The talking beasts : a book of fable wisdom

8OQ

NY PUBLIC LIBRARY THE BRANCH LIBRARIES

3 3333 05968 1615

WHY, WAS IT NOT FOOLISH OF ME TO COUNT THE STARS IN
THE SKY, WHEN I COULD HAVE COUNTED THE STARS IN YOUR
BRILLIANT PLUMAGE TO BETTER ADVANTAGE? ' SAID THE FOX"

THE TALKING BEASTS

A BOOK OF FABLE WISDOM

EDITED BY

KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN

Mi
AND

NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH

-

Illustrations by Harold Nelson
GARDEN CITY, N. Y., AND TORONTO

DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION
INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN

COPYRIGHT, igl I, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPAlfY

"T H [-: N : ' RK

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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES

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"Accept, young Prince, the moral lay
And in these tales mankind survey;
With early virtues plant your breast
The specious arts of vice detest."

JOHN GAT
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HlS HlGHKESS

WILLIAM. DUKE OF CUMBERLAND

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CONTENTS

I. Fables of ^Esop. (Greek) ... 1

II. Fables of Bidpai. (Indian) . . 63

III. Fables from the Hitopadesa.

(Sanskrit) 99

IV. Fables from P. V. Ramaswami

Raju. (Indian) . . . . 125

V. Malayan Fables 151

VI. Moorish Fables 169

VII. African Fables 175

VIII. Fables from Krilof. (Russian) . 211

IX. Fables from the Chinese . . . 239

X. Fables of La Fontaine. (French) 265

XI. Fables from the Spanish of Carlos

Yriarte ...... 337

XII. Fables of Gay, Cowper, and others.

(English) 349

For Eastern princes, long ago,

These fables, grave and gay,
Were written as a friendly guide

On life's perplexing way.
When Rumour came to court and news

Of such a book was heard,
The monarch languished till he might

Secure the Golden Word.

Prince of To-day, this little book

A store-house is of treasure.
Unlock it and where'er you look

Is wisdom without measure.
* Twill teach thee of the meed of greed,

Of sowing versus reaping,
Of that mad haste that makes for waste,

And looking before leaping.

9 Twill teach thee what is like to hap

To self-conceit and folly;
And show that who begins in sin

Will end in melancholy.
So take the book and learn of beast

And animate creation
The lesson that the least may teach,

However mean his station.

NORA ARCHIBALD SMITH

INTRODUCTION

"Among all the different ways of giving counsel I think
the finest and that which pleases the most universally is
fable, in whatever shape it appears."

JOSEPH ADDISON

HOW shall I bring to your mind the time and
distance that separate us from the Age of
Fable ? Think of what seemed to you the
longest week of your life. Think of fifty -two of
these in a year; then think of two thousand five
hundred years and try to realize that JEsop some-
times called the Eighth Wise Man lived
twenty-five centuries ago and made these wonder-
ful tales that delight us to-day.

Shakespeare is even yet something of a mystery,
although he was born in our own era, less than
five hundred years ago; but men are still trying
to discover any new facts of his life that might
better explain his genius. A greater mystery
is grand old Homer, who has puzzled the world
for centuries. Scholars are not certain whether
the 'Iliad 9 or "Odyssey* are the work of one
or more than one mind. Who can say? for the

X1U

xiv INTRODUCTION

thrilling tales were told probably after the
fashion of all the minstrels of his day - more than
eight hundred years before Christ.

On the background of that dim distant long ago,
perhaps two hundred years later than Homer,
looms the magnificent figure of another mysterious
being JEsop the Greek slave.

Wherever and whenever he lived, and whether,
in fact, he ever lived at all, he seems very real to
us, even though more than two thousand years have
passed. Among all the stories that scholars and
historians have told of him sifting through the
centuries the true from the false we get a vivid
picture of the man. He was born in Greece,
probably in Phrygia, about 620 years before Christ.
He had more than one master and it was the last,
ladmon, who gave him his liberty because of his
talents and his wisdom. The historian Plutarch
recounts his presence at the court of Croesus,
King of Lydia, and his meeting Tholes and Solon
there, telling us also that he reproved the wise
Solon for discourtesy toward the king. Msop
visited Athens and composed the famous fable
of Jupiter and the Frogs for the instruction of
the citizens. Whether he left any written fables
is very uncertain, but those known by his name
were popular in Athens when that city was cele-
brated throughout the world for its wit and its

INTRODUCTION xv

Learning, Both Socrates and Plato delighted
in them; Socrates, we read, having amused him-
seij during the last days of his life with turning
into verse some of Msop's 'myths 9 as he called
them. Think of Socrates conning these fables
in prison four hundred years before Christ, and
then think of a more familiar picture in our own
day a gaunt, dark-faced, black-haired boy
poring over a book as he lay by the fireside in a
little Western farmhouse; for you remember that
Abraham Lincoln's literary models were " M 'sop's
Fables," "The Pilgrim's Progress 9 and the
Bible. Perhaps he read the fable of the Fig
Tree, Olive, Vine, and Bramble from the ninth
chapter of Judges, or that of the Thistle and
Cedar from the fourteenth chapter of II Kings
and noted that teaching by story-telling was
still well in vogue six hundred years after

In later times the fables that had been carried
from mouth to mouth for centuries began to
be written down: by Phoedrus in Latin and
Babrius in Greek; also, in the fourteenth century,
by a Greek monk named Planudes. But do
not suppose they had their birth or flourished
in Greece alone. At the very time that Msop
was telling them at the court of Croesus, or in
Delphi, Corinth, or Athens, far, far away in

xvi INTRODUCTION

India the Buddhist priests were telling fables in
the Sanskrit language to the common people, the
blind* the ignorant and the outcast. Sanskrit,
you know, is the eldest brother of all the family
of languages to which our English belongs. When
the Buddhist r dig ion declined, the Brahmins
took up the priceless inheritance of fable and
used it for educational purposes. Their ancient
Indian sages and philosophers compiled a treatise
for the education of princes which was supposed
to contain a system of good counsel for right train-
ing in all the chief affairs of life. In it they
inserted the choicest treasures of their wisdom
and the best rules for governing a people, and tlie
Rajahs kept the book with great secrecy and care.
Then a Persian king heard of its existence and
sent a learned physician to India, where he spent
several years in copying and translating the
precious manuscript, finally bringing it back to
the court, where he declined to accept all reward
but a dress of honour. In much the same way
it was rendered into Arabic and gradually, cen-
tury by century, crept into the literature of all
Europe.

We give you some of these very fables in
the ' Hitopadesa" which means "Friendly
Instruction" or "Amicable Advice," for the

INTRODUCTION xvii

original books contained many maxims, like the
following:

"He who is not possessed of such a book as will dispel
many doubts, point out hidden treasures, and is, as it were 9
a mirror of all things, is even an ignorant man."

' These six the peevish, the niggard, the dissatisfied,
the passionate, the suspicious, and those who live upon others'
means are forever unhappy."

' That mother is an enemy, and that father a foe, by whom
not having been instructed, their son shineth not in the
assembly; but appear eth tliere like a booby among geese."

* There are two kinds of knowledge in use: the knowledge
of arms, and the knowledge of books. The first is the scoff
of the wise, whilst the last is forever honoured."

We give you other Indian fables from the col-
lection of Bidpai. La Fontaine in one of the pre-
faces to his French fables in verse expresses his
gratitude to ' Bilpay the Indian sage. 9 ' These
are the very manuscripts translated from the
Sanskrit into Persian by the physician who took
them back to his king. Sir William Jones says
that "Bidpai 9 signifies "beloved physician 9 and
that Bilpay is simply a mis-spelling of the word.
As other scholars contended that Bidpai was not
a man at all, but probably one of the two wise
camels that did most of the talking in the earlier
fables, you and I will not be able to settle the truth

xviii INTRODUCTION

of the question. All fliese points are interesting,
or, if they are not so to you, you must say, "Wake
up!' to your mind. It is the eager spirit of
inquiry that conquers difficulties and gains knowl-
edge. In another preface I reminded you that
in all the faery stories the youngest brother was
the one who always said, 'I wonder! 9 and he it
was who triumphed over all the others. You are
holding between these crimson covers fables from
some of the oldest and most valuable books the
world has ever known. The ' Hitopadesa ' was
a very fountain of riches, as old as the hills them-
selves, precious and inexhaustible. In its in-
numerable translations it passed down the stream
of time, and the fables known as JEsop's made
their way among all races of people in the same
marvellous way. No one knows whether JEsop -
through the Assyrians with whom the Phrygians
had commercial relations borrowed his stories
from the Orientals or whetfier they borrowed from
him. One thing is certain, nothing persists so
strongly and lives so long as a fable or folk tale.
They migrate like the birds and make their way
into every corner of the world where there are
lips to speak and ears to hear. The reasons are,
perhaps, because they are generally brief; because
they are simple; because they are trenchant and
witty; because they are fresh and captivating and

INTRODUCTION xix

have a bite to them like the tang of salt water;
because they are strong and vital, and what is
thoroughly alive in the beginning always lives
longest.

And now we come to La Fontaine the French
fabulist, who in 1668 published the first six books
of his fables. ' Bonhomme La Fontaine,''' as
he was called, chose his subjects from Msop and
Phcedrus and Horace, and, in the later volumes,
from such Oriental sources as may have been
within his reach. He rendered the old tales in
easy-flowing verse, full of elegance and charm,
and he composed many original ones besides.
La Bruyere says of him: ' Unique in his way
of writing, always original whether he invents or
translates, he surpasses his models and is himself
a model difficult to imitate. . . . He in-
structs while he sports, persuades men to virtue
by means of beasts, and exalts triflina subnets
to the sublime. 9 '

Voltaire asserts: C 7 believe that of all authors
La Fontaine is the most universally read. He is
for all minds and all ages. 9 '

Later, by a hundred years, than La Fontaine,
comes Krilof 9 the Russian fable-maker, who
was born in 1768. After failing in many kinds
of literary work the young poet became intimate
with a certain Prince Sergius Galitsin; lived in

xx INTRODUCTION

his house at Moscow, and accompanied him to
his country place in Lithuania, where he taught
the children of his host and devised entertain-
ments for the elders. He used often to spend
hours in the bazaars and streets and among the
common people, and it was in this way probably
that he became so familiar ivith the peasant life
of the country. When he came bade from his
wanderings on the banks of the Volga he used to
mount to the village belfry, where he could write
undisturbed by the gnats and flies, and the children
found him there one day fast asleep among the
bells. A failure at forty, with the publication of
his first fables in verse he became famous, and
for many years he was the most popular writer
in Russia. He died in 1844 a l the age of seventy -
six, his funeral attended by such crowds that the great
church of St. Isaac could not hold those ivho
wished to attend the service. Soon after, a public
subscription was raised among all the children
of Russia, icho erected a monument in the Sum-
mer Garden at Moscow.

There the old man sits in bronze, as he used to
sit at his window, clad in his beloved dressing
gown, an open book in his hand.

Around the monument (says his biographer) a
number of children are always at play, and the
poet seems to smile benignly on them from his

INTRODUCTION xxi

bronze easy chair. Perhaps the Grecian children
of long ago played about JE sop's statue in Athens,
for Lysippus the celebrated sculptor designed and
erected a monument in his memory.

Read Krilof's 'Education of a Lion 9 and
6< The Lion and the Mosquitoes" while his life is
fresh in your mind. Then turn to "What
Employment our Lord Gave to Insects" and "How
Sense was Distributed 9 ' in the quaint African
fables. Glance at 4 The Long -tailed Spec-
tacled Monkey" and <( The Tune that Made the
Tiger Drowsy, 9 ' so full of the very atmosphere of
India. Then re-read some old favourite of
Msop and imagine you are hearing his voice, or
that of some Greek story-teller of his day, ringing
down through more than two thousand years
of time.

There is a deal of preaching in all these fables,
that cannot be denied, but it is concealed as
well as possible. It is so disagreeable for people
to listen while their faults and follies, their foibles
and failings, are enumerated, that the fable-maker
told his truths in story form and thereby in-
creased his audience. Preaching from the mouths
of animals is not nearly so trying as when it
comes from the pulpit, or from the lips of your
own family and friends!

Whether or not our Grecian and Indian, African

xxii INTRODUCTION

and Russian fable-makers have not saddled the
animals with a few more faults than they possess

just to bolster up our pride in human nature -
I sometimes wonder; but the result has been bene-
ficial. The human rascals and rogues see them-
selves clearly reflected in the doings of the jackals,
foxes, and wolves and may get some little distaste
for lying, deceit and trickery.

We make few fables now-a-days. We might
say that it is a lost art, but perhaps the world is too
old to be taught in that precise way, and though
the story writers are as busy as ever, the story-
tellers (alas!) are growing fewer and fewer.

If your ear has been opened by faery tales you
will have learned already to listen to and interpret
a hundred voices unheard by others. A com-
prehension of faery language leads one to under-
stand animal conversation with perfect ease, so
open the little green doors that lead into the forest,
the true Land of Fable. Open them softly and
you ivill hear the Beasts talk Wisdom.

KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN

THE FABLES OF .ESOP

'Twas the Golden Age when every brute
Had voice articulate, in speech was skilled,
And the mid-forests with its synods filled.
The tongues of rock and pine-leaf then were free;
To ship and sailor then would speak the sea;
Sparrows with farmers would shrewd talk

maintain;

Earth gave all fruits, nor asked for toil again.
Mortals and gods were wont to mix as friends
To which conclusion all the teaching tends
Of sage old JEsop. '

BABRIUS

THE FABLES OF

The Power of Fables

EMADES, a famous Greek orator, was
once addressing an assembly at Athens
on a subject of great importance,
and in vain tried to fix the attention of his
hearers. They laughed among themselves,
watched the sports of the children, and in twenty
other ways showed their want of interest in
the subject of the discourse.

Demades, after a short pause, spoke as fol-
lows :

"Ceres one day journeyed in company with
a Swallow and an Eel.' At this there was
marked attention and every ear strained now
to catch the words of the orator. 'The party
came to a river, ' continued he ; ' the Eel swam
across, and the Swallow flew over. 5 He then
resumed the subject of his harangue.

A great cry, however, arose from the people,
"And Ceres? and Ceres?" cried they. "What
did Ceres do?"

'Why, the goddess was, as she is now/

9

4 THE TALKING BEASTS

replied he, "mightily offended that people
should have their ears open to any sort of foolery,
and shut to words of truth and wisdom. '

The Wolf and the Lamb

A HUNGRY Wolf one day saw a Lamb drink-
ing at a stream, and wished to frame some
plausible excuse for making him his prey.

"What do you mean by muddling the water
I am going to drink?' fiercely said he to the
Lamb.

"Pray forgive me,' meekly answered the
Lamb; "I should be sorry in any way to displease
you, but as the stream runs from you toward
me, you will see that such cannot be the case. '

"That's all very well," said the Wolf; "but
you know you spoke ill of me behind my back
a year ago. '

"Nay, believe me,' replied the Lamb, 'I
was not then born. '

"It must have been your brother, then, 5
growled the Wolf.

"It cannot have been, for I never had any,'
answered the Lamb.

'I know it was one of your lot,' rejoined
the Wolf, "so make no more such idle excuses.'
He then seized the poor Lamb, carried him
off to the woods, and ate him, but before

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MUDDLING THE WATER I AM GOING
TO DRINK?' FIERCELY SAID HE TO THE LAMB"

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 5

the poor creature died he gasped out, feebly,
"Any excuse will serve a tyrant.'

sEsop and His Fellow Servants

A MERCHANT, who was at one time ^Esop's
master, on a certain occasion ordered all things
to be made ready for an intended journey.
When the burdens were divided among the Ser-
vants, ^Esop asked that he might have the light-
est. He was told to choose for himself, and he
took up the basket of bread. The other Servants
laughed, for that was the largest and heaviest
of all the burdens.

When dinner-time came, ^Esop, who had with
some difficulty sustained his load, was told to
distribute an equal share all around. He did so,
and this lightened his burden one half, and when
supper-time arrived he got rid of the rest.

For the remainder of the journey he had
nothing but the empty basket to carry, and the
other Servants, whose loads seemed to get
heavier and heavier at every step, could not
but applaud his ingenuity.

The Kite and the Pigeons

A KITE, that had kept sailing around a dove-
cote for many days to no purpose, was at last

6 THE TALKING BEASTS

forced by hunger to have recourse to stratagem.
Approaching the Pigeons in his gentlest manner,
he described to them in an eloquent speech
how much better their state would be if they
had a king with some firmness about him, and
how well such a ruler would shield them from
the attacks of the Hawk and other enemies.
The Pigeons, deluded by this show of reason,
admitted him to the dovecote as their king.
They found, however, that he thought it part
of his kingly prerogative to eat one of their
number every day, and they soon repented of
their credulity in having let him in.

The Ant and the Fly

AN ANT and a Fly one day disputed as to their
respective merits. : Vile creeping insect!" said
the Fly to the Ant, "can you for a moment com-
pare yourself with me? I soar on the wing
like a bird. I enter the palaces of kings, and
alight on the heads of princes, nay, of emperors,
and only quit them to adorn the yet more
attractive brow of beauty. Besides, I visit
the altars of the gods. Not a sacrifice is offered
but it is first tasted by me. Every feast, too,
is open to me. I eat and drink of the best,
instead of living for days on two or three grains
of corn as you do. '

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 7

"All that is very fine,' replied the Ant; "but
listen to me. You boast of your feasting, but
you know that your diet is not always so
choice, and you are sometimes forced to eat
what nothing would induce me to touch. As
for alighting on the heads of kings and emperors,
you know very well that whether you pitch
on the head of an emperor or of an ass (and it is
as often on the one as the other), you are shaken
off from both with impatience. And, then, the
'altars of the gods,' indeed! There and every-
where else you are looked upon as nothing but
a nuisance. In the winter, too, while I feed
at my ease on the fruit of my toil, what more
common than to see your friends dying with
cold, hunger, and fatigue? I lose my time now
in talking to you. Chattering will fill neither
my bin nor my cupboard. '

The Frog Who Wished to Be as Big as an Ox

AN Ox, grazing in a meadow, chanced to set
his foot on a young Frog and crushed him to
death. His brothers and sisters, who were
playing near, at once ran to tell their mother
what had happened.

"The monster that did it, mother, was such
a size ! ' ' said they.

The mother, who was a vain old thing,

8 THE TALKING BEASTS

thought that she could easily make herself as
large.

"Was it as big as this?' she asked, blowing
and puffing herself out.

"Oh, much bigger than that,' replied the
young Frogs.

"As this, then?' cried she, puffing and blow-
ing again with all her might.

"Nay, mother,' said they; 'if you \vere to
try till you burst yourself, you could never be
so big. '

The silly old Frog then tried to puff herself
out still more, and burst herself indeed.

The Cat and the Mice

A CERTAIN house was overrun w r ith mice.
A Cat, discovering this, made her way into
it and began to catch and eat them one by
one.

The Mice being continually devoured, kept
themselves close in their holes.

The Cat, no longer able to get at them, per-
ceived that she must tempt them forth by some
device. For this purpose she jumped upon
a peg, and, suspending herself from it, pre-
tended to be dead.

One of the Mice, peeping stealthily out, saw
her, and said, "Ah, my good madam, even

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 9

though you should turn into a meal-bag, we
would not come near you. '

The Cock and the Jewel

A BRISK young Cock, scratching for something
with which to entertain his favourite Hens,
happened to turn up a Jewel. Feeling quite
sure that it was something precious, but not
knowing well what to do with it, he addressed
it with an air of affected wisdom, as follows:
; You are a very fine thing, no doubt, but you
are not at all to my taste. For my part, I
would rather have one grain of dear delicious
barley than all the Jewels in the world.'

The Man and the Lion

A MAN and a Lion were discussing the rel-
ative strength of men and lions in general, the
Man contending that he and his fellows were
stronger than lions by reason of their greater
intelligence.

Come now with me,' he cried to the beast,

and I will soon prove that I am right.' So
he took him into the public gardens and showed
him a statue of Hercules overcoming the Lion
and tearing him to pieces.

"That is all very well,' said the Lion, "but

66
66

10 THE TALKING BEASTS

it proves nothing, for it was a man who made
the statue!'

The Discontented Ass

IN THE depth of winter a poor Ass once prayed
heartily for the spring, that he might exchange
a cold lodging and a heartless truss of straw
for a little warm weather and a mouthful of
fresh grass. In a short time, according to his
wish, the warm weather and the fresh grass
came on, but brought with them so much toil
and business that he was soon as weary of the
spring as before of the winter, and he now
became impatient for the approach of summer.
The summer arrived; but the heat, the harvest
work and other drudgeries and inconveniences
of the season set him as far from happiness as
before, which he now flattered himself would
be found in the plenty of autumn. But here, too,
he was disappointed ; for what with the carrying
of apples, roots, fuel for the winter, and other
provisions, he was in autumn more fatigued
than ever.

Having thus trod around the circle of the year,
in a course of restless labour, uneasiness and
disappointment, and found no season, nor
station of life without its business and its
trouble, he was forced at last to acquiesce in

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 11

the comfortless season of winter, where his
complaint began, convinced that in this world
every situation has its inconvenience.

The Boasting Traveller

A MAN was one day entertaining a lot of
fellows in an ale-house with an account of the
wonders he had done when abroad on his travels.
'I was once at Rhodes,' said he, 'and the
people of RJhodes, you knoV, are famous for
jumping. Well, I took a jump there that no
other man could come within a yard of. That's
a fact, and if we were there I could bring you
ten men who would prove it.'

"What need is there to go to Rhodes for
witnesses?' asked one of his hearers; 'just
imagine that you are there now, and show us
your leap ! '

The Lion and the Mouse

A LION, tired with the chase, lay sleeping at
full length under a shady tree. Some Mice,
scrambling over him while he slept, awoke
him. Laying his paw upon one of them, he
was about to crush him, but the Mouse im-
plored his mercy in such moving terms that he
let him go.

THE TALKING BEASTS

Now it happened that sometime afterward the
Lion was caught in a net laid by some hunters,
and, unable to free himself, made the forest
resound with his roars. The Mouse, recog-
nizing the voice of his preserver, ran to the spot,
and with his little sharp teeth gnawed the ropes
asunder and set the Lion free.

The Swallow and Other Birds

A SWALLOW, observing a Husbandman em-
ployed in sowing hemp, called the little Birds
together and informed them of what the farmer
was about. He told them that hemp was the
material from which the nets, so fatal to the
feathered race, were composed; and advised
them to join unanimously in picking it up in
order to prevent the consequences.

The Birds, either disbelieving his information
or neglecting his advice, gave themselves no
trouble about the matter. In a little time the
hemp appeared above the ground, when the
friendly Swallow again addressed himself to
them, and told them it was not yet too late, pro-
vided they would immediately set about the work,
before the seeds had taken too deep root. But
as they still rejected his advice, he forsook their
society, repaired for safety to towns and cities,
there built his habitation and kept his residence.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 13

One day as he was skimming along the streets
he happened to see a large parcel of those very
Birds imprisoned in a cage on the shoulders of
a bird-catcher.

"Unhappy wretches,' said he. "You now
feel punishment for your former neglect; but
those who, having no foresight of their own,
despise the wholesome admonition of their
friends, deserve the mischief which their own
obstinacy or negligence brings upon their

heads. '

The Fox and the Crow

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of
cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a
tree. 'That's for me, as I am a Fox," said
Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot
of the tree. 'Good-day, Mistress Crow," he
cried. "How well you are looking to-day;
how glossy your feathers, how bright your eye.
I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other
birds, just as your figure does; let me hear
but one song from you that I may greet you as
the Queen of Birds."

The Crow lifted up her head and began to
caw her best, but the moment she opened her
mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground,
only to be snapped up by Master Fox. 'That
will do," said he. "That was all I wanted.

14. THE TALKING BEASTS

In exchange for your cheese I will give you a
piece of advice for the future Do not trust
flatterers!' 3

The Dog and His Shadow

A DOG, bearing in his mouth a piece of meat
that he had stolen, was once crossing a smooth
stream by means of a plank. Looking into the
still, clear water, he saw what he took to be
another dog as big as himself, carrying another
piece of meat.

Snapping greedily to get this as well, he let
go the meat that he already had, and it fell
to the bottom of the stream.

The Ass and His Master

A DILIGENT Ass, already loaded beyond his
strength by a severe Master whom he had long
served, and who kept him on very short com-
mons, happened one day in his old age to be
oppressed with a more than ordinary burden of
earthenware. His strength being much impaired,
and the road steep and uneven, he unfortu-
nately made a misstep, and, unable to recover
himself, fell down and broke all the vessels
to pieces. His Master, transported with rage,
began to beat him most unmercifully, against

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 15

whom thej>oor Ass, lifting up his head as he lay
on the ground, thus strongly remonstrated:

"Unfeeling wretch! To thine own avaricious
cruelty in first pinching me on food, and then
loading me beyond my strength, thou owest
the misfortune which thou so unjustly imputest
to me."

The Wolf and the Crane

A WOLF once devoured his prey so ravenously
that a bone stuck in his throat, giving him
great pain. He ran howling up and down in
his suffering and offered to reward handsomely
any one who would pull the bone out.

A Crane, moved by pity as well as by the
prospect of the money, undertook the dangerous
task, and having removed the bone, asked for
the promised reward.

"Reward! 5 cried the Wolf; 'pray, you
greedy fellow, what greater reward can you
possibly require? You have had your head
in my mouth, and instead of biting it off I have
let you pull it out unharmed. Get away with
you, and don't come again within reach of
my paw."

The Hares and the Frogs

THE HARES once took serious counsel among
themselves whether death itself would not be

16 THE TALKING BEASTS

preferable to their miserable condition. ' What
a sad state is ours," they said, 'never to eat
in comfort, to sleep ever in fear, to be startled
by a shadow, and to fly with beating heart
at the rustling of the leaves. Better death
by far, 53 and off they went accordingly to drown
themselves in a neighbouring lake.

Some scores of Frogs, who were enjoying
the moonlight on the bank, scared at the ap-
proach of the Hares, jumped into the water.
The splash awoke fresh fears in the breasts of
the timid Hares, and they came to a full stop
in their flight.

Seeing this, one wise old fellow among them
cried: 'Hold, brothers! It seems that, weak
and fearful as we are, beings exist that are more
weak and fearful still. Why, then, should we
seek to die? Let us rather make the best of
our ills and learn to bear them as we should."

The Invalid Lion

A LION, who had grown too old and feeble
to go out and hunt for prey, could hardly find
enough food to keep him from starving. But
at last he thought of a plan for bringing the game
within his reach.

He kept quite still in his den and made believe
that he was very ill. When the other animals

THE FABLES OF ^SSOP 17

heard of his distress, they came, one by one,
to look at him and ask him how he felt. No
sooner were they within his reach, however,
than he seized upon them and ate them up.

After a good many beasts had lost their lives
in this way a Fox came along.

'How do you feel to-day, friend Lion?' he
asked, taking care to stand at a safe distance
from the den.

"I am very ill," answered the Lion. "Won't
you come inside a little while? It does me a
great deal of good to see my kind friends.''

"Thank you,' 2 said the Fox; "but I notice
that all the tracks point toward your den and
none point away from it," and so saying, he
trotted merrily away.

The Travellers and the Bear

Two Men, about to journey through a forest,
agreed to stand by each other in any dangers
that might befall. They had not gone far
before a savage Bear rushed out from a thicket
and stood in their path.

One of the Travellers, a light, nimble fellow,
climbed up into a tree. The other fell flat
on his face and held his breath.

The Bear came up and smelled at him, and,
taking him for dead, went off again into the

18 THE TALKING BEASTS

wood. The man in the tree then came down,
and, rejoining his companion, asked him, with
a mischievous smile, what was the wonderful
secret that the Bear had whispered into his ear.
"Why," replied the other sulkily, "he told
me to take care for the future and not to put
any confidence in such cowardly rascals as
you are!"

