeone who might heal him. A friend, meeting him andlearningwhathewanted, said, “Ifyouwouldbe cured, take a

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pieceofbread,anddipitinthebloodfromyourwound,andgoand give it to theDog that bit you.” TheManwho had beenbittenlaughedatthisadviceandsaid,“Why?IfIshoulddoso,itwouldbeasifIshouldbegeveryDoginthetowntobiteme.”

Benefitsbestowedupontheevil-disposedincreasetheirmeansofinjuringyou.

TheTwoPotsA RIVER carried down in its stream two Pots, one made ofearthenwareandtheotherofbrass.TheEarthenPotsaidtotheBrassPot,“Praykeepatadistanceanddonotcomenearme,forifyoutouchmeeversoslightly,Ishallbebrokeninpieces,andbesides,Ibynomeanswishtocomenearyou.”

Equalsmakethebestfriends.

TheWolfandtheSheepA WOLF, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick andmaimedinhislair.Beinginwantoffood,hecalledtoaSheepwhowas passing, and asked him to fetch somewater from astream flowing close beside him. “For,” he said, “if youwillbringmedrink,Iwillfindmeanstoprovidemyselfwithmeat.”

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“Yes,”said theSheep,“if I shouldbringyou thedraught,youwoulddoubtlessmakemeprovidethemeatalso.”

Hypocriticalspeechesareeasilyseenthrough.

TheAethiopTHEPURCHASER of a black servantwas persuaded that thecolorofhisskinarosefromdirtcontractedthroughtheneglectof his former masters. On bringing him home he resorted toevery means of cleaning, and subjected the man to incessantscrubbings. The servant caught a severe cold, but he neverchangedhiscolororcomplexion.

What’sbredinthebonewillsticktotheflesh.

TheFishermanandHisNetsAFISHERMAN,engagedinhiscalling,madeaverysuccessfulcastandcapturedagreathauloffish.Hemanagedbyaskillfulhandlingofhisnettoretainallthelargefishandtodrawthemto the shore; but he could not prevent the smaller fish fromfallingbackthroughthemeshesofthenetintothesea.

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TheHuntsmanandtheFishermanAHUNTSMAN,returningwithhisdogsfromthefield,fell inby chancewith aFishermanwhowasbringinghomeabasketwellladenwithfish.TheHuntsmanwishedtohavethefish,andtheirownerexperiencedanequallongingforthecontentsofthegame-bag. They quickly agreed to exchange the produce oftheirday’ssport.Eachwassowellpleasedwithhisbargainthatthey made for some time the same exchange day after day.Finallyaneighborsaidtothem,“Ifyougooninthisway,youwill soon destroy by frequent use the pleasure of yourexchange, and eachwill againwish to retain the fruits of hisownsport.”

Abstainandenjoy.

TheOldWomanandtheWine-JarANOLDWOMANfoundan empty jarwhichhad latelybeenfull of prime old wine and which still retained the fragrantsmell of its former contents. She greedily placed it severaltimestohernose,anddrawingitbackwardsandforwardssaid,“Omostdelicious!Hownicemust theWine itself havebeen,whenit leavesbehindin theveryvesselwhichcontained itsosweetaperfume!”

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Thememoryofagooddeedlives.

TheFoxandtheCrowACROWhavingstolenabitofmeat,perchedinatreeandheldit in her beak.AFox, seeing this, longed to possess themeathimself,andbyawilystratagemsucceeded.“HowhandsomeistheCrow,”heexclaimed,“inthebeautyofhershapeandinthefairnessofhercomplexion!Oh,ifhervoicewereonlyequaltoher beauty, shewould deservedly be considered theQueen ofBirds!”Thishesaiddeceitfully;buttheCrow,anxioustorefutethe reflection cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw anddropped the flesh. The Fox quickly picked it up, and thusaddressed the Crow: “My good Crow, your voice is rightenough,butyourwitiswanting.”

TheTwoDogsAMAN had two dogs: a Hound, trained to assist him in hissports, and a Housedog, taught to watch the house.When hereturned home after a good day’s sport, he always gave theHousedoga largeshareofhisspoil.TheHound, feelingmuchaggrievedatthis,reproachedhiscompanion,saying,“Itisveryhardtohaveall this labor,whileyou,whodonotassist inthechase, luxuriateon the fruitsofmyexertions.”TheHousedog

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replied, “Donot blameme,my friend, but find faultwith themaster, who has not taught me to labor, but to depend forsubsistenceonthelaborofothers.”

Childrenarenottobeblamedforthefaultsoftheirparents.

TheStagintheOx-StallASTAG,roundlychasedbythehoundsandblindedbyfeartothedangerhewasrunninginto,tookshelterinafarmyardandhid himself in a shed among the oxen.An Ox gave him thiskindlywarning:“Ounhappycreature!whyshouldyouthus,ofyour own accord, incur destruction and trust yourself in thehouse of your enemy?” The Stag replied: “Only allow me,friend, to staywhere I am, and Iwill undertake to find somefavorableopportunityofeffectingmyescape.”Attheapproachoftheeveningtheherdsmancametofeedhiscattle,butdidnotsee the Stag; and even the farm-bailiff with several laborerspassed through the shed and failed to notice him. The Stag,congratulating himself on his safety, began to express hissincere thanks to theOxenwho had kindly helped him in thehour of need. One of them again answered him: “We indeedwishyouwell,butthedangerisnotover.Thereisoneotheryettopassthroughtheshed,whohasasitwereahundredeyes,anduntilhehascomeandgone,your life isstill inperil.”At thatmoment the master himself entered, and having had tocomplainthathisoxenhadnotbeenproperlyfed,hewentuptotheir racks and cried out: “Why is there such a scarcity of"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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fodder?Thereisnothalfenoughstrawforthemtolieon.Thoselazyfellowshavenotevensweptthecobwebsaway.”Whilehethus examined everything in turn, he spied the tips of theantlersof theStagpeepingoutof thestraw.Thensummoninghis laborers, he ordered that the Stag should be seized andkilled.

TheHawk,theKite,andthePigeonsTHE PIGEONS, terrified by the appearance of a Kite, calledupon the Hawk to defend them. He at once consented.Whentheyhad admittedhim into the cote, they found that hemademorehavocandslewalargernumberoftheminonedaythantheKitecouldpounceuponinawholeyear.

Avoidaremedythatisworsethanthedisease.

TheWidowandtheSheepACERTAINpoorwidowhad one solitarySheep.At shearingtime, wishing to take his fleece and to avoid expense, shesheared him herself, but used the shears so unskillfully thatwiththefleecesheshearedtheflesh.TheSheep,writhingwithpain,said,“Whydoyouhurtmeso,Mistress?Whatweightcanmyblood add to thewool? If youwantmy flesh, there is the

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butcher, who will kill me in an instant; but if you want myfleece and wool, there is the shearer, whowill shear and nothurtme.”

Theleastoutlayisnotalwaysthegreatestgain.

TheWildAssandtheLionAWILDASSandaLionentered intoanallianceso that theymight capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. TheLionagreedtoassisttheWildAsswithhisstrength,whiletheWildAssgavetheLionthebenefitofhisgreaterspeed.Whentheyhadtakenasmanybeastsastheirnecessitiesrequired,theLion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purposedivideditintothreeshares.“Iwilltakethefirstshare,”hesaid,“becauseIamKing:andthesecondshare,asapartnerwithyouinthechase:andthethirdshare(believeme)willbeasourceofgreatevil toyou,unlessyouwillinglyresign it tome,andsetoffasfastasyoucan.”

Mightmakesright.

TheEagleandtheArrowANEAGLEsatona lofty rock,watching themovementsofa

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Harewhomhesoughttomakehisprey.Anarcher,whosawtheEagle froma place of concealment, took an accurate aim andwoundedhimmortally.TheEagle gaveone look at the arrowthathadenteredhisheartandsawinthatsingleglancethatitsfeathershadbeenfurnishedbyhimself.“Itisadoublegrieftome,”heexclaimed,“thatIshouldperishbyanarrowfeatheredfrommyownwings.”

TheSickKiteAKITE,sickuntodeath,saidtohismother:“OMother!donotmourn, but at once invoke the gods that my life may beprolonged.”She replied, “Alas!myson,whichof thegodsdoyou think will pity you? Is there one whom you have notoutragedbyfilchingfromtheirveryaltarsapartofthesacrificeoffereduptothem?”

Wemustmakefriendsinprosperityifwewouldhavetheirhelpinadversity.

TheLionandtheDolphinALIONroamingbytheseashoresawaDolphinliftupitsheadoutof thewaves,andsuggested that theycontractanalliance,sayingthatofalltheanimalstheyoughttobethebestfriends,

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sincetheonewasthekingofbeastsontheearth,andtheotherwasthesovereignrulerofalltheinhabitantsoftheocean.TheDolphin gladly consented to this request.Not long afterwardsthe Lion had a combat with a wild bull, and called on theDolphintohelphim.TheDolphin,thoughquitewillingtogivehim assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by anymeans reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. TheDolphin replied, “Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature,which, while giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quitedeniedmethepoweroflivingupontheland.”

TheLionandtheBoarONASUMMERDAY,when thegreatheat inducedageneralthirst among the beasts, a Lion and aBoar came at the samemomenttoasmallwelltodrink.Theyfiercelydisputedwhichof them should drink first, and were soon engaged in theagonies of a mortal combat. When they stopped suddenly tocatch their breath for a fiercer renewal of the fight, they sawsomeVultureswaiting in thedistance to feaston theone thatshouldfallfirst.Theyatoncemadeuptheirquarrel,saying,“Itis better for us to make friends, than to become the food ofCrowsorVultures.”

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ADOEblindinoneeyewasaccustomedtograzeasneartotheedgeofthecliffasshepossiblycould,inthehopeofsecuringher greater safety. She turned her sound eye towards the landthatshemightgettheearliesttidingsoftheapproachofhunterorhound,andherinjuredeyetowardsthesea,fromwhencesheentertainednoanticipationofdanger.Someboatmensailingbysaw her, and taking a successful aim, mortally wounded her.Yielding up her last breath, she gasped forth this lament: “OwretchedcreaturethatIam!totakesuchprecautionagainsttheland,andafteralltofindthisseashore,towhichIhadcomeforsafety,somuchmoreperilous.”

TheShepherdandtheSeaA SHEPHERD, keeping watch over his sheep near the shore,saw the Sea very calm and smooth, and longed to make avoyagewithaviewtocommerce.Hesoldallhisflock,investedit in a cargo of dates, and set sail. But a very great tempestcameon,andtheshipbeingindangerofsinking,he threwallhismerchandiseoverboard,andbarelyescapedwithhislifeintheempty ship.Not longafterwardswhen someonepassedbyandobservedtheunruffledcalmoftheSea,heinterruptedhimand said, “It is again in want of dates, and therefore looksquiet.”

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TheAss,theCock,andtheLionANASSandaCockwereinastraw-yardtogetherwhenaLion,desperate from hunger, approached the spot.Hewas about tospring upon theAss, when the Cock (to the sound of whosevoice the Lion, it is said, has a singular aversion) crowedloudly, and the Lion fled away as fast as he could. TheAss,observing his trepidation at the mere crowing of a Cocksummoned courage to attack him, and galloped after him forthat purpose. He had run no long distance, when the Lion,turningabout,seizedhimandtorehimtopieces.

Falseconfidenceoftenleadsintodanger.

TheMiceandtheWeaselsTHEWEASELSandtheMicewagedaperpetualwarwitheachother,inwhichmuchbloodwasshed.TheWeaselswerealwaysthe victors. TheMice thought that the cause of their frequentdefeatswasthattheyhadnoleaderssetapartfromthegeneralarmytocommandthem,andthattheywereexposedtodangersfrom lackof discipline.They therefore chose as leadersMicethatweremostrenownedfortheirfamilydescent,strength,andcounsel, as well as thosemost noted for their courage in thefight,sothattheymightbebettermarshaledinbattlearrayandformedintotroops,regiments,andbattalions.Whenallthiswasdone,andthearmydisciplined,andtheheraldMousehadduly

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proclaimedwarbychallenging theWeasels, thenewlychosengeneralsboundtheirheadswithstraws,thattheymightbemoreconspicuous to all their troops.Scarcelyhad thebattle begun,whenagreatroutoverwhelmedtheMice,whoscamperedoffasfastastheycouldtotheirholes.Thegenerals,notbeingabletoget in on account of the ornaments on their heads, were allcapturedandeatenbytheWeasels.

Themorehonor,themoredanger.

TheMiceinCouncilTHEMICEsummonedacounciltodecidehowtheymightbestdevisemeans of warning themselves of the approach of theirgreatenemytheCat.Amongthemanyplanssuggested,theonethatfoundmostfavorwastheproposaltotieabelltotheneckoftheCat,sothattheMice,beingwarnedbythesoundofthetinkling,mightrunawayandhide themselves in theirholesathis approach. Butwhen theMice further debatedwho amongthemshouldthus“belltheCat,”therewasnoonefoundtodoit.

TheWolfandtheHousedogAWOLF,meetingabigwell-fedMastiffwithawoodencollarabouthisneck,askedhimwhoitwasthatfedhimsowelland

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yet compelled him to drag that heavy log about wherever hewent. “Themaster,” he replied.Then said theWolf: “Maynofriendofmineeverbe in suchaplight; for theweightof thischainisenoughtospoiltheappetite.”

TheRiversandtheSeaTHERIVERS joined together to complain to the Sea, saying,“Why is it that whenwe flow into your tides so potable andsweet, youwork in us such a change, andmake us salty andunfittodrink?”TheSea,perceivingthattheyintendedtothrowtheblameonhim,said,“Praycease toflowintome,and thenyouwillnotbemadebriny.”

ThePlayfulAssANASSclimbeduptotheroofofabuilding,andfriskingaboutthere, broke in the tiling. The owner went up after him andquickly drove him down, beating him severely with a thickwoodencudgel.TheAsssaid,“Why,IsawtheMonkeydothisvery thing yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if itaffordedyouverygreatamusement.”

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TheThreeTradesmenAGREATCITYwasbesieged,and its inhabitantswerecalledtogether to consider the best means of protecting it from theenemy. A Bricklayer earnestly recommended bricks asaffording the best material for an effective resistance. ACarpenter, with equal enthusiasm, proposed timber as apreferablemethod of defense.Uponwhich aCurrier stood upandsaid,“Sirs,Idifferfromyoualtogether:thereisnomaterialforresistanceequaltoacoveringofhides;andnothingsogoodasleather.”

Everymanforhimself.

TheMasterandHisDogsACERTAINMAN,detainedbya storm inhis countryhouse,first of all killed his sheep, and then his goats, for themaintenance of his household. The storm still continuing, hewasobligedtoslaughterhisyokeoxenforfood.Onseeingthis,hisDogstookcounseltogether,andsaid,“Itistimeforustobeoff,forifthemastersparenothisoxen,whoworkforhisgain,howcanweexpecthimtospareus?”

Heisnottobetrustedasafriendwhomistreatshisownfamily.

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TheWolfandtheShepherdsAWOLF, passing by, saw some Shepherds in a hut eating ahaunchofmuttonfor theirdinner.Approachingthem,hesaid,“What a clamor you would raise if I were to do as you aredoing!”

TheDolphins,theWhales,andtheSpratTHE DOLPHINS and Whales waged a fierce war with eachother.Whenthebattlewasatitsheight,aSpratlifteditsheadout of the waves and said that he would reconcile theirdifferencesif theywouldaccepthimasanumpire.Oneof theDolphins replied, “We would far rather be destroyed in ourbattlewitheachotherthanadmitanyinterferencefromyouinouraffairs.”

TheAssCarryingtheImageANASS once carried through the streets of a city a famouswoodenImage,tobeplacedinoneofitsTemples.Ashepassedalong,thecrowdmadelowlyprostrationbeforetheImage.TheAss,thinkingthattheybowedtheirheadsintokenofrespectforhimself,bristledupwithpride,gavehimselfairs,andrefusedto

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move another step. The driver, seeing him thus stop, laid hiswhiplustilyabouthisshouldersandsaid,“Oyouperversedull-head! it is not yet come to this, that men pay worship to anAss.”

They are not wise who give to themselves the credit due toothers.

TheTwoTravelersandtheAxeTWOMENwerejourneyingtogether.Oneofthempickedupanaxe that lay upon the path, and said, “I have found an axe.”“Nay,my friend,” replied theother, “donot say ‘I,’ but ‘We’havefoundanaxe.”Theyhadnotgonefarbeforetheysawtheowneroftheaxepursuingthem,andhewhohadpickeduptheaxe said, “Weareundone.”“Nay,” replied theother, “keep toyour firstmode of speech,my friend;what you thought rightthen,thinkrightnow.Say‘I,’not‘We’areundone.”

Hewhosharesthedangeroughttosharetheprize.

TheOldLionALION,wornoutwithyearsandpowerless fromdisease, layon thegroundat thepointofdeath.ABoar rusheduponhim,

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and avenged with a stroke of his tusks a long-rememberedinjury.ShortlyafterwardstheBullwithhishornsgoredhimasif he were an enemy.When theAss saw that the huge beastcould be assailed with impunity, he let drive at his foreheadwith his heels. The expiring Lion said, “I have reluctantlybrookedtheinsultsofthebrave,buttobecompelledtoenduresuchtreatmentfromthee,adisgracetoNature,isindeedtodieadoubledeath.”

TheOldHoundAHOUND,whointhedaysofhisyouthandstrengthhadneveryieldedtoanybeastoftheforest,encounteredinhisoldageaboarinthechase.Heseizedhimboldlybytheear,butcouldnotretainhisholdbecauseofthedecayofhisteeth,sothattheboarescaped. His master, quickly coming up, was very muchdisappointed,andfiercelyabusedthedog.TheHoundlookedupandsaid,“Itwasnotmyfaultmaster:myspiritwasasgoodasever,butIcouldnothelpmyinfirmities.IratherdeservetobepraisedforwhatIhavebeen,thantobeblamedforwhatIam.”

