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THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 
OF  THE  CITY  OF  BOSTON 
LONGFELLOW  MEMORIAL 

COLLECTION-  EM^Ma^ 
FROM  THE  YVND  GIVEN  BY 
MCTORINE  THO^US  ARTZ 


,^.,i89e___^ 


o  o 


kv^^  °   ^  C^K)  ^  °  Com)  "^  *^  CrellV  °  *^  C^fe  ^  °  ni^  "^  ^ 


FN670;    25;    IM. 


^SOP'S    FABLES: 

A  NEW  VERSION,  CHIEFLY 
FROM  THE  ORIGINAL 
SOURCES.  BY  THOMAS 
JAMES,  M.A.,  LATE  HON. 
CANON  OF  PETERBOROUGH 


WITH  MORE  THAN  ONE  HUNDRED  ILLUSTRATIONS 
DESIGNED  BY  TENNIEL  AND  WOLF 


'•  Equidem  omni  cura  morem  servabo  Senis 
Sed  si  libuerit  aliquid  interponere 
Dictorum  sensus  ut  delectet  varietas, 
Bonas  in  partes,  lector,  accipias  velim.'' — Ph^edrus, 


LONDON 

JOHN  MURRAY,    ALBEMARLE  STREET 

1911 


First  Edition  ....    /uly  1874 

Reprinted iV/cy  1882 

Reprinted July  i8gi 

Second  Edition    .    .    .   May  1898 

Rep7-i7ited March  1907 

Reprinted October  1910 

Third  Edition  (i^.)  September  igii 


INTRODUCTION 

TO 

THE    LIFE   AND    FABLES  OF  ^SOP 


IN  the  days  of  Croesus,  King  of  Lydia,  when  Amasis 
was  Pharaoh  of  Egypt,  and  Peisistratus  lorded 
it  over  the  Athenians — between,  five  and  six  hundred 
years  before  the  Christian  era — Hved  y^SOPUS,  no  inapt 
representative  of  the  great  social  and  intellectual 
movement  of  the  age  which  he  adorned. 

Born  a  slave,  with  no  outward  circumstances  of 
fortune  to  recommend  him  to  the  notice  of  the  great, 
he  forced  his  way  by  his  mother-wit  into  the  courts  of 
princes,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a  fame,  more 
universal,  and  perhaps  more  lasting  in  its  influence, 
than  that  of  all  the  Seven  Wise  Men  of  Greece,  his 
worthy  contemporaries. 

Up  to  this  time,  whatever  wisdom  from  without  had 
guided  the  councils  of  princes,  had  been  derived  from 
the  traditionary  lore  of  courts,  or  from  the  verses  of 
bards,  hallowed  by  time,  or  impromptued  for  the 
occasion.  Writing  was  as  yet  only  known  in  the 
inscription  on  the  public  marble,  or  on  the  private 
tablet.  Religion  and  History  were  handed  down  from 
mouth  to  mouth,  and,  the  better  to  be  rememberec} 


Introduction 

were  committed  to  metre.  With  the  sixth  century 
before  Christ  commences  the  era  of  Written  Classic 
Literature.  The  great  convulsion  of  the  Eastern 
nations,  and  the  first  direct  and  sustained  intercourse 
of  the  Oriental  with  the  Grecian  mind,  tended  to  call 
forth  all  the  latent  energies  of  either  people.  New 
combinations  of  governments,  and  strange  commix- 
tures of  races,  required  new  systems  of  politics,  and 
more  stringent  and  definite  laws.  Hence  this  is  the 
age  of  Wise  Men  and  of  Prose.  Even  wealthy  Croesus 
discovered  that  knowledge  was  power,  and  assembled 
around  him  from  every  nation  all  who  had  gained  a 
reputation  for  superior  wisdom. 

The  flights  of  imagination  began  to  give  way  to  the 
serious  business  of  life.  It  was  an  age  of  grave  talkers, 
and  inquisitive  travellers, — -of  gathering  the  works  of 
the  great  poets  to  preserve  the  wisdom  of  antiquity, 
and  of  collecting  facts  for  the  use  of  the  new  order  of 
things.  Distinctions  of  birth  and  country  were  less 
heeded,  and  Wit  was  listened  to  even  from  the  lips  of 
a  foreign  slave.  It  was  even  able  to  emancipate  itself, 
not  only  from  the  bondage  of  custom,  but  from  actual 
bodily  slavery,  and  /Esop  came  to  the  court  of  Croesus, 
from  his  old  master  ladmon,  a  free  man — -working  his 
way  to  fame  by  a  more  honourable  road  than  that  of 
his  fellow-servant  "  Rhodopis  the  Fair,"  the  celebrity  of 
whose  beauty  and  wealth  at  such  a  time,  tells  in  a  word 
how  she  had  abused  the  one,  and  acquired  the  other.i 
^sop's  fame  had  probably  preceded  him,  but  less  as  a 
Sage  than  as  a  Wit.  He  seems  a  stepping-stone  between 
the  poetry  which  had  gone  before  and  the  prose  that 
followed,  making  the  politics  and  morals  of  the  day 
his  study,  but  clothing  his  lectures  in  the   garb  of 

1  Herod.  II.  134,  135. 
vi 


Introduction 

Imagination  and  Fancy.  There  is  no  doubt  that  he 
quickly  grew  in  favour  with  Croesus  by  the  mode  in 
which  he  imparted  his  knowledge.  While  Solon  held 
the  schoolmaster's  rod  over  the  philosophical  monarch, 
yEsop  conciliated  alike  his  will  and  his  reason  by 
timely  drollery  and  subtilely-conveyed  advice.^  To 
this  freedom  from  avowed  dictation,  was  added  a  little 
well-directed  flattery.  He  knew,  that  to  be  tolerated 
in  courts,  he  must  speak  to  please,  or  not  speak 
at  all ;  ^  and  when  all  the  Seven  Sages  had  given 
judgment,  the  Phrygian  was  sometimes  set  down  as 
the  best  man  of  them  all* 

If  we  should  hence  look  upon  him  as  little  more 
than  a  court-jester,  we  shall  be  doing  him  great  wrong. 
He  came  to  amuse,  but  he  remained  to  instruct ;  and 
Croesus  probably  learnt  more  home-truths  from  his 
fictions,^  than  from  all  the  serious  disquisitions  of  his 
retained  philosophers.  Wherever  he  went  he  lifted 
up  his  voice  in  the  same  strain.  At  Corinth  he 
warned  his  hearers  against  mob-law,  in  a  fable  which 
Socrates  afterwards  turned  into  verse.^  At  Athens, 
by  the  recital  of  "  The  Frogs  and  Jupiter,"  he  gave  a 
lesson  both  to  prince  and  people.'^  His  visit  to 
Delphi  seems  to  have  had  less  of  a  political  object. 
He  was  sent  as  a  commissioner  by  Croesus  to  dis- 
tribute some  payment  due  to  the  Delphians,^  and 
in  the  discharge  of  this  duty  incurred  the  displeasure 
of  the  citizens  of  that  worlds-centre, — whose  character 

2  ITai^aJV  sv  (TTTou^y. — Agathiae  ^   ao<pols    ixvOois    Kai    TXaafiaai 
Epigr.  ap.  Brunk.  Kaipia  Xi^as.     Agath.  Epigr. 

3  ujs   vKirfTa     fi  u}s    tj^iara.—  ^  Plat.  Ph?ed.  c.   12.— IJioo^. 
Plutar.  vit.  Sol.  p.  94.  Laert.  II.  42. 

^  fjiaWov   6    <t>pj)$.      Suid.  in  ^  Phced.  I.  2. 

voc  —  Apostolius   Cent.   XII.  ^  Aristoph.     Vesp.     1446,— 

^dag,  Schol.  ad  loc, 

vii 


Introduction 

seems  to  have  been  at  all  times  but  little  m  accordance 
with  the  sacred  privileges  they  assumed.  Probably 
even  more  from  fear  of  his  wit  than  from  displeasure 
at  his  award, — and  judging  from  the  event,  without  any 
plea  of  justice, — the  Delphians  raised  against  him  the 
vulgar  cry,  too  often  successful,  of  impiety,  and  sacrilege. 
For  once  his  ready  weapon  failed  in  its  effect.  He  is 
said  to  have  appealed  to  their  reverence  for  the  laws 
of  hospitality,  by  the  fable  of  *'  The  Eagle  and  the 
Beetle,"  the  germ  probably  of  the  existing  story  :  but 
he  appealed  in  vain.  Their  craft  was  in  danger  ;  and 
the  enraged  guardians  of  the  temple  of  the  great  God 
of  Greece,  hurled  the  unfortunate  fable-maker  head- 
long from  one  of  the  Phsedrian  precipices.^ 

He  was  not  unavenged.  Plagues  cursed  the  scene 
of  his  murder,  and  the  conscience-smitten  Delphians, 
many  years  afterwards,  seeing  in  their  calamities,  as 
well  they  might,  a  punishment  for  their  evil  deed, 
proclaimed,  again  and  again,  their  readiness  to  give 
compensation  for  his  death  to  any  one  who  could 
prove  a  title  to  the  self-imposed  fine.  No  other 
claimant  appearing,  it  was  awarded  at  length  to 
ladmon,  the  grandson  of  ladmon  (son  of  Hephsestopo- 
lius),  ^sop's  old  master.^  The  proverb  of  "  ^Esop's 
blood,"  in  aftertimes  gave  warning  to  his  countrymen, 
that  murder  will  not  cry  to  Heaven  in  vain.^ 

There  are  no  further  authentic  notices  of  yEsop's 
life,  but  there  are  abundant  proofs  of  the  estimation  in 
which  his  words  were  held  by  the  Athenians  for  many 
generations  afterwards.  To  be  able  to  tell  a  good 
story   of  iEsop   at   the    club,  was    an    indispensable 

^  Babrli .  frag.  ap.  Apollon. —  "^  klaConnov     nlfia. — Zonaras, 

Suid.  V.  ^aidpids.  p.  9*^. 

^  Herod.  II.  134. 

•  •  • 

vni 


Introduction 

accomplishment  of  an  Athenian  gentleman  ;  and  he 
who  had  not  got  ^sop's  Fables  at  his  fingers'  ends 
was  looked  upon  as  an  illiterate  dunce.^  Indeed,  to 
such  an  excess  did  this  fickle  and  news-loving  people 
run  after  an  yEsopean  fable,  that  there  is  no  weakness 
of  theirs  more  severely  lashed  than  this  by  their 
satirists  both  in  verse  and  prose.  His  practical 
wisdom  was,  however,  as  much  regarded  as  his 
caustic  humour ;  and  the  common  tradition,  that  he 
appeared  alive  again  and  fought  at  Thermopylae,  tells 
more  for  the  honour  in  which  he  was  held  as  a  patriot 
than  a  hundred  authentic  anecdotes.* 

About  two  hundred  years  after  his  death,  a  statue 
of  ^sop,  the  workmanship  of  Lysippus,  was  erected 
at  Athens,  and  was  placed  in  front  of  the  statues  of 
the  Seven  Sages.^ 

The  ridiculous  particulars  of  his  life  and  person,  as 
they  are  commonly  given,  are  but  a  compilation, 
made  in  the  middle  ages,  of  sorry  jokes  borrowed 
from  various  quarters,  with  enough  of  older  fact  and 
tradition  to  give  them  a  sort  of  plausible  consistency. 
The  whole  has  been  attributed  to  the  imagination  of 
Planudes,  a  monk  of  the  fourteenth  century;  but  there 
seems  little  reason  for  believing  that  he  did  more 
than  collect  what  he  found  already  made  to  his  hand. 

^sop's  personal  deformity  and  swarthy  complexion 
have  not  the  slightest  testimony  from  ancient  authority. 
The  negative  evidence,  which  in  this  case  is  strong, 
tells  all  the  other  way,  though  Bentley  has  carried  his 
argument  rather  too  far  in  trying  hence  to  prove  that 
he  must  have  been  remarkably  handsome.^   The  oldest 

3  Aristoph.    Vesp.  1260.    Av.        ^  Pha^d.  II.  Ep.  Agath.  Epig. 
471-    .  „  ,  ^  Dissert,  ^s.  Works,  v.  II, 

^  §uid.vv.  At<T(i)7roy — dva/3iwi/crt.      p.  236. 


Introduction 

authority  in  which  his  person  is  mentioned  speaks  of 
his  face  and  voice  as  contributing  as  much  as  his 
stories  to  the  amusement  of  his  companyj 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  ^sop  was  absolutely 
the  inventor  of  Fable.  ^  Under  this  form,  more  or 
less  developed,  the  earliest  knowledge  of  every  nation 
— at  ieast  of  every  Eastern  nation — has  been  handed 
down.  Poverty  of  language  would,  in  the  first  instance, 
necessitate  the  use  of  metaphor,  and  the  simile  would 
follow,  not  far  removed  from  parable  and  fable.  The 
more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  habits  of  wild 
beasts,  natural  to  an  uncivilised  life,  would  also  suggest 
illustrations  to  be  drawn  from  the  ways  of  the  wily 
fox,  the  timid  deer,  the  noble  lion;  while  a  closer 
intercourse  with  them,  even  though  that  of  enmity, 
would  be  apt  to  attribute  not  only  human  passions, 
but  motives  and  feelings,  and  hence  speech. 

In  later  times,  vyhen  neither  kings  nor  mobs  would 
bear  to  look  upon  naked  Truth,  recourse  to  the  style 
of  primitive  wisdom  furnished  an  effective  garb  where- 
with to  clothe  it.  It  flattered,  by  its  appeal  to  national 
antiquity,  and  by  exercising,  without  tasking,  intel- 
lectual acuteness.  Thus  fable  was  not,  in  those  times, 
a  child's  plaything,  but  a  nation's  primer.  Tyranny 
and  rebellion  were  alike  stayed  by  this  only  word  of 
the  wise  that  passion  would  listen  to.  Very  different 
in  its  nature  from  the  old  Myth,  it  was  not  the  result 
of  profound  contemplative  philosophy  in  a  popular 
garb,  but  it  was  the  off-hand,  ready-made  weapon  of 
a  man  of  action, — one  who  united  presence  of  mind 
with  presence  of  wit, — who  saw  his  opportunity  and 
knew  how  to  use  it. 

The  oldest  Fable  on  record  which  we  know  to  have 
^  Himer,  Orat.  XIII.  ^  Babr.  prooem  II.  i, 


Introduction 

been  thus  practically  applied,  is  that  of  "  The  Trees 
and  the  Bramble,"  as  found  in  Holy  Writ.^  When 
the  Israelites,  discontented  at  not  having  an  earthly 
sovereign,  had  allowed  Abimelech,  the  base  son  of 
Gideon,  to  usurp  a  kingly  authority  over  them,  Jotham, 
whose  better  claims  had  been  passed  over  by  them, 
addressed  them  in  the  fable  of 

THE  TREES  AND  THE  BRAMBLE 

The  Trees  went  forth  on  a  time  to  anoint  a  king 
over  them ;  and  they  said  unto  the  Olive-tree:  "  Reign 
thou  over  us;"  but  the  Olive-tree  said  unto  them, 
"  Should  I  leave  my  fatness,  wherewith  by  me  they 
honour  God  and  man,  and  go  to  be  promoted  over 
the  trees  ? "  And  the  trees  said  to  the  Fig-tree : 
"  Come  thou  and  reign  over  us ; "  but  the  Fig-tree 
said  unto  them :  "  Should  I  forsake  my  sweetness  and 
my  good  fruit,  and  go  to  be  promoted  over  the  trees  ?  " 
Then  said  the  trees  unto  the  Vine  :  "  Come  thou  and 
reign  over  us ;"  and  the  Vine  said  unto  them :  "  Should 
I  leave  my  wine,  which  cheereth  God  and  man,  and 
go  to  be  promoted  over  the  trees  ? "  Then  said  all 
the  trees  unto  the  Bramble :  "  Come  thou  and  reign 
over  us ; "  and  the  Bramble  said  unto  the  trees  :  "  If 
in  truth  ye  anoint  me  king  over  you,  then  come  and 
put  your  trust  in  my  shadow;  and  if  not,  let  fire 
come  out  of  the  Bramble,  and  devour  the  Cedars  of 
Lebanon." 

No  less  effective  was  Nathan's  parable  of  "The 
Ewe-lamb  "  addressed  to  King  David,  with  its  terrible 
application,  "  Thou  art  THE  Man."  ^ 

®  Judges  ix.  7.  1  2  Sam.  xii.  7. 

xi 


Introduction 

In  like  manner  Fables  effected  their  work  in  the 
politics  of  Greece.  The  citizens  of  Himera  were 
warned  by  Stesichorus  against  the  encroachments  of 
the  tyrant  Phalaris,  by  the  recital  of  "  The  Horse  and 
the  Stag."  2  A  timely  lesson  was  given  to  Peisistratus 
and  the  Athenians  by  the  fable  of  "  The  Frogs  and 
Jupiter."^  The  Samians,  when  they  would  have  put 
to  death  one  who  had  battened  upon  the  public 
treasury,  were  checked  by  ^sop's  introduction  of 
"  The  Fox  and  the  Hedgehog."  *  When  the  lonians, 
who  had  rejected  a  previous  invitation  of  Cyrus  to 
join  him,  sent  ambassadors  to  him  after  his  success, 
offering  him  terms,  the  indignant  conqueror  gave  them 
no  other  reply  than  the  story  of  "  The  Fisherman 
piping."^  Demosthenes  turned  the  pliant  mind  of 
the  Athenians  when  they  were  ready  to  betray  him 
into  Philip's  hands,  by  warning  them  in  "  The  Wolves 
and  the  Sheep,"  lest,  in  giving  up  the  public  orators, 
they  surrendered  the  watch-dogs  of  the  State.  And, 
on  another  occasion,  when  the  people  would  not  hear 
him  speaking  on  a  serious  matter  of  public  business, 
he  called  them  to  an  acknowledgment  of  their  frivolity, 
and  to  a  sense  of  their  duty,  by  commencing  the  fable 
of  ''  The  Ass's  Shadow."  ^ 

Roman  history  furnishes  the  celebrated  instance  of 
Menenius  Agrippa  quelling  an  insurrection  by  reciting 
"  The  Belly  and  the  Members ; "  "^  and  Scotland  sup- 
plies the  character  of  Archibald  "  Bell-the-Cat."  » 


^  Arist.  Rhet.  II.  20.  ^  Herod.  I.  141. 

3  Ph^edr.  I.  2.  ^  Vit.  Demosth.  ad  fin. 

*  Arist.  Rhet.  II.  20;— after-  ^  Liv.  II.  32. 

wards  applied  by  Tiberius  to  ^  W.   Scott's   Scotland,   Ch, 

the  extortionate  prefects  of  the  XXII. 
Roman  provinces. 

xii 


Introduction 

The  present  book  of  Fables  is  not,  of  course,  put 
forward  as  the  veritable  words  of  ^sop.  The  date  of 
his  life,  and  the  nature  of  the  composition,  alike  forbid 
us  to  suppose  that  his  Fables  were  committed  to 
writing  by  the  author  himself  Nor  if  such  a  work, 
as  an  authentic  collection  of  them,  ever  existed,  could 
the  common  Greek  text  lay  any  claim  to  that  title. 
It  would,  however,  be  equally  absurd  to  adopt  the 
alternative  usually  given,  that  the  whole  or  the  greater 
part  of  the  existing  Fables  are  the  composition  of 
monks  of  the  middle  ages. 

The  history  of  ^Esopean  Fables  seems  rather  to  be 
this,  ^sop  was  one  of  the  first  and  most  successful 
in  adopting  this  kind  of  apologue  as  a  general  vehicle 
of  instruction.  Being  striking  in  point,  and  easy  of 
remembrance,  his  stories  were  soon  bandied  about 
from  mouth  to  mouth,  and  handed  down  from  gener- 
ation to  generation,  with  such  alterations  as  are  ever 
attendant  on  oral  narration. 

In  later  times,  writers,  equally  with  speakers,  pre- 
serving the  traditionary  outline  of  the  fable,  filled  it  up 
in  their  own  words ;  while  all  the  good  stories  afloat 
upon  the  surface  of  conversation  became,  naturally 
enough,  referred  to  the  great  master  in  that  style  of 
composition.  The  popularity  of  ^sop's  Fables  among 
the  Athenians  soon  became  unbounded.  We  find 
them  continually  referred  to  in  the  works  of  the  best 
Greek  authors.  Socrates  relieved  the  monotony  of  his 
prison-hours  by  turning  them  into  verse;  Demetrius 
Phalereus  and  others  followed  in  the  same  course ;  and 
after  a  considerable  interval,  we  have  them  presented 
anew  in  the  Greek  choliambics  of  Babrius,  and  in  the 
Latin  iambics  of  Phaedrus.  Certainly  Phaedrus,  and 
probably  the  other  older  and  later  versionists,  made 

•  •  • 


Introduction 

divers  alterations,  and  sometimes  inserted  additional 
Fables  of  their  own. 

From  all  these  various  sources  the  bulk  of  the  exist- 
ing Fables  is  derived.  This  will  account  for  the  variety 
of  versions,  sometimes  as  many  as  six  or  seven,  of  the 
same  Fable;  while  the  late  dialect  of  the  Greek  text, 
and  the  occasional  obvious  interpolation  of  Christian 
forms  of  speech  and  sentiment — though  indications  of 
the  hands  through  which  the  Fables  were  last  trans- 
mitted— need  not  drive  us  from  the  conclusion  that  we 
have,  in  the  main,  both  the  spirit  and  body  of  yFsop's 
Fables,  if  not  as  they  proceeded  from  the  Sage's  own 
lips,  at  least  as  they  were  known  in  the  best  times  of 
Greek  literature. 

This  collection  of  Fables — the  most  popular  Moral 
and  Political  Class-book  of  more  than  two  thousand 
years — it  has  been  the  object  of  the  Translator  to 
restore,  in  a  more  genuine  form  than  has  yet  been 
attempted,  into  the  hands  of  the  present  generation, 
from  which  the  wearisome  and  otherwise  objection- 
able paraphrases  of  the  ordinary  versions  had  almost 
banished  it. 

The  recent  happy  discovery  of  the  long-lost  Fables 
of  Babrius,  and  their  opportune  appearance  in  this 
country  in  the  excellent  edition  of  Mr.  George  Corne- 
wall  Lewis,  suggested  the  idea  that  by  a  recurrence  to 
the  Greek  texts,  and  by  collating  and  sifting  the  various 
ancient  Aversions,  a  nearer  approach  might  be  gained 
to  the  true  ^sopean  Fable  than  has  yet  been  proposed 
in  any  English  collection. 

In  the  present  Version,  however,  no  strict  and  definite 
plan  of  translation  has  been  followed.  Though  the 
general  rule  has  been  to  give  a  free  translation  from 
the  oldest  source  to  which  the  Fable  could  be  traced, 


I?2troduction 

or  from  its  best  later  form  in  the  dead  languages,  there 
will  be  found  exceptional  cases  of  all  kinds.  Some 
are  compounded  out  of  many  ancient  versions:  some 
are  a  collation  of  ancient  and  modern :  some  are 
abridged,  some  interpolated :  one  takes  the  turn  of  a 
Greek  epigram,  another  follows  the  lively  and  diffusive 
gossip  of  Horace:  some  walk  more  in  the  track  of  the 
Greek  verse  of  Babrius,  some  in  that  of  the  Latin  verse 
of  Phaedrus :  a  few  adopt  the  turn  given  by  L'Estrange, 
or  speak  almost  in  the  very  words  of  Croxall  or 
Dodsley.^ 

This  method  of  translation — wholly  without  excuse, 
i(  applied  to  a  genuine  classic — will,  perhaps,  be  deemed 
admissible  for  a  popular  volume  of  ^Esopean  Fables, 
seeing  that  it  is  neither  more  nor  less  than  has  happened 
to  them  since  the  days  when  the  Sage  first  scattered 
his  Apologues  on  the  wide  waters  of  society,  to  be 
taken  up  and  treated  as  suited  the  whim  or  purpose 
of  subsequent  recounters  and  versionists,  from  Socrates 
to  Mrs.  Trimmer. 

A  greater  liberty  has  been  taken  with  those  vener- 
able deductions  which  are  usually  appended  in  set 
form  to  the  Fable,  under  the  title  of  Morals,  or  Appli- 
cations; and  in  this,  an  essential  departure  has  been 
made  from  the  common  plan  of  the  English  Fabulists, 
who  have  generally  smothered  the  original  Fable  under 
an  overpowering  weight  of  their  own  commentary. 
Of  course,  when  Fables  were  first  spoken,  they  were 
supposed  to  convey  their  own  moral  along  with  them, 
or  else  they  were  spoken  in  vain ;  and  even  when  first 
written,  the  application  given  was  that  of  the  particular 
occasion,    not  of  general  inference.      When  in   later 

^  A  few  modern  fables,  marked  (M)  in  the  Index,  have  been 
inserted. 

XV 


Introduction 

times,  Morals  were  formally  added,  they  were  always 
brief,  and  mostly  in  a  proverbial  form.  To  this 
character  it  has  been  attempted  to  recall  them,  though, 
in  some  instances,  they  are  incorporated  with  the  Fable, 
and  in  others,  where  the  story  seems  to  speak  for  itself, 
omitted  altogether. 

It  would  be  quite  unnecessary  for  the  Translator  to 
suggest,  even  in  an  age  much  less  pictorial  than  the 
present,  how  much  this  Book  is  indebted  for  any  value 
it  may  possess  to  the  illustrations  of  the  Artist;  but 
he  cannot  close  his  own  portion  of  the  work  without 
expressing  how  greatly  the  pleasure  of  the  undertaking 
has  been  enhanced  to  him  by  having  such  a  coad- 
jutor:— a  pleasure  which  has  arisen  no  less  from  the 
kindly  spirit  of  Mr.  Tenniel's  co-operation,  than  from 
the  happy  results  of  his  skill. 


XVI 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


THE  FOX   AND   THE   GRAPES         .  .  .       ,    , 

—  FOX    AND    THE   GOAT 

—  WOLF   AND   THE   CRANE        .  .  ,  ,  . 

—  VAIN   JACKDAW . 

—  MOUNTAIN    IN    LABOUR         ...... 

—  COCK   AND   THE  JEWEL  .... 

—  EAGLE   AND   THE    FOX  ...... 

—  OLD    HOUND 

—  FIGHTING-COCK^'  AND  THE  EAGLE  {Two  Illustrations) 

—  COUNTRYMAN   AND   THE  SNAKE       .  ,  .  . 

-    MAN    AND   THE  SATYR 

—  DOG    AND   THE   SHADOW 

—  WOLF   AND   THE    LAMB  ..... 

—  COUNTRY   MOUSE  AND   THE   TOWN    MOUSE 

—  LION    AND   THE    MOUSE 

—  HOySE-DOG    AND    THE    WOLF  ..... 

—  OLD   WOMAN    AND    THE   WINEJAR         .... 

—  FROG    AND   THE   OX  .  .  .  ,  ,  . 

—  HARE   AND   THE   TORTOISE  .... 

—  TORTOISE  AND   THE   EAGLE     ... 

xv«:  b 


PAGE 
I 

3 

4 
5 
7 
8 

9 

II 

12 

13 

15 
i6 

17 
19 

21 

23 
24 

25 
26 


2^ 


List  of  Illustrations 

PAGt: 

THE   SHEPHERD-BOY   AND   THE   WOLF 29 

—  FOX    AND   THE   WOODMAN 3 1 

—  CROW   AND   THE    PITCHER 32 

—  ONE-EYED    DOE 33 

—  BELLY   AND   THE    MEMBERS            ......  34 

—  TRAVELLERS   AND   THE    BEAR 35 

—  STAG    IN   THE   OX  STALL 37 

—  COLLIER   AND    THE    FULLER ,  39 

—  LION    IN    LOVE 40 

—  WIND  AND  THE  SUN  {Tivo  llhistyalions)        ...  41 

—  TREES    AND    THE   AXE 43 

—  ASS  AND  THE   LAP-DOG 44 

—  WOLVES   AND   THE   SHEEP 46 

HERCULES  AND  THE  WAGGONER 48 

THE   FOX   WITHOUT  A   TAIL 49 

—  HARES   AND   THE   FROGS 5 1 

—  HUSBANDMAN   AND   THE   STORK 52 

—  ANGLER   AND   THE    LITTLE   FISH 53 

—  BUNDLE  OF  STICKS •            •  55 

—  MAN   AND   THE   LION 56 

—  NURSE   AND    THE    WOLF 57 

—  HORSE   AND    THE   STAG "    ,            .  '59 

—  MISCHIEVOUS   DOG ,  61 

—  HERDSMAN   AND   THE   LOST   BULL 63 

—  OAK   AND   THE    REED  ........  65 

MERCURY   AND   THE   WOODMAN 66 

THE    LION    AND    OTHER    BEASTS    HUNTING 68 

—  DOG    IN    THE    MANGER ,            .  69 

—  THIEF   AND    HIS    MOTHER    . 71 

—  CAT    AND   THE    MICE 72 

—  COUNTRY    MAID    AND    HER    MILK-CAN    {TlVO  I Ihist rations)    .  73 

—  TWO   POTS         ..........  75 

xviii 


List  of  Illustrations 

'AGE 

THE   GOOSE   WITH   THE   GOLDEN   EGGS 77 

—  DOG    INVITED   TO   SUPPER 79 

—  FROGS   ASKING    FOR   A    KmCj  [TwO  lilustra'ions)             .            .  8l 

—  THIEF   AND   THE    DOG      .......  83 

—  LARK   AND    HER   YOUNG   ONES     .            .                                     .            .  85 

—  TRUMPETER   TAKEN    PRISONER          .            .            .                        .  87 

—  BIRDS,  THE    BEASrS,  AND   THE   BAT 89 

—  TRAVELLERS   AND  THE   HATCHET    .           .           .            .           ,  9 1 

—  EAGLE  AND   THE  JACKDAW           ..,.,,  93 

—  ASS   AND    HIS   DRIVER      ..,..,,  94 

—  OLD   MAN   AND   DEATH -95 

—  HART  AND  THE  VINE ,  97 

—  MISER .  .  -.  .98 

—  OLD  WOMAN   AND   HER    MAIDS         .....  99 

—  LION,  THE   BEAR,  AND   THE    FOX            .            ,            ,            .            .  lOO 

—  BOASTING   TRAVELLER I02 

—  FOX   AND   THE    MASK              ..,,,.,  IO4 

—  HEIFER   AND   THE   OY.  {T1VO  Illlf^tvations)          ,            .            ,  I05 

—  LION   AND  THE   BULLS          .,.,...  I06 

—  ARAB   AND   THE    CAMEL  .......  1 08 

—  JACKASS    IN    OFFICE IO9 

—  FOX  AND   THE  STORK      ..,,,..  1 10 

—  ASS    IN    THE    lion's   SKIN Ill 

—  ass's  SHADOW  {Two  Illustrations) .         ,         .         ,         .  113 

—  BULL  AND   THE   GOAT           .           .           .           >            .           .           .  II4 

—  QUACK    FROG II5 

—  HORSE  AND   THE   LOADED    \SS    .           .           -            .           ,            .  I16 

—  VINE   AND   THE   GOAT 1 17 

—  MAN    AND   HIS   TWO   WIVES  .  .  .  .  .1X8 

—  STAG   AT   THE    POOL I20 

—  ASTRONOMER        .            .                        .            .                        ...  121 

—  SHEPHERD  AND  1  HE   SEA                                 .           .           ,           .  I23 

xix 


List  of  Illustrations 

THE   GREAT   AND    THE    LITTLE    FISHES  .... 