The Fox Without a Tail

A Fox was once caught in a trap by his tail,
and in order to get aw r ay was forced to leave it
behind him. Knowing that without a tail he
would be a laughing-stock for all his fellows, he
resolved to try to induce them to part with
theirs. At the next assembly of Foxes, there-
fore, he made a speech on the unprofitableness
of tails in general, and the inconvenience of a
Fox's tail in particular, adding that he had never
felt so easy as since he had given up his own.

When he had sat down, a sly old fellow rose,
and waving his long brush with a graceful
air, said, with a sneer, that if, like the last
speaker, he had been so unfortunate as to lose
his tail, nothing further would have been needed
to convince him; but till such an accident
should happen, he should certainly vote in
favour of tails.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 19

The Crab and Its Mother

ONE fine day two Crabs came out from their
home to take a stroll on the sand. ' Child," said
the mother, "you are walking very ungracefully.
You should accustom yourself to walking straight
forward without twisting from side to side."

'Pray, mother," said the young one, "do but
set the example yourself, and I will follow you!"

The Jackdaw with Borrowed Plumes

A JACKDAIV, having dressed himself in feathers
which had fallen from some Peacocks, strutted
about in the company of those birds and tried
to pass himself off as one of them.

They soon found him out, however, and
pulled their plumes from him so roughly, and
in other ways so battered him, that he would
have been glad to rejoin his humble fellows,
but they, in their turn, would have nothing to
do with him, and driving him from their society,
told him to remember that it is not only fine
feathers that make fine birds.

The Farmer and His Dog

A FARMER who had just stepped into the
feld to close a gap in one of his fences found

20 THE TALKING BEASTS

on his return the cradle, where he had left his
only child asleep, turned upside down, the
clothes all torn and bloody, and his Dog lying
near it besmeared also with blood. Con-
vinced at once that the creature had destroyed
his child, he instantly dashed out its brains
with the hatchet in his hand; when, turning
up the cradle, he found the child unhurt and an
enormous serpent lying dead on the floor, killed
by the faithful Dog, whose courage and fidelity
in preserving the life of his son deserved another
kind of reward.

These affecting circumstances afforded him a
striking lesson upon how dangerous it is hastily to
give way to the blind impulse of a sudden passion.

The Fox and the Countryman

A Fox, having been hunted hard and chased
a long way, saw a Countryman at work in a
wood and begged his assistance to some hiding-
place. The man said he might go into his
cottage, which was close by.

He was no sooner in than the huntsmen came
up. ' Have you seen a Fox pass this way? " said
they. The Countryman said 'No," but pointed
at the same time toward the place where the
Fox lay. The huntsmen did not take the hint,
however, and made off again at full speed.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP

The Fox, who had seen all that took place
through a chink in the wall, thereupon came
out and was walking away without a word.

: Why, how now!' said the Countryman,
'haven't you the manners to thank your host
before you go?'

"Nay, nay," said the Fox; "if you had been
as honest with your finger as you were with
your tongue, I shouldn't have gone without
saying good-bye. "

Belling the Cat

A CERTAIN Cat that lived in a large country
house was so vigilant and active in the per-
formance of her duties that the Mice, finding
their numbers grievously thinned, held a council
with closed doors to consider what they had
best do.

Many plans had been started and dismissed,
when a young Mouse, rising and catching the
eye of the President, said that he had a proposal
to make that he was sure must meet with the
approval of all. "If," said he, "the Cat should
wear around her neck a little bell, every step
she took would make it tinkle; then, ever fore-
warned of her approach, we should have time
to reach our holes. By this simple means we
should live in safety and defy her power,' 3

THE TALKING BEASTS

The speaker resumed his seat with a compla-
cent air, and a murmur of applause arose from
the audience.

An old gray Mouse, with a merry twinkle
in his eye, now got up and said that the plan
of the last speaker was an admirable one, but
he feared it had one drawback. He had not
told them who should put the bell around the
Cat's neck!

The Old Woman and Her Maids

A CERTAIN Old Woman had several Maids,
whom she used to call to their work every morn-
ing at the crowing of the Cock.

The Maids, finding it grievous to have their
sweet sleep disturbed so early, killed the Cock,
thinking that when he was quiet they might
enjoy their warm beds a little longer.

The Old Woman, however, vexed at the loss
of the Cock, and suspecting them to be con-
cerned in his death, from that time made them
rise soon after midnight!

The Dog in the Manger

THERE was once a Dog who lay all day long
in a manger where there was plenty of hay.
It happened one day that a Horse, a Cow, a
Sheep, and a Goat came one by one and wanted

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 23

to eat the hay. The Dog growled at them and
would not let them have so much as a mouthful.
Then an Ox came and looked in, but the Dog
growled at him also.

; You selfish fellow/ 2 said the Ox; "you can-
not eat the hay. Why do you want to keep
it all to yourself?'

The Old Man and His Sons

AN OLD Man had many Sons, who were
always falling out with one another. He had
often exhorted them to live together in harmony,
but without result.

One day he called them around him and, pro-
ducing a bundle of sticks, bade them each in
turn to break it across. Each put forth all his
strength, but the bundle still resisted their efforts.

Then, cutting the cord which bound the sticks
together, he told his Sons to break them sepa-
rately. This was done with the greatest ease.

'See, my Sons,' 3 exclaimed he, 'the powder
of unity! Bound together by brotherly love,
you may defy almost every mortal ill; divided,
you will fall a prey to your enemies.' 2

Hercules and the Wagoner

As A Wagoner was driving his wain through
a miry lane, the wheels stuck fast in the clay

24 THE TALKING BEASTS

and the Horses could get on no farther. The
Man immediately dropped on his knees and
began crying and praying with all his might
to Hercules to come and help him.

"Lazy fellow!" cried Hercules, "get up and
stir yourself. Whip your Horses stoutly, and
put your shoulder to the wheel. If you want
my help then, you shall have it.' :

The Goose with the Golden Eggs

ONE day a poor countryman going to the nest of
his Goose found there a golden egg all yellow and
glittering. When he took it up it felt as heavy
as lead and he was minded to throw it away, be-
cause he thought a trick had been played on him.

On second thoughts, he took it home, however,
and soon found to his delight that it was an
egg of pure gold. Every morning the same
thing occurred, and he soon became prosperous
by selling his eggs.

As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking
to get at once all the gold the Goose could give,
he killed it and opened it only to find nothing!

The Frogs Desiring a King

THE Frogs, living an easy, free sort of life
among the lakes and ponds, once prayed Jupiter
to send them a King.

THE FABLES OF ,ESOP 25

Jove, being at that time in a merry mood,
threw them a Log, saying, as he did so, "There,
then, is a King for you."

Awed by the splash, the Frogs watched their
King in fear and trembling, till at last, encour-
aged by his stillness, one more daring than the
rest jumped upon the shoulder of the monarch.
Soon, many others followed his example, and
made merry on the back of their unresisting
King. Speedily tiring of such a torpid ruler,
they again petitioned Jupiter, and asked him
to send them something more like a King.

This time he sent them a Stork, who tossed
them about and gobbled them up without
mercy. They lost no time, therefore, in beseech-
ing the] god to give them again their former
state.

"No, no," replied he, c a King that did you
no harm did not please you. Make the best
of the one you have, or you may chance to get a
worse in his place."

The Porcupine and the Snakes

A PORCUPINE, seeking for shelter, desired
some Snakes to give him admittance into their
cave. They accordingly let him in, but were
afterward so annoyed by his sharp, prickly quills
that they repented of their easy compliance,

26 THE TALKING BEASTS

and entreated him to withdraw and leave them
their hole to themselves.

"No, no," said he, 'let them quit the place
that don't like it; for my part, I am very well
satisfied as I am."

The Lark and Her Young Ones

A LARK, who had Young Ones in a field of
grain which was almost ripe, was afraid that
the reapers would come before her young brood
was fledged. Every day, therefore, when she
flew off to look for food, she charged them to
take note of what they heard in her absence,
and to tell her of it when she came home.

One day, when she was gone, they heard
the owner of the field say to his son that
the grain seemed ripe enough to be cut, and
tell him to go early the next day and ask
their friends and neighbours to come and help
reap it.

When the old Lark came home, the Little
Ones quivered and chirped around her, and
told her what had happened, begging her to
take them away as fast as she could. The
mother bade them to be easy; 'for," said she,
"if he depends on his friends and his neighbours,
I am sure the grain will not be reaped to-

morrow. 1

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 27

Next day, she went out again, and left the
same orders as before. The owner came, and
waited. The sun grew hot, but nothing was
done, for not a soul came. You see," said
the owner to his son, 'these friends of ours are
not to be depended upon; so run off at once to
your uncles and cousins, and say I wish them
to corne early to-rnorrow morning and help us
reap.' :

This the Young Ones, in a great fright, told
also to their mother. 'Do not fear, children/ 3
said she; 'kindred and relations are not always
very forward in helping one another; but keep
your ears open, and let me know what you hear
to-morrow."

The owner came the next day, and, finding
his relations as backward as his neighbours,
said to his son: 'Now listen to me. Get two
good sickles ready for to-morrow morning,
for it seems we must reap the grain by our-
selves." The Young Ones told this to their
mother.

'Then, my dears," said she, "it is time for us
to go; for when a man undertakes to do his
work himself, it is not so likely that he will be
disappointed." She took them away at once,
and the grain was reaped the next day by the
old man and his son

28 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Fox and the Stork

A Fox one day invited a Stork to dine with
him, and, wishing to be amused at his guest's
expense, put the soup which he had for dinner
in a large flat dish, so that, while he himself
could lap it up quite well, the Stork could only
dip in the tip of his long bill.

Some time after, the Stork, bearing his treat-
ment in mind, invited the Fox to take dinner
with him. He, in his turn, put some minced
meat in a long and narrow-necked vessel, into
which he could easily put his bill, while Master
Fox was forced to be content with licking what
ran down the sides of the vessel.

The Fox then remembered his old trick, and
could not but admit that the Stork had well
paid him off. 'I will not apologize for the
dinner/' said the Stork, 'nor for the manner
of serving it, for one ill turn deserves another.' 1

The Gnat and the Bull

A STURDY Bull was once driven by the heat of
the weather to wade up to his knees in a cool and
swift-running stream. He had not been there
long when a Gnat that had been disporting
itself in the air pitched upon one of his horns.

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 29

"My dear fellow,' said the Gnat, with as
great a buzz as he could manage, ' pray excuse
the liberty I take. If I am too heavy only say
so and I will go at once and rest upon the poplar
which grows hard by the edge of the stream.

"Stay or go, it makes no matter to me,'
replied the Bull. 'Had it not been for your
buzz I should not even have known you were
there."

The Deer and the Lion

ONE warm day a Deer went down to a brook
to get a drink. The stream was smooth and
clear, and he could see himself in the water.
He looked at his horns and was very proud of
them, for they were large and long and had
many branches, but when he saw his feet he
was ashamed to own them, they were so slim
and small.

While he stood knee-deep in the water, and
was thinking only of his fine horns, a Lion saw
him and came leaping out from the tall grass
to get him. The Deer would have been caught
at once if he had not jumped quickly out of the
brook. He ran as fast as he could, and his feet
were so light and swift that he soon left the
Lion far behind. But by and by he had to
pass through some woods, and, as he was run-

30 THE TALKING BEASTS

ning, his horns were caught in some vines that
grew among the trees. Before he could get
loose the Lion was upon him.

'Ah me!' cried the Deer, 'the things which
pleased me most will now cause my death;
while the things which I thought so mean and
poor would have carried me safe out of danger. '

The Fox and the Grapes

THERE was a time when a Fox would have
ventured as far for a Bunch of Grapes as for a
shoulder of mutton, and it was a Fox of those
days and that palate that stood gaping under a
vine and licking his lips at a most delicious
Cluster of Grapes that he had spied out there.

He fetched a hundred and a hundred leaps
at it, till, at last, when he was as weary as a dog,
and found that there was no good to be done:
'Hang 'em,' says he, 'they are as sour as
crabs"; and so away he went, turning off the
disappointment with a jest.

The Farmer and the Stork

A FARMER placed nets on his newly sown
plough lands, and caught a quantity of Cranes,
which came to pick up his seed. With them
he trapped a Stork also.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 31

Theptork, having his leg fractured by the net,
earnestly besought the Farmer to spare his life.
"Pray, save me, master," he said, 'and let me
go free this once. My broken limb should excite
your pity. Besides, I am no Crane. I am a Stork,
a bird of excellent character; and see how I love
and slave for my father and mother. Look,
too, at my feathers, they are not the least like
to those of a Crane. '

The Farmer laughed aloud, and said: "It may
all be as you say, I only know this, I have taken
you with those robbers, the Cranes, and you
must die in their company. ?

The Hare and the Tortoise

THE Hare, one day, laughing at the Tortoise
for his slowness and general unwieldiness, was
challenged by the latter to run a race. The
Hare, looking on the whole affair as a great
joke, consented, and the Fox was selected to
act as umpire and hold the stakes.

The rivals started, and the Hare, of course,
soon left the Tortoise far behind. Having come
midway to the goal, she began to play about,
nibble the young herbage, and amuse herself
in many ways. The day being warm, she even
thought she would take a little nap in a shady
spot, as, if the Tortoise should pass her while

82 THE TALKING BEASTS

she slept, she could easily overtake him again
before he reached the end.

The Tortoise meanwhile plodded on, unwaver-
ing and unresting, straight toward the goal.

The Hare, having overslept herself, started
up from her nap, and was surprised to find that
the Tortoise was nowhere in sight. Of! she
went at full speed, but on reaching the winning-
post found that the Tortoise was already there,
waiting for her arrival!

The Old Woman and the Doctor

AN OLD Woman who had bad eyes called
in a clever Doctor, who agreed for a certain
sum to cure them. He was a very clever
physician, but he was also a very great rogue;
and when he called each day and bound up the
Old Woman's eyes he took advantage of her
blindness to carry away with him some article
of her furniture. This went on until he pro-
nounced his patient cured and her room was
nearly bare.

He claimed his reward, but the Old Woman
protested that, so far from being cured, her sight
was worse than ever.

5 We will soon see about that, my good dame, '
said he; and she was shortly after summoned
to appear in court.

THE FABLES OF .ESOP 33

"May it please Your Honour, " said she to the
Judge, "before I called in this Doctor I could
see a score of things in my room that now, when
he says I am cured, I cannot see at all. '

This opened the eyes of the court to the knav-
ery of the Doctor, who was forced to give the
Old Woman her property back again, and was
not allowed to claim a penny of his fee.

The Boy and the Wolf

A MISCHIEVOUS Lad, who was set to mind
some Sheep, often used, in jest, to cry "Wolf!
Wolf!' and when the people at work in the
neighbouring fields came running to the spot
he would laugh at them for their pains.

One day the beast came in reality, and the
Boy, this time, called "Wolf! Wolf!" in earnest;
but the men, having been so often deceived,
disregarded his cries, and he and his Sheep
were left at the mercy of the Wolf.

The Blackamoor

A CERTAIN Man who had bought a Blacka-
moor said he was convinced that it was all
nonsense about black being the natural colour
of his skin. "He has been dirty in his habits,'
said he, "and neglected by his former masters.
Bring me some hot water, soap, and scrubbing-

34 THE TALKING BEASTS

brushes, and a little sand, and we shall soon see
what his colour is. '

So he scrubbed, and his servants scrubbed
till they were all tired. They made no difference
in the colour of the Blackamoor; but the end of
it all was that the poor fellow caught cold
and died.

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A WOLF, wrapping himself in the skin of a
Sheep, by that means got admission into a
sheepfold, where he devoured several of the
young Lambs. The Shepherd, however, soon
found him out and hung him up to a tree, still
in his assumed disguise.

Some other Shepherds, passing that way,
thought it was a sheep hanging and cried to
their friend: "What, brother! is that the way
you serve Sheep in this part of the country?'

"No, friends,' cried he, giving at the same
time the carcass a swing around, so that they
might see what it was; 'but it is the way to
serve Wolves, even though they be dressed in
Sheep's clothing. '

The Two Travellers

As TWO men were travelling through a wood,
one of them took up an axe which he saw lying

THE FABLES OF J5SOP 35

upon the ground. "Look here,' said he to his
companion, "I have found an axe.'

"Don't say, 6 I have found it,' ' said the other,
"but 'We have found it.' As we are companions,
we ought to share it between us.' The first
would not agree to this idea, however.

They had not gone far when they heard the
owner of the axe calling after them in a great
passion. "We are in for it!" cried he who had
the axe.

"Nay," answered the other, "say 'I'm in for
it ! ' not we. You would not let me share the
prize, and I am not going to share the danger."

The Fox in the Well

AN UNLUCKY Fox, having fallen into a well,
was able, by dint of great efforts, just to keep
his head above water.

While he was struggling there and sticking his
claws into the side of the Well, a Wolf came
and looked in. "What! my dear brother,'
cried he, with affected concern, 'can it really
be you that I see down there? How cold
you must feel! How long have you been in the
water? How came you to fall in? I am so
pained to see you. Do tell me all about it ! '

"The end of a rope would be of more use to
me than all your pity,' answered the Fox.

36 THE TALKING BEASTS

" Just help me to get my foot on solid ground
once more, and you shall have the whole story. '

The Hen and the Fox

A Fox, having crept into an outhouse, looked
up and down for something to eat, and at last
espied a Hen sitting upon a perch so high that
he could be no means come at her. He there-
fore had recourse to an old stratagem.

"Dear cousin," said he to her, "how do you do?
I heard that you were ill and kept at home;
I could not rest, therefore, till I had come to
see you. Pray let me feel your pulse. Indeed,
you do not look well at all. '

He was running on in this impudent manner,
when the Hen answered him from the roost:
"Truly, dear Reynard, you are in the right.
I was seldom in more danger than I am now.
Pray excuse my coming down; I am sure I
should catch my death. '

The Fox, finding himself foiled by the Hen's
cleverness, made off and tried his luck elsewhere.

The Ass and His Shadow

A MAN, one hot day, hired an Ass, with his
Driver, to carry some merchandise across a
sandy plain. The sun's rays were overpowering,
and unable to advance farther without a tern-

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 37

porary rest he called upon the Driver to stop,
and proceeded to sit down in the shadow of
the Ass,

The Driver, however, a lusty fellow, rudely
pushed him away, and sat down on the spot
himself.

"Nay, friend,' said the Driver, "when you
hired this Ass of me you said nothing about the
shadow. If now you want that, too, you must
pay for it. '

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

AN Ass, finding a Lion's skin, put it on, and
ranged about the forest. The beasts fled
in terror, and he was delighted at the success
of his disguise. Meeting a Fox, he rushed upon
him, and this time he tried to imitate as well
the roaring of the Lion.

"Ah/ said the Fox, "if you had held your
tongue I should have been deceived like the rest;
but now you bray I know who you are ! '

The Wolf and the Sheep

A WOLF, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs,
lay sick and maimed in his lair. Parched with
thirst, he called to a Sheep who was passing
and asked her to fetch some water from a stream
flowing close by. "For," he said, "if you will

38 THE TALKING BEASTS

bring me drink, sister, I will find means to pro-
vide myself with meat.'

Yes," said the Sheep, "but if I should bring
you the draught, you would doubtless make me
provide the meat also. '

Jupiter's Two Wallets

WHEN Jupiter made Man, he gave him two
Wallets; one for his neighbour's faults, the
other for his own. He threw them over the
Man's shoulder, so that one hung in front and

9

the other behind.

The Man kept the one in front for his neigh-
bour's faults, and the one behind for his own;
so that, while the first was always under his
nose, it took some pains to see the latter.

This custom, which began thus early, is not
quite unknown at the present day.

The Satyr and the Traveller

A SATYR, ranging in the forest in winter,
came across a Traveller, half starved with the
cold. He took pity on him and invited him to
go to his cave. On their way the Man kept
blowing upon his fingers.

'Why do you do that?' said the Satyr, who
had seen little of the world.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 39

"To warm my hands, they are nearly frozen, '
replied the Man.

Arrived at the cave, the Satyr poured out a
mess of smoking pottage and laid it before the
Traveller, who at once commenced blowing at
it with all his might.

' What, blowing again ! " cried the Satyr. ' Is
it not hot enough?'

"Yes, faith,' answered the Man, 'it is hot
enough in all conscience, and that is just the
reason why I blow it. '

"Be off with you!" cried the Satyr, in alarm;
'I will have no part with a man who can blow
hot and cold from the same mouth.

The Two Travellers and the Oyster

As TWO men were walking by the seaside
at low water they saw an Oyster, and they both
stooped at the same time to pick it up. Im-
mediately, one pushed the other away, and a
dispute ensued.

A third Traveller coming along at the time,
they determined to refer the matter to him,
as to which of the two had the better right to
the Oyster.

While they were each telling his story the
Arbitrator gravely took out his knife, opened
the shell and loosened the Oyster.

40 THE TALKING BEASTS

When they had finished, and were listening
for his decision, he just as gravely swallowed
the Oyster, and offered them the two halves of
the shell. 'The Court,' said he, 'awards
you each a Shell. The Oyster will cover the
costs. '

i

The Young Mouse, the Cock, and the Cat

f A YOUNG MOUSE, on his return to his hole
after leaving it for the first time, thus recounted
his adventures to his mother: 'Mother,' said
he, " quitting this narrow place where you have
brought me up, I was rambling about to-day
like a Young Mouse of spirit, who wished to see
and to be seen, when two such notable creatures
came in my way ! One was so gracious, so gentle
and benign; the other, who was just as noisy
and forbidding, had on his head and under his
chin pieces of raw meat, which shook at every
step he took; and then, all at once, beating
his sides with the utmost fury, he uttered such
a harsh and piercing cry that I fled in terror;
and this, too, just as I was about to introduce
myself to the other stranger, who was covered
with fur like our own, only richer looking and
much more beautiful, and who seemed so modest
and benevolent that it did my heart good to look
at her. "

THE FABLES OF J2SOP 41

"Ah, my son," replied the Old Mouse, "learn
while you live to distrust appearances. The
first strange creature was nothing but a Fowl,
that will ere long be killed, and, when put on a
dish in the pantry, we may make a delicious
supper of his bones, while the other was a nasty,
sly, and bloodthirsty hypocrite of a Cat, to
whom no food is so welcome as a young and
juicy Mouse like yourself. '

The Wolf and the Mastiff

A WOLF, who was almost skin and bone, so
well did the Dogs of the neighbourhood keep
guard over their masters' property, met, one
moonshiny night, a sleek Mastiff, who was,
moreover, as strong as he was fat. The Wolf
would gladly have supped off him, but saw that
there would first be a great fight, for which,
in his condition, he was not prepared; so, bid-
ding the Dog good-evening very humbly, he
praised his prosperous looks.

'It would be easy for you,' replied the
Mastiff, 'to get as fat as I am if you liked.
Quit this forest, where you and your fellows
live so wretchedly, and often die with hunger.
Follow me, and you will fare much better.'

"What shall I have to do?" asked the Wolf.

"Almost nothing," answered the Dog; "only

42 THE TALKING BEASTS

chase away the beggars and fawn upon the folks
of the house. You will, in return, be paid with
all sorts of nice things - - bones of fowls and
pigeons - to say nothing of many a friendly pat
on the head. '

The Wolf, at the picture of so much comfort,
nearly shed tears of joy. They trotted off to-
gether, but, as they went along, the Wolf no-
ticed a bare spot on the Dog's neck.

"What is that mark?" said he. "Oh, noth-
ing," said the Dog.

"How nothing?" urged the Wolf. "Oh, the
merest trifle,' answered the Dog; 'the collar
which I wear when I am tied up is the cause of
it."

'Tied up!' exclaimed the Wolf, with a sud-
den stop; 'tied up? Can you not always run
where you please, then?'

'Well, not quite always,' said the Mastiff;
'but what can that matter?'

'It matters so much to me, "rejoined the Wolf,

'that your lot shall not be mine at any price";

and, leaping away, he ran once more to his native

forest.

The Tail of the Serpent

THE Tail of a Serpent once rebelled against
the Head, and said that it was a great shame that
one end of any animal should always have its

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 43

way, and drag the other after it, whether it was
willing or no. It was in vain that the Head
urged that the Tail had neither brains nor eyes,
and that it was in no way made to lead.

Wearied by the Tail's importunity, the Head
one day let him have his will. The Serpent now
went backward for a long time quite gayly,
until he came to the edge of a high cliff,
over which both Head and Tail went flying,
and came with a Jieavy thump on the shore
beneath.

The Head, it may be supposed, was never
again troubled by the Tail with a word about

leading.

The Falcon and the Capon

A CAPON, who had strong reasons for think-
ing that the time of his sacrifice was near at
hand, carefully avoided coming into close quar-
ters with any of the farm servants or domestics
of the estate on which he lived. A glimpse that
he had once caught of the kitchen, with its
blazing fire, and the head cook, like an execu-
tioner, with a formidable knife chopping off
the heads of some of his companions, had
been sufficient to keep him ever after in dread.

Hence, one day when he was wanted for
roasting, all calling, clucking, and coaxing of
the cook's assistants were in vain.

44 THE TALKING BEASTS

'How deaf and dull you must be,' said a
Falcon to the Capon, 'not to hear when you
are called, or to see when you are wanted ! You
should take pattern by me. I never let my
master call me twice. '

'Ah, 53 answered the Capon, "if Falcons were
called like Capons, to be run upon a spit and
set before the kitchen fire, they would be just
as slow to come and just as hard of hearing as I

am now.

The Crow and the Pitcher

A CROW, ready to die with thirst, flew with
joy to a Pitcher, hoping to find some water in it.

He found some there, to be sure, but only a
little drop at the bottom which he was quite
unable to reach.

He then tried to overturn the Pitcher, but
it was too heavy. So he gathered up some
pebbles, with which the ground near was covered
and, taking them one by one in his beak, dropped
them into the Pitcher.

By this means the water gradually reached the
top, and he was enabled to drink at his ease.

The Eagle and the Owl

THE Eagle and the Owl, after many quarrels,
swore that they would be fast friends forever.

THE FABLES OF JESOP 45

and that they would never harm each other's
children.

"But do you know my little ones?' said the
Owl. "If you do not, I fear it will go hard with
them when you find them.'

"Nay, then, I do not,' replied the Eagle.

"The greater your loss,' said the Owl;
"They are the sweetest prettiest things in the
world. Such bright eyes! such charming plum-
age! such winning little ways! You'll know
them now from my description. '

A short time after the Eagle found the owlets
in a hollow tree.

"These hideous little staring frights, at any
rate, cannot be neighbour Owl's delicious pets, '
said the Eagle; "so I may make away with them
without the least misgiving. '

The Owl, finding her young ones gone, loaded
the Eagle with reproaches.

"Nay,' answered the Eagle, "blame your-
self rather than me. If you paint with such
flattering colours, it is not my fault if I do not
recognize your portraits. '

The Buffoon and the Countryman

ON THE occasion of some festivities that were
given by a Roman nobleman, a Merry -Andrew
of a fellow caused much laughter by his tricks

46 THE TALKING BEASTS

upon the stage, and, more than all, by his imi-
tation of the squeaking of a Pig, which seemed to
the hearers so real that they called for it again
and again.

A Countryman, however, in the audience,
thought the imitation was not perfect; and he
made his way to the stage and said that, if he
were permitted, he to-morrow would enter the
lists and squeak against the Merry -Andrew for
a wager.

The mob, anticipating great fun, shouted
their consent, and accordingly, when the next
day came, the two rival jokers were in their
places.

The hero of the previous day went first, and
the hearers, more pleased than ever, fairly
roared with delight.

Then came the turn of the Countryman, who
having a Pig carefully concealed under his cloak,
so that no one would have suspected its exis-
tence, vigorously pinched its ear with his thumb-
nail, and made it squeak with a vengeance.

"Not half as good not half as good!'
cried the audience, and many among them even
began to hiss.

"Fine judges you!" replied the Countryman,
rushing to the front of the stage, drawing the
Pig from under his cloak, and holding the

'

THE FABLES OF .ESOP 47

animal up on high. "Behold the performer
that you condemn!'

The Old Man, His Son, and the Ass

AN OLD Man and his Little Boy were once
driving an Ass before them to the next market-
town, where it was to be sold.

"Have you no more wit,' said a passerby,
"than for you and your Son to trudge on foot
and let your Ass go light?' So the Man put
his Boy on the Ass, and they went on again.

"You lazy young rascal!" cried the next per-
son they met; "are you not ashamed to ride and
let your poor old Father go on foot? ' The Man
then lifted off the Boy and got up himself.

Two women passed soon after, and one
said to the other, "Look .at that selfish old
fellow, riding along while his little Son follows
after on foot!" The Old Man thereupon took
up the Boy behind him.

The next traveller they met asked the Old
Man whether or not the Ass was his own. Being
answered that it was: "No one would think so,'
said he, "from the way in which you use it.
Why, you are better able to carry the poor
animal than he is to carry both of you. '

So the Old Man tied the Ass's legs to a long
pole, and he and his Son shouldered the pole

48 THE TALKING BEASTS

and staggered along under the weight. In
that fashion they entered the town, and their
appearance caused so much laughter that the
Old Man, mad with vexation at the result of
his endeavours to give satisfaction to every-
body, threw the Ass into the river a,nd seizing
his Son by the arm went his way home again.

The Lion, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Fox

THE Tyrant of the Forest issued a procla-
mation commanding all his subjects to repair
immediately to his royal den.

Among the rest, the Bear made his appearance,
but pretending to be offended with the odour
which issued from the Monarch's apartments,
he was imprudent enough to hold his nose in
his Majesty's presence.

This insolence was so highly resented that
the Lion in a rage laid him dead at his feet.

The Monkey, observing what had passed,
trembled for his skin, and attempted to conciliate
favour by the most abject flattery. He began
with protesting that, for his part, he thought
the apartments were perfumed with Arabian
spices; and, exclaiming against the rudeness of
the Bear, admired the beauty of his Majesty's
paws, so happily formed, he said, to correct
the insolence of clowns.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 49

This adulation, instead of being received as
he expected, proved no less offensive than the
rudeness of the Bear, and the courtly Monkey
was in like manner extended by the side of Sir
Bruin.

And now his Majesty cast his eye upon the
Fox.

'Well, Reynard,' said he, "and what scent
do you discover here?'

'Great Prince,' replied the cautious Fox,
'my nose was never esteemed my most dis-
tinguishing sense; and at present I would by
no means venture to give my opinion, as I
have unfortunately caught a terrible cold. '

The Wolf and the Lamb

A FLOCK of Sheep was feeding in the meadow
while the Dogs were asleep, and the Shepherd
at a distance playing on his pipe beneath the
shade of a spreading elm.

A young, inexperienced Lamb, observing a
half-starved Wolf peering through the pales of
the fence, began to talk with him.

'Pray, what are you seeking for here?' said
the Lamb.

"I am looking,' replied the Wolf, "for some
tender grass; for nothing, you know, is more
pleasant than to feed in a fresh pasture, and to

50 THE TALKING BEASTS

slake one's thirst at a crystal stream, both which
I perceive you enjoy within these pales in their
utmost perfection. Happy creature/ contin-
ued he, "how much I envy you who have every-
thing which I desire, for philosophy has long
taught me to be satisfied with a little!'

"It seems, then," returned the Lamb, "those
who say you feed on flesh accuse you falsely,
since a little grass will easily content you. If
this be true, let us for the future live like breth-
ren, and feed together.' So saying, the simple
Lamb crept through the fence, and at once
became a prey to the pretended philosopher,
and a sacrifice to his own inexperience and
credulity.

The Chameleon

Two Travellers happened on their journey
to be engaged in a warm dispute about the col-
our of the Chameleon. One of them affirmed
that it was blue and that he had seen it with
his own eyes upon the naked branch of a tree,
feeding in the air on a very clear day.

The other strongly asserted it was green, and
that he had viewed it very closely and minutely
upon the broad leaf of a fig-tree.

Both of them were positive, and the dispute
was rising to a quarrel; but a third person luckily

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 51

coming by, they agreed to refer the question to
his decision.

"Gentlemen,' said the Arbitrator, with a
smile of great self-satisfaction, 'you could not
have been more lucky in your reference, as I
happen to have caught one of them last night;
but, indeed, you are both mistaken, for the
creature is totally black. '

"Black, impossible!' cried both the dispu-
tants!"

"Nay,' quoth the Umpire, with great as-
surance, "the matter may be soon decided, for
I immediately inclosed my Chameleon in a little
paper box, and here it is. " So saying, he drew
it out of his pocket, opened his box, and, lo ! it
was as white as snow.

The Travellers looked equally surprised and
equally confounded; while the sagacious reptile,
assuming the air of a philosopher, thus admon-
ished them: <: Ye children of men, learn diffidence
and moderation in your opinions. 'Tis true,
you happen in this present instance to be all
in the right, and have only considered the sub-
ject under different circumstances, but, pray, for
the future allow others to have eyesight as
well as yourselves; nor wonder if every one
prefers to accept the testimony of his own

sensesc '

52 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Eagle, the Jackdaw, and the Magpie

THE kingly Eagle kept his court with all the
formalities of sovereign state, and was duly
attended by all his plumed subjects in their
highest feathers.

These solemn assemblies, however, were fre-
quently disturbed by the impertinent conduct
of two, who assumed the importance of high-
fliers ; these were no other than the Jackdaw and
the Magpie, who were forever contending for
precedence which neither of them would give
up to the other.

The contest ran so high that at length they
mutually agreed to appeal to the sovereign
Eagle for his decision in this momentous affair.

The Eagle gravely answered that he did not
wish to make an invidious distinction by de-
ciding to the advantage of either party, but would
give them a rule by which they might deter-
mine between themselves; "for," added he, "the
greater fool of the two shall in future always
take precedence, but which of you it may be,
yourselves must settle. '

The Boy and the Filberts

A BOY once thrust his hand into a pitcher
which was full of figs and filberts.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 53

He grasped as many as his fist could possibly
hold, but when he tried to draw it out the
narrowness of the neck prevented him.

Not liking to lose any of them, but unwilling
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: "Take only half
as many, my boy, and you will easily get them. "

The Passenger and the Pilot

IN A violent storm at sea, the whole crew of a
vessel was in imminent danger of shipwreck.

After the rolling of the waves was somewhat
abated, a certain Passenger, who had never been
at sea before, observing the Pilot to have
appeared wholly unconcerned, even in their
greatest danger, had the curiosity to ask him
what death his father died.

"What death?" said the Pilot, "Why, he
perished at sea, as my grandfather did before
him."

"And are you not afraid of trusting yourself
to an element that has proved thus fatal to
your family?'

4 Afraid? By no means; why, we must all die;
is not your father dead?'

"Yes, but he died in his bed.'

54 THE TALKING BEASTS

'And why, then, are you not afraid of trust-
ing yourself to your bed?'

"Because I am perfectly secure there.'
"It may be so," replied the Pilot; "but if the
hand of Providence is equally extended over all
places, there is no more reason for me to be
afraid of going to sea than for you to be afraid
of going to bed. '

The Dog and the Crocodile

A DOG, running along the banks of the
Nile, grew thirsty, but fearing to be seized
by the monsters of that river, he would not
stop to satiate his drought, but lapped as he
ran.

A Crocodile, raising his head above the sur-
face of the water, asked him why he was in
such a hurry. He had often, he said, wished
for his acquaintance, and should be glad to
embrace the present opportunity.

You do me great honour,' said the Dog,
"but it is to avoid such companions as you that
I am in so much haste!'

A Matter of Arbitration

Two Cats, having stolen some cheese, could
not agree about dividing the prize. In order,

THE FABLES OF ^ESOP 55

therefore, to settle the dispute, they consented
to refer the matter to a Monkey.

The proposed Arbitrator very readily ac-
cepted the office, and, producing a balance,
put a part into each scale. 'Let me see,'
said he, "aye this lump outweighs the other";
and immediately bit off a considerable piece
in order to reduce it, he observed, to an equi-
librium. The opposite scale was now heavier,
which afforded our conscientious judge a reason
for a second mouthful.

"Hold, hold,' said the two Cats, who began
to be alarmed for the event, "give us our shares
and we are satisfied.' "If you are satisfied,'
returned the Monkey, "'justice is not; a cause
of this intricate nature is by no means so soon
determined.' Upon which he continued to
nibble first one piece then the other, till the poor
Cats, seeing their cheese rapidly diminishing,
entreated to give himself no further trouble,
but to deliver to them what remained.

"Not so fast, I beseech ye, friends,' replied
the Monkey; "we owe justice to ourselves as
well as to you. What remains is due to me in
right of my office.'

Thus saying, he crammed the whole into his
mouth, and with great gravity dismissed the
court.

56 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Crow and the Mussel

A CROW having found a Mussel on the sea-
shore; took it in his beak and tried for a long time
to break the shell by hammering it upon a stone.

Another Crow a sly old fellow came
and watched him for some time in silence.

"Friend," said he at last, "you'll never break
it in that way. Listen to me. This is the way
to do it: Fly up as high as you can, and let
the tiresome thing fall upon a rock. It will be
smashed then sure [enough, and you can eat it
at your leisure.' 1

The simple-minded and unsuspecting Crow
did as he was told, flew up and let the Mussel
fall.

Before he could descend to eat it, however,
the other bird had pounced upon it and carried
it away.

The Ass and His Purchaser

A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed
with his owner that he should try him before he
bought him. He took the Ass home, and put
him in the straw-yard with his other asses,
upon which the beast left all the others and
joined himself at once to the most idle and the
greatest eater of them all.

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 57

The Man put a halter on him, and led him
back to his owner: and when he was asked how,
in so short a time, he could have made a trial
of him, "I do not need," he answered, 'a trial;
I know that he will be just such another as the
one whom of all the rest he chose for his com-
panion.' 3

A Country Fellow and the River

A STUPID Boy, who was sent to market by
the good old woman, his Mother, to sell butter
and cheese, made a stop by the way at a swift
river, and laid himself down on the bank there,
until it should run out.

About midnight, home he went to his Mother,
with all his market trade back again.

" Why, how now, my Son? " said she. f What
ill fortune have you had, that you have sold
nothing all day?'

"Why, Mother, yonder is a river that has
been running all this day, and I stayed till
just now, waiting for it to run out; and there
it is, running still. J!

"My Son," said the good woman, "thy
head and mine will be laid in the grave many
a day before this river has all run by. You
will never sell your butter and cheese if you
wait for that."

58 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Playful Ass

AN Ass climbed up to the roof of a building
and, frisking about there, broke in the tiling.
His Master went up after him, and quickly
drove him down, beating him severely with a
thick wooden cudgel.

The Ass then cried out in astonishment,
"Why, I saw the monkey do this very thing
yesterday, and you all laughed heartily, as if
it afforded you great amusement! '

The Boys and the Frogs

SOME idle boys, playing near a pond, saw a
number of Frogs in the water, and began to
pelt them with stones. They had killed several
of them, when one of the Frogs, lifting his head
out of the water, cried out: "Pray stop, my
Boys: you forget that what is sport to you is
death to us!"

The Camel and His Master

ONE night a Camel looked into the tent
where his Master was lying and said: 'Kind
Master, will you not let me put my head in-
side of the door? The wind blows very cold
to-night/'

THE FABLES OF ^SOP 50

'Oh, yes," said the Man. 'There is plenty
of room."

So the Camel moved forward and stretched
his head into the tent. "Ah!' he said, "this
is what I call comfort.' 1

In a little while he called to his Master again.
'Now if I could only warm my neck also/ 3 he
said.

"Then put your neck inside," said his Master,
kindly. You will not be in my way."

The Camel did so, and for a time was very
well contented. Then, looking around, he said:
'If I could only put my forelegs inside I should
feel a great deal better.' 3

His Master moved a little and said: "You
may put your forelegs and shoulders inside,
for I know that the wind blows cold to-night. "

The Camel had hardly planted his forefeet
within the tent when he spoke again :

'Master,' 3 ' he said, 'I keep the tent open by
standing here. I think I ought to go wholly
within.' 3

; Yes, come in," said the Man. "There is
hardly room for us both, but I do not want to
keep you out in the cold.' :

So the Camel crowded into the tent, but
he was no sooner inside than he said: "You
were right when you said that there was hardly

60 THE TALKING BEASTS

room for us both. I think it would be better
for you to stand outside and so give me a chance
to turn around and lie down.' :

Then, without more ado, he rudely pushed
the Man out at the door, and took the whole
tent for himself.

The Flies and the Honey-pot

A JAR of Honey having been upset in a house*
keeper's room, a number of Flies were attracted
by its sweetness, and placing their feet in it
ate it greedily.

Their feet, however, became so smeared with
the Honey that they could not use their wings,
nor release themselves, and so were suffocated.

Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed,
"O foolish creatures that we are; for the sake
of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves!"

The Spectacles

JUPITER, one day, enjoying himself over a
bowl of nectar, and in a merry humour, deter-
mined to make mankind a present.

Momus was appointed to convey it, who,
mounted on a rapid car, was presently on earth.
"Come hither,' 3 said he, "ye happy mortals;
great Jupiter has opened for your benefit his

THE FABLES OF MSOP 61

all-gracious hands. 'Tis true he made you
somewhat short-sighted, but, to remedy that
inconvenience, behold now he has favoured
you!"

So saying, he opened his portmanteau, when
an infinite number of spectacles tumbled out,
and were picked up by the crowd with all the
eagerness imaginable. There were enough for
all, for every man had his pair.

But it was soon found that these spectacles
did not represent objects to all mankind alike;
for one pair was purple, another blue; one was
white and another black; some of the glasses
were red, some green, and some yellow. In
short, there were all manner of colours, and
every shade of colour. However, notwithstand-
ing this diversity, every man was charmed
with his own, as believing it the best, and
enjoyed in opinion all the satisfaction of truth.

The Bear and the Fowls

A BEAR, who was bred in the savage desert,
wished to see the world, and he travelled from
forest to forest, and from one kingdom to
another, making many profound observations
on his way.

One day he came by accident into a farmer's
yard, where he saw a number of Fowls standing

62 THE TALKING BEASTS

to drink by the side of a pool. Observing that
after every sip they turned up their heads
toward the sky, he could not forbear inquiring
the reason of so peculiar a ceremony.

They told him that it was by way of returning
thanks to Heaven for the benefits they received;
and was indeed an ancient and religious custom,
which they could not, with a safe conscience,
or without impiety, omit.

Here the Bear burst into a fit of laughter,
at once mimicking their gestures, and ridiculing
their superstition, in a most contemptuous
manner.

On this the Cock, with a spirit suitable to
the boldness of his character, addressed him
in the following words : "As you are a stranger,
sir, you may perhaps be excused for the inde-
cency of your behaviour ; yet give me leave to tell
you that none but a Bear would ridicule any
religious ceremonies in the presence of those
who believe them of importance."

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI

In English now they teach us wit. In English

now they say:
Ye men, come learn of beasts to live, to rule

and to obey,
To guide you wisely in the world, to know

to shun deceit,
To fly the crooked paths of guile, [to keep

your doings straight. 9 '

SIR THOMAS NORTH

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI

The Snake and the Sparrows

IT IS related that two Sparrows once made
their nest in the roof of a house; and, eon-
tenting themselves with a single grain, so
lived. Once on a time they had young ones, and
both the mother and father used to go out in
search of food for their support; and what they
procured they made up into grains and dropped
into their crops.

One day, the male Sparrow had gone out
somewhere. When he came back he beheld
the female Sparrow fluttering in the greatest
distress around the nest, while she uttered
piteous cries. He exclaimed, "Sweet friend!
what movements are these which I behold
in thee?' She replied, "How shall I not
lament, since, when I returned after a moment's
absence, I saw a huge Snake come and prepare
to devour my offspring, though I poured forth
piteous cries. It was all in vain, for the Snake
said, 'Thy sigh will have no effect on my dark-
mirrored scales.' I replied, 'Dread this, that

65

66 THE TALKING BEASTS

I and the father of these children will gird up
the waist of vengeance, and will exert ourselves
to the utmost for thy destruction.' The Snake
laughed on hearing me, and that cruel oppressor
has devoured my young and has also taken
his rest in the nest."

When the male Sparrow heard this story, his
frame was wrung with anguish; and the fire of
regret for the loss of his offspring fell on his
soul. At that moment the master of the house
was engaged in lighting his lamp; and holding
in his hand a match, dipped in grease and
lighted, was about to put it into the lamp-
holder, j The Sparrow flew and snatched the
match from his hand and threw it into the nest.
The master of the house, through fear that the
fire would catch to the roof, and that the
consequences would be most pernicious, im-
mediately ran up on the terrace and began
clearing away the nest from beneath, in order
to put out the fire. The Snake beheld in front
the danger of the fire, and heard above the
sound of the pickaxe. It put out its head from
a hole which it had near the roof, and no sooner
did it do so than it received a blow of death
from the pickaxe.

And the moral of this fable is, that the Snake
despised its enemy, and made no account of

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 67

him, until in the end that enemy pounded his
head with the stone of vengeance.

The Geese and the Tortoise

IT is related that in a pool whose pure water
reflected every image like a clear mirror, once
resided two Geese and a Tortoise, and in con-
sequence of their being neighbours, the thread
of their circumstances had been drawn out into
sincere friendship, and they passed their lives
contentedly.

In that water which was the source of their
life and the support of their existence, however,
a complete failure began to manifest itself,
and a glaring alteration became evident.
When the Geese perceived that state of things
they withdrew their hearts from the home to
which they were accustomed and determined
on emigrating. Therefore with hearts full of
sorrow and eyes full of tears, they approached
the Tortoise, and introduced the subject of
parting.

The Tortoise wept at the intelligence and
piteously exclaimed, 'What words are these,
and how can existence be supported without
sympathizing friends? And since that I have
not power even to take leave, how can I endure
the load of separation?'

68 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Geese replied: 'Our hearts, too, are
wounded by the sharp points of absence, but
the distress of being without water is impos-
sible to endure, and therefore of necessity we
are about to forsake our friend and country. 5 '

The Tortoise rejoined: 'O friends! ye know
that the distress of the want of water affects
me more, and that without water I cannot
support myself. At this crisis the rights of
ancient companionship demand that ye should
take me with you, and not leave me alone in
the sorrowful abode of separation.' 1

The Geese answered: 'O esteemed comrade!
the pang of parting from thee is sharper than
that of exile, and wherever we go, though we
should pass our time in the utmost comfort,
yet, deprived of seeing thee, the eye of our
rejoicing would be darkened; but for us to pro-
ceed on the earth's surface and so to traverse
a great and long distance is impossible, and for
thee, too, to fly through the expanse of air and
accompany us is impracticable; and such being
the case, how can we travel together?'

The Tortoise answered: : Your sagacity will
be able to devise a remedy for this matter, and
what plan can develop while my spirit is broken
by the thought of parting?'

The Geese replied: "O friend! during this

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 69

period of our friendship we have observed in
thee somewhat of hastiness and rashness; per-
haps thou wilt not act upon what we say, nor
keep firm to thy promise after thou hast
made it.' 2

The Tortoise rejoined: "How can it be that
ye should speak with a view to my advantage,
and I fail to perform a compact which is for
my own good?'

Said the Geese: "The condition is that when
we take thee up and fly through the air thou
wilt not utter a single syllable, for any one who
may happen to see us will be sure to throw in
a word, and say something in reference to us
directly or indirectly. Now, how many soever
allusions thou mayest hear, or whatever ma-
noeuvres thou mayest observe, thou must close
the path of reply, and not loose thy tongue.' 3

The Tortoise answered: *I am obedient to
your commands, and I will positively place the
seal of silence on my lips, so that I shall not be
even disposed to answer any creature.' 1

The Geese then brought a stick, and the Tor-
toise laid hold of the middle of it firmly with
his teeth, and they, lifting the two ends of the
stick, bore him up. When they got to a height
in the air, they happened to pass over a village,
and the inhabitants thereof having discovered

70 THE TALKING BEASTS

them, were astonished at their proceedings,
and came out to look at the sight, and raised
a shout from left and right, "Look! how two
geese are carrying a tortoise!'

And as in those days the like of it had never
been witnessed by that people, their cries
and exclamations increased every moment. The
Tortoise was silent for a time, but at length
the cauldron of his self-esteem began to boil,
and his patience being exhausted, he exclaimed:
You who are shouting to others to look at
what is plain enough to every one, hold your
peace!' No sooner had he opened his lips,
however, than he fell from on high, and the
Geese exclaimed, "It is the part of friends to give
advice and of the well-disposed to listen to it."
And the moral of this story is, that whoever
listens not to the admonition of friends, with
the hearing of acceptance, will have hastened
his own destruction.

The Sagacious Snake

IT is related that the infirmities of age had
taken effect upon a Snake and through loss of
strength he was unable to pursue his prey, and
was bewildered in his proceedings how to obtain
food. Life was impossible without food, and to
hunt for it, had, through his weakness, become

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 71

impracticable. Accordingly he thus reflected:
"Alas! for the strength of my youth; and now
to expect its return and to hope for the recur-
rence of my animal vigour is a thing of the
same complexion as to light a fire from water."
He felt that what was passed could not be
recalled, and he therefore busied himself with
taking thought for the future, and said: 'In
lieu of the strength of youth I have a little
experience which I have acquired, and a trifle
of prudence. I must now base my proceedings
on abstaining from injuring others and must
begin to consider how I may obtain, for the
remainder of my life, what may be the means of
support."

He then went to the brink of a spring of water
in which there were a number of frogs who had
a potent King and one who was obeyed and
renowned. The Snake cast himself down there
in the dust of the road, like to a sufferer on
whom calamity has fallen. A Frog speedily
made up to him, and asked him: "I see thou
art very sorrowful. What is the cause of it?'
The Snake replied: 'Who deserves more to
grieve than I, whose maintenance was from
hunting frogs? Today an event has occurred
which has rendered the pursuit of them unlawful
to me, and if I seriously designed to seize one,

72 THE TALKING BEASTS

I could not. ' The Frog went away and told
the King, who was amazed at this strange cir-
cumstance, and coming to the Snake, asked
him: 'What is the cause of this accident that
has befallen thee and what act has brought
down this upon thee?'

The Snake replied: 'O King, greed plunged
me into calamity, and this befell as follows:
One day I attempted to seize a Frog, which
fled from me and took refuge in the house of a
holy man. My appetite led me to follow him
into the house, which happened to be dark.
The son of the holy man lay there asleep, and
his great toe coming against me I fancied it
was the Frog. From the ardour of my greedi-
ness I closed my teeth upon it, and the child
died on the spot. The holy man discovered
the fact, and from regret for his son, attacked
me, and I, turning toward the open country,
fled with speed, and the recluse pursued me and
cursed me, and said: 'I desire of my Creator
that He will make thee base and powerless, and
cause thee to be the vehicle of the Frog-king.
And, verily, thou shalt not have power to eat
Frogs, save what their King shall bestow on thee
as alms.' And now, of necessity, I have come
hither that the King may ride upon me, and I
have acquiesced in the will of God."

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 73

The matter pleased the King of the Frogs,
and he thought that it would redound to his
advantage; and he at once seated himself
upon the Snake, and indulged in vainglorious
airs in consequence.

Some time passed in this way. At last the
Snake said: "May the life of the King be pro-
longed! I cannot do without food and sus-
tenance, that I may support life thereon and
fulfil this service." The King said: "The case
is as thou sayest; I cannot do without my steed,
and my steed cannot have strength without
food.' : He then fixed two Frogs as his daily
allowance, that he might use as his regular
supply for breakfast and dinner. The Snake
maintained himself on that allowance; and
inasmuch as the attention he paid to the Frog-
king involved a benefit to himself he did not
find fault with it.

And this story is adduced to make it ap-
parent that courtesy and humility are readier
means to uproot an enemy than war and contest.

The Old Woman's Cat

IN FORMER times there lived an old woman in
a state of extreme debility. She possessed a
cot more narrow than the heart of the ignorant
and darker than the miser's grave: and a Cat

74 THE TALKING BEASTS

was her companion, which had never seen, even
in the mirror of imagination, the face of a
loaf, nor had heard from friend or stranger
the name of meat. It was content if occasion-
ally it smelt the odour of a mouse from its hole,
or saw the print of the foot of one on the surface
of a board, and if, on some rare occasion, by
the aid of good fortune one fell into its claws,
it subsisted a whole week, more or less, on that
amount of food.

And, inasmuch as the house of the old woman
was the famine-year of that Cat, it was always
miserable and thin, and from a distance ap-
peared like an idea.

One day, through excessive weakness, it
had, with the utmost difficulty, mounted on
the top of the roof; thence it beheld a Cat
which walked proudly on the wall of a neigh-
bouring house, and after the fashion of a de-
stroying lion advanced with measured steps,
and from excessive fat lifted its feet slowly.
When the Cat of the old woman saw this, it
was astonished and cried out, saying: 'Thou,
whose state is thus pleasant, whence art thou?
and since it appears that thou comest from
the banquet-chamber of the Khan of Khata,
whence is this sleekness of thine, and from what
cause this thy grandeur and strength?'

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 75

The Neighbour-Cat replied : ' I am the crumb-
eater of the tray of the Sultan. Every morning
I attend on the court of the king, and when they
spread the tray of invitation, I display boldness
and daring, and in general I snatch off some
morsels of fat meats, and of loaves made of
the finest flour; and thus I pass my time happy
and satisfied till the next day.' :

The Cat of the old woman inquired: 'What
sort of a thing may fat meat be? and what kind
of relish has bread, made of fine flour? I,
during my whole life, have never seen nor
tasted aught save the old woman's broths, and
mouse's flesh. ' :

The Neighbour-Cat laughed, and said : ' ' There-
fore it is that one cannot distinguish thee from
a spider, and this form and appearance that
thou hast is a reproach to our whole race. If
thou shouldst see the court of the Sultan and
smell the odour of those delicious viands, thou
wouldst acquire a fresh form. '
The Cat of the old woman, said, most be-
seechingly, 'O brother! thou art bound to me
by neighbourship and kinship; why not this
time, when thou goest, take me with thee?
Perchance, by thy good fortune, I may ob-
tain food.' :

The heart of the Neighbour-Cat melted at

76 THE TALKING BEASTS

the speaker's lamentable position, and lie re-
solved that he would not attend the feast
without him. The Cat of the old woman felt
new life at these tidings, and descending from
the roof stated the case to his mistress. The
old dame began to advise the Cat, saying:
"O kind companion, be not deceived byj the
words of worldly people and abandon not the
corner of content, for the vessel of covetous-
ness is not filled save with the dust of the
grave.' 1 But the Cat had taken into its head
such a longing for the delicacies of the Sultan's
table that the medicine of advice was not profit-
able to it.

In short, the next day, along with its neigh-
bour, the old woman's Cat, with tottering
steps conveyed itself to court, but before it
could arrive there ill-fortune had poured the
water of disappointment on the fire of its wish,
and the reason was as follows:

The day before, the cats had made a general
onslaught on the table, and raised an uproar
beyond bounds, and annoyed, to the last degree,
the guests and their host. Wherefore, on this
day, the Sultan had commanded that a band
of archers, standing in ambush, should watch,
so that for every cat who, holding before its
face the buckler of impudence should enter the

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 77

plain of audacity, the very first morsel that it
ate should be a liver-piercing shaft.