TheBeeandJupiterABEEfromMountHymettus,thequeenofthehive,ascendedto Olympus to present Jupiter some honey fresh from her

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combs.Jupiter,delightedwiththeofferingofhoney,promisedto givewhatever she should ask. She therefore besought him,saying,“Giveme, Ipray thee,asting, that ifanymortalshallapproachtotakemyhoney,Imaykillhim.”Jupiterwasmuchdispleased, forhe loved the raceofman,but couldnot refusetherequestbecauseofhispromise.HethusansweredtheBee:“Youshallhaveyourrequest,butitwillbeattheperilofyourownlife.Forifyouuseyoursting,itshallremaininthewoundyoumake,andthenyouwilldiefromthelossofit.”

Evilwishes,likechickens,comehometoroost.

TheMilk-WomanandHerPailAFARMER’SdaughterwascarryingherPailofmilkfromthefieldtothefarmhouse,whenshefella-musing.“Themoneyforwhich this milk will be sold, will buy at least three hundredeggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce twohundredandfiftychickens.Thechickenswillbecomereadyforthemarketwhenpoultrywillfetchthehighestprice,sothatbytheendoftheyearIshallhavemoneyenoughfrommysharetobuyanewgown.InthisdressIwillgototheChristmasparties,wherealltheyoungfellowswillproposetome,butIwilltossmyheadandrefusethemeveryone.”Atthismomentshetossedherheadinunisonwithherthoughts,whendownfellthemilkpailtotheground,andallherimaginaryschemesperishedinamoment.

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TheSeasideTravelersSOME TRAVELERS, journeying along the seashore, climbedtothesummitofatallcliff,andlookingoverthesea,sawinthedistancewhattheythoughtwasalargeship.Theywaitedinthehope of seeing it enter the harbor, but as the object onwhichtheylookedwasdrivennearertoshorebythewind,theyfoundthatitcouldatthemostbeasmallboat,andnotaship.When,however,itreachedthebeach,theydiscoveredthatitwasonlya large faggot of sticks, and one of them said to hiscompanions,“Wehavewaitedfornopurpose,forafterallthereisnothingtoseebutaloadofwood.”

Ourmereanticipationsoflifeoutrunitsrealities.

TheBrazierandHisDogABRAZIERhada littleDog,whichwasagreat favoritewithhis master, and his constant companion.While he hammeredawayathismetalstheDogslept;butwhen,ontheotherhand,he went to dinner and began to eat, the Dog woke up andwaggedhistail,asifhewouldaskforashareofhismeal.Hismasteroneday,pretendingtobeangryandshakinghisstickathim, said, “You wretched little sluggard! what shall I do toyou?WhileIamhammeringontheanvil,yousleeponthemat;

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andwhenIbegintoeataftermytoil,youwakeupandwagyourtailforfood.Doyounotknowthatlaboristhesourceofeveryblessing,andthatnonebutthosewhoworkareentitledtoeat?”

TheAssandHisShadowATRAVELERhiredanAss to conveyhim to adistantplace.Thedaybeingintenselyhot,andthesunshininginitsstrength,theTraveler stopped to rest, and sought shelter from the heatunder theShadowof theAss.As thisaffordedonlyprotectionfor one, and as the Traveler and the owner of the Ass bothclaimedit,aviolentdisputearosebetweenthemastowhichofthemhadtherighttotheShadow.TheownermaintainedthathehadlettheAssonly,andnothisShadow.TheTravelerassertedthathehad,withthehireoftheAss,hiredhisShadowalso.Thequarrel proceeded from words to blows, and while the menfought,theAssgallopedoff.

Inquarrelingabouttheshadowweoftenlosethesubstance.

TheAssandHisMastersANASS, belonging to an herb-sellerwho gave him too littlefood and too much work, made a petition to Jupiter to bereleased from his present service and provided with another

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master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent hisrequest, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortlyafterwards,findingthathehadheavierloadstocarryandharderwork in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change ofmaster.Jupiter,tellinghimthatitwouldbethelasttimethathecouldgranthisrequest,ordainedthathebesoldtoatanner.TheAss found that hehad fallen intoworsehands, andnotinghismaster’soccupation,said,groaning:“Itwouldhavebeenbetterformetohavebeeneitherstarvedbytheone,ortohavebeenoverworked by the other of my formermasters, than to havebeen bought by my present owner, who will even after I amdeadtanmyhide,andmakemeusefultohim.”

TheOakandtheReedsAVERYLARGEOAKwasuprootedby thewindand thrownacross a stream. It fell among some Reeds, which it thusaddressed:“Iwonderhowyou,whoaresolightandweak,arenotentirelycrushedbythesestrongwinds.”Theyreplied,“Youfight and contend with the wind, and consequently you aredestroyed;whileweonthecontrarybendbeforetheleastbreathofair,andthereforeremainunbroken,andescape.”

Stooptoconquer.

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AFISHERMANwholivedontheproduceofhisnets,onedaycaughtasinglesmallFishastheresultofhisday’slabor.TheFish, panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: “OSir,whatgoodcanIbetoyou,andhowlittleamIworth?Iamnotyetcometomyfullsize.Praysparemylife,andputmebackintothesea.Ishallsoonbecomealargefishfitforthetablesofthe rich, and then you can catch me again, and make ahandsome profit of me.” The Fisherman replied, “I shouldindeedbe a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greateruncertainprofit,Iweretoforegomypresentcertaingain.”

TheHunterandtheWoodmanAHUNTER, not very bold,was searching for the tracks of aLion.Heaskedamanfellingoaks in theforest ifhehadseenanymarksofhisfootstepsorknewwherehislairwas.“Iwill,”saidtheman,“atonceshowyoutheLionhimself.”TheHunter,turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear,replied,“No,thankyou.Ididnotaskthat;itishistrackonlyIaminsearchof,nottheLionhimself.”

Theheroisbraveindeedsaswellaswords.

TheWildBoarandtheFox

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AWILDBOARstoodunderatreeandrubbedhistusksagainstthe trunk.AFoxpassingbyaskedhimwhyhe thussharpenedhis teeth when there was no danger threatening from eitherhuntsmanorhound.Hereplied,“Idoitadvisedly;foritwouldneverdotohavetosharpenmyweaponsjustatthetimeIoughttobeusingthem.”

TheLioninaFarmyardALIONenteredafarmyard.TheFarmer,wishingtocatchhim,shutthegate.WhentheLionfoundthathecouldnotescape,heflew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked theoxen.TheFarmer,beginningtobealarmedforhisownsafety,opened the gate and released the Lion. On his departure theFarmer grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep andoxen, but his wife, who had been a spectator to all that tookplace,said,“Onmyword,youarerightlyserved,forhowcouldyouforamomentthinkofshuttingupaLionalongwithyouinyourfarmyardwhenyouknowthatyoushakeinyourshoesifyouonlyhearhisroaratadistance?”

MercuryandtheSculptorMERCURYONCEDETERMINEDto learn inwhatesteemhe

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was held among mortals. For this purpose he assumed thecharacter of a man and visited in this disguise a Sculptor’sstudiohavinglookedatvariousstatues,hedemandedthepriceoftwofiguresofJupiterandJuno.Whenthesumatwhichtheywere valued was named, he pointed to a figure of himself,sayingtotheSculptor,“Youwillcertainlywantmuchmoreforthis,asitisthestatueoftheMessengeroftheGods,andauthorofallyourgain.”TheSculptor replied,“Well, ifyouwillbuythese,I’llflingyouthatintothebargain.”

TheSwanandtheGooseA CERTAIN rich man bought in the market a Goose and aSwan.He fed the one for his table and kept the other for thesakeofitssong.WhenthetimecameforkillingtheGoose,thecookwenttogethimatnight,whenitwasdark,andhewasnotable to distinguish one bird from the other. By mistake hecaught the Swan instead of the Goose. The Swan, threatenedwithdeath,burstforthintosongandthusmadehimselfknownbyhisvoice,andpreservedhislifebyhismelody.

TheSwollenFoxAVERYHUNGRYFOX,seeingsomebreadandmeat leftbyshepherdsinthehollowofanoak,creptintotheholeandmade

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aheartymeal.Whenhefinished,hewassofullthathewasnotabletogetout,andbegantogroanandlamenthisfate.AnotherFox passing by heard his cries, and coming up, inquired thecause of his complaining.On learningwhat had happened, hesaidtohim,“Ah,youwillhavetoremainthere,myfriend,untilyoubecomesuchasyouwerewhenyoucreptin,andthenyouwilleasilygetout.”

TheFoxandtheWoodcutterAFOX,runningbefore thehounds,cameacrossaWoodcutterfellinganoakandbeggedhimtoshowhimasafehiding-place.TheWoodcutteradvisedhimtotakeshelterinhisownhut,sotheFoxcreptinandhidhimselfinacorner.ThehuntsmansooncameupwithhishoundsandinquiredoftheWoodcutterifhehadseentheFox.Hedeclaredthathehadnotseenhim,andyetpointed,allthetimehewasspeaking,tothehutwheretheFoxlay hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, butbelievinghisword,hastened forward in thechase.As soonasthey were well away, the Fox departed without taking anynotice of the Woodcutter: whereon he called to him andreproachedhim,saying,“Youungratefulfellow,youoweyourlifetome,andyetyouleavemewithoutawordofthanks.”TheFox replied, “Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently ifyourdeedshadbeenasgoodasyourwords,andifyourhandshadnotbeentraitorstoyourspeech.”

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TheBirdcatcher,thePartridge,andtheCockABIRDCATCHERwasabout tositdowntoadinnerofherbswhen a friend unexpectedly came in. The bird-trap was quiteempty, as he had caught nothing, and he had to kill a piedPartridge,whichhehad tamedforadecoy.Thebirdentreatedearnestly for his life: “What would you do without me whennext you spread your nets?Whowould chirp you to sleep, orcall for you the covey of answering birds?” The Birdcatchersparedhis life, anddetermined topickout a fineyoungCockjustattainingtohiscomb.ButtheCockexpostulatedinpiteoustonesfromhisperch:“Ifyoukillme,whowillannouncetoyoutheappearanceof thedawn?Whowillwakeyoutoyourdailytasks or tell you when it is time to visit the bird-trap in themorning?”Hereplied,“Whatyousayistrue.Youareacapitalbirdat telling the timeofday.ButmyfriendandImusthaveourdinners.”

Necessityknowsnolaw.

TheMonkeyandtheFishermenAMONKEY perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermencasting their nets into a river, and narrowly watched theirproceedings.TheFishermenafterawhilegaveupfishing,andon going home to dinner left their nets upon the bank. The

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Monkey,whoisthemostimitativeofanimals,descendedfromthe treetop and endeavored to do as they had done. Havinghandledthenet,hethrewitintotheriver,butbecametangledinthe meshes and drowned. With his last breath he said tohimself,“Iamrightlyserved;forwhatbusinesshadIwhohadneverhandledanettotryandcatchfish?”

TheFleaandtheWrestlerAFLEAsettledupon thebare footofaWrestler andbithim,causing theman to call loudly uponHercules for help.Whenthe Flea a second time hopped upon his foot, he groaned andsaid,“OHercules!ifyouwillnothelpmeagainstaFlea,howcanIhopeforyourassistanceagainstgreaterantagonists?”

TheTwoFrogsTWOFROGSdwelt inthesamepool.Whenthepooldriedupunder the summer’s heat, they left it and set out together foranotherhome.Astheywentalongtheychancedtopassadeepwell,amplysuppliedwithwater,andwhentheysawit,oneoftheFrogssaidtotheother,“Letusdescendandmakeourabodeinthiswell:itwillfurnishuswithshelterandfood.”Theotherrepliedwithgreatercaution,“Butsupposethewatershouldfailus.Howcanwegetoutagainfromsogreatadepth?”

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Donothingwithoutaregardtotheconsequences.

TheCatandtheMiceA CERTAIN HOUSE was overrun with Mice. A Cat,discovering this,madeherway into it andbegan tocatchandeat them one by one. Fearing for their lives, the Mice keptthemselvescloseintheirholes.TheCatwasnolongerable toget at them and perceived that shemust tempt them forth bysome device. For this purpose she jumped upon a peg, andsuspending herself from it, pretended to be dead. One of theMice, peeping stealthily out, sawher and said, “Ah,mygoodmadam,eventhoughyoushould turn intoameal-bag,wewillnotcomenearyou.”

TheLion,theBear,andtheFoxA LION and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, andfought fiercely for its possession. When they had fearfullylaceratedeachotherandwerefaintfromthelongcombat,theylaydownexhaustedwith fatigue.AFox,whohadgone roundthematadistanceseveraltimes,sawthembothstretchedonthegroundwith theKid lyinguntouched in themiddle.He ran inbetweenthem,andseizingtheKidscamperedoffasfastashe

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could.TheLionandtheBearsawhim,butnotbeingabletogetup, said, “Woe be to us, that we should have fought andbelaboredourselvesonlytoservetheturnofaFox.”

Itsometimeshappensthatonemanhasallthetoil,andanotheralltheprofit.

TheDoeandtheLionA DOE hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cavebelongingtoaLion.TheLionconcealedhimselfonseeingherapproach,butwhenshewassafewithin thecave,spranguponher and tore her to pieces. “Woe isme,” exclaimed the Doe,“who have escaped fromman, only to throwmyself into themouthofawildbeast?”

Inavoidingoneevil,caremustbetakennottofallintoanother.

TheFarmerandtheFoxAFARMER,whoboreagrudgeagainstaFoxfor robbinghispoultryyard,caughthimat last,andbeingdetermined to takeanamplerevenge,tiedsomeropewellsoakedinoiltohistail,and set it on fire. TheFox by a strange fatality rushed to thefieldsof theFarmerwhohadcapturedhim.Itwasthetimeof

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thewheatharvest;buttheFarmerreapednothingthatyearandreturnedhomegrievingsorely.

TheSeagullandtheKiteA SEAGULL, having bolted down too large a fish, burst itsdeepgullet-bagand laydownon the shore todie.AKite sawhimandexclaimed:“Yourichlydeserveyourfate;forabirdoftheairhasnobusinesstoseekitsfoodfromthesea.”

Everymanshouldbecontenttomindhisownbusiness.

ThePhilosopher,theAnts,andMercuryAPHILOSOPHERwitnessedfromtheshoretheshipwreckofavessel,ofwhichthecrewandpassengerswerealldrowned.HeinveighedagainsttheinjusticeofProvidence,whichwouldforthesakeofonecriminalperchancesailingintheshipallowsomanyinnocentpersonstoperish.Ashewasindulginginthesereflections, he found himself surrounded by a whole army ofAnts,nearwhosenesthewasstanding.Oneofthemclimbedupandstunghim,andheimmediatelytrampledthemalltodeathwith his foot. Mercury presented himself, and striking thePhilosopherwithhiswand,said,“AndareyouindeedtomakeyourselfajudgeofthedealingsofProvidence,whohastthyself

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inasimilarmannertreatedthesepoorAnts?”

TheMouseandtheBullA BULLwas bitten by aMouse and, angered by the wound,triedtocapturehim.ButtheMousereachedhisholeinsafety.Though the Bull dug into the walls with his horns, he tiredbeforehecouldroutouttheMouse,andcrouchingdown,wenttosleepoutsidethehole.TheMousepeepedout,creptfurtivelyup his flank, and again biting him, retreated to his hole. TheBull, rising up and not knowing what to do, was sadlyperplexed.AtwhichtheMousesaid,“Thegreatdonotalwaysprevail. There are times when the small and lowly are thestrongesttodomischief.”

TheLionandtheHareALIONcameacrossaHare,whowasfastasleep.Hewasjustintheactofseizingher,whenafineyoungHarttrottedby,andhe left theHare to followhim.TheHare, scaredby thenoise,awoke and scudded away. The Lion was unable after a longchasetocatchtheHart,andreturnedtofeedupontheHare.Onfinding that theHare also had run off, he said, “I am rightlyserved,forhavingletgoofthefoodthatIhadinmyhandforthechanceofobtainingmore.”

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ThePeasantandtheEagleA PEASANT found an Eagle captured in a trap, and muchadmiring the bird, set him free. The Eagle did not proveungratefultohisdeliverer,forseeingthePeasantsittingunderawallwhichwasnotsafe,heflewtowardhimandwithhistalonssnatched a bundle from his head. When the Peasant rose inpursuit, the Eagle let the bundle fall again. Taking it up, theman returned to the same place, to find that the wall underwhichhehadbeensittinghadfallentopieces;andhemarveledattheservicerenderedhimbytheEagle.

TheImageofMercuryandtheCarpenterA VERY POOR MAN, a Carpenter by trade, had a woodenimageofMercury,beforewhichhemadeofferingsdaybyday,and begged the idol to make him rich, but in spite of hisentreaties he became poorer and poorer. At last, being veryangry,hetookhisimagedownfromitspedestalanddasheditagainst thewall.When its headwas knocked off, out came astreamofgold,whichtheCarpenterquicklypickedupandsaid,“Well, I think thou art altogether contradictory andunreasonable;forwhenIpaidyouhonor,Ireapednobenefits:butnowthatImaltreatyouIamloadedwithanabundanceof

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riches.”

TheBullandtheGoatA BULL, escaping from a Lion, hid in a cave which someshepherdshadrecentlyoccupied.Assoonasheentered,aHe-Goat left in thecavesharplyattackedhimwithhishorns.TheBullquietlyaddressedhim:“Buttawayasmuchasyouwill.Ihavenofearofyou,butoftheLion.LetthatmonstergoawayandIwillsoonletyouknowwhatistherespectivestrengthofaGoatandaBull.”

It shows an evil disposition to take advantage of a friend indistress.

TheDancingMonkeysAPRINCEhadsomeMonkeystrainedtodance.Beingnaturallygreatmimics ofmen’s actions, they showed themselvesmostapt pupils, andwhen arrayed in their rich clothes andmasks,theydancedaswellasanyof thecourtiers.Thespectaclewasoften repeated with great applause, till on one occasion acourtier, bent onmischief, took from his pocket a handful ofnutsandthrewthemuponthestage.TheMonkeysat thesightof the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they

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were)Monkeys instead of actors. Pulling off theirmasks andtearing their robes, they foughtwith one another for the nuts.Thedancingspectaclethuscametoanendamidstthelaughterandridiculeoftheaudience.