—  WILD    BOAR   AND    THE    FOX      ..... 

—  THE    BLACKAMOOR 

—  ASS,  THE    COCK,  AND   THE    LION        .  .  .  , 

—  CHARGER   AND    THE   ASS       ...... 

—  MOUSE   AND   THE   WEASEL         .  .  .    ■        . 

—  LEOPARD   AND   THE    FOX      , 

—  OLD    LION 

—  W^OLF   AND   THE   SHEPHERDS 

—  FOX   AND   THE   CROW        ...... 

—  BOY   BATHING 

VENUS  AND   THE   CAT . 

MERCURY   AND  THE   SCULPTOR  ,  ,  .  .  , 

THE   MILLER,  HIS   SON,  AND   THEIR   ASS  {StX  Illlistratioin) 


PAGE 

124 

126 

127 

128 

129 

130 

132 

133 

134 

136 

138 

139 

140 

142 

XX 


^>J# 


^sop's   Fables 


THE   FOX      ^      ^ 
AND  THE   GRAPES 


FABLE  1 


A  FOX,  just  at  the  time  of  the 
vintage,  stole  into  a  vineyard 
where  the  ripe  sunny  Grapes  were 
trelHsed  up  on  high  in  most  tempting 
show.  He  made  many  a  spring  and 
a  jump  after  the  luscious  prize;  but, 
failing  in  all  his  attempts,  he  muttered 
as  he  retreated,  "  Well !  what  does  it 
matter  ?     The  Grapes  are  sour  !  " 


h  <''    ' 


^i^. 


Sa 


(&S: 


r 


30- 


r 


j^ sop's  Fables 


THE   BOWMAN 

AND   THE    LION        *        ^  FABLE  2 

A  MAN  who  was  very  skilful  with  his  bow,  went 
up  into  the  mountains  to  hunt.  At  his  approacli 
there  was  instantly  a  great  consternation  and  rout 
among  all  the  wild  beasts,  the  Lion  alone  showing 
any  determination  to  fight.  "Stop,"  said  the  Bowman 
to  him,  "  and  await  my  messenger,  who  has  somewhat 
to  say  to  you."  With  that,  he  sent  an  arrow  after  the 
Lion,  and  wounded  him  in  the  side.  The  Lion, 
smarting  with  anguish,  fled  into  the  depth  of  the 
thickets,  but  a  Fox  seeing  him  run,  bade  him  take 
courage  and  face  his  enemy.  "  No,"  said  the  Lion, 
"  you  will  not  persuade  me  to  that  ;  for  if  the  messen- 
ger he  sends  is  so  sharp,  what  must  be  the  power  of 
him  who  sends  it  ?  " 

THE    KITE        ^        f         ^ 

AND   THE    PIGEONS  ?  FABLE  3 

SOME  Pigeons  had  long  lived  in  fear  of  a  Kite, 
but  by  being  always  on  the  alert,  and  keeping 
near  their  dove-cote,  they  had  contrived  hitherto  to 
escape  the  attacks  of  the  enemy.  Finding  his  saljies 
unsuccessful,  the  Kite  betook  himself  to  craft :  "Why," 
said  he,  "  do  you  prefer  this  life  of  continual  anxiety, 
when,  if  you  would  only  make  me  your  king,  I  would 
secure  you  from  every  attack  that  could  be  made  upon 
you?  "  The  Pigeons,  trusting  to  his  professions,  called 
him  to  the  throne  ;  but  no  sooner  was  he  established 
there  than  he  exercised  his  prerogative  by  devouring 
a  pigeon  a-day.  Whereupon  one  that  yet  awaited  his 
turn,  said  no  more  than  "  It  serves  us  right." 

They  who  voluntarily  put  power  into  the  hand  of  a 
tyrant  or  an  enemy,  must  not  wonder  if  it  be  at  last 
turned  against  themselves. 


THE   FOX         ® 
AND  THE  GOAT 


FABLE  4 


A  FOX  had  fallen  into  a  well,  and  had  been  casting 
about  for  a  long  time  how  he  should  get  out  again; 
when  at  length  a  Goat  came  to  the  place,  and  wanting 
to  drink,  asked  Reynard  whether  the  water  was  good, 
and  if  there  was  plenty  of  it.  The  Fox,  dissembling 
the  real  danger  of  his  case,  replied,  "  Come  down,  my 
friend  ;  the  water  is  so  good  that  I  cannot  drink 
enough  of  it,  and  so  abundant  that  it  cannot  be 
exhausted."  Upon  this  the  Goat  without  any  more 
ado  leaped  in ;  when  the  Fox,  taking  advantage  of  his 
friend's  horns,  as  nimbly  leaped  out ;  and  coolly 
remarked  to  the  poor  deluded  Goat,  "If  you  had  half 
as  much  brains  as  you  have  beard,  you  would  have 
looked  before  you  leaped." 

3 


THE  WOLF        f 
AND  THE  CRANE 


9 


FABLE  5 


A  WOLF  had  got  a  bone  stuck  in  his  throat,  and 
in  the  greatest  agony  ran  up  and  down,  be- 
seeching every  animal  he  met  to  reHeve  him  :  at  the 
same  timiC  hinting  at  a  very  handsome  reward  to  the 
successful  operator.  A  Crane,  moved  by  his  entreaties 
and  promises,  ventured  her  long  neck  down  the  Wolf's 
throat,  and  drew  out  the  bone.  She  then  modestly 
asked  for  the  promised  reward.  To  which  the  Wolf, 
grinning  and  showing  his  teeth,  replied  with  seeming 
indignation,  "  Ungrateful  creature !  to  ask  for  any 
other  reward  than  that  you  have  put  your  head  into  a 
Wolfs  jaws,  and  brought  it  safe  out  again  !  " 

Those  who  are  charitable  only  in  the  hope  of  a 
return,  must  not  be  surprised  if,  in  their  dealings  with 
evil  men,  they  meet  with  more  jeers  than  thanks. 

4 


THE  VAIN  JACKDAW 


FABLE  6 


AJx^CKDAW,  as  vain  and  conceited  as  Jackdaw- 
could  be,  picked  up  the  feathers  which  some 
Peacocks  had  shed,  stuck  them  amongst  his  own,  and 
despising  his  old  companions,  introduced  himself  with 
the  greatest  assurance  into  a  flock  of  those  beautiful 
birds.  They,  instantly  detecting  the  intruder,  stripped 
him  of  his  borrowed  plumes,  and  falling  upon  him 
with  their  beaks,  sent  him  about  his  business.  The 
unlucky  Jackdaw,  sorely  punished  and  deeply  sorrow- 
ing, betook  himself  to  his  former  companions,  and 
would  have  flocked  with  them  again  as  if  nothing  had 
happened.  But  they,  recollecting  what  airs  he  had 
given  himself,  drummed  him  out  of  their  society,  while 
one  of  those  whom  he  had  so  lately  despised,  read  him 
this  lecture  : — "  Had  you  been  contented  with  what 
nature  made  you,  you  would  have  escaped  the 
chastisement  of  your  betters  and  also  the  contempt  of 
your  equals." 

5  * 


j^ sop's  Fables 


THE  ANT  ^  ^  ^ 

AND   THE   GRASSHOPPER      ?  FABLE  7 

ON  a  cold  frosty  day  an  Ant  was  dragging  out 
some  of  the  corn  which  he  had  laid  up  in 
summer  time,  to  dry  it.  A  Grasshopper,  half-perished 
with  hunger,  besought  the  Ant  to  give  him  a  morsel 
of  it  to  preserve  his  life.  "  What  were  you  doing," 
said  the  Ant,  "  this  last  summer  ?  "  "  Oh,"  said  the 
Grasshopper,  "  I  was  not  idle.  I  kept  singing  all  the 
summer  long."  Said  the  Ant,  laughing  and  shutting 
up  his  granary,  "  Since  you  could  sing  all  summer, 
you  may  dance  all  winter." 

Winter  finds  out  what  Summer  lays  by. 

THE    BOY      ^  ^ 

AND  THE  SCORPION  ^  FABLE  8 

A  BOY  was  hunting  Locusts  upon  a  wall,  and  had 
caught  a  great  number  of  them  ;  when,  seeing 
a  Scorpion,  he  mistook  it  for  another  Locust,  and  was 
just  hollowing  his  hand  to  catch  it,  when  the  Scorpion, 
lifting  up  his  sting,  said  :  ''  I  wish  you  had  done  it, 
for  I  would  soon  have  made  you  drop  me,  and  the 
Locusts  into  the  bargain." 


THE  WIDOW        % 

AND   THE    HEN  ®  %  FABLE  9 

A  WIDOW  woman  kept  a  Hen  that  laid  an  ^g^ 
l\.  every  morning.  Thought  the  woman  to  herself, 
"  If  I  double  my  Hen's  allowance  of  barley,  she  will 
lay  twice  a-day."  So  she  tried  her  plan,  and  the  Hen 
became  so  fat  and  sleek,  that  she  left  off  laying  at  all. 

Figures  are  not  always  facts. 
6 


•*1^F*& 


THE    MOUNTAIN 
IN    LABOUR 


.9 


^ 
^ 


FABLE  10 


IN  days  of  yore,  a  mighty  rumbling  was  heard  in  a 
Mountain.  It  was  said  to  be  in  labour,  and 
multitudes  flocked  together,  from  far  and  near,  to  see 
what  it  would  produce.  After  long  expectation  and 
many  wise  conjectures  from  the  bystanders — out 
popped,  a  Mouse  ! 

The   story   applies    to    those    whose    magnificent 
promises  end  in  a  paltry  performance. 

7 


' '"  ^"'^  -y^XLI-il^'^ 


THE   COCK         ^ 

AND   THE  JEWEL      ^        i^  FABLE  11 

AS  a  Cock  was  scratching  up  the  straw  in  a  farm- 
yard, in  search  of  food  for  the  hens,  he  hit  upon 
a  Jewel  that  by  some  chance  had  found  its  way  there. 
"  Ho  !  "  said  he,  "  you  are  a  very  fine  thing,  no  doubt, 
to  those  who  prize  you  ;  but  give  mxe  a  barley-corn 
before  all  the  pearls  in  the  world," 

The  Cock  was  a  sensible  Cock  :  but  there  are  many 
silly  people  who  despise  what  is  precious  only  because 
they  cannot  understand  it. 


THE   KID  I 

AND   THE  WOLF 


I 


FABLE  12 


A  KID  being  mounted  on  the  roof  of  a  lofty  house, 
and  seeing  a  Wolf  pass  below,  began  to  revile 
him.  The  Wolf  merely  stopped  to  reply,  "  Coward  ! 
it  is  not  you  who  revile  me,  but  the  place  on  which 
you  are  standing." 


Ra-^ 


i1 


^.. 


s. 


.C' 


f< 


FABLE  13 

N   Eagle  and  a  Fox  had  long 
lived  together  as  good  neigh- 
bours; the  Eagle  at  the  summit  of 
a  high  tree,  the  Fox  in  a  hole  at 
the  foot  of  it.     One  day,  however, 
while  the  Fox  was  abroad,  the  Eagle 
made  a  swoop  at  the  Fox's  cub,  and 
carried    it  off  to  her  nest, 
thinking     that     her     lofty 
dwelling  would  secure  her 
from    the    Fox's    revenge. 
The    Fox,   on    her    return 


J-."^^' 


j^sop' s  Fables 


hoiile,  upbraided  the  Eagle  for  this  breach  of  friend- 
ship, and  begged  earnestly  to  have  her  young  one 
again ;  but  finding  that  her  entreaties  were  of  no 
avail,  she  snatched  a  torch  from  an  altar-fire  that  had 
been  lighted  hard  by,  and  involving  the  whole  tree 
in  flame  and  smoke,  soon  made  the  Eagle  restore, 
through  fear  for  herself  and  her  own  young  ones,  the 
cub  which  she  had  just  now  denied  to  her  most 
earnest  prayers. 

The  tyrant,  though  he  may  despise  the  tears  of  the 
oppressed,  is  never  safe  from  their  vengeance. 

THE   FAWN        V 

AND    HER    MOTHER      #        #  FABLE  14 

A  FAWN  one  day  said  to  her  mother,  "  Mother, 
}'OU  are  bigger  than  a  dog,  and  swifter  and 
better  winded,  and  you  have  horns  to  defend  yourself; 
how  is  it  that  you  are  so  afraid  of  the  hounds  ?  "  She 
smiled  and  said,  "  All  this,  my  child,  I  know  full  well; 
but  no  sooner  do  I  hear  a  dog  bark,  than,  somehow 
or  other,  my  heels  take  me  off  as  fast  as  they  can 
carry  me." 

There  is  no  arguing  a  coward  into  courage. 


THE   FOX 

AND   THE   LION        ^  %  FABLE  15 

A  FOX  who  had  never  seen  a  Lion,  when  by  chance 
he  met  him  for  the  first  time,  was  so  terrified 
that  he  almost  died  of  fright.  When  he  met  him  the 
second  time,  he  was  still  afraid,  but  managed  to  dis- 
guise his  fear.  When  he  saw  him  the  third  time,  he 
was  so  much  emboldened  that  he  went  up  to  him  and 
asked  him  how  he  did. 

Familiarity  breeds  contempt. 
10 


THE   OLD    HOUND        ^  ^  FABLE  16 

A  HOUND,  who  had  been  an  excellent  one  in  his 
time,  and  had  done  good  service  to  his  master 
in  the  field,  at  length  became  worn  out  with  the 
weight  of  years  and  trouble.  One  day,  when  hunting 
the  wild  boar,  he  seized  the  creature  by  the  ear,  but 
his  teeth  giving  way,  he  was  forced  to  let  go  his  hold, 
and  the  boar  escaped.  Upon  this  the  huntsman, 
coming  up,  severely  rated  him.  But  the  feeble  Dog 
replied,  "Spare  your  old  servant!  It  was  the  power 
not  the  will  that  failed  me.  Remember  rather  what 
I  was,  than  abuse  me  for  what  I  am." 


THE   HORSE     m 

AND   THE   GROOM      ^  *  FABLE  17 

A  GROOM  who  used  to  steal  and  sell  a  Horse's 
corn,  was  yet  very  busy  in  grooming  and 
whisping  him  all  the  day  long.  "  If  you  really  wish 
me,"  said  the  Horse,  "  to  look  well,  give  me  less  of 
your  currying  and  more  of  your  corn." 

II 


THE   FIGHTING-COCKS 
AND  THE   EAGLE  ^ 


FABLE  18 


TWO  young  Cocks  were  fighting  as  fiercely  as  if 
they  had  been  men.  At  last  the  one  that  was 
beaten  crept  into  a  corner  of  the  hen-house,  covered 
with  wounds.  But  the  conqueror,  straightway  flying 
up  to  the  top  of  the  house,  began  clapping  his  wings 
and  crowing,  to  announce  his  victory.  At  this 
moment  an  Eagle,  sailing  by,  seized  him  in 
his  talons  and  bore  him  away  ;  while  the 
defeated  rival  came  out  from 
his  hiding-place,  and  took 
possession  of  the  dunghill  for 
which  they  had  contended. 


_-»  ^"■nrv^ 


:^'i''yr'^^,-^„^4ii,—; :^^  i'^ 


THE   TWO   WALLETS      |  |         FABLE  19 

EVERY  man  carries  two  Wallets,  one  before  and 
one  behind,  and  both  full  of  faults.  But  the 
one  before,  is  full  of  his  neighbour's  faults  ;  the  one 
behind,  of  his  own.  Thus  it  happens  that  men  are 
blind  to  their  own  faults,  but  never  lose  sight  of  their 
neighbour's.         > 

12 


THE  COUNTRYMAN 
AND  THE  SNAKE 


9 


FABLE  20 


A  COUNTRYMAN,  returning  home  one  winter's 
day,  found  a  Snake  by  the  hedge-side,  half 
dead  with  cold.  Taking  compassion  on  the  creature, 
he  laid  it  in  his  bosom,  and  brought  it  home  to  his 
fireside  to  revive  it.  No  sooner  had  the  warmth 
restored  it,  than  it  began  to  attack  the  children  of 
the  cottage.  Upon  this  the  Countryman,  whose 
compassion  had  saved  its  life,  took  up  a  mattock 
and  laid  the  Snake  dead  at  his  feet. 

Those  who  return  evil  for  good,  may  expect  their 
neighbour's  pity  to  be  worn  out  at  last. 

13 


j^sop' s   Fables 


THE   MOUSE      ^ 

AND   THE    FROG        ^         ^  FABLE  21 

A  MOUSE,  in  an  evil  day,  made  acquaintance 
with  a  Frog,  and  they  set  off  on  their  travels 
together.  The  Frog,  on  pretence  of  great  affection, 
and  of  keeping  his  companion  out  of  harm's  way,  tied 
the  Mouse's  fore-foot  to  his  own  hind-leg,  and  thus 
they  proceeded  for  some  distance  by  land.  Presently 
they  came  to  some  water,  and  the  Frog,  bidding  the 
Mouse  have  good  courage,  began  to  swim  across. 
They  had  scarcely,  however,  arrived  mid-way,  when 
the  Frog  took  a  sudden  plunge  to  the  bottom,  drag- 
ging the  unfortunate  Mouse  after  him.  But  the 
struggling  and  floundering  of  the  Mouse  made  so 
great  commotion  in  the  water  that  it  attracted  the 
attention  of  a  Kite,  who,  pouncing  down,  and  bearing 
off  the  Mouse,  carried  away  the  Frog  at  the  same 
time  in  his  train. 

Inconsiderate  and  ill-matched  alliances  generally 
end  in  ruin  :  and  the  man  who  compasses  the  de- 
struction of  his  neighbour,  is  often  caught  in  his  own 
snare. 

THE   FISHERMAN   PIPING       *       FABLE   22 

A  MAN,  who  cared  more  for  his  notes  than  his 
nets,  seeing  some  fish  in  the  sea,  began  play- 
ing on  his  pipe,  thinking  that  they  would  jump  out  on 
shore.  But  finding  himself  disappointed,  he  took  a 
casting-net,  and  inclosing  a  great  multitude  of  fish, 
drew  them  to  land.  When  he  saw  the  fish  dancing 
and  flapping  about,  he  smiled,  and  said,  "  Since  you 
would  not  dance  when  I  piped,  I  will  have  none  of 
your  dancing  now." 

It  is  a  great  art  to  do  the  right  thing  at  the  right 

season. 

14 


THE    MAN        I 
AND  THE   SATYR 


I 


FABLE  2S 


A  MAN  and  a  Satyr,  having  struck  up  an  ac- 
quaintance, sat  down  together  to  eat.  The  day 
being  wintry  and  cold,  the  Man  put  his  fingers  to  his 
mouth,  and  blew  upon  them.  "  What's  that  for,  my 
friend  ?  "  asked  the  Satyr.  "  My  hands  are  so  cold," 
said  the  Man  ;  "  I  do  it  to  warm  them."  In  a  little 
while  some  hot  food  was  placed  before  them,  and  the 
Man,  raising  the  dish  to  his  mouth,  again  blew  upon 
it.  "  And  what's  the  meaning  of  that  now  ?  "  said  the 
Satyr.  "  Oh,"  replied  the  man,  "  my  porridge  is  so 
hot,  I  do  it  to  cool  it."  "  Nay  then,"  said  the  Satyr, 
"  from  this  moment  I  renounce  your  friendship,  for  I 
will  have  nothing  to  do  with  one  who  blows  hot  and 
cold  with  the  same  mouth." 

15 


THE   DOG  ^ 

AND   THE   SHADOW      # 


FABLE  24 


A  DOG  had  stolen  a  piece  of  meat  out  of  a 
butcher's  shop,  and  was  crossing  a  river  on  his 
way  home,  when  he  saw  his  own  shadow  reflected  in 
the  stream  below.  Thinking  that  it  was  another  dog, 
with  another  piece  of  meat,  he  resolved  to  make 
himself  master  of  that  also  ;  but  in  snapping  at  the 
supposed  treasure,  he  dropped  the  bit  he  was  carry- 
ing, and  so  lost  all. 

Grasp  at  the  shadow  and  lose  the  substance — the 
common  fate  of  those  who  hazard  a  real  blessing  for 
some  visionary  good. 


THE  MOON  f 

AND    HER    MOTHER       ^         ^  FABLE  25 

THE  Moon  once  asked  her  Mother  to  make  her  a 
little  cloak  that  would  fit  her  well.  "  How," 
replied  she,  "  can  I  make  you  a  cloak  to  fit  you,  who 
are  now  a  New  Moon,  and  then  a  Full  Moon,  and 
then  again  neither  one  nor  the  other  ? " 

i6 


THE  WOLF        ® 
AND  THE  LAMB 


FABLE  26 


AS  a  Wolf  was  lapping  at  the  head  of  a  running 
brook,  he  spied  a  stray  Lamb  paddling,  at  some 
distance,  down  the  stream.  Having  made  up  his 
mind  to  seize  her,  he  bethought  himself  how  he  might 
justify  his  violence.  "  Villain  !  "  said  he,  running  up 
to  her,  "  how  dare  you  muddle  the  water  that  I  am 
drinking?  "  "  Indeed,"  said  the  Lamb  humbly,  "  I  do 
not  see  how  I  can  disturb  the  water,  since  it  runs  from 
you  to  me,  not  from  me  to  you."  "  Be  that  as  it  may," 
replied  the  Wolf,  "  it  is  but  a  year  ago  that  you  called 
me  many  ill  names."  "  Oh,  Sir !  "  said  the  Lamb, 
trembling,  "a  year  ago  I  was  not  born."  "Well," 
replied  the  Wolf,  "  if  it  was  not  you,  it  was  your  father, 
and  that  is  all  the  same  ;  but  it  is  no  use  trying  to 
argue  me  out  of  my  supper  ; " — and  without  another 

17  C 


j!^ sop's   Fables 


word  he  fell  upon  the  poor  helpless  Lamb  and  tore 
her  to  pieces. 

A  tyrant  never  wants  a  plea.  And  they  have  little 
chance  of  resisting  the  injustice  of  the  powerful  whose 
only  weapons  are  innocence  and  reason. 

THE  FLIES        ^        ^ 

AND  THE  HONEY-POT     ^  FABLE  27 

A  POT  of  honey  having  been  upset  in  a  grocer's 
shop,  the  Flies  came  around  it  in  swarms  to  eat 
it  up,  nor  would  they  move  from  the  spot  while  there 
was  a  drop  left.  At  length  their  feet  became  so 
clogged  that  they  could  not  fly  away,  and  stifled  in 
the  luscious  sweets  they  exclaimed,  "  Miserable 
creatures  that  we  are,  v/ho  for  the  sake  of  an  hour's 
pleasure  have  thrown  away  our  lives  !  " 


THE  CREAKING  WHEELS      m  FABLE  28 

AS  some  Oxen  were  dragging  a  waggon  along  a 
heavy  road,  the  Wheels  set  up  a  tremendous 
creaking.  "  Brute  !  "  cried  the  driver  to  the  waggon  ; 
"  why  do  you  groan,  when  they  who  are  drawing  all 
the  weight  are  silent  ?  " 

Those  who  cry  loudest  are  not  always  the  most  hurt. 

THE  BEAR 

AND  THE  FOX        ^        *  FABLE  29 

ABEx\R  used  to  boast  of  his  excessive  love  for 
Man,  saying  that  he  never  worried  or  mauled 
him  when  dead.  The  Fox  observed,  with  a  smile,  "  I 
should  have  thought  more  of  your  profession,  if  you 
never  ate  him  alive." 

Better  save  a  man  from  dying  than  salve  him  when 

dead. 

i8 


.9 


THE  COUNTRY  MOUSE 

AND  THE  TOWN  MOUSE       :9  FABLE  30 

ONCE  upon  a  time  a  Country  Mouse  who  had  a 
friend  in  town  invited  him,  for  old  acquaintance 
sake,  to  pay  him  a  visit  in  the  country.  The  invita- 
tion being  accepted  in  due  form,  the  Country  Mouse, 
though  plain  and  rough  and  somewhat  frugal  in  his 
nature,  opened  his  heart  and  store,  in  honour  of 
hospitality  and  an  old  friend.  There  was  not  a  care- 
fully 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 
wanting  in  quality,  to  suit  the  palate  of  his  dainty 
guest.  The  Town  Mouse,  condescending  to  pick  a 
bit  here  and  a  bit  there,  while  the  host  sat  nibbling  a 
blade  of  barley-straw,  at  length  exclaimed,  "  How  is  it, 
my  good  friend,  that  you  can  endure  the  dulness  of 
this  unpolished  life  ?  You  are  living  like  a  toad  in  a 
hole.  You  can't  really  prefer  these  solitary  rocks  and 
woods  to  streets  teeming  with  carriages  and  men.  On 
my  honour,  you  are  wasting  your  time  miserably  here. 
We  must  make  the  most  of  life  while  it  lasts.     A 

19 


j^sop' s  Fables 


mouse,  you  know,  does  not  live  for  ever.  So  come 
with  me,  and  I'll  show  you  life  and  the  town."  Over- 
powered with  such  fine  words  and  so  polished  a 
manner,  the  Country  Mouse  assented  ;  and  they  set 
out  together  on  their  journey  to  town.  It  was  late  in 
the  evening  when  they  crept  stealthily  into  the  city, 
and  midnight  ere  they  reached  the  great  house,  where 
the  Town  Mouse  took  up  his  quarters.  Here  were 
couches  of  crimson  velvet,  carvings  in  ivory,  everything 
in  short  that  denoted  wealth  and  luxury.  On  the 
table  were  the  remains  of  a  splendid  banquet,  to 
procure  which  all  the  choicest  shops  in  the  town  had 
been  ransacked  the  day  before.  It  was  now  the  turn 
of  the  courtier  to  play  the  host  ;  he  places  his  country 
friend  on  purple,  runs  to  and  fro  to  supply  all  his 
wants,  presses  dish  upon  dish  and  dainty  upon  dainty, 
and,  as  though  he  were  waiting  on  a  king,  tastes  every 
course  ere  he  ventures  to  place  it  before  his  rustic 
cousin.  The  Country  Mouse,  for  his  part,  affects  to 
make  himself  quite  at  home,  and  blesses  the  r^ood 
fortune  that  has  wrought  such  a  change  in  his  way  of 
life  ;  when,  in  the  midst  of  his  enjoyment,  as  he  is 
thinking  with  contempt  of  the  poor  fare  he  has  for- 
saken, on  a  sudden  the  door  flies  open,  and  a  party  of 
revellers,  returning  from  a  late  entertainment,  bursts 
into  the  room.  The  affrighted  friends  jump  from  the 
table  in  the  greatest  consternation  and  hide  themselves 
in  the  first  corner  they  can  reach.  No  sooner  do  they 
venture  to  creep  out  again  than  the  barking  of  dogs 
drives  them  back  in  still  greater  terror  than  before.  At 
length,  when  things  seemed  quiet,  the  Country  Mouse 
stole  out  from  his  hiding-place,  and  bidding  his  friend 
good-bye,  whispered  in  his  ear,  "  Oh,  my  good  sir,  this 
fine  mode  of  living  may  do  for  those  who  like  it ;  but 
give  me  my  barley  bread  in  peace  and  security  before 
the  daintiest  feast  where  Fear  and  Care  are  in  waiting." 

20 


THE   LION  f  ^        ^     ^ 

AND   THE    MOUSE       ?         ?  FABLE  31 

A  LION  was  sleeping  in  his  lair,  when  a  Mouse, 
not  knowing  where  he  was  going,  ran  over  the 
mighty  beast's  nose  and  awakened  him.  The  Lion 
clapped  his  paw  upon  the  frightened  little  creature, 
and  was  about  to  make  an  end  of  him  in  a  moment, 
when  the  Mouse,  in  pitiable  tone,  besought  him  to 
spare  one  who  had  so  unconsciously  offended,  and 
not  stain  his  honourable  paws  with  so  insignificant  a 
prey.  The  Lion,  smiling  at  his  little  prisoner's  fright, 
generously  let  him  go.  Now  it  happened  no  long 
time  after,  that  the  Lion,  while  ranging  the  woods  for 
his  prey,  fell  into  the  toils  of  the  hunters  ;  and  finding 
himself  entangled  without  hope  of  escape,  set  up  a 
roar  that  filled  the  whole  forest  with  its  echo.  The 
Mouse,  recognizing  the  voice  of  his  former  preserver, 
ran  to  the  spot,  and  without  more  ado  set  to  work  to 
nibble  the  knot  in  the  cord  that  bound  the  Lion,  and 

21 


j^ sop's   Fables 


in  a  short  time  set  the  noble  beast  at  hberty ;  thus  con- 
vincing him  that  kindness  is  seldom  thrown  away,  and 
that  there  is  no  creature  so  much  below  another  but 
that  he  may  have  it  in  his  power  to  return  a  good  office. 

THE   DOG,  THE   COCK 

AND   THE    FOX  ^  ^  FABLE  32 

A  DOG  and  a  Cock  having  struck  up  an  acquaint- 
ance went  out  on  their  travels  together. 
Nightfall  found  them  in  a  forest ;  so  the  Cock  flying 
up  on  a  tree,  perched  among  the  branches,  while  the 
Dog  dozed  below  at  the  foot.  As  the  night  passed 
away  and  the  day  dawned,  the  Cock,  according  to  his 
custom,  set  up  a  shrill  crowing.  A  Fox  hearing  him, 
and  thinking  to  make  a  meal  of  him,  came  and  stood 
under  the  tree,  and  thus  addressed  him  : — "  Thou  art 
a  good  little  b^rd,  and  most  useful  to  thy  fellow- 
creatures.  Come  down,  then,  that  we  may  sing  our 
matins  and  rejoice  together."  The  Cock  replied, 
"  Go,  my  good  friend,  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  and  call 
the  sacristan  to  toll  the  bell."  But  as  the  Fox  went 
to  call  him,  the  Dog  jumped  out  in  a  moment,  and 
seized  the  Fox  and  made  an  end  of  him. 

They  who  lay  traps  for  others  are  often  caught  by 
their  own  bait. 

