An Aesop’s Fable
The Kite, the Frog & the Mouse
There was once much argument between a frog and a mouse as to which should be master of the fen, and many pitched battles resulted.
The crafty mouse, hiding under the grass, would make sudden attacks upon his enemy, often surprising him a disadvantage.The frog was stronger than his rival, however, and, hoping to end the dispute, challenged, and on the appointed day the champions entered the field, each armed with the point of bulrush. And both confident of success.
A kite chanced to be hovering overhead at the time, and seeing the silly creatures so intent upon their quarrel, she swooped suddenly down, seized them in her talons, and carried them off to her young.
“ United we stand divided we fall “
The Farmer & the Stork
FINDING that cranes were destroying his newly-sown corn, a farmer one evening set a net in his field to catch the destructive birds. When he went to examine the net next morning he found number of cranes and also a stork.
“Release me, I beseech you,” cried the stork, ‘for I have eaten none of your corn, not have I done you any harm. I am a poor innocent stork, as you may see—a most dutiful bird. I honour my father and mother. I---’
But the farmer cut him short. ‘All this may be true enough, I dare say, but I have caught you with those who were destroying my crops, and you must suffer with the company in which you are found.’
“People are judged by the company they keep.”
The Crow & the Mussel
Once a hungry crow discovered a mussel and tried hard to break it open with his beak so that he could get at the fish.
he was struggling without success when a carrion-crow came along and said, “I advise you to use a little strategy, my friend. Carry the mouse into the air as high as you can fly, and then let it drop down on this rock you will find it will break open.”
The crow thanked him heartily and, thinking it a good plan, flew off, but while he was on the wing the carrion-crow remained on the ground, and ate the mussel himself when it dropped down.
“Some people are kind to their neighbours for their own sakes.”
The tortoise & the Eagle
A TORTOISE became dissatisfied with his lowly life when he saw so many birds enjoying themselves in the air.
“If I could only get up into the air, I could soar with the best of them, be thought.
One day an eagle came to rest on a rock beside him, and, seizing such a favourable opportunity, the tortoise offered all the treasures of the sea if only the monarch of the air would teach him to fly
The eagle at first declined the task, for he considered it not only absurd but impossible, but, being further pressed by the entreaties and promises of the tortoise, be finally agreed to try. Taking him to a great height in the air, he loosed his hold, bidding the stupid creature to fly if he could.
Before the tortoise could express a word of thanks be fell upon a huge rock and was dashed to pieces.
“The over-ambitious often destroy themselves.”
The Dog & the Cock
A DOG and a cock decided to go on a journey together they were travelling through a wood when night fell. The dog went to sleep in a hollow at the foot of a tree, and the cock roosted in the branches above.
It crowed at its usual hour to welcome the dawn, and its cry awoke a fox who lived nearby and who burried to the wood, thinking he would find a meal. When he saw the cock be began to praise its voice and begged the bird to come down from the tree so that he could congratulate it properly.
‘I will come down,’ said the cock, who saw through the fox’s plan, ‘if you will first speak to the porter below to open the door.’
The fox, not suspecting the trick, did as he was told. When the dog awoke he soon put an end to the fox, and he and the cock continued their journey in safety.
“Meet cunning with cunning.”
The Fox & the Monkey
A MONKEY once danced in an assembly of the beasts, and so greatly pleased all be his performance that they elected him their king.
A fox who envied him the honor, having discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap, led the monkey to the tit-bit and said: ‘Look! I have found this store, but have not used it.
It is not for the subject to lay claim to a treasure trove; the king himself should take it.’
The monkey approached carelessly and was caught in the trap, whereupon he accused the fox of leading him into the snare.
The fox replied, ‘O monkey, can it be that you, with so simple a mind, could rule as king over all the beasts?”
“ The simple are easily deceived.”
The travellers & the Bear
TWO friends were travelling on the same road together when they came face to face with a bear.
One in great fear, and without a thought of his companion, climbed into a tree and hid.
The other, seeing that, single-handed, he was no match for Brain the bear, threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead for he had heard that a bear will not touch a dead body.
The bear approached him, sniffing at his breath and kept still, and at length the bear, thinking him dead, walked slowly away.
When bear was well out of sight the first traveller came down from his tree and asked his companion what it was that the bear had said to him. ‘For,’ said he, ‘I observed that he put his mouth very close to your ear.’
‘Why,’ replied the other, ‘it was no great secret. He only advised me not to keep company with those who, when they get in difficulty, leave their friends in the lurch.’
“Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.”
The Mice Meeting
Once upon a time a number of mice called a meeting to decide upon the best means of ridding themselves of a cat that had killed many of their relation.
Various plans were discussed and rejected. until at last a young mouse proposed that a bell should be hung round the tyrant's neck, in future, so that they would have warning of her movements and be able to escape.