TheFoxandtheLeopardTHE FOX and the Leopard disputed which was the morebeautiful of the two. The Leopard exhibited one by one thevarious spots which decorated his skin. But the Fox,interruptinghim,said,“AndhowmuchmorebeautifulthanyouamI,whoamdecorated,notinbody,butinmind.”

TheMonkeysandTheirMotherTHEMONKEY, it is said, has two young ones at each birth.The Mother fondles one and nurtures it with the greatestaffectionandcare,buthatesandneglectstheother.Ithappenedonce that the young one which was caressed and loved wassmotheredby the toogreat affectionof theMother,while thedespisedonewasnurturedandrearedinspiteoftheneglecttowhichitwasexposed.

Thebestintentionswillnotalwaysensuresuccess.

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TheOaksandJupiterTHEOAKSpresentedacomplainttoJupiter,saying,“Webearfornopurpose theburdenof life,asofall the trees thatgrowweare themostcontinually inperilof theaxe.” Jupitermadeanswer:“Youhaveonlytothankyourselvesforthemisfortunesto which you are exposed: for if you did not make suchexcellentpillarsandposts,andproveyourselvessoserviceableto the carpenters and the farmers, the axe would not sofrequentlybelaidtoyourroots.”

TheHareandtheHoundAHOUND started aHare from his lair, but after a long run,gaveupthechase.Agoat-herd,seeinghimstop,mockedhim,saying,“Thelittleoneisthebestrunnerofthetwo.”TheHoundreplied,“Youdonotseethedifferencebetweenus:Iwasonlyrunningforadinner,butheforhislife.”

TheTravelerandFortuneA TRAVELER wearied from a long journey lay down,overcomewithfatigue,ontheverybrinkofadeepwell.Justas

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hewas about to fall into thewater,Dame Fortune, it is said,appeared to him and waking him from his slumber thusaddressedhim:“GoodSir,praywakeup:forifyoufallintothewell, the blame will be thrown on me, and I shall get an illname amongmortals; for I find that men are sure to imputetheir calamities tome,howevermuchby their own folly theyhavereallybroughtthemonthemselves.”

Everyoneismoreorlessmasterofhisownfate.

TheBaldKnightABALDKNIGHT,whoworeawig,wentouttohunt.Asuddenpuff ofwind blew off his hat andwig, atwhich a loud laughrang forth from his companions. He pulled up his horse, andwithgreatgleejoinedinthejokebysaying,“Whatamarvelitisthathairswhicharenotmineshouldflyfromme,whentheyhaveforsakeneventhemanonwhoseheadtheygrew.”

TheShepherdandtheDogASHEPHERDpenninghissheepin thefoldfor thenightwasabouttoshutupawolfwiththem,whenhisDog,perceivingthewolf,said,“Master,howcanyouexpectthesheeptobesafeifyouadmitawolfintothefold?”

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TheLampA LAMP, soaked with too much oil and flaring brightly,boastedthatitgavemorelightthanthesun.Thenasuddenpuffofwindarose,andtheLampwasimmediatelyextinguished.Itsownerlititagain,andsaid:“Boastnomore,buthenceforthbecontenttogivethylightinsilence.Knowthatnoteventhestarsneedtoberelit.”

TheLion,theFox,andtheAssTHELION, theFoxand theAssentered intoanagreement toassisteachotherinthechase.Havingsecuredalargebooty,theLionon their return from the forest asked theAss toallothisdueportiontoeachofthethreepartnersinthetreaty.TheAsscarefullydividedthespoilintothreeequalsharesandmodestlyrequested the two others to make the first choice. The Lion,bursting out into a great rage, devoured the Ass. Then herequestedtheFoxtodohimthefavortomakeadivision.TheFoxaccumulatedallthattheyhadkilledintoonelargeheapandleft to himself the smallest possible morsel. The Lion said,“Who has taught you, my very excellent fellow, the art ofdivision?Youareperfecttoafraction.”Hereplied,“IlearneditfromtheAss,bywitnessinghisfate.”

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Happyisthemanwholearnsfromthemisfortunesofothers.

TheBull,theLioness,andtheWild-BoarHunterABULL, findinga lion’scubasleep,goredhim todeathwithhishorns.TheLionesscameup,andbitterlylamentedthedeathofherwhelp.Awild-boarHunter,seeingherdistress,stoodatadistanceandsaidtoher,“Thinkhowmanymentherearewhohave reason to lament the lossof theirchildren,whosedeathshavebeencausedbyyou.”

TheOakandtheWoodcuttersTHEWOODCUTTERcutdownaMountainOakandsplititinpieces, making wedges of its own branches for dividing thetrunk.TheOaksaidwithasigh,“Idonotcareabouttheblowsof theaxeaimedatmy roots,but Idogrieveatbeing torn inpiecesbythesewedgesmadefrommyownbranches.”

Misfortunesspringingfromourselvesarethehardesttobear.

TheHenandtheGoldenEggs

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ACOTTAGERandhiswifehad aHen that laid agolden eggevery day. They supposed that the Hen must contain a greatlump of gold in its inside, and in order to get the gold theykilled it.Havingdone so, they found to their surprise that theHen differed in no respect from their other hens. The foolishpair, thus hoping to become rich all at once, deprivedthemselvesofthegainofwhichtheywereassureddaybyday.

TheAssandtheFrogsANASS,carryingaloadofwood,passedthroughapond.Ashewas crossing through the water he lost his footing, stumbledand fell, and, not being able to rise on account of his load,groaned heavily. Some Frogs frequenting the pool heard hislamentation, and said, “Whatwouldyoudo ifyouhad to liveherealwaysaswedo,whenyoumakesuchafussaboutamerefallintothewater?”

Menoftenbearlittlegrievanceswithlesscouragethantheydolargemisfortunes.

TheCrowandtheRavenACROWwasjealousoftheRaven,becausehewasconsidered

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abirdofgoodomenandalwaysattractedtheattentionofmen,whonotedbyhisflightthegoodorevilcourseoffutureevents.Seeing some travelers approaching, the Crow flew up into atree, and, perching herself on one of the branches, cawed asloudlyasshecould.Thetravelersturnedtowardsthesoundandwondered what it foreboded, when one of them said to hiscompanion,“Letusproceedonourjourney,myfriend,foritisonlythecawofacrow,andhercry,youknow,isnoomen.”

Thosewhoassumeacharacterwhichdoesnotbelongtothem,onlymakethemselvesridiculous.

TheTreesandtheAxeAMANcameintoaforestandaskedtheTreestoprovidehimahandleforhisaxe.TheTreesconsentedtohisrequestandgavehim a young ash-tree. No sooner had the man fitted a newhandle tohis axe from it, thanhebegan touse it andquicklyfelledwithhis strokes thenoblestgiantsof the forest.Anoldoak,lamentingwhentoolatethedestructionofhiscompanions,saidtoaneighboringcedar,“Thefirststephaslostusall.Ifwehad not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet haveretainedourownprivilegesandhavestoodforages.”

TheCrabandtheFox"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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A CRAB, forsaking the seashore, chose a neighboring greenmeadow as its feeding ground.A Fox came across him, and,beingveryhungry, atehimup. Just ashewason thepointofbeing eaten, the Crab said, “I well deservemy fate, forwhatbusinesshadIontheland,whenbymynatureandhabitsIamonlyadaptedforthesea?”

Contentmentwithourlotisanelementofhappiness.

TheWomanandHerHenAWOMANpossessed aHen that gave her an egg every day.She often pondered how she might obtain two eggs dailyinsteadofone, andat last, togainherpurpose,determined togive theHenadouble allowanceofbarley.From thatday theHenbecamefatandsleek,andneveroncelaidanotheregg.

TheAssandtheOldShepherdA SHEPHERD, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, wasalarmedallofasuddenbythecriesoftheenemy.HeappealedtotheAsstoflywithhim,lesttheyshouldbothbecaptured,buttheanimallazilyreplied,“WhyshouldI,pray?Doyouthinkitlikely the conqueror will place onme two sets of panniers?”

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“No,”rejoinedtheShepherd.“Then,”saidtheAss,“aslongasIcarrythepanniers,whatmattersittomewhomIserve?”

Inachangeofgovernmentthepoorchangenothingbeyondthenameoftheirmaster.

TheKitesandtheSwansTHE KITES of olden times, as well as the Swans, had theprivilegeofsong.Buthavingheardtheneighofthehorse,theyweresoenchantedwiththesound,thattheytriedtoimitateit;and,intryingtoneigh,theyforgothowtosing.

The desire for imaginary benefits often involves the loss ofpresentblessings.

TheWolvesandtheSheepdogsTHE WOLVES thus addressed the Sheepdogs: “Why shouldyou,whoare likeus insomany things,notbeentirelyofonemindwith us, and livewith us as brothers should?We differfromyou inonepointonly.We live in freedom,butyoubowdowntoandslaveformen,whoinreturnforyourservicesflogyouwithwhipsandputcollarsonyournecks.Theymakeyoualsoguardtheirsheep,andwhiletheyeatthemuttonthrowonly

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thebonestoyou.Ifyouwillbepersuadedbyus,youwillgiveusthesheep,andwewillenjoythemincommon,tillweallaresurfeited.”TheDogslistenedfavorablytotheseproposals,and,enteringthedenoftheWolves,theyweresetuponandtorntopieces.

TheHaresandtheFoxesTHEHARESwagedwarwith theEagles, and calledupon theFoxes to help them. They replied, “Wewould willingly havehelpedyou,ifwehadnotknownwhoyouwere,andwithwhomyouwerefighting.”

Countthecostbeforeyoucommityourselves.

TheBowmanandLionA VERY SKILLFUL BOWMAN went to the mountains insearch of game, but all the beasts of the forest fled at hisapproach. The Lion alone challenged him to combat. TheBowmanimmediatelyshotoutanarrowandsaidtotheLion:“Isendtheemymessenger,thatfromhimthoumayestlearnwhatImyselfshallbewhenIassailthee.”ThewoundedLionrushedawayingreatfear,andwhenaFoxwhohadseenitallhappentoldhimtobeofgoodcourageandnot tobackoffat thefirst

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attack,hereplied:“Youcounselmeinvain;forifhesendssofearful a messenger, how shall I abide the attack of the manhimself?”

Beonguardagainstmenwhocanstrikefromadistance.

TheCamelWHENMANfirst saw theCamel,hewasso frightenedathisvast size that he ran away. After a time, perceiving themeekness andgentleness of thebeast’s temper, he summonedcourage enough to approach him. Soon afterwards, observingthathewasananimalaltogetherdeficientinspirit,heassumedsuchboldnessastoputabridleinhismouth,andtoletachilddrivehim.

Useservestoovercomedread.

TheWaspandtheSnakeAWASPseatedhimselfupontheheadofaSnakeand,strikinghim unceasingly with his stings, wounded him to death. TheSnake, being in great torment and not knowing how to ridhimself of his enemy, saw awagon heavily ladenwithwood,and went and purposely placed his head under the wheels,

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saying,“AtleastmyenemyandIshallperishtogether.”

TheDogandtheHareAHOUND,having started aHareon thehillside, pursuedherforsomedistance,atonetimebitingherwithhisteethasifhewould take her life, and at another fawninguponher, as if inplaywithanotherdog.TheHaresaidtohim,“Iwishyouwouldact sincerelybyme, and showyourself inyour true colors. Ifyouareafriend,whydoyoubitemesohard?Ifanenemy,whydoyoufawnonme?”

No one can be a friend if you know not whether to trust ordistrusthim.

TheBullandtheCalfA BULL was striving with all his might to squeeze himselfthroughanarrowpassagewhich led tohisstall.AyoungCalfcame up, and offered to go before and show him theway bywhich he could manage to pass. “Save yourself the trouble,”saidtheBull;“Iknewthatwaylongbeforeyouwereborn.”

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TheStag,theWolf,andtheSheepA STAG asked a Sheep to lend him ameasure ofwheat, andsaidthattheWolfwouldbehissurety.TheSheep,fearingsomefraud was intended, excused herself, saying, “The Wolf isaccustomedtoseizewhathewantsandtorunoff;andyou,too,canquicklyoutstripmeinyourrapidflight.HowthenshallIbeabletofindyou,whenthedayofpaymentcomes?”

Twoblacksdonotmakeonewhite.

ThePeacockandtheCraneAPEACOCKspreading itsgorgeous tailmockedaCrane thatpassedby,ridiculingtheashenhueof itsplumageandsaying,“Iamrobed,likeaking,ingoldandpurpleandallthecolorsoftherainbow;whileyouhavenotabitofcoloronyourwings.”“True,”repliedtheCrane;“butIsoar to theheightsofheavenandliftupmyvoicetothestars,whileyouwalkbelow,likeacock,amongthebirdsofthedunghill.”

Finefeathersdon’tmakefinebirds.

TheFoxandtheHedgehog

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AFOXswimmingacrossarapidriverwascarriedbytheforceof thecurrent intoaverydeepravine,wherehelayfora longtimeverymuchbruised,sick,andunabletomove.Aswarmofhungry blood-sucking flies settled upon him. A Hedgehog,passing by, saw his anguish and inquired if he should driveaway the flies that were tormenting him. “By no means,”repliedtheFox;“praydonotmolestthem.”“Howisthis?”saidthe Hedgehog; “do you not want to be rid of them?” “No,”returned the Fox, “for these flies which you see are full ofblood,andstingmebutlittle,andifyouridmeofthesewhichare already satiated, others more hungry will come in theirplace,andwilldrinkupallthebloodIhaveleft.”

TheEagle,theCat,andtheWildSowAN EAGLE made her nest at the top of a lofty oak; a Cat,having foundaconvenienthole,moved into themiddleof thetrunk;andaWildSow,withheryoung,tookshelterinahollowat its foot.TheCatcunningly resolved todestroy thischance-madecolony.Tocarryoutherdesign,sheclimbedtothenestoftheEagle,andsaid,“Destruction ispreparing foryou,and forme too, unfortunately. The Wild Sow, whom you see dailydigginguptheearth,wishestouproottheoak,soshemayonitsfall seize our families as food for her young.” Having thusfrightened the Eagle out of her senses, she crept down to thecaveof theSow,andsaid,“Yourchildrenare ingreatdanger;forassoonasyougooutwithyourlittertofindfood,theEagleis prepared to pounce upon one of your little pigs.” Having"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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instilled these fears into the Sow, she went and pretended tohide herself in the hollow of the tree. When night came shewentforthwithsilentfootandobtainedfoodforherselfandherkittens,butfeigningtobeafraid,shekeptalookoutallthroughtheday.Meanwhile,theEagle,fulloffearoftheSow,satstillon the branches, and the Sow, terrified by the Eagle, did notdare to go out fromher cave.And thus they both, alongwiththeir families, perished from hunger, and afforded ampleprovisionfortheCatandherkittens.

TheThiefandtheInnkeeperA THIEF hired a room in a tavern and stayed a while in thehopeofstealingsomethingwhichshouldenablehimtopayhisreckoning.Whenhehadwaitedsomedaysinvain,hesawtheInnkeeper dressed in a new and handsome coat and sittingbeforehisdoor.TheThiefsatdownbesidehimandtalkedwithhim. As the conversation began to flag, the Thief yawnedterriblyandatthesametimehowledlikeawolf.TheInnkeepersaid,“Whydoyouhowlsofearfully?”“Iwilltellyou,”saidtheThief, “but first letme askyou toholdmyclothes, or I shalltear them to pieces. I know not, sir, when I got this habit ofyawning,norwhethertheseattacksofhowlingwereinflictedonmeasajudgmentformycrimes,orforanyothercause;butthisIdoknow,thatwhenIyawnforthethirdtime,Iactuallyturnintoawolfandattackmen.”Withthisspeechhecommencedasecondfitofyawningandagainhowledlikeawolf,ashehadatfirst.TheInnkeeper,hearinghistaleandbelievingwhathesaid,"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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becamegreatlyalarmedand,risingfromhisseat,attemptedtorunaway.TheThieflaidholdofhiscoatandentreatedhimtostop,saying,“Praywait,sir,andholdmyclothes,orIshalltearthemtopiecesinmyfury,whenIturnintoawolf.”Atthesamemoment he yawned the third time and set up a terrible howl.The Innkeeper, frightened lest he should be attacked, left hisnewcoatintheThief’shandandranasfastashecouldintotheinn for safety. The Thiefmade off with the coat and did notreturnagaintotheinn.

Everytaleisnottobebelieved.

TheMuleAMULE, frolicsome from lack of work and from too muchcorn,gallopedaboutinaveryextravagantmanner,andsaidtohimself:“Myfathersurelywasahigh-mettledracer,andIamhisownchildinspeedandspirit.”Onthenextday,beingdrivena long journey, and feeling very wearied, he exclaimed in adisconsolate tone: “I must have made a mistake; my father,afterall,couldhavebeenonlyanass.”

TheHartandtheVineA HART, hard pressed in the chase, hid himself beneath the

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large leavesof aVine.Thehuntsmen, in their haste, overshotthe place of his concealment. Supposing all danger to havepassed,theHartbegantonibblethetendrilsoftheVine.Oneofthe huntsmen, attracted by the rustling of the leaves, lookedback, and seeing the Hart, shot an arrow from his bow andstruckit.TheHart,atthepointofdeath,groaned:“Iamrightlyserved, for I should not have maltreated the Vine that savedme.”

TheSerpentandtheEagleASERPENTand anEaglewere strugglingwith each other indeadlyconflict.TheSerpenthadtheadvantage,andwasaboutto strangle thebird.Acountrymansaw them,and runningup,loosed the coil of the Serpent and let the Eagle go free. TheSerpent, irritatedat theescapeofhisprey, injectedhispoisoninto thedrinkinghornof thecountryman.The rustic, ignorantof his danger, was about to drink, when the Eagle struck hishandwithhiswing,and,seizingthedrinkinghorninhistalons,carrieditaloft.