THE   GULL 

AND   THE    KITE        f#  ®  FABLE  33 

A  GULL  had  pounced  upon  a  fish,  and  in  en- 
deavouring to  swallow  it  got  choked,  and  lay 
upon  the  deck  for  dead.  A  Kite  who  was  passing 
by  and  saw  him,  gave  him  no  other  comfort  than — 
"  It  serves  you  right :  for  what  business  have  the 
fowls  of  the  air  to  meddle  with  the  fish  of  the  sea  ?  " 

22 


THE   HOUSE-DOG 
AND   THE  WOLF 


FABLE  34 


A  LEAN  hungry  Wolf  chanced  one  moonshiny 
night  to  fall  in  with  a  plump  well-fed  House- 
Dog.  After  the  first  compliments  were  passed 
between  them,  "  How  is  it,  my  friend,"  said  the  Wolf, 
"that  you  look  so  sleek  ?  How  well  your  food  agrees 
with  you  !  and  here  am  I  striving  for  my  living  night 
and  day,  and  can  hardly  save  myself  from  starving." 
"  W^ell,"  says  the  Dog,  "  if  you  would  fare  like  me, 
you  have  only  to  do  as  I  do."  ''Indeed!"  says  he, 
"and  what  is  that?"  "Why,"  replies  the  Dog,  "just 
to  guard  the  master's  house  and  keep  off  the  thieves 
at  night."  "  With  all  my  heart ;  for  at  present  I  have 
but  a  sorry  time  of  it.  This  woodland  life,  with  its 
frosts  and  rains,  is  sharp  work  for  me.  To  have  a 
warm  roof  over  my  head  and  a  bellyful  of  victuals 
always  at  hand  will,  methinks,  be  no  bad  exchange." 
"  True,"  says  the  Dog  ;   "  therefore  you  have  nothingr 

23 


^sop's  Fables 


to  do  but  to  follow  me."  Now  as  they  were  jogging 
on  together,  the  Wolf  spied  a  mark  in  the  Dog's  neck, 
and  having  a  strange  curiosity,  could  not  forbear 
asking  what  it  meant.  "  Pooh  !  nothing  at  all,"  says 
the  Dog.  "  Nay,  but  pray" — says  the  Wolf  "  Oh  !  a 
mere  trifle,  perhaps  the  collar  to  which  my  chain  is 
fastened — "  "  Chain  !  "  cries  the  Wolf  in  surprise  ; 
"  you  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  cannot  rove  when 
and  where  you  please  ?  "  "  Why,  not  exactly  perhaps ; 
you  see  I  am  looked  upon  as  rather  fierce,  so  they 
sometimes  tie  me  up  in  the  day-time,  but  I  assure 
you  I  have  perfect  liberty  at  night,  and  the  master 
feeds  me  off  his  own  plate,  and  the  servants  give  me 
their  tit-bits,  and  I  am  such  a  favourite,  and — but 
what  is  the  matter  ?  where  are  you  going  ? "  "  Oh, 
good-night  to  you,"  says  the  Wolf;  "  you  are  welcome 
to  your  dainties ;  but  for  me,  a  dry  crust  with  liberty 
against  a  kings  luxury  with  a  chain." 


A^ 


THE   OLD  WOMAN 

AND   THE  WINE- JAR       #       ^  FABLE  35 

N  Old  W^oman  saw  an 
empty  Wine-jar  lying  on 
the  ground.  Though  not  a 
drop  of  the  noble  Falernian, 
with  which  it  had  been  filled, 
remained,  it  still  yielded  a  grate- 
ful fragrance  to  the  passers-by. 
The  Old  Woman,  applying  her 
nose  as  close  as  she  could  and 
snuffing  with  all  her  might  and 
main,  exclaimed,  "  Sweet  crea- 
ture !  how  charming  must  your 
contents  once  have  been,  when 
the  very  dregs  are  so  delicious  !  " 

24 


'ilf /';,' 


THE  FROG 
AND  THE  OX 


^  I 


FABLE  36 


AN  Ox,  grazing  in  a  swampy  meadow,  chanced  to 
set  his  foot  among  a  parcel  of  young  Frogs, 
and  crushed  nearly  the  whole  brood  to  death.     One 
that  escaped  ran  off  to  his  mother  with  the  dreadful 
news  ;  "  And,  O  mother  !  "  said  he,  "  it  was  a  beast — 
such  a  big  fourfooted  beast ! — that  did  it."     "  Big  ?  " 
quoth  the  old  Frog,  "  how  big  ?  was  it  as  big  " — and  she 
puffed  herself  out  to  a  great  degree — "  as  big  as  this  ?  " 
"  Oh  !  "  said  the  little  one,  "  a  great  deal  bigger  than 
that."     "  Well,  was  it  so  big  ?  "  and  she  swelled  herself 
out  yet  more.     "  Indeed,  mother,  but  it  was  ;  and  if 
you  were  to  burst  yourself,  you  would  never  reach  half 
its  size."     Provoked  at  such  a  disparagement  of  her 
powers,  the  old  Frog  made  one  more  trial,  and  burst 
herself  indeed. 

So  men  are  ruined   by  attempting  a  greatness  to 
which  they  have  no  claim. 

25 


j^sop' s   Fables 


THE   SICK    STAG  ®  ®  FABLE  37 

A  STAG  that  had  fallen  sick,  lay  down  on  the  rich 
herbage  of  a  lawn,  close  to  a  wood-side,  that 
she  might  obtain  an  easy,  pasturage.  But  so  many  of 
the  Beasts  came  to  see  her — for  she  was  a  good  sort 
of  neighbour — that  one  taking  a  little,  and  another  a 
little,  they  ate  up  all  the  grass  in  the  place.  So, 
though  recovering  from  the  disease,  she  pined  for  want, 
and  in  the  end  lost  both  her  substance  and  her  life. 


THE   HARE  ^ 

AND   THE   TORTOISE      *  '^        FABLE  38 

A  HARE  jeer©d  at  a  Tortoise  for  the  slowness  of 
his  pace.  But  he  laughed  and  said,  that  he 
would  run  against  her  and  beat  her  any  day  she  should 
name.  "  Come  on,"  said  the  Hare,  "  you  shall  soon 
see  what  my  feet  are  made  of"  So  it  was  agreed  that 
they  should  start  at  once.  The  Tortoise  went  off 
jogging  along,  without  a  moment's  stopping,  at  his 
usual  steady  pace.  The  Hare,  treating  the  whole 
matter  very  lightly,  said  she  would  first  take  a  little 
nap,  and  that  she  should  soon  overtake  the  Tortoise. 
Meanwhile  the  Tortoise  plodded  on,  and  the  Hare 
oversleeping  herself,  arrived  at  the  goal,  only  to  see 
that  the  Tortoise  had  got  in  before  her. 

Slow  and  steady  wins  the  race. 
26 


THE  TORTOISE 
AND  THE  EAGLE 


^  ^ 


FABLE  39 


A  TORTOISE,  dissatisfied  with  his  lowly  life, 
when  he  beheld  so  many  of  the  birds,  his  neigh- 
bours, disporting  themselves  in  the  clouds,  and  thinking 
that,  if  he  could  but  once  get  up  into  the  air,  he  could 
soar  with  the  best  of  them,  called  one  day  upon  an 
Eagle,  and  offered  him  all  the  treasures  of  Ocean  if 
he  could  only  teach  him  to  fly.  The  Eagle  would 
have  declined  the  task,  assuring  him  that  the  thing 
was  not  only  absurd  but  impossible,  but  being  further 
pressed  by  the  entreaties  and  promises  of  the  Tortoise, 
he  at  length  consented  to  do  for  him  the  best  he  could. 
So  taking  him  up  to  a  great  height  in  the  air  and 
loosing  his  hold  upon  him,  "  Now,  then ! "  cried  the 

27 


j^sop' s   Fables 


Eagle  ;  but  the  Tortoise,  before  he  could  answer  him 
a  word,  fell  plump  upon  a  rock,  and  was  dashed  to 
pieces. 

Pride  shall  have  a  fall. 

THE    MULE  ^  ^  FABLE  40 

A  MULE  that  had  grown  fat  and  wanton  on  too 
great  an  allowance  of  corn,  was  one  day  jump- 
ing and  kicking  about,  and  at  length,  cocking  up  her 
tail,  exclaimed,  "  My  dam  was  a  Racer,  and  I  am  quite 
as  good  as  ever  she  was."  But  being  soon  knocked 
up  with  her  galloping  and  frisking,  she  remembered 
all  at  once  that  her  sire  was  but  an  Ass. 

Every  truth  has  two  sides  ;    it  is  well   to   look   at 
both,  before  we  commit  ourselves  to  either. 


THE  CRAB  _ 

AND    HER    MOTHER     %  5?  FABLE  41 

SAID  an  old  Crab  to  a  young  one,  "Why  do 
you  walk  so  crooked,  child  ?  walk  straight ! " 
"  Mother,"  said  the  young  Crab,  "  show  me  the  way, 
will  you  ?  and  when  I  see  you  taking  a  straight  course, 
I  will  try  and  follow." 

Example  is  better  than  precept. 

THE   LAMB     % 

AND   THE   WOLF      %  %  FABLE  42 

A  LAMB  pursued  by  a  Wolf  took  refuge  in  a 
temple.  Upon  this  the  Wolf  called  out  to  him, 
and  said,  that  the  priest  would  slay  him  if  he  caught 
him.  "  Be  it  so,"  said  the  Lamb  :  "  it  is  better  to  be 
sacrificed  to  God,  than  to  be  devoured  by  you." 

28 


110''''  '^'"■-■■•^'-•-■■^■'■~^ 


^K,^y{iy^'.^^('^^/^:y^f§:M$^^ 


THE  SHEPHERD  BOY 

AND  THE  WOLF  ^  ^  FABLE  43 

A  SHEPHERD-BOY,  who  tended  his  flock  not 
far  from  a  village,  used  to  amuse  himself  at 
times  in  crying  out  "Wolf!  Wolf!"  Twice  or 
thrice  his  trick  succeeded.  The  whole  village  came 
running  out  to  his  assistance ;  when  all  the  return 
they  got  was  to  be  laughed  at  for  their  pains.  At 
last,  one  day  the  Wolf  came  indeed.     The  Boy  cried 

29 


^sop's  Fables 


out  in  earnest.  But  his  neighbours,  supposing  him 
to  be  at  his  old  sport,  paid  no  heed  to  his  cries,  and 
the  Wolf  devoured  the  sheep.  So  the  Boy  learned, 
when  it  was  too  late,  that  liars  are  not  believed  even 
when  they  tell  the  truth. 

THE  HEN        ^ 

AND  THE  CAT        ^  I  FABLE  44 

A  CAT  hearing  that  a  Hen  was  laid  up  sick  in  her 
nest,  paid  her  a  visit  of  condolence  ;  and  creep- 
ing up  to  her  said,  "  How  are  you,  my  dear  friend  ? 
what  can  I  do  for  you  ?  what  are  you  in  want  of? 
only  tell  me,  if  there  is  anything  in  the  world  that  I 
can  bring  you  ;  but  keep  up  your  spirits  and  don't  be 
alarmed."  "  Thank  you,"  said  the  Hen  ;  "  do  you  be 
good  enough  to  leave  me,  and  I  have  no  fear  but  I 
shall  soon  be  well." 

Unbidden  guests  are  often  welcomest  when  they 
are  gone. 


THE  POMEGRANATE,  THE  APPLE 

AND  THE  BRAMBLE  ^  FABLE  45 

THE  Pomegranate  and  the  Apple  had  a  contest 
on  the  score  of  beauty.  When  words  ran  high, 
and  the  strife  waxed  dangerous,  a  Bramble,  thrusting 
his  head  from  a  neighbouring  bush,  cried  out,  "  We 
have  disputed  long  enough  ;  let  there  be  no  more 
rivalry  betwixt  us." 

The    most    insignificant   are    generally    the    most 
presuming. 

30 


THE  FOX 

AND  THE  WOODMAN  f 


FABLE  46 


A  FOX,  hard  pressed  by  the  hounds  after  a  long 
run,  came  up  to  a  man  who  was  cutting  wood, 
and  begged  him  to  afford  him  some  place  where  he 
might  hide  himself.  The  man  showed  him  his  own 
hut,  and  the  Fox  creeping  in,  hid  himself  in  a  corner. 
The  Hunters  presently  came  up,  and  asking  the  man 
whether  he  had  seen  the  Fox.  "  No,"  said  he,  but 
pointed  with  his  finger  to  the  corner.  They,  however, 
not  understanding  the  hint,  were  off  again  immedi- 
ately. When  the  Fox  perceived  that  they  were  out 
of  sight,  he  was  stealing  off  without  saying  a  word. 
But  the  man  upbraided  him,  saying,  "  Is  this  the  way 

31 


j^sop' s   Fables 


you  take  leave  of  your  host,  without  a  word  of  thanks 
for  your  safety  ?  "  "A  pretty  host  !  "  said  the  Fox, 
turning  round  upon  him,  "  if  you  had  been  as  honest 
with  your  fingers  as  you  were  with  your  tongue,  I  should 
not  have  left  your  roof  without  bidding  you  farewell." 

There  is  as  much  malice  in  a  wink  as  in  a  word. 


THE  CROW       % 

AND  THE  PITCHER        %  ®  FABLE  47 

A  CROW,  ready  to  die  with  thirst,  flew  with  joy 
to  a  Pitcher,  which  he  saw  at  a  distance.  But 
when  he  came  up  to  it,  he  found  the  water  so  low  that 
with  all  his  stooping  and  straining  he  was  unable  to 
reach  it.  Thereupon  he  tried  to  break  the  Pitcher ; 
then  to  overturn  it  ;  but  his  strength  was  not  sufficient 
to  do  either.  At  last,  seeing  some  small  pebbles  at 
hand,  he  dropped  a  great  many  of  them,  one  by  one, 
into  the  Pitcher,  and  so  raised  the  water  to  the  brim, 
and  quenched  his  thirst. 

Skill  and  Patience  will  succeed  where   Force  fails. 
Necessity  is  the  Mother  of  Invention. 

32 


THE  ONE  EYED  DOE      ^        * 


FABLE  48 


A  DOE  that  had  but  one  eye  used  to  graze  near 
the  sea,  and  that  she  might  be  the  more  secure 
from  attack,  kept  her  eye  towards  the  land  against 
the  approach  of  the  hunters,  and  her  bHnd  side  to- 
wards the  sea,  whence  she  feared  no  danger.  But 
some  sailors  rowing  by  in  a  boat  and  seeing  her, 
aimed  at  her  from  the  water  and  shot  her.  When  at 
her  last  gasp,  she  sighed  to  herself :  "  Ill-fated  creature 
that  I  am !  I  was  safe  on  the  land-side  whence  I 
expected  to  be  attacked,  but  find  an  enemy  in  the 
sea  to  which  I  most  looked  for  protection." 

Our  troubles  often  come  from  the  quarter  whence 
we  least  expect  them. 

33  D 


THE  BELLY  ^ 

AND  THE  MEMBERS       ^         ^  FABLE  49 

IN  former  days,  when  all  a  man's  limbs  did  not 
work  together  as  amicably  as  they  do  now,  but 
each  had  a  will  and  wav  of  its  own,  the  Members 
generally  began  to  find  fault  with  the  Belly  for  spend- 
ing an  idle,  luxurious  life,  while  they  were  wholly 
occupied  in  labouring  for  its  support,  and  ministering 
to  its  wants  and  pleasures ;  so  they  entered  into  a 
conspiracy  to  cut  off  its  supplies  for  the  future.  The 
Hands  were  no  longer  to  carry  food  to  the  Moyth, 
nor  the  Mouth  to  receive  the  food,  nor  the  Teeth  to 
chew  it.  They  had  not  long  persisted  in  this  course 
of  starving  the  Belly  into  subjection,  ere  they  all 
began,  one  by  one,  to  fail  and  flag,  and  the  whole 
body  to  pine  away.  Then  the  Members  were  con- 
vinced that  the  Belly  also,  cumbersome  and  useless 
as  it  seemed,  had  an  important  function  of  its  own  ; 
that  they  could  no  more  do  without  it  than  it  could 
do  without  them  ;  and  that  if  they  would  have  the 
constitution  of  the  body  in  a  healthy  state,  they  must 
work  together,  each  in  his  proper  sphere,  for  the 
common  good  of  all. 

34 


is 


1 


$ 


THE  TRAVELLERS 

AND  THE  BEAR    %        FABLE  50 

TWO  friends  were  travelling  on  the 
same  road  together,  when  they 
met  with  a  Bear.  The  one  in  great 
fear,  without  a  thought  of  his  com- 
panion, chmbed  up  into  a  tree,  and  hid 
himself  The  other  seeing  that  he  had 
no  chance,  single-handed,  against  the 
Bear,  had  nothing  left  but  to  throw 
himself  on  the  ground  and  feign  to  be  /)/ 


^^   I 


35 


j^sop' s  Fables 


dead ;  for  he  had  heard  that  the  Bear  will  never 
touch  a  dead  body.  As  he  thus  lay,  the  Bear  came 
up  to  his  head,  muzzling  and  snuffing  at  his  nose 
and  ears,  and  heart,  but  the  man  immovably  held  his 
breath,  and  the  beast,  supposing  him  to  be  dead, 
walked  away.  When  the  Bear  was  fairly  out  of  sight, 
his  companion  came  down  out  of  the  tree,  and  asked 
what  it  was  that  the  Bear  whispered  to  him, — "  for," 
says  he,  "  I  observed  he  put  his  mouth  very  close  to 
your  ear."  "  Why,"  replies  the  other,  "  it  was  no 
great  secret ;  he  only  bade  me  have  a  care  how  I 
kept  company  with  those  who,  when  they  get  into  a 
difficulty,  leave  their  friends  in  the  lurch." 


THE  LION,  THE  ASS     ^ 

AND  THE  FOX,  HUNTING        f  FABLE  51 

THE  Lion,  the  Ass,  and  the  Fox  formed  a  party 
to  go  out  hunting.  They  took  a  large  booty, 
and  when  the  sport  was  ended  bethought  themselves 
of  having  a  hearty  meal.  The  Lion  bade  the  Ass 
allot  the  spoil.  So,  dividing  it  into  three  equal  parts, 
the  Ass  begged  his  friends  to  make  their  choice  ;  at 
which  the  Lion,  in  great  indignation,  fell  upon  the 
Ass,  and  tore  him  to  pieces.  He  then  bade  the  Fox 
make  a  division ;  who,  gathering  the  whole  in  one 
great  heap,  reserved  but  the  smallest  mite  for  himself. 
"  Ah !  friend,"  says  the  Lion,  "  who  taught  you  to 
make  so  equitable  a  division  ?  "  "I  wanted  no  other 
lesson,"  replied  the  Fox,  "  than  the  Ass's  fate." 

Better  be  wise  by  the  misfortunes  of  others  than  by 
your  own. 


3^ 


THE  STAG  IN 
THE  OX  STALL 


I  ^ 


FABLE  52 


A  HUNTED  Stag,  driven  out  of  covert  and  dis- 
tracted by  fear,  made  for  the  first  farm-house 
he  saw,  and  hid  himself  in  an  Ox-stall  which  happened 
to  be  open.  As  he  was  trying  to  conceal  himself 
under  the  straw,  "  What  can  you  mean,"  said  an  Ox, 
"by  running  into  such  certain  destruction  as  to  trust 
yourself  to  the  haunts  of  man  ?  "  "  Only  do  you  not 
betray  me,"  said  the  Stag,  "  and  I  shall  be  off  again 
on  the  first  opportunity."  Evening  came  on  ;  the 
herdsman  foddered  the  cattle,  but  observed  nothing. 
The  other  farm-servants  came  in  and  out.  The  Stag 
was  still  safe.  Presently  the  bailiff  passed  through  ; 
all  seemed  right.  The  Stag  now  feeling  himself  quite 
secure  began  to  thank  the  Oxen  for  their  hospitality. 
"  Wait  a  while,"  said  one  of  them  ;  "  we  indeed  wish 
you  well,  but  there  is  yet  another  person,  one  with  a 
hundred  eyes  ;  if  he  should  happen  to  come  this  way 

37  » 


JEsop' s   Fables 


I  fear  your  life  will  be  still  in  jeopardy."     While  he 

was  speaking,  the  Master,  having  finished  his  supper, 

came  round  to  see  that  all  was  safe  for  the  night,  for 

he  thoucrht  that  his  cattle  had  not  of  late  looked  as 

well  as  they  ought.      Going  up  to  the    rack,  "  Why 

so  little  fodder  here  ? "  says  he  ;  "  Why  is  there  not 

more  straw?"     And  "  How  long,  I  Vv'onder,  would  it 

take   to  sweep  down   these  cobwebs ! "     Prying  and 

observing  here  and  there  and  everywhere,  the  Stag's 

antlers,  jutting  out   from  the  straw,  caught  his  eye, 

and  calling  in  his  servants  he  instantly  made  prize  of 

him. 

No  eye  like  the  INIaster's  eye. 

THE  HARE         ^ 

AND  THE  HOUND      #         ^  FABLE  53 

A  HOUND  having  put  up  a  Hare  from  a  bush, 
chased  her  for  some  distance,  but  the  Hare  had 
the  best  of  it,  and  got  off.  A  Goatherd  who  was 
coming  by,  jeered  at  the  Hound,  saying  that  Puss 
was  the  better  runner  of  the  two.  "  You  forget,"  re- 
plied the  Hound,  "that  it  is  one  thing  to  be  running 
for  your  dinner,  and  another  for  your  life." 

THE  DOLPHINS 

AND  THE  SPRAT        %        %  FABLE  54 

THE  Dolphins  and  the  Whales  were  at  war  with 
one  another,  and  while  the  battle  was  at  its 
height,  the  Sprat  stepped  in  and  endeavoured  to 
separate  them.  But  one  of  the  Dolphins  cried  out, 
"  Let  us  alone,  friend  !  We  had  rather  perish  in  the 
contest,  than  be  reconciled  by  you." 

38 


-  P,   V,'*'-^>. 


THE  COLLIER  AND 
THE    FULLER    FABLE  55 

COLLIER,  who  had 
more  room  in  his  house 
than  he  wanted  for  himself, 
proposed  to  a  Fuller  to  come 
and  take  up  his  quarters  with 
him.  "  Thank  you,"  said  the 
Fuller,  "but  I  must  decline 
your  offer ;  for  I  fear  that 
as  fast  as  I  whiten  my  goods 
you  will  blacken  them  again." 


There  can  be  little  liking  where  there  is  no  likeness. 


39 


THE   LION    IN    LOVE        f       ^  FABLE  56 

IT  happened  in  days  of  old  that  a  Lion  fell  in  love 
with  a  Woodman's  daughter  ;  and  had  the  folly 
to  ask  her  of  her  father  in  marriage.  The  Woodman 
was  not  much  pleased  with  the  offer,  and  declined  the 
honour  of  so  dangerous  an  alliance.  But  upon  the 
Lion  threatening  him  with  his  royal  displeasure,  the 
poor  man,  seeing  that  so  formidable  a  creature  was 
not  to  be  denied,  hit  at  length  upon  this  expedient ; 
"I  feel  greatly  flattered,"  said  he,  "with  your  proposal; 
but,  noble  sir,  what  great  teeth  you  have  got !  and 
what  great  claws  you  have  got  !  where  is  the  damsel 
that  would  not  be  frightened  at  such  weapons  as 
these  ?  You  must  have  your  teeth  drawn  and  your 
claws  pared  before  you  can  be  a  suitable  bridegroom 
for  my  daughter."  The  Lion  straightway  submitted 
(for  what  will  not  a  body  do  for  love  ?)  and  then  called 
upon  the  father  to  accept  him  as  a  son-in-law.  But 
the  Woodman,  no  longer  afraid  of  the  tamed  and  dis- 
armed bully,  seized  a  stout  cudgel,  and  drove  the 
unreasonable  suitor  from  his  door. 

40 


■^mi 


THE  WIND       ^ 

AND   THE   SUN      FABLE  57 

A  DISPUTE  once  arose  be- 
tween the  Wind  and  the 
Sun,  which  was  the  stronger  of 
the  two,  and  they  agreed  to 
put  the  point  upon  tliis  issue, 
that  whichever  soonest  made  a 
traveller  take  off  his  cloak, 
should  be  accounted  the  more 
powerful  The  Wind  began,  and 
blew  with  all  his  might  and  main 


41 


j^sop' s  Fables 

a  blast,  cold  and  fierce  as  a  Thracian  storm  ;  but  the 
stronger  he  blew  the  closer  the  traveller  wrapped  his 
cloak  around  him,  and  the  tighter  he  grasped  it  with  his 
hands.  Then  broke  out  the  Sun  :  with  his  welcome 
beams  he  dispersed  the  vapour  and  the  cold  ;  the 
traveller  felt  the  genial  warmth,  and  as  the  Sun  shone 
brighter  and  brighter,  he  sat  down,  overcome  with  the 
heat,  and  cast  his  cloak  on  the  ground. 

Thus  the  Sun  was  declared  the  conqueror ;  and  it 
has  ever  been  deemed  that  persuasion  is  better  than 
force  ;  and  that  the  sunshine  of  a  kind  and  gentle 
manner  will  sooner  lay  open  a  poor  man's  heart  than 
all  the  threatenings  and  force  of  blustering  authority. 


THE   FARMER 

AND    HIS   SONS  #  ^?  FABLE  58 

A  FARMER  being  on  the  point  of  death,  and 
wishing  to  show  his  sons  the  way  to  success  in 
farming,  called  them  to  him,  and  said,  "  My  children, 
I  am  now  departing  from  this  life,  but  all  that  I  have 
to  leave  you,  you  will  find  in  the  vineyard."  The 
sons,  supposing  that  he  referred  to  some  hidden 
treasure,  as  soon  as  the  old  man  was  dead,  set  to 
work  with  their  spades  and  ploughs  and  every  imple- 
ment that  was  at  hand,  and  turned  up  the  soil  over 
and  over  again.  They  found  indeed  no  treasure  ;  but 
the  vines,  strengthened  and  improved  by  this  thorough 
tillage,  yielded  a  finer  vintage  than  they  had  ever 
yielded  before,  and  more  than  repaid  the  young 
husbandmen  for  all  their  trouble.  So  truly  is  industry 
in  itself  a  treasure. 


42 


THE  TREES 

AND   THE   AXE  ^  I  FABLE  59 

A  WOODMAN  came  into  a  forest  to  ask  the 
Trees  to  give  him  a  handle  for  his  Axe.  It 
seemed  so  modest  a  request  that  the  principal  Trees 
at  once  agreed  to  it,  and  it  was  settled  among  them 
that  the  plain  homely  Ash  should  furnish  what  was 
wanted.  No  sooner  had  the  Woodman  fitted  the  staff 
to  his  purpose,  than  he  began  laying  about  him  on  all 
sides,  felling  the  noblest  Trees  in  the  wood.  The  Oak 
now  seeing  the  whole  matter  too  late,  whispered  to 
the  Cedar,  "  The  first  concession  has  lost  all  ;  if  we 
had  not  sacrificed  our  humble  neighbour,  we  might 
have  yet  stood  for  ages  ourselves." 

When  the  rich  surrender  the  rights  of  the  poor, 
they  give  a  handle  to  be  used  against  their  own 
privileges. 

43 


THE  ASS 

AND  THE   LAP-DOG 


V3!^ 


\yp 


FABLE  60 


THERE  was  an  Ass  and  a  Lap-dog  that  belonged 
to  the  same  master.  The  Ass  was  tied  up  in 
the  stable,  and  had  plenty  of  corn  and  hay  to  eat,  and 
was  as  well  off  as  Ass  could  be.  The  little  Dog  was 
always  sporting  and  gambolling  about,  caressing  and 
fawning  upon  his  master  in  a  thousand  amusing  ways, 
so  that  he  became  a  great  favourite,  and  was  permitted 
to  lie  in  his  master's  lap.  The  Ass,  indeed,  had  enough 
to  do ;  he  was  drawing  wood  all  day,  and  had  to  take 
his  turn  at  the  mill  at  night.  But  while  he  grieved 
over  his  own  lot,  it  galled  him  more  to  see  the  Lap- 
dog  living  in  such  ease  and  luxury  ;  so  thinking  that 
if  he  acted  a  like  part  to  his  master,  he  should  fare 
the  same,  he  broke  one  day  from  his  halter,  and  rush- 
ing into  the  hall  began  to  kick  and  prance  about  in 
the   strangest    fashion  ;    then    swishing   his    tail    and 

44 


^sop^s   Fables 


mimicking  the  frolics  of  the  favourite,  he  upset  the 
table  where  his  master  was  at  dinner,  breaking  it  in 
two  and  smashing  all  the  crockery;  nor  would  he 
leave  off  till  he  jumped  upon  his  master,  and  pawed 
him  with  his  rough-shod  feet.  The  servants,  seeing 
their  master  in  no  little  danger,  thought  it  was  now 
high  time  to  interfere,  and  having  released  him  from 
the  Ass's  caresses,  they  so  belaboured  the  silly  creature 
with  sticks  and  staves,  that  he  never  got  up  again  ; 
and  as  he  breathed  his  last,  exclaimed,  "  Why  could 
not  I  have  been  satisfied  with  my  natural  position, 
without  attempting,  by  tricks  and  grimaces,  to  imitate 
one  who  was  but  a  puppy  after  all ! " 

THE   BLIND   MAN 

AND    THE  WHELP        '#        ^  FABLE  61 

A  BLIND  Man  was  wont,  on  any  animal  being  put 
into  his  hands,  to  say  what  it  was.  Once  they 
brought  to  him  a  Wolfs  whelp.  He  felt  it  all  over, 
and  being  in  doubt,  said,  ''  I  know  not  whether  thy 
father  was  a  Dog  or  a  Wolf;  but  this  I  know,  that  I 
would  not  trust  thee  among  a  flock  of  sheep." 

Evil  dispositions  are  early  shown. 

THE   DOVE  f 

AND   THE   CROW      f  f  FABLE  62 

A  DOVE  that  was  kept  shut  up  in  a  cage  was  con- 
gratulating herself  upon  the  number  of  her 
family.  "  Cease,  good  soul,"  said  a  Crow,  "  to  boast 
on  that  subject ;  for  the  more  young  ones  you  have, 
so  many  more  slaves  will  you  have  to  groan  over." 

What  are  blessings  in  freedom  are  curses  in  slavery, 

45 


omnii/f* 


THE  WOLVES 

AND  THE  SHEEP   FABLE  63 

ONCE  on  a  time,  the  Wolves 
sent  an  embassy  to  the 
Sheep,  desiring  that  there  might 
be  peace  between  them  for  the 
time  to  come.  "  Why,"  said  they, 
"should  we  be  for  ever  waging 
this  deadly  strife?  Those  wicked 
Dogs  are  the  cause  of  all ;  they 
are  incessantly  barking  at  us,  and 
provoking  us.  Send  them  away, 
and  there  will  be  no  longer  any 
obstacle  to  our  eternal  friendship 
and    peace."     The    silly    Sheep 


^'^i//< 


listened,  the  Dogs  were  dismissed,  and  the  flock,  thus 
deprived  of  their  best  protectors,  became  an  easy 
prey  to  their  treacherous  enemy. 

46 


^sop's   Fables 

THE    LION       ^ 

AND    THE    FOX         'f  I  FABLE  64 

A  FOX  agreed  to  wait  upon  a  Lion  in  the  capacity 
of  a  servant  Each  for  a  time  performed  the 
part  belonging  to  his  station  ;  the  Fox  used  to  point 
out  the  prey,  and  the  Lion  fell  upon  it  and  seized  it. 
But  the  Fox  beginning  to  think  himself  as  good  a 
beast  as  his  master,  begged  to  be  allowed  to  hunt  the 
game  instead  of  finding  it.  His  request  was  granted, 
but  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  making  a  descent  upon  a 
herd,  the  huntsmen  came  out  upon  him,  and  he  was 
himself  made  the  prize. 