The suggestion was received joyfully by nearly all, but an old mouse, who had sat silent for some time, got up and said 'While i consider the plan to be a very clever one, and feel sure that it would prove to be quite successful if carried out, I should like to know who is going to put a bell on the cat?'
"It is easier to make a suggestion than to carry it out."
The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse
Once upon a time a country mouse who had a friend in town invited him to pay him a visit in the country.
The invitation being duly accepted, the country mouse, though plain and rough in his habits of living, opened his heart in honour of a old friend. There was not a carefully stored-up morsel that he did not bring forth out of his larder-peas and barley, cheese-parings and nuts - hoping by quantity to make up what he feared was lacking in quality. The town mouse who was used to more dainty food, at first picked a bit here and a bit there, while the host sat nibbling a blade of barley straw.
At length he exclaimed, 'how is it' my good friend, that you can endure the dullness of this life? you are living like a toad in a hole. You can't really prefer these lonely rocks and woods to streets filled with shops and carriage and men ! believed me, you are wasting your time here. We must make the most of life while it lasts. A mouse, you know does not live for ever. So come with me, and I'll show you live and the town.'
These fine words were too much for the simple country mouse, and he agreed to go with his friend to town.
It was late in the evening when the two crept into the city, and mid night before they reached the great house where the town mouse lived. Here were couches of crimson velvet, carvings in ivory, everything, in fact, that showed wealth and comfort. On the table were the remains of a splendid meal, and it was now the turn of the town mouse to play the host; he ran to and fro to supply his friend's wants, pressed dish upon dish and titbit upon titbit, as though he were waiting on a king.
The country mouse, for his part, tried to appear quite at house, and blessed the good fortune that had brought such a change in his way of life; when, in the midst of his enjoyment, as he was wondering how he could have been content with the poor food he was used to at home, suddenly the door opened and a party of ladies and gentlemen entered the room. The two friends jumped from the table in the greatest fright, and hid themselves in the first corner they could reach. when the room was quiet again the ventured to creep out, but the barking of dogs drove them back in still greater terror them before.
At length, when all the household was asleep, the country mouse stole out from his hiding - place, and, bidding his hose good - bye, whispered in his ear, 'my good friend, this fine mode of living may do for those who like it, but give me barley and bread in peace and security before the tastiest feast where fear and care lie in wait.'
"A humble live with peace and quiet is better than a splendid one with danger and risk."
The fox & the Goat
One day a fox fell into a well, and wondered how he could get out again. At last a goat came along, and, feeling thirsty, he asked Reynard if the water was good.
The fox saw his chance, and, pretending that he was swimming for pleasure, replied, ' Yes come down, my friend; the water is so nice that i cannot drink enough of it, and there is plenty for both of us. 'So the goat jumped in, and the artful fox, making use of his friend's horns, quickly sprang out.
When he was safely on top of the well, he coolly remarked to the poor goat, ' had you half as much brains as you have beard, you could have looked before your leaped.
"Think before you act."
The Bees, the Drones & The Wasps
Some bees built a comb in the hollow trunk of an oak-trees, but some drones claimed that they had built it, and that it belonged to them.
The case was brought into court before judge Wasp, who knowing the habits of both parties, addressed them thus; " The plaintiffs and defendants are so much alike in shape and colour that it is difficult to say which are the rightful owners, and the case has very properly been brought before me. Now i think that justice will best be served now by following the plan which I propose, Let each party take a hive and build up a new comb, so that from the shape of the cells and the taste of the honey it will be quite clear to whom the comb in dispute belongs."
The bees readily agreed to the wasp's plan, but the drones, on the other hand, would not do so.
Whereupon the wasp gave judgement: "It is clear now who made the comb, and who cannot make it; the court gives judgement in favour of the bees."
"We may know a tree by its fruits"
The Fox & the Lion
When a fox who had never seen a lion met one for the first time he was so terrified that he almost died of fright. When he met him the second time, however, he was still afraid, but managed to hide his fear. But when he saw him for the third time be felt so brave that he went up and began to talk to him as though they were old friends.
"Familiarity breeds contempt"
The Charger & the Ass
A charger, beautifully groomed and equipped, one day came galloping, along a road, exciting the envy of a poor ass who was trudging along with a heavy load. "Get out of my way!" cried the proud horse, "or I shall trample you under my feet."
The ass said nothing, but quietly moved to one side of the road. Not long afterwards the charger went to the wars, and was badly wounded on the battlefield. Unfit for my further military service, he was sent home to work on the farm.
The ass saw him there painfully dragging a heavy wagon. 'Ah!' said he to himself. 'I need not have envied him in his pride; but for that he would have a true friend to help him in his need and lighten his load."
"He who despises a humble friend may be doing an ill turn to himself."
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