TheCrowandthePitcherACROWperishingwiththirstsawapitcher,andhopingtofindwater,flewtoitwithdelight.Whenhereachedit,hediscovered

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to his grief that it contained so little water that he could notpossiblygetatit.Hetriedeverythinghecouldthinkoftoreachthewater,butallhiseffortswereinvain.Atlasthecollectedasmany stones as he could carry and dropped them one by onewithhisbeakintothepitcher,untilhebroughtthewaterwithinhisreachandthussavedhislife.

Necessityisthemotherofinvention.

TheTwoFrogsTWOFROGSwereneighbors.One inhabitedadeeppond, farremovedfrompublicview;theotherlivedinagullycontaininglittlewater,andtraversedbyacountryroad.TheFrogthatlivedin the pond warned his friend to change his residence andentreatedhimtocomeandlivewithhim,sayingthathewouldenjoygreatersafetyfromdangerandmoreabundantfood.Theotherrefused,sayingthathefeltitsoveryhardtoleaveaplacetowhichhehadbecomeaccustomed.Afewdaysafterwardsaheavywagonpassedthroughthegullyandcrushedhimtodeathunderitswheels.

Awillfulmanwillhavehiswaytohisownhurt.

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ATONETIMEavery largeandstrongWolfwasbornamongthe wolves, who exceeded all his fellow-wolves in strength,size, and swiftness, so that they unanimously decided to callhim“Lion.”TheWolf,withalackofsenseproportionedtohisenormoussize,thoughtthattheygavehimthisnameinearnest,and,leavinghisownrace,consortedexclusivelywiththelions.AnoldslyFox,seeingthis,said,“MayInevermakemyselfsoridiculous as you do in your pride and self-conceit; for eventhoughyouhavethesizeofalionamongwolves, inaherdoflionsyouaredefinitelyawolf.”

TheWalnut-TreeAWALNUTTREEstandingbytheroadsideboreanabundantcropoffruit.Forthesakeofthenuts, thepassers-bybrokeitsbranches with stones and sticks. The Walnut-Tree piteouslyexclaimed,“Owretchedme!thatthosewhomIcheerwithmyfruitshouldrepaymewiththesepainfulrequitals!”

TheGnatandtheLionAGNAT came and said to aLion, “I do not in the least fearyou, nor are you stronger than I am. For in what does yourstrengthconsist?Youcanscratchwithyourclawsandbitewith

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your teeth an a woman in her quarrels. I repeat that I amaltogethermorepowerful thanyou;and ifyoudoubt it, letusfightandseewhowillconquer.”TheGnat,havingsoundedhishorn, fastened himself upon the Lion and stung him on thenostrilsandthepartsofthefacedevoidofhair.Whiletryingtocrush him, the Lion tore himself with his claws, until hepunished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over theLion,and,buzzingaboutinasongoftriumph,flewaway.Butshortly afterwards he became entangled in the meshes of acobwebandwaseatenbyaspider.Hegreatlylamentedhisfate,saying,“Woeisme!thatI,whocanwagewarsuccessfullywiththe hugest beasts, should perish myself from this spider, themostinconsiderableofinsects!”

TheMonkeyandtheDolphinASAILOR,boundonalongvoyage,tookwithhimaMonkeytoamusehimwhileonshipboard.AshesailedoffthecoastofGreece,aviolenttempestaroseinwhichtheshipwaswreckedandhe,hisMonkey,andallthecrewwereobligedtoswimfortheir lives. A Dolphin saw the Monkey contending with thewaves,andsupposinghimtobeaman(whomheisalwayssaidtobefriend),cameandplacedhimselfunderhim,toconveyhimon his back in safety to the shore.When theDolphin arrivedwithhisburdeninsightof landnotfarfromAthens,heaskedtheMonkey ifhewereanAthenian.The latter replied thathewas, and that he was descended from one of the most noblefamiliesinthatcity.TheDolphintheninquiredifheknewthe"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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Piraeus (the famous harbor ofAthens). Supposing that amanwasmeant, theMonkeyanswered thatheknewhimverywelland that hewas an intimate friend.TheDolphin, indignant atthese falsehoods, dipped the Monkey under the water anddrownedhim.

TheJackdawandtheDovesA JACKDAW, seeing some Doves in a cote abundantlyprovidedwith food, paintedhimselfwhite and joined them inorder toshare theirplentifulmaintenance.TheDoves,as longas he was silent, supposed him to be one of themselves andadmittedhimtotheircote.Butwhenonedayheforgothimselfand began to chatter, they discovered his true character anddrovehimforth,peckinghimwiththeirbeaks.FailingtoobtainfoodamongtheDoves,hereturnedtotheJackdaws.Theytoo,notrecognizinghimonaccountofhiscolor,expelledhimfromlivingwiththem.Sodesiringtwoends,heobtainedneither.

TheHorseandtheStagAT ONE TIME the Horse had the plain entirely to himself.Then a Stag intruded into his domain and shared his pasture.TheHorse,desiringtorevengehimselfonthestranger,askedamanifhewerewillingtohelphiminpunishingtheStag.The

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manrepliedthat if theHorsewouldreceiveabit inhismouthand agree to carry him, he would contrive effective weaponsagainst theStag.TheHorseconsentedandallowedthemantomounthim.From thathourhe found that insteadofobtainingrevengeontheStag,hehadenslavedhimself to theserviceofman.

TheKidandtheWolfA KID, returning without protection from the pasture, waspursuedbyaWolf.Seeinghecouldnotescape,heturnedround,and said: “I know, friendWolf, that Imust be your prey, butbefore I die Iwould askofyouone favoryouwill playmeatunetowhichImaydance.”TheWolfcomplied,andwhilehewaspipingandtheKidwasdancing,somehoundshearingthesoundranupandbeganchasing theWolf.Turningto theKid,hesaid,“ItisjustwhatIdeserve;forI,whoamonlyabutcher,shouldnothaveturnedpipertopleaseyou.”

TheProphetAWIZARD,sittinginthemarketplace,wastellingthefortunesof the passers-by when a person ran up in great haste, andannouncedtohimthat thedoorsofhishousehadbeenbrokenopenandthatallhisgoodswerebeingstolen.Hesighedheavily

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andhastenedawayasfastashecouldrun.Aneighborsawhimrunning and said, “Oh! you fellow there! you say you canforetell the fortunes of others; how is it you did not foreseeyourown?”

TheFoxandtheMonkeyAFOXandaMonkeyweretravelingtogetheronthesameroad.As they journeyed, they passed through a cemetery full ofmonuments. “All these monuments which you see,” said theMonkey, “are erected in honor ofmy ancestors, whowere intheir day freedmen and citizens of great renown.” The Foxreplied,“Youhavechosenamostappropriatesubjectforyourfalsehoods,asIamsurenoneofyourancestorswillbeabletocontradictyou.”

Afalsetaleoftenbetraysitself.

TheThiefandtheHousedogATHIEFcame in thenight tobreak intoahouse.HebroughtwithhimseveralslicesofmeatinordertopacifytheHousedog,sothathewouldnotalarmhismasterbybarking.AstheThiefthrew him the pieces ofmeat, the Dog said, “If you think tostop my mouth, you will be greatly mistaken. This sudden

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kindnessatyourhandswillonlymakememorewatchful, lestundertheseunexpectedfavorstomyself,youhavesomeprivateends toaccomplishforyourownbenefit,andformymaster’sinjury.”

TheMan,theHorse,theOx,andtheDogA HORSE, Ox, and Dog, driven to great straits by the cold,sought shelter and protection from Man. He received themkindly,lightedafire,andwarmedthem.HelettheHorsemakefreewithhisoats,gavetheOxanabundanceofhay,andfedtheDogwithmeat from his own table.Grateful for these favors,theanimalsdeterminedtorepayhimtothebestoftheirability.For this purpose, they divided the term of his life betweenthem, and each endowed one portion of it with the qualitieswhich chiefly characterized himself. The Horse chose hisearliest years and gave them his own attributes: hence everyman is in his youth impetuous, headstrong, and obstinate inmaintaininghisownopinion.TheOxtookunderhispatronagethe next term of life, and thereforeman in hismiddle age isfond ofwork, devoted to labor, and resolute to amasswealthandtohusbandhisresources.Theendof lifewasreservedfortheDog,whereforetheoldmanisoftensnappish,irritable,hardtoplease, and selfish, tolerantonlyofhisownhousehold, butaverse to strangers and to all who do not administer to hiscomfortortohisnecessities.

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TheApesandtheTwoTravelersTWOMEN,onewhoalwaysspokethetruthandtheotherwhotold nothing but lies, were traveling together and by chancecame to the land ofApes. One of theApes, who had raisedhimselftobeking,commandedthemtobeseizedandbroughtbefore him, that hemight knowwhatwas said of him amongmen.HeorderedatthesametimethatalltheApesbearrangedinalongrowonhisrighthandandonhisleft,andthatathronebeplacedforhim,aswas thecustomamongmen.After thesepreparations he signified that the twomen should be broughtbeforehim,andgreetedthemwiththissalutation:“WhatsortofakingdoIseemtoyoutobe,Ostrangers?”TheLyingTravelerreplied, “You seem tomeamostmightyking.” “Andwhat isyourestimateofthoseyouseearoundme?”“These,”hemadeanswer, “areworthy companionsof yourself, fit at least to beambassadorsandleadersofarmies.”TheApeandallhiscourt,gratifiedwith the lie, commanded that ahandsomepresentbegiven to the flatterer.On this the truthfulTraveler thought tohimself,“Ifsogreatarewardbegivenforalie,withwhatgiftmay not I be rewarded, if, according tomy custom, I tell thetruth?”TheApequicklyturnedtohim.“AndprayhowdoIandthesemyfriendsaroundmeseemtoyou?”“Thouart,”hesaid,“amostexcellentApe,andall these thycompanionsafter thyexampleareexcellentApestoo.”TheKingoftheApes,enragedathearingthesetruths,gavehimovertotheteethandclawsofhiscompanions.

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TheWolfandtheShepherdAWOLFfollowedaflockofsheepforalongtimeanddidnotattempttoinjureoneofthem.TheShepherdatfirststoodonhisguardagainsthim,asagainstanenemy,andkeptastrictwatchoverhismovements.ButwhentheWolf,dayafterday,keptinthecompanyofthesheepanddidnotmaketheslightesteffortto seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as aguardianofhisflockratherthanasaplotterofevilagainst it;andwhenoccasioncalledhimonedayintothecity,heleftthesheep entirely in his charge. The Wolf, now that he had theopportunity,felluponthesheep,anddestroyedthegreaterpartof the flock. When the Shepherd returned to find his flockdestroyed,heexclaimed:“Ihavebeenrightlyserved;whydidItrustmysheeptoaWolf?”

TheHaresandtheLionsTHE HARES harangued the assembly, and argued that allshould be equal. The Lionsmade this reply: “Your words, OHares!aregood;buttheylackbothclawsandteethsuchaswehave.”

TheLarkandHerYoungOnes

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ALARK hadmade her nest in the early spring on the younggreenwheat.Thebroodhadalmostgrowntotheirfullstrengthandattainedtheuseoftheirwingsandthefullplumageoftheirfeathers, when the owner of the field, looking over his ripecrop, said, “The time has come when I must ask all myneighborstohelpmewithmyharvest.”OneoftheyoungLarksheardhisspeechandrelatedittohismother,inquiringofhertowhatplacetheyshouldmoveforsafety.“Thereisnooccasiontomoveyet,myson,”shereplied;“themanwhoonlysendstohisfriendstohelphimwithhisharvestisnotreallyinearnest.”Theownerofthefieldcameagainafewdayslaterandsawthewheat shedding thegrain fromexcess of ripeness.He said, “Iwillcomemyselftomorrowwithmylaborers,andwithasmanyreapersasIcanhire,andwillgetintheharvest.”TheLarkonhearingthesewordssaidtoherbrood,“Itistimenowtobeoff,mylittleones,forthemanisinearnestthistime;henolongertrustshisfriends,butwillreapthefieldhimself.”

Self-helpisthebesthelp.

TheFoxandtheLionWHENAFOXwhohadneveryetseenaLion,fellinwithhimbychanceforthefirst timeintheforest,hewassofrightenedthat he nearly diedwith fear.Onmeeting him for the secondtime,hewasstillmuchalarmed,butnottothesameextentasat

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first.Onseeinghimthethirdtime,hesoincreasedinboldnessthathewentuptohimandcommencedafamiliarconversationwithhim.

Acquaintancesoftensprejudices.

TheWeaselandtheMiceAWEASEL,inactivefromageandinfirmities,wasnotabletocatchmiceasheoncedid.Hethereforerolledhimselfinflourandlaydowninadarkcorner.AMouse,supposinghimtobefood, leapeduponhim,andwas instantlycaughtandsqueezedtodeath.Anotherperishedinasimilarmanner,andthenathird,andstillothersafterthem.AveryoldMouse,whohadescapedmanyatrapandsnare,observedfromasafedistancethetrickof his crafty foe and said, “Ah! you that lie there, may youprosperjustinthesameproportionasyouarewhatyoupretendtobe!”

TheBoyBathingABOYbathinginariverwasindangerofbeingdrowned.Hecalledouttoapassingtravelerforhelp,butinsteadofholdingout a helping hand, the man stood by unconcernedly, andscoldedtheboyforhisimprudence.“Oh,sir!”criedtheyouth,

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“prayhelpmenowandscoldmeafterwards.”

Counselwithouthelpisuseless.

TheAssandtheWolfANASSfeedinginameadowsawaWolfapproachingtoseizehim,andimmediatelypretendedtobelame.TheWolf,comingup, inquired the cause of his lameness. TheAss replied thatpassingthroughahedgehehadtrodwithhisfootuponasharpthorn.Herequested that theWolfpull itout, lestwhenheatehim it should injurehis throat.TheWolfconsentedand liftedupthefoot,andwasgivinghiswholemindtothediscoveryofthethorn,whentheAss,withhisheels,kickedhisteethintohismouth and galloped away. The Wolf, being thus fearfullymauled,said,“Iamrightlyserved,forwhydidIattempttheartof healing, when my father only taught me the trade of abutcher?”

TheSellerofImagesA CERTAIN MAN made a wooden image of Mercury andoffered it forsale.Whennooneappearedwilling tobuyit, inordertoattractpurchasers,hecriedoutthathehadthestatuetosellofabenefactorwhobestowedwealthandhelpedtoheapup

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riches. One of the bystanders said to him, “My good fellow,whydoyou sell him,being such aone asyoudescribe,whenyou may yourself enjoy the good things he has to give?”“Why,”hereplied,“Iaminneedofimmediatehelp,andheiswonttogivehisgoodgiftsveryslowly.”

TheFoxandtheGrapesA FAMISHED FOX saw some clusters of ripe black grapeshanging froma trellisedvine.She resorted toallher tricks togetatthem,butweariedherselfinvain,forshecouldnotreachthem.At last she turned away, hidingher disappointment andsaying:“TheGrapesaresour,andnotripeasIthought.”

TheManandHisWifeAMANhadaWifewhomadeherselfhatedbyallthemembersofhishousehold.Wishingtofindoutifshehadthesameeffecton thepersons inher father’shouse,hemade someexcuse tosendherhomeon avisit to her father.After a short time shereturned,andwhenheinquiredhowshehadgotonandhowtheservants had treated her, she replied, “The herdsmen andshepherdscastonme looksofaversion.”Hesaid,“OWife, ifyou were disliked by those who go out early in the morningwiththeirflocksandreturnlateintheevening,whatmusthave

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beenfelttowardsyoubythosewithwhomyoupassedthewholeday!”

Strawsshowhowthewindblows.

ThePeacockandJunoTHE PEACOCK made complaint to Juno that, while thenightingale pleased every ear with his song, he himself nosooneropenedhismouththanhebecamealaughingstocktoallwhoheardhim.TheGoddess,toconsolehim,said,“Butyoufarexcelinbeautyandinsize.Thesplendoroftheemeraldshinesin your neck and you unfold a tail gorgeous with paintedplumage.” “But forwhat purpose have I,” said the bird, “thisdumbbeauty so longas I am surpassed in song?” “The lot ofeach,”repliedJuno,“hasbeenassignedbythewilloftheFates—to thee, beauty; to the eagle, strength; to the nightingale,song; to the raven, favorable, and to the crow, unfavorableauguries.Theseareallcontentedwiththeendowmentsallottedtothem.”

TheHawkandtheNightingaleA NIGHTINGALE, sitting aloft upon an oak and singingaccordingtohiswont,wasseenbyaHawkwho,beinginneed

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offood,swoopeddownandseizedhim.TheNightingale,abouttolosehislife,earnestlybeggedtheHawktolethimgo,sayingthathewasnotbigenoughtosatisfythehungerofaHawkwho,ifhewantedfood,oughttopursuethelargerbirds.TheHawk,interruptinghim,said:“IshouldindeedhavelostmysensesifIshould letgo food ready inmyhand, for thesakeofpursuingbirdswhicharenotyetevenwithinsight.”

TheDog,theCock,andtheFoxA DOG and a Cock being great friends, agreed to traveltogether.At nightfall they took shelter in a thick wood. TheCockflyingup,perchedhimselfonthebranchesofatree,whilethe Dog found a bed beneath in the hollow trunk. When themorning dawned, the Cock, as usual, crowed very loudlyseveral times.AFox heard the sound, andwishing tomake abreakfast on him, came and stood under the branches, sayinghowearnestlyhedesiredtomaketheacquaintanceoftheownerof somagnificent avoice.TheCock, suspectinghis civilities,said:“Sir,Iwishyouwoulddomethefavorofgoingaroundtothe hollow trunkbelowme, andwakingmyporter, so that hemayopen thedoorand letyou in.”When theFoxapproachedthe tree, theDog sprang out and caught him, and tore him topieces.

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AWOLFsawaGoatfeedingatthesummitofasteepprecipice,wherehehadnochanceof reachingher.Hecalled toher andearnestlybeggedhertocomelowerdown,lestshefallbysomemishap; and he added that the meadows lay where he wasstanding, and that the herbage was most tender. She replied,“No,myfriend,itisnotforthepasturethatyouinviteme,butforyourself,whoareinwantoffood.”