Keep  to  your  place,  and  your  place  will  keep  you. 

JUPITER  % 

AND   THE   CAMEL     %  %  FABLE  65 

WHEN  the  Camel,  in  days  of  yore,  besought 
Jupiter  to  grant  him  horns,  for  that  it  was  a 
great  grief  to  him  to  see  other  animals  furnished  with 
them,  while  he  had  none  ;  Jupiter  not  only  refused  to 
give  him  the  horns  he  asked  for,  but  cropped  his  ears 
short  for  his  importunity. 

By  asking  too  much,  we  may  lose  the  little  that  we 
had  before. 

THE  ASS  ^  1? 

AND   THE   GRASSHOPPER     f  FABLE  66 

AN  Ass  hearing  some  Grasshoppers  chirping,  was 
delighted  with  the  music,  and  determining,  if  he 
could,  to  rival  them,  asked  them  what  it  was  that  they 
fed  upon  to  make  them  sing  so  sweetly  ?  When  they 
told  him  that  they  supped  upon  nothing  but  dew,  the 
Ass  betook  himself  to  the  same  diet,  and  soon  died  of 
hunger. 

One  man's  meat  is  another  man's  poison. 

47 


j^sop's  Fables 


HERCULES  AND 

THE   WAGGONER         FABLE  67 

AS  a  Countryman  was  carelessly 
driving  his  waggon  along  a 
miry  lane,  his  wheels  stuck  so  deep 
in  the  clay  that  the  horses  came  to 
a  stand-still.  Upon  this  the  man, 
without  making  the  least  effort  of 
his  own,  began  to  call  upon  Hercules 


to  come  and  help  him  out  of  his  trouble.  But 
Hercules  bade  him  lay  his  shoulder  to  the  wheel, 
assuring  him  that  Heaven  only  aided  those  who 
endeavoured  to  help  themselves. 

It  is  In  vain  to  expect  our  prayers  to  be  heard, 
if  we  do  not  strive  as  well  as  pray. 

48 


fi^ 


THE  FOX 
WITHOUT  A  TAIL 


FABLE  68 


A  FOX  being  caught  in  a  trap,  was  glad  to  com- 
pound for  his  neck  by  leaving  his  tail  behind 
him  ;  but  upon  coming  abroad  into  the  world,  he 
began  to  be  so  sensible  of  the  disgrace  such  a  defect 
would  bring  upon  him,  that  he  almost  wished  he  had 
died  rather  than  come  away  without  it.  However, 
resolving  to  make  the  best  of  a  bad  matter,  he  called 
a  meeting  of  the  rest  of  the  Foxes,  and  proposed 
that  all  should  follow  his  example.  "  You  have  no 
notion,"  said  he,  "  of  the  ease  and  comfort  with  which 
I  now  move  about  :  I  could  never  have  believed  it  if  I 
had  not  tried  it  myself ;  but  really,  when  one  comes 
to  reason  upon  it,  a  tail  is  such  an  ugly,  inconvenient, 
unnecessary  appendage,  that  the  only  wonder  is  that, 
as  Foxes,  we  could  have  put  up  with  it  so  long,  I 
propose,  therefore,  my  worthy  brethren,  that  you 
all  profit  by  the  experience  that  I  am  most  willing  to 
afford  you,  and  that  all  Foxes  from   this  day  forward 

49  E 


j^sop's  Fables 

cut  off  their  tails.'*"  Upon  this  one  of  the  oldest 
stepped  forward,  and  said,  "  I  rather  think,  my  friend, 
that  you  would  not  have  advised  us  to  part  with  our 
tails,  if  there  were  any  chance  of  recovering  your  own.'" 


THE  OLD  WOMAN 

AND  THE  PHYSICIAN       #        #        FABLE  69 

AN  old  Woman,  who  had  become  blind,  called  in  a 
Physician,  and  promised  him,  before  witnesses, 
that  if  he  would' restore  her  eyesight,  she  would  give 
him  a  most  handsome  reward,  but  that  if  he  did  not 
cure  her,  and  her  malady  remained,  he  should  receive 
nothing.  The  agreement  being  concluded,  the  Phy- 
sician tampered  from  time  to  time  with  the  old  lady's 
eyes,  and  meanwhile,  bit  by  bit,  carried  off  her  goods. 
At  length  after  a  time  he  set  about  the  task  in  earnest 
and  cured  her,  and  thereupon  asked  for  the  stipulated 
fee.  But  the  old  Woman,  on  recovering  her  sight, 
saw  none  of  her  goods  left  in  the  house.  When, 
therefore,  the  Physician  importuned  her  in  vain  for 
payment,  and  she  continually  put  him  off  with  excuses, 
he  summoned  her  at  last  before  the  Judges.  Being 
now  called  upon  for  her  defence,  she  said,  "  What  this 
man  says  is  true  enough  ;  I  promised  to  give  him  his 
fee  if  my  sight  were  restored,  and  nothing  if  my  eyes 
continued  bad.  Now  then,  he  says  that  I  am  cured, 
but  I  say  just  the  contrary  ;  for  when  my  malady  first 
came  on  I  could  see  all  sorts  of  furniture  and  goods 
in  my  house  ;  but  now,  when  he  says  he  has  restored 
my  sight,  I  cannot  see  one  jot  of  either." 

He  who  plays  a  trick  must  be  prepared  to  take  a 
joke. 

50 


^lyi*-/ iriyios/^ 


THE  HARES  f 
AND  THE  FROGS 


FABLE  70 


ONCE  upon  a  time,  the  Hares,  driven  desperate 
by  the  many  enemies  that  compassed  them 
about  on  every  side,  came  to  the  sad  resolution  that 
there  was  nothing  left  for  them  but  to  make  away 
with  themselves,  one  and  all.  Off  they  scudded  to  a 
lake  hard  by,  determined  to  drown  themselves  as  the 
most  miserable  of  creatures.  A  shoal  of  Frogs  seated 
upon  the  bank,  frightened  at  the  approach  of  the 
Hares,  leaped  in  the  greatest  alarm  and  confusion  into 
the  water.  "  Nay,  then,  my  friends,"  said  a  Hare  that 
was  foremost,  "  our  case  is  not  so  desperate  yet ;  for 
here  are  other  poor  creatures  more  faint-hearted  than 
ourselves." 

Take  not  comfort,  but  courage,  from  another's 
distress  ;  and  be  sure,  whatever  your  misery,  that 
there  are  some  whose  lot  you  would  not  exchange 
with  your  own. 

SI 


't/-" 


\,,-"t^'  C^^^^^^vvV'l  -  -■^^>^, 


'''fc^««^>;.^<V 


THE  HUSBANDMAN 
AND  THE  STORK   I 


^ 


FABLE  7f 


A  HUSBANDMAN  fixed  a  net  in  his  field  to  catch 
the  Cranes  that  came  to  feed  on  his  new-sown, 
corn.  When  he  went  to  examine  the  net,  and  see 
what  Cranes  he  had  taken,  a  Stork  was  found  among 
the  number.  "  Spare  me,"  cried  the  Stork,  "  and  let  me 
go.  I  am  no  Crane.  I  have  eaten  none  of  your  corn. 
I  am  a  poor  innocent  Stork,  as  you  may  see — the 
most    pious    and    dutiful    of    birds.       I    honour   and 

succour  my  father  and   mother.     I "     But  the 

Husbandman  cut  him  short.  "All  this  may  be  true 
enough,  I  dare  say,  but  this  I  know,  that  I  have 
caught  you  with  those  who  were  destroying  my  crops, 
and  you  must  suffer  with  the  compan}'  in  which  you 
are  taken." 

Ill  company  proves  more  than  fair  professions. 

52 


THE  ANGLER  AND 
THE  LITTLE  FISH 


FABLE  72 


AN  Angler,  who  gained  his  HveUhood  by  fishing, 
after  a  long  day's  toil,  caught  nothing  but  one 
little  fish.  "  Spare  me,"  said  the  little  creature,  "  I 
beseech  you  ;  so  small  as  I  am,  I  shall  make  you  but 
a  sorry  meal.  I  am  not  come  to  my  full  size  yet  ; 
throw  me  back  into  the  river  for  the  present,  and  then 
when  I  am  grown  bigger  and  worth  eating,  you  may 
come  here  and  catch  me  again."  "  No,  no,"  said  the 
man  ;  "  I  have  got  you  now,  but  if  you  once  get  back 
into  the  water,  your  tune  will  be,  '  Catch  me  if  you 


can. 


A  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush. 

53 


j^ sop's   Fables 


THE  MONKEY     ^ 

AND  THE   CAMEL  *  %  FABLE  73 

AT  a  great  meeting  of  the  Beasts,  the  Monkey 
stood  up  to  dance.  Having  greatly  distinguished 
himself,  and  being  applauded  by  all  present,  it  moved 
the  spleen  of  the  Camel,  who  came  forward  and  began 
to  dance  also  ;  but  he  made  himself  so  utterly  absurd, 
that  all  the  Beasts  in  indignation  set  upon  him  with 
clubs  and  drove  him  out  of  the  ring. 

Stretch  your  arm  no  further  than  your  sleeve  will 
reach. 


THE   MOLE         f 

AND   HER   MOTHER     W  ^  FABLE  74 

SAID  a  young  Mole  to  her  mother,  "  Mother,  I  can 
see."  So,  in  order  to  try  her,  her  Mother  put  a 
lump  of  frankincense  before  her,  and  asked  her  what 
it  was.  "  A  stone,"  said  the  young  one.  "  O,  my 
child  !  "  said  the  Mother,  "  not  only  do  you  not  see, 
but  you  cannot  even  smell." 

Brag  upon  one  defect,  and  betray  another. 


THE    LIONESS  I  I  FABLE  75 

THERE  was  a  great  stir  made  among  all  the 
Beasts,  which  could  boast  of  the  largest  family. 
So  they  came  to  the  Lioness.  "  And  how  many," 
said  they,  "  do  you  have  at  a  birth  ?  "  "  One,"  said 
she,  grimly  ;  "  but  that  one  is  a  Lion." 

Quality  comes  before  quantity. 
54 


THE  BUNDLE 
OF  STICKS 


FABLE  76 


A  HUSBANDMAN  who  had  a  quarrelsome  family, 
after  having  tried  in  vain  to  reconcile  them  by 
words,  thought  he  might  more  readily  prevail  by  an 
example.  So  he  called  his  sons  and  bade  them  lay 
a  bundle  of  sticks  before  him.  Then  having  tied  them 
into  a  faggot,  he  told  the  lads,  one  after  the  other,  to 
take  it  up  and  break  it.  They  all  tried,  but  tried  in 
vain.  Then  untying  the  faggot,  he  gave  them  the 
sticks  to  break  one  by  one.  This  they  did  with  the 
greatest  ease.  Then  said  the  father,  "  Thus  you,  my 
sons,  as  long  as  you  remain  united,  are  a  match  for 
all  your  enemies ;  but  differ  and  separate,  and  you 
are  undone." 

Union  is  strength. 

55 


c3t 

v3r 


THE   MAN  ^ 

AND  THE   LION 


FABLE  77 


ONCE  upon  a  time  a  Man  and  a  Lion  were 
journeying  together,  and  came  at  length  to 
high  words  which  was  the  braver  and  stronger  crea- 
ture of  the  two.  As  the  dispute  waxed  warmer  they 
happened  to  pass  by,  on  the  road-side,  a  statue  of  a 
man  strangHng  a  Hon.  "  See  there,"  said  the  Man  ; 
"  what  more  undeniable  proof  can  you  have  of  our 
superiority  than  that  ?  "  "  That,"  said  the  Lion,  "  is 
your  version  of  the  story  ;  let  us  be  the  sculptors, 
and  for  one  lion  under  the  feet  of  a  man,  you  shall 
have  twenty  men  under  the  paw  of  a  lion." 

Men  are  but  sorry  witnesses  in  their  own  cause. 


56 


' ~^/}h>^  ^^f.^rj'...     r^xjt^-,.   ^ 


THE   NURSE    ^ 

AND  THE  WOLF    ^    FABLE  78 

A  WOLF,  roving  about  in  search 
of  food,  passed  by  a  door  where 
a  child  was  crying  and  its  Nurse 
chiding  it.  As  he  stood  h'stening  he 
heard  the  Nurse  say,  "  Now  leave  off 
crying  this  instant,  or  I'll  throw  you 
out  to  the  Wolf"  So  thinking  that 
the  old  woman  would  be  as  good  as 
her  word,  he  waited  quietly  about 
the  house,  in  expectation  of  a  capital  supper.     But 

57 


JEsop's  Fables 


as  it  grew  dark  and  the  child  became  quiet,  he 
again  heard  the  Nurse,  who  was  now  fondling 
the  child,  say,  "  There's  a  good  dear  then  ;  if  the 
naughty  Wolf  comes  for  my  child,  we'll  beat  him  to 
death,  we  will."  The  Wolf,  disappointed  and  morti- 
fied, thought  it  was  now  high  time  to  be  going  home, 
and,  hungry  as  a  wolf  indeed,  muttered  as  he  went 
along  :  "  This  comes  of  heeding  people  who  say  one 
thing  and  mean  another  !  " 

THE   MONKEY      I 

AND    THE    DOLPHIN       I         f  FABLE  79 

IT  was  an  old  custom  among  sailors  to  carry  about 
with  them  little  Maltese  lap-dogs,  or  Monkeys, 
to  amuse  them  on  the  voyage  ;  so  it  happened  once 
upon  a  time  that  a  man  took  with  him  a  Monkey  as 
a  companion  on  board  ship.  While  they  were  off 
Sunium,  the  famous  promontory  of  Attica,  the  ship 
was  caught  in  a  violent  storm,  and  being  capsized,  all 
on  board  were  thrown  in  the  water,  and  had  to  swim 
for  land  as  best  they  could.  And  among  them  was 
the  Monkey.  A  Dolphin  saw  him  struggling,  and, 
taking  him  for  a  man,  went  to  his  assistance  and  bore 
him  on  his  back  straight  for  shore.  When  they  had 
just  got  opposite  Piraeus,  the  harbour  of  Athens,  the 
Dolphin  asked  the  Monkey  if  he  were  an  Athenian  ? 
"  Yes,"  answered  the  Monkey,  "  assuredly,  and  of  one 
of  the  first  families  in  the  place."  "  Then,  of  course, 
you  know  Piraeus,"  said  the  Dolphin.  "  Oh,  yes,"  said 
the  Monkey,  who  thought  it  was  the  name  of  some 
distinguished  citizen,  "  he  is  one  of  my  most  intimate 
friends."  Indignant  at  so  gross  a  deceit  and  false- 
hood, the  Dolphin  dived  to  the  bottom,  and  left  the 
lying  Monkey  to  his  fate. 

58 


THE   HORSE     ^ 
AND   THE   STAG 


f  f 


FABLE  80 


AHORSE  had  the  whole  range  of  a  meadow  to 
himself;  but  a  Stag  coming  and  damaging  the 
pasture,  the  Horse,  anxious  to  have  his  revenge, 
asked  a  Man  if  he  could  not  assist  him  in  punishing 
the  Stag.  "  Yes,"  said  the  Man,  "  only  let  me  put  a  bit 
in  your  mouth,  and  get  upon  your  back,  and  I  will 
find  the  weapons."  The  Horse  agreed,  and  the  Man 
mounted  accordingly ;  but  instead  of  getting  his 
revenge,  the  Horse  has  been  from  that  time  for\vard 
the  slave  of  man. 

Revenge  is  too  dearly  purchased  at  the    price  of 
liberty. 

59 


j^sop's  Fables 


THE  WOLF     ^ 

AND    THE    SHEEP      ^         #  FABLE  81 

A  WOLF  that  had  been  bitten  by  a  dog,  and  was 
in  a  very  sad  case,  being  unable  to  move, 
called  to  a  Sheep,  that  was  passing  by,  and  begged 
her  to  fetch  him  some  water  from  the  neighbouring 
stream  ;  "  For  if  you,"  said  he,  "  will  bring  me  drink, 
I  will  find  meat  myself"  "  Yes,"  said  the  Sheep,  "  I 
make  no  doubt  of  it ;  for,  if  I  come  near  enough  to 
give  you  the  drink,  you  will  soon  make  mince-meat  of 


me" 


m.. 


THE   WIDOW     s^ 

AND    THE    SHEEP      ^  ^  FABLE  82 

THERE  was  a  certain  Widow  who  had  an  only 
Sheep  ;  and,  wishing  to  make  the  most  of  his 
wool,  she  sheared  him  so  closely  that  she  cut  his  skin 
as  well  as  his  fleece.  The  Sheep,  smarting  under  this 
treatment,  cried  out — "  Why  do  you  torture  me  thus  ? 
What  will  my  blood  add  to  the  weight  of  the  wool  ? 
If  you  want  my  flesh.  Dame,  send  for  the  Butcher, 
who  will  put  me  out  of  my  misery  at  once  ;  but  if  you 
want  my  fleece,  send  for  the  Shearer,  who  will  clip 
my  wool  without  drawing  my  blood." 

Middle  measures  are  often  but  middling  measures. 

THE   DOG         ^ 

AND    HIS    MASTER      ^         ^  FABLE  83 

A  CERTAIN  Man  was  setting  out  on  a  journey, 
when,  seeing  his  Dog  standing  at  the  door,  he 
cried  out  to  him,  "  What  are  you  gaping  about  ?  Get 
ready  to  come  with  me."  The  Dog,  wagging  his  tail, 
said,  "  I  am  all  right,  Master  ;  it  is  you  who  have  to 
pack  up." 

6o 


^^ft:c^^£$^;'^  ./4ii. 


THE       ^         f 
MISCHIEVOUS   DOG 


FABLE  84 


THERE  was  a  Dog  so  wild  and  mischievous,  that 
his  master  was  obh'ged  to  fasten  a  heavy  clog 
about  his  neck,  to  prevent  him  biting  and  worrying 
his  neighbours.  The  Dog,  priding  himself  upon  his 
badge,  paraded  in  the  market-place,  shaking  his  clog 
to  attract  attention.  But  a  sly  friend  whispered  to 
him,  "  The  less  noise  you  make  the  better  ;  your  mark 
of  distinction  is  no  reward  of  merit,  but  a  badge  of 
disgrace  ! " 

Men  often  mistake  notoriety  for  fame,  and  would 
rather  be  remarked  for  their  vices  or  follies  than  not 
be  noticed  at  all. 


6i 


j^sop's   Fables 


THE    BIRDCATCHER 

AND   THE    LARK        ^  *  FABLE  85 

A  BIRDCATCHER  was  setting  springes  upon  a 
common,  when  a  Lark,  who  saw  him  at  work, 
asked  him  from  a  distance  what  he  was  doing.  "  I  am 
estabHshing  a  colony,"  said  he,  "  and  laying  the  found- 
ations of  my  first  city."  Upon  that,  the  Man  retired 
to  a  little  distance  and  hid  himself  The  Lark, 
believing  his  assertion,  soon  flew  down  to  the  place, 
and  swallowing  the  bait,  found  himself  entangled  in 
the  noose  ;  whereupon  the  Birdcatcher  straightway 
coming  up  to  him,  made  him  his  prisoner.  "  A  pretty 
fellow  are  you  !  "  said  the  Lark  ;  "  if  these  are  the 
'Colonies  you  found,  you  will  not  find  many  immigrants." 

THE   SWALLOW 

AND    THE    RAVEN       ?  ?  FABLE  86 

THE  Swallow  and  the  Raven  contended  which 
was  the  finer  bird.  The  Raven  ended  by  saying, 
"  Your  beauty  is  but  for  the  summer,  but  mine  will 
stand  many  winters." 

Durability  is  better  than  show. 

THE   FARTHING 

RUSHLIGHT  %  *  FABLE  87 

A  RUSH  LIGHT  that  had  grown  fat  and  saucy  with 
too  much  grease,  boasted  one  evening  before  a 
large  company,  that  it  shone  brighter  than  the  sun, 
the  moon,  and  all  the  stars.  At  that  moment,  a  puff 
of  wind  came  and  blew  it  out.  One  who  lighted  it 
again  said,  "  Shine  on,  friend  Rushlight,  and  hold 
your  tongue ;  the  lights  of  heaven  are  never  blown 
out." 

62 


THE  HERDSMAN 

AND  THE  LOST  BULL   f 


FABLE  88 


A  HERDSMAN,  who  had  lost  a  Bull,  went  roam- 
ing through  the  forest  in  search  of  it.  Being 
unable  to  find  it,  he  began  to  vow  to  all  the  Nymphs 
of  the  forest  and  the  mountain,  to  Mercury  and  to 
Pan,  that  he  would  offer  up  a  lamb  to  them,  if  he  could 
only  discover  the  thief  At  that  moment,  gaining  a 
high  ridge  of  ground,  he  sees  a  Lion  standing  over 
the   carcase   of    his   beautiful    Bull.      And   now   the 

63 


j^sop's  Fables 


unhappy  man  vows  the  Bull  into  the  bargain,  if  he 
may  only  escape  from  the  thief's  clutches. 

Were  our  ill-judged  prayers  to  be  always  granted, 
how  many  would  be  ruined  at  their  own  request ! 

THE    MAN        # 

BITTEN    BY   A    DOG     #         ^  FABLE  89 

A  MAN  who  had  been  bitten  by  a  Dog,  was 
going  about  asking  who  could  cure  him.  One 
that  met  him  said,  "  Sir,  if  you  would  be  cured,  take  a 
bit  of  bread  and  dip  it  in  the  blood  of  the  wound,  and 
give  it  to  the  dog  that  bit  you."  The  Man  smiled,  and 
said,  "  If  I  were  to  follow  your  advice,  I  should  be 
bitten  by  all  the  dogs  in  the  city." 

He  who  proclaims  himself  ready  to   buy  up   his 
enemies  will  never  want  a  supply  of  them. 


THE  TRAVELLERS     » 

AND  THE   PLANE-TREE        ®  FABLE  90 

SOME  Travellers,  on  a  hot  day  in  summer,  op- 
pressed with  the  noontide  sun,  perceiving  a 
Plane-tree  near  at  hand,  made  straight  for  it,  and 
throwing  themselves  on  the  ground  rested  under  its 
shade.  Looking  up,  as  they  lay,  towards  the  tree, 
they  said  one  to  another,  "What  a  useless  tree  to  man 
is  this  barren  Plane  !  "  But  the  Plane-tree  answered 
them, — "  Ungrateful  creatures  !  at  the  very  moment 
that  you  are  enjoying  benefit  from  me,  you  rail  at  me 
as  being  good  for  nothing." 

In<::^ratitude  is  as  blind  as  it  is  base. 

64 


9 


THE  OAK 

AND  THE   REED 


FABLE  91 


AN  Oak  that  had  been  rooted  up  by  the  winds  was 
borne  down  the  stream  of  a  river,  on  the  banks 
of  \vhich  many  Reeds  were  growing.  The  Oak 
wondered  to  see  that  things  so  shght  and  frail  had 
stood  the  storm,  when  so  great  and  strong  a  tree  as 
himself  had  been  rooted  up.  "  Cease  to  wonder," 
said  the  Reed,  "  you  were  overthrown  by  fighting 
against  the  storm,  while  we  are  saved  by  yielding  and 
bending  to  the  slightest  breath  that  blows." 


THE  VIPER 
AND  THE   FILE 


I  I 


FABLE  92 


A  VIPER  entering  into  a  smith's  shop  began 
looking  about  for  something  to  eat.  At  length, 
seeing  a  File,  he  went  up  to  it,  and  commenced  biting 
at  it  ;  but  the  File  bade  him  leave  him  alone,  saying, 
''  You  are  likely  to  get  little  from  me,  whose  business 
it  is  to  bite  others." 

65  F 


N  i 


:i\.^ 


■^. 


,%\ 


(- 


^^"^ 


■fete 


.^11 


^o,„ 


^m  ft 


..^jj^^- 


l^/.^'S 


^ ,.^ 


MERCURY        1^        FABLE  93 
AND  THE  WOODMAN 

A  WOODMAN  was  felling  a 
tree  on  the  bank  of  a  river, 
and  by  chance  let  slip  his  axe 
into  the  water,  when  it  immedi- 
ately sunk  to  the  bottom.    Being 
'  thereupon   in  great    distress,  he 

sat  down  by  the  side  of  the 
stream  and  lamented  his  loss  bitterly.  But  Mercury, 
whose  river  it  was,  taking  compassion  on  him, 
appeared  at  the  instant  before  him  ;  and  hearing 
from  him  the  cause  of  his  sorrow,  dived  to  the 
bottom  of  the  river,  and  bringing  up  a  golden  axe, 
asked  the  Woodman  if  that   were   his.      Upon   the 


j^sQp's  Fables 


man's  denying  it,  Mercury  dived  a  second  time,  and 
brought  up  one  of  silver.  Again  the  man  denied  that 
it  was  his.  So  diving  a  third  tim.e,  he  produced  the 
identical  axe  which  the  man  had  lost.  "  That  is 
mine ! "  said  the  Woodman,  delighted  to  have  recovered 
his  own ;  and  so  pleased  was  Mercury  with  the 
fellow's  truth  and  honesty,  that  he  at  once  made  him 
a  present  of  the  other  two. 

The  man  goes  to  his  companions,  and  giving  them 
an  account  of  what  had  happened  to  him,  one  of  them 
determined  to  try  whether  he  might  not  have  the  like 
good  fortune.  So  repairing  to  the  same  place,  as  if  for 
the  purpose  of  cutting  wood,  he  let  slip  his  axe  on 
purpose  into  the  river,  and  then  sat  down  on  the  bank, 
and  made  a  great  show  of  weeping.  Mercury  appeared 
as  before,  and  hearing  from  him  that  his  tears  were 
caused  by  the  loss  of  his  axe,  dived  once  more  into 
the  stream  ;  and  bringing  up  a  golden  axe,  asked  him 
if  that  was  the  axe  he  had  lost.  "  Aye,  surely,"  said 
the  man,  eagerly ;  and  he  was  about  to  grasp  the 
treasure,  when  Mercury,  to  punish  his  impudence  and 
lying,  not  only  refused  to  give  him  that,  but  would  not 
so  much  as  restore  him  his  own  axe  again. 

Honesty  is  the  best  policy. 

THE   GEESE      % 

AND   THE   CRANES     ®  ®»  FABLE  94 

SOME  Geese  and  some  Cranes  fed  together  in  the 
same  field.  One  day  the  sportsman  came  sud- 
denly down  upon  them.  The  Cranes  being  light  of 
body,  flew  off  in  a  moment  and  escaped  ;  but  the 
Geese,  weighed  down  by  their  fat,  were  all  taken. 

In  civil  commotions,  they  fare  best  who  have  least 
to  fetter  them. 

67 


-  jl',„ 


^m^M-^-"^ 


THE    LION   AND        ^  ^ 

OTHER   BEASTS   HUNTING 


FABLE  95 


THE  Lion  and  other  beasts  fornaed  an  alliance  to 
go  out  a-hunting.  When  they  had  taken  a  fat 
stag,  the  Lion  proposed  himself  as  commissioner,  and 
dividing  it  into  three  parts,  thus  proceeded  :  "  The 
first,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  take  officially,  as  king  ;  -the 
second  I  shall  take  for  my  own  personal  share  in  the 
chase  ;  and  as  for  the  third  part, — let  him  take  it  who 
dares." 

THE   EAGLE     ^ 

AND   THE   ARROW     ^  f  FABLE  96 

A  BOWMAN  took  aim  at  an  Eagle  and  hit  him  in 
the  heart.  As  the  Eagle  turned  his  head  in  the 
agonies  of  death,  he  saw  that  the  Arrow  was  winged 
with  his  own  feathers.  "  How  much  sharper,"  said  he, 
"are  the  wounds  made  by  weapons  which  we  ourselves 
have  supplied ! " 

6Z 


^^^^RS^^-^'"  '"^^ 


THE   DOG   IN 
THE   MANGER 


#  #  FABLE  97 

A  DOG  made  his  bed  in  a  Manger,  and  lay  snarling 
and  growling  to  keep  the  horses  from  their 
provender.  "  See,"  said  one  of  them,  "  what  a  miserable 
cur !  who  neither  can  eat  corn  himself,  nor  will  allow 
those  to  eat  it  who  can." 


THE   GNAT       ^ 

AND   THE    BULL        ^5  ®  FABLE  98 

A  GNAT  that  had  been  buzzing  about  the  head  of 
a  Bull,  at  length  settling  himself  down  upon  his 
horn,  begged  his  pardon  for  incommoding  him  ;  "  but 
if,"  says  he,  "  my  weight  at  all  inconveniences  you, 
pray  say  so  and  I  will  be  off  in  a  moment."  "  Oh, 
never  trouble  your  head  about  that,"  says  the  Bull, 
*'for  'tis  all  one  to  me  whether  you  go  or  stay  ;  and,  to 
say  the  truth,  I  did  not  know  you  were  there." 

The  smaller  the  Mind  the  greater  the  Conceit. 

6g  ^ 


^ sop's  Fables 

JUPITER,    NEPTUNE, 

MINERVA,   AND    MOMUS       I  FABLE  99 

JUPITER,  Neptune,  and  Minerva  (as  the  story  goes) 
once  contended  which  of  them  should  make  the 
most  perfect  thing.  Jupiter  made  a  Man  ;  Pallas  made 
a  House ;  and  Neptune  made  a  Bull  ;  and  Momus — 
for  he  had  not  yet  been  turned  out  of  Olympus — was 
chosen  judge  to  decide  which  production  had  the 
greatest  merit.  He  began  by  finding  fault  with  the 
Bull,  because  his  horns  were  not  below  his  eyes,  so  that 
he  might  see  when  he  butted  with  them.  Next  he 
found  fault  with  the  Man,  because  there  was  no 
window  in  his  breast  that  all  might  see  his  inward 
thoughts  and  feelings.  And  lastly  he  found  fault  with 
the  House,  because  it  had  no  wheels  to  enable  its 
inhabitants  to  remov^e  from  bad  neighbours.  But 
Jupiter  forthwith  drove  the  critic  out  of  heaven,  telling 
him  that  a  fault-finder  could  never  be  pleased,  and  that 
it  was  time  to  criticise  the  works  of  others  when  he  had 
done  some  good  thing  himself. 

THE   MARRIAGE 

OF   THE   SUN         ^  ^  FABLE  100 

ONCE  upon  a  time,  in  a  very  warm  summer,  it 
was  currently  reported  that  the  Sun  was  going 
to  be  married.  All  the  birds  and  the  beasts  were 
delighted  at  the  thought ;  and  the  Frogs,  above  all 
others,  were  determined  to  have  a  good  holiday.  But 
an  old  Toad  put  a  stop  to  their  festivities  by  observ- 
ing that  it  was  an  occasion  for  sorrow  rather  than  for 
joy.  "  For  if,"  said  he,  "  the  Sun  of  himself  now  parches 
up  the  marshes  so  that  we  can  hardly  bear  it,  what 
will  become  of  us  if  he  should  have  half-a-dozen  little 
Suns  in  addition  ?  " 

70 


THE  THIEF 

AND    HIS    MOTHER     ^  m  FABLE  101 

A  SCHOOLBOY  stole  a  horn-book  from  one  of 
jt~\.  his  schoolfellows,  and  brought  it  home  to  his 
mother.  Instead  of  chastising  him,  she  rather 
encouraged  him  in  the  deed.  In  course  of  time  the 
boy,  now  grown  into  a  man,  began  to  steal  things  of 
greater  value,  till  at  length,  being  caught  in  the  very- 
act,  he  was  bound  and  led  to  execution.  Perceiving 
his  mother  following  among  the  crowd,  wailing  and 
beating  her  breast,  he  begged  the  officers  to  be  allowed 
to  speak  one  word  in  her  ear.  When  she  quickly 
drew  near  and  applied  her  ear  to  her  son's  mouth,  he 
seized  the  lobe  of  it  tightly  between  his  teeth  and  bit 
it  off.  Upon  this  she  cried  out  lustily,  and  the 
crov/d  joined  her  in  upbraiding  her  unnatural  son,  as  if 

71 


^ sop's  Fables 


_  fi 


bethought    herself    how 
might 


his  former  evil  ways  had  not  been  enough,  but  that 
his  last  act  must  be  a  deed  of  impiety  against  his 
mother.  But  he  replied  :  "  It  is  she  who  is  the  cause 
of  my  ruin  ;  for  if  when  I  stole  my  schoolfellow's  horn- 
book and  brought  it  to  her,  she  had  given  me  a  sound 
flogging,  I  should  never  have  so  grown  in  wickedness 
as  to  come  to  this  untimely  end." 

Nip  evil  in  the  bud.     Spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the 
child. 

THE   CAT      ^ 

AND   THE    MICE       ^  ^  FABLE  102 

A    CAT,  grown  feeble  with  age,  and  no  longer  able 
to   hunt   the    INIice    as    she   was    wont    to    do, 

she 
entice  them  within 
reach  of  her  paw.  Thinking 
that  she  might  pass  herself 
off  for  a  bag,  or  for  a  dead 
cat  at  least,  she  suspended 
herself  by  the  hind  legs  from 
a  peg,  in  the  hope  that  the 
Mice  would  no  longer  be  afraid 
to  come  near  her.  An  old 
Mouse,  who  was  wise  enough 
to  keep  his  distance,  whis- 
pered to  a  friend,  "  Many  a 
bag  have  I  seen  in  my  day,  but 
never  one  with  a  cat's  head." 
"  Hang  there,  good  Madam," 
said  the  other,  "as  long  as 
you  please,  but  I  would  not 
trust  myself  within  reach  of 
you  though  you  were  stuffed 
with  straw." 
Old  birds  are  not  to  be  caught  with  chaff. 

72 


j^sop's   Fables 


THE   LION   AND   HIS 

THREE   COUNCILLORS  f  FABLE  103 

^^HE  Lion  called  the  Sheep  to  ask  her  if  his 
breath  smelt :  she  said  Aye  ;  he  bit  off  her 
head  for  a  fool.  He  called  the  Wolf,  and  asked  him  : 
he  said  No  ;  he  tore  him  in  pieces  for  a  flatterer.  At 
last  he  called  the  Fox,  and  asked  him.  Truly  he 
had  got  a  cold,  and  could  not  smell. 

Wise  men  say  nothing  in  dangerous  times. 


THE   COUNTRY   MAID 
AND   HER  MILK  CAN 


FABLE  104 


A  COUNTRY  MAID  was 
walking  along  with  a  can 
of  Milk  upon  her  head,  when  she 
fell  into  the  following  train  of 
reflections.  "  The  money  for 
which  I  shall  sell  this  milk  will 
enable  me  to  increase  my  stock 
of  eggs  to  three  hundred.  These 
eggs,  allowing  for  what  may 
prove  addle,  and  what  may  be 
destroyed  by  vermin,  will  pro- 
duce at  least  two  hundred  and 
fifty  chickens.  The  chickens  will 
be  fit  to  carry  to  market  just  at 
the  time  when  poultry  is  always 
dear ;  so  that  by  the  new-year  I 
cannot  fail  of  having  money 
enough  to  purchase  a  new  gown. 
Green — let  me  consider — yes, 
green  becomes  my  complexion 
best,  and  green  it  shall  be.  In 
this  dress  I  will  go  to  the  fair,  where  all  the  young 

1Z 


j^sop's  Fables 


fellows  will  strive  to  have  me  for  a  partner  ;  but  no — 
I  shall  refuse  every  one  of  them,  and  with  a  disdainful 

toss  turn  from  them."  Trans- 
ported with  this  idea,  she  could 
not  forbear  acting  with  her 
head  the  thought  that  thus 
passed  in  her  mind;  when, 
down  came  the  can  of  milk  ! 
and  all  her  imaginary  happi- 
ness vanished  in  a  moment. 


fl      _  hill  11  I  i  t  i  1 1 1  I 
1 


^ 


^^^ 


THE   BEEVES 

AND   THE    BUTCHERS  \^  FABLE  105 

THE  Beeves,  once  on  a  time,  determined  to  make 
an  end  of  the  Butchers,  whose  whole  art,  they 
said,  was  conceived  for  their  destruction.  So  they 
assembled  together,  and  had  already  whetted  their 
horns  for  the  contest,  when  a  very  old  Ox,  who  had 
long  worked  at  the  plough,  thus  addressed  them — 
*'  Have  a  care,  my  friends,  what  you  do.  These  men, 
at  least,  kill  us  with  decency  and  skill,  but  if  we  fall 
into  the  hands  of  botchers  instead  of  butchers,  we 
shall  suffer  a  double  death  ;  for  be  well  assured,  men 
will  not  go  without  beef,  even  though  they  were 
without  butchers." 

Better  to  bear  the  ills  we  have,  than  fly  to  others 
that  we  know  not  of. 

74 


THE  TWO  POTS 


FABLE  106 


TWO  Pots,  one  of  earthenware,  the  other  of  brass, 
were  carried  down  a  river  in  a  flood.  The 
Brazen  Pot  begged  his  companion  to  keep  by  his  side, 
and  he  would  protect  him.  "  Thank  you  for  }'our 
offer,"  said  the  Earthen  Pot,  "  but  that  is  just  what  I 
am  afraid  of;  if  you  will  only  keep  at  a  distance^. 
I  may  float  down  in  safety ;  but  should  we  come  in 
contact,  I  am  sure  to  be  the  sufferer." 

Avoid  too  powerful   neighbours  ;    for  should  there 
be  a  collision,  the  weakest  goes  to  the  wall. 


THE   DOCTOR 
AND   HIS   PATIENT 


FABLE  107 


A  DOCTOR  had  been  for  some  time  attending^ 
upon  a  sick  Man,  who,  however,  died  under  his 
hands.  At  the  funeral  the  Doctor  went  about  amonsf 
the  relations,  saying,  "  Our  poor  friend  there,  if  he 
had  only  refrained  from  wine,  and  attended  to  his 
inside,  and  used  proper  means,  would  not  have  been 
lying  there."  One  of  the  mourners  answered  him, 
"  My  good  sir,  it  is  of  no  use  your  saying  this  now  ; 
you  ought  to  have  prescribed  these  things  when  your 
patient  was  alive  to  take  them." 

The  best  advice  may  come  too  late. 

75 


j^sop's   Fables 


THE   MICE 

IN    COUNCIL         *  #  FABLE  108 

ONCE  upon  a  time  the  Mice  being  sadly  distressed 
by  the  persecution  of  the  Cat,  resolved  to  call  a 
meeting,  to  decide  upon  the  best  means  of  getting  rid  of 
this  continual  annoyance.  Many  plans  were  discussed 
and  rejected  ;  at  last  a  young  Mouse  got  up  and  pro- 
posed that  a  Bell  should  be  hung  round  the  Cat's 
neck,  that  they  might  for  the  future  always  have  notice 
of  her  coming,  and  so  be  able  to  escape.  This  propo- 
sition was  hailed  with  the  greatest  applause,  and  was 
agreed  to  at  once  unanimously.  Upon  which  an  old 
Mouse,  who  had  sat  silent  all  the  while,  got  up  and 
said  that  he  considered  the  contrivance  most  ingenious, 
and  that  it  would,  no  doubt,  be  quite  successful  ;  but 
he  had  only  one  short  question  to  put,  namely,  which 
of  them  it  was  who  would  Bell  the  Cat  ? 

It  is  one  thing  to  propose,  and  another  to  execute. 

THE   LION      ^  ^  ^ 

AND   THE   GOAT         f  f  FABLE  109 

ON  a  summer's  day,  when  ever}^thing  was  suffer- 
ing from  extreme  heat,  a  Lion  and  a  Goat 
came  at  the  same  time  to  quench  their  thirst  at  a 
small  fountain.  They  at  once  fell  to  quarrelling 
which  should  first  drink  of  the  water,  till  at  length  it 
seemed  that  each  was  determined  to  resist  the  other 
even  to  death.  But,  ceasing  from  the  strife  for  a  mo- 
ment, to  recover  breath,  they  saw  a  flock  of  vultures 
hovering  over  them,  only  waiting  to  pounce  upon 
whichever  of  them  should  fall.  Whereupon  they 
instantly  made  up  their  quarrel,  agreeing  that  iit  was 
far  better  for  them  both  to  become  friends,  than  to 
furnish  food  for  the  crows  and  vultures. 

76 


THE  GOOSE  WITH 
THE  GOLDEN  EGGS 


FABLE  110 


A  CERTAIN  man  had  the  good  fortune  to  possess 
a  Goose  that  laid  him  a  Golden  Egg  every  day. 
But  dissatisfied  with  so  slow  an  income,  and  thinking 
to  seize  the  whole  treasure  at  once,  he  killed  the 
Goose  ;  and  cutting  her  open,  found  her — just  what 
any  other  goose  would  be ! 

]\Iuch  wants  more  and  loses  all. 


THE  MOUNTEBANK 
AND  THE  COUNTRYMAN 


FABLE  111 


A  CERTAIN  wealthy  patrician,  intending  to  treat 
the  Roman  people  with  some  theatrical  enter- 
tainment, publicly  offered  a  reward  to  any  one  who 
would  produce  a  novel  spectacle.  Incited  b}-  emula- 
tion, artists  arrived  from  all  parts  to  contest  the  prize, 
among  whom  a  well-known  witty  Mountebank  gave 
out  that  he  had  a  new  kind  of  entertainment  that  had 

77 


j^sop's   Fables 


never  yet  been  produced  on  any  stage.  This  report 
being  spread  abroad,  brought  the  whole  city  together. 
The  theatre  could  hardly  contain  the  number  of 
spectators.  And  when  the  artist  appeared  alone  upon 
the  stage,  without  any  apparatus,  or  any  assistants, 
curiosity  and  suspense  kept  the  spectators  in  profound 
silence.  On  a  sudden  he  thrust  down  his  head  into 
his  bosom,  and  mimicked  the  squeaking  of  a  young 
pig,  so  naturally,  that  the  audience  insisted  upon  it 
that  he  had  one  under  his  cloak,  and  ordered  him  to 
be  searched ;  which  being  done,  and  nothing  appear- 
ing, they  loaded  him  with  the  most  extravagant 
applause. 

A  Countryman  among  the  audience  observing  what 
passed — "  Oh  !  "  says  he,  "  I  can  do  better  than  this  ;  " 
and  immediately  gave  out  that  he  would  perform  the 
next  day.  Accordingly  on  the  morrow,  a  yet  greater 
crowd  was  collected.  Prepossessed,  however,  in  favour 
of  the  Mountebank,  they  came  rather  to  laugh  at  the 
Countryman  than  to  pass  a  fair  judgment  on  him. 
They  both  came  out  upon  the  stage.  The  Mounte- 
bank grunts  away  first,  and  calls  forth  the  greatest 
clapping  and  applause.  Then  the  Countryman,  pre- 
tending that  he  concealed  a  little  pig  under  his 
garments  (and  he  had,  in  fact,  really  got  one)  pinched 
its  ear  till  he  made  it  squeak.  The  people  cried 
out  that  the  Mountebank  had  imitated  the  pig  much 
more  naturally,  and  hooted  to  the  Countryman  to 
quit  the  stage  ;  but  he,  to  convict  them  to  their  face, 
produced  the  real  pig  from  his  bosom.  "  And  now, 
gentlemen,  you  may  see,"  said  he,  "  what  a  pretty  sort 
of  judges  you  are  !  " 

It  is  easier  to  convince  a  man  against  his  senses 
than  against  his  will. 

78 


^~-        •^-«*-'»'rrt--.T'-^i'7tteue;g=aai*->*:  '■ ■  —  . 


A 


THE  DOG  INVITED 
TO  SUPPER  ^  FABLE  112 
GENTLEMAN,  having: 
prepared  a  great  feast,  in- 
vited a  Friend  to  supper;  and 
the  Gentleman's  Dog,  meeting  the  Friend's  Dog, 
"  Come,"  said  he,  "  my  good  fellow,  and  sup  with  us 
to-night."  The  Dog  was  delighted  with  the  invitation, 
and  as  he  stood  by  and  saw  the  preparations  for  the 
feast,  said  to  himself,  "  Capital  fare  indeed  !  this  is,  in 
truth,  good  luck.  I  shall  revel  in  dainties,  and  I  will 
take  good  care  to  lay  in  an  ample  stock  to-night,  for  I 
may  have  nothing  to  eat  to-morrow."  As  he  said  this 
to  himself,  he  wagged  his  tail,  and  gave  a  sly  look  at  his 
friend  who  had  invited  him.  But  his  tail  wagging  to 
and  fro  caught  the  cook's  eye,  who  seeing  a  stranger, 
straightway  seized  him  by  the  legs,  and  threw  him 
out  of  window.  When  he  reached  the  ground,  he  set 
off  yelping  down  the  street ;  upon  which  the  neigh- 

79 


u^sop's  Fables 


bour's  Dog  ran  up  to  him,  and  asked  him  how  he 
hked  his  supper.  "  I 'faith,"  said  he,  with  a  sorry 
smile,  "  I  hardly  know,  for  we  drank  so  deep  that  I 
can't  even  tell  you  which  way  I  got  out  of  the  house." 
They  who  enter  by  the  back-stairs  may  expect  to 
be  shown  out  at  the  window 

THE   GOATHERD 

AND  THE    GOATS      ^  ®  FABLE  113 

IT  was  a  stormy  day,  and  the  snow  was  falling  fast, 
when  a  Goatherd  drove  his  Goats,  all  white  with 
snow,  into  a  desert  cave  for  shelter.  There  he  found 
that  a  herd  of  Wild-goats,  more  numerous  and  larger 
than  his  own,  had  already  taken  possession.  So 
thinking  to  secure  them  all  he  left  his  own  Goats  to 
take  care  of  themselves,  and  threw  the  branches  which 
he  had  brought  for  them  to  the  Wild-goats  to  browse 
on.  But  when  the  weather  cleared  up,  he  found  his 
own  Goats  had  perished  from  hunger,  while  the  Wild- 
goats  were  off  and  away  to  the  hills  and  woods.  So 
the  Goatherd  returned  a  laughing-stock  to  his  neigh- 
bours, having  failed  to  gain  the  Wild-goats,  and 
having  lost  his  own. 

They  who    neglect  their  old  friends  for    the '  sake 
of  new,  are  rightly  served  if  they  lose  both. 

THE   FISHERMAN       ^  ^  FABLE  114 

A  FISHERMAN  went  to  a  river  to  fish;  and 
when  he  had  laid  his  nets  across  the  stream,  he 
tied  a  stone  to  a  long  cord,  and  beat  the  water  on 
either  side  of  the  net,  to  drive  the  fish  into  the  meshes. 
One  of  the  neighbours  that  lived  thereabout  seeing 
him  thus  employed,  went  up  to  him  and  blamed  him 
exceedingly  for  disturbing  the  water,  and  making  it  so 
muddy  as  to  be  unfit  to  drink.  "  I  am  sorry,"  said  the 
Fisherman,  "  that  this  does  not  please  you,  but  it  is 
by  thus  troubling  the  waters  that  I  gain  my  living." 

80 


THE   FROGS 

ASKING   FOR  A  KING     f        FABLE  115 

N  the  days  of  old,  when  the  Frogs  were  all 


I 


^y 


at   liberty  in    the   lakes,  and   had   grown    ^^^_ 
quite  weary  of  following   every  one   his  own     ^^^r 
devices,  they  assembled  one  day  together,  and    ~~ 
with  no  little  clamour  petitioned  Jupiter  to  let 
them   have   a   King   to   keep  them  in    better 
order,  and    make   them   lead 
honester  lives.    Jupiter  know- 
ing the  vanity  of  their  hearts. 


8i 


G 


JEsoi)" s  Fables 

J. 

smiled  at  their  request,  and  threw  down  a  Log  into 
the  Lake,  which  by  the  splash  and  commotion  it  made 
sent  the  whole  commonwealth  into  the  greatest  terror 
and  amazement.  They  rushed  under  the  water  and 
into  the  mud,  and  dared  not  come  within  ten  leaps* 
length  of  the  spot  where  it  lay.  At  length  one  Frog 
bolder  than  the  rest  ventured  to  pop  his  head  above 
the  water,  and  take  a  survey  of  their  new  King  at  a 
respectful  distance.  Presently,  when  they  perceived 
the  Log  lie  stock-still,  others  began  to  swim  up  to  it 
and  around  it ;  till  by  degrees,  growing  bolder  and 
bolder,  they  at  last  leaped  upon  it,  and  treated  it  with 
the  greatest  contempt.  Dissatisfied  with  so  tame  a 
ruler,  they  forthwith  petitioned  Jupiter  a  second  time 
for  another  and  more  active  King.  Upon  which  he 
sent  them  a  Stork,  who  no  sooner  arrived  among  them 
than  he  began  laying  hold  of  them  and  devouring 
them  one  by  one  as  fast  as  he  could,  and  it  was  in 
vain  that  they  endeavoured  to  escape  him.  Then 
they  sent  Mercury  with  a  private  message  to  Jupiter, 
beseeching  him  that  he  would  take  pity  on  them 
once  more  ;  but  Jupiter  replied,  that  they  were  only 
suffering  the  punishment  due  to  their  folly,  and  that 
another  time  they  would  learn  to  let  well  alone,  and 
not  be  dissatisfied  with  their  natural  condition. 

THE  ASS  % 

AND    HIS    MASTERS      ®  ®  FABLE  116 

AN  Ass,  that  belonged  to  a  Gardener,  and  had 
little  to  eat  and  much  to  do,  besought  Jupiter 
to  release  him  from  the  Gardener's  service,  and  give 
him  another  master.  Jupiter,  angry  at  his  discontent, 
made  him  over  to  a  Potter.  He  had  now  heavier 
burdens  to  carry  than  before,  and  again  appealed  to 
Jupiter  to  relieve  him,  who  accordingly  contrived  that 

83 


JEsop's  Fables 


he  should  be  sold  to  a  Tannen  The  Ass  having  now 
fallen  into  worse  hands  than  ever,  and  daily  observing 
how  his  master  was  employed,  exclaimed  with  a 
groan,  "  Alas,  wretch  that  I  am  !  it  had  been  bettei 
for  me  to  have  remained  content  with  my  former 
masters,  for  nov/  I  see  that  my  present  owner  not  only 
works  me  harder  while  living,  but  will  not  even  spare 
my  hide  when  I  am  dead." 

He  that  is  discontented  in  one  place  will  seldom  be 
happy  in  another. 


THE  THIEF  AND 
THE    DOG   ^    FABLE  117 

A  THIEF  coming  to 
rob  a  house  would 
have  stopped  the  barking 
of  a  Dog  by  throwing  sops 
to  him.  "  Away  with  you  !  " 
said  the  Dog ;  "  I  had  my 
suspicions  of  you  before,  but 
this  excess  of  civility  assures 
me  that  you  are  a  rogue." 
A  bribe  in  a  hand  betrays  mischief  at  heart. 

83 


j^sop's  Fables 

JUPITER      ^         ^  ^ 

AND   THE    BEE     ?  ?  FABLE  118 

IN  days  of  yore,  when  the  world  was  young,  a  Bee 
that  had  stored  her  combs  w^ith  a  bountiful  harvest 
flew  up  to  heaven  to  present  as  a  sacrifice  an  offering 
of  honey.  Jupiter  was  so  delighted  with  the  gift,  that 
he  promised  to  give  her  whatsoever  she  should  ask 
for.  She  therefore  besought  him,  saying,  "  O  glorious 
Jove,  maker  and  master  of  me,  poor  Bee,  give  thy 
servant  a  sting,  that  when  any  one  approaches  my 
hive  to  take  the  honey,  I  may  kill  him  on  the  spot." 
Jupiter,  out  of  love  to  man,  was  angry  at  her  request, 
and  thus  answered  her :  "  Your  prayer  shall  not  be 
granted  in  the  way  you  wish,  but  the  sting  which  }'ou 
ask  for  you  shall  have  ;  and  when  any  one  comes  to 
take  away  your  honey  and  you  attack  him,  the  wound 
shall  be  fatal  not  to  him  but  to  you,  for  your  life  shall 
go  with  your  sting." 

He  that  prays  harm  for  his  neighbour  begs  a  curse 
upon  himself 


THE   HUNTER 

AND   THE    FISHERMAN        ^  FABLE  119 

A  HUNTER  was  returning  from  the  mountains 
loaded  with  game,  and  a  Fisherman  was  at  the 
same  time  coming  home  with  his  creel  full  of  fish, 
when  they  chanced  to  meet  by  the  way.  The  Hunter 
took  a  fancy  to  a  dish  of  fish  :  the  Fisher  preferred 
a  supper  of  game.  So  each  gave  to  the  other  the 
contents  of  his  own  basket.  And  thus  they  continued 
daily  to  exchange  provisions,  till  one  who  had  observed 
them  said  :  "  Now,  by  this  invariable  interchange,  will 
they  destroy  the  zest  of  their  meal  ;  and  each  will 
soon  wish  to  return  to  his  own  store  as:ain." 

84 


"■iD' 


THE   LARK  AND 

HER   YOUNG   ONES      m^  ^#  FABLE  120 

THERE  was  a  brood  of  Young  Larks  in  a  field 
of  corn,  which  was  just  ripe,  and  the  mother, 
looking  every  day  for  the  reapers,  left  word,  whenever 
she  went  out  in  search  of  food,  that  her  young  ones 
should  report  to  her  all  the  news  they  heard.  One 
day,  while  she  was  absent,  the  master  came  to  look 
at  the  state  of  the  crop.  "  It  is  full  time,"  said  he,  "  to 
call  in  all  my  neighbours  and  get  my  corn  reaped." 
When  the  old  Lark  came  home,  the  young  ones  told 
their  mother  what  they  had  heard,  and  begged  her  to 
remove  them  forthwith.  "  Time  enough,"  said  she  ; 
'•  if  he  trusts  to  his  neighbours,  he  will  have  to  wait 
awhile  yet  for  his  harvest."  Next  day,  however,  the 
owner  came  again,  and  finding  the  sun  still  hotter  and 
the  corn  more  ripe,  and  nothing  done,  "  There  is  not 
a  moment  to  be  lost,"  said  he  ;    "  we  cannot  depend 

85  * 


j^ sop's   Fables 


upon  our  neighbours  :  we  must  call  in  our  relations  ; " 
and,  turning  to  his  son,  "  Go  call  your  uncles  and 
cousins,  and  see  that  they  begin  to-morrow."  In  still 
greater  fear,  the  young  ones  repeated  to  their  mother 
the  farmer's  words.  "If  that  be  all,"  says  she,  "  do 
not  be  frightened,  for  the  relations  have  got  harvest 
work  of  their  own  ;  but  take  particular  notice  what 
you  hear  the  next  time,  and  be  sure  you  let  me  know." 
She  went  abroad  the  next  da}',  and  the  owner  coming 
as  before,  and  finding  the  grain  falling  to  the  ground 
from  over-ripeness,  and  still  no  one  at  work,  called  to 
his  son.  "  We  must  wait  for  our  neighbours  and 
friends  no  longer  ;  do  you  go  and  hire  some  reapers 
to-night,  and  we  will  set  to  work  ourselves  to-morrow." 
When  the  young  ones  told  their  mother  this — "  Then," 
said  she, "  it  is  time  to  be  off,  indeed  ;  for  when  a  man 
takes  up  his  business  himself,  instead  of  leaving  it  to 
others,  you  may  be  sure  that  he  means  to  set  to  work 
in  earnest." 

THE   LION         ^ 

AND   THE    DOLPHIN     ^        ^  FABLE  121 

A  LI  ON  was  roaming  on  the  sea-shore,  when, 
seeing  a  Dolphin  basking  on  the  surface  of  the 
water,  he  invited  him  to  form  an  alliance  with  him, 
"  for,"  said  he,  "  as  I  am  the  king  of  the  beasts,  and 
you  are  the  king  of  the  fishes,  we  ought  to  be  the 
greatest  friends  and  allies  possible."  The  Dolphin 
gladly  assented  ;  and  the  Lion  not  long  after,  having 
a  fight  with  a  wild  bull,  called  upon  the  Dolphin  for 
his  promised  support.  But  when  he,  though  ready  to 
assist  him,  found  himself  unable  to  come  out  of  the 
sea  for  the  purpose,  the  Lion  accused  him  of  having 
betrayed  him.     "  Do  not  blame  me,"  said  the  Dolphin 

86 


j^sop's   Fables 


in    reply,    *'  but    blame    my    nature,    which    however 
powerful  at  sea,  is  altogether  helpless  on  land." 

In  choosing  allies  we  must  look  to  their  power  as 
well  as  their  will  to  aid  us. 


•  r  >  ' 


i^Ji/y 


THE  TRUMPETER 

TAKEN    PRISONER     -^  ^  FABLE  122 

A  TRUMPETER  being  taken  prisoner  in  a  battle, 
begged  hard  for  quarter.  "  Spare  me,  good  sirs, 
I  beseech  you,"  said  he,  "  and  put  me  not  to  death 
without  cause,  for  I  have  killed  no  one  myself,  nor 
have  I  any  arms  but  this  trumpet  only."  *'  For  that 
very  reason,"  said  they  who  had  seized  him,  ''  shall 
you  the  sooner  die,  for  without  the  spirit  to  fight 
yourself,  you  stir  up  others  to  warfare  and  bloodshed." 

He  who  incites  to  strife  is  worse  than  he  who  takes 
part  in  it. 

87 


j!^^ sop's  Fables 


THE  BEES,  THE  DRONES, 

AND  THE  WASP  ®  ®;  FABLE  123 

SOME  Bees  had  built  their  comb  in  the  hollow 
trunk  of  an  oak.  .  The  Drones  asserted  that  it 
was  their  doing,  and  belonged  to  them.  The  cause 
was  brought  into  court  before  Judge  Wasp.  Knowing 
something  of  the  parties,  he  thus  addressed  them  : — 
"  The  plaintiffs  and  defendants  are  so  much  alike  in 
shape  and  colour  as  to  render  the  ownership  a  doubtful 
matter,  and  the  case  has  very  properly  been  brought 
before  me.  The  ends  of  Justice,  and  the  object  of  the 
court,  will  best  be  furthered  by  the  plan  which  I  pro- 
pose. Let  each  party  take  a  hive  to  itself,  and  build 
up  a  new  comb,  that  from  the  shape  of  the  cells 
and  the  taste  of  the  honey,  the  lawful  proprietors  of 
the  property  in  dispute  may  appear."  The  Bees 
readily  assented  to  the  Wasp's  plan.  The  Drones 
declined  it.  Whereupon  the  Wasp  gave  judgment : — 
"It  is  clear  now  who  made  the  comb,  and  who  cannot 
make  it ;  the  Court  adjudges  the  honey  to  the  Bees." 

THE  LION        ^  ^ 

AND  ASS  HUNTING  -^  FABLE  124 

A  LION  and  an  Ass  made  an  agreement  to  go 
out  hunting  together.  By  and  by  they  came 
to  a  cave,  where  many  wild  goats  abode.  The  Lion 
took  up  his  station  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  and  the 
Ass,  going  within,  kicked  and  brayed  and  made  a 
mighty  fuss  to  frighten  them  out.  When  the  Lion 
had  caught  very  many  of  them,  the  Ass  came  out  and 
asked  him  if  he  had  not  made  a  noble  fight,  and 
routed  the  goats  properly.  "  Yes,  indeed,"  said  the 
Lion  ;  "  and  I  assure  you,  you  would  have  frightened 
me  too,  if  I  had  not  known  you  to  be  an  Ass." 

When  braggarts  are  admitted  into  the  company  of 
their  betters,  it  is  only  to   be  made  use  of  and   be 


laughed  at. 


88 


fes3.BW 


■^^ 


y^-K. , 


THE  BIRDS, 

THE  BEASTS,  AND  THE  BAT 


FABLE  125 


ONCE  upon  a  time  there  was  a  fierce  war  waged 
between  the  Birds  and  the  Beasts.  For  a  long 
while  the  issue  of  the  battle  was  uncertain,  and  the 
Bat,  taking  advantage  of  his  ambiguous  nature,  kept 
aloof  and  remained  neutral.  At  length  when  the 
Beasts  seemed  to  prevail,  the  Bat  joined  their  forces 
and  appeared  active  in  the  fight ;  but  a  rally  being 
made  by  the  Birds,  which  proved  successful,  he  was 
found  at  the  end  of  the  day  among  the  ranks  of  the 
winning  party.  A  peace  being  speedily  concluded, 
the    Bat's    conduct   was    condemned    alike    by    both 

89 


j^sop's   Fables 


parties,  and  being  acknowledged  by  neither,  and  so 
excluded  from  the  terms  of  the  truce,  he  was  obliged 
to  skulk  off  as  best  he  could,  and  has  ever  since  lived 
in  holes  and  corners,  never  daring  to  show  his  face 
except  in  the  duskiness  of  twilight. 

THE  FOX 

AND  THE  HEDGEHOG        ^  FABLE  126 

A  FOX,  while  crossing  over  a  river,  was  driven  by 
the  stream  into  a  narrow  gorge,  and  lay  there 
for  a  long  time  unable  to  get  out,  covered  with 
myriads  of  horse-flies  that  had  fastened  themselves 
upon  him.  A  Hedgehog,  who  was  wandering  in  that 
direction,  saw  him,  and  taking  compassion  on  him, 
asked  him  if  he  should  drive  away  the  flies  that  were 
so  tormenting  him.  But  the  Fox  begged  him  to  do 
nothing  of  the  sort.  "  Why  not  ?  "  asked  the  Hedge- 
hog. ''  Because,"  replied  the  Fox,  "  these  flies  that 
are  upon  me  now  are  already  full,  and  draw  but  little 
blood,  but  should  you  remove  them,  a  swarm  of  fresh 
and  hungry  ones  will  come,  who  will  not  leave  a  drop 
of  blood  in  my  body." 

When  we  throw  off*  rulers  or  dependants,  who  have 
already  made  the  most  of  us,  we  do  but,  for  the  most 
part,  lay  ourselves  open  to  others  who  will  make  us 
bleed  yet  more  freely. 


THE  WOLF 

AND  THE  SHEPHERD  ^  FABLE  12^ 

A  WOLF  had  long  hung  about  a  flock  of  sheep, 
and  had  done  them  no  harm.  The  Shepherd, 
however,  had  his  suspicions,  and  for  a  while  was 
always  on  the  look-out  against  him  as  an  avowed 
enemy.     But   when  the  Wolf  continued  for  a  long 

90 


^sop's  Fables 


time  following  in  the  train  of  his  flock  without  the 
least  attempt  to  annoy  them,  he  began  to  look  upon 
him  more  as  a  friend  than  a  foe  ;  and  having  one  day 
occasion  to  go  into  the  city,  he  intrusted  the  sheep  to 
his  care.  The  Wolf  no  sooner  saw  his  opportunity 
than  he  forthwith  fell  upon  the  sheep  and  worried 
them  ;  and  the  Shepherd,  on  his  return,  seeing  his 
flock  destroyed,  exclaimed,  "  Fool  that  I  am  !  yet  I 
deserved  no  less  for  trusting  my  Sheep  with  a  Wolf!  " 
There  is  more  danger  from  a  pretended  friend  than 
from  an  open  enemy. 


|ff^|||fe^ 


THE  TRAVELLERS 

AND   THE    HATCHET    ^        ^  FABLE  128 

TWO  men  were  travelling  along  the  same  road, 
when  one  of  them  picking  up  a  hatchet,  cries, 
"  See  what  I  have  found  !  "  "  Do  not  say  /,"  says  the 
other,  "  but  WE  have  found."  After  a  while,  up  came 
the  men  who  had  lost  the  hatchet,  and  charged  the 
man  who  had  it  with  the  theft.     "  Alas,"  says  he  to 

91 


j^sop's   Fables 


his  companion,  "  we  are  undone ! "  "  Do  not  say 
WE,"  replies  the  other,  "  but  I  am  undone  ;  for  he 
that  will  not  allow  his  friend  to  share  the  prize,  must 
not  expect  him  to  share  the  danger." 

THE   MICE         ^S 

AND  THE  WEASELS     »  *  FABLE  129 

THE  Mice  and  the  Weasels  had  long  been  at  war 
with  each  other,  and  the  Mice  being  always 
worsted  in  battle,  at  length  agreed  at  a  meeting, 
solemnly  called  for  the  occasion,  that  their  defeat  was 
attributable  to  nothing  but  their  want  of  discipline, 
and  they  determined  accordingly  to  elect  regular 
Commanders  for  the  time  to  come.  So  they  chose 
those  whose  valour  and  prowess  most  recommended 
them  to  the  important  post.  The  new  Commanders, 
proud  of  their  position,  and  desirous  of  being  as  con- 
spicuous as  possible,  bound  horns  upon  their  foreheads 
as  a  sort  of  crest  and  mark  of  distinction.  Not  long 
after  a  battle  ensued.  The  Mice,  as  before,  were  soon 
put  to  flight  ;  the  common  herd  escaped  into  their 
holes,  but  the  Commanders,  not  being  able  to  get  in 
from  the  length  of  their  horns,  were  every  one  caught 
and  devoured. 

There  is  no  distinction  without  its  accompanying 
danger. 

o  ^ 

THE   BOY  -^ 

AND   THE    NETTLE    ^       '     ^  FABLE  130 

A  BOY  playing  in  the  fields  got  stung  by  a  Nettle. 
He  ran  home  to  his  mother,  telling  her  that 
he  had  but  touched  that  nasty  weed,  and  it  had  stung 
him.  "  It  was  your  just  touching  it,  my  boy,"  said  the 
mother,  "  that  caused  it  to  sting  you  ;  the  next  time 
you  meddle  with  a  Nettle,  grasp  it  tightly,  and  it  will 
do  you  no  hurt." 

Do  boldly  what  you  do  at  all. 

92 


j¥^ sop's  Fables 


THE 

SICK    KITE         *  ^  FABLE  131 

A  KITE,  who  had  been  long  very  ill,  said  to  his 
mother,  "  Don't  cry,  mother  ;  but  go  and  pray 
to  the  gods  that  I  may  recover  from  this  dreadful 
disease  and  pain."  "  Alas !  child,"  said  the  mother, 
"  which  of  the  gods  can  I  entreat  for  one  who  has 
robbed  all  their  altars  ?  " 

A  death-bed  repentance   is  poor  amends   for   the 
errors  of  a  life-time. 


THE  EAGLE 

AND  THE  JACKDAW 


FABLE  132 


AN  Eagle  made  a  sweep  from  a  high 
rock,  and  carried  off  a  lamb.  A 
Jackdaw,  who  saw  the  exploit,  thinking 
that  he  could  do  the  like,  bore  down  with 
all  the  force  he  could  muster  upon  a  ram, 
intending   to  bear  him  off  as    a  prize. 


'-^/v«rf^ 


93 


^sop's  Fables 


But  his  claws  becoming  entangled  in  the  wool,  he 
made  such  a  fluttering  in  his  efforts  to  escape,  that 
the  shepherd,  seeing  through  the  whole  matter,  came 
up  and  caught  him,  "and  having  clipped  his  wings, 
carried  him  home  to  his  children  at  nightfall.  "  What 
bird  is  this,  father,  that  you  have  brought  us  ? "  ex- 
claimed the  children.  "  Why,"  said  he,  "  if  you  ask 
himself,  he  will  tell  you  that  he  is  an  Eagle  ;  but  if 
you  will  take  my  word  for  it,  I  know  him  to  be  but  a 
Jackdaw." 


THE  ASS  ® 

AND   HIS   DRIVER 


^ 


FABLE  133 


'-"'-4<t, 


N  Ass  that  was  being 


J^  Jl  driven  along  the  road 
by  his  Master,  started  on 
ahead,  and,  leaving  the 
beaten  track,  made  as  fast  as  he  could  for  the  edge  of 
a  precipice.  When  he  was  just  on  the  point  of  falling 
over,  his  Master  ran  up,  and  seizing  him  by  the  tail, 
endeavoured  to  pull  him  back  ;  but  the  Ass  resisting 

94 


j^sop' s   Fables 

and  pulling  the  contrary  way,  the  man  let  go  his  hold, 
saying,  "Well,  Jack,  if  you  will  be  master,  I  cannot 
help  it.     A  wilful  beast  must  go  his  own  way." 


THE   OLD   MAN 

AND    DEATH        ^  ^  FABLE  134 

AN  Old  Man  that  had  travelled  a  long  way  with  a 
huge  bundle  of  sticks,  found  himself  so  weary 
that  he  cast  it  down,  and  called  upon  Death  to  deliver 
him  from  his  most  miserable  existence.  Death  came 
straightway  at  his  call,  and  asked  him  what  he  wanted. 
"  Pray,  good  sir,"  says  he,  "  do  me  but  the  favour  to 
help  me  up  with  my  burden  again. " 

It  is  one  thinsr  to  call  for  Death,  and  another  to  see 


him  coming. 


95 


j^sof  s  Fables 


f& 


THE   FALCONER     ^ 

AND   THE   PARTRIDGE        ®  FABLE  135 

A  FALCONER  having  taken  a  Partridge  in  his 
net,  the  bird  cried  out  sorrowfully,  "  Let  me  go, 
good  Master  Falconer,  and  I  promise  you  I  will  decoy 
other  Partridges  into  your  net."  "  No,"  said  the  man, 
"whatever  I  might  have  done,  I  am  determined  now 
not  to  spare  you  ;  for  there  is  no  death  too  bad  for 
him  who  is  ready  to  betray  his  friends." 

THE  ASS,  THE   FOX, 

AND   THE   LION        ^         ^  FABLE  136 

AN  Ass  and  a  Fox  having  made  a  compact 
alliance,  went  out  into  the  fields  to  hunt.  They 
met  a  Lion  on  the  way.  The  Fox  seeing  the  impend- 
ing danger,  made  up  to  the  Lion  and  whispered  that 
he  would  betray  the  Ass  into  his  power,  if  he  would 
promise  to  bear  him  harmless.  The  Lion  having 
agreed  to  do  so,  the  Fox  contrived  to  lead  the  Ass  into 
a  snare.  The  Lion  no  sooner  saw  the  Ass  secured, 
than  he  fell  at  once  upon  the  Fox,  reserving  the  other 
for  his  next  meal. 

THE   FIR-TREE 

AND   THE   BRAMBLE        ^  FABLE  137 

A  FIR-TREE  was  one  day  boasting  itself  to  a 
Bramble.  "  You  are  of  no  use  at  all ;  but  how 
could  barns  and  houses  be  built  without  me  ?  "  "  Good 
sir,"  said  the  Bramble,  "  when  the  woodmen  come  here 
with  their  axes  and  saws,  what  would  you  give  to  be 
a  Bramble  and  not  a  Fir  ?  " 

A  humble  lot  in  security  is  better  than  the  dangers 
that  encompass  the  high  and  haughty. 

96 


j^sop' s   Fables 


THE  HART  AND  THE  VINE 


FABLE  138 


A  HART  pursued   by  hunters   concealed  himself   I  \ 
among  the  branches   of  a  Vine.      The  hunters   |  ii 
passed    by   without   discovering   him,    and    when    he 
thought  that  all  was  safe,  he  began  browsing  upon  the 
leaves  that  had  concealed  him.     But  one  of  the  hunters, 
attracted  by  the  rustling,  turned  round,  and  guessing 

that  their  prey  was  there, 
shot  into  the  bush  and 
killed  him.  As  he  was 
dying,  he  groaned  out 
these  words :  "I  suffer 
justly  for  my  ingratitude 
who    could    not    forbear 


/ 


^4 


f*? 


injuring    the   Vine    that 
had  protected  me  in  time    |j 


^ 
f 


^ 
"^^5^^ 


97 


H 


W^-rj'T^^f^-^'p^^'^-li^t^ 


THE   MISER 


f  I 


FABLE  139 


A  MISER,  to  make  sure  of  his  property,  sold  all 
that  he  had  and  converted  it  into  a  great  lump 
of  gold,  which  he  hid  in  a  hole  in  the  ground,  and 
went  continually  to  visit  and  inspect  it.  This  roused 
the  curiosity  of  one  of  his  workmen,  who,  suspecting 
that  there  was  a  treasure,  when  his  master's  back  was 
turned,  went  to  the  spot,  and  stole  it  away.  When 
the  Miser  returned  and  found  the  place  empty,  he  wept 
and  tore  his  hair.  But  a  neighbour  who  saw  him  in 
this  extravagant  grief,  and  learned  the  cause  of  it,  said, 
"  Fret  thyself  no  longer,  but  take  a  stone  and  put  it  \xv 
the  same  place,  and  think  that  it  is  your  lump  of  gold  ; 
for,  as  you  never  meant  to  use  it,  the  one  will  do  you 
as  much  good  as  the  other." 

The  worth  of  money  is  not  in  its  possession,  but  in 
its  use. 

98 


THE  OLD  WOMAN 
AND  HER  MAIDS 


A 


FABLE  140 

THRIFTY  old   Widow  kept 
two  Servant-maids,  whom  she 
used    to    call    up  to  their  work    at 
cock-crow.     The  Maids  disliked  ex- 
ceedingly this  early  rising,  and  deter- 
mined between  themselves  to  wring 
off  the  Cock's  neck,  as  he  was  the 
cause  of  all  their  trouble  by  waking 
their  mistress  so  early.     They  had 
no  sooner  done  this  than    the   old 
lady,  missing  her  usual  alarum,  and 
afraid  of  over-sleeping  herself,  con- 
tinually mistook  the  time  of  day,  and  roused  them  up 
at  midnight. 

Too  much  cunning  overreaches  itself. 

99 


k^^M^^M^^T..^ 


THE  LION,  THE  BEAR, 
AND  THE  FOX       S 


FABLE  141 


A  LI  ON  and  a  Bear  found  the  carcase  of  a  Fawn, 
and  had  a  long  fight  for  it.  The  contest  was  so 
hard  and  even,  that,  at  last,  both  of  them,  Jialf-blinded 
and  half-dead,  lay  panting  on  the  ground,  without 
strength  to  touch  the  prize  that  was  stretched  between 
them.  A  Fox  coming  by  at  the  time,  and  seeing  "their 
helpless  condition,  stepped  in  between  the  combatants 
and  carried  off  the  booty.  "  Poor  creatures  that  we 
are,"  cried  they,  "  who  have  been  exhausting  all  our 
strength  and  injuring  one  another,  merely  to  give  a 
rogue  a  dinner  !  " 


THE  FARMER 

AND  THE  CRANES     ^  ^  FABLE  142 

SOME  Cranes  settled  down  in  a  Farmer's  field  that 
was  newly  sown.     For  some  time  the  Farmer 
frightened  them  away  by  brandishing  an  empty  sling 

loo 


^sop's  Fables 

at  them.  But  when  the  Cranes  found  that  he  was 
onlysHnging  to  the  winds,  they  no  longer  minded  him 
or  flew  away.  Upon  this  the  Farmer  slung  at  them 
with  stones,  and  killed  a  great  part  of  them.  "  Let  us 
be  off,"  said  the  rest,  "  to  the  land  of  the  Pygmies,  for 
this  man  means  to  threaten  us  no  longer,  but  is 
determined  to  ";et  rid  of  us  in  earnest." 


THE  SICK  LION  ^  9  FABLE  143 

A  LI  OX,  no  longer  able,  from  the  weakness  of  old 
age,  to  hunt  for  his  prey,  laid  himself  up  in  his 
den,  and,  breathing  with  great  difficulty,  and  speaking 
with  a  low  voice,  gave  out  that  he  was  very  ill  indeed. 
The  report  soon  spread  among  the  beasts,  and  there 
was  a  great  lamentation  for  the  sick  Lion.  One  after 
the  other  came  to  see  him  ;  but,  catching  them  thus 
alone,  and  in  his  own  den,  the  Lion  made  an  easy  prey 
of  them,  and  grew  fat  upon  his  diet.  The  Fox,  suspect- 
ing the  truth  of  the  matter,  came  at  length  to  make  his 
visit  of  inquiry,  and  standing  at  some  distance,  asked 
Ills  Majesty  how  he  did  ?  "  Ah,  my  dearest  friend," 
5;aid  the  Lion,  "  is  it  you  ?  Why  do  you  stand  so  far 
Irom  me  ?  Come,  sweet  friend,  and  pour  a  word  of 
consolation  in  the  poor  Lion's  ear,  who  has  but  a  short 
time  to  live."  "  Bless  you  !  "  said  the  Fox,  "  but  excuse 
me  if  I  cannot  stay ;  for,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  feel  quite 
uneasy  at  the  marks  of  the  footsteps  that  I  see  here,  al) 
pointing  towards  your  den,  and  none  returning  out- 
wards." 

Affairs  are  easier  of  entrance  than  of  exit ;  and  it  is 
but  common  prudence  to  see  our  way  out  before  we 
venture  in. 

lOI  * 


THE  BOASTING  TRAVELLER 


FABLE  144 


A  MAN  who  had  been  traveUing  in  foreign  parts, 
on  his  return  home  was  ahvays  braggir.g  and 
boasting  of  the  great  feats  he  had  accompHshed  in 
different  places.  In  Rhodes,  for  instance,  he  said  he 
had  taken  such  an  extraordinary  leap,  that  no  man 
could  come  near  him,  and  he  had  witnesses  there  to 
prove  it.  "  Possibly,"  said  one  of  his  hearers  ;  "  but 
if  this  be  true,  just  suppose  this  to  be  Rhodes,  and 
then  try  the  leap  again." 


THE  WOLF  IN 

SHEEP'S  CLOTHING     ^  ^  FABLE  145 

A  WOLF,  once  upon  a  time,  resolved  to  disguise 
himself,  thinking  that  he  should  thus  gain  an 
easier  livelihood.     Having,  therefore,  clothed  himself 

1 02 


j^ sop's  Fables 

in  a  sheep's  skin,  he  contrived  to  get  among  a  flock  of 
Sheep  and  feed  along  with  them,  so  that  even  the 
Shepherd  was  deceived  by  the  imposture.  When 
nieht  came  on  and  the  fold  was  closed,  the  Wolf  was 
shut  up  with  the  Sheep,  and  the  door  made  fast.  But 
the  Shepherd,  wanting  something  for  his  supper,  and 
going  in  to  fetch  out  a  sheep,  mistook  the  Wolf  for 
one  of  them,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

THE  WOLF  AND  THE  HORSE         FABLE  146 

AS  a  Wolf  was  roaming  over  a  farm,  he  came  to  a 
field  of  oats,  but  not  being  able  to  eat  them,  he 
left  them  and  went  his  way.  Presently  meeting  with 
a  Horse,  he  bade  him  come  with  him  into  the  field  ; 
*'  For,"  says  he,  "  I  have  found  some  capital  oats  ;  and 
I  have  not  tasted  one,  but  have  kept  them  all  for  you, 
for  the  very  sound  of  your  teeth  is  music  to  my  ear." 
But  the  Horse  replied  :  "  A  pretty  fellow !  if  Wolves 
were  able  to  eat  oats,  I  suspect  you  would  not  have 
preferred  your  ears  to  your  appetite." 

Little  thanks  are  due  to  him  who  only  gives  away 
Avhat  is  of  no  use  to  himself. 

THE  BOY  AND  THE  FILBERTS      FABLE  147 

A  CERTAIN  Boy  put  his  hand  into  a  pitcher  where 
great  plenty  of  Figs  and  Filberts  were  deposited  ; 
he  grasped  as  many  as  his  fist  could  possibly  hold, 
but  when  he  endeavoured  to  pull  it  out,  the  narrowness 
of  the  neck  prevented  him.  Unwilling  to  lose  any  of 
them,  but  unable  to  draw  out  his  hand,  he  burst  into 
tears,  and  bitterly  bemoaned  his  hard  fortune.  An 
honest  fellow  who  stood  by,  gave  him  this  wise  and 
reasonable  advice :  "  Grasp  only  half  the  quantity,  my 
boy,  and  you  will  easily  succeed." 

103 


>^v\ 


THE   FOX  AND  THE   MASK 


FABLE  148 


A  FOX  had  stolen  into  the  house  of  an  actor,  and 
in  rummaging  among  his  various  properties, 
laid  hold  of  a  highly-finished  Mask.  "  A  fine-looking 
head,  indeed  !  "  cried  he  ;  "  what  a  pity  it  is  that  it 
wants  brains !  " 

A  fair  outside  is  but  a  poor  substitute   for  inward 
worth. 


THE    RAVEN  AND  THE   SWAN       FABLE  149 

A  RAVEN  envied  a  Swan  the  whiteness  of  her 
plumage ;  and,  thinking  that  its  beauty  was 
owing  to  the  water  in  which  she  lived,  he  deserted  the 
altars  where  he  used  to  find  his  livelihood,  and  betook 
himself  to  the  pools  and  streams.  There  he  plumed 
and  dressed  himself  and  washed  his  coat,  but  all  to  no 
purpose,  for  his  plumage  remained  as  black  as  ever 
and  he  himself  soon  perished  for  want  of  his  usual  food. 

Change  of  scene  is  not  change  of  nature. 

104 


THE   HEIFER  AND  THE   OX 


FABLE  150 


A  HEIFER  that  ran  wild  in  the  fields,  and  had 
never  felt  the  yoke,  upbraided  an  Ox  at  plough 
for  submitting  to  such  labour  and  drudgery.  The  Ox 
said  nothing,  but  went  on  with  his  work.  Not  long 
after,  there  was  a  great  festival.  The  Ox  got  his 
holiday  :  but  the  Heifer  was  led  off  to  be  sacrificed  at 
the  altar.  "If  this  be  the  end  of  your  idleness,"  said 
the  Ox,  "  I  think  that  my  work  is  better  than  your 
play.  I  had  rather  my  neck  felt  the  yoke  than  the 
axe." 


105 


-#=" 


THE   LION  AND  THE   BULLS 


FABLE  151 


THREE  Bulls  fed  in  a  field  together  in  the  greatest 
peace  and  amity.  A  Lion  had  long  watched 
them  in  the  hope  of  making  prize  of  them,  but  found 
that  there  was  little  chance  for  him  so  long  as  they 
kept  all  together.  He  therefore  began  secretly  to 
spread  evil  and  slanderous  reports  of  one  against  the 
other,  till  he  had  fomented  a  jealousy  and  distrust 
amongst  them.  No  sooner  did  the  Lion  see  that 
they  avoided  one  another,  and  fed  each  by  himself 
apart,  than  he  fell  upon  them  singly,  and  so  made  an 
easy  prey  of  them  all. 

The  quarrels  of  friends  are  the  opportunities  of  foes. 

1 06 


^sop's  Fables 


THE  THIRSTY  PIGEON  *  FABLE  152 

A  PIGEON  severely  pressed  by  thirst,  seeing  a 
glass  of  water  painted  upon  a  sign,  supposed  it 
to  be  real ;  so  dashing  down  at  it  with  all  her  might,  she 
struck  against  the  board,  and,  breaking  her  wing,  fell 
helpless  to  the  ground,  where  she  was  quickly  captured 
by  one  of  the  passers-by. 

Great  haste  is  not  always  good  speed. 

THE  GOAT         -^  ^ 

AND   THE   GOATHERD  -^  FABLE  153 

A  GOAT  had  strayed  from  the  herd,  and  the 
Goatherd  was  trying  all  he  could  to  bring  him 
back  to  his  companions.  When  by  calling  and 
whistling  he  could  make  no  impression  on  him,  at  last, 
taking  up  a  stone,  he  struck  the  Goat  on  the  horn  and 
broke  it.  Alarmed  at  what  he  had  done,  he  besought 
the  Goat  not  to  tell  his  master ;  but  he  replied,  "  O 
most  foolish  of  Goatherds  !  my  horn  will  tell  the  story 
though  I  should  not  utter  a  word." 

Facts  speak  plainer  than  words. 

THE  HOUND  AND  THE  HARE         FABLE  154 

A  HOUND  after  long  chasing  a  Hare  at  length 
came  up  to  her,  and  kept  first  biting  and  then 
licking  her.  The  Hare,  not  knowing  what  to  make  of 
him,  said  :  "If  you  are  a  friend,  why  do  you  bite 
me  ? — but  if  a  foe,  why  caress  me  ?  " 

A  doubtful  friend  is  worse  than  a  certain  enemy  : 
let  a  man  be  one  thing  or  the  other,  and  we  then 
know  how  to  meet  him. 

107 


^  '^J><S^2^="~  ~C  -^ 


VI  >IK^^^'^ 


THE   ARAB  AND  THE  CAMEL         FABLE  155 

AN  Arab  having  loaded  his  Camel,  asked  him 
whether  he  preferred  to  go  up  hill  or  down  hill. 
*'  Pray,  Master,"  said  the  Camel  dryly,  "  is  the  straight 
way  across  the  plain  shut  up  ?  " 

io8 


^sofs  Fables 


THE   JACKASS   IN   OFFICE        ^        FABLE  156 

AN  Ass  carrying  an  Image  in  a  religious  procession 
was  driven  through  a  town,  and  all  the  people 
who  passed  by  made  a  low  reverence.     Upon  this  the 

Ass,  supposing  that  they  intended 
this  w^orship  for  himself,  was  mightily 
puffed  up,  and  would  not  budge 
another  step.  But  the  driver  soon 
laid  the  stick  across  his  back,  saying 
at  the  same  time,  "  You  silly  dolt !  it 
is  not  you  that  they  reverence,  but 
the  Image  which  you  carry." 

Fools     take    to    themselves    the 
respect  that  is  given  to  their  office. 


P?  * 


109 


THE   FOX  AND  THE  STORK 


FABLE  157 


A  FOX  one  day  invited  a  Stork  to  dinner,  and 
being  disposed  to  divert  himself  at  the  expense 
of  his  guest,  provided  nothing  for  the  entertainment 
but  some  thin  soup  in  a  shallow  dish.  This  the  Fox 
lapped  up  very  readily,  while  the  Stork,  unable  to  gain 
a  mouthful  with  her  long  narrow  bill,  was  as  hungry 
at  the  end  of  dinner  as  when  she  began.  The  Fox 
meanwhile  professed  his  regret  at  seeing  her  eat  so 
sparingly,  and  feared  that  the  dish  was  not  seasoned 
to  her  mind.  The  Stork  said  little,  but  begged  that 
the  Fox  would  do  her  the  honour  of  returning  the 
visit ;  and  accordingly  he  agreed  to  dine  with  her  on 
the  following  day.  He  arrived  true  to  his  appointment, 
and  the  dinner  was  ordered  forthwith  ;  but  when  it 
was  served  up,  he  found  to  his  dismay  that  it  was 
contained  in  a  narrow-necked  vessel,  down  which  the 
Stork  readily  thrust  her  long  neck  and  bill,  while  he 

no 


j^^sofs  Fables 


was  obliged  to  content  himself  with  licking  the  neck 
of  the  jar.  Unable  to  satisfy  his  hunger,  he  retired 
with  as  good  a  grace  as  he  could,  observing  that  he 
could  hardly  find  fault  with  his  entertainer,  who  had 
only  paid  him  back  in  his  own  coin. 


THE  ASS  IN  THE  LION'S  SKIN      FABLE  158 

AN  Ass  having  put  on  a  Lion's  skin  roamed  about, 
frightening  all  the  silly  animals  he  met  with, 
and,  seeing  a  Fox,  he  tried  to  alarm  him  also.  But 
Reynard,  having  heard  his  voice,  said,  "  Well,  to  be 
sure !  and  I  should  have  been  frightened  too,  if  I  had 
not  heard  you  bray." 

They  who  assume  a  character  that  does  not  belong 
to  them  generally  betray  themselves  by  overacting  it. 

Ill 


j^sofs  Fables 


THE    BALD    KNIGHT  ®  FABLE  159 

A  CERTAIN  Knight  growing  old,  his  hair  fell  off! 
and  he  became  bald  ;  to  hide  which  imperfec- 
tion, he  wore  a  periwig.  But  as  he  was  riding  out 
with  some  others  a-hunting,  a  sudden  gust  of  wind 
blew  off  the  periwig,  and  exposed  his  bald  pate.  The 
company  could  not  forbear  laughing  at  the  accident ; 
and  he  himself  laughed  as  loud  as  anybody,  saying, 
''  How  was  it  to  be  expected  that  I  should  keep  strange 
hair  upon  my  head,  when  my  own  would  not  stay 
there  ? " 

THE  PORKER  AND  THE  SHEEP    FABLE  160 

A  YOUNG  Porker  took  up  his  quarters  in  a  fold 
of  Sheep.  One  day  the  shepherd  laid  hold  on 
him,  when  he  squeaked  and  struggled  with  all  his 
might  and  main.  The  Sheep  reproached  him  for 
crying  out,  and  said,  ''  The  master  often  lays  hold  of 
us,  and  we  do  not  cry."  ''  Yes,"  replied  he,  "  but  our 
case  is  not  the  same  ;  for  he  catches  you  for  the  sake 
of  your  wool,  but  me  for  my  fry." 

THE   HEDGE       f  f 

AND   THE  VINEYARD  ^  FABLE  161 

A  FOOLISH  young  Heir  who  had  just  come  into 
possession  of  his  wise  father's  estate,  caused  all 
the  Hedges  about  his  Vineyard  to  be  grubbed  up, 
because  they  bore  no  grapes.  The  throwing  down  of 
the  fences  laid  his  grounds  open  to  man  and  beast, 
and  all  his  vines  were  presently  destro}'ed.  So  the 
simple  fellow  learnt,  when  it  was  too  late,  that  he  ought 
not  to  expect  to  gather  grapes  from  brambles,  and 
that  it  was  quite  as  important  to  protect  his  Vineyard 
as  to  possess  it. 

112 


THE  ASS'S  SHADOW      ^ 


FABLE  162 


A  YOUTH,  one  hot  summer's  day,  hired  an  Ass 
to  carry  him  from  Athens  to  Megara.  At  mid- 
day the  heat  of  the  sun  was  so  scorching,  that  he  dis- 
mounted, and  would  have  sat  down  to  repose  himself 
under  the  shadow  of  the  Ass.  But  the  driver  of  the 
Ass  disputed  the  place  with  him,  declaring  that  he 
had  an  equal  right  to  it  with  the  other.  "  What ! " 
said  the  Youth,  "  did  I  not  hire  the  Ass  for  the  whole 
journey?"  *'Yes,"  said  the  other,  "you  hired  the 
Ass,  but  not  the  Ass's  Shadow."  While  they  were 
thus  wrangling  and  fighting  for  the  place,  the  Ass 
took  to  his  heels  and  ran  away. 


113 


THE  BULL  AND  THE   GOAT 


FABLE  163 


A  BULL  being  pursued  by  a  Lion,  fled  into  a  cave 
where  a  wild  Goat  had  taken  up  his  abode. 
The  Goat  upon  this  began  molesting  him,  and  butting 
at  him  with  his  horns.  "  Don't  suppose,"  said  the 
Bull,  "if  I  suffer  this  now,  that  it  is  you  I  am  afraid 
of.  Let  the  Lion  be  once  out  of  sight,  and  I  will  soon 
show  you  the  difference  between  a  Bull  and  a  Goat." 

Mean  people  take  advantage  of  their  neighbours' 
difficulties  to  annoy  them  ;  but  the  time  will  come 
when  they  will  repent  them  of  their  insolence. 

114 


THE  QUACK   FROG 


^     I 


FABLE  164 


A  FROG  emerging  from  the  mud  of  a  swamp,  pro- 
claimed to  all  the  world  that  he  was  come  to 
cure  all  diseases.  "  Here  !  "  he  cried,  "  come  and  see 
a  doctor,  the  proprietor  of  medicines  such  as  man 
never  heard  of  before  ;  no,  not  ^sculapius  himself, 
Jove's  court-physician  !  "  '*'  And  how,"  said  the  Fox, 
"  dare  you  set  up  to  heal  others,  who  are  not  able  to 
cure  your  own  limping  gait,  and  blotched  and  wrinkled 
skin  ?  " 

Test  a  man's  profession  by  his  practice.     Physician, 
heal  thyself. 

115 


THE  HORSE   ^    * 
AND  THE  LOADED  ASS 


FABLE  165 


A  MAN  who  kept  a  Horse  and  an  Ass  was  wont 
in  his  journeys  to  spare  the  Horse,  and  put  all 
the  burden  upon  the  Ass's  back.  The  Ass,  who  had 
been  some  while  ailing,  besought  the  Horse  one  day 
to  relieve  him  of  part  of  his  load  ;  "  For  if,"  said  he, 
"you  would  take  a  fair  portion,  I  shall  soon  get  well 
again;  but  if  you  refuse  to  help  me,  this  weight  will 
kill  me."  The  Hors<^ ,  however,  bade  the  Ass  get  on, 
and  not  trouble  him  with  his  complaints.  The  Ass 
jogged  on  in  silence,  but  presently,  overcome  with  the 
weight  of  his  burden,  dropped  down  dead,  as  he  had 
foretold.  Upon  this,  the  master  coming  up,  unloosed 
the  load  from  the  dead  Ass,  and  putting  it  upon  the 
Horse's  back,  made  him  carry  the  Ass's  carcase  in 
addition.     "  Alas,  for  my  ill-nature  !  "  said  the  Horse  ; 

\i6 


^sofs  Fables 


"  by  refusing  to  bear  my  just  portion  of  the  load,  ! 
have  now  to  carry  the  whole  of  it,  with  a  dead  weight 


into  the  bargain." 


A   disobHging  temper  carries  its  own  punishment 


along  with  it. 


THE  VINE  AND  THE  GOAT 


FABLE  166 


THERE  was  a  Vine  teeming  with  ripe  fruit  and 
tender  shoots,  when  a  wanton  Goat  came  up  and 
gnawed  the  bark,  and  browsed  upon  the  young  leaves. 
"  I  will  revenge  myself  on  you,"  said  the  Vine,  "  for 
this  insult  ;  for  when  in  a  few  days  you  are  brought 
as  a  victim  to  the  altar,  the  juice  of  my  grapes  shall 
be  the  dew  of  death  upon  thy  forehead." 

Retribution,  though  late,  comes  at  last. 

117 


THE   MAN  ^  ^ 

AND   HIS   TWO   WIVES        ^  FABLE  167 

IN  days  when  a  man  was  allowed  more  wives  than 
one,  a  middle-aged  bachelor,  who  could  be 
called  neither  young  nor  old,  and  whose  hair  was 
only  just  beginning  to  turn  grey,  must  needs  fall  in 
love  with  two  women  at  once,  and  marry  them  both. 
The  one  was  young  and  blooming,  and  wished  her 
husband  to  appear  as  youthful  as  herself ;  the  other 
was  somewhat  more  advanced  in  age,  and  was  as 
anxious  that  her  husband  should  appear  a  suitable 
match  for  her.  So,  while  the  young  one  seized  every 
opportunity  of  pulling  out  the  good  man's  grey  hairs, 
the  old  one  was  as  industrious  in  plucking  out  every 
black  hair  she  could  find.  For  a  while  the  man  was 
highly  gratified  by  their  attention  and  devotion,  till 

n8 


j^sofs  Fables 


he  found  one  morning  that,  between  the  one  and  the 
other,  he  had  not  a  hair  left. 

He  that  submits  his  principles  to  the  influence  and 
caprices  of  opposite  parties,  will  end  in  having  no 
principles  at  all. 

THE  ASS   CARRYING   SALT  FABLE  168 

CERTAIN  Huckster  who  kept  an  Ass,  hearing 


A 


that  Salt  was  to  be  had  cheap  at  the  sea-side, 
drove  down  his  Ass  thither  to  buy  some.  Having 
loaded  the  beast  as  much  as  he  could  bear,  he  was 
driving  him  home,  when,  as  they  were  passing  a 
slippery  ledge  of  rock,  the  Ass  fell  into  the  stream 
below,  and  the  Salt  being  melted,  the  Ass  was  re- 
lieved of  his  burden,  and  having  gained  the  bank  with 
ease,  pursued  his  journey  onward,  light  in  body  and 
in  spirit.  The  Huckster  soon  afterwards  set  off  for 
the  sea-shore  for  some  more  Salt,  and  loaded  the  Ass, 
if  possible,  yet  more  heavily  than  before.  On  their 
return,  as  they  crossed  the  stream  into  which  he  had 
formerly  fallen,  the  Ass  fell  down  on  purpose,  and  by 
the  dissolving  of  the  Salt,  was  again  released  from  his 
load.  The  Master,  provoked  at  the  loss,  and  thinking 
how  he  might  cure  him  of  his  trick,  on  his  next  journey 
to  the  coast  freighted  the  beast  with  a  load  of  sponges. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  same  stream  as  before,  the 
Ass  was  at  his  old  tricks  again,  and  rolled  himself 
into  the  water  ;  but  the  sponges  becoming  thoroughly 
wet,  he  found  to  his  cost,  as  he  proceeded  homewards, 
that  instead  of  lightening  his  burden,  he  had  more 
than  doubled  its  weight. 

The  same  measures  will  not  suit  all  circumstances  ; 
and  we  may  play  the  same  trick  once  too  often. 

119 


ESS^^^^S^*^s#i«ig^^p 


1 


r20 


JEsop's  Fables 


While  he  was  thus  criticising,  after  his  own  fancies, 
the  form  which  Nature  had  given  him,  the  huntsman 
and  hounds  drew  that  way.  The  feet  with  which  he 
had  found  so  much  fault,  soon  carried  him  out  of  the 
reach  of  his  pursuers  ;  but  the  horns,  of  which  he  was 
so  vain,  becoming  entangled  in  a  thicket,  held  him 
till  the  hunters  again  came  up  to  him,  and  proved  the 
cause  of  his  death. 

Look  to  use  before  ornament 


THE         ^  FABLE  170 

ASTRONOMER 

AN  Astronomer  used  to 
walk  out  every  night 
to  gaze  upon  the  stars.  It 
happened  one  night  that,  as 
he  was  wandering  in  the 
outskirts  of  the  city,  with 
his  whole  thoughts  rapt  up 
in  the  skies,  he  fell  into  a 
well.  On  his  holloaing  and 
calling  out,  one  who  heard 
his  cries  ran  up  to  him,  and 
when  he  had  listened  to  his 
story,  said,  "  My  good  man, 
while  you  are  trying  to  pry 
into  the  mysteries  of  heaven, 
you  overlook  the  common 
objects  that  are  under  your 
feet " 


121 


j^sofs  Fables 


THE  SWALLOW  IN  CHANCERY     FABLE  171 

A  SWALLOW  had  built  her  nest  under  the  eaves 
of  a  Court  of  Justice,  Before  her  young  ones 
could  fly,  a  Serpent  gliding  out  of  his  hole  ate  them 
all  up.  When  the  poor  bird  returned  to  her  nest  and 
found  it  empty,  she  began  a  pitiable  wailing ;  but  a 
neighbour  suggesting,  by  way  of  comfort,  that  she 
was  not  the  first  bird  who  had  lost  her  young, "  True," 
she  replied,  "  but  it  is  not  only  my  little  ones  that  I 
mourn,  but  that  I  should  have  been  wronged  in  that 
very  place  where  the  injured  fly  for  justice." 


THE    BOYS   AND    THE   FROGS         FABLE  172 

A  TROOP  of  Boys  were  playing  at  the  edge  of  a 
pond,  when,  perceiving  a  number  of  Frogs  in 
the  water,  they  began  to  pelt  at  them  with  stones. 
They  had  already  killed  many  of  the  poor  creatures, 
when  one  more  hardy  than  the  rest,  putting  his  head 
above  the  water,  cried  out  to  them  :  "  Stop  your  cruel 
sport,  my  lads  ;  consider,  what  is  Play  to  you  is  Death 
to  us." 


THE   WOLF   AND   THE    GOAT  FABLE  173 

A  WOLF  seeing  a  Goat  feeding  on  the  brow  of  a 
high  precipice  where  he  could  not  come  at  her, 
besought  her  to  come  down  lower,  for  fear  she  should 
miss  her  footing  at  that  dizzy  height ;  "  and  more- 
over," said  he,  "the  grass  is  far  sweeter  and  more 
abundant  here  below."  But  the  Goat  replied  :  "  Ex- 
cuse me  ;  it  is  not  for  my  dinner  that  you  invite  me, 
but  for  your  own." 

122 


THE  SHEPHERD 
AND  THE  SEA 


FABLE  174 


A  SHEPHERD  moved  down  his  flock  to  feed 
near  the  shore,  and  beholding  the  Sea  lying  in 
a  smooth  and  breathless  calm,  he  was  seized  with  a 
strong  desire  to  sail  over  it.  So  he  sold  all  his  sheep 
and  bought  a  cargo  of  Dates,  and  loaded  a  vessel  and 
set  sail.  He  had  not  gone  far  when  a  storm  arose  ; 
his  ship  was  wrecked,  and  his  Dates  and  everything 
lost,  and  he  himself  with  difficulty  escaped  to  land. 
Not  long  after,  when  the  Sea  was  again  calm,  and  one 
of  his  friends  came  up  to  him  and  was  admiring  its 
repose,  he  said,  "  Have  a  care,  my  good  fellow,  of  that 
smooth  surface  ;  it  is  only  looking  out  for  your  Dates." 

123 


S) 


THE  GREAT 

AND  THE   LITTLE   FISHES 


FABLE  175 


A  FISHER  MAN  was  drawing  up  a  net  which  he 
had  cast  into  the  sea,  full  of  all  sorts  of  fish. 
The  Little  Fish  escaped  through  the  meshes  of  the 
net,  and  got  back  into  the  deep,  but  the  Great  Fish 
were  all  caught  and  hauled  into  the  ship. 

Our  insignificance  is  often  the  cause  of  our  safety. 


THE   FATHER  I  ^ 

AND  HIS  TWO   DAUGHTERS 


FABLE  176 


A  MAN  who  had  two  daughters  married  one  to  a 
Gardener,  the  other  to  a  Potter.  After  a  while 
he  paid  a  visit  to  the  Gardener's,  and  asked  his 
daughter  how  she  was,  and  how  it  fared  with  her. 
"  Excellently  well,"  said  she ;  "  we  have  everything  that 
we  want ;  I  have  but  one  prayer,  that  we  may  have  a 
heavy  storm  of  rain  to  water  our  plants."     Off  he  set 

124 


^sop's  Fables 

to  the  Potter's,  and  asked  his  other  daughter  how 
matters  went  with  her.  "  There  is  not  a  thing  we 
want,"  she  repHed  ;  "  and  I  only  hope  this  fine  weather 
and  hot  sun  may  continue,  to  bake  our  tiles."  "  Alack," 
said  the  Father,  "  if  you  wish  for  fine  weather,  and 
your  sister  for  rain,  which  am  I  to  pray  for  myself? " 

THE    KID  AND   THE   WOLF  FABLE  177 

A  KID  that  had  strayed  from  the  herd  was  pur- 
sued by  a  Wolf  When  she  saw  all  other  hope 
of  escape  cut  off,  she  turned  round  to  the  Wolf  and 
said,  "  I  must  allow  indeed  that  I  am  your  victim,  but 
as  my  life  is  now  but  short,  let  it  be  a  merry  one. 
Do  you  pipe  for  a  while,  and  I  will  dance."  While 
the  Wolf  was  piping  and  the  Kid  was  dancing,  the 
Dogs  hearing  the  music  ran  up  to  see  what  was  going 
on,  and  the  Wolf  was  glad  to  take  himself  off  as  fast 
as  his  legs  would  carry  him. 

He  who  steps  out  of  his  way  to  play  the  fool,  must 
not  wonder  if  he  misses  the  prize. 

THE    RIVERS  AND   THE  SEA  FABLE  178 

ONCE  upon  a  time  the  Rivers  combined  against 
the  Sea,  and,  going  in  a  body,  accused  her, 
saying :  "  Why  is  it  that  when  we  Rivers  pour  our 
waters  into  you  so  fresh  and  sweet,  you  straightw^ay 
render  them  salt  and  unpalatable  ?  "  The  Sea,  observ- 
ing the  temper  in  which  they  came,  merely  answered  : 
"  If  you  do  not  wish  to  become  salt,  please  to  keep 
away  from  me  altogether." 

Those  who  are  most  benefited  are  often  the  first  to 

complain. 

125 


THE  WILD    BOAR 

AND   THE    FOX  »  ®  FABLE  179 

A  WILD  Boar  was  whetting  his  tusks  against  a 
tree,  when  a  Fox  coming  by  asked  why  he  did 
so  ;  "  For,"  said  he,  "  I  see  no  reason  for  it ;  there  is 
neither  hunter  nor  hound  in  sight,  nor  any  other 
danger  that  I  can  see,  at  hand."  "  True,"  repHed  the 
Boar  ;  "  but  when  that  danger  does  arise,  I  shall  have 
something  else  to  do  than  to  sharpen  my  weapons." 

It  is  too  late  to  whet  the  sword  when  the  trumpet 
sounds  to  draw  it. 


THE   HUSBANDMAN 

AND    THE    SEA  ;^  ^  FABLE  180 

A  HUSBANDMAN  seeing  a  ship  full  of  sailors 
tossed  about  up  and  down  upon  the  billows, 
cried  out,  "  O  Sea !  deceitful  and  pitiless  element, 
that   destroyest  all   who  venture  upon    thee ! "     The 

126 


j^ sop's  Fables 


Sea  heard  him,  and  assuming  a  woman's  voice  replied, 
"  Do  not  reproach  me ;  I  am  not  the  cause  of  this 
disturbance,  but  the  Winds,  that  when  they  fall  upon 
me  will  give  no  repose.  But  should  you  sail  over  me 
when  they  are  away,  you  will  say  that  I  am  milder 
and  more  tractable  than  your  own  mother  earth." 


THE    BLACKAMOOR         ^  ^  FABLE  181 

A  CERTAIN  man  bought  a  Blackamoor,  and 
thinking  that  the  colour  of  his  skin  arose  from 
the  neglect  of  his  former  master,  he  no  sooner  brought 
him  home  than  he  procured  all  manner  of  scouring 
apparatus,  scrubbing-brushes,  soaps,  and  sand-paper, 
and  set  to  work  with  his  servants  to  wash  him  white 
again.  They  drenched  and  rubbed  him  for  many  an 
hour,  but  all  in  vain  ;  his  skin  remained  as  black  as 
ever ;  while  the  poor  wretch  all  but  died  from  the 
cold  he  caught  under  the  operation. 

No  human  means  avail  of  themselves  to  change  a 

nature  originally  evil. 

127 


THE  ASS,  THE  COCK, 
AND   THE   LION 


0!^ 


m^ 


FABLE  182 


AN  Ass  and  a  Cock  lived  in  a  farm-yard  together. 
One  day  a  hungry  Lion  passing  by  and  seeing 
the  Ass  in  good  condition,  resolved  to  make  a  meal 
of  him.  Now,  they  say  that  there  is  nothing  a  Lion 
hates  so  much  as  the  crowing  of  a  Cock  ;  and  at  that 
moment  the  Cock  happening  to  crow,  the  Lion 
straightway  made  off  with  all  haste  from  the  spot. 
The  Ass,  mightily  amused  to  think  that  a  Lion 
should  be  frightened  at  a  bird,  plucked  up  courage 
and  galloped  after  him,  delighted  with  the  notion  of 
driving  the  king  of  beasts  before  him.  He  had,  how- 
■ever,  gone  no  great  distance,  when  the  Lion  turned 
sharply  round  upon  him,  and  made  an  end  of  him  in 
a  trice. 

Presumption  begins  in  ignorance  and  ends  in  ruin. 

128 


THE  CHARGER  AND  THE  ASS       FABLE  183 


A  CHARGER  adorned  with  his  fine  trappings 
came  thundering  along  the  road,  exciting  the 
envy  of  a  poor  Ass  who  was  trudging  along  the  same 
way  with  a  heavy  load  upon  his  back.  ''  Get  out  of 
my  road  ! "  said  the  proud  Horse,  "  or  I  shall  trample 
you  under  my  feet."  The  Ass  said  nothing,  but 
quietly  moved  on  one  side  to  let  the  Horse  pass. 
Not  long  afterwards  the  Charger  was  engaged  in  the 
wars,  and  being  badly  wounded  in  battle  was  rendered 
unfit  for  military  service,  and  sent  to  work  upon  a 
farm.  When  the  Ass  saw  him  dragging  with  great 
labour  a  heavy  waggon,  he  understood  how  little 
reason  he  had  had  to  envy  one  who,  by  his  over- 
bearing spirit  in  the  time  of  his  prosperity,  had  lost 
those  friends  who  might  have  succoured  him  in  time 
of  need. 

129  K 


THE  MOUSE  AND  THE  WEASEL   FABLE  184 

A  LITTLE  starveling  Mouse  had  made  his  way 
with  some  difficulty  into  a  basket  of  corn, 
where,  finding  the  entertainment  so  good,  he  stuffed 
and  crammed  himself  to  such  an  extent,  that  when  he 
would  have  got  out  again,  he  found  the  hole  was  too 
small  to  allow  his  puffed-up  body  to  pass.  As  he  sat 
at  the  hole  groaning  over  his  fate,  a  Weasel,  who  was 
brought  to  the  spot  by  his  cries,  thus  addressed  him  : 
— "  Stop  there,  my  friend,  and  fast  till  you  are  thin  ; 
for  you  will  never  come  out  till  you  reduce  yourself 
to  the  same  condition  as  when  you  entered." 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  BEETLE    FABLE  185 

A  HARE  being  pursued  by  an  Eagle,  betook 
himself  for  refuge  to  the  nest  of  a  Beetle, 
whom  he  entreated  to  save  him.  The  Beetle  therefore 
interceded  with  the  Eagle,  begging  of  him  not  to  kill 
the  poor  suppliant,  and  conjuring  him,  by  mighty 
Jupiter,  not  to  slight  his  intercession  and  break  the 

130 


j^sofs  Fables 


laws  of  hospitality  because  he  was  so  small  an  animal. 
But  the  Eagle,  in  wrath,  gave  the  Beetle  a  flap  with 
his  wing,  and  straightway  seized  upon  the  Hare  and 
devoured  him.  When  the  Eagle  flew  away,  the 
Beetle  flew  after  him,  to  learn  where  his  nest  was, 
and  getting  into  it  he  rolled  the  Eagle's  eggs  out  of 
it  one  by  one,  and  broke  them.  The  Eagle,  grieved 
and  enraged  to  think  that  any  one  should  attempt  so 
audacious  a  thing,  built  his  nest  the  next  time  in  a 
higher  place  ;  but  there  too  the  Beetle  got  at  it  again, 
and  served  him  in  the  same  manner  as  before.  Upon 
this,  the  Eagle,  being  at  a  loss  what  to  do,  flew  up  to 
Jupiter  his  Lord  and  King,  and  placed  the  third  brood 
of  eggs,  as  a  sacred  deposit,  in  his  lap,  begging  him 
to  guard  them  for  him.  But  the  Beetle,  having  made 
a  little  ball  of  dirt,  flew  up  with  it  and  dropped  it  in 
Jupiter's  lap ;  who,  rising  up  on  a  sudden  to  shake  it 
off,  and  forgetting  the  eggs,  threw  them  down,  and 
they  were  again  broken.  Jupiter  being  informed  by 
the  Beetle  that  he  had  done  this  to  be  revenged  upon 
the  Eagle,  who  had  not  only  wronged  him,  but  had 
acted  impiously  towards  Jove  himself,  told  the  Eagle, 
when  he  came  in,  that  the  Beetle  was  the  aggrieved 
party,  and  that  he  complained  not  without  reason. 
But  being  unwilling  that  the  race  of  Eagles  should  be 
diminished,  he  advised  the  Beetle  to  come  to  an  ac- 
commodation with  the  Eagle.  As  the  Beetle  would 
not  agree  to  this,  Jupiter  transferred  the  Eagle's 
breeding  to  another  season,  when  there  are  no  Beetles 
to  be  seen. 

No  one  can  slight  the  laws  of  hospitality  with 
impunity ;  and  there  is  no  station  or  influence,  how- 
ever powerful,  that  can  protect  the  oppressor,  in  the 
end,  from  the  vengeance  of  the  oppressed. 

131 


THE   LEOPARD  AND   THE   FOX     FABLE  186 

A  LEOPARD  and  a  Fox  had  a  contest  which 
was  the  finer  creature  of  the  two.  The 
Leopard  put  forward  the  beauty  of  its  numberless 
spots  ;  but  the  Fox  repHed — *'  It  is  better  to  have  a 
versatile  mind  than  a  variegated  body." 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE   LION 


FABLE  187 


ONE  day  a  Wolf  had  seized  a  sheep  from  a  fold, 
and  was  carrying  it  home  to  his  own  den, 
when  he  met  a  Lion,  who  straightway  laid  hold  of 
the  sheep  and  bore  it  away.  The  Wolf,  standing  at 
a  distance,  cried  out,  that  it  was  a  great  shame,  and 
that  the  Lion  had  robbed  him  of  his  own.  The  Lion 
laughed,  and  said,  "  I  suppose,  then,  that  it  was  your 
good  friend  the  shepherd  gave  it  to  you!' 

132 


THE  OLD   LION 


FABLE  188 


A  LI  ON  worn  out  with  years  lay  stretched  upon 
the  ground,  utterly  helpless,  and  drawing  his 
last  breath.  A  Boar  came  up,  and  to  satisfy  an 
ancient  grudge,  drove  at  him  with  his  tusks.  Next  a 
Bull,  determined  to  be  revenged  on  an  old  enemy, 
gored  him  with  his  horns.  Upon  this  an  Ass,  seeing 
that  the  old  Lion  could  thus  be  treated  with  impunity, 
thought  that  he  would  show  his  spite  also,  and  came 
and  threw  his  heels  in  the  Lion's  face.  Whereupon 
the  dying  beast  exclaimed :  "  The  insults  of  the 
powerful  were  bad  enough,  but  those  I  could  have 
managed  to  bear  ;  but  to  be  spurned  by  so  base  a 
creature  as  thou — the  disgrace  of  nature — is  to  die  a 
double  death." 

133 


THE  WOLF         ^  ^ 

AND   THE   SHEPHERDS      ^  FABLE  189 

A  WOLF  looking  into  a  hut  and  seeing  some 
shepherds  comfortably  regaling  themselves  on 
a  joint  of  mutton — "A  pretty  row,"  said  he,  "would 
these  men  have  made  if  they  had  caught  me  at  such  a 
supper ! " 

Men  are  too  apt  to  condemn  in  others  the  very 
things  that  they  practise  themselves. 

THE  SEA-SIDE  TRAVELLERS         FABLE  190 

AS  some  Travellers  were  making  their  way  along 
the  seashore,  they  came  to  a  high  cliff,  and 
looking  out  upon  the  sea  saw  a  Faggot  floating  at  a 
distance,  which  they  thought  at  first  must  be  a  large 
Ship  ;  so  they  waited,  expecting  to  see  it  come  into 
harbour.     As  the  Faggot  drifted  nearer  to  the  shore, 

134 


j^ sop's  Fables 


they  thought  it  no  longer  to  be  a  Ship,  but  a  Boat 
But  when  it  was  at  length  thrown  on  the  beach,  they 
saw  that  it  was  nothing  but  a  Faggot  after  all. 

Dangers  seem  greatest  at  a  distance ;  and  coming 
events  are  magnified  according  to  the  interest  or 
inclination  of  the  beholder. 


THE   DOGS  AND  THE   HIDES  FABLE  191 

SOME  hungry  Dogs,  seeing  some  raw  Hides 
which  a  skinner  had  left  in  the  bottom  of  a 
stream,  and  not  being  able  to  reach  them,  agreed 
among  themselves  to  drink  up  the  river  to  get  at  the 
prize.  So  they  set  to  work,  but  they  all  burst  them- 
selves with  drinking  before  ever  they  came  near  the 
Hides. 

They  who  aim  at  an  object  by  unreasonable  means, 
are  apt  to  ruin  themselves  in  the  attempt. 

THE  ANT  AND  THE  DOVE  FABLE  192 

AN  Ant  went  to  a  fountain  to  quench  his  thirst, 
and  tumbling  in,  was  almost  drowned.  But  a 
Dove  that  happened  to  be  sitting  on  a  neighbouring 
tree  saw  the  Ant's  danger,  and  plucking  off  a  leaf, 
let  it  drop  into  the  water  before  him,  and  the  Ant 
mounting  upon  it,  was  presently  wafted  safe  ashore. 
Just  at  that  time  a  Fowler  w^as  spreading  his  net,  and 
was  in  the  act  of  ensnaring  the  Dove,  when  the  Ant, 
perceiving  his  object,  bit  his  heel.  The  start  which 
the  man  gave  made  him  drop  his  net,  and  the  Dove, 
aroused  to  a  sense  of  her  danger,  flew  safe  away. 

One  good  turn  deserves  another. 

135 


•i- 


C«»''\'.-5^« 


I'^S' 


^^ 


fei?i  -<^ 


B' 


THE  FOX       ^ 
AND  THE  CROW 


FABLE  193 


A  CROW  had  snatched  a  goodly 
piece  of  cheese  out  of  a  window, 
and  flew  with  it  into  a  high  tree,  intent 
on  enjoying  her  prize.  A  Fox  spied 
the  dainty  morsel,  and  thus  he  planned 
his  approaches.  "O  Crow,"  said  he, 
"how  beautiful  are  thy  wings,  how 
bright  thine  eye !  how  graceful  thy 
neck  !  thy  breast  is  the  breast  of  an 
eagle!  thy  claws — I  beg  pardon,  thy 
talons — are  a  match  for  all  the  beasts 
of  the  field.  Oh !  that  such  a  bird 
should  be  dumb,  and  want  only  a 
voice  ! "  The  Crow,  pleased  with  the 
flattery,  and  chuckling  to  think  how 
she  would  surprise  the  Fox  with 
her  caw,  opened  her  mouth : — 
down  dropped  the  cheese  !  which 
the  Fox  snapping  up,  observed,  as 


\%6 


j^sofs  Fables 


he  walked  away,  "  that  whatever  he  had  remarked  of 
her  beauty,  he  had  said  nothing  yet  of  her  brains." 

Men  seldom  flatter  without  some  private  end  in 
view ;  and  they  who  listen  to  such  music  may  expect 
to  have  to  pay  the  piper. 

THE   BRAZIER  AND   HIS   DOG        FABLE  194 

THERE  was  a  certain  Brazier  who  had  a  little 
Dog.  While  he  hammered  away  at  his  metal, 
the  Dog  slept;  but  whenever  he  sat  down  to  his 
dinner,  the  Dog  woke  up.  "  Sluggard  cur  !  "  said  the 
Brazier,  throwing  him  a  bone;  "you  sleep  through 
the  noise  of  the  anvil,  but  wake  up  at  the  first  clatter 
of  my  teeth." 

Men  are  awake  enough  to  their  own  interests,  who 
turn  a  deaf  ear  to  their  friend's  distress. 

THE  FARMER  AND  THE  LION       FABLE  195 

ALIGN  entered  one  day  into  a  farmyard,  and 
the  Farmer,  wishing  to  catch  him,  shut  the 
gate.  When  the  Lion  found  that  he  could  not  get 
out,  he  began  at  once  to  attack  the  sheep,  and  then 
betook  himself  to  the  oxen.  So  the  Farmer,  afraid 
for  himself,  now  opened  the  gate,  and  the  Lion  made 
off  as  fast  as  he  could.  His  wife,  who  had  observed 
it  all,  when  she  saw  her  husband  in  great  trouble  at 
the  loss  of  his  cattle,  cried  out — "  You  are  rightly 
served;  for  what  could  have  made  you  so  mad  as  to 
wish  to  detain  a  creature,  whom,  if  you  saw  at  a 
distance,  you  would  wish  further  off! " 

Better  scare  a  thief  than  snare  him. 

n7 


ji^sofs  Fables 


THE  THREE  TRADESMEN 


FABLE  196 


THERE  was  a  city  in  expectation  of  being 
besieged,  and  a  council  was  called  accordingly 
to  discuss  the  best  means  of  fortifying  it.  A  Brick- 
layer gave  his  opinion  that  no  material  was  so  good 
as  brick  for  the  purpose.  A  Carpenter  begged  leave 
to  suggest  that  timber  would  be  far  preferable.  Upon 
which  a  Currier  started  up,  and  said,  "  Sirs,  when  you 
have  said  all  that  can  be  said,  there  is  nothing  in  the 
world  like  leather." 


A 


THE    BOY    BATHING  ^  FABLE  197 

BOY  was  bathing  in  a  river,  and, 
getting  out  of  his  depth,  was  on 
point   of  sinking,  when   he  saw  a 
'farer  coming  by,  to  whom  he  called 
for   help   with  all    his    might   and 
main.     The   Man  began  to  read 
the  Boy  a  lecture   for  his  fool- 
hardiness  ;  but  the  urchin  cried 
out,  "  Oh,  save  me  now,  sir  !  and 
^Jc.  read  me  the  lecture  afterwards." 


138 


VENUS  AND  THE  CAT 


FABLE  198 


A  CAT  having  fallen  in  love  with  a  young  man, 
besought  Venus  to  change  her  into  a  girl,  in 
the  hope  of  gaining  his  affections.  The  Goddess, 
taking  compassion  -on  her  weakness,  metamorphosed 
her  into  a  fair  damsel ;  and  the  young  man,  enamoured 
of  her  beauty,  led  her  home  as  his  bride.  As  they 
were  sitting  in  their  chamber,  Venus,  wishing  to  know 
whether  in  changing  her  form  she  had  also  changed 
her  nature,  set  down  a  Mouse  before  her.  The  Girl, 
forgetful  of  her  new  condition,  started  from  her  seat, 
and  pounced  upon  the  Mouse  as  if  she  would  have 
eaten  it  on  the  spot ;  whereupon  the  Goddess,  provoked 
at  her  frivolity,  straightway  turned  her  into  a  Cat  again. 

What  is  bred  in  the  bone  will  never  out  of  the  flesh. 

139 


MERCURY       I  ^ 

AND  THE   SCULPTOR 


^ 


FABLE  199 


MERCURY,  having  a  mind  to  know  in  what 
estimation  he  was  held  among  men,  disguised 
himself  as  a  traveller,  and  going  into  a  Sculptor's 
workshop,  began  asking  the  price  of  the  different 
statues  he  saw  there.  Pointing  to  an  image  of  Jupiter, 
he  asked  how  much  he  wanted  for  that.  "  A  drachma," 
said  the  image-maker.  Mercury  laughed  in  his  sleeve, 
and  asked,  "  How  much  for  this  of  Juno  ?  "  The  man 
wanted  a  higher  price  for  that.  Mercury's  eye  now 
caught  his  own  image.  "  Now,  will  this  fellow,"  thought 
he,  "  ask  me  ten  times  as  much  for  this,  for  I  am  the 
messenger  of  heaven,  and  the  source  of  all  his  gain." 
So  he  put  the  question  to  him,  what  he  valued  that 

140 


JEsof  s  Fables 


Mercury  at.  *'  Well,"  says  the  Sculptor,  "  if  you  will 
give  me  my  price  for  the  other  two,  I  will  throw  you 
that  into  the  bargain." 

They  who  are  over  anxious  to  know  how  the  world 
values  them,  will  seldom  be  set  down  at  their  own 
price. 

THE  FARMER  AND  THE  DOGS      FABLE  200 

A  FARMER,  during  a  severe  winter,  being  shut 
up  by  the  snow  in  his  farm-house,  and  sharply 
pressed  for  food,  which  he  was  unable  to  get  about  to 
procure,  began  consuming  his  own  sheep.  As  the 
hard  weather  continued,  he  next  ate  up  his  goats. 
And  at  last — for  there  was  no  break  in  the  weather — 
he  betook  himself  to  the  plough-oxen.  Upon  this, 
the  Dogs  said  one  to  another,  "Let  us  be  off;  for 
since  the  master,  as  we  see,  has  had  no  pity  on  the 
working  oxen,  how  is  it  likely  he  will  spare  us  ?  " 

When  our  neighbour's  house  is  on  fire,  it  is  time  to 
look  to  our  own. 

THE  HUNTER        ^         ^ 

AND  THE  WOODMAN  *  FABLE  201 

A  MAN  went  out  Lion-hunting  into  a  forest,  where 
meeting  with  a  Woodman,  he  asked  him  if  he 
had  seen  any  tracks  of  a  Lion,  and  if  he  knew  where 
his  lair  was.  "  Yes,"  says  the  Man,  "  and  if  you  will 
come  with  me  I  will  show  you  the  Lion  himself."  At 
this  the  Hunter,  turning  ghastly  pale,  and  his  teeth 
chattering,  said,  "  Oh !  thank  you  ;  it  was  the  Lion's 
track,  not  himself,  that  I  was  hunting." 

A  coward  can  be  a  hero  at  a  distance ;  it  is  presence 
of  danger  that  tests  presence  of  mind. 

141 


^ sop's  Fables 


THE   MONKEY 

AND  THE  FISHERMEN      ^ 


FABLE  202 


A  MONKEY  was  sitting  up  in  a  high  tree,  when, 
seeing  some  Fishermen  laying  their  nets  in  a 
river,  he  watched  what  they  were  doing.  The  Men 
had  no  sooner  set  their  nets,  and  retired  a  short  dis- 
tance to  their  dinner,  than  the  Monkey  came  down 
from  the  tree,  thinking  that  he  would  try  his  hand  at 
the  same  sport.  But  in  attempting  to  lay  the  nets  he 
got  so  entangled  in  them,  that  being  well  nigh  choked, 
he  was  forced  to  exclaim :  "  This  serves  me  right :  for 
what  business  had  I,  who  know  nothing  of  fishing,  to 
meddle  with  such  tackle  as  this  ?  " 


THE  MILLER,  HIS  SON, 

AND   THEIR   ASS        *  #  FABLE  203 

A  MILLER  and  his  Son  were  driving  their  Ass  to 
a  neighbouring  fair  to  sell  him.     They  had  not 
gone  far  when  they  met  with  a  troop  of  girls  returning 


from  the  town,  talking  and  laughing.  "  Look  there  !  " 
cried  one  of  them ;  "  did  you  ever  see  such  fools,  to 
be  trudging  along  the  road  on  foot,  when  they  might 

142 


j^sofs  Fables 


be  riding  !  "  The  old  Man,  hearing  this,  quietly  bade 
his  Son  get  on  the  Ass,  and  walked  along  merrily  by 
the  side  of  him.  Presently  they  came  up  to  a  group 
of  old  men  in  earnest  debate.  *'  There  !  "  said  one  of 
them,  "  it  proves  what  I  was  a-saying.     What  respect 


is  shown  to  old  age  in  these  days  ? 
idle  young  rogue  riding,  while  his 
walk  ? — Get  down,  you  scapegrace  ! 
man  rest  his  weary  limbs."  Upon 
made  his  Son  dismount,  and  got  up 
manner  they  had  not  proceeded  far 
company  of  women  and  children 


Do  you  see  that 
old  father  has  to 
and  let  the  old 
this  the  Father 
himself  In  this 
when  they  met  a 
"  Why,  you  lazy 


143 


j^sop's  Fables 


old  fellow  !  "  cried  several  tongues  at  once,  "  how  can 
you  ride  upon  the  beast,  while  that  poor  little  lad 
there  can  hardly  keep  pace  by  the  side  of  you  !  "  The 
good-natured  Miller  stood  corrected,  and  immediately 


took  up  his  Son  behind  him.  They  had  now  almost 
reached  the  town.  *'  Pray,  honest  friend,"  said  a 
townsman,  "  is  that  Ass  your  own  ?  "  "  Yes,"  says  the 
old  Man.     "  Oh  !     One  would  not  have  thought  so," 


said  the  other,  "  by  the  way  you  load  him.     Why,  you 
two  fellows  are  better  able  to  carry  the  poor  beast 

144 


j^sofs  Fables 


than  he  you  !  "  "  Anything  to  please  you,"  said  the  old 
Man  ;  "  we  can  but  try."  So,  alighting  with  his  Son, 
they  tied  the  Ass's  legs  together,  and  by  the  help  of  a 
pole  endeavoured  to  carry  him  on  their  shoulders  over 
a  bridge  that  led  to  the  town.  This  was  so  entertain- 
ing a  sight  that  the  people  ran  out  in  crowds  to  laugh 
at  it;  till  the  Ass,  not  liking  the  noise  nor  his  situation, 
kicked  asunder  the  cords  that  bound  him,  and,  tumbling 
off  the  pole,  fell  into  the  river.  Upon  this  the  old 
Man,  vexed  and  ashamed,  made  the  best  of  his  way 
home  again — convinced  that  by  endeavouring  to  please 
everybody  he  had  pleased  nobody  and  lost  his  Ass 
into  the  bargain. 


145 


INDEX 


■♦♦- 


PAGE 

PAGE 

Angler  and  the  Little  Fish     . 

.     53 

Dog  in  the  Manger 

69 

Ant  and  the  Dove 

135 

Dog  and  his  Master 

.    60 

Ant  and  the  Grasshopper  . 

.       6 

Dog  and  the  Shadow    . 

16 

Arab  and  the  C^Aiel 

108 

Dog  invited  to  Supper 

•     79 

Ass,  the  Cock,  5nd  the  Lion    . 

.   128 

Dogs  and  the  Hides 

135 

Ass  and  his  Driver 

94 

Do  phins  and  the  Sprat    . 

.        .     38 

Ass,  the  Fox,  and  the  Linn 

.     96 

Dove  and  the  Crow 

45 

Ass  and  the  Grasshopper 

47 

Eagle  and  the  Arrow 

.     68 

Ass  and  the  Lap-dog 

44 

Eagle  and  the  Beetle    . 

130 

Ass  in  the  Lion's  Skin  . 

III 

Eagle  and  the  Fox    . 

9 

Ass  and  his  Masters 

82 

Eagle  and  the  Jackdaw 

93 

Ass  carrying  Salt  .... 

119 

Falconer  and  the  Partridge 

.         .     96 

Ass's  Shadow    .... 

113 

Farmer  and  the  Cranes 

lOI 

Astronomer 

121 

Farmer  and  the  Dogs 

.   141 

Balu  Knight    .... 

112 

Farmer  and  the  Lion    . 

137 

Bear  and  the  Fo.x 

18 

Farmer  and  his  Sons 

.     42 

Bees,  the  Drones,  and  the  Wasp 

88 

Farthing  Rushlight 

.        62 

Beeves  and  the  Butchers 

74 

Father  and  his  Two  Daughter: 

>          .   124 

Belly  and  the  Members    . 

34 

Fawn  and  her  Mother  . 

10 

Birdcatcher  and  the  Lark     . 

62 

Fighting-Cocks  and  the  Eagle 

12 

Birds,  the  Beasts,  and  the  Bat 

89 

Fir-tree  and  the  Bramble 

.          96 

Blackamoor  ..... 

127 

Fisherman 

.     80 

Blind  Man  and  the  Whelp 

45 

Fisherman  Piping 

14 

Boasting  Traveller 

102 

Flies  and  the  Honey-pot  . 

.     18 

Bowman  and  the  Lion 

2 

Fox  and  the  Crow 

.        136 

Boy  Bathing          .... 

138 

Fox  and  the  Goat     . 

.       3 

Boy  and  the  Filberts 

103 

Fox  and  the  Grapes 

I 

Boy  and  the  Nettle  (M) 

92 

Fox  and  the  Hedgehog     . 

.     90 

Boy  and  the  Scorpion 

6 

Fox  and  the  Lion  . 

10 

Boys  and  the  Frogs 

122 

Fox  and  the  Mask    . 

.  104 

Brazier  and  his  Dog 

137 

Fox  and  the  Stork 

no 

Bull  and  the  Goat 

114 

Fox  and  the  Woodman     . 

•    31 

Bundle  of  Sticks        .         .         .         . 

55 

Fox  without  a  Tail 

49 

Cat  and  the  Mice 

72 

Frog  and  the  Ox 

•     25 

Charger  and  the  Ass 

129 

Frogs  asking  for  a  King 

81 

Cock  and  the  Jewel 

8 

Geese  and  the  Cranes 

.     67 

Collier  and  the  Fuller 

39 

Gnat  and  the  Bull 

69 

Country  Maid  and  her  Milk-can  (M] 

73 

Goat  and  the  Goatherd     . 

.   107 

Countryman  and  the  Snake 

13 

Goatherd  and  the  Goats 

80 

Country  Mouse  and  the   Town 

Goose  with  the  Golden  Eggs   . 

•     77 

Mouse 

19 

Great  and  the  Little  Fishes  . 

124 

Crab  and  her  Mother 

28 

Gull  and  the  Kite     . 

.     22 

Creaking  Wheels  .... 

18 

Hare  and  the  Hound  . 

38 

Crow  and  the  Pitcher 

3« 

Hare  and  the  Tortoise 

.     26 

Doctor  and  his  Patient 

75 

Hares  and  the  Frogs    . 

51 

Dog,  the  Cock,  and  the  Fox    . 

32 

Hart  and  the  Vine    . 

•     97 

147 


148 


Index 


PAGE 


Hedge  and  the  Vineyard  (l\r 

\l.'2 

Heifer  and  the  Ox    . 

.  105 

Hen  and  the  Cat  . 

30 

Hercules  and  the  Waggoner 

.    48 

Herdsman  and  the  Lost  Bull 

63 

Hound  and  the  Hare 

.  107 

Horse  and  the  Groom  . 

II 

Horse  and  the  Loaded  Ass 

.  116 

Horse  and  the  Stag 

59 

House-Dog  and  the  Wolf 

•     23 

Hunter  and  the  Fisherman  . 

84 

Hunter  and  the  Woodman 

.   141 

Husbandman  and  the  Sea     . 

126 

Husbandman  and  the  Stork 

•       52 

Jackass  in  Office 

109 

Jupiter  and  the  Bee  . 

.     84 

Jupiter  and  the  Camel  . 

47 

Jupiter,    Neptune,    Minerva, 

and 

Momus 

•     70 

Kid  and  the  Wolf 

8 

Kid  and  the  Wolf     . 

•  125 

Kite  and  the  Pigeons    . 

2 

Lamb  and  the  Wolf  . 

.     28 

Lark  and  her  Young  Ones    . 

85 

Leopard  and  the  Fox 

.  132 

Lion  and  Ass  hunting  . 

88 

Lion,  the  Ass,  and  the  Fox,  hi 

nting    36 

Lion,  the  Bear,  and  the  Fox 

lOO 

Lion  and  other  Beasts  hunting 

.     68 

Lion  and  the  Bulls 

106 

Lion  and  his  Three  Councillors 

5         •     73 

Lion  and  the  Dolphin  . 

86 

Lion  and  the  Fox 

•     47 

Lion  and  the  Goat 

76 

Lion  in  Love 

.     40 

Lion  and  the  Mouse 

21 

Lioness 

•     54 

Man  bitten  by  a  Dog  . 

.          64 

Man  and  the  Lion     . 

.         .     56 

Man  and  the  Satyr 

15 

Man  and  his  Two  Wives  . 

.   118 

Marriage  of  the  Sim 

70 

Mercury  and  the  Sculptor 

.   140 

Mercury  and  the  Woodman 

66 

Mice  in  Council  (M) 

.     76 

Mice  and  the  Weasels  . 

92 

Miller,  his  Son,  and  their  Ass 

(M)  .   142 

Mischievous  Dog. 

61 

Miser         .... 

.     98 

Mole  and  her  Mother  . 

54 

Monkey  and  the  Camel    . 

•     54 

Monkey  and  the  Dolphin 

58 

Monkey  and  the  Fishermen 

142 

Moon  and  her  Mother 

,     16 

Mountain  in  Labour 

7 

Mountebank  and  the  Countryn 

nan    .     77 

Mouse  and  the  Frog    ''. 

14 

Mouse  and  the  Weasel 
Mule 

Nurse  and  the  Wolf 
Oak  and  the  Reed 
Old  Hound        .... 
Old  Lion        .... 
Old  Man  and  Death 
Old  Woman  and  her  Maids  . 
Old  Woman  and  the  Physician 
Old  Woman  and  the  Wine-jar 
One-eyed  Doe 

Pomegranate,  the  Apple,  and 
Bramble      .... 
Porker  and  the  Sheep  . 
Quack  Frog     .... 
Raven  and  the  Swan   . 
Rivers  and  the  Sea  . 
Sea-side  Travellers 
Shepherd  and  the  Sea 
Shepherd-boy  and  the  Wolf 
Sick  Kite  .... 
Sick  Lion      .... 
Sick  Stag  . 
Stag  in  the  Ox-stall 
Stag  at  the  Pool 
Swallow  in  Chancery    . 
Swallow  and  the  Raven    . 
Thief  and  the  Dog 
Thief  and  his  Mother 
Thirsty  Pigeon 
Three  Tradesmen     . 
Tortoise  and  the  Eagle 
Travellers  and  the  Bear   . 
Travellers  and  the  Hatchet  . 
Travellers  and  the  Plane-tree 
Trees  and  the  Axe 
Trumpeter  taken  Prisoner 
Two  Pots       .... 
Two  Wallets 
Vain  Jackdaw 
Venus  and  the  Cat    . 
Vine  and  the  Goat 
Viper  and  the  File     . 
Widow  and  the  Hen     . 
Widow  and  the  Sheep 
Wild  Boar  and  the  Fox 
Wind  and  the  Sun     . 
Wolf  and  the  Crane 
Wolf  and  the  Goat    . 
Wolf  and  the  Horse 
Wolf  and  the  Lamb  . 
Wolf  and  the  Lion 
Wolf  .and  the  Sheep 
Wolf  and  the  Shepherd 
Wolf  and  the  Shepherds 
Wolf  in  Sheep's  Clothhig 
Wolves  and  the  Sheep 


page 
130 


the 


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LIVINGSTONE'S  FIRST  EXPEDITION  TO 

AFRICA.     A  popular  account  of  Missionary  Travels  and  Researches 
in   South  Africa.     By  David   Livingstone,  M.D.    With   Map  and 
numerous  Illustrations, 
This  is  the  great  missionary-explorer's  own  narrative  of  his  first  travel  ex- 
periences in  Africa,  and  consists  chiefly  of  a  full  account  of  his  wonderful 
journeys  in   the  years  1849- 1856,  in  the  course  of  which  he  discovered  the 
Victoria   Falls,  and   crossed  the  continent  from  west  to  east.     Many  books 
have  been  written  on  the  subject  of  Livingstone  and  his  travels,  but  all  who 
are  interested  in  the  greatest  of  African  travellers  should  read  this  record. 

^SOFS  FABLES.  A  New  Version,  chiefly  from  the 
original  sources.  By  the  Rev.  Thomas  James,  M.A.  With  more  than 
100  Woodcuts  designed  by  Tenniel  and   Wolfe. 

Sir  John  Tenniel's  beautiful  illustrations  are  a  notable  feature  of  this  edition 
of  "the  most  popular  moral  and  political  class-book  of  more  than  two  thousand 
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THE    LION    HUNTER    IN    SOUTH    AFRICA. 

Five  Years'  Adventures  in  the  Far  Interior  of  South  Africa,  with  Notices 
of  the  Native  Tribes  and  Savages.  By  Roualeyn  Gordon  Gumming, 
of  Altyre.     With  Woodcuts. 

This  sporting  classic  is  a  fascinating  first-hand  narrative  of  hunting  ex- 
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over  the  scene  of  "the  lion  hunter's"  exploits  in  a  comparatively  short  space 
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UNBEATEN   TRACKS   IN  JAPAN.     An  Account  of 

Travels  in  the  Interior,  including  visits  to  the  Aborigines  of  Yezo  and 
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women of  her  day,  this  book  has  an  abiding  interest. 

NOTES     FROM     A     DIARY.       First    Series.     By    Sir 

MOUNTSTUART    E.    GrANT    DuFF. 

Sir  Mountstuart  Grant  Duff,  besides  being  a  distinguished  public-servant, 
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LAVENGRO:   The  Scholar,  the   Gypsy,   the  Priest. 

By  George   Borrow.      With   6    Pen   and    Ink   Sketches  by   Percy 

Wadham. 

This   edition  contains   the  unaltered  text   of  the  original  issue  :    with  the 

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W.  I.  Knapp. 

OUR   ENGLISH   BIBLE.     The  Story  of  its  Origin  and 

Growth.     By  H.  W.  Hamilton  Hoare,  late  of  Balliol  College,  Oxford, 

now  an  Assistant  Secretary  to  the  Board  of  Education,  Whitehall.     With 

Specimen  Pages  of  Old  Bibles. 

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with  the  story  of  the  national  life. 

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THE  LETTERS  OF  QUEEN  VICTORIA.    A  Selec- 

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186L  Edited  by  A.  C.  Benson,  M.A.,  C.V.O.,  and  Viscount  Esher, 
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Published  by  authority  of  his  Majesty  King  Edward  VIL  This  edition 
is  not  abridged,  but  is  the  complete  and  revised  text  of  the  original. 

ORIGIN  OF  SPECIES  BY  MEANS  OF  NATURAL 

SELECTION.  By  Charles  Darwin.  Popular  impression  of  the 
Corrected  Copyright  Edition.  Issued  with  the  approval  of  the  author's 
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ROUND  THE  HORN  BEFORE  THE  MAST.     An 

Account  of  a  Voyage  from  San  Francisco  round  Cape  Horn  to  Liverpool 
in  a  Fourniasted  '*  Windjammer,"  with  experiences  of  the  life  of  an 
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The  Sheffield  Independent  says : — *  *  If  you  care  to  read  what  life  at  sea  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel  really  is  like,  this  is  the  book  that  tells  the  story.  .  .  .  Mr.  Lubbock 
has  a  fine  power  of  telling  a  tale  reaUstically.  To  read  him  is  as  good  as 
being  on  the  spot,  and  having  the  sights  for  yourself,  without  the  hardships. 
I  have  never  read  any  work  about  the  sea  that  is  as  vivid  and  actual  as  this." 

ENGLISH    BATTLES    AND    SIEGES    IN    THE 

PENINSULA.  By  Lieut.-Gen.  Sir  William  Napier,  K.C.B. 
With  Portrait. 

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STUDIES  IN  THE  ART  OF  RAT-CATCHING. 

By  H.  C.  Barkley. 

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nearly  every  townsman  who  has  not  made  their  acquaintance.  The  ten 
chapters  take  the  form  of  "lessons"  in  rat-catching,  such  lessons  as  would 
make  the  average  boy  in  love  with  school,  for  the  author  is  absorbed  in  his 
subject,  knows  every  trick  of  the  craft,  bubbles  over  with  love  and  considera- 
tion for  his  dogs  and  ferrets,  and  writes  with  the  directness,  simplicity,  and 
wealth  of  homely  imagery  which  characterise  the  best  chronicles  of  rural  lore. 

3 


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THE  SERMON  ON  THE  MOUNT.    By  the  Right 

Rev.  Charles  Gore,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Bishop  of  Birmingham. 

The  success  of  this  book  must  constitute  a  record  in  modern  sermonic 
literature.  There  can  be  no  question,  however,  that  its  success  is  due  to  its 
own  intrinsic  value.  Cultured  and  scholarly,  and  yet  simple  and  luminous, 
eloquent  in  tone  and  graceful  in  diction,  practical  and  stimulating,  it  is  far  and 
away  the  best  exposition  of  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  that  has  yet  appeared. 

THE    HOUSE    OF    QUIET.     An    Autobiography. 

By  A.  C.  Benson. 

'*  The  House  of  Quiet  "  is  an  autobiography,  and  something  more — a  series 
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and  the  result  is  a  book  to  read  time  and  again. 

THE  THREAD  OF  GOLD.    By  A.  C.  Benson. 

The  Guardian  says  : — "The  style  of  the  writing  is  equally  simple  and  yet 
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a  thinker,  quick  to  catch  a  vagrant  emotion,  and  should  be  read,  as  it  was 
evidently  written,  in  leisure  and  solitude.  It  covers  a  wide  range — art,  nature, 
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THE    PAINTERS    OF    FLORENCE.     From    the 

13th  to  the  16th  Centuries.      By  Julia  Cartwright  (Mrs.  Ady). 
With  Illustrations. 

Mrs.  Axiy  is  a  competent  and  gifted  writer  on  Italian  painting,  and  presents 
in  these  350  pages  an  excellent  history  of  the  splendid  art  and  artists  of 
Florence  during  the  golden  period  from  Cimabue  and  Giotto  to  Andrea  del 
Sarto  and  Michelangelo.  Those  who  are  taking  up  the  study  of  the  subject 
could  not  wish  a  more  interesting  and  serviceable  handbook. 

A  LADY'S  LIFE  IN  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS. 

By  Mrs.  Bishop  (Isabella  Bird).     With  Illustrations. 

The  Irish  Titms  says  :— "  *  A  Lady's  Life  in  the  Rocky  Mountains'  needs 
no  introduction  to  a  public  who  have  known  and  admired  Mrs.  Bishop 
(Isabella  L.  Bird)  as  a  fearless  traveller  in  the  days  when  it  was  something  of 
an  achievement  for  a  woman  to  undertake  long  and  remote  journeys.  Mrs. 
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will  be  heartily  welcomed.*' 


MURRAY'S  SHILLING  LIBRARY 

THE    LIFE    OF    DAVID    LIVINGSTONE.     By 

William  Garden  Blaikie.    With  Portrait. 

This  is  the  standard  biography  of  the  great  missionary  who  will  for  ever 
stand  pre-eminent  among  African  travellers, 

DEEDS  OF  NAVAL  DARING;  or,  Anecdotes  of 

the  British  Navy.     By  Edward  Giffard. 

This  work  contains  ninety-three  anecdotes,  told  in  everyday  language,  of 
such  traits  of  courage  and  feats  of  individual  daring  as  may  best  serve  to  illus- 
trate the  generally  received  idea  of  the  British  sailor's  character  for  "courage 
verging  on  temerity." 

SINAI  AND  PALESTINE  in  connection  with  their 

History.     By  the  late  Dean  Stanley,     With  Maps, 

"  There  is  no  need,  at  this  time  of  day,  to  praise  the  late  Dean  Stanley's 
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history,  tradition,  and  observation  to  Bible  students." — Dundee  Courier, 

THE    NATURALIST    ON    THE    RIVER    AMA» 

ZONS.     A    Record   of  Adventures,    Habits  of  Animals,    Sketches   of 
Brazilian  and   Indian  Life,  and  Aspects  of  Nature  under  the  Equator, 
during  Eleven  Years  of  Travel.     By  H.  W.  Bates,  F.R.S.     Numerous 
Illustrations. 

There  are  few  works  on  natural  history  which  appeal  with  the  same  degree 
of  fascination  to  the  lay  person  as  "  The  Naturalist  on  the  River  Amazons." 
It  is  a  most  readable  record  of  adventures,  sketches  of  Brazilian  and  Indian 
life,  habits  of  animals,  and  aspects  of  nature  under  the  Equator  during  eleven 
years  of  travel. 

WORKS  OF  SAMUEL   SMILES 

Few  books  in  the  whole  history  of  literature  have  had  such  wide  popularity 
or  such  healthy  and  stimulating  effect  as  the  works  of  Samuel  Smiles  during 
the  last  half-century.  How  great  men  have  attained  to  greatness  and  successful 
men  achieved  success  is  the  subject  of  these  enthralling  volumes  which  are 
now  brought  within  the  reach  of  all. 

SELF-HELP.      With    Illustrations    of    Conduct    and 

Perseverance.     With  Portrait. 

LIFE  AND   LABOUR ;   or,  Characteristics  of  Men 

of  Industry,  Culture,   and  Genius. 

CHARACTER.     A  Book  of  Noble  Characteristics. 

With  Frontispiece. 

5 


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THE  WORKS  OF 

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SELF-HELP.      With    Illustrations    of   Conduct    and 

Perseverance.     512  pages,  with  6  Half-tone  Illustrations. 

CHARACTER.     A  Book  of  Noble  Characteristics. 

448  pages,  with  6  Half-tone  Illustrations. 

DUTY.    With  Illustrations  of  Courage,  Patience,  and 

Endurance.     496  pages,  with  5  Half-tone  Illustrations. 

THRIFT.     A  Book  of  Domestic  Counsel.    448  pages, 

with  7  Half-tone  Illustrations. 


THIN  PAPER  EDITION  OF 

THE    WORKS   OF 

GEORGE  BORROW 

Cloth,  IS.  net ;  leather,  2s,  nd 

THE  BIBLE  IN  SPAIN;  or,  the  Journeys,  Adven- 

tares  and  Imprisonments  of  an  Englishman  in  an  Attempt  to 
Circulate  the  Scriptures  in  the  Peninsular.  With  the  Notes  and 
Glossary  of  Ulick  Burke.     With  4  Illustrations. 

THE  GYPSIES  OF  SPAIN.  Their  Manners,  Customs, 

Religion,  and  Language.     With  7  Illustrations  by  A.  Wallis  Mills. 

LAVENGRO:    the  Scholar,   the  Gypsy,   the  Priest. 

Containing  the  unaltered  Text  of  the  original  issue  ;  some  Suppressed 
Episodes  printed  only  in  the  Editions  issued  by  Mr.  Murray ;  MS. 
Variorum,  Vocabulary,  and  Notes  by  Professor  W.  I.  Knapp.  With 
8  Pen  and  Ink  Sketches  by  Percy  Wadham. 

ROMANY  RYE.  A  Sequel  to  "  Lavengro."  Collated  and 
revised  in  the  same  manner  as  **  Lavengro"  by  Professor  W.  I.  Knapp. 
With  7  Pen  and  Ink  Sketches  by  F.  G.  Kitton. 

WILD  WALES:  Its  People,  Language,  and  Scenery. 

With  Map  and  8  Illustrations  by  A.  S.  Hartrick. 

ROMANO    LAVO    LIL:    the    Word    Book    of   the 

Romany  or  English  Gypsy  Language.  With  Specimens  of  Gypsy 
Poetry,  and  an  account  of  certain  Gypsyries  or  Places  inhabited  by  them, 
and  of  various  things  relating  to  Gypsy  Life  in  England. 

6 


POPULAR  EDITIONS  OF 

Mr.  Murray's  Standard  Works 

Large  Crown  8vo,  2s.  6d.  net  each 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  COOK,  R.N.,  F.R.S.,  the  Cir- 

cumnavigator.     By  Arthur  Kitson.     With  Illustrations, 

At  the  time  of  the  appearance  of  this  book,  it  was  accepted  by  the  Press  as 
the  best  authority  so  far  published  on  the  life  of  the  "  Great  Circumnavigator."" 
In  this  cheaper  edition  the  Author  has  been  able  to  bring  to  light  *'  some  new 
facts,"  and  to  clear  up  decisively  several  doubtful  points. 

JOHN    MURRAY:    A  Publisher  and   his    Friends. 

Memoir  and  Correspondence  of  the  second  John  Murray,  with  an  Account 
of  the  Origin  and  Progress  of  the  House,  1768- 1843.  By  Samuel 
Smiles,  LL.D.     Edited  by  Thomas  Mackay.     With  Portraits. 

THE    AUTOBIOGRAPHY    OF    LIEUTENANT- 

GENERAL  SIR  HARRY  SMITH,  1787-1819.  Edited  by  G.  C. 
Moore  Smith.     With  Map  and  Portrait. 

A  COTSWOLD  VILLAGE;    or,  Country  Life  and 

Pursuits  in  Gloucestershire.  By  J.  Arthur  Gibbs.  With  Illus- 
trations. 

DOG  BREAKING :   the  Most   Expeditious,  Certain, 

and  Easy  Method.  With  Odds  and  Ends  for  those  who  love  the  Dog 
and  Gun.  By  General  W.  N.  Hutchinson.  With  numerous  Illus- 
trations. 

THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  **  FOX  "  IN  THE  ARCTIC 

SEAS  IN  SEARCH  OF  FRANKLIN  AND  HIS  COM- 
PANIONS. By  the  late  Admiral  Sir  F.  Leopold  McClintock,  R.N. 
A  Cheap  Edition.     W^ith  Portraits  and  other  Illustrations  and  Maps. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  WATERLOO. 

By  the  Rev.  G.  R.  Gleig.     With  Map  and  Illustrations. 

LIFE  OF  ROBERT,  FIRST  LORD  CLIVE.    By  the 

Rev.  G.  R.  Gleig.     Illustrated. 

THE  WILD  SPORTS  AND  NATURAL  HISTORY 

OF  THE  HIGHLANDS.    By  Charles  St.  John.   With  Illustrations. 

7 


POPULAR  EDITIONS  OF  STANDARD  WORKS 

LETTERS  FROM  HIGH  LATITUDES.    Being  some 

Account  of  a  Voyage  in  1856,  in  the  Schooner  Yacht  Foam,  to  Iceland, 
Jan  Meyen,  and  Spitzbergen.  By  the  late  Marquess  of  Dufferin. 
"With  Portrait  and  Illustrations. 

FIELD  PATHS  AND  GREEN  LANES  IN  SURREY 

AND  SUSSEX.     By  Louis  J.  Jennings.     Illustrated. 

THE  ROB  ROY  ON  THE  JORDAN.  A  Canoe  Cruise 
in  Palestine,  Egypt,  and  the  Waters  of  Damascus.  By  JOHN  Macgregor, 
M.A.,  Captain  of  the  Royal  Canoe  Club.     With  Maps  and  Illustrations. 

A  HISTORY  OF  THE  SIEGE  OF  GIBRALTAR, 

1779-1783.  With  a  Description  and  Account  of  that  Garrison  from 
the  Earliest  Times.  By  John  Drinkwater,  Captain  in  the  Seventy- 
second  Regiment  of  Royal  Manchester  Volunteers.     With  Plans. 

THE  LIFE  OF  JOHN  NICHOLSON,  Soldier  and 

Administrator.  By  Captain  Lionel  J.  Trotter.  With  Portrait  and 
3  Maps. 

SIR   WM.    SMITH'S    SMALLER    DICTIONARY 

OF  THE    BIBLE.     With  Maps  and  Illustrations. 

A    POPULAR    HISTORY    OF    THE    CHURCH 

OF  ENGLAND.  From  the  Earliest  Times  to  the  Present  Day.  By 
William  Boyd  Carpenter,  Bishop  of  Ripon,  Hon.  D.C.L.,  Oxon. 
With  16  Illustrations. 

BIRD   LIFE  AND   BIRD   LORE.    By  R.  Bosworth 

Smith.    With  Illustrations. 


WORKS    BY    MRS.    BISHOP 

(Isabella  L.  Bird) 

HAWAIIAN  ARCHIPELAGO.  Six  Months  among  the 
Palm  Groves  and  Coral  Reefs  and  Volcanoes  of  the  Sandwich  Islands. 
With  Illustrations. 

UNBEATEN  TRACKS  IN  JAPAN.  Including  Visits 
to  the  Aborigines  of  Yezo,  and  the  Shrines  of  Nikko  and  Is6.  Map 
and  Illustrations. 

*^*  Complete  List  of  the   Volumes  in  this  Series  will  be  sent  post  fret 

on  application. 


London  :    JOHN  MURRAY,  Albemarle  Street,  W. 


Sazdl,  WaUon  &  Vitiey,  Ld.,  London  and  A]fie*intnf—8i65/ll.