|
The Cage Bird and the Bat
A singing bird was confined
in a cage which hung outside a window, and had a way of singing at night when all other birds were asleep. One night a Bat
came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked the Bird why she was silent by day and sang only at night. "I have a very
good reason for doing so," said the Bird. "It was once when I was singing in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my
voice, and set his nets for me and caught me. Since then I have never sung except by night." But the Bat replied, "It is no
use your doing that now when you are a prisoner: if only you had done so before you were caught, you might still have been
free."
"Precautions are useless after the crisis."
The Camel
WHEN MAN first saw
the Camel, he was so frightened at his vast size that he ran away. After a time, perceiving the meekness and gentleness of
the beast's temper, he summoned courage enough to approach him. Soon afterwards, observing that he was an animal altogether
deficient in spirit, he assumed such boldness as to put a bridle in his mouth, and to let a child drive him.
Use serves to overcome dread.
The Camel and the Arab
An Arab Camel Driver, after completing the loading of his
Camel, asked him which he would like best, to go up hill or down. The poor beast replied, not without a touch of reason:
"Why do you ask me? Is it that the level way through the desert is closed?
The Cat-Maiden
The gods were once disputing
whether it was possible for a living being to change its nature. Jupiter said "Yes," but Venus said "No." So, to try the
question, Jupiter turned a Cat into a Maiden, and gave her to a young man for a wife. The wedding was duly performed and
the young couple sat down to the wedding-feast. "See," said Jupiter, to Venus, "how becomingly she behaves. Who could tell
that yesterday she was but a Cat? Surely her nature is changed?" "Wait a minute," replied Venus, and let loose a mouse into
the
room. No sooner did the bride see this than she jumped up from her seat and tried to pounce upon the mouse. "Ah,
you see," said Venus,
"Nature will out."
The Cat and Venus
A
CAT fell in love with a handsome young man, and entreated Venus to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to
her request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel, so that the youth saw her and loved her, and took her home as his
bride. While the two were reclining in their chamber, Venus wishing to discover if the Cat in her change of shape had also
altered her habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. The Cat, quite forgetting her present condition,
started up from the
couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus was much disappointed and again caused her to
return to her former shape.
Nature exceeds nurture.
The Cat and the
Birds
A CAT, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his
cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates
how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. They replied, "We
are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, and leave us as we are."
The
Cat and the Cock
A Cat caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find a reasonable excuse for eating him. He accused him
of being a nuisance to men by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep. The Cock defended himself by saying
that he did this for the benefit of men, that they might rise in time for their labors. The Cat replied, "Although you abound
in specious apologies, I shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of him.
The Cat and the Mice
A Certain
House was overrun with Mice. A Cat, discovering this, made her way into it and began to catch and eat them one by one. Fearing
for their lives, the Mice kept themselves close in their holes. The Cat was no longer able to get at them and perceived that
she must tempt them forth by some device. For this purpose she jumped upon a peg, and suspending herself from it, pretended
to be dead. One of the Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw her and said, "Ah, my good madam, even though you should turn into
a meal-bag, we will not come near you."
He who is once deceived is doubly cautious
The
Charcoal Burner and the Fuller
A Charcoal Burner carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a friend, a Fuller,
and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses
would be lessened. The Fuller replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten,
you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal."
Like will draw like.
The
Charger and the Miller
A Charger, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to work in a mill instead of going out to battle.
But when he was compelled to grind instead of serving in the wars, he bewailed his change of fortune and called to mind his
former state, saying, "Ah! Miller, I had indeed to go campaigning before, but I was barbed from counter to tail, and a man
went along to groom me; and now I cannot understand what ailed me to prefer the mill before the
battle." "Forbear," said
the Miller to him, "harping on what was
of yore, for it is the common lot of mortals to sustain the ups
and downs of
fortune."
The Cobbler Turned Doctor'
A Cobbler unable to make a living by his trade and made desperate by poverty,
began to practice medicine in a town in which he was not known. He sold a drug, pretending that it was an antidote to all
poisons, and obtained a great name for himself by long-winded puffs and advertisements. When the Cobbler happened to fall
sick himself of a serious illness, the Governor of the town determined to test his skill. For this purpose 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. The Cobbler, under the fear of death, confessed that
he had no knowledge of medicine, and was
only made famous by the stupid clamors of the crowd. The Governor then called a public assembly and addressed the citizens:
"Of what folly have you been guilty? You have not hesitated to entrust your heads to a man, whom no one could employ to make
even the shoes for their feet."