The old woman's Cat, ignorant of this cir-
cumstance, as soon as it smelt the odour of the
viands, turned its face like a falcon to the
hunting-ground of the table, and the scale of the
balance of appetite had not yet been weighted
by heavy mouthfuls, when the heart-piercing
arrow quivered in its breast.

Dear friend ! the honey pays not for the sting,
Content with syrup is a better thing.

The Young Tiger

IN THE environs of Basrah there was an
island of excessively pleasant climate, where
limpid waters flowed on every side and life-
bestowing zephyrs breathed around.

From its excessive exquisiteness they called
it the 'Joy-expanding Wilderness,' and a
Tiger bore sway there, such that from dread
of him fierce lions could not set foot in that
retreat.

He had lived much time in that wild, accord-
ing to his wish, and had never seen the form of
disappointment in the mirror of existence. He
had a young one whose countenance made the
world seem bright to him, and his intention
was that when that young one came to years

78 THE TALKING BEASTS

he would commit that solitude to his charge,
and pass the rest of his life at ease in the corner
of retirement. The blossom of his wish had
not yet expanded on the stem of desire when
the autumn of death gave the fruit of the gar-
den of his existence to the mind of destruction.

And when this Tiger 'was seized by the
claw of the Lion, Death, several wild beasts
who for a long time entertained a desire for
that wilderness made a unanimous movement
and set about appropriating it. The young
Tiger saw that he possessed not the strength to
resist. He went voluntarily into exile, and
amongst the wild beasts a huge contest arose.
A blood-spilling Lion overcame all the others
and brought the island into his own possession,
and the young Tiger, having for some time
endured distress in the mountains and wastes,
conveyed himself to another haunt, and dis-
closed his affliction to the wild beasts of that
district, asking their aid to find a remedy.

They, having received intelligence of the
victory of the Lion, and his overpowering might,
said: "O unfortunate! thy place is now in the
possession of a Lion such that from terror of
him the wild birds will not fly over that wilder-
ness, and from fear of him the elephant will
not approach. We have not strength to fight

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 79

with him and thou too art not able to enter
with him the arena of strife. Our opinion
demands that thou shouldst betake thyself to
his court, and with perfect loyalty enter his

service.

These words seemed reasonable to the young
Tiger, and he looked upon his best course to
be this that he should voluntarily enter the
service of the Lion, and, to the extent of his
ability, offer the duties of attendance. Through
the intervention of one of the nobles he ob-
tained the honour of waiting on the Lion, and,
having become the object of the imperial re-
gard, was appointed to an office suited to his
spirit. Having tightly fastened the belt of
obedience on the waist of affection the royal
favour was constantly augmented and he in-
cessantly displayed increased exertion in the
affairs of the state.

Upon a certain time an important matter
arose which called the Lion away to a distant
jungle; and at that time the heat of the oven
of the sky was unmitigated, and the expanse
of waste and mountain like a furnace of glass
fiercely inflamed. From the excessive heat of
the air, the brains of animals were boiled in
their craniums, and the crabs in the water were
fried like fish in the frying-pan.

80 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Lion reflected: 'At such a time, when
the shell at the bottom of the deep, like a fowl
on a spit, is roasting, an affair of this impor-
tance has occurred. Who may there be among
my attendants who would not be affected by
the labour and who, undeterred by the heat
of the atmosphere, would approach this under-
taking?"

In the midst of this reflection the Tiger came
in with the line of attendants and observed
that the Lion was thoughtful. On the ground
of his tact and affection, he advanced near the
throne of royalty, and was emboldened to ask
the cause of that though tfulness, and having
learned how the case stood, he took upon him-
self to accomplish the matter, and having been
honoured with permission, he set off with a
body of attendants, and, arriving at that place
at noon, he betook himself to the accomplish-
ment of that affair, and the instant that the
business was settled to his satisfaction he
changed his reins to return.

The officers who had been appointed to at-
tend him unanimously represented as follows:
'In such heat as this, all this distance has been
traversed by the steps of completion, and now
that the affair has been settled and the con-
fidence placed in you by his majesty been

; THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 81

demonstrated, it will certainly be advisable if
you should repose a short time in the shade of
a tree and allay the fiery tongue of thirst by
drinking cool water. '

The Tiger smiled and said: 'My intimacy
and rank with his majesty the king is a banner
that I have by toil and effort set up. It would
not be well to level it with the ground by in-
dulgence and sloth. Without supporting trouble
it is impossible to arrive at the carrying off of
treasure, and unaccompanied by the thorn we
cannot reap the enjoyment of the rose garden. '

The informers furnished intelligence of this
to the Lion, and recited the book of the affair,
from preface to conclusion. The Lion nodded
the head of approval, and said: "The people
may be at peace in the just reign of that ruler
who does not place his head on the pillow of
repose. ' He then sent for the Tiger, and hav-
ing distinguished him with special honours,
committed that jungle to him, and, having
bestowed on him the place of his sire, conferred
on him, in addition, the dignity of being his
heir.

And the use of this fable is, that thou mayest
learn that to no one does the sun of his wish
rise from the eastern quarter of hope without
the diligent use of great exertion.

82 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Fox and the Drum

IT is related that a Fox was once prowling
over a moor, and was roaming in every direc-
tion in hope of scenting food. Presently he
came to the foot of a tree, at the side of which
they had suspended a drum, and whenever a
gust of wind came, a branch of the tree was put
in motion, and struck the surface of the drum,
when a terrible noise arose from it.

The Fox, seeing a domestic fowl under the tree,
who was pecking the ground with her beak,
and searching for food, planted himself in am-
bush, and wished to make her his prey, when
all of a sudden the sound of a drum reached his
ear. He looked and saw a very fat form, and
a prodigious sound from it reached his hearing.
The appetite of the Fox was excited, and he
thought to himself, u Assuredly its flesh and skin
will be proportioned to its voice. '

He issued from his lurking-place and turned
toward the tree. The fowl being put on its guard
by that circumstance, fled, and the Fox, by a
hundred exertions, ascended the tree. Much
did he labour till he had torn the drum, and then
he found nought save a skin and a piece of
wood. The fire of regret descended into his
heart, and the water of contrition began to

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 83

run from his eyes, and he said: 'Alas! that
by reason of this huge bulk which is all wind,
that lawful prey has escaped from my hand,
and from this empty form no advantage has
resulted to me. '

Loudly ever sounds the labour,
But in vain within is nought:

Art thou wise, for substance labour,
Semblance will avail thee nought.

The Sparrows and the Falcon

Two Sparrows once fixed their nest on the
branch of a tree; and of worldly gear, water
and grain sufficed them; while on the summit
of a mountain, beneath which that tree lay, a
Falcon had its abode, which, at the time of
stooping on its quarry, issued from its lurking-
place like lightning, and, like heaven's bolt,
clean consumed the feebler birds.

Whenever the Sparrows produced young,
and the time was near at hand for them to fly,
that Falcon, rushing forth from its ambush,
used to carry them off and make them food for
its own young. Now, to those Sparrows
in accordance with the saying, "The law of home
is a part of faith" to migrate from that place
was impossible, and yet from the cruelty of the
tyrannous Hawk it was difficult to reside there.

84 , THE TALKING BEASTS

On one occasion their young ones, having
gained strength and put forth feathers and wings,
were able to move; and the father and mother,
pleased with the sight of their offspring, testi-
fied their joy at their attempt to fly.

Suddenly the thought of the Falcon passed
through their minds, and, all at once, they
began to lament from anxiety.

One of their children - in whose countenance
the signs of ripe discretion were visible hav-
ing inquired the reason of their despondency,
they recounted the history of the Falcon's
oppression and of its carrying off their young,
with all the particulars.

The son said; "The Causer of Causes has
sent a cure for every sorrow. It is probable
that if ye exert yourselves in repelling this
misfortune both this calamity will be averted
from our heads and this burden removed from
your hearts.'

These words pleased the Sparrows; and while
one of them stopped to attend the young ones,
the other flew forth in search of relief. He
resolved in his mind on the way that he would
tell his story to whatsoever animal his eyes
first fell upon, and ask a remedy for his heart's
distress from it.

It happened that a Salamander, having come

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 85

forth from a mine of fire, was wandering in
the spreading plain of the desert. When the
glance of the Sparrow lighted upon him, and
that strange form came into his view, he said
to himself: "I have fallen upon good! Come
on, I will disclose the grief of my heart to this
marvellous bird; perhaps he may undo the knot
of my affairs and may show me the way to a
remedy.' Then with the utmost respect, he
advanced to the Salamander, and after the
usual salutation, paid the compliment of offering
service. The Salamander, too, in a kind tone,
expressed the courtesy required toward travellers
and said: 'The traces of weariness are discern-
ible in thy countenance. If this arises from
journeying, be pleased to halt some days in
this neighbourhood; and if the case be aught
else, explain it, that, to the extent of my power,
I may exert myself to remedy it. '

The Sparrow loosed his tongue, and represen-
ted to the Salamander his piteous condition,
after a fashion, that, had he told it to a
rock, it would have been rent in pieces by his
distress.

After hearing his tale, the Salamander, too,
felt the fire of compassion kindled, and he
said; ( Grieve not! for I will this night take
such measures as to consume the Falcon's

86 THE TALKING BEASTS

abode and nest and all that therein is. Do
thou point out to me thy dwelling, and go
to thy offspring until the time I come to
thee."

The Sparrow indicated his dwelling in such
a way as not to leave a doubt in the mind of
the Salamander; and with a glad heart turned
toward his own nest. When the night came
on, the Salamander, with a number of its own
kind, each carrying a quantity of naphtha and
brimstone, set off in the direction of the spot,
and under the guidance of that Sparrow con-
veyed themselves to the vicinity of the Falcon's
nest.

The latter, unaware of the impending mis-
fortune, had, with its young, eaten plentifully
and fallen asleep. The Salamanders cast upon
their nest all the naphtha and brimstone that
they had brought with them and turned back and
the blast of justice fell upon those oppressors.
They rose up from the sleep of negligence and
all of them, with their abode and nest, were
at once consumed to ashes.

And this instance is given that thou mayest
know that every one who labours to repel an
enemy, though he be small and weak, and his
foe great and strong, may yet hope for victory
and triumph.

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 87

The Hermit, the Thief, and the Demon

IT is related that a Hermit of pure dis-
position, abstemious and virtuous, had made his
cell in one of the environs of Baghdad, and
passed his morning and evening hours in the
worship of the All-wise King, and by these means
had shaken his skirt clear from the dust of
worldly affairs. He had bowed his head in the
corner of contentment under the collar of
freedom from care, and rested satisfied with
the portion that was supplied to him from the
invisible world.

One of his sincere disciples got knowledge
of the poverty and fastings of the Holy Man,
and by way of offering, brought to the hermi-
tage a she buffalo, young and fat, with whose
delicious milk the palate of desire was oiled
and sweetened.

A thief beheld the circumstance, and his
hungry appetite was excited; and he set off for
the cell of the recluse. A demon, too, joined
him in the likeness of a man. The thief asked
him: ' ' Who art thou, and whither goest thou?'
He replied: 'I am a demon, who have assumed
this shape, and, putting on this guise, am going
to the hermitage* of the recluse, for many of
the people of this country, through the blessing

88 THE TALKING BEASTS

of his instruction, have begun to repent and to
be converted and the market of our tempta-
tions has become flat. I wish to get an op-
portunity and kill him. This is my story which
thou hast heard; now, tell me, who art thou
and what is thy story?' The thief replied:

'I am a man whose trade is roguery, and I am
occupied night and day with thinking how to
steal some one's goods and impose the scar of
affliction on his heart. I am now going, as the
recluse has got a fat buffalo, to steal it and use
it for my own wants.' The demon said;

'Praise be to God that the bond of kinship is
strong between us, and this alone is sufficient
to ally us, since the object of both is to assail
him."

fl They then proceeded on their way, and at
night reached the cell of the recluse. The
latter had finished the performance of his daily
worship, and had gone to sleep, just as he was,
on his prayer-carpet. The thief bethought
himself, that if the demon attempted to kill
him he would probably awake and make an
outcry; and the other people who were his neigh-
bours, would be alarmed, and in that case
it would be impossible to steal the buffalo.
The demon, too, reflected that if the thief carried
off the buffalo from the house, he must of course

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 89

open the door. Then the noise of the door
would very likely awaken the recluse, and he
should have to postpone killing him. He then
said to the thief: 'Do thou wait and give me
time to kill the hermit, and then do thou
steal the buffalo.' The thief rejoined: "Stop
thou till I steal the buffalo, and then kill the
hermit. '

This difference was prolonged between them,
and at last the Swords of both came to wrangling.
The thief was so annoyed that he called out to
the recluse: 'There is a demon here who wants
to kill thee.' The demon, too, shouted:
'Here is a thief, who wants to steal thy buffalo. '

The hermit was roused by the uproar, and
raised a cry, whereupon the neighbours came,
and both the thief and the demon ran way;
and the life and property of the Holy Man re-
mained safe and secure through the quarrel of
his enemies.

When the two hostile armies fall to strife,

Then from its sheath what need to draw the knife?

The King and the Hawk

IT is related that in ancient times there was
a King fond of hunting. He was ever giving
reins to the courser of his desire in the pursuit
of game, and was always casting the lasso of

90 THE TALKING BEASTS

gladness over the neck of sport. Now this
King had a Hawk, who at a single flight could
bring down a pebble from the peak of the Cau-
casus, and in terror of whose claws the con-
stellation Aquila kept himself in the green nest
of the sky; and the King had a prodigious
fondness for this Hawk and always cared for it
with his own hands.

It happened one day that the Monarch,
holding the Hawk on his hand, had gone to the
chase. A stag leapt up before him and he
galloped after it with the utmost eagerness.
But he did not succeed in coming up with it,
and became separated from his retinue and
servants; and though some of them followed
him, the King rode so hotly that the morning
breeze could not have reached the dust he raised.

Meantime the fire of his thirst was kindled,
and the intense desire to drink overcame the
King. He galloped his steed in every direction
in search of water until he reached the skirt
of a mountain, and beheld that from its summit
limpid water was trickling. The King drew
forth a cup which he had in his quiver, and
riding under the mountain filled the cup with
that water, which fell drop by drop, and was
about to take a draught, when the Hawk made
a blow with his wing, and spilled all the water

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 91

in the goblet. The King was vexed at this
action, but held the cup a second time under
the rock, until it was brimful. He then raised
it to his lips again, and again the Hawk made a
movement and overthrew the cup. The King
rendered impatient by thirst, dashed the Hawk
on the ground and killed it.

Shortly after a stirrup-holder of the King
came up and saw the Hawk dead, and the
Monarch athirst. He then undid a water-
vessel from his saddle-cord and washed the
cup clean, and was about to give the King a
drink. The latter bade him ascend the moun-
tain, as he had an inclination for the pure water
which trickled from the rock; and could not
wait to collect it in the cup, drop by drop. The
stirrup-holder ascended the mountain and beheld
a spring giving out a drop at a time with a
hundred stin tings; and a huge serpent lay dead
on the margin of the fountain; and as the heat
of the sun had taken effect upon it, the poisonous
saliva mixed with the water of that mountain,
and it trickled drop by drop down the rock.

The stirrup-holder was overcome with hor-
ror, and came down from the mountain bewil-
dered, and represented the state of the case,
and gave the King a cup of cold water from his
ewer. The latter raised the cup to his lips,

92 THE TALKING BEASTS

and his eyes overflowed with tears. The at-
tendant asked the reason of his weeping. The
King drew a sigh from his anguished heart and
relating in full the story of the Hawk and the
spilling of the water in the cup, said: 'I grieve
for the death of the Hawk, and bemoan my own
deed in that without inquiry I have deprived
a creature, so dear to me, of life.' The at-
tendant replied: 'This Hawk protected thee
from a great peril, and has established a claim
to the gratitude of all the people of this country.
It would have been better if the King had not
been precipitate in slaying it, and had quenched
the fire of wrath with the water of mildness.'

The King replied; "I repent of this unseemly
action; but my repentance is now unavailing,
and the wound of this sorrow cannot be healed
by any salve"; and this story is related in order
that it may be known that many such incidents
have occurred where, through the disastrous
results of precipitation, men have fallen into the
whirlpool of repentance.

The Mouse and the Frog

IT is related that a Mouse had taken up
its abode on the brink of a fountain and had
fixed its residence at the foot of a tree.

A Frog, too, passed his time in the water

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 93

there, and sometimes came to the margin of
the pool to take the air. One day, coming to
the edge of the water, he continued uttering
his voice in a heart-rending cadence and as-
sumed himself to be a nightingale of a thousand
melodies.

At that time the Mouse was engaged in chant-
ing in a corner of his cell. Directly he heard the
uproarious yelling of the Frog he was astounded,
and came out with the intention of taking a
look at the reciter; and while occupied with
listening to him, kept smiting his hands together
and shaking his head. These gestures, which
seemed to display approbation, pleased the
Frog and he made advances toward acquain-
tance with him. In short, being mutually
pleased with each other, they became inseparable
companions, and used to narrate to each other
entertaining stories and tales.

One day the Mouse said to the Frog: "I am
oftentimes desirous of disclosing to thee a
secret and recounting to thee a grief which I
have at heart, and at that moment thou art
abiding under the water. However much I
shout thou hearest me not, owing to the noise
of the water, and in spite of my crying to thee,
the sound cannot reach thee, because of the
clamour of the other frogs. We must devise

94 THE TALKING BEASTS

some means by which thou mayest know when
I come to the brink of the water, and thus
mayest be informed of my arrival without my
shouting to thee. '

The Frog said: "Thou speakest the truth.
I, too, have often pondered uneasily, thinking,
should my friend come to the brink of the water,
how shall I, at the bottom of this fountain,
learn his arrival? And it sometimes happens
that I, too, come to the mouth of thy hole,
and thou hast gone out from another side,
and I have to wait long. I had intended to
have touched somewhat on this subject be-
fore, but now the arrangement of it rests with
thee. "

The Mouse replied: "I have got hold of the
thread of a plan, and it appears to me the best
thing to get a long string, and to fasten one end
to thy foot, and tie the other tight around my
own, in order that when I come to the water's
edge and shake the string, thou mayest know
what I want; and if thou, too, art so kind as to
come to the door of my cell, I may also get
information by thy jerking the string." Both
parties agreed to this, and the knot of friend-
ship was in this manner firmly secured, and they
were also kept informed of one another's con-
dition. One day, the Mouse came to the water's

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 95

edge to seek the Frog, in order to renew their
friendly converse. All of a sudden a Crow,
like an unforeseen calamity, flew down from the
air, and snatching up the Mouse, soared aloft,
with him. The string which was tied to the
leg of the Mouse drew forth the Frog from the
bottom of the water, and, as the other leg was
fastened to the Frog's leg, he was suspended
head downward in the air. The Crow flew
on, holding the Mouse in its beak, and lower
still the Frog hanging head downward. Peo-
ple witnessing that extraordinary sight were
uttering in the road various jokes and sar-
casms: 'A strange thing this, that contrary
to his wont, a crow has made a prey of a frog ! '
and 'Never before was a frog the prey of a
crow!'"

The Frog was howling out in reply: "Now,
too, a Frog is not the prey of a Crow, but from
the bad luck of associating with a Mouse, I
have been caught in this calamity, and he who
associates with a different species deserves a
thousand times as much.'

And this story carries with it this beneficial
advice: That no one ought to associate with
one of a different race, in order that, like the
Frog, he may not be suspended on the string of
calamity.

96 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Crow and the Partridge

IT is related that one day a Crow was fly-
ing and saw a Partridge, which was walking
gracefully on the ground with a quick step and
graceful gait that enchanted the heart of the
looker-on.

The Crow was pleased with the gait of the
Partridge, and amazed at its agility. The
desire of walking in the same manner fixed
itself in his mind, and the insane longing to
step proudly, after this fascinating fashion,
made its appearance. He forthwith girt his
loins in attendance on the Partridge, and aban-
doning sleep and food, gave himself up to that
arduous occupation, and kept continually run-
ning in the traces of the Partridge and gazing
on its progress.

One day the Partridge said: 'O crazy,
black-faced one! I observe that thou art ever
hovering about me, and art always watch-
ing my motions. What is it that thou dost
want?"

The Crow replied: '0 thou of graceful
manners and sweet smiling face, know that
having conceived a desire to learn thy gait,
I have followed thy steps for a long time past,
and wish to acquire thy manner of walking, in

THE FABLES OF BIDPAI 97

order that I may place the foot of preeminence
on the head of my fellows.'

The Partridge uttered a merry laugh, and
said: 'Alack! alack! My walking gracefully is
a thing implanted in me by nature, and thy
style of going is equally a natural characteristic.
My going is in one way, and thy mode of pro-
cedure is quite another. Leave off this fancy
and relinquish this idea. '

The Crow replied: 'Since I have plunged
into this affair, no idle stories shall make me
give it up; and until I grasp my wished-for
object, I will not turn back from this road.'

So the unfortunate Crow for a long time ran
after the Partridge, and having failed to learn
his method of going, forgot his own too, and
could in nowise recover it.

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA

" This work entitled Hitopadesa, or Friendly
Instructor, affordeth elegance in the Sanskrit
idioms, in every part variety of language, and
inculcateth the doctrine of prudence and policy. 9 '

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA

The Traveller and the Tiger

A traveller, through lust of gold, being plunged into an inextricable
mire, is killed and devoured by an old tiger.

A I was travelling on the southern road,
once upon a time, I saw an old Tiger
seated upon the bank of a large river,
with a bunch of kusa grass in his paw, calling
out to every one who passed: e Ho! ho!
traveller, take this golden bracelet,' 3 but
every one was afraid to approach him to receive
it. At length, however, a certain wayfarer,
tempted by avarice, regarded it as an instance
of good fortune; but, said he, in this there is
personal danger, in which we are not warranted
to proceed. Yet, said he, there is risk in every
undertaking for the acquisition of wealth.

The Traveller then asked where was the
bracelet; and the Tiger, having held out his
paw, showed it to him and said, 'Look at it,
it is a golden bracelet. " 'How shall I place
confidence in thee?" said the Traveller; and the
Tiger replied: "Formerly, in the days of my

101

102 THE TALKING BEASTS

youth, I was of a very wicked disposition, and
as a punishment for the many men and cattle
I had murdered, my numerous children died,
and I was also deprived of my wife ; so, at pres-
ent, I am destitute of relations. This being
the case, I was advised, by a certain holy per-
son, to practise charity and other religious
duties, and I am now grown extremely devout.
I perform ablutions regularly, and am charitable.
Why, then, am I not worthy of confidence?' 1
c So far, you see,' : continued the Tiger,

e l have an interest in wishing to give away
to some one this golden bracelet from off my
own wrist; and as thou appearest to be rather
a poor man, I prefer giving it to thee; according
to this saying:

44 'Make choice of the poor, and bestow
not thy gifts on others.' Then go, and hav-
ing purified thyself in this stream, take the
golden bracelet. "

The Traveller no sooner began to enter the
river to purify himself, than he stuck fast in
the mud, and was unable to escape. The
Tiger told him he would help him out; and
creeping softly toward him, the poor man was
seized, and instantly exclaimed to himself:

'Alas! the career of my heart is cut short by
fate!"

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 103

But whilst the unfortunate fellow was thus
meditating, he was devoured by the Tiger.
Hence also, it is at no time proper to under-
take anything without examination.

The Jackal and the Cat

To one whose family and profession are unknown, one should not give
residence: the Jackal Jarad-gava was killed through the fault of a Cat.

ON THE banks of the river Bhageerathee,
and upon the mountain Greedhra-koota, there
is a large parkattee tree, in the hollow of whose
trunk there dwelt a Jackal, by name Jarad-
gava, who, by some accident, was grown blind,
and for whose support the different birds who
roosted upon the branches of the same tree
were wont to contribute a trifle from their
own stores, by which he existed. It so fell
out, that one day a certain Cat, by name
Deerga-karna,' came there to prey upon the
young birds, whom perceiving, the little nest-
lings were greatly terrified, and began to be
very clamorous; and their cries being heard
by Jarad-gava, he asked who was coming.
The Cat Deerga-karna, too, seeing the Jackal,
began to be alarmed, and said to himself:
"Oh! I shall certainly be killed, for now that
I am in his sight, it will not be in my power

'Long-ear

104 THE TALKING BEASTS

to escape. However, let what will be the
consequence, I will approach him. So, having
thus resolved, he went up to the Jackal, and
said: "Master, I salute thee!" "Who art
thou?' demanded the Jackal. Said he, "I
am a Cat." 'Ah! wicked animal, J: cried the
Jackal, 'get thee at a distance; for if thou
dost not, I will put thee to death. v

'Hear me for a moment," replied Puss, "and
then determine whether I merit either to be
punished or to be killed; for what is any one,
simply by birth, to be punished or applauded?
When his deeds have been scrutinized, he
may, indeed, be either praiseworthy or punish-
able."

The Jackal after this desired the Cat to give
some account of himself, and he complied in
the following words: 'I am," said he, "in
the constant habit of performing ablutions on
the side of this river; I never eat flesh, and I
lead that mode of life which is called Brah-
ma-Chary a 1 . So, as thou art distinguished
amongst those of thy own species, noted for
skill in religious matters, and as a repository
of confidence, and as the birds here are always
speaking before me in praise of thy good quali-
ties, I am come to hear from thy mouth, who

forsaking all worldly concerns to lead a godly life.

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 105

art so old in wisdom, the duties of religion.
Thou, master, art acquainted with the cus-
toms of life; but these young birds, who are in
ignorance, would fain drive me, who am a
stranger, away. The duties of a housekeeper
are thus enjoined:

'* Hospitality is commanded to be exercised, even toward an
enemy, when he cometh to thine house. The tree doth not
withdraw its shade, even from the wood-cutter.

"And again:

" Some straw, a room, water, and in the fourth place, gentle
words. These things are neve 1 * to be refused in good men's
houses."

To all this the Jackal replied: "Cats have
a taste for animal food, and above is the resi-
dence of the young birds: it is on this account
I speak to thee."

The Cat, having touched his two ears, and
then the ground, exclaimed: "I, who have
read books upon the duties of religion, and am
freed from inordinate desires, have forsaken such
an evil practice; and, indeed, even amongst
those who dispute with one another about
the authority of the Sastras, there are many
by whom this sentence: 'Not to kill is a su-
preme duty,' is altogether approved.'

The Cat by these means having satisfied the
jackal, he remained in the hollow of tbe tree

106 THE TALKING BEASTS

with him and passed the time in amusing con-
versation; and the Jackal told the young birds
that they had no occasion to go out of the way.

After this, when many days had passed, it
was discovered that the Cat had, by degrees,
drawn all the little birds down into the hollow of
the tree, and there devoured them; but when
he found inquiry was about to be made by those
whose young ones had been eaten, he slipped
out of the hole and made his escape. In the
meantime, the bones of the young ones having
been discovered in the hollow of the tree by
the parent birds, who had been searching here
and there, they concluded that their little
ones had been devoured by the Jackal, and
so, being joined by other birds, they put him
to death.

Wherefore I say, "To one whose family and
profession are unknown, one should not give

residence.'

The Greedy Jackal

A hoard should always be made; but not too great a hoard. A Jackal,
through the fault of hoarding too much, was killed by a bow.

A CERTAIN Huntsman, by name Bhirava,
being fond of flesh, once upon a time went to
hunt in the forests of the Vindhya mountains
and having killed a Deer, as he was carrying
him away, he chanced to see a wild Boar of

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 107

a formidable appearance. So, laying the Deer
upon the ground, he wounded the Boar with
an arrow; but, upon his approaching him,
the horrid animal set up a roar dreadful as the
thunder of the clouds, and wounding the
Huntsman in the groin, he fell like a tree cut
off by the axe. At the same time, a Serpent,
of that species which is called Ajagara, pressed
by hunger and wandering about, rose up and
bit the Boar, who instantly fell helpless upon
him, and remained upon the spot. For:

The body having encountered some efficient cause, water,
fire, poison, the sword, hunger, sickness, or a fall from an emi-
nence, is forsaken by the vital spirits.

In the meantime, a Jackal, by name Deergha-
rava, prowling about in search of prey, dis-
covered the Deer, the Huntsman, and the
Boar; and having observed them, he said to
himself: 'Here is a fine feast prepared for
me; with their flesh I shall have food to eat.
The Man will last me for a whole month, and
the Deer and the Boar for two more; then the
Serpent will serve me a day; and let me taste
the bow-string too. But, in the first place,
let me try that which is the least savoury.
Suppose, then, I eat this catgut line which
is fastened to the bow: saying so, he drew near
to eat it; but the instant he had bit the line

108 THE TALKING BEASTS

in two, he was torn asunder by the spring of
the bow; and he was reduced to the state of
the five elements. I say, therefore, 'A hoard
should always be made; but not too great a
hoard."

The Elephant and the Jackal

That which cannot be effected by force may be achieved by cunning.
An Elephant was killed by a Jackal, in going over a swampy place.

IN THE forest Brahmaranya there was an
Elephant, whose name was Karphooratilaka, 1
who having been observed by the jackals, they
all determined that if he could by any strat-
agem be killed, he would be four months'
provisions for them all. One of them, who was
of exceeding vicious inclination and by nature
treacherous, declared that he would engage,
by the strength of his own judgment, to effect
his death. Some time after, this deceitful
wretch went up to the Elephant, and having
saluted him, said: "Godlike sir! Conde-
scend to grant me an audience." : Who art
thou?' demanded the Elephant, 'and whence
comest thou?' "My name,' 3 replied he, 'is
Kshudrabuddhi, 8 a jackal, sent into thy pres-
sence by all the inhabitants of the forest,
assembled for that purpose, to represent that,

1 Marked with white spots.

8 Low-minded, mean-spirited, bad-hearted,

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 109

as it is not expedient to reside in so large a
forest as this without a chief, your Highness,
endued with all the cardinal virtues, hath
been selected to be anointed Rajah of the
Woods. Then, that we may not lose the
lucky moment/ 1 continued the Jackal, "be
pleased to follow quickly.' 1 Saying this, he
cocked his tail and went away.

The Elephant, whose reason was perverted
by the lust of power, took the same road as
the Jackal, and followed him so exactly that,
at length, he stuck fast in a great mire. "O
my friend!' cried the Elephant, 'what is to
be done in this disaster? I am sinking in a
deep mire ! '

The Jackal laughed, and said: e Please,
your divine Highness, take hold of my tail
with your trunk, and get out! This is the fruit
of those words which thou didst place con-
fidence in."

They say :

As often as thou shalt be deprived of the society of the good,
so often shalt thou fall into the company of knaves.

After a few days, the Elephant dying for
want of food, his flesh was devoured by the
Jackals. I say, therefore: "That which can-
not be effected by force, may be achieved
by cunning.' 1

110 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Lion, the Mouse, and the Cat

The master should never be rendered free from apprehension by his
servants; for a servant having quieted the fears of his master may
experience the fate of Dahdikarna. 1

UPON the mountain Arbuda-sikhara, there
was a Lion, whose name was Mahavikrama, 1
the tips of whose mane a Mouse was wont to
gnaw, as he slept in his den. The noble beast,
having discovered that his hair was bitten,
was very much displeased; and as he was
unable to catch the offender, who always
slipped into his hole, he meditated what was
best to be done; and having resolved, said he:

* Whoso hath a trifling enemy, who is not to be overcome by
dint of valour, should employ against him a force of his own
likeness."

With a review of this saying, the Lion re-
paired to the village, and by means of a piece
of meat thrown into his hole, with some diffi-
culty caught a Cat, whose name was Dad-
hikarna. He carried him home, and the
Mouse for some time being afraid to venture
out, the Lion remained with his hair unnipped.
At length, however, the Mouse was so oppressed
with hunger, that creeping about he was caught
and devoured by the Cat. The Lion now, no

1 Whose ears are the colour of curds.

2 Great courage.

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 111

longer hearing the noise of the Mouse, thought
he had no further occasion for the services of
the Cat, and so began to be sparing of his
allowance; and, in consequence, poor Puss
pined away and died for want. Wherefore,
I say: 'The master should never be rendered
free from apprehension by his servants."

The Poor Woman and the Bell

It is not proper to be alarmed by a mere sound, when the cause of
that sound is unknown. A poor woman obtaineth consequence for
discovering the cause of a sound.

BETWEEN the mountains Sree-parvata there
is a city called Brahma-puree, the inhabitants
of which used to believe that a certain giant,
whom they called Ghautta-Karna, infested
one of the adjacent hills.

The fact was thus: A thief, as he was run-
ning away with a Bell he had stolen, was over-
come and devoured by a tiger; and the Bell
falling from* his hand having been picked up
by some monkeys, every now and then they
used to ring it. Now the people of the town
finding that a man had been killed there, and
at the same time hearing the Bell, used to
declare that the giant Ghautta-Karna being
enraged, was devouring a man, and ringing
his Bell; so that the city was abandoned by
all the principal inhabitants. At length, how-

THE TALKING BEASTS

ever, a certain Poor Woman having considered
the subject, discovered that the Bell was rung
by the monkeys.

She accordingly went to the Rajah, and said:
'If, divine sir, I may expect a very great reward,
I will engage to silence this Ghautta-Karna."

The Rajah was exceedingly well pleased, and
gave her some money. So having displayed
her consequence to the priesthood of the coun-
try, to the leaders of the army, and to all the
rest of the people, she provided such fruits as
she conceived the monkeys were fond of, and
went into the wood; where strewing them about,
they presently quitted the Bell, and attached
themselves to the fruit. The Poor Woman, in
the meantime, took away the Bell, and repaired
to the city, where she became an object of adora-
tion to its inhabitants. Wherefore, I say: 'It
is not proper to be alarmed by a mere sound,
when the cause of the sound is unknown.' 3

The Lion and the Rabbit

He who hath sense hath strength. Where hath he strength who
wanteth judgment? See how a Lion, when intoxicated with anger, was
overcome by a Rabbit.

UPON a certain mountain there lived a Lion,
whose name was Durganta, 1 who was perpetually

1 Hard to go near.

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 113

sacrificing animals to his gods; so that, at
length, all the different species assembled, and,
in a body, represented that, as by his present
mode of proceeding the forest would be cleared
all at once; if it pleased his Highness, they
would, each of them in his turn, provide him
an animal for his daily food; and the Lion gave
his consent accordingly. So every beast de-
livered his stipulated provision, till at length,
in coming to the Rabbit's turn he began to
meditate in this manner: "Policy should be
practised by him who would save his life; and
I myself shall lose mine, if I do not take care.
Suppose I lead him after another Lion? Who
knows how that may turn out for me? Then
I will approach him slowly, as if fatigued.' 1

The Lion by this time began to be very
hungry; so, seeing the Rabbit coming toward
him, he called out in a great passion: "What
is the reason thou comes t so late?' "Please
your Highness,' 5 said the Rabbit "as I was
coming along, I w r as forcibly detained by another
of your species; but having given him my word
that I would return immediately I came here
to represent it to your Highness.' 1 "Go
quickly,' 3 said the Lion in a rage, "and show
me where this vile wretch may be found?'

Accordingly the Rabbit conducted the Lion

114 THE TALKING BEASTS

to the brink of a deep well, where being arrived,
"There/ 5 said the Rabbit, 'look down and
behold him"; at the same time he pointed to
the reflected image of the Lion in the water;
who swelling with pride and resentment, leaped
into the well, as he thought, upon his adver-
sary, and thus put an end to his own life. I
repeat, therefore: 'He who hath sense, hath
strength.' 1

The Birds and the Monkeys

A wise man is worthy to be advised; but an ignorant one never.
Certain birds, having given advice to a troop of monkeys, have their
nests torn to pieces, and are obliged to fly away.

ON THE banks of the river Navmoda, upon
a neighbouring mountain, there w r as a large
Salmalee tree wherein certain Birds were wont
to build their nests and reside, even during the
season of the rains. One day the sky being
overcast with a troop of thick dark clouds,
there fell a shower of rain in very large streams.
The Birds seeing a troop of Monkeys at the
foot of the tree, all wet, and shivering with
cold, called out to them; 'Ho, Monkeys! why
don't you invent something to protect you
from the rain? We build ourselves nests with
straws collected with nothing else but our
bills. How is this, that you, who are blessed
with hands and feet, yield to such sufferings?'

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 115

The Monkeys hearing this, and understand-
ing it as a kind of reproach, were exceedingly
irritated and said amongst themselves : e Those
Birds there, sitting comfortably out of the
wind within their warm nests, are laughing
at us! So let them, as long as the shower may
last.' : In short, as soon as the rain subsided,
the whole troop of them mounted into the tree,
where tearing all the nests to pieces, the eggs
fell upon the ground and were broken. I
say, therefore: 'A wise man is worthy to be
advised, but an ignorant one never."

The Rabbits and the Elephants

Great things may be effected by wise counsel, when a sovereign enemy
may be too powerful. Certain Rabbits were enabled to live in comfort,
through the policy of one of their brethren.

ONCE upon a time, for want of rain in due
season, a troop of Elephants being greatly
distressed for water, addressed their chief in
these words: 'What resource have we, except
in that hollow sinking ground inhabited by those
little animals ! but deprived of that too, whither,
sir, shall we go? What shall we do?'

Upon hearing their complaints, their chief,
after travelling with them a great way, dis-
covered a fountain of clear water. But, as
many Rabbits who happened to be in their

116 THE TALKING BEASTS

burrows were crushed to death under the feet
of so many Elephants trampling over their
warren, at length, one of them, reflected in
this manner: 'This troop of Elephants, op-
pressed with thirst, will be corning here every
day to drink, and, at length, our whole race
will be destroyed!' But an old buck said to
him. 'Brother, don't be uneasy; for I am
going to prevent what thou dreadest." Saying
which, he set off to try how he could oppose
them; but as he went along, he began to con-
sider how he should approach so formidable
a troop; 'for,' 5 observed he, 'they say:

* An elephant killeth even by touching, a serpent even by
smelling, a king even by ruling, and a wicked man by laugh-
ing at one.'

'Wherefore, I will mount the summit of a
rock to address the head of the troop.' 1

This being put in execution accordingly,
the chief Elephant asked him who he was, and
whence he came. 'I am/' he replied, 'an
ambassador sent here by the god Chandra.' 1

'Declare the purport of thy commission,' 5
said the Elephant. "Sir," replied the Rabbit,

'as ambassadors, even when the weapons of
war are lifted up, speak not otherwise than
for the benefit of their State; and although
they speak boldly according as it is their advan-

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 117

tage, they are not to be put to death; then I
will declare what are the commands of the god
Chandra. He bade me say, that in driving
away and destroying the Rabbits who are
appointed to guard the fountain which is conse-
crated to that duty, you have done ill; 'for,'
said he, ' they are my guards and it is notorious
that the figure of a Rabbit is my emblem.'

The head Elephant, upon hearing this became
greatly alarmed, declared that they had offended
through ignorance, and would never go to the
fountain again.

'If this be your resolution,' 3 said the ambas-
sador, "go this once, and make your submission
before the diety himself, whom you will see in
the fountain, quite agitated with anger; and
when you have pacified him, you may depart.' 1

Accordingly, as soon as it was night, the
ambassador Vijaya having conducted the chief
of the Elephants to the fountain, there showed
him the image of the moon, trembling, as it
were, upon the smooth surface of the water
and when he had made him bow down to it,
in token of submission, he said: 'Please
your divinity! What hath been done having
been done through ignorance, I pray thee
pardon them!' and upon saying this, he caused
the Elephant to depart. I repeat, therefore,

118 THE TALKING BEASTS

'Great things may be effected by wise counsel,
when a sovereign enemy may be too powerful."

The Blue Jackal

The fool who forsaketh his own party, and delighteth to dwell with
the opposite side may be killed by them; as was the case with the
Blue Jackal

A CERTAIN Jackal, as he was roaming about
the borders of a town, just as his inclinations
led him, fell into a dyer's vat; l but being unable
to get out in the morning he feigned himself
dead. At length, the master of the vat, which
was filled with indigo, came, and seeing a
Jackal lying with his legs uppermost, his eyes
closed, and his teeth bare, concluded that he
was dead, and so, taking him out, he carried
him a good way from the town, and there left
him. The sly animal instantly got up, and
ran into the woods; when, observing that his
coat was turned blue, he meditated in this
manner: ( I am now of the finest colour!
what great exaltation may I not bring about
for myself?' Saying this, he called a number
of Jackals together, and addressed them in
the following words: 'Know that I have
lately been sprinkled king of the forests, by
the hands of the goddess herself who presides

*A dyer's vat, in Hindostan, is a large pan sunk in the ground, often
in the little court before the dyer's house.

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 119

over these woods, with a water drawn from a
variety of choice herbs. Observe my colour,
and henceforward let every business be trans-
acted according to my orders.''

The rest of the Jackals, seeing him of such a
fine complexion, prostrated themselves before
him, and said: ' According as your Highness
commands!' By this step he made himself
honoured by his own relations, and so gained
the supreme power over those of his own species,
as well as all the other inhabitants of the
forests. But after a while, finding himself
surrounded by a levee of the first quality, such
as the tiger and the like, he began to look down
upon his relations; and, at length, he kept them
at a distance. A certain old Jackal perceiving
that his brethren were very much cast down
at this behaviour, cried: 'Do not despair!
If it continues thus, this imprudent friend of
ours will force us to be revenged. Let me
alone to contrive his downfall. The lion, and
the rest who pay him court, are taken by his
outward appearance ; and they obey him as their
king, because they are not aware that he is
nothing but a Jackal: do something then by
which he may be found out. Let this plan
be pursued: Assemble all of you in a body
about the close of the evening, and set up one

120 THE TALKING BEASTS

general howl in his hearing; and I'll warrant
you, the natural disposition of his species will
incline him to join in the cry for:

* Whatever may be the natural propensity of any one is
very hard to be overcome. If a dog were made king, would
he not gnaw his shoe straps? '

'And thus, the tiger discovering that he is
nothing but a Jackal, will presently put him
to death.' 2

In short, the plan was executed, and the
event was just as it had been foretold. I
repeat, therefore: 'The fool who forsaketh his
own party and delighteth to dwell with the
opposite side, may be killed by them."

The Mouse Who Became a Tiger

One cf low degree, having obtained a worthy station, seeketh to
destroy his master; like the mouse, who having been raised to the state
of a Tiger, went to kill the Hermit.

IN A certain forest, there once dwelt a
Hermit whose name was Maha-tapa. One
day seeing a young Mouse fall from the mouth
of a crow near his hermitage, out of compassion
he took it up and reared it with broken particles
of rice. He now observed that the cat was
seeking to destroy it; so, by the sacred powers
of a saint, he metamorphosed his Mouse into
a cat; but his cat being afraid of his dog, he

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA

changed her into a dog; and the dog being ter-
rified at the tiger, at length he was transformed
into a Tiger. The holy man now regarded
the Tiger as no way superior to his Mouse.
But the people who came to visit the Hermit,
used to tell one another that the Tiger which
they saw there had been made so by the power
of the saint, from a Mouse ; and this being over-
heard by the Tiger, he was very uneasy, and
said to himself: "As long as this Hermit
is alive, the disgraceful story of my former
state will be brought to my ears"; saying
which he went to kill his protector; but as the
holy man penetrated his design with his super-
natural eye, he reduced him to his former
state of a Mouse. I repeat, therefore: 'One
of low degree, having obtained a worthy station,
may seek to destroy his master. 5 '

The Brahmin and the Goat

He who, judging by what passeth in his own breast, believeth a
knave to be a person of veracity, is deceived; as the Brahmin was con-
cerning his Goat.

IN A certain lorest, a Brahmin, having
determined to make an offering, went to a
neighbouring village and purchased a Goat,
which having thrown across his shoulder, he
turned toward home. As he was travelling

THE TALKING BEASTS

along, he was perceived by three thieves. "If,"
said they, "we could by some artifice get the
Goat from that man, it would be a great proof
of our address.' 1

Saying this, they agreed upon their strata-
gem, and executed it in this manner: They
stationed themselves before the Brahmin, and
sat down under the trees in the road which
led to his habitation, till he should come up to
them. Soon after, he was accosted by one of
them in this manner: 'Is not that a dog?
Brahmin, what is the reason thou carriest it
upon thy shoulder?' The Brahmin replied:
"No, it is not a dog; it is a Goat, which I have
purchased to make an offering of.' : About
a mile farther on he met another of them, who
repeating the same question, he took the Goat
from his shoulder, and putting it upon the
ground, examined it again and again; and at
length, replacing it upon his shoulder, he went
on, quite staggered as it were, for:

The minds even of good men are staggered by the arguments
of the wicked; but those who place confidence in them may
suffer by it.

At length the Brahmin, having heard the
third thief, like the former two, insist upon
it that he had a dog upon his shoulder, was
convinced that it was indeed a dog; and so,

FABLES FROM THE HITOPADESA 123

leaving his Goat behind him, which the thieves
presently took away and made a feast of, the
good man washed himself and went home.
Whence, I say, 'He who, judging by what
passeth in his own breast, believeth a knave
to be a person of veracity, is deceived. "

FABLES FROM INDIA

"These simple children's stories have livea on,
and maintained their place of honour and their
undisputed sway in every schoolroom of the
East and every nursery of the West."

F. MAX MTJLLER

FABLES FROM INDIA

The Lion, the Fox, and the Story-teller

LION who was the king of a great
forest once said to his subjects: 'I
want some one among you to tell me
stories one after another without ceasing. If
you fail to find somebody who can so amuse
me, you will all be put to death."

In the East there is a proverb which says:
'The king kills when he will," so the animals
were in great alarm.

The Fox said: 'Fear not; I shall save you
all. Tell the king the Story-teller is ready to
come to court when ordered." So the animals
had orders to send the Story-teller at once
to the presence. The Fox bowed respectfully,
and stood before the king, who said: 'So you
are to tell us stories without ceasing?'
: Yes, your Majesty," said the Fox.
'Then begin," said the Lion.
"But before I do so," said the Fox, "I would
like to know what your Majesty means by a
story."

127

128 THE TALKING BEASTS

; Why," said the Lion, "a narrative containg
ing some interesting event or fact."

"Just so," said the Fox, and began: "There
was once a fisherman who w^ent to sea with
a huge net, and spread it far and wide. A
great many fish got into it. Just as the fisher-
man was about to draw the net the coils snapped.
A great opening was made. First one fish
escaped." Then the Fox stopped.

"Wliat then?' said the Lion.

"Then two escaped," said the Fox.

"What then?' asked the impatient Lion.

"Then three escaped," said the Fox. Thus,
as often as the Lion repeated his query, the Fox
increased the number by one, and said as many
escaped. The Lion was vexed, and said: c Why
you are telling me nothing new!'

"I wish that your majesty may not forget
your royal word," said the Fox. 'Each event
occurred by itself, and each lot that escaped
was different from the rest."

" But wherein is the wonder?' said the Lion
c W r hy, your majesty, what can be more
wonderful than for Fish to escape in lots, each
exceeding the other by one?'

"I am bound by my word," said the Lion,
'else I would see your carcass stretched on
the ground."

FABLES FROM INDIA 129

The Fox replied in a whisper : "7f tyrants that
desire things impossible are not at least bound by
their own word, their subjects can find nothing
to bind them 9 '

The Fox in the Well

A Fox fell into a well, and was holding hard
to some roots at the side of it, just above the
water. A Wolf w r ho was passing by saw him,
and said, 'Hollo, Reynard; after all you have
fallen into a well!'

' But not without a purpose, and not without
the means of getting out of it," said the Fox.

'What do you mean?' said the Wolf.

'Why," said the Fox, "there is a drought
all over the country now, and the water in this
well is the only means of appeasing the thirst
of the thousands that live in this neighbourhood.
They held a meeting, and requested me to
keep the water from going down lower; so I
am holding it up for the public good."

'What will be your reward?' asked the
Wolf.

'They will give me a pension, and save me
the trouble of going about every day in quest
of food, not to speak of innumerable other
privileges that will be granted me. Further,
I am not to stay here all day. I have asked

130 THE TALKING BEASTS

a kinsman of mine, to whom I have communi-
cated the secret of holding up the water, to
relieve me from time to time. Of course he
will also get a pension, and have other privi-
leges. I expect him here shortly.' 1

"Ah, Reynard, may I relieve you, then?
May I hope to get a pension, and other privi-
leges? You know what a sad lot is mine,
especially in winter.' 2

"Certainly," said the Fox, 'but you must
get a long rope, that I may come up and let
you down."

So the Wolf got a rope. Up came the Fox,
and down went the Wolf; when the former
observed, with a laugh, 'My dear sir, you may
remain there till doomsday, or till the owner
of the well throws up your carcass," and left
the place.

"Alas!' said the Wolf, when it was too late,
"greed hath its meed! 9

The Fawn and the Little Tiger

A FAWN met a little Tiger, and said: 'What
fine stripes you have ! '

The little Tiger said: "What fine spots you
have!"

Then the Fawn said: "It would be such a
nice thing if you and I were to live together

FABLES FROM INDIA 131

as friends. We might then roam through the
woods as we like, and be so happy!'

"I think so too," said the Tiger.

The two joined hands, and went out for a
long walk. It was breakfast time. The Fawn
saw some fine grass in the lawn, and said to
himself: "One should first see his friend fed
and then feed." So he turned to the Tiger and
said, "Will you have some of this fine grass for
your breakfast?'

The Tiger put his nose to the grass but could
not bring himself to feed upon it, because it
was against his nature; so he replied, 'I am
so sorry, I cannot eat it!'

Then the Fawn said: "Allow me to go home
for one moment and ask mamma for something
that would suit you for breakfast.' 2

So the Fawn went home and told the Hind
of the happy friendship he had formed, and of
all that had happened since.

The Hind replied, "Child, how lucky it is
that you have come away! You must know
the Tiger is the most deadly enemy we have
in the woods. "

At these words the Fawn drew near to his
dam and trembled.

The Hind said: "It is indeed lucky to get
away from the wicked at the first hint! '

132 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Fox and the Villagers

A Fox that had long been the dread of the
village poultry yard was one day found lying
breathless in a field. The report went abroad
that, after all, he had been caught and killed
by some one. In a moment, everybody in the
village came out to see the dead Fox. The
village Cock, with all his hens and chicks, was
also there, to enjoy the sight.

The Fox then got up, and, shaking off his
drowsiness, said: 'I ate a number of hens and
chicks last night; hence I must have slumbered
longer than usual.' 1

The Cock counted his hens and chicks, and
found a number wanting. 'Alas!' said he,
"how is it I did not know of it?'

'My dear sir," said the Fox, as he retreated
to the wood, "it was last night I had a good
meal on your hens and chicks, yet you did not
know of it. A moment ago they found me
lying in the field, and you knew of it at once.
Ill news travels fast! '

Tinsel and Lightning

A PIECE of Tinsel on a rock once said to a
Pebble: "You see how bright I am! I am by
birth related to the lightning.' 3

FABLES FROM INDIA 133

'Indeed! 9 said the Pebble; 'then accept
my humble respects.' 1

Some time after, a flash of lightning struck
the rock, and the Tinsel lost all its brilliancy
by the scorching effects of the flash.

6 Where is your brilliancy now?' said the
Pebble.

'Oh, it is gone to the skies," 1 said the Tinsel,
"for I have lent it to the lightning that came
down a moment ago to borrow it of me."

"Dear me!' said the Pebble; "how many
fibs doth good bragging need!'

The Glow-worm and the Daw

A JACKDAW once ran up to a Glow-worm
and was about to seize him. ; Wait a moment,
good friend," said the Worm; 'and you shall
hear of something to your advantage."

"Ah! what is it?' said the Daw.

'I am but one of the many Glow-worms that
live in this forest. If you wish to have them
all, follow me," said the Glow-worm.

"Certainly!' said the Daw.

Then the Glow-worm led him to a place in
the wood where a fire had been kindled by some
woodmen, and pointing to the sparks flying
about, said: "There you find the Glow-worms
warming themselves around a fire. When you

134 THE TALKING BEASTS

have done with them, I will show you some more,
at a distance from this place. 53

The Daw darted at the sparks, and tried to
swallow some of them; but his mouth being
burnt by the attempt, he ran away exclaiming,
/'Ah, the Glow-worm is a dangerous little crea-
ture!"

Said the Glow-worm with pride: " 'Wickedness
yields to wisdom!'

The Lion and the Gadfly

ONCE a Lion was sleeping in his den at the
foot of a great mountain when a Gadfly that had
been sipping the blood from his mouth bit
him severely. The Lion started up with a
roar, and catching the Fly in his huge paws,
cried: "Villain, you are at my mercy! How
shall I punish your impudence?"

"Sire," said the Fly, "if you would pardon
me now, and let me live, I shall be able to show
ere long how grateful I am to you."

"Indeed!" said the Lion; "who ever heard
of a Gadfly helping a Lion? But still I admire
your presence of mind and grant your life."

Some time after, the Lion, having made
great havoc on the cattle of a neighbouring
village, was snoring away in his den after a
heavy meal. The village hunters approached

FABLES FROM INDIA 135

with the object of surrounding him and putting
an end to his depredations.

The Fly saw them, and hurrying into the
den, bit the Lion. He started up with a roar
as before, and cried: 'Villain, you will get no
pardon this time!'

"Sire," said the Fly, "the village 'hunters
are on their way to your den; you can't tarry
a moment here without being surrounded and
killed."

"Saviour of my life!' cried the lion as he
ran up the mountain. ' There is nothing like
for giving , for it enables the humblest to help the

highest. 9 '

The Sunling

IN THE good old days a Clown in the East,
on a visit to a city kinsman, while at dinner
pointed to a burning candle and asked what
it was. The city man said, in jest, it was a
Sunling, or one of the children of the sun.

The Clown thought that it was something
rare; so he waited for an opportunity, and hid
it in a chest of drawers close by. Soon the
chest caught fire, then the curtains by its side,
then the room, then the whole house.

After the flames had been put down, the city
man and the Clown went into the burnt building
to see what remained. The Clown turned over

136 THE TALKING BEASTS

the embers of the chest of drawers. The city
man asked what he was seeking for. The Clown
said: 'It is in this chest that I hid the bright
Sunling; I wish to know if he has survived the
flames. "

'Alas/ 5 said the city man, who now found
out the cause of all the mischief, 'Never jest
with fools! '

The Despot and the Wag

A DESPOT in the East wished to have a great
name as a very munificent prince, so he gave
Jarge presents to every one of note that came
to his court, but at the same time his officers
had secret orders to waylay the recipients of
his gifts and recover them.

In this manner many a man had been re-
warded and plundered. Once a wag came to
court, and amused every one by his drolleries.
The King gave him a great many presents,
including a horse. After taking leave of the
King and his courtiers, the Wag bundled up
the presents and put them over his shoulders,
and mounting the horse, facing the tail, was
going out. The King asked him why he acted
in that manner.

'Sire," said the Wag, 'simply to see if your
officers were coming behind, that I may at once

FABLES FROM INDIA 137

hand over the bundle to them and go about my
business."

The Despot was abashed, and stopped giving
any more presents, saying: 'Giving is but
giving in vain, when we give to take again. 9 '

The Crane and the Fool

IN THE East there lived a Fool, who went one
day to his fields and said: 'I sov/ed a month
ago; should the crops stand two months more,
I shall get three hundred bushels of corn. But
I am in a hurry, so if I should reap now, I
dare say I shall have one hundred bushels at
least.''