TheLionandtheBullA LION, greatly desiring to capture a Bull, and yet afraid toattack him on account of his great size, resorted to a trick toensurehisdestruction.HeapproachedtheBullandsaid,“Ihaveslaina fine sheep,my friend; and ifyouwill comehomeandpartake of him with me, I shall be delighted to have yourcompany.”TheLionsaidthisinthehopethat,astheBullwasintheactofrecliningtoeat,hemightattackhimtoadvantage,andmakehismealonhim.TheBull,onapproachingtheLion’sden, saw the huge spits and giant caldrons, and no signwhateverofthesheep,and,withoutsayingaword,quietlytookhis departure.TheLion inquiredwhy hewent off so abruptlywithoutawordofsalutationtohishost,whohadnotgivenhimanycauseforoffense.“Ihavereasonsenough,”saidtheBull.“Iseenoindicationwhateverofyourhavingslaughteredasheep,whileIdoseeveryplainlyeverypreparationforyourdiningonabull.”

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TheGoatandtheAssAMANonce kept aGoat and anAss. TheGoat, envying theAss on account of his greater abundance of food, said, “Howshamefullyyouaretreated:atonetimegrindinginthemill,andatanothercarryingheavyburdens;”andhefurtheradvisedhimtopretendtobeepilepticandfallintoaditchandsoobtainrest.TheAsslistenedtohiswords,andfallingintoaditch,wasverymuchbruised.Hismaster,sendingforaleech,askedhisadvice.HebadehimpouruponthewoundsthelungsofaGoat.TheyatoncekilledtheGoat,andsohealedtheAss.

TheTownMouseandtheCountryMouseA COUNTRY MOUSE invited a Town Mouse, an intimatefriend, to pay him a visit and partake of his country fare.Astheywereonthebareplowlands,eatingtherewheat-stocksandrootspulledupfromthehedgerow,theTownMousesaidtohisfriend,“Youliveherethelifeoftheants,whileinmyhouseisthehornofplenty.Iamsurroundedbyeveryluxury,andifyouwill come with me, as I wish you would, you shall have anample share of my dainties.” The CountryMouse was easilypersuaded,andreturnedtotownwithhisfriend.Onhisarrival,

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theTownMouseplacedbeforehimbread,barley,beans,driedfigs, honey, raisins, and, last of all, brought a dainty piece ofcheese from a basket. The Country Mouse, being muchdelighted at the sight of such good cheer, expressed hissatisfactioninwarmtermsandlamentedhisownhardfate.Justas theywere beginning to eat, someone opened the door, andtheybothranoffsqueaking,asfastastheycould,toaholesonarrowthattwocouldonlyfindroominitbysqueezing.Theyhad scarcely begun their repast again when someone elseenteredtotakesomethingoutofacupboard,whereuponthetwoMice, more frightened than before, ran away and hidthemselves.At last theCountryMouse, almost famished, saidtohisfriend:“Althoughyouhavepreparedformesodaintyafeast,Imustleaveyoutoenjoyitbyyourself.Itissurroundedbytoomanydangerstopleaseme.Iprefermybareplowlandsand roots from the hedgerow,where I can live in safety, andwithoutfear.”

TheWolf,theFox,andtheApeAWOLFaccusedaFoxoftheft,buttheFoxentirelydeniedthecharge.AnApeundertooktoadjudgethematterbetweenthem.When each had fully stated his case theApe announced thissentence:“Idonotthinkyou,Wolf,everlostwhatyouclaim;and I dobelieveyou,Fox, to have stolenwhat you so stoutlydeny.”

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TheFlyandtheDraught-MuleA FLY sat on the axle-tree of a chariot, and, addressing theDraught-Mule, said, “How slow you are!Why do you not gofaster? See if I do not prick your neck with my sting.” TheDraught-Mulereplied,“Idonotheedyour threats; Ionlycareforhimwhositsaboveyou,andwhoquickensmypacewithhiswhip, or holdsme backwith the reins.Away, therefore,withyourinsolence,forIknowwellwhentogofast,andwhentogoslow.”

TheFishermenSOME FISHERMENwere out trawling their nets. Perceivingthemtobeveryheavy,theydancedaboutforjoyandsupposedthat theyhad taken a large catch.When theyhaddragged thenetstotheshoretheyfoundbutfewfish:thenetswerefullofsandandstones,andthemenwerebeyondmeasurecastdownso much at the disappointment which had befallen them, butbecausetheyhadformedsuchverydifferentexpectations.Oneof their company, an oldman, said, “Let us cease lamenting,mymates, for, as it seems to me, sorrow is always the twinsisterofjoy;anditwasonlytobelookedforthatwe,whojustnowwereover-rejoiced,shouldnexthavesomethingtomakeus

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sad.”

TheLionandtheThreeBullsTHREEBULLSforalongtimepasturedtogether.ALionlayinambushinthehopeofmakingthemhisprey,butwasafraidtoattackthemwhiletheykepttogether.Havingatlastbyguilefulspeeches succeeded in separating them, he attacked themwithoutfearastheyfedalone,andfeastedonthemonebyoneathisownleisure.

Unionisstrength.

TheFowlerandtheViperA FOWLER, taking his bird-lime and his twigs, went out tocatch birds. Seeing a thrush sitting upon a tree, hewished totake it, and fitting his twigs to a proper length, watchedintently, having his whole thoughts directed towards the sky.Whilethuslookingupwards,heunknowinglytroduponaViperasleepjustbeforehisfeet.TheViper,turningabout,stunghim,andfallingintoaswoon,themansaidtohimself,“Woeisme!that while I purposed to hunt another, I am myself fallenunawaresintothesnaresofdeath.”

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TheHorseandtheAssA HORSE, proud of his fine trappings, met an Ass on thehighway.TheAss,beingheavilyladen,movedslowlyoutoftheway. “Hardly,” said theHorse, “can I resist kicking youwithmy heels.” The Ass held his peace, and made only a silentappealtothejusticeofthegods.NotlongafterwardstheHorse,having become broken-winded, was sent by his owner to thefarm. TheAss, seeing him drawing a dungcart, thus deridedhim: “Where, O boaster, are now all thy gay trappings, thouwho are thyself reduced to the conditionyou so lately treatedwithcontempt?”

TheFoxandtheMaskAFOXentered thehouseofanactorand,rummagingthroughallhisproperties,cameuponaMask,anadmirableimitationofa human head. He placed his paws on it and said, “What abeautifulhead!Yetitisofnovalue,asitentirelylacksbrains.”

TheGeeseandtheCranesTHEGEESEandtheCraneswerefeedinginthesamemeadow,

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when a birdcatcher came to ensnare them in his nets. TheCranes, being light ofwing, fled away at his approach;whiletheGeese, being slower of flight and heavier in their bodies,werecaptured.

TheBlindManandtheWhelpA BLIND MAN was accustomed to distinguishing differentanimalsbytouchingthemwithhishands.ThewhelpofaWolfwasbroughthim,witharequest thathewouldfeel it,andsaywhatitwas.Hefeltit,andbeingindoubt,said:“IdonotquiteknowwhetheritisthecubofaFox,orthewhelpofaWolf,butthisIknowfullwell.Itwouldnotbesafetoadmithimtothesheepfold.”

Eviltendenciesareshowninearlylife.

TheDogsandtheFoxSOME DOGS, finding the skin of a lion, began to tear it inpieceswith their teeth.AFox, seeing them, said, “If this lionwere alive, you would soon find out that his claws werestrongerthanyourteeth.”

Itiseasytokickamanthatisdown.

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TheCobblerTurnedDoctorACOBBLER unable tomake a living by his trade andmadedesperatebypoverty,began topracticemedicine ina town inwhichhewasnotknown.Hesoldadrug,pretendingthatitwasan antidote to all poisons, and obtained a great name forhimself by long-winded puffs and advertisements. When theCobblerhappened to fall sickhimself of a serious illness, theGovernor of the town determined to test his skill. For thispurpose he called for a cup, and while filling it with water,pretended to mix poison with the Cobbler’s antidote,commanding him to drink it on the promise of a reward.TheCobbler, under the fear of death, confessed that he had noknowledge of medicine, and was only made famous by thestupidclamorsofthecrowd.TheGovernorthencalledapublicassembly and addressed the citizens: “Ofwhat follyhaveyoubeenguilty?Youhavenothesitated toentrustyourheads toaman,whomno one could employ tomake even the shoes fortheirfeet.”

TheWolfandtheHorseAWOLF coming out of a field of oatsmet aHorse and thusaddressedhim:“Iwouldadviseyou togo into that field. It is

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fulloffineoats,whichIhaveleftuntouchedforyou,asyouareafriendwhomIwouldlovetohearenjoyinggoodeating.”TheHorsereplied,“Ifoatshadbeenthefoodofwolves,youwouldneverhaveindulgedyourearsatthecostofyourbelly.”

Menofevilreputation,whentheyperformagooddeed,failtogetcreditforit.

TheBrotherandtheSisterA FATHER had one son and one daughter, the formerremarkable forhisgood looks, the latter forherextraordinaryugliness. While they were playing one day as children, theyhappened by chance to look together into a mirror that wasplacedon theirmother’schair.Theboycongratulatedhimselfonhisgoodlooks; thegirlgrewangry,andcouldnotbear theself-praises of her Brother, interpreting all he said (and howcouldshedootherwise?)intoreflectiononherself.Sheranoffto her father, to be avenged on her Brother, and spitefullyaccused him of having, as a boy, made use of that whichbelonged only to girls. The father embraced them both, andbestowinghiskissesandaffectionimpartiallyoneach,said,“Iwishyoubothwould look into themirror everyday:you,myson, that youmay not spoil your beauty by evil conduct; andyou, my daughter, that you may make up for your lack ofbeautybyyourvirtues.”

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TheWasps,thePartridges,andtheFarmerTHEWASPSandthePartridges,overcomewiththirst,cametoaFarmerandbesoughthimtogive themsomewater todrink.Theypromisedamplytorepayhimthefavorwhichtheyasked.The Partridges declared that theywould dig around his vinesandmakethemproducefinergrapes.TheWaspssaidthattheywould keep guard and drive off thieveswith their stings. ButtheFarmerinterruptedthem,saying:“Ihavealreadytwooxen,who, without making any promises, do all these things. It issurelybetterformetogivethewatertothemthantoyou.”

TheCrowandMercuryA CROW caught in a snare prayed toApollo to release him,making a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. Butwhen rescued fromhis danger, he forgot his promise. Shortlyafterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed byApollo andmade the same promise to offer frankincense to Mercury.Mercury soon appeared and said to him, “O thou most basefellow?howcanIbelievethee,whohastdisownedandwrongedthyformerpatron?”

TheNorthWindandtheSun

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THENORTHWINDandtheSundisputedastowhichwasthemostpowerful,andagreedthatheshouldbedeclaredthevictorwhocouldfirststripawayfaringmanofhisclothes.TheNorthWindfirsttriedhispowerandblewwithallhismight,butthekeener his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloakaroundhim,untilatlast,resigningallhopeofvictory,theWindcalledupontheSuntoseewhathecoulddo.TheSunsuddenlyshoneoutwithallhiswarmth.TheTravelernosoonerfelthisgenial rays thanhe tookoffonegarmentafter another, andatlast, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in astreamthatlayinhispath.

PersuasionisbetterthanForce.

TheTwoMenWhoWereEnemiesTWOMEN,deadlyenemies toeachother,were sailing in thesame vessel. Determined to keep as far apart as possible, theoneseatedhimselfinthestem,andtheotherintheprowoftheship.Aviolentstormarose,andwiththevesselingreatdangerofsinking,theoneinthesterninquiredofthepilotwhichofthetwoendsoftheshipwouldgodownfirst.Onhisreplyingthathesupposeditwouldbetheprow,theMansaid,“Deathwouldnotbegrievoustome,ifIcouldonlyseemyEnemydiebeforeme.”

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TheGamecocksandthePartridgeAMAN had twoGamecocks in his poultry-yard.One day bychancehefoundatamePartridgeforsale.Hepurchaseditandbrought it home to be reared with his Gamecocks.When thePartridge was put into the poultry-yard, they struck at it andfollowed it about, so that the Partridge became grievouslytroubled and supposed that hewas thus evilly treated becausehe was a stranger. Not long afterwards he saw the Cocksfightingtogetherandnotseparatingbeforeonehadwellbeatenthe other.He then said to himself, “I shall no longer distressmyselfatbeingstruckatbytheseGamecocks,whenIseethattheycannotevenrefrainfromquarrelingwitheachother.”

TheQuackFrogA FROG once upon a time came forth from his home in themarsh and proclaimed to all the beasts that hewas a learnedphysician, skilled in the use of drugs and able to heal alldiseases.AFoxaskedhim,“Howcanyoupretendtoprescribeforothers,whenyouareunabletohealyourownlamegaitandwrinkledskin?”

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TheLion,theWolf,andtheFoxALION,growingold,laysickinhiscave.Allthebeastscametovisittheirking,excepttheFox.TheWolftherefore,thinkingthathehadacapitalopportunity,accusedtheFoxtotheLionofnotpayingany respect tohimwhohad the ruleover themallandof not coming to visit him.At that verymoment theFoxcame in and heard these last words of the Wolf. The Lionroaringoutinarageagainsthim,theFoxsoughtanopportunityto defend himself and said, “And who of all those who havecome to you have benefited you so much as I, who havetraveledfromplacetoplaceineverydirection,andhavesoughtandlearntfromthephysiciansthemeansofhealingyou?”TheLion commandedhim immediately to tell him the cure,whenhe replied, “Youmust flayawolf aliveandwraphis skinyetwarm around you.” TheWolf was at once taken and flayed;whereontheFox,turningtohim,saidwithasmile,“Youshouldhavemovedyourmasternottoill,buttogood,will.”

TheDog’sHouseINTHEWINTERTIME,aDogcurledupinassmallaspaceaspossibleonaccountofthecold,determinedtomakehimselfahouse.However,whenthesummerreturnedagain,helayasleepstretchedathis full lengthandappeared tohimself tobeof agreatsize.Nowheconsideredthat itwouldbeneitheraneasynor a necessarywork tomake himself such a house aswould

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accommodatehim.

TheWolfandtheLionROAMINGBY themountainside at sundown, aWolf sawhisown shadow become greatly extended and magnified, and hesaidtohimself,“WhyshouldI,beingofsuchanimmensesizeandextendingnearly anacre in length,be afraidof theLion?Ought I not to be acknowledged as King of all the collectedbeasts?” While he was indulging in these proud thoughts, aLionfelluponhimandkilledhim.Heexclaimedwithatoolaterepentance,“Wretchedme!thisoverestimationofmyselfisthecauseofmydestruction.”

TheBirds,theBeasts,andtheBatTHEBIRDSwagedwarwiththeBeasts,andeachwerebyturnstheconquerors.ABat,fearingtheuncertainissuesofthefight,alwaysfoughtonthesidewhichhefeltwasthestrongest.Whenpeace was proclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent toboth combatants. Therefore being condemned by each for histreachery, he was driven forth from the light of day, andhenceforth concealed himself in dark hiding-places, flyingalwaysaloneandatnight.

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TheSpendthriftandtheSwallowAYOUNGMAN, a great spendthrift, had run through all hispatrimony and had but one good cloak left. One day hehappened to see a Swallow, which had appeared before itsseason, skimming along a pool and twittering gaily. Hesupposedthatsummerhadcome,andwentandsoldhiscloak.Notmanydayslater,wintersetinagainwithrenewedfrostandcold.When he found the unfortunate Swallow lifeless on theground,hesaid,“Unhappybird!whathaveyoudone?Bythusappearing before the springtime you have not only killedyourself,butyouhavewroughtmydestructionalso.”

TheFoxandtheLionAFOXsawaLionconfined inacage,andstandingnearhim,bitterly reviled him.TheLion said to theFox, “It is not thouwhorevilestme;butthismischancewhichhasbefallenme.”

TheOwlandtheBirdsANOWL, in her wisdom, counseled the Birds that when theacorn first began to sprout, topull it all upout of theground

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and not allow it to grow. She said acorns would producemistletoe, from which an irremediable poison, the bird-lime,wouldbeextractedandbywhich theywouldbecaptured.TheOwlnextadvisedthemtopluckuptheseedoftheflax,whichmenhadsown,asitwasaplantwhichbodednogoodtothem.And,lastly, theOwl,seeinganarcherapproach,predictedthatthis man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed withfeathers which would fly faster than the wings of the Birdsthemselves. The Birds gave no credence to these warningwords,butconsideredtheOwltobebesideherselfandsaidthatshewasmad.Butafterwards,findingherwordsweretrue,theywonderedatherknowledgeanddeemedhertobethewisestofbirds. Hence it is that when she appears they look to her asknowingallthings,whileshenolongergivesthemadvice,butinsolitudelamentstheirpastfolly.

TheTrumpeterTakenPrisonerATRUMPETER,bravelyleadingonthesoldiers,wascapturedbytheenemy.Hecriedouttohiscaptors,“Prayspareme,anddonottakemylifewithoutcauseorwithoutinquiry.Ihavenotslain a single man of your troop. I have no arms, and carrynothingbutthisonebrasstrumpet.”“Thatistheveryreasonforwhichyoushouldbeputtodeath,”theysaid;“for,whileyoudonotfightyourself,yourtrumpetstirsalltheotherstobattle.”

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TheAssintheLion’sSkinANASS, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in theforest and amused himself by frightening all the foolishanimalshemet inhiswanderings.At lastcominguponaFox,he tried to frightenhimalso,but theFoxno soonerheard thesoundof his voice than he exclaimed, “Imight possibly havebeenfrightenedmyself,ifIhadnotheardyourbray.”

TheSparrowandtheHareA HARE pounced upon by an eagle sobbed very much anduttered cries like a child.A Sparrow upbraided her and said,“Where now is thy remarkable swiftness of foot? Why wereyour feet so slow?”While the Sparrow was thus speaking, ahawk suddenly seized him and killed him. The Hare wascomforted in her death, and expiring said, “Ah! you who solately, when you supposed yourself safe, exulted over mycalamity,havenowreasontodeploreasimilarmisfortune.”

TheFleaandtheOxAFLEAthusquestionedanOx:“Whatailsyou, thatbeingsohuge and strong, you submit to the wrongs you receive frommenandslave for themdaybyday,while I,beingso small a

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creature,mercilessly feedon their flesh anddrink their bloodwithoutstint?”TheOxreplied:“Idonotwishtobeungrateful,forIamlovedandwellcaredforbymen,andtheyoftenpatmyhead and shoulders.” “Woe’s me!” said the flea; “this verypattingwhichyoulike,wheneverithappenstome,bringswithitmyinevitabledestruction.”

TheGoodsandtheIllsALL the Goods were once driven out by the Ills from thatcommonsharewhich theyeachhad in theaffairsofmankind;fortheIllsbyreasonoftheirnumbershadprevailedtopossesstheearth.TheGoodswaftedthemselvestoheavenandaskedfora righteous vengeance on their persecutors. They entreatedJupiterthattheymightnolongerbeassociatedwiththeIlls,asthey had nothing in common and could not live together, butwere engaged in unceasing warfare; and that an indissolublelaw might be laid down for their future protection. JupitergrantedtheirrequestanddecreedthathenceforththeIllsshouldvisit theearth incompanywitheachother,but that theGoodsshouldonebyoneenterthehabitationsofmen.Henceitarisesthat Ills abound, for they comenot onebyone, but in troops,andbynomeanssingly:whiletheGoodsproceedfromJupiter,and aregiven, not alike to all, but singly, and separately; andonebyonetothosewhoareabletodiscernthem.

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TheDoveandtheCrowADOVEshutupinacagewasboastingofthelargenumberofyoungoneswhich shehadhatched.ACrowhearingher, said:“My good friend, cease from this unseasonable boasting. Thelarger the number of your family, the greater your cause ofsorrow,inseeingthemshutupinthisprison-house.”

MercuryandtheWorkmenAWORKMAN,fellingwoodbythesideofariver,lethisaxedropby accident into adeeppool.Being thusdeprivedof themeansofhislivelihood,hesatdownonthebankandlamentedhishardfate.Mercuryappearedanddemandedthecauseofhistears.After he toldhimhismisfortune,Mercuryplunged intothestream,and,bringingupagoldenaxe,inquiredifthatweretheonehehadlost.Onhissayingthatitwasnothis,Mercurydisappeared beneath thewater a second time, returnedwith asilveraxeinhishand,andagainaskedtheWorkmanifitwerehis.WhentheWorkmansaiditwasnot,hedivedintothepoolforthethirdtimeandbroughtuptheaxethathadbeenlost.TheWorkman claimed it and expressed his joy at its recovery.Mercury, pleased with his honesty, gave him the golden andsilveraxesinadditiontohisown.TheWorkman,onhisreturntohishouse, related tohis companionsall thathadhappened.Oneof thematonceresolvedto tryandsecure thesamegoodfortune for himself. He ran to the river and threw his axe on

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purpose into the pool at the same place, and sat down on thebank to weep. Mercury appeared to him just as he hoped hewould;andhaving learned thecauseofhisgrief,plunged intothestreamandbroughtupagoldenaxe,inquiringifhehadlostit. TheWorkman seized it greedily, and declared that truly itwastheverysameaxethathehadlost.Mercury,displeasedathisknavery,notonlytookawaythegoldenaxe,butrefusedtorecoverforhimtheaxehehadthrownintothepool.

TheEagleandtheJackdawANEAGLE,flyingdownfromhisperchonaloftyrock,seizeduponalambandcarriedhimaloftinhistalons.AJackdaw,whowitnessed the capture of the lamb,was stirredwith envy anddeterminedtoemulatethestrengthandflightof theEagle.Heflewaroundwithagreatwhirofhiswingsandsettleduponalargeram,withtheintentionofcarryinghimoff,buthisclawsbecame entangled in the ram’s fleece and hewas not able toreleasehimself,althoughheflutteredwithhisfeathersasmuchas he could. The shepherd, seeingwhat had happened, ran upand caught him.He at once clipped the Jackdaw’swings, andtaking him home at night, gave him to his children.On theirsaying, “Father, what kind of bird is it?” he replied, “TomycertainknowledgeheisaDaw;buthewouldlikeyoutothinkanEagle.”

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TheFoxandtheCraneAFOXinvitedaCranetosupperandprovidednothingforhisentertainmentbutsomesoupmadeofpulse,whichwaspouredoutintoabroadflatstonedish.Thesoupfelloutofthelongbillof theCrane at everymouthful, andhis vexation at not beingabletoeataffordedtheFoxmuchamusement.TheCrane,inhisturn,askedtheFoxtosupwithhim,andsetbeforeheraflagonwith a long narrow mouth, so that he could easily insert hisneckandenjoyitscontentsathisleisure.TheFox,unableevento taste it,metwith a fitting requital, after the fashionof herownhospitality.

Jupiter,Neptune,Minerva,andMomusACCORDINGtoanancientlegend,thefirstmanwasmadebyJupiter, the first bull by Neptune, and the first house byMinerva.Onthecompletionof their labors,adisputearoseasto which had made the most perfect work. They agreed toappointMomusasjudge,andtoabidebyhisdecision.Momus,however, being very envious of the handicraft of each, foundfaultwithall.HefirstblamedtheworkofNeptunebecausehehadnotmadethehornsofthebullbelowhiseyes,sohemightbetter see where to strike. He then condemned the work ofJupiter, because he had not placed the heart of man on theoutside, that everyone might read the thoughts of the evil

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disposed and take precautions against the intended mischief.And,lastly,heinveighedagainstMinervabecauseshehadnotcontrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so itsinhabitants might more easily remove if a neighbor provedunpleasant. Jupiter, indignant at such inveterate faultfinding,drovehimfromhisofficeofjudge,andexpelledhimfromthemansionsofOlympus.

TheEagleandtheFoxAN EAGLE and a Fox formed an intimate friendship anddecidedtoliveneareachother.TheEaglebuilthernestinthebranchesofatalltree,whiletheFoxcreptintotheunderwoodand thereproducedheryoung.Not longafter theyhadagreedupon this plan, the Eagle, being in want of provision for heryoungones,swoopeddownwhiletheFoxwasout,seizeduponone of the little cubs, and feasted herself and her brood. TheFoxonherreturn,discoveredwhathadhappened,butwaslessgrieved for the death of her young than for her inability toavengethem.Ajustretribution,however,quicklyfellupontheEagle.While hovering near an altar, onwhich some villagersweresacrificingagoat,shesuddenlyseizedapieceoftheflesh,andcarriedit,alongwithaburningcinder,tohernest.Astrongbreeze soon fanned the spark into a flame, and the eaglets, asyet unfledged and helpless, were roasted in their nest anddroppeddowndeadatthebottomofthetree.There,inthesightoftheEagle,theFoxgobbledthemup.

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TheManandtheSatyrAMANandaSatyroncedranktogetherintokenofabondofalliancebeingformedbetweenthem.Oneverycoldwintryday,astheytalked,theManputhisfingerstohismouthandblewonthem.WhentheSatyraskedthereasonforthis,hetoldhimthathedidittowarmhishandsbecausetheyweresocold.Lateroninthedaytheysatdowntoeat,andthefoodpreparedwasquitescalding.TheManraisedoneofthedishesalittletowardshismouthandblewinit.WhentheSatyragaininquiredthereason,hesaidthathedidittocoolthemeat,whichwastoohot.“Icanno longer consider you as a friend,” said the Satyr, “a fellowwhowiththesamebreathblowshotandcold.”

TheAssandHisPurchaserAMANwishedtopurchaseanAss,andagreedwithitsownerthatheshouldtryouttheanimalbeforeheboughthim.Hetookthe Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his otherAsses,uponwhichthenewanimalleftalltheothersandatoncejoinedtheonethatwasmostidleandthegreatesteaterofthemall.Seeingthis,themanputahalteronhimandledhimbacktohis owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he couldhavemadeatrialofhim,heanswered,“Idonotneedatrial;Iknowthathewillbe just thesameas theonehechoseforhis

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companion.”

Amanisknownbythecompanyhekeeps.

TheTwoBagsEVERYMAN,accordingtoanancientlegend,isbornintotheworldwith two bags suspended from his neck: a bag in frontfullofhisneighbors’faults,andalargebagbehindfilledwithhisownfaults.Henceitisthatmenarequicktoseethefaultsofothers,andyetareoftenblindtotheirownfailings.

TheStagatthePoolASTAGoverpoweredbyheatcametoaspringtodrink.Seeinghisownshadowreflected in thewater,hegreatlyadmired thesize and variety of his horns, but felt angry with himself forhaving such slender and weak feet. While he was thuscontemplating himself, a Lion appeared at the pool andcrouched to spring upon him. The Stag immediately took toflight,andexertinghisutmostspeed,as longas theplainwassmoothandopenkepthimselfeasilyatasafedistancefromtheLion.But entering awoodhe became entangled by his horns,andtheLionquicklycameuptohimandcaughthim.Whentoolate, he thus reproached himself: “Woe is me! How I have

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deceived myself! These feet which would have saved me Idespised,and Igloried in theseantlerswhichhaveprovedmydestruction.”

Whatismosttrulyvaluableisoftenunderrated.

TheJackdawandtheFoxAHALF-FAMISHEDJACKDAWseatedhimselfonafig-tree,which had produced some fruit entirely out of season, andwaitedinthehopethatthefigswouldripen.AFoxseeinghimsittingso longandlearning thereasonofhisdoingso,said tohim, “You are indeed, sir, sadly deceiving yourself; you areindulging a hope strong enough to cheat you, but which willneverrewardyouwithenjoyment.”

TheLarkBuryingHerFatherTHELARK(accordingtoanancientlegend)wascreatedbeforetheearthitself,andwhenherfatherdied,astherewasnoearth,she could find no place of burial for him. She let him lieuninterredforfivedays,andonthesixthday,notknowingwhatelsetodo,sheburiedhiminherownhead.Hencesheobtainedher crest, which is popularly said to be her father’s grave-hillock.

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Youth’sfirstdutyisreverencetoparents.

TheGnatandtheBullAGNATsettledonthehornofaBull,andsattherealongtime.Just as hewas about to flyoff, hemade abuzzingnoise, andinquired of the Bull if he would like him to go. The Bullreplied,“Ididnotknowyouhadcome,andIshallnotmissyouwhenyougoaway.”

Somemenareofmoreconsequence in theirowneyes than intheeyesoftheirneighbors.

TheBitchandHerWhelpsA BITCH, ready to whelp, earnestly begged a shepherd for aplacewhereshemightlitter.Whenherrequestwasgranted,shebesoughtpermissiontorearherpuppies in thesamespot.Theshepherdagainconsented.ButatlasttheBitch,protectedbythebodyguardofherWhelps,whohadnowgrownupandwereabletodefend themselves,assertedherexclusiveright to theplaceandwouldnotpermittheshepherdtoapproach.

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TheDogsandtheHidesSOMEDOGSfamishedwithhungersawanumberofcowhidessteepinginariver.Notbeingabletoreachthem,theyagreedtodrink up the river, but it happened that they burst themselveswithdrinkinglongbeforetheyreachedthehides.

Attemptnotimpossibilities.

TheShepherdandtheSheepA SHEPHERD driving his Sheep to a wood, saw an oak ofunusual size full of acorns, and spreading his cloak under thebranches, he climbed up into the tree and shook them down.TheSheep eating the acorns inadvertently frayed and tore thecloak.WhentheShepherdcamedownandsawwhatwasdone,hesaid,“Oyoumostungratefulcreatures!Youprovidewooltomakegarmentsforallothermen,butyoudestroytheclothesofhimwhofeedsyou.”

TheGrasshopperandtheOwlANOWL,accustomedtofeedatnightandtosleepduringthe

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day,was greatly disturbed by the noise of aGrasshopper andearnestly besought her to stop chirping. The Grasshopperrefused to desist, and chirped louder and louder themore theOwlentreated.Whenshesawthatshecouldgetnoredressandthatherwordsweredespised,theOwlattackedthechattererbya stratagem. “Since I cannot sleep,” she said, “on account ofyoursongwhich,believeme, is sweetas the lyreofApollo, Ishall indulge myself in drinking some nectar which Pallaslatelygaveme.Ifyoudonotdislikeit,cometomeandwewilldrink it together.” The Grasshopper, who was thirsty, andpleasedwiththepraiseofhervoice,eagerlyflewup.TheOwlcameforthfromherhollow,seizedher,andputhertodeath.

TheMonkeyandtheCamelTHE BEASTS of the forest gave a splendid entertainment atwhich the Monkey stood up and danced. Having vastlydelightedtheassembly,hesatdownamidstuniversalapplause.TheCamel,enviousofthepraisesbestowedontheMonkeyanddesiringtodiverttohimselfthefavoroftheguests,proposedtostandupinhisturnanddancefortheiramusement.HemovedaboutinsoutterlyridiculousamannerthattheBeasts,inafitof indignation, set uponhimwith clubs anddrovehimout oftheassembly.

Itisabsurdtoapeourbetters.

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ThePeasantandtheApple-TreeA PEASANT had in his garden anApple-Treewhich bore nofruit but only served as a harbor for the sparrows andgrasshoppers.Heresolvedtocutitdown,andtakinghisaxeinhishand,madeaboldstrokeatitsroots.Thegrasshoppersandsparrowsentreatedhimnot tocutdownthe tree thatshelteredthem,buttospareit,andtheywouldsingtohimandlightenhislabors.Hepaidnoattentiontotheirrequest,butgavethetreeasecond and a third blow with his axe. When he reached thehollowofthetree,hefoundahivefullofhoney.Havingtastedthehoneycomb,hethrewdownhisaxe,andlookingonthetreeassacred,tookgreatcareofit.

Self-interestalonemovessomemen.

TheTwoSoldiersandtheRobberTWOSOLDIERStravelingtogetherweresetuponbyaRobber.The one fled away; the other stood his ground and defendedhimselfwithhis stout righthand.TheRobberbeing slain, thetimidcompanionranupanddrewhissword,andthen,throwingbackhistravelingcloaksaid,“I’llathim,andI’lltakecareheshalllearnwhomhehasattacked.”Onthis,hewhohadfoughtwiththeRobbermadeanswer,“Ionlywishthatyouhadhelpedme just now, even if it hadbeenonlywith thosewords, for I

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should have been themore encouraged, believing them to betrue; but now put up your sword in its sheath and hold yourequallyuseless tongue, tillyoucandeceiveotherswhodonotknowyou.I,indeed,whohaveexperiencedwithwhatspeedyourunaway,knowrightwellthatnodependencecanbeplacedonyourvalor.”

TheTreesUndertheProtectionoftheGodsTHE GODS, according to an ancient legend, made choice ofcertaintreestobeundertheirspecialprotection.Jupiterchosetheoak,Venus themyrtle,Apollo the laurel,Cybele thepine,and Hercules the poplar. Minerva, wondering why they hadpreferred treesnotyielding fruit, inquired the reason for theirchoice.Jupiter replied,“It is lestweshouldseemtocovet thehonorforthefruit.”ButsaidMinerva,“Letanyonesaywhathewill,theoliveismoredeartomeonaccountofitsfruit.”Thensaid Jupiter, “My daughter, you are rightly called wise; forunlesswhatwedoisuseful,thegloryofitisvain.”

TheMotherandtheWolfA FAMISHEDWOLFwas prowling about in the morning insearchoffood.Ashepassed thedoorofacottagebuilt in theforest,heheardaMothersaytoherchild,“Bequiet,orIwill

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throwyououtofthewindow,andtheWolfshalleatyou.”TheWolfsatalldaywaitingatthedoor.Intheeveningheheardthesame woman fondling her child and saying: “You are quietnow,andiftheWolfshouldcome,wewillkillhim.”TheWolf,hearingthesewords,wenthome,gaspingwithcoldandhunger.Whenhe reachedhisden,MistressWolf inquiredofhimwhyhereturnedweariedandsupperless,socontrarytohiswont.Hereplied:“Why,forsooth!useIgavecredencetothewordsofawoman!”

TheAssandtheHorseANASSbesoughtaHorse tosparehimasmallportionofhisfeed.“Yes,” said theHorse;“ifany remainsoutofwhat Iamnoweating Iwillgive ityou for thesakeofmyownsuperiordignity,andifyouwillcomewhenIreachmyownstallintheevening, Iwill give you a little sack full of barley.”TheAssreplied,“Thankyou.ButIcan’tthinkthatyou,whorefusemealittle matter now, will by and by confer on me a greaterbenefit.”

TruthandtheTravelerAWAYFARINGMAN, traveling in the desert,met awomanstandingaloneandterriblydejected.Heinquiredofher,“Who

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art thou?” “My name is Truth,” she replied. “And for whatcause,”heasked,“haveyouleftthecitytodwellalonehereinthewilderness?”Shemadeanswer, “Because in former times,falsehoodwaswithfew,butisnowwithallmen.”

TheManslayerAMANcommittedamurder,andwaspursuedbytherelationsof themanwhomhemurdered.OnhisreachingtheriverNilehesawaLionon itsbankand,beingfearfullyafraid,climbedupatree.Hefoundaserpentintheupperbranchesofthetree,and again being greatly alarmed, he threw himself into theriver,whereacrocodilecaughthimandatehim.Thustheearth,theair,andthewateralikerefusedsheltertoamurderer.

TheLionandtheFoxAFOXenteredintopartnershipwithaLiononthepretenseofbecoming his servant. Each undertook his proper duty inaccordance with his own nature and powers. The Foxdiscoveredandpointedouttheprey;theLionsprangonitandseizedit.TheFoxsoonbecamejealousoftheLioncarryingofftheLion’sshare,andsaidthathewouldnolongerfindouttheprey,butwouldcaptureitonhisownaccount.Thenextdayheattempted to snatch a lamb from the fold, but he himself fell

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preytothehuntsmenandhounds.

TheLionandtheEagleANEAGLEstayedhis flightandentreatedaLion tomakeanalliancewithhimtotheirmutualadvantage.TheLionreplied,“Ihavenoobjection,butyoumustexcusemeforrequiringyoutofindsuretyforyourgoodfaith,forhowcanItrustanyoneasafriendwhoisabletoflyawayfromhisbargainwheneverhepleases?”

Trybeforeyoutrust.

TheHenandtheSwallowAHEN,findingtheeggsofaviperandcarefullykeepingthemwarm,nourishedthemintolife.ASwallow,observingwhatshehaddone,said,“Yousillycreature!whyhaveyouhatchedtheseviperswhich,whentheyshallhavegrown,willinflictinjuryonall,beginningwithyourself?”

TheBuffoonandtheCountryman

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ARICHNOBLEMANonceopenedthetheaterswithoutchargeto the people, and gave a public notice that he wouldhandsomelyrewardanypersonwhoinventedanewamusementfor theoccasion.Variouspublic performers contended for theprize. Among them came a Buffoon well known among thepopulace for his jokes, and said that he had a kind ofentertainmentwhichhadnever beenbrought out on any stagebefore.Thisreportbeingspreadaboutmadeagreatstir,andthetheaterwascrowdedineverypart.TheBuffoonappearedaloneupon theplatform,withoutanyapparatusorconfederates, andthe very sense of expectation caused an intense silence. Hesuddenly bent his head towards his bosom and imitated thesqueaking of a little pig so admirablywith his voice that theaudience declared he had a porker under his cloak, anddemandedthatitshouldbeshakenout.Whenthatwasdoneandnothingwasfound,theycheeredtheactor,andloadedhimwiththeloudestapplause.ACountrymaninthecrowd,observingallthathaspassed,said,“Sohelpme,Hercules,heshallnotbeatmeatthattrick!”andatonceproclaimedthathewoulddothesamethingonthenextday,thoughinamuchmorenaturalway.Onthemorrowastilllargercrowdassembledinthetheater,butnowpartialityfortheirfavoriteactorverygenerallyprevailed,and theaudiencecame rather to ridicule theCountryman thanto see the spectacle. Both of the performers appeared on thestage. The Buffoon grunted and squeaked away first, andobtained, as on the preceding day, the applause and cheers ofthe spectators. Next the Countryman commenced, andpretending that he concealed a little pig beneath his clothes(which in truth he did, but not suspected by the audience )contrivedtotakeholdofandtopullhisearcausingthepigto"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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squeak. TheCrowd, however, cried outwith one consent thattheBuffoonhadgivenafarmoreexactimitation,andclamoredfortheCountrymantobekickedoutofthetheater.Onthistherusticproducedthelittlepigfromhiscloakandshowedbythemostpositiveproofthegreatnessoftheirmistake.“Lookhere,”hesaid,“thisshowswhatsortofjudgesyouare.”

TheCrowandtheSerpentACROWingreatwantoffoodsawaSerpentasleepinasunnynook, and, flying down, greedily seized him. The Serpent,turningabout,bittheCrowwithamortalwound.Intheagonyofdeath,thebirdexclaimed:“Ounhappyme!whohavefoundin that which I deemed a happy windfall the source of mydestruction.”

TheHunterandtheHorsemanACERTAINHUNTER,havingsnaredahare,placedituponhisshouldersandsetouthomewards.Onhiswayhemetamanonhorsebackwho begged the hare of him, under the pretense ofpurchasing it. However, when the Horseman got the hare, herodeoffasfastashecould.TheHunterranafterhim,asifhewassureofovertakinghim,but theHorseman increasedmoreandmorethedistancebetweenthem.TheHunter,sorelyagainst

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hiswill,calledouttohimandsaid,“Getalongwithyou!forIwillnowmakeyouapresentofthehare.”

TheKing’sSonandthePaintedLionAKING,whoseonlysonwasfondofmartialexercises,hadadreaminwhichhewaswarnedthathissonwouldbekilledbyalion.Afraidthedreamshouldprovetrue,hebuiltforhissonapleasant palace and adorned itswalls for his amusementwithallkindsoflife-sizedanimals,amongwhichwasthepictureofalion.WhentheyoungPrincesawthis,hisgriefatbeingthusconfinedburstoutafresh,and, standingnear the lion,hesaid:“Oyoumost detestable of animals! through a lying dreamofmy father’s,which he saw in his sleep, I am shut up on youraccountinthispalaceasifIhadbeenagirl:whatshallInowdotoyou?”Withthesewordshestretchedouthishandstowardathorn-tree,meaningtocutastickfromitsbranchessothathemight beat the lion.But oneof the tree’s prickles piercedhisfinger and caused great pain and inflammation, so that theyoung Prince fell down in a fainting fit. A violent feversuddenlysetin,fromwhichhediednotmanydayslater.

Wehadbetterbearourtroublesbravelythantrytoescapethem.

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ACATfellinlovewithahandsomeyoungman,andentreatedVenus to change her into the form of a woman. Venusconsented to her request and transformed her into a beautifuldamsel, so that theyouthsawherand lovedher,and tookherhome as his bride. While the two were reclining in theirchamber,Venus,wishingtodiscoveriftheCatinherchangeofshapehadalsoalteredherhabitsoflife,letdownamouseinthemiddle of the room. The Cat, quite forgetting her presentcondition, started up from the couch and pursued the mouse,wishing to eat it. Venus was much disappointed and againcausedhertoreturntoherformershape.

Natureexceedsnurture.

TheShe-GoatsandTheirBeardsTHE SHE-GOATS having obtained a beard by request toJupiter, the He-Goats were sorely displeased and madecomplaint that the females equaled them in dignity. “Allowthem,”saidJupiter,“toenjoyanemptyhonorandtoassumethebadgeofyournoblersex,solongastheyarenotyourequalsinstrengthorcourage.”

Itmatterslittleifthosewhoareinferiortousinmeritshouldbelikeusinoutsideappearances.

TheCamelandtheArab"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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ANARABCAMEL-DRIVER, after completing the loading ofhisCamel,askedhimwhichhewouldlikebest,togouphillordown. The poor beast replied, not without a touch of reason:“Whydoyouaskme?Isitthatthelevelwaythroughthedesertisclosed?”

TheMiller,HisSon,andTheirAssAMILLERandhissonweredrivingtheirAsstoaneighboringfair to sell him.They had not gone farwhen theymetwith atroop ofwomen collected round awell, talking and laughing.“Lookthere,”criedoneofthem,“didyoueverseesuchfellows,to be trudging along the roadon footwhen theymight ride?”Theoldman,hearingthis,quicklymadehissonmounttheAss,andcontinuedtowalkalongmerrilybyhisside.Presentlytheycameuptoagroupofoldmeninearnestdebate.“There,”saidone of them, “it proveswhat Iwas a-saying.What respect isshowntooldageinthesedays?Doyouseethatidleladridingwhile his old father has to walk? Get down, you youngscapegrace,andlettheoldmanresthiswearylimbs.”Uponthistheoldmanmadehissondismount,andgotuphimself.Inthismannertheyhadnotproceededfarwhentheymetacompanyofwomenandchildren:“Why,youlazyoldfellow,”criedseveraltonguesatonce, “howcanyou rideupon thebeast,while thatpoor little ladtherecanhardlykeeppacebythesideofyou?”The good-naturedMiller immediately took up his son behindhim. They had now almost reached the town. “Pray, honest"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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friend,” saida citizen, “is thatAssyourown?”“Yes,” repliedtheoldman.“O,onewouldnothavethoughtso,”saidtheother,“bythewayyouloadhim.Why,youtwofellowsarebetterabletocarrythepoorbeastthanheyou.”“Anythingtopleaseyou,”saidtheoldman;“wecanbut try.”So,alightingwithhisson,theytiedthelegsoftheAsstogetherandwiththehelpofapoleendeavored tocarryhimon their shouldersoverabridgenearthe entrance to the town. This entertaining sight brought thepeopleincrowdstolaughatit,tilltheAss,notlikingthenoisenorthestrangehandlingthathewassubjectto,brokethecordsthat boundhimand, tumblingoff the pole, fell into the river.Upon this, theoldman,vexedandashamed,made thebestofhisway home again, convinced that by endeavoring to pleaseeverybody he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass in thebargain.

TheCrowandtheSheepA TROUBLESOME CROW seated herself on the back of aSheep.TheSheep,muchagainsthiswill,carriedherbackwardandforwardforalongtime,andatlastsaid,“Ifyouhadtreateda dog in thisway, youwould have had your deserts from hissharpteeth.”TothistheCrowreplied,“Idespisetheweakandyieldtothestrong.IknowwhomImaybullyandwhomImustflatter;andIthusprolongmylifetoagoodoldage.”

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TheFoxandtheBrambleA FOX was mounting a hedge when he lost his footing andcaughtholdofaBrambletosavehimself.Havingprickedandgrievously tom the soles of his feet, he accused the Bramblebecause,when he had fled to her for assistance, she had usedhimworsethanthehedgeitself.TheBramble,interruptinghim,said, “But you really must have been out of your senses tofasten yourself onme, who ammyself always accustomed tofastenuponothers.”

TheWolfandtheLionAWOLF,havingstolena lambfromafold,wascarryinghimofftohislair.ALionmethiminthepath,andseizingthelamb,took it from him. Standing at a safe distance, the Wolfexclaimed,“Youhaveunrighteouslytakenthatwhichwasminefrom me!” To which the Lion jeeringly replied, “It wasrighteouslyyours,eh?Thegiftofafriend?”

TheDogandtheOysterADOG, used to eating eggs, saw anOyster and, opening hismouthtoitswidestextent,swalloweditdownwiththeutmostrelish, supposing it to be an egg. Soon afterwards suffering

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greatpain inhis stomach,hesaid,“Ideserveall this torment,formyfollyinthinkingthateverythingroundmustbeanegg.”

They who act without sufficient thought, will often fall intounsuspecteddanger.

TheAntandtheDoveANANTwent to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, andbeingcarriedawaybytherushofthestream,wasonthepointof drowning.ADove sitting on a tree overhanging the waterpluckeda leaf and let it fall into the streamclose toher.TheAnt climbedonto it and floated in safety to thebank.Shortlyafterwardsabirdcatchercameandstoodunderthetree,andlaidhislime-twigsfortheDove,whichsatinthebranches.TheAnt,perceiving his design, stung him in the foot. In pain thebirdcatcherthrewdownthetwigs,andthenoisemadetheDovetakewing.

ThePartridgeandtheFowlerA FOWLER caught a Partridge and was about to kill it. ThePartridgeearnestlybeggedhimtosparehislife,saying,“Pray,master,permitmetoliveandIwillenticemanyPartridgestoyouinrecompenseforyourmercytome.”TheFowlerreplied,

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“I shall nowwith less scruple take your life, because you arewilling to save it at the cost of betraying your friends andrelations.”

TheFleaandtheManAMAN, verymuch annoyedwith a Flea, caught him at last,andsaid,“Whoareyouwhodare tofeedonmylimbs,and tocostmesomuchtroubleincatchingyou?”TheFleareplied,“Omydearsir,praysparemylife,anddestroymenot,forIcannotpossiblydoyoumuchharm.”TheMan,laughing,replied,“Nowyoushallcertainlydiebymineownhands,fornoevil,whetheritbesmallorlarge,oughttobetolerated.”

TheThievesandtheCockSOMETHIEVES broke into a house and found nothing but aCock,whomtheystole,andgotoffasfastastheycould.Uponarriving at home they prepared to kill the Cock, who thuspleaded forhis life: “Pray spareme; I amvery serviceable tomen. Iwake themup in thenight to theirwork.” “That is theveryreasonwhywemustthemorekillyou,”theyreplied;“forwhenyouwakeyourneighbors,youentirelyputanendtoourbusiness.”

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The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evilintentions.

TheDogandtheCookA RICHMAN gave a great feast, to which he invited manyfriends and acquaintances. His Dog availed himself of theoccasiontoinviteastrangerDog,afriendofhis,saying,“Mymastergivesafeast,andthereisalwaysmuchfoodremaining;comeandsupwithme tonight.”TheDog thus invitedwentatthehourappointed,andseeingthepreparationsforsograndanentertainment,saidinthejoyofhisheart,“HowgladIamthatIcame!Idonotoftengetsuchachanceasthis.Iwilltakecareandeatenoughtolastmebothtodayandtomorrow.”Whilehewascongratulatinghimselfandwagginghis tail toconveyhispleasuretohisfriend,theCooksawhimmovingaboutamonghisdishesand,seizinghimbyhisforeandhindpaws,bundledhimwithout ceremony out of the window. He fell with forceupon the ground and limped away, howling dreadfully. Hisyelling soon attracted other street dogs, who came up to himandinquiredhowhehadenjoyedhissupper.Hereplied,“Why,to tell you the truth, I drank so much wine that I remembernothing.IdonotknowhowIgotoutofthehouse.”

TheTravelersandthePlane-Tree"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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TWOTRAVELERS,wornoutbytheheatofthesummer’ssun,laid themselves down at noon under the wide-spreadingbranchesofaPlane-Tree.Astheyrestedunderitsshade,oneoftheTravelerssaidtotheother,“WhatasingularlyuselesstreeisthePlane!Itbearsnofruit,andisnotoftheleastservicetoman.”ThePlane-Tree, interruptinghim,said,“Youungratefulfellows!Doyou,whilereceivingbenefitsfrommeandrestingunder my shade, dare to describe me as useless, andunprofitable?”

Somemenunderratetheirbestblessings.

TheHaresandtheFrogsTHEHARES, oppressed by their own exceeding timidity andwearyoftheperpetualalarmtowhichtheywereexposed,withone accord determined to put an end to themselves and theirtroubles by jumping from a lofty precipice into a deep lakebelow.As they scampered off in large numbers to carry outtheirresolve,theFrogslyingonthebanksofthelakeheardthenoise of their feet and rushed helter-skelter to the deepwaterforsafety.OnseeingtherapiddisappearanceoftheFrogs,oneoftheHarescriedouttohiscompanions:“Stay,myfriends,donotdoasyouintended;foryounowseethattherearecreatureswhoarestillmoretimidthanourselves.”

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TheLion,Jupiter,andtheElephantTHELIONweariedJupiterwithhisfrequentcomplaints.“Itistrue, O Jupiter!” he said, “that I am gigantic in strength,handsome in shape, and powerful in attack. I have jaws wellprovidedwithteeth,andfeetfurnishedwithclaws,andIlorditoverall thebeastsof theforest,andwhatadisgraceit is, thatbeingsuchasIam,Ishouldbefrightenedbythecrowingofacock.”Jupiterreplied,“Whydoyoublamemewithoutacause?IhavegivenyoualltheattributeswhichIpossessmyself,andyour courage never fails you except in this one instance.”Onhearing this the Lion groaned and lamented very much and,reproachinghimselfwithhis cowardice,wished that hemightdie. As these thoughts passed through his mind, he met anElephantandcameclosetoholdaconversationwithhim.AfteratimeheobservedthattheElephantshookhisearsveryoften,andhe inquiredwhatwas thematter andwhyhis earsmovedwithsucha tremoreverynowandthen.Justat thatmomentaGnat settled on the head of theElephant, and he replied, “Doyouseethatlittlebuzzinginsect?Ifitentersmyear,myfateissealed. Ishoulddiepresently.”TheLionsaid,“Well, sincesohugeabeast isafraidofa tinygnat, Iwillnomorecomplain,norwishmyself dead. I findmyself, even as I am, better offthantheElephant.”

TheLambandtheWolf"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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AWOLF pursued a Lamb,which fled for refuge to a certainTemple.TheWolfcalledouttohimandsaid,“ThePriestwillslay you in sacrifice, if he should catch you.” On which theLambreplied,“ItwouldbebetterformetobesacrificedintheTemplethantobeeatenbyyou.”

TheRichManandtheTannerARICHMANlivednearaTanner,andnotbeingable tobeartheunpleasantsmellofthetan-yard,hepressedhisneighbortogoaway.TheTannerputoffhisdeparture from time to time,saying that hewould leave soon. But as he still continued tostay,as timewenton, therichmanbecameaccustomedtothesmell,andfeelingnomannerofinconvenience,madenofurthercomplaints.

TheShipwreckedManandtheSeaA SHIPWRECKED MAN, having been cast upon a certainshore,sleptafterhisbuffetingswiththedeep.Afterawhileheawoke,andlookingupontheSea,loadeditwithreproaches.Heargued that it enticedmenwith the calmnessof its looks, butwhenithadinducedthemtoplowitswaters,itgrewroughanddestroyed them. The Sea, assuming the form of a woman,

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repliedtohim:“Blamenotme,mygoodsir,butthewinds,forIambymyownnatureascalmandfirmevenasthisearth;butthewindssuddenlyfallingonmecreate thesewaves,andlashmeintofury.”

TheMulesandtheRobbersTWOMULESwell-ladenwithpacksweretrudgingalong.Onecarried panniers filled with money, the other sacks weightedwith grain. TheMule carrying the treasure walked with headerect,asifconsciousofthevalueofhisburden,andtossedupand down the clear-toned bells fastened to his neck. Hiscompanion followedwithquietandeasystep.Allofa suddenRobbersrusheduponthemfromtheirhiding-places,andinthescuffle with their owners, wounded with a sword the Mulecarrying the treasure,which they greedily seizedwhile takingno notice of the grain. TheMulewhich had been robbed andwounded bewailed his misfortunes. The other replied, “I amindeed glad that I was thought so little of, for I have lostnothing,noramIhurtwithanywound.”

TheViperandtheFileA LION, entering the workshop of a smith, sought from thetools themeansofsatisfyinghishunger.Hemoreparticularly

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addressed himself to a File, and asked of him the favor of ameal.TheFile replied,“Youmust indeedbeasimple-mindedfellow if you expect to get anything from me, who amaccustomedtotakefromeveryone,andnevertogiveanythinginreturn.”

TheLionandtheShepherdA LION, roaming through a forest, trod upon a thorn. Soonafterward he came up to a Shepherd and fawned upon him,wagginghis tailas if tosay,“Iamasuppliant,andseekyouraid.”TheShepherdboldly examined thebeast, discovered thethorn, and placing his paw upon his lap, pulled it out; thusrelieved of his pain, the Lion returned into the forest. Sometime after, the Shepherd, being imprisoned on a falseaccusation, was condemned “to be cast to the Lions” as thepunishment for his imputed crime. But when the Lion wasreleasedfromhiscage,herecognizedtheShepherdasthemanwhohealedhim,andinsteadofattackinghim,approachedandplacedhisfootuponhislap.TheKing,assoonasheheardthetale,orderedtheLiontobesetfreeagainintheforest,andtheShepherdtobepardonedandrestoredtohisfriends.

TheCamelandJupiter

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THECAMEL,whenhesawtheBulladornedwithhorns,enviedhimandwishedthathehimselfcouldobtain thesamehonors.HewenttoJupiter,andbesoughthimtogivehimhorns.Jupiter,vexedathisrequestbecausehewasnotsatisfiedwithhissizeandstrengthofbody,anddesiredyetmore,notonlyrefusedtogivehimhorns,butevendeprivedhimofaportionofhisears.

ThePantherandtheShepherdsA PANTHER, by some mischance, fell into a pit. TheShepherds discovered him, and some threw sticks at him andpelted himwith stones,while others,movedwith compassiontowardsoneabout todieeventhoughnooneshouldhurthim,threw insome food toprolonghis life.Atnight they returnedhome, not dreaming of any danger, but supposing that on themorrowtheywouldfindhimdead.ThePanther,however,whenhehadrecruitedhisfeeblestrength,freedhimselfwithasuddenbound from the pit, and hastened to his denwith rapid steps.Afterafewdayshecameforthandslaughteredthecattle,and,killing theShepherdswhohadattackedhim, ragedwithangryfury.Thentheywhohadsparedhislife,fearingfortheirsafety,surrenderedtohimtheirflocksandbeggedonlyfortheirlives.TothemthePanthermadethisreply:“Irememberalikethosewho soughtmy lifewith stones, and thosewhogaveme foodaside,therefore,forgetyourfears.Ireturnasanenemyonlytothosewhoinjuredme.”

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TheAssandtheChargerANASS congratulated aHorse on being so ungrudgingly andcarefullyprovidedfor,whilehehimselfhadscarcelyenoughtoeat andnot even thatwithout hardwork.Butwhenwarbrokeout,aheavilyarmedsoldiermountedtheHorse,andridinghimto the charge, rushed into the very midst of the enemy. TheHorsewaswounded and fell deadon thebattlefield.Then theAss, seeing all these things, changed his mind, andcommiseratedtheHorse.

TheEagleandHisCaptorAN EAGLE was once captured by a man, who immediatelyclipped his wings and put him into his poultry-yard with theother birds, at which treatment the Eagle was weighed downwithgrief.Later,anotherneighborpurchasedhimandallowedhisfeatherstogrowagain.TheEagletookflight,andpouncinguponahare,broughtitatonceasanofferingtohisbenefactor.A Fox, seeing this, exclaimed, “Do not cultivate the favor ofthisman,butofyour formerowner, lesthe shouldagainhuntforyouanddepriveyouasecondtimeofyourwings.”

TheBaldManandtheFly

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A FLY bit the bare head of aBaldManwho, endeavoring todestroy it, gave himself a heavy slap. Escaping, the Fly saidmockingly,“Youwhohavewishedtorevenge,evenwithdeath,thePrickofatinyinsect,seewhatyouhavedonetoyourselftoaddinsulttoinjury?”TheBaldManreplied,“Icaneasilymakepeace withmyself, because I know there was no intention tohurt. But you, an ill-favored and contemptible insect whodelightsinsuckinghumanblood,IwishthatIcouldhavekilledyouevenifIhadincurredaheavierpenalty.”

TheOlive-TreeandtheFig-TreeTHEOLIVE-TREE ridiculed the Fig-Tree because, while shewas green all the year round, the Fig-Tree changed its leaveswiththeseasons.Ashowerofsnowfelluponthem,and,findingtheOlivefulloffoliage,itsettleduponitsbranchesandbrokethemdownwith itsweight, atoncedespoiling itof itsbeautyandkillingthetree.ButfindingtheFig-Treedenudedofleaves,thesnowfellthroughtotheground,anddidnotinjureitatall.

TheEagleandtheKiteANEAGLE,overwhelmedwith sorrow, satupon thebranchesofa tree incompanywithaKite. “Why,” said theKite, “do I

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seeyouwithsucharuefullook?”“Iseek,”shereplied,“amatesuitable for me, and am not able to find one.” “Take me,”returned theKite, “I ammuch stronger than you are.” “Why,are you able to secure themeans of living by your plunder?”“Well, I haveoften caught and carried awayanostrich inmytalons.”TheEagle,persuadedbythesewords,acceptedhimashermate.Shortlyafterthenuptials,theEaglesaid,“Flyoffandbringmebacktheostrichyoupromisedme.”TheKite,soaringaloft into the air, brought back the shabbiest possiblemouse,stinkingfromthelengthoftimeithadlainaboutthefields.“Isthis,” said theEagle, “the faithful fulfillmentofyourpromisetome?”TheKitereplied,“ThatImightattainyourroyalhand,thereisnothingthatIwouldnothavepromised,howevermuchIknewthatImustfailintheperformance.”

TheAssandHisDriverANASS,beingdrivenalongahigh road, suddenly startedoffandboltedtothebrinkofadeepprecipice.Whilehewasintheactofthrowinghimselfover,hisownerseizedhimbythetail,endeavoring to pull him back.When theAss persisted in hiseffort, theman lethimgoand said, “Conquer, but conquer toyourcost.”

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A THRUSH was feeding on a myrtle-tree and did not movefromitbecauseitsberriesweresodelicious.AFowlerobservedherstayingsolonginonespot,and,havingwellbird-limedhisreeds, caught her. The Thrush, being at the point of death,exclaimed,“OfoolishcreaturethatIam!ForthesakeofalittlepleasantfoodIhavedeprivedmyselfofmylife.”

TheRoseandtheAmaranthANAMARANTH planted in a garden near a Rose-Tree, thusaddressedit:“WhatalovelyfloweristheRose,afavoritealikewith Gods and with men. I envy you your beauty and yourperfume.”TheRosereplied,“Iindeed,dearAmaranth,flourishbutforabriefseason!Ifnocruelhandpluckmefrommystem,yetImustperishbyanearlydoom.Butthouartimmortalanddostneverfade,butbloomestforeverinrenewedyouth.”

TheFrogs’ComplaintAgainsttheSunONCEUPONATIME,when theSunannouncedhis intentiontotakeawife,theFrogslifteduptheirvoicesinclamortothesky. Jupiter,disturbedby thenoiseof their croaking, inquiredthecauseoftheircomplaint.Oneofthemsaid,“TheSun,nowwhileheissingle,parchesupthemarsh,andcompelsustodie

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miserablyinouraridhomes.Whatwillbeourfutureconditionifheshouldbegetothersuns?”

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LifeofAesopTHE LIFE and History of Aesop is involved, like that ofHomer, the most famous of Greek poets, in much obscurity.Sardis,thecapitalofLydia;Samos,aGreekisland;Mesembria,anancientcolonyinThrace;andCotiaeum,thechiefcityofaprovince of Phrygia, contend for the distinction of being thebirthplaceofAesop.Althoughthehonorthusclaimedcannotbedefinitely assigned to any one of these places, yet there are afewincidentsnowgenerallyacceptedbyscholarsasestablishedfacts,relatingtothebirth,life,anddeathofAesop.Heis,byanalmostuniversalconsent,allowedtohavebeenbornabout theyear620B.C.,andtohavebeenbybirthaslave.Hewasownedby two masters in succession, both inhabitants of Samos,XanthusandJadmon,thelatterofwhomgavehimhislibertyasa reward for his learning and wit. One of the privileges of afreedmanintheancientrepublicsofGreece,wasthepermissionto takeanactive interest inpublicaffairs;andAesop, like thephilosophers Phaedo,Menippus, andEpictetus, in later times,raised himself from the indignity of a servile condition to apositionofhighrenown.Inhisdesirealiketoinstructandtobeinstructed, he travelled through many countries, and amongotherscametoSardis,thecapitalofthefamouskingofLydia,thegreatpatron,inthatday,oflearningandoflearnedmen.HemetatthecourtofCroesuswithSolon,Thales,andothersages,andisrelatedsotohavepleasedhisroyalmaster,bytheparthetookintheconversationsheldwiththesephilosophers, thatheapplied to him an expression which has since passed into aproverb,“ThePhrygianhasspokenbetterthanall.”"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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On the invitation ofCroesus he fixed his residence at Sardis,and was employed by that monarch in various difficult anddelicateaffairsofState.Inhisdischargeofthesecommissionshevisited thedifferentpetty republicsofGreece.Atone timeheisfoundinCorinth,andatanotherinAthens,endeavouring,by the narration of some of his wise fables, to reconcile theinhabitants of those cities to the administration of theirrespective rulers Periander and Pisistratus. One of theseambassadorial missions, undertaken at the command ofCroesus, was the occasion of his death. Having been sent toDelphi with a large sum of gold for distribution among thecitizens, he was so provoked at their covetousness that herefusedtodividethemoney,andsentitbacktohismaster.TheDelphians, enraged at this treatment, accused him of impiety,and, in spite of his sacred character as ambassador, executedhim as a public criminal. This cruel death ofAesop was notunavenged.ThecitizensofDelphiwerevisitedwithaseriesofcalamities,until theymadeapublic reparationof their crime;and,“ThebloodofAesop”becameawell-knownadage,bearingwitness to the truth that deeds of wrong would not passunpunished. Neither did the great fabulist lack posthumoushonors; for a statuewaserected tohismemoryatAthens, theworkofLysippus,oneof themostfamousofGreeksculptors.Phaedrusthusimmortalizestheevent:

Aesopo ingentem statuam posuere Attici, Servumquecollocarunt aeterna in basi: Patere honoris scirent ut cunctiviam;Necgeneritribuisedvirtutigloriam.

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Thesefewfactsareallthatcanbereliedonwithanydegreeofcertainty, in reference to the birth, life, and death ofAesop.They were first brought to light, after a patient search anddiligentperusalofancientauthors,byaFrenchman,M.ClaudeGaspardBachetdeMezeriac,whodeclinedthehonorofbeingtutortoLouisXIIIofFrance,fromhisdesiretodevotehimselfexclusivelytoliterature.HepublishedhisLifeofAesop,AnnoDomini1632.ThelaterinvestigationsofahostofEnglishandGermanscholarshaveaddedverylittletothefactsgivenbyM.Mezeriac. The substantial truth of his statements has beenconfirmed by later criticism and inquiry. It remains to state,thatpriortothispublicationofM.Mezeriac,thelifeofAesopwas from the pen of Maximus Planudes, a monk ofConstantinople,whowassentonanembassy toVeniceby theByzantineEmperorAndronicustheelder,andwhowroteintheearlypartofthefourteenthcentury.Hislifewasprefixedtoalltheearlyeditionsofthesefables,andwasrepublishedaslateas1727byArchdeaconCroxall as the introduction tohiseditionofAesop.ThislifebyPlanudescontains,however,sosmallanamount of truth, and is so full of absurd pictures of thegrotesquedeformityofAesop,ofwondrousapocryphalstories,of lying legends, and gross anachronisms, that it is nowuniversallycondemnedas false,puerile,andunauthentic.[101]It is given up in the present day, by general consent, asunworthyoftheslightestcredit.G.F.T.

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Footnotes

[Footnote101:M.Bayle thuscharacterises thisLifeofAesopbyPlanudes, “Tous les habiles gens conviennent que c’est unroman, et que les absurdites grossieres qui l’on y trouve lerendentindignedetoute.”DictionnaireHistorique.Art.Esope.]

[Footnote1:AHistoryoftheLiteratureofAncientGreece,byK.O.Mueller.Vol.i,p.191.London,Parker,1858.]

[Footnote 2: Select Fables of Aesop, and other Fabulists. Inthreebooks,translatedbyRobertDodsley,accompaniedwithaselectionofnotes,andanEssayonFable.Birmingham,1864.P.60.]

[Footnote 3: Some of these fables had, no doubt, in the firstinstance, a primary and private interpretation. On the firstoccasionoftheirbeingcomposedtheywereintendedtorefertosomepassingevent,ortosomeindividualactsofwrong-doing.Thus,thefablesofthe“EagleandtheFox”andofthe“FoxandMonkey”aresupposedtohavebeenwrittenbyArchilochus,toavenge the injuriesdonehimbyLycambes.Soalso the fablesof the “Swollen Fox” and of the “Frogs asking aKing”werespokenbyAesopfortheimmediatepurposeofreconcilingtheinhabitants of Samos and Athens to their respective rulers,Periander and Pisistratus; while the fable of the “Horse andStag” was composed to caution the inhabitants of Himeraagainstgrantingabodyguard toPhalaris. Inasimilarmanner,"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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thefablefromPhaedrus,the“MarriageoftheSun,”issupposedto have reference to the contemplated union of Livia, thedaughterofDrusus,withSejanusthefavourite,andministerofTrajan. These fables, however, though thus originating inspecial events, and designed at first to meet specialcircumstances, are so admirably constructed as to be fraughtwithlessonsofgeneralutility,andofuniversalapplication.]

[Footnote4:Hesiod.OperaetDies,verse202.]

[Footnote 5: Aeschylus. Fragment of the Myrmidons.Aeschylus speaksof this fable as existingbefore his day.SeeScholiastontheAvesofAristophanes,line808.]

[Footnote 6: Fragment. 38, ed. Gaisford. See also Mueller’sHistory of the Literature ofAncient Greece, vol. i. pp. 190-193.]

[Footnote7:M.BaylehaswellputthisinhisaccountofAesop.“Il n’y a point d’apparence que les fables qui portentaujourd’hui sonnomsoient lesmemesqu’il avait faites; ellesviennent bien de lui pour la plupart, quant a la matiere et lapensee; mais les paroles sont d’un autre.”And again, “C’estdonc a Hesiode, que j’aimerais mieux attribuer la gloire del’invention;mais sans doute il laissa la chose tres imparfaite.Esope la perfectionne si heureusement, qu’on l’a regardecomme le vrai pere de cette sorte de production.”M. Bayle.DictionnaireHistorique.]

[Footnote8:PlatoinPhoedone.]"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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[Footnote 9: Apologos en! misit tibi Ab usque Rheni limiteAusonius nomen Italum Praeceptor Augusti tui Aesopiamtrimetriam; Quam vertit exili stylo Pedestre concinnans opusFandiTitianusartifex.AusoniiEpistola,xvi.75-80.]

[Footnote 10: Both these publications are in the BritishMuseum,andareplacedinthelibraryincasesunderglass,fortheinspectionofthecurious.]

[Footnote 11: Fables may possibly have been not entirelyunknown to themediaeval scholars. There are two celebratedworkswhichmightbysomebeclassedamongstworksof thisdescription.Theoneisthe“SpeculumSapientiae,”attributedtoSt.Cyril,ArchbishopofJerusalem,butofaconsiderably laterorigin,andexistingonlyinLatin.Itisdividedintofourbooks,and consists of long conversations conducted by fictitiouscharacters under the figures thebeasts of the field and forest,and aimed at the rebuke of particular classes of men, theboastful,theproud,theluxurious,thewrathful,&c.Noneofthestories are precisely those of Aesop, and none have theconcinnity,terseness,andunmistakabledeductionofthelessonintendedtobetaughtbythefable,soconspicuousin thegreatGreek fabulist. The exact title of the book is this: “SpeculumSapientiae, B. Cyrilli Episcopi: alias quadripartitusapologeticus vocatus, in cujus quidem proverbiis omnis ettotiussapientiaespeculumclaretetfeliciterincipit.”Theotheris a larger work in two volumes, published in the fourteenthcentury by Caesar Heisterbach, a Cistercian monk, under thetitleof“DialogusMiraculorum,”reprinted in1851.Thiswork"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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consistsofconversationsinwhichmanystoriesareinterwovenonallkindsofsubjects.IthasnocorrespondencewiththepureAesopianfable.]

[Footnote 12: Post-medieval Preachers, by S. Baring-Gould.Rivingtons,1865.]

[Footnote13:ForanaccountofthisworkseetheLifeofPoggioBracciolini,bytheRev.WilliamShepherd.Liverpool.1801.]

[Footnote 14: Professor Theodore Bergh. See ClassicalMuseum,No.viii.July,1849.]

[Footnote 15: Vavassor’s treatise, entitled “De LudicraDictione” was written A.D. 1658, at the request of thecelebratedM.Balzac(thoughpublishedafterhisdeath),forthepurposeofshowingthattheburlesquestyleofwritingadoptedby Scarron and D’Assouci, and at that time so popular inFrance, had no sanction from the ancient classic writers.FrancisciVavassorisoperaomnia.Amsterdam.1709.]

[Footnote 16: The claims of Babrias also found a warmadvocate in the learned Frenchman, M. Bayle, who, in hisadmirable dictionary, (Dictionnaire Historique et Critique dePierre Bayle. Paris, 1820,) gives additional arguments inconfirmation of the opinions of his learned predecessors,NeveletandVavassor.]

[Footnote 17: Scazonic, or halting, iambics; a choliambic (alame, halting iambic) differs from the iambic Senarius in"******ebook converter DEMO - www.ebook-converter.com*******"

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always having a spondee or trichee for its last foot; the fifthfoot, to avoid shortness of meter, being generally an iambic.See Fables of Babrias, translated by Rev. James Davies.Lockwood,1860.Preface,p.27.]

[Footnote18:SeeDr.Bentley’sDissertationsupontheEpistlesofPhalaris.]

[Footnote 19: Dr. Bentley’s Dissertations on the Epistles ofPhalaris, and Fables of Aesop examined. By the HonorableCharlesBoyle.]

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