The Cock and the Jewel
A Cock, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found
a precious stone and exclaimed: "If your owner had found thee, and not I, he would have taken thee up, and have set thee
in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose. I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the
world."
The Cock and the Pearl
A cock was once strutting up and down the farmyard among the hens when suddenly
he espied something shinning amid the straw. "Ho! ho!" quoth he, "that's for me," and soon rooted it out from beneath the
straw. What did it turn out to be but a Pearl that by some chance had been lost in the yard? "You may be a treasure," quoth
Master Cock, "to men that prize you, but for me I would rather have a single barley-corn than a peck of pearls."
Precious things are for those that can prize them.
The Crab and Its Mother
A CRAB, forsaking the seashore,
chose a neighboring green meadow
as its feeding ground. A Fox came across him, and being very
hungry ate him up. Just
as he was on the point of being eaten,
the Crab said, "I well deserve my fate, for what business had I
on the land,
when by my nature and habits I am only adapted for
the sea?'
Contentment with our lot is
an element of happiness.
The Crab and the Fox
A Crab, forsaking the seashore, chose a neighboring green meadow
as
its feeding ground. A Fox came across him, and being very hungry ate him up. Just as he was on the point of being eaten,
the Crab said, "I well deserve my fate, for what business had I on the land, when by my nature and habits I am only adapted
for the sea?'
Contentment with our lot is an element of happiness.
The Crow and Mercury
A
Crow caught in a snare prayed to Apollo to release him, making a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine. But when rescued
from his danger, he forgot his promise. Shortly afterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed by Apollo and made the same
promise to offer frankincense to Mercury. Mercury soon appeared and said to him, "O thou most base fellow? how can I believe
thee, who hast disowned and wronged thy former patron?'
The Crow and the Pitcher
A Crow perishing with thirst
saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it with delight. When he reached it, he discovered to his grief that it
contained so little water that he could not possibly get at it. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water,
but all his efforts were in vain. At last he collected as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with
his beak into the pitcher, until he brought the
water within his reach and thus saved his life.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
The Crow and the Raven
A Crow was jealous of the Raven,
because he was considered a bird of good omen and always attracted the attention of men, who noted by his flight the good
or evil course of future events. Seeing some travelers approaching, the Crow flew up into a tree, and perching herself on
one of the branches, cawed as loudly as she could. The travelers turned towards the sound and wondered what it foreboded,
when one of them said to his companion, "Let us proceed on our journey, my friend, for it is only the caw of a crow, and her
cry, you know, is no omen."
"Those who assume a character which does not belong to them, only
make themselves ridiculous."
The Crow and the Serpent
A Crow in great want of food saw
a Serpent asleep in a sunny nook, and flying down, greedily seized him. The Serpent, turning about, bit the Crow with a mortal
wound. In the agony of death, the bird exclaimed: "O unhappy me! who have found in that which I deemed a happy windfall
the source of my destruction."
The Crow and the Sheep
A Troublesome Crow seated herself on the back of a Sheep.
The Sheep, much against his will, carried her backward and forward for a long time, and at last said, "If you had treated
a dog in this way, you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth." To this the Crow replied, "I despise the weak and
yield to the strong. I know whom I may bully and whom I must flatter; and I thus prolong my life to a good old age."
|
The Dancing Monkeys
A Prince had some Monkeys trained to
dance. Being naturally great mimics of men's actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich
clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers. The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till
on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage. The Monkeys
at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors. Pulling off their
masks and tearing their robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancing spectacle thus came to an end amidst
the laughter and ridicule of the audience.
-"Not everything you see is what it appears to be."-
The Doe
and the Lion
A Doe hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a Lion. The Lion concealed himself on
seeing her approach, but when she was safe within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to pieces. "Woe is me," exclaimed
the Doe, "who have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the mouth of a wild beast?'
-"In avoiding one evil, care
must be taken not to fall into another."-
The Dog and the Cook
A Rich Man gave a great feast, to which he invited
many friends and acquaintances. His Dog availed himself of the occasion to invite a stranger Dog, a friend of his, saying,
"My master gives a feast, and there is always much food remaining; come and sup with me tonight." The Dog thus invited went
at the hour appointed, and seeing the preparations for so grand an entertainment, said in the joy of his heart, "How glad
I am that I came! I do not often get such a chance as this. I will take care and eat enough to last me both today and tomorrow."
While he was congratulating himself and wagging his tail to convey his pleasure to his friend, the Cook saw him moving about
among his dishes and, seizing him by his fore and hind paws, bundled him without ceremony out of the window. He fell with
force upon the ground and limped away, howling dreadfully. His yelling soon attracted other street dogs, who came up to him
and inquired how he had enjoyed his supper. He replied, "Why, to tell you the truth, I drank so much wine that I remember
nothing. I do not know how I got out of the house."
-"If something seems to good to be true, maybe it is"-
The
Dog and the Hare
A Hound having started a Hare on the hillside pursued her for some distance, at one time biting her with
his teeth as if he would take her life, and at another fawning upon her, as if in play with another dog. The Hare said to
him, "I wish you would act sincerely by me, and show yourself in your true colors. If you are a friend, why do you bite me
so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on me?'
-"No one can be a friend if you know not whether to trust or
distrust
him."-
The Dog and the Oyster
A Dog, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster and, opening his mouth
to its widest
extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg. Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his
stomach, he said, "I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything round must be an egg."
-"They
who act without sufficient thought, will often fall into
unsuspected danger."-
The Dog in the Manger
A Dog
lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented the oxen from eating the hay which had been placed for them.
"What a selfish Dog!" said one of them to his companions; "he cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those
to eat who can."
-"Ah, people often grudge others what they cannot enjoy themselves."-
The Dog and the Shadow
A
Dog, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it for that
of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size. He immediately let go of his own, and fiercely attacked the
other Dog to get his larger piece from him. He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow;
and his own, because the stream swept it away.
The Dogs House
In the Wintertime, a Dog curled up in as small a
space as possible on account of the cold, determined to make himself a house. However when the summer returned again, he
lay asleep stretched at his full length and appeared to himself to be of a great size. Now he considered that it would be
neither an easy nor a necessary work to make himself such a house as would accommodate him.
The Dog the Cock and the
Fox
A Dog and a Cock being great friends, agreed to travel together. At nightfall they took shelter in a thick wood.
The Cock flying up, perched himself on the branches of a tree, while the Dog found a bed beneath in the hollow trunk. When
the morning dawned, the Cock, as usual, crowed very loudly several times. A Fox heard the sound, and wishing to make a breakfast
on him, came and stood under the branches, saying how earnestly he desired to make the acquaintance of the owner of so magnificent
a voice. The Cock, suspecting his civilities, said: "Sir, I wish you would do me the favor of going around to the hollow
trunk below me, and waking my porter, so that he may open the door and let you in." When the Fox approached the tree, the
Dog sprang out and caught him, and tore him to pieces
The Dogs and the Fox
Some Dogs, finding the skin of a lion,
began to tear it in pieces with their teeth. A Fox, seeing them, said, "If this lion were alive, you would soon find out
that his claws were stronger than your teeth."
-"It is easy to kick a man that is down."-
The Dogs and the
Hides
Some Dogs famished with hunger saw a number of cowhides steeping in a river. Not being able to reach them, they
agreed to drink up the river, but it happened that they burst themselves with drinking long before they reached the hides.
-"Attempt not impossibilities."-
The Dog and the Wolf
A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened
to meet a House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the Dog. "I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon
be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?"
"I would have
no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a place."
"I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come
with me to my master and you shall share my work."
So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the
way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how
that had come about.
"Oh, it is nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the place where the collar is put on at night
to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it. "Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you,
Master Dog."
-"It Is Better starve free than be a fat slave."-
The Dolphins the Whales and the Sprat
The Dolphins
and Whales waged a fierce war with each other. When the battle was at its height, a Sprat lifted its head out of the waves
and said that he would reconcile their differences if they would accept him as an umpire. One of the Dolphins replied, "We
would far rather be destroyed in our battle with each other than admit any interference from you in our affairs."
The
Dove and the Ant
An Ant, going to a river to drink, fell in, and was carried along in the stream. A Dove pitied her condition,
and threw into the river a small bough, by means of which the Ant gained the shore. The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a
fowling-piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim, and so saved the Dove's life.
-"Little
friends may prove great friends."-
The Dove and the Crow
A Dove 'shut up' in a cage was boasting of the large number
of young ones which she had hatched. A Crow hearing her, said: "My good friend, cease from this unseasonable boasting.
The larger the number of your family, the greater your cause of sorrow, in seeing them shut up in this prison-house."
|