A Crane who heard his words said: 'If I
were you, I should have all the three hundred
bushels this very day."

"How?" said the Fool.

" Why,"said the Crane, "you stored up water
in the tank to feed the crops for three months.
A month has elapsed, so water enough for two
months more remains in the tank. Should
you open the sluices and let all the water flow
into the fields, you will have all the corn at

once.

"Are you sure I shall have all the corn at
once?' said the Fool.

"Oh, yes," said the Crane, "there is not

138 THE TALKING BEASTS

the slightest doubt. My geographical knowl-
edge is extensive, for I have travelled over a
great part of the world; so you may depend on
my wide knowledge and experience. 51

The Fool then let all the water flow into the
fields. The Crane invited his kindred, and
they together ate all the big fish left in the tank
first, and then, hovering over the fields, picked
up all the small fish that had gone out with
the water. A great portion of the crops was
swept away; what remained was soon buried
in the mud.

The Fool sat on the bank of the lake and
wept, saying: "The Crane's geography ruined

me.'

"My friend," said the Crane, "my geography
was as good as your arithmetic. It is all the
same whether you fall into the ditch from this
side or that! 9

The Lion and the Goat

A LION was eating up one after another the
animals of a certain country. One day an old
Goat said: "We must put a stop to this. I
have a plan by which he may be sent away from
this part of the country.' 3

"Pray act up to it at once," said the other
animals.

FABLES FROM INDIA 139

The old Goat laid himself down in a cave
on the roadside, with his flowing beard and
long curved horns. The Lion on his way to
the village saw him, and stopped at the mouth
of the cave.

'So you have come, after all," said the Goat.

'What do you mean?' asked the Lion.

'Why, I have long been lying in this cave.
I have eaten up one hundred elephants, a
hundred tigers, a thousand wolves, and ninety-
nine lions. One more lion has been wanting.
I have waited long and patiently. Heaven
has, after all, been kind to me," said the Goat,
and shook his horns and his beard, and made a
start as if he were about to spring upon the
Lion.

The latter said to himself: "This animal
looks like a Goat, but it does not talk like one,
so it is very likely some wicked spirit in this
shape. Prudence often serves us better than
valour, so for the present I shall return to the
wood," and he turned back.

The Goat rose up and, advancing to the
mouth of the cave, said, "Will you come
back to-morrow?'

'Never again," said the Lion.

'Do you think I shall be able to see you, at
least, in the wood to-morrow?'

140 THE TALKING BEASTS

* Neither in the wood, nor in this neighbour-
hood any more," said the Lion, and running to
the forest, soon left it with his kindred.

The animals in the country, not hearing him
roar any more, gathered around the Goat, and
said: ' The wisdom of one doth save a host.''

The Man and His Piece of Cloth

A MAN in the East, where they do not re-
quire as much clothing as in colder climates,
gave up all worldly concerns and retired to a
wood, where he built a hut and lived in it.

His only clothing was a Piece of Cloth which
he wore round his waist. But, as ill-luck would
have it, rats were plentiful in the wood, so
he had to keep a cat. The cat required milk
to feed it, so a cow had to be kept. The
cow required tending, so a cowboy was em-
ployed. The boy required a house to live in,
so a house was built for him. To look after
the house, a maid had to be engaged. To pro-
vide company for the maid, a few more houses
had to be built, and people invited to live in
them. In this manner a little township sprang
up.

The man said: "The farther we seek to go
from the world and its cares, the more they mul-
tiply! 9 '

(f
<(

FABLES FROM INDIA 141

The Tiger, the Fox, and the Hunters

A Fox was once caught in a trap. A hungry
Tiger saw him and said, "So you are here!'

"Only on your account,' 3 said the Fox, in
a whisper.

How so?' said the Tiger.
Why, you were complaining you could
not get men to eat, so I got into this net to-day,
that you may have the men when they come
to take me,' 3 said the Fox, and gave a hint
that if the Tiger would wait a while in a thicket
close by, he would point out the men to him.

"May I depend upon your word?' said the
Tiger.

" Certainly,' 5 said the Fox.

The hunters came, and, seeing the Fox in
the net, said: 'So you are here!'

"Only on your account,' 5 said the Fox, in a
whisper.

"How so?' said the men.

"Why, you were complaining you could
not get at the Tiger that has been devouring
your cattle. I got into this net to-day that
you may have him. As I expected, he came to
eat me up, and is in yonder thicket,' 51 said the
Fox, and gave a hint that if they would take
him out of the trap he would point out the Tiger.

142 THE TALKING BEASTS

"May we depend upon your word?' 1 said the
men.

"Certainly," said the Fox, while the men
went with him in a circle to see that he did not
escape.

Then the Fox said to the Tiger and the men:
"Sir Tiger, here are the men; gentlemen, here
is the Tiger."

The men left the Fox and turned to the Tiger.
The former beat a hasty retreat to the wood,
saying, "I have kept my promise to both; now
you may settle it between yourselves.' 1

The Tiger exclaimed, when it was too late:
"Alas! what art for a double part? 9

The Hare and the Pig

A HARE and a Pig once agreed to leap over a
ditch. The Hare went a great way, and fell
into it, just short by an inch. The Pig went
some way and fell into it; but far behind the
Hare. Yet they were eager to know which of
them leapt more, and was therefore the better
animal.

So they said to a Fox, who had been watching
the race: "Will you tell us which of us is
superior, and which inferior, in the race?'

The Fox said: "Both in the ditch: can't say
which! '

^ MAR.OLO

NELSON

"WHY, WAS IT NOT FOOLISH OF ME TO COUNT THE STARS IN
THE SKY, WHEN I COULD HAVE COUNTED THE STARS IN YOUE
BRILLIANT PLUMAGE TO BETTER ADVANTAGE?' SAID THE FOX"

FABLES FROM INDIA 143

The Peacock and the Fox

A Fox, who had an eye on a Peacock, was
one day standing in a field with his face turned
up to the sky.

"Reynard," said the Peacock, "what have
you been doing?'

"Oh, I have been counting the stars," said
the Fox.

"How many are they?' said the Peacock.

"About as many as the fools on earth/ 3
said the Fox.

"But which do you think is the greater, the
number of the stars or of the fools?' asked the
Peacock.

"If you put it so, I should say the fools are
more by one, 53 said the Fox.

Who is that one?' said the Peacock.
Why, my own silly self ! ' ' said the Fox.
How are you silly, Reynard?' questioned
the Peacock.

"Why, was it not foolish of me to count the
stars in the sky, when I could have counted the
stars in your brilliant plumage to better advan-
tage?" said the Fox.

"No, Reynard," said the Peacock, 'therein
is not your folly although there is neither
wit nor wisdom in your prattle but in the

(6
it
it

144 THE TALKING BEASTS

thought that your fine words would make an
easy prey of me!'

The Fox quietly left the place, saying: "The
Knave that hath been found out cannot have legs too

quick. 9

The Tiger and the Giraffe

A TIGER, named Old Guile, who had grown
weak with age, was lying under a tree by the
side of a lake in quest of some animal off which
he could make a meal.

A Giraffe, named Tall Stripes, who came to
the lake to quench his thirst, attracted his
attention, and Old Guile addressed him as
follows: "Oh, what a happy day! I see there
the son of my old friend Yellow Haunch, who
lived in the great forest near that distant
mountain.' 1

Tall Stripes was astonished to hear the words
of Old Guile, and asked him how he, a Tiger,
could be the friend of his father, a Giraffe.

"I am not surprised at your question,' 3
replied Old Guile; "it is a truth known to very
few indeed that the Tiger and the Giraffe be-
long to the same family. Just look at your
skin and my own: yours is of a pale yellow
colour, mine is very nearly the same; you have
stripes, I have them, too. What more proofs
do you want?'

FABLES FROM INDIA 145

Tall Stripes, who was extremely simple and
guileless, believed these words, and said: 'I
am very happy to know that my father was
your friend, and that we are of the same family.
Can I do anything for you?'

Old Guile replied, "No, thank you; old as I
am, I make it a point of relying on myself.
Further, a great part of my time is spent in
prayer and meditation; for I consider it neces-
sary, at this age, to devote all my attention
to spiritual things. It will, however, be a great
gratification to me to have your company when-
ever you should chance to pass by this lake.' :

Tall Stripes acceded to this request, and was
about to go on his Way, when Old Guile observed;
"My dear Tall Stripes, you are well aware of the
instability of all earthly things. I am old and
infirm, and who knows what may happen to me
to-morrow. Perhaps I may not see you again;
so let me do myself the pleasure of embracing
you before you leave me for the present.' 1

"Certainly, 52 said Tall Stripes. Thereupon
Old Guile rose up slowly from his seat, like one
devoid of all energy, and embracing him,
plunged his deadly teeth into his long neck,
and stretching him on the ground made a
hearty breakfast on him.

Beware of the crafty professions of the wicked.

146 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Man of Luck and the Man of Pluck

A KING in the East said to his Minister;
'Do you believe in luck?'

"I do," said the Minister.
'Can you prove it?' said the King.
Yes, I can,' : said the Minister.

So one night he tied up to the ceiling of a
room a parcel containing peas mixed with dia-
monds, and let in two men, one of whom be-
lieved in luck and the other in human effort
alone. The former quietly laid himself dow r n
on the ground; the latter after a series of efforts
reached the parcel, and feeling in the dark the
peas and the stones, ate the former, one by one,
and threw down the latter at his companion,
saying, 'Here are the stones for your idleness.' 1
The man below received them in his blanket.

In the morning the king and the minister
came to the room and bade each take to himself
what he had got. The Man of Effort found he
had nothing beyond the peas he had eaten.
The Man of Luck quietly walked away with
the diamonds.

The Minister said to the King: "Sire, there
is such a thing as luck; but it is as rare as
peas mixed with diamonds. So I would say:
* Let none hope to live by luck. 9

FABLES FROM INDIA 147

The Fox and the Crabs

ONE day a Fox seated himself on a stone by a
stream and wept aloud. The Crabs in the holes
around came up to him and said : ' ' Friend, why
are you wailing so loud?'

"Alas!" said the Fox, 'I have been turned
by my kindred out of the wood, and do not
know what to do.' :

"Why were you turned out?' asked the
Crabs in a tone of pity.

"Because," said the Fox, sobbing, "they said
they should go out to-night hunting Crabs by
the stream, and I said it would be a pity to
kill such pretty little creatures.' 1

t Where will you go hereafter? " said the Crabs.

"WTiere I can get work," said the Fox;
"for I would not go to my kindred again, come
what would.' 1

Then the Crabs held a meeting, and came to
the conclusion that, as the Fox had been thrown
out by his kindred on their account, they could
do nothing better than engage his services to
defend them. So they told the Fox of their
intention. He readily consented, and spent
the whole day in amusing the Crabs with all
kinds of tricks.

Night came. The moon rose in full splendour.

148 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Fox said: 'Have you ever been out for a
walk in the moonlight?'

"Never, friend/ 3 said the Crabs; 'we are
such little creatures that we are afraid of going
far from our holes.' 1

'Oh, never mind!" said the Fox; "follow me!
I can defend you against any foe."

So the Crabs followed him with pleasure.
On the way the Fox told them all sorts of delight-
ful things, and cheered them on most heartily.
Having thus gone some distance, they reached
a plain, where the Fox came to a stand, and
made a low moan in the direction of an adja-
cent wood. Instantly a number of foxes came
out of the wood and joined their kinsman, and
all of them at once set about hunting the poor
Crabs, who fled in all directions for their lives,
but were soon caught and devoured.

When the banquet was over, the Foxes said to
their friend : " How great thy skill and cunning ! '

The heartless villain replied, with a wink:
"My friends, There is cunning in cunning. 9 '

The Camel and the Pig

A CAMEL said: "Nothing like being tall!
Look how tall I am!'

A Pig, who heard these words, said: 'Noth-
ing like being short! Look how short I am!'

FABLES FROM INDIA 149

The Camel said: "Well, if I fail to prove the
truth of what I said, I shall give up my hump."

The Pig said: "If I fail to prove the truth of
what I have said, I shall give up my snout."

"Agreed!' said the Camel.

"Just so!' said the Pig.

They came to a garden, enclosed by a low
wall without any opening. The Camel stood
on this side the wall, and reaching the plants
within by means of his long neck made a break-
fast on them. Then he turned jeeringly to
the Pig, who had been standing at the bottom
of the wall without even a look at the good
things in the garden, and said: 'Now, would
you be tall, or short?'

Next they came to a garden, enclosed by a
high wall, with a wicket gate at one end. The
Pig entered by the gate and, after having eaten
his fill of the vegetables within, came out,
laughing at the poor Camel, who had had to
stay outside, because he was too tall to enter
the garden by the gate, and said: "Now, would
you be tall, or short?'

Then they thought the matter over, and came
to the conclusion that the Camel should keep
his hump and the Pig his snout, observing:
" Tall is good, where tall would do; if short, again,
'tis also true!"

MALAYAN FABLES

"He who is not possessed of such a book as
will dispel many doubts, point out hidden treasures^
and is, as it were, a mirror of all things, is even
an ignorant man. 9

MALAYAN FABLES

Father "Lime-stick' and the Flower-pecker

LD FATHER LIME-STICK once limed
a tree for birds and caught a Flower-
pecker. He was just about to kill
and eat it when the bird cried out, "O Grand-
father, surely you are not going to eat me?
Why, flesh, feathers and all, I am no bigger than
your thumb!' 1 "What! " said the old man; "do
you expect me then to let you go?' "Yes, 5
said the bird, 'only let me go, and I will fetch
you such a talisman as never was a Bezoar-
stone as big as a cocoanut and worth at least a
thousand.' Said the old man, 'Do you really
mean it?' 'Really, I do,' replied the bird.
'Just let me go, and I'll bring it to you.'
Then, on being released, he flew off and perched
on a tree, and began to preen his feathers,
to get rid of the bird-lime.

Presently the old man said : ' ' Where has that
bird got to? Bird, where is the Bezoar-stone
you promised to bring me, the one that was
worth at least a thousand?' c 'Out-on-you,'

153

154 THE TALKING BEASTS

was the reply, 'this is really too ridiculous.
Just think of me, with my body as big as your
thumb, carrying a Bezoar-stone as big as a
cocoanut! It really is too absurd. Why, have
I even got the strength to lift it?' At this the
old man held his peace. : Well, ' continued
the bird, 'you will gain nothing by repenting
that you set me free. Only remember in future
not to undertake an affair quite out of keeping
with your own powers. Neither try to get
your arms round a tree too big for your em-
brace, nor attempt to climb one higher than your
strength permits you. '

The Mouse-deer's Shipwreck

'COME, "said the Mouse-deer to the Stump-
tailed Heron, "come and sail with me to Java.'
So they set sail, and Friend Mouse-deer held
the tiller and Friend Heron spread the sail,
and the wind blew from the north. Soon
however Friend Mouse-deer got drowsy, and let
the boat fall out of the wind.

At this Friend Heron said: "W 7 hy does the
boat fall off? How is your helm, Friend Mouse-
deer?' 'I was only taking a few winks,'
said he. 'Bring her up to the wind again,'
said the Heron. And the Mouse-deer replied:
"All right, I'm 'on the spot.' Presently, how-

MALAYAN FABLES 155

ever, he dozed again and the Heron exclaimed:
'Oh, if that's to be it, you may die and be done
with. I'll peck a hole in this boat of ours
and you'll go to the bottom.'

But the Mouse-deer said: "Please don't,
I'm such a bad hand at swimming.' So they
sailed on. And the Mouse-deer dozed a third
time. At this the Heron could contain himself
no longer, and said, "Confound you, Friend
Mouse-deer, for sleeping at the helm.' And
losing his temper he pecked a hole in the boat,
and the boat let in the water and Friend Heron
flew away. But the Mouse-deer swam struggling
with his feet in the midst of the sea.

Presently there came up a young Shark who
exclaimed, 'I'll have a meal off you this time
at all events.' But the Mouse-deer answered,
"What, Friend Shark, you'll make a meal off
me? Why, in place of the little flesh I've got,
if you'll carry me ashore, I'll teach you some
excellent Magic which will save you from ever
having to hunt for your food again.' To this
the Shark replied, "Agreed. If you'll teach me
'your excellent Magic' I'll carry you ashore.'
So the Mouse-deer got upon Friend Shark's
back, and was carried straight ashore.

And on their arrival the Mouse-deer said:
"Wait here a bit, while I go and get the

156 THE TALKING BEASTS

simples.' And going a-land he hunted up a
rattan creeper arid took it back with him and
said: "Now I'll give you the simples I spoke of,'
and bound it fast to Friend Shark's tail. And
presently the Shark said : ' ; Why have you made
the line fast to my tail?' But the Mouse-deer
replied: 'Keep quite quiet till I have tied you
up properly, and then I'll give you the simples. '
But presently he dragged the Shark up on to
the dry beach, and made butcher's meat of
him. Just then, however, a Tiger came up,
exclaiming, 'Here's really a good meal for Me,
for once in a way!' To this, however, the
Mouse-deer replied : : What is the use of eating
me, when there's already plenty of butcher's
meat and to spare?' 'Very well, I'll share it
with you,' said the Tiger. The Mouse-deer
replied, 'You may share it with me by all means,
if you will only go and get some water to do the
cooking.' So the Tiger went off to get water
and presently came back with it.

'Wash the meat before you roast it,' said
the Mouse-deer. The Tiger took the meat and
washed it in the water. 'Go and fetch fire
and roast it, ' ' said the Mouse-deer. The Tiger
fetched fire and came back to do the cooking.
And when the meat was done, "Now go and
fetch some drinking water,' said the Mouse-

MALAYAN FABLES 157

deer, 'and we'll have our meal together.'
So the Tiger went off again to fetch the drinking
water. But the Mouse-deer in the meantime
made off with the Shark's meat and climbed
up with it to the top of a She-oak Tree. And
presently the Tiger came back and found both
Mouse-deer and meat missing. At this he
exclaimed : ' ' For once in a way, Mr. Mouse-deer,
you've fairly cheated Me; if we don't meet
again no matter, but if we do, I'll be the death
of you.' And here the story ends.

The Tiger Gets His Deserts

A TIGER which had been caught in a trap,
seeing a man, begged to be released. The man
said to the Tiger : ' ' If I let you out of the trap
will you promise not to attack me?' "Cer-
tainly : said the Tiger, and the man therefore
let the Tiger go; but the moment the Tiger was
loose it sprang upon the man and caught him.
At this the man begged the Tiger to wait until
he had inquired how the law stood with refer-
ence to their contract, and the Tiger agreed to
do so. The man and the Tiger therefore set out
together; and on coming to a Road the man
said: 'O Road, Road, is it lawful to requite
evil for good, or good for good only?' The
Road replied: "I do good to mankind, but they

158 THE TALKING BEASTS

requite me with evil, defiling my surface as
they go.' Then they came to a Tree, of which
the man asked the same question. The Tree
replied: 'I do good to mankind, but they re-
quite me with evil, lopping off my branches
and cutting me down.' At last they came
to the Mouse-deer and the man made the same
inquiry as before. The Mouse-deer replied:
'I must really go into the question thoroughly
before I answer it; let us go back together to
the trap. ' On reaching the trap, he requested
the Tiger to 'Step inside," and the Tiger en-
tering the trap, the Mouse-deer let down the
door of the trap, and exclaimed, "Accursed
Brute, you have returned evil for good and now
you shall die for it.' He then called in the
neighbours and had the Tiger killed.

The Tune That Makes the Tiger Drowsy

THERE is a tune which when played upon
the "Kerotong' (a two-stringed bamboo harp)
makes Rimau the Tiger drowsy, but only a
few old people know it. One evening two
men were sitting together and playing in a
hut in the jungle when two tigers overheard
them.

The Tigers took counsel together, and ore
of them said to the other, "You shall be 1

MALAYAN FABLES 159

first to go into the house. Whatever you seize
shall therefore be your portion, but Whatever
plunges down the steps to escape shall be mine. '
At this the second Tiger ascended the house-
ladder and was just crouching upon the topmost
rung when one of the men to amuse himself
commenced to play the Tune that makes the
Tiger drowsy. As soon as the Tiger heard it
he began to grow sleepy, and presently fell
plurnp down the steps to the ground, where
he was seized by his companion. When he
objected his companion exclaimed, 'Did we
not agree that Whatever plunged down the steps
was to be my portion?" and, so saying, he pro-
ceeded to devour him at his leisure.

The Tiger and the Shadow

THERE was a "salt-lick 5 in the jungle to
which all the beasts of the forest resorted, but
they were greatly afraid by reason of an old
Tiger which killed one of them every day. At
length, therefore, P'lando' the Mouse-deer said
to the Tiger, " Why not permit me to bring you
a beast every day, to save you from hunting
for your food?' The Tiger consented and
P'lando' went off to make arrangement with
the beasts. But he could not persuade any of
them to go, and after three days he set off,

160 THE TALKING BEASTS

taking nobody with him but Kuwis the smallest
of the Flying Squirrels.

On their arrival P'lando' said to the Tiger:
'I could not bring you any of the other beasts
because the way was blocked by a fat old Tiger
with a Flying Squirrel sitting astride its muzzle. '
On hearing this the Tiger exclaimed, 'Let
us go and find it and drive it away. ' The three
therefore set out, the Flying Squirrel perched
upon the Tiger's muzzle and the Mouse-deer
sitting astride upon its hind quarters. On
reaching the river, the Mouse-deer pointed
to the Tiger's likeness in the water and ex-
claimed, "Look there! That is the fat old Tiger
that I saw. ' On hearing this, the Tiger sprang
into the river to attack his own shadow, and
was drowned immediately.

The King-crow and the Water-snail

A WATER-SNAIL was coming up-stream from
the lower reaches, when a King-crow heard it.
Said the King-crow to himself: 'Who can it
be coming up-stream that exclaims so loudly
at the rapids? One might say it was a man, but
that there is nothing to be seen. ' So the King-
crow settled on a tree to watch, but as he could
see nothing from his perch on the tree he flew
down to the ground, and walked along by the

MALAYAN FABLES 161

water-side. And when he thought to see some
man exclaiming, he caught sight of the Water-
snail.

"Hullo, you there/ said he, 'where do you
come from?' 'I come from the eddy below
the rapids,' said the Water-snail, 'and I only
want to get as far as the head-waters of this
river.' Said the King-crow: 'Wait a bit.
Suppose you go down to the river-mouth as
quickly as you can and we will have a wager
on it.' (Now rivers are the Water-snail's
domain, in which he has many comrades.)

"What is to be the stake?" asked the Water-
snail. "If I am beaten I will be your slave,
and look after your aroids and wild caladiums
on which all Water-snails feed.' 3 Then the
King-crow asked: "And what will you stake?'
The Water-snail replied, 'If I am beaten, the
river shall be handed over to you and you shall
be King of the River.' But the Water-snail
begged for a delay of twice seven days, saying
that he felt knocked up after ascending the
rapids, and the delay was granted accordingly.

Meanwhile, however, the Water-snail hunted
up a great number of his friends and instructed
them to conceal themselves in each of the higher
reaches of the river, and to reply immediately
when the King-crow challenged them.

162 THE TALKING BEASTS

The day arrived, and the King-crow flew off,
and in each of the higher reaches the Water-
snail's friends replied to the challenge, while at
the river-mouth the Water-snail replied in per-
son. So the King-crow was defeated and has
ever since remained the slave of the Water-snail.

The Elephant Has a Bet with the Tiger

IN THE beginning Gajah the Elephant and
Rimau the Tiger were sworn friends. But one
day they came to a clearing and presently en-
countered Lotong, the long-tailed Spectacle-
monkey. And when he saw the Monkey, the
Elephant said, ' ' Mr. Lotong yonder is far too
noisy; let us try and shake him off; if he falls to
me I am to eat you; and if he falls to you, you
are to eat me we will make a wager of it. '
The Tiger said, "Agreed"; and the Elephant
replied, ' ' Agreed. ' : Very well ! ' ' said the Tiger ;
'you shall try and menace him first.' So
the Elephant tried to menace the Monkey.
"AU! AU! AU!" he trumpeted, and each
time he trumpeted the Monkey was scared.
But the Monkey went jumping head foremost
through the branches and never fell to the ground
at all.

Presently, therefore, the Tiger asked the
Elephant, "Well, Friend Elephant, would you

MALAYAN FABLES 163

like to try your luck again? ' But the Elephant
said, "No, thank you. It shall be your turn
now; and if he falls to you, you shall eat me -
if you really can make him fall!' Then the
Tiger went and roared his longest and loudest,
and shortened his body as for a spring and
growled and menaced the Monkey thrice. And
the Monkey leaped and fell at the Tiger's feet,
for his feet and hands were paralyzed and
would not grip the branches any more. Then
the Tiger said: "Well, Friend Elephant, I
suppose I may eat you now.' But the Ele-
phant said: You have, I admit, won the
wager; but I beg you to grant me just seven
days' respite, to enable me to visit my wife
and children and to make my will. ' The Tiger
granted the request, and the Elephant went
home, bellowing and sobbing every foot of the
way.

Now the Elephant's wife heard the sound of
her husband's voice, and said to her children,
"What can be the matter with your Father that
he keeps sobbing so ? ' And the children listened
to make sure, and said, ' Yes, it really is Father's
voice, the sobbing, and not that of anybody
else. ' Presently Father Elephant arrived, and
Mother Elephant asked: : What were you sob-
bing for, Father? What have you done to

164 THE TALKING^ BEASTS'

yourself?' Father Elephant replied: "I made
a wager with Friend Tiger about shaking down
a Monkey, and Friend Tiger beat me ; I menaced
the Monkey, but he did not fall ; if he had fallen
to me, I was to have eaten Friend Tiger, but if
he fell to Friend Tiger, Friend Tiger was to eat
me. I was beaten, and now Friend Tiger says
he is going to eat me. So I begged leave to come
home and see you, and he has given me just
seven days' respite.'

Now for the seven days Father Elephant kept
sobbing aloud, and neither ate nor slept. And
the thing came to the hearing of Friend Mouse-
deer. 'What can be the matter with Friend
Elephant that he keeps bellowing and bellowing;
neither does he sleep, so that night is turned
into day, and day into night? What on earth
is the matter with him? Suppose I go and see, '
said the Mouse-deer. Then the Mouse-deer
went to see what was wrong, and asked: "What
is the matter with you, Friend Elephant, that
we hear you bellowing and bellowing every single
day and every single night, just now, too, when
the Rains are upon us? You are far too noisy. '

But the Elephant said: "It is no mere empty
noise, Friend Mouse-deer; I have got into a
dreadful scrape.' "What sort of a scrape?'
inquired the Mouse-deer. "I made a wager

MALAYAN FABLES 165

with Friend Tiger about shaking down a Monkey,
and he beat me.' "What was the stake?'
asked the Mouse-deer. "The stake was that
Friend Tiger might eat me if Friend Tiger
frightened it down; and if 1 frightened it down, I
might eat Friend Tiger. It fell to Friend Tiger,
and now Friend Tiger wants to eat me. And
my reason for not eating or sleeping any more
is that I have got only just seven days' respite
to go home and visit my wife and children and
to make my will. ' Then the Mouse-deer said:
"If it came to Friend Tiger's eating you, I
should feel exceedingly sorrowful, exceedingly
distressed; but things being only as you say,
I feel neither. ' "If you will assist me," said the
Elephant, " I will become your slave, and my de-
scendants shall be your slaves forever. ' '' Very
well, if that is the case, I will assist you, ' ' said
the Mouse-deer. " Go and look for a jar full of
molasses.' Friend Elephant promised to do so,
and went to look for it at the house of a maker
of palm-wine. The owner of the house fled for
his life, and the jar fell into Friend Elephant's
possession, who bore it back to the Mouse-deer.
Then Friend Mouse-deer said, "When does
your promise expire?' and Friend Elephant
replied, "To-morrow.' So when next morning
arrived they started, and the Mouse-deer said,

166 THE TALKING BEASTS

"Now pour the molasses over your back and
let it spread and spread and run down your
legs.' Friend Elephant did as he was ordered.
Friend Mouse-deer then instructed the Elephant
as follows: 'As soon as I begin to lick up the
molasses on your back, bellow as loud as you
can and make believe to be hurt, and writhe and
wriggle this way and that. '

And presently Friend Mouse-deer commenced
to lick hard, and Friend Elephant writhed and
wriggled and made believe to be hurt, and made
a prodigious noise of trumpeting. In this way
they proceeded and Friend Mouse-deer got up
and sat astride upon Friend Elephant's back.
And the Elephant trumpeted and trumpeted
all the way till they met with Friend Tiger.
At this Friend Mouse-deer exclaimed, "A
single Elephant is very short commons; if I
could only catch that big and fat old Tiger
there, it would be just enough to satisfy my
hunger. '

Now when Friend Tiger heard these words
of the Mouse-deer, he said to himself, 'So I
suppose if you catch me, you'll eat me into the
bargain, will you?' And Friend Tiger stayed
not a moment longer, but fled for his life, fetch-
ing very lofty bounds.

And soon he met with the Black Ape, and

"NOW WHEN FRIEND TIGEB HEARD THESE WORDS OF THE MOUSE-
DEER, HE SAID TO HIMSELF, *SO I SUPPOSE IF YOU CATCH ME, YOU
WILL EAT ME INTO THE BARGAIN, WILL YOU? ' AND FRIEND TIGEB
STAYED NOT A MOMENT LONGER, BUT FLED FOR HIS LIFE"

MALAYAN FABLES 167

Friend Ape asked, 'Why running so hard,
Friend Tiger? Why so much noise, and why,
just when the Rains are upon us, too, do you go
fetching such lofty bounds?' Friend Tiger
replied, "What do you mean by 'so much noise'?
What was the Thing that was got upon Friend
Elephant's back, that had caught Friend Ele-
phant and was devouring him so that he went
writhing and wriggling for the pain of it, and
the blood went streaming down in floods?
Moreover the Thing that was got on Friend
Elephant's back said, to my hearing, that a
single Elephant was very short commons: but
if It could catch a fat old Tiger like myself
that would be just enough to satisfy Its hunger. '
Friend Ape said, ' : What was that Thing, Friend
Tiger? " " I don't know, " said the Tiger. " Ah, "
mused the Ape, "I wonder if it could be Friend
Mouse-deer ! ' " Certainly not, ' ' said the Tiger ;
'why, how in the world could Friend Mouse-
deer swallow Me? To say nothing of his not
being used to meat food. ' " Come and let us
go back again," said the Ape.

Then they went back again to find the Ele-
phant, and first the Ape went the faster, and
then the Tiger went the faster, and then the
Ape got in front again. But Friend Mouse-
deer sitting on Friend Elephant's back saw them

168 THE TALKING BEASTS

coming and shouted. 'Hullo, Father Ape,'
said he, "this is a dog's trick indeed; you prom-
ised to bring me two tigers and you only bring
me one. I refuse to accept it, Father Ape.'
Now when Friend Tiger heard this, he ran
off at first as fast as he could, but presently he
slackened his pace and said, 'It is too bad of
you, Friend Ape, to try to cozen me in order
to pay your own debts. For shame, Father
Ape! It was only through good luck that he
refused to accept me; if he had accepted, I
should have been dead and done with. So now,
if you come down to the ground, you shall die
the death yourself, just for your trying to cheat

me.

Thus the Tiger and the Ape were set at en-
mity, and to this day the Tiger is very wroth
with the Ape for trying to cheat him. And
here the story ends.

MOORISH FABLES

* While watching man in all his phases,
And seeing that, in many cases,

He acts just like the brute creation
I've thought the lord of all these races
Of no less failings showed the traces
Than do his lieges in relation. '

MOORISH FABLES

The Wagtail and the Jackal

A A time when the animals spoke, a
Wagtail laid her eggs on the ground.
The little ones grew up. A Jackal and
a Fox came to them. The Jackal said to the
Fox:

"Swear to me tha the Wagtail owes me a
pound of butter. '

The Fox swore to it. The Bird began to weep.
A Greyhound came to her and asked her
what w r as the matter. She answered him:

"The Fox has calumniated me.'

"Well,' said the Hound, "put me in this
sack of skin. '

She put him in the sack. 'Tie up the
top well, ' ' said the Hound. When the Jackal
returned she said to him,

' Come and measure out the butter. '

The Jackal advanced and unfastened the
sack. He saw the Hound, who stretched out
his paws and said to the Fox,

"I am ill; come and measure, Fox.'

171

172 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Fox approached. The Hound seized
him. The Jackal said:

"Remember your false testimony.'

The Wren

A WREN had built its nest on the side of a road.
When the eggs were hatched, a Camel passed
that way. The little Wrens saw it and said to
their father when he returned from the fields :
*O papa, a gigantic animal passed by.'

The Wren stretched out his foot. 'As big
as this, my children?'

"O papa, much bigger.'

He stretched out his foot and his wing. 'As
big as this?'

"O papa, much bigger.'

Finally he stretched out fully his feet and legs.
"As big as this then?'
2' Much bigger."

"That is a lie; there is no animal bigger than
lam."

"Well, wait,' said the little ones, 'and you
will see.'

The Camel came back while browsing the
grass of the roadside.

The Wren stretched himself out near the
nest. The Camel seized the bird, which passed
through its teeth safe and sound.

MOORISH FABLES 173

'Truly, ' ' he said to them, " the Camel is a gi-
gantic animal, but I am not ashamed of myself. "
On the earth it generally happens that the
vain are as if they did not exist; but sooner or
later a rock falls and crushes them.

Mule, Jackal, and Lion

THE Mule, the Jackal, and the Lion went in

company.

We will eat the one whose race is bad,"

they said to each other.

4 Lion, who is your father?'
"My father is a lion, and my mother is a

lioness. '

"And you, Jackal, what is your father?'
'My father is a jackal, and my mother too.'
'And you, Mule, what is your father?'
"My father is an ass, and my mother is a

mare. '

"Your race is bad; we will eat you.'

He answered them: 'I will consult an old

man. If he says that my race is bad, you may

devour me.'

He went to a farrier, and said to him, "Shoe

my hind feet, and make the nails stick out well. '
He went back home. He called the Camel

and showed him his feet, saying, ' ' See what is

written on this tablet.

174 THE TALKING BEASTS

"The writing is difficult to decipher,' an-
swered the Camel. 'I do not understand it,
for I only know three words - - outini, ouzatini,
ouazakin. '

He called the Lion, and said to him, "I do
not understand these letters; I only know three
words - - outini, ouzatini, ouazakin. '

"Show it to me,' said the Lion. He ap-
proached. The Mule struck him between the
eyes and stretched him out level.

He who goes with a knave is betrayed by him.

AFRICAN FABLES

The world is old, they say; I don't deny it;

But, infant still

In taste and will,
Whoe'er would teach, must gratify it.'

AFRICAN FABLES

The Hen and the Cat

A^AT arose in her house, went to a Hen
and said to her: "Let us make
friendship ! '

The Hen replied to the Cat: "Dost thou like
me for a friend?'

The Cat said, Yes,' and went away, and
after having been at home for a while, she sent
her child to the Hen, saying, ' Go and tell the
Hen to rise up early to-morrow morning, and
to come and accompany me to a neighbouring
town.'

The child arose, went to the Hen's house and
saluted her.

The Hen arose, and asked it: 'Thou child
of the Cat, dost thou come to me in peace?'

The Cat's child replied, ( I come in peace;
my mother has sent me to thee. '

The Hen said to the Cat's child, "Say what
thy mother has sent thee for; let me know.'

After the Cat's child had told it to the Hen, it
said: "I will go," and set out and went home.

177

178 THE TALKING BEASTS

When it was gone the Hen arose, called a
child of hers, and said: 'Go and ask the Cat
at what time we shall go to the neighbouring
town?' When the child had already started,
she called it back again, saying, 'Come back,
I will tell thee something. '

'The child returned, and when it had come
to its mother, she said to it, : When thou goest
to the Cat, open thy ears and hear well what
she says, and come and tell me.'

The child went to the Cat, and saluted her,
and when the Cat arose and came out to it,
the Hen's child was standing there. The Cat
asked the Hen's child, "Why did thy mother
send thee to me?'

The Hen's child said, "My mother said I
must come and ask thee how early shall we go
to the neighbouring town?'

The Cat said to the Hen's child, "Go and tell
thy mother to arise and come at the cock-
crowing; for what should eat her?'

The Hen's child returned to its mother, and
said to her, * Behold I went to the Cat's place
where thou sentest me, and am come back.'

The Hen said to her child, "What did the
Cat say? Let me hear what word she spoke?'

Her child answered and said to her, "My
mother, the word which the Cat spoke is this:

AFRICAN FABLES 179

'Go and tell thy mother to come to me when the
cock crows, that we may go; for what should
eat her'?"

Its mother, the Hen, said to her child, "My
child, lie down in your house, for I have heard
what the Cat said. '

The child of the Hen obeyed her mother,
went and lay down, and also her mother lay
down. They slept their sleep until the cock
crew, which when the Cat heard, she arose, got
ready and waited for the Hen, thinking, "May
she come that we may go!' The cock crew
the second time, and the Cat looked out on the
way whence the Hen was to come, thinking,

'May she come that we may go!'

The Hen did not get up at home and day came
on. When it became day, the Cat arose in her
house, went to the Hen's home, and said to her,

'Hen, thou sentest thy child to me, and asked

at what time thou shouldst rise up, and I said

to thy child, 'Go and tell thy mother to come

when the cock crows, that we may go.' Did it not

tell thee what it was told by me, that thou art

still sitting at home although it has become day? '

The Hen said to the Cat, ' ' Sister Cat, if thou

wishest to have me for a friend, I must never

get up in my house and come out at night. '

The Cat said to the Hen, "What art thou

180 THE TALKING BEASTS

afraid of that thou sayest, 'I will never come out
at night'? What is there in the way? '

The Hen listened to what the Cat said, got
herself ready and called her children, saying,
'Come and let us accompany the Cat to a
neighbouring town!' All the children arose
and when they had set out on their way, the
Cat went before, and having gone on a little,
she seized two of the children of the Hen; and
the Hen saw that the cat was seizing two of
her children; so she said to the Cat, "Sister
Cat, we have scarcely set out on our way and
dost thou seize two of my children?'

The Cat replied, ' Thy two children which I
took have not strength enough to walk; therefore
did I take them to my bosom that we may
go on.' :

The Hen said to the Cat, "If thou actest thus,
I and thou must dissolve our friendship. '

The Cat replied, "If thou wilt not have a
friend, I shall let thee go home.' So, as the
Hen began to go home, the Cat made a bound,
and seized the Hen's head, whereupon the Hen
cried for help. All the people of the town heard
her, arose, ran, and when they were come, the
Cat was holding the Hen's head tight. When
the Cat saw the people of the town, she left
the Hen, ran away, and entered the forest.

AFRICAN FABLES 181

There the Hen was standing and the people
of the town said to her : ' Foolish one, didst thou,
a Hen, arise and go to befriend a Cat? If we
had not heard thy screams, and come to thee,
she would have killed thee and carried away all
thy children into her forest. '

The Hen said to the people of the town:
"God bless you: you have taken me out of the
Cat's mouth. '

The people of the town said to her: "To-day
our Lord has delivered thee, but for the future
do thou no more make friendship with the
Cat. The Cat is too cunning for thee : beware
of the Cat in future!'

I have heard old people say, that on that day
the cats and the fowls dissolved their friendship.
This is finished.

The Stork and the Toad

A STORK went and laid eggs in a tree, brooded
and hatched young ones. Then she left and went
to seek food for her little ones; but she did not
get any food, and all her little ones were crying
for hunger. The Stork did not know what to
do. So she arose one day, went to her friend,
and said, ' My friend, I am corne to thee. '

Her friend said: "What dost thou want that
thou art come to me? "

182 THE TALKING BEASTS

She replied to her friend: "My children are
hungry, and I have no food; therefore, am I
come to thee; teach me a device!'

Her friend said to her: 'Arise in the morn-
ing, go to the brook, and see whether there
are Toads in it; then come back, and on the
following morning go again, and lie down by
the side of the brook; stretch out thy legs and
thy wings, shut thine eyes, keep quite silent,
and lie in one place until the Toads come
out in the morning, and, after seeing thee,
go home and call all their people to come, to
take thee by the wing and to drag thee away.
But do not thou speak to them be perfectly
quiet.' 1

She listened to what her friend said, and at
night-quiet she arose, and went to the brook,
when all the Toads were singing; but as soon as
they saw her, they went and hid themselves
at the bottom of the water. So the Stork went
home and slept, and having slept she arose up
early and went back again to the brook, without
being observed by the Toads; she went softly,
and lay down by the side of the water, pre-
tending to be dead, stretched out her legs, her
wings, and her mouth, and shut her eyes. Thus
she lay, until at break of day when one Toad
arose, and, finding that it was day, came forth

AFRICAN FABLES 183

and saw the Stork lying. He went back, and
called all the Toads:

"Come, behold, I have seen something dead,
lying at the door of our house, and when I had
seen it I came back to call you. '

So all the Toads arose and followed him, and
having come out, they all saw a Stork lying
at the door of their house; but they did not know
that the Stork was more cunning than themselves.
They returned home, called a council together
and said: "What shall we do? Some one who
came, we do not know whence, has died before
the gate of our town.' All their great men
answered, and said, 'Arise all of you, go out,
drag this dead body far away, and leave it
there."

So they all arose, went, and, taking the Stork
by its wings and legs, dragged it away.

The Stork was cunning; she saw them without
their knowing it. They sang, as they dragged
her away:

" Drag her and leave her ! Drag her and leave
her!"

The Stork did not speak to them, as they all
dragged her away, although she saw them. Now
when they had carried her far away, the Stork
opened her eyes, which when they saw they all
began to run away. As soon as the Stork saw

184 THE TALKING BEASTS

that the Toads had begun to run away, she
arose, and pursued them; having overtaken
one, she took and swallowed it, and went on
taking and swallowing them. The Toads kept
running, but by the time they would have got
home the Stork had swallowed them all, one
by one. She had filled her bag, and then started
on her way home. As soon as her children
saw her, they all ran to their mother, saying,
'Our mother has brought us food.' When
they came their mother threw all the Toads
in her bag down to her children, and her chil-
dren ate them, so that their hunger was appeased.
The Stork arose, went to her friend, and said :
'My friend, what thou toldest me yesterday
is excellent: I went and lay down by the side
of the brook, and when the Toads saw me in
the morning, they thought I was dead; they
came, dragged me along, and when they had
carried me far away, not knowing that I was
wiser than they and thinking that I was dead,
I opened mine eyes to look at them; but on
seeing me open mine eyes, they all began to
run away. Then I arose, pursued them, and
when I had overtaken one, I took and swallowed
it; and when I had overtaken a second I took
and swallowed it; so by the time they would have
reached home I had swallowed them all, and

AFRICAN FABLES 185

filled my bag with them. I brought them to
my children, and when my children were around
me, I threw the Toads before them out of the
bag and they ate them, that their hunger was
appeased. '

She also thanked her friend, saying: 'God
bless thee; thou hast taught me an excellent
device. '

Thus the Stork and her friend devised a plan,
and thus they were able to maintain their
children while the Toads were sitting in their
house.

So now, when the Toads are croaking in a
brook, and they see any one come, they are all
quite silent, supposing that a Stork is coming.

This fable of the Stork and Toads, which I
heard, is now finished.

The Rat and the Toad

THE Toad said to the Rat, 'I can do more
than thou. '

The Rat replied to the Toad: "Thou dost
not know how to run; having flung thyself
anywhere thou stoppest there. This is all thy
run; and wilt thou say that thou canst do more
than I?"

When the Toad had heard the words of the
Bat he said to him: "If, according to thy

186 THE TALKING BEASTS

opinion, I cannot do more than thou, thou shall
see what I will begin to do to-morrow; and if
thou beginnest and doest the same, without
anything happening to thee, thou canst do
more than I. '

The Rat agreed to the Toad's proposal, and
went to see the Toad.

The Toad prepared himself, and w r hen the
sun reached about the middle, between the
horizon and the zenith, the great men felt its
heat, and went to sit down in the shade of a tree.
The Toad on seeing this, arose, went to where
the men were sitting, and passed through the
midst of them. When the men observed him
they said: 'If you touch him, your hand will
become bitter.' So no one couched him, and
the Toad passed through and went home.

Then the Toad said to the Rat, ' Didst thou
see me? Now if thou canst do what I do, arise,
and begin to do it. I will see ! '

The Rat, attending to what the toad said,
got ready and the following morning, when the
sun had gained strength and the great men had
stood up and got under the shade of a tree, the
Rat saw them sitting there, and went to do what
the Toad had done; but when he came to where
the men were sitting, and just went to pass
through the midst of them, they saw him, and

AFRICAN FABLES 187

they all took sticks, and sought to kill him: one
man attempting to kill him with a stick, struck
at him, but did not hit him well, the stick
touching him only a little on the back; so he
ran away to the Toad.

On his arrival the Rat said to the Toad:
'Brother Toad, as thou wentest to where the
people were sitting no one said a word to thee,
and thou earnest home again with a sound skin;
but when I went, and they saw me, just as I
went to pass through them they all took sticks,
and sought to kill me; and one man taking a
stick and striking at me to kill me, our Lord
helped me, that the stick hit me only a little
on the back; so I ran away, and came to thee.
I disputed with thee, thinking that I could do
what thou doest : now to-day I have experienced
something; to-morrow let us begin again and
when I have the experience of to-morrow, I
shall be able to give thee an answer.'

The Toad said to the Rat: "The things of to-
day are passed; to-niorrow, when the great men
have gone and sat down under the tree, I will
get ready and when thou hast seen that, on
observing me come to them and pass through
the midst of them, they will not say a word
to me, thou also shalt do what I did.' So
the Rat then went to see the Toad.

188 THE TALKING BEASTS

As soon as the Toad saw the great men sitting
under the tree, he again began, saying to the
Rat, "Look at me, as I go to the place where
the great men are sitting, with a sound skin:
but if, on my return from them, if thou seest
the wale of a stick on any part of my body,
thou hast spoken the truth, and canst do more
than I."

The Toad got ready, and on coming to where
the men were sitting no one said anything to
him; so he passed through the midst of them,
and went again to the Rat, saying: "Look at
me! Look at my whole body! Canst thou see
the wale of a stick? If thou seest one, then tell
me of it!"

When the Rat had looked at the Toad's
whole body and not seen any wale of a stick
he said to the Toad:

'Brother Toad, I have looked at thy whole
body, and not seen any wale of a stick: thou
art right.'

The Toad said to the Rat. 'As thou disputest
with me, and maintainest that thou canst do
what 1 do, get up again, and go to where the great
men are sitting; and if on seeing thee, these men
do not say anything to thee, so that I see thee
come back to me again with a sound skin, then
I know that thou canst do more than I.

AFRICAN FABLES 189

The Rat, attending to what the Toad said,
arose, got himself ready, and when he saw the
great men sitting under the tree, he went toward
them; but on observing him, they said: 'Here
comes a Rat," and they every one took a stick,
and pursued him in order to kill him; so he ran
away, and as he ran, a man with a stick pursued
him; saying, *I will not let this Rat escape.'

The Rat ran until his strength failed him. The
man pursued him with his stick, to kill him;
and having come near to him, he took his stick,
and struck at him, with the purpose of killing
him; but the stick did not hit him, and God saved
him, his time being not yet arrived, by showing
him a hole into which he crept. When the man
saw that he had gotten into the hole, he went
back and returned home. The Rat, on seeing
that the man had gone home, came again out
of the hole, and went to the Toad, saying to him:

"Brother Toad, I indeed at first disputed with
thee, saying that I could do more than thou;
but, as for my disputing with thee, thou in
truth canst do more than I: when the people
saw thee, they did not say a word to thee, but
when they saw me, they wished to kill me; if
our Lord had not helped me and showed me a
hole, they, on seeing me, would not have left,
but killed me; thou surpassest me in greatness.'

190 THE TALKING BEASTS

At that time the Rat entreated our Lord and
he placed it in a hole, but the Toad he placed
in the open air. The Rat does not come out
by day, before any one ; as to the time when it
comes out at night, it stretches its head out of
the hole, and when it does not see anybody
it comes out to seek its food.

As for the Toad, it comes out by day and by
night, at any time, whenever it likes; it comes
out and goes about, not anything likes to
molest it; it is bitter, no one eats it on account
of its bitterness; the Toad is left alone; therefore
it goes about wherever it likes.

The Rat does not come out of its hole and walk
about except at night.

What the Toad and the Rat did, this I heard,
and have told to thee. This fable of the Toad
and the Rat is now finished.

The Lion and the Wild Dog

THE Lion said to the Wild Dog that he did
not fear any one in the forest except these four,
viz., 'tree-leaves, grass, flies, and earth, and when
the Wild Dog said, "There is certainly one
stronger than thou," the Lion replied to the
Wild Dog, "I kill the young ones of the elephant,
the wild cow, and the leopard, and bring them
to my children to be eaten. If I give one roar,

AFRICAN FABLES 191

all the beasts of the forest tremble, every one of
them, on hearing me roar none is greater than
I within this forest.

The Wild Dog said to the Lion, "As thou
sayest that thou fearest not any one in this
forest, so let us go and show me thy house;
and I will come and call thee, in order to show
thee a place where a black bird comes to eat,
as soon as I shall see him again. '

The Lion took the Wild Dog with him and
showed him his house; and then the Wild Dog
went home.

The next day, when a hunter was come to the
forest the Wild Dog, on seeing him, went to the
Lion's house, and said to the Lion:

"Brother Lion, come, and follow me, and I
will show thee something which I have seen.'

The Lion arose and followed the Wild Dog, and
when they were come to where the hunter was,
the hunter prepared himself: he had put on
his forest garment, had sewn the bill of a long
bird to his cap, and put it on his head, and he
walked as a bird. The Wild Dog, seeing him,
said to the Lion:

"Brother Lion, yonder is that black bird.
Go and catch him, and when thou hast caught
him. please give me one of his legs, for I want
it for a charm. '

192 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Lion attended to what the Wild Dog said,
and went softly to where the bird was; but the
Wild Dog ran back.

The Lion went, thinking, "I will kill the bird, '
but he did not know that on seeing him the
hunter had prepared himself, and taken out his
arrow; so, as he thought, 'I will go and seize
the bird,' and was come close to the hunter,
the hunter shot an arrow at the Lion and hit
him. Then the Lion fell back, and having got
up and fallen down three times, the arrow
took effect and he felt giddy. In the same
moment the hunter had disappeared 1 so that he
saw him no more. Then the Lion recovered
his courage and went very gently home.

On his arrival at home the Wild Dog said to
him:

'Brother Lion, as thou saidst to me that
thou art not afraid of any one in the world
except our Lord, tree-leaves, grass, flies, and
dirt, why didst thou not catch that black
bird which I showed thee, and bring it to thy
children?'

The Lion replied, 'This man's strength is
greater than mine.'

1 This refers to the universal belief that hunters are able to render
themselves invisible, in moments of danger, by the operation of charms
and witchcraft.

AFRICAN FABLES 193

Then the Wild Dog said again, 'Thou saidst
that thou fearest no one, except grass, flies, earth
and tree-leaves; thou fearest, lest when thou
enterest the forest, the leaves of trees should
touch thee, or lest grass should touch thy body,
or lest flies should sit on thy skin; thou also
fearest to lie upon the bare earth, and thou
fearest our Lord, who created thee: all these
thou fearest, ' but not any other I fear within
this forest,' thou saidst; and yet I showed thee
a bird, the which thou couldst not kill, but thou
leftest it, and rannest home; now tell me how
this bird looks?'

The Lion answered and said to the Wild Dog:

'Wild Dog, what thou saidst is true, and I

believe it; a black man is something to be

feared; if we do not fear a black man neither

shall we fear our Lord who created us.'

Now all the wild beasts which God has created
hunt for their food in the forest, and eat it;
but as soon as they see one black man standing,
they do not stop and wait, but run away. Now
the following beasts are dangerous in the forest :
viz., the leopard, the lion, the wild cow, the wild
dog and the hyena; but when they see a black
man, they do not stop and wait. As for the
dispute which the Lion and the Wild Dog had,
the Wild Dog was right, and the Lion gave him

194 THE TALEJNQ/BEASTS

his right; then they shook hands again, and each
went and ran to his own home. This fable,
which I heard, respecting the Wild Dog and the
Lion, is now finished.

How Sense Was Distributed

IN THE beginning not one of all the beasts of
the forest was endowed with sense: when they
saw a hunter come to them intending to kill
them, they stood and looked at the hunter, and
so the hunter killed them; day after day he
killed them. Then our Lord sent one who put
all the sense into a bag, tied it, carried it, and
put it down under a large tree.

The Weasel saw the man put the bag down,
and afterward went, called the Hare, and said
to him:

"Brother Hare, I saw a man put something
down under a tree, but as I went to take it, I
could not; so let us go and if thou wilt take it I
will show it to thee that thou mayest do so. '

When the Weasel and the Hare had gone
together to where the bag was, the Weasel said
to the Hare, "Behold, here is the thing which I
could not take and for which I called thee here. '

But as the Hare went and attempted to take
it, he could not, so he left it and went away.

'" ' s ^:-\.-

"WHEN THE WEASEL AND THE HARE HAD GONE TOGETHEB TO
WHERE THE BAG WAS, THE WEASEL SAID TO THE HARE, *BEHOLD,
HERE IS THE THING WHICH I COULD NOT TAKE AND FOE WHICH

1 CALLED THEE HEBE' "

AFRICAN FABLES 195

When he was gone the Weasel went again to
take hold of the bag, but as he attempted to take
it, it was too heavy ; so the Weasel did not know
what to do. Then came a Pigeon, who sat upon a
tree, and said something to the Weasel. The
Weasel heard it say: 'Lean it over and take it. '
And again, "Bend it and take it.'

As soon as he had heard this, he dragged the
bag along and thus brought it and leaned it
against a tree, and caused it to stand in an
inclined position; then having gone to the
bottom of it, he bowed down, put his head to
the bag, and as he drew the bag toward him it
went upon his head; this being done, he pressed
himself upon the ground, rose up and stood there.
After this he went his way home, and on putting
the bag down upon the ground and untying it,
the YWeasel saw that there was no other thing
in the bag, but pure sense.

So he went and called the Hare again, and
when the Hare was come, he said to him:

"Brother Hare, there was not a single other
thing in that bag but pure sense : God has loved
us so that to-day we have obtained sense; but
do not tell it to anybody, then I will give thee
a little, and what remains I will hide in my hole
until some one comes and begs of me, and then
I will give him also a little.'

196 THE TALKING BEASTS

So he took one sense and gave to the Hare,
saying, "If thou takest home this one sense,
which I give thee, it will preserve thee. When
thou sleepest by day open thy eyes; then if one
comes to thee, thinking, 'I have got meat, I will
take it,' and sees that thine eyes are open, he
will think that thou art not asleep, will leave
thee alone and go ; but when thou goest and liest
down without sleeping, then shut thine eyes, and
if one sees thee, and sees that thine eyes are
shut, when he comes close to thee, saying, 'I
have got meat, I will take it,' then thou wilt see
him, rise up and run away into thy forest.
This one sense will be enough for thee; but what
remains I will keep in mine own house.' The
Hare took his one sense and went home.

Now if one sees a Hare lying with his eyes
open, it sleeps, but if its eyes are closed it is
awake, and does not sleep. By this one sense
which it has got the Hare is preserved.

The Weasel took all the sense that was left
and hid it in his house. The Weasel surpasses
all the beasts of the field in sense. W T hen you see
the Weasel, and say, "There the King of Sense
has come out," and drive it before you, saying,
"I will catch it,' : it runs into its hole; and if
you begin to dig up the hole, it comes out be-
hind you, and runs until you see it no more.

AFRICAN FABLES 197

This is why now if one sees a Weasel, one calls
it "The King of Sense."

Amongst all the beasts of the field he dis-
tributed sense only little by little, and this is
what they now have.

This word, showing how sense came abroad
in the world, and the meaning of which I have
heard, is now finished.

What Employment Our Lord Gave to Insects

ALL the Insects assembled and went to our
Lord to seek employment. On their arrival
they said to our Lord, ' Thou hast given every
one his work; now give us also a work to do, that
we may have something to eat.'

Our Lord attended to the request of the In-
sects, and said to them, "Who will give notice
that to-morrow all the Insects are to come?'

The Merchant-insect arose and said to our
Lord, "The Cricket can give notice well.'

So our Lord called the Cricket and said to him
when he was come, 'Go and give notice this
evening, when the sun has set, that to-morrow
morning all the Insects are to come to me, for
I wish to see them.'

The Cricket, obeying our Lord's command,
went back to his house, waited until evening,
until the sun set, and as soon as he had seen

198 THE TALKING BEASTS^

the setting of the sun, he prepared and arose to
give notice. So when the Cricket had given
notice until midnight, our Lord sent a man to
him saying: "Go and tell the Cricket, that there
has been much notice, and that it is now
enough; else he will have the headache. 52 But
the Cricket would not hear, he said: 'If I
am out they will see me.' So he went into
his hole, stretched only his head out, and began
to give notice. The Cricket went on giving
notice until the day dawned; but when it was
day he became silent and stopped giving notice.
Then all the Insects arose and went to the
prayer-place of our Lord, the Merchant alone
being left behind. To all the Insects who came
first, our Lord gave their employment, which
they all took and went home.

Afterward also the Merchant-insect went to>
our Lord, and our Lord said to him: 'To all
thy people who came before, I have given their
work, and they are gone; now what kept thee
back that thou earnest to me last?'

The Merchant-insect replied to our Lord, " My
bags are many and on the day when I took my
bags and bound them up in my large travelling
sacks to load them upon my asses, then my
people left me behind and came to thee first.'

Our Lord said to him: "All other employ

AFRICAN FABLES 199

ments are assigned; the people who came first
took them and went away; but stop, I will also
give one to thee. Go, and having arrived at
the entrance of the black ants, where are a
great many ant-heads, when thou seest these
many heads of the black ants, take them, and
fill thy bags with them; then load thy bags
upon thy ass, carry them to market, spread
mats there, and sell them."

So the Merchant-insect obtained his employ-
ment, drove his ass, and went from our Lord,
picked up ant-heads at the entrance of the black
ants, loaded his ass, and went his way to the
market. As he w r ent the ass threw off the large
bag. Then, he alone not being able to lift the
bag, he called people, saying: 'Come, be so
good as to help me; let us take the sacks and
load mine ass;' but not any of the people
would do so. Then the little red ants came
after him, and when they were come to where
he was, he said to them, "Please come and help
me to load mine ass". The little red Ants
said to the Merchant-insect, '' We will not help
thee for nothing. '

The Merchant-insect said to the little red
Ants, "If you will not help me for nothing, then
come and help me, and when I have come
back from the market, I will pay you. '

200 THE TALKING BEASTS

The littled red Ants helped him to load his
ass, and the Merchant-insect drove his ass to
the market, put down his sacks in trie midst
of the market-place, prepared the ground, spread
his mat there, and having sold his ant-heads,
he bought his things, and the market people
began to disperse.

Then the Merchant-insect started on his way
home, and as he went the little red Ants saw
him, and said to him, "Father-merchant, give
us what thou owest us. '

The Merchant, however, refused them their
due, and went on his way. Now as he went he
got fever so that he sat down under a tree,
tied his ass fast, and took off the sacks from his
ass's back. As he sat there the fever over-
powered him, and he lay down. On seeing him
lying the little red Ants assembled and came
to him. Now the fever was consuming the Mer-
chant-insect's strength, and when the little
red Ants saw this they assembled together and
killed him.

There was one" Insect who saw them kill him,
and he ran to our Lord, and said to him, "All
the little red Ants assembled together and killed
a man in the midst of the town that I saw it."

When our Lord heard what the Insect said
he called a man and sent him, saying: "Go and

AFRICAN FABLES 201

call the little red Ants which kill people and

4

bring them to me. '

The messenger arose, "went, called all the little
red Ants and brought them before our Lord.
On seeing the little red Ants, our Lord asked
them, " Why did you kill the man? " The little
red Ants answered, and said to our Lord,
"The reason why we killed this man is this:
When he went to market and his ass had
thrown off the sacks, those sacks were too heavy
for him to take alone, so he called us, and when
we came to him, he said to us, Tlease help me
to take my large bag and load it upon mine ass,
that I may go to market. When I have sold my
things and come back, I will pay you.' Accord-
ingly we helped him to load his ass ; but when he
had gone to market and sold all his things there,
we saw him on his return home, and went to
him, to ask him for what he owed us; but he
refused it, drove his ass, and went homeward.
However, he was only gone a little while, when
he got fever, sat down under a tree, tied his ass
fast, took off his sacks and laid them down;
and on the same spot where he sat down, the
fever overpowered him that he lay down.
Then on seeing him lying we went, assembled
ourselves and killed him, because he had
refused what he owed us. '

202 THE TALKING BEASTS

Our Lord gave them righc.

Our Lord said to the Merchant, "Thou goest
to market until thy life stands still." Our
Lord said to the Cricket, "Do thou give notice
whenever it is time ! This is thy work. '

Our Lord said to the Httle red Ants, "When-
ever ye see any Insect unwell and lying down in a
place, then go, assemble yourselves and finish it.' 3

Now the Cricket begins to give notice as
soon as it is evening and does not keep silence
in his hole until the morning comes; this is its
employment. The Merchant has no farm and
does not do any work, but constantly goes to
market; this is its employment, given to it by the
Lord. Now the litle red Ants, whenever they
see an Insect unwell and lying down they go
and assemble themselves against that Insect,
and, even if that Insect has not yet expired
they finish it. This our Lord gave to the little
red Ants for their employment.

I have now told thee the fable of the Insects,
which I have heard of Omar Pesami. This is

finished.

Man and Turtle

LET me tell of Turtle of Koka.

Man of Lubi la Suku caught a Turtle in the
bush; he came with it to the village. They
said: "Let us kill it!"

AFRICAN FABLES 203

Some people said: 'How shall we kill it?
They said: 'We shall cut it with hatchets.
Turtle replied, saying:

99
99

"Turtle of Koka,
And hatchet of Koka;
Hatchet not kill me a bit. 5

The people said: "What shall we kill him
with?' 2 Some said: s W T e shall kill him with
stones.' Turtle, fear grasped him, he said: 'I
am going to die. ' He says by mouth :

"Turtle of Koka,
And stone of Koka;
Stone will not kill me a bit/'

The people said: 'Let us cast him into the
fire!" Turtle said:

"Turtle of Koka,
And fire of Koka;
Fire will not kill me a bit.
On my back,
It is like stone;
Not there can
Catch on fire."

The people said: "We will kill him with
knives.' 1 Turtle said:

"Turtle of Koka,
And knife of Koka;
Knife will not kill me a bit."

204 THE TALKING BEASTS

The people said: This fellow, how shall we
do? How shall we kill him?' These said:
"Let us cast him into the depth of water.'
Turtle said : '' Woe ! I shall die there ! How shall
I do? ' The people said : " We have it ! We have
found the way we can kill him!'

They carry him; they arrive with him at the
river. They cast him into the depth. Turtle
dives; after a while he emerges. There he is
swimming and singing:

: In water, in my home!
In water, in my home!'

The people said: "Oh! Turtle has fooled us.
We were going to kill him with hatchets; he
says, 'Hatchet will not kill me a bit/ We spoke
of casting him into the water; he says, 'I am
going to die/ We came; we cast him into the
water; but we saved him.'

This is what caused the Turtle to live in the
water: the people were going to kill him; but
he was shrewd.

Nianga Dia Ngenga and Leopard

NIANGA DIA NGENGA takes up his gun, saying:
"I will go a-hunting.' He has reached the
bush; he has hunted; he saw not game; he says:
"I will go."

AFRICAN FABLES 205

When he returns home, he finds Mr. Leopard,
whom they have stuck up in the fork of a tree.
When he sees Nianga, he says: "Father Nianga,
help me out ! " Nianga says : " What has done this
to thee?" He says: "Unfork me first; I shall
tell thee."

Nianga took him out; he set him on the ground.
He says: "Elephant has stuck me up in the fork
of the tree. Sir, to whom one has given life, one
gives more. I have been two days on the tree;
give me a little food.' Nianga says: 'Where
shall I find food?' He says: 'Anywhere.'

Nianga takes up his dog; he gives it to Mr.
Leopard. Mr. Leopard ate it and said, 'I
am not satisfied.' Nianga takes up also the
other dog; he gives it to Mr. Leopard. He
has eaten, says, 'Still I have not enough.'
Nianga dia Ngenga took up his cartridge-box;
he gives him it. Mr. Leopard, when he had
eaten it, said, ' ' Still I have not enough. '

Hare comes; he finds them talking; says:

'Why are you quarrelling?' Nianga says:

' Mr. Leopard, I found him in the fork of a tree.

Says he, 'Take me out!' I took him out.

Says he, 'Give nie to eat!' I gave him both

my dogs and my cartridge-box. He says,

'Give me more to eat.' That is what we are

quarrelling about. '

206 THE TALKING BEASTS

Hare says: 'Mr. Leopard, let him be again
on the tree, where he was; that I may see.'
Mr. Leopard returns to the tree, where he was.
Hare moves off to a distance; he calls Nianga.
He says: 'Thou, Nianga, art unwise. Mr.
Leopard is a wild beast, he is wont to catch
people. Thou, who didst get him out of there,
he wanted to devour thee. Shoot him. '

Nianga then shoots Mr. Leopard.

The end . . . "is with God."

Leopard and the Other Animals

MR. LEOPARD lived. One day hunger grasps
him. He says: 'How shall I do? I will call all
the animals in the world, saying, 'Come ye,
let us have a medical consultation.' When the
animals come then I may catch and eat. '

He sends at once to call Deer, Antelope, Soko,

Hare, and Philantomba. They gather, saying:

'Why didst thou send for us?' He says:

'Let us consult medicine, that we get health.'

The sun is broken down. They begin the

drums outside with the songs. Mr. Leopard

himself is beating the drum; he is saying, saying:

"O Antelope! O Deer!
Your friend is sick;
Do not shun him!
O Antelope! O Deer!

AFRICAN FABLES 207

Your friend is sick;
Do not shun him!
O Antelope! O Deer!
Your friend is sick;
Do not shun him!"

Deer says: "Chief, the drum, how art thou
playing it? Bring it here; that I play it.'
Mr. Leopard gives him it. Deer takes the drum,
says:

"Not sickness;
Wiliness holds thee
Not sickness;
Wiliness holds thee!
Not sickness;
Wiliness holds thee!"

Mr. Leopard stood up from ground, said:
"Thou, Deer, knowest not how to play the
drum. '

The animals all then ran away, saying,
"Mr. Leopard has a scheme to catch us. '

Elephant and Frog

I OFTEN tell of Mr. Elephant and Mr. Frog,
who were courting at one house.

One day Mr. Frog spake to the sweetheart of
Mr. Elephant, saying: "Mr. Elephant is my
horse. ' Mr. Elephant, when he came at night,
then the girls tell him, saying: "Thou art the
horse of Mr. Frog!"

208 THE TALKING BEASTS

Mr. Elephant then goes to Mr. Frog's, say-
ing: 'Didst thou tell my sweetheart that I
am thy horse?' Mr. Frog says, saying: "No;
I did not say so.' They go together to find
the sweetheart of Mr. Elephant.

On the way, Mr. Frog told Mr. Elephant,
saying: 'Grandfather, I have not strength
to walk. Let me get up on thy back!' Mr.
Elephant said: 'Get up, my grandson.' Mr.
Frog then goes up.

When a while passed, he told Mr. Elephant:

e Grandfather, I am going to fall. Let me seek

small cords to bind thee in mouth.' Mr.

Elephant consents. Mr. Frog then does what

he has asked.

When passed a little while, he told again Mr.
Elephant, saying :" Let me seek a green twig to
fan the mosquitoes off thee.' Mr. Elephant
says: "Go.' He then fetches the twig.

Then, when they were about to arrive,
the girls saw them, and they went to meet them
with shouting, saying: 'Thou, Mr. Elephant,
art the horse indeed of Mr. Frog!'

Dog and the Kingship

MR. DOG, they wanted to invest him with
the kingship. They sought all the things of
royalty: the cap, the sceptre, the rings, the skin

AFRICAN FABLES 209

of mulkaka. The things are complete ; they say :
"The day has come to install.'

The headmen all came in full; they sent for
the players of drum and marimba; they have
come. They spread coarse mats and fine mats.
Where the lord is going to sit, they laid a coarse
mat; they spread on it a fine mat; they set
a chair on. They say: 'Let the lord sit
down/ He sat down. The people begin to
divide the victuals.

He, Mr. Dog, on seeing the breast of a fowl,
greed grasped Mm. He stood up in haste;
took the breast of the fowl; ran into the bush.
The people said: "The lord, whom we are
installing, has rim away with the breast
of the fowl into the bush!' The people sepa-
rated.

Mr. Dog, who was going to be invested with
the kingship, because of his thievery, the king-
ship he lost it.

I have told my little tale. Finished.

The Builder of Ability and the Builder of Haste

Two men called themselves one name. This
one said: "I arn Ndala, the builder of ability.'
The other one said: "I am Ndala, the builder
of haste. '

They say : " We will go to trade. ' They start ;

210 THE TALKING BEASTS

they arrive in middle of road. A storm comes.
They stop, saying: "Let us build grass-huts!'
Ndala, the builder of haste, built in haste;
he entered into his hut. Ndala, the builder of
ability is building carefully. The storm comes;
it kills him outside. Ndala, the builder of
haste escaped, because his hut was finished;
it sheltered him when the storm came on.

FABLES FROM KRILOF

"Shall not my fable censure vice,
Because a Knave is over-nice?

And, lest the guilty hear and dread 9
Shall not the decalogue be read? 9

JOHN GAY

FABLES FROM KRILOF

The Education of the Lion

THE Lion, king of the forests, was
given a son.

Among us, a child a year old, even if
it belong to a royal family, is small and weak.
But, by the time it has lived a twelve-month,
a lion-cub has long ago left off its baby-clothes.

So, at the end of a year, the Lion began to
consider that he must not allow his royal son
to remain ignorant, that the dignity of the
kingdom be not degraded, and that when the
son's turn should come to govern the kingdom
the nation should have no cause to reproach
the father on his account.

But whom should he entreat, or compel, or
induce by rewards, to instruct the czarevitch
to become a czar?

The Fox is clever, but it is terribly addicted
to lying, and a liar is perpetually getting into
trouble. "No," thought the Lion, "the science
of falsehood is not one which princes ought to
study."

213

THE TALKING BEASTS

Should he trust him to the Mole? All who
speak of that animal say that it is an extreme
admirer of order and regularity; that it never
takes a step till it has examined the ground
before it, and that it cleans and shells with its
own paws every grain of corn that comes to
its table. In fact, the Mole has the reputation
of being very great in small affairs; but, un-
fortunately, it cannot see anything at a distance.
The Mole's love of order is an excellent thing
for animals of its own kind, but the Lion's
kingdom is considerably more extensive than a
mole-run.

Should he choose the Panther? The Panther
is brave and strong, and is, besides, a great
master of military tactics; but the Panther
knows nothing of politics, is ignorant of every-
thing that belongs to civil affairs. A king must
be a judge and a minister as well as a warrior.
The Panther is good for nothing but fighting;
so it, too, is unfit to educate royal children.

To be brief, not a single beast, not even the
Elephant himself, who was as much esteemed in
the forest as Plato used to be in Greece, seemed
wise enough to satisfy the Lion.

By good fortune, or the opposite we shall
find out which another king, the king of
birds, the Eagle, an old acquaintance and friend

FABLES FROM KPJLOF 215

of the Lion, heard of that monarch's difficulty,
and, wishing to do his friend a great kindness,
offered to educate the young Lion himself.

The Lion felt a great weight removed from
his shoulders. What could be better than a
king as the tutor for a prince? So the Lion-
cub was got ready, and sent off to the Eagle's
court, there to learn how to govern.

And now two or three years ge by. Ask
whom you will, meanwhile, you hear nothing
but praise of the young Lion; and all the birds
scatter throughout the forests the wonderful
stories of his merits.

At last the appointed time comes, and the
Lion sends for his son. The prince arrives,
and all the people are gathered together, great
and small alike.

The king embraces his son before them all,
and thus addresses him: 'My beloved son, you
are my only heir. I am looking forward to the
grave, but you are just entering upon life.
Before I make over my sceptre to you, tell me,
in the presence of this assembly, what you
have been taught, and in what manner you
propose to make your people happy. "

'Papa," exclaimed the prince, 'I know what
no one here knows. I can tell where each bird,
from the Eagle to the Quail, can most readily

216 THE TALKING BEASTS

find water, on what each of them lives, and how
many eggs it lays; and I can count up the
wants of every bird, without missing one.
Here is the certificate my tutor gave me. It
was not for nothing that the birds used to say
that I could pick the stars out of the sky.
When you have made up your mind to transfer
the kingdom to me, I will immediately begin
to teach the beasts how to make nests. '

On this the king and all his beasts howled
aloud; the members of the council hung their
heads; and, too late, the Lion perceived that the
young Lion had learned nothing of what was
wanted, that he was acquainted with birds
only, not knowing anything of the nature of
beasts, although he was destined to rule over
them, and that he was destitute of that which
is most requisite in kings - the knowledge of
the wants of their own people and the interests
of their own country.

The Pebble and the Diamond

A DIAMOND, which some one had lost, lay
for some time on the high road. At last it
happened that a merchant picked it up. By
him it was offered to the king, who bought it,
had it set in gold, and made it one of the orna-
ments of the royal crown. Having heard of

FABLES FROM KRILOF 217

this, a Pebble began to make a fuss. The
brilliant fate of the Diamond fascinated it;
and, one day, seeing a Moujik passing, it be-
sought him thus:

4 Do me a kindness, fellow-countryman, and
take me with you to the capital. Why should
I go on suffering here in rain and mud, while
our Diamond is, men say, in honour there?
I don't understand why it has been treated with
such respect. Side by side with me here it
lay so many years; it is just such a stone as I
am my close companion. Do take me ! How
can one tell? If I am seen there, I too, perhaps,
may be found worthy of being turned to ac-
count.' 1

The Moujik took the stone into his lumbering
cart, and conveyed it to the city. Our stone
tumbled into the cart, thinking that it would
soon be sitting by the side of the Diamond.
But a quite different fate befell it. It really
was turned to account, but only to mend a
hole in the road.

The Pike and the Cat

A CONCEITED Pike took it into its head to
exercise the functions of a cat. I do not know
whether the Evil One had plagued it with envy,
or whether, perhaps, it had grown tired of fishy

218 THE TALKING BEASTS

fare; but, at all events, it thought fit to ask
the Cat to take it out to the chase, with the
intention of catching a few mice in the ware-
house. 'But, my dear friend," Vaska says to
the Pike, 'do you understand that kind of
work? Take care, gossip, that you don't incur
disgrace. It isn't without reason that they
say: 'The work ought to be in the master's
power.'

"Why really, gossip, what a tremendous affair
it is! Mice, indeed! Why, I have been in
the habit of catching perches!'

"Oh, very well. Come along!'

They went; they lay each in ambush. The
Cat thoroughly enjoyed itself; made a hearty
meal; then went to look after its comrade.
Alas ! the Pike, almost destitute of life, lay there
gasping, its tail nibbled away by the mice.
So the Cat, seeing that its comrade had under-
taken a task quite beyond its strength, dragged
it back, half dead, to its pond.

Trishka's Caftan

TRISHKA'S caftan was out at the elbows.
But why should he ponder long over it? He
took to his needle, cut a quarter off each sleeve:
so mended the elbows.

The caftan w r as all right again, only his arms

FABLES FROM KRILOF

were bare for a quarter of their length. That
is no great matter, but every one is always
laughing at Trishka. So Trishka says:

"I'm not a fool. I'll set this affair straight
also. I'll make the sleeves longer than they
were before. They shall see Trishka is no mere
commonplace fellow.''

So he cut off the skirts of his caftan, and
used them to lengthen his sleeves.

Then Trishka was happy, though he had a
caftan which was as short as a waistcoat.

In a similar way I have sometimes seen other
embarrassed people set straight their affairs.
Take a look at them as they dash away. They

have all got on Trishka's caftan.

\
The Elephant as Governor

AN ELEPHANT was once appointed ruler of
a forest. Now it is well known that the race
of elephants is endowed with great intelligence;
but every family has its unw r orthy scion. Our
Governor was as stout as the rest of his race
are, but as foolish as the rest of his race are not.
As to his character, he would not intentionally
hurt a fly. Well, the worthy Governor becomes
aware of a petition laid before him by the Sheep,
stating that their skins are entirely torn off
their backs by the Wolves.

THE TALKING BEASTS

"Oh, rogues!' cries the Elephant, "what a
orima! Who gave you leave to plunder?'

But the Wolves say:

"Allow us to explain, O father. Did not
you give us leave to take from the Sheep a
trifling contribution for our pelisses in winter?
It is only because they are stupid sheep that
they cry out. They have only a single fleece
taken from each of them, but they grumble
about giving even that!'

"Well, well,' 5 says the Elephant, 'take care
what you do. I will not permit any one to
commit injustice. As it must be so, take a
fleece from each of them. But do not take
from them a single hair besides.' 1

The Quartette

THE tricksy Monkey, the Goat, the Ass, and
bandy-legged Mishka the Bear, determine to
play a quartette. They provide themselves
with the necessary pieces of music with two
fiddles, and with an alto and a counter-bass.
Then they sit down on a meadow under a lime-
tree, prepared to enchant the world by their
skill. They work away at their fiddlesticks
with a will; and they make a noise, but there
is no music in it.

"Stop, brothers, stop!' cries the Monkey,

THE TRICKSY MONKEY, THE GOAT, THE ASS AND BANDY-LEGGED
MISHELA THE BEAR, DETERMINE TO PLAY A QUARTETTE"

FABLES FROM KRILOF

'wait a little! How can we get our music
right? It's plain, you mustn't sit as you
are. You, Mishka, with your counter-bass,
face the alto. I will sit opposite the second
fiddle. Then a different sort of music will be-
gin: we shall set the very hills and forests
dancing.' 1

So they change places, and recommence; but
the music is just as discordant as before.

4 Stop a little/ 2 exclaims the Ass; "I have
found out the secret. We shall be sure to play
in tune if we sit in a row. j:

They f ollow its advice, and form in an orderly
line. But the quartette is as unmusical as
ever. Louder than before there arose among
them squabbling and wrangling as to how they
ought to be seated. It happened that a Night-
ingale came flying that way, attracted by their
noise. At once they all entreated it to solve
their difficulty.

'Be so kind,' 5 they say, "as to bear with us
a little, in order that our quartette may come
off properly. Music we have; instruments we
have: tell us only how we ought to place our-
selves."

But the Nightingale replies,

'To be a musician, one must have a quicker
intelligence and a finer ear than you possess.

222 THE TALKING BEASTS

You, my friends, may place yourselves just as
you like, but you will never become musicians."

Demians Fish Soup

" NEIGHBOUR, light of mine eyes ! do eat a little
more!'

"Dear neighbour, I am full to the throat."
'No matter; just a little plateful. Believe
me, the soup is cooked gloriously.' 2

'But I've had three platefuls already.' 3
'Well, what does that matter? If you like
it, and it does you good, why not eat it all up?
What a soup it is! How rich! It looks as if
it had been sprinkled with amber. Here is a
bream; there a lump of sterlet. Take a little
more, dear, kind friend. Just another spoonful.
Wife, come and entreat him!'

Thus does Demian feast his neighbour Phocas,
not giving him a moment's breathing time.

Phocas feels the moisture trickling down his
forehead. Still he takes the soup, attacks it with
all the strength he has left, and somehow man-
ages to swallow the whole of it.

"That's the sort of friend I like!' cries De-
mian. 'I can't bear people who require press-
ing. But now, dear friend, take just this one
little plateful more.' ;

But, on hearing this, our poor Phocas, much

FABLES FROM KRILOF 223

as he liked fish soup, catching hold of his cap
and sash, runs away home, not once looking
behind him.

Nor from that day to this has he crossed
Demian's threshold.

The Wolf and Its Cub

A WOLF, which had begun to accustom its
Cub to support itself by its father's profession,
sent it one day to prowl about the skirts of the
wood. At the same time it ordered it to give
all its attention to seeing whether it would
not be possible, even at the cost of sinning a
little, for them both to make their breakfast or
dinner at the expense of some shepherd or
other. The pupil returns home, and says:

"Come along, quick! Our dinner aw r aits us:
nothing could possibly be safer. There are
sheep feeding at the foot of yon hill, each one
fatter than the other. W T e have only to choose
which to carry off and eat; and the flock is so
large that it would be difficult to count it over
again

"Wait a minute," says the Wolf. "First
of all I must know what sort of a man the shep-
herd of this flock is.

"It is said that he is a good one pains-
taking and intelligent. But I went round the

THE TALKING BEASTS

i

flock on all sides, and examined the dogs:
they are not at all fat, and seem to be spiritless
and indolent.' 1

"This description," says the old Wolf, "does
not greatly attract me to the flock. For, de-
cidedly, if the shepherd is good, he will not keep
bad dogs about him. One might very soon
get into trouble there. But come with me: I
will take you to a flock where we shall be in
less danger of losing our skins. Over that flock
it is true that a great many dogs watch; but
the shepherd is himself a fool. And where the
shepherd is a fool there the dogs too are of

little worth."

The Pike

AN APPEAL to justice was made against the
Pike, on the ground that it had rendered the
pond uninhabitable. A whole cart-load of
proofs was tendered as evidence; and the cul-
prit, as was beseeming, was brought into court
in a large tub. The judges were assembled not
far off, having been set to graze in a neighbour-
ing field. Their names are still preserved in
the archives. There were two Donkeys, a
couple of old Horses, and two or three Goats.
The Fox also was added to their number, as
assessor, in order that the business might be
carried on under competent supervision.

FABLES FROM KRILOF

Now, popular report said that the Pike used
to supply the table of the Fox with fish. How-
ever this might be, there was no partiality
among the judges; and it must also be stated
that it was impossible to conceal the Pike's
roguery in the affair in question. So there was
no help for it. Sentence was passed, condemn-
ing the Pike to an ignominious punishment.
In order to frighten others, it was to be hung
from a tree.

" Respected judges, 53 thus did the Fox begin
to speak, "hanging is a trifle. I should have
liked to have sentenced the culprit to such a
punishment as has never been seen here among
us. In order that rogues may in future live in
fear, and run a terrible risk, I would drown it
in the river. ' :

"Excellent!" cry the judges, and unanimously
accept the proposition.

So the Pike was flung into the river.

The Cuckoo and the Eagle

THE Eagle promoted a Cuckoo to the rank
of a Nightingale. The Cuckoo, proud of its
new position, seated itself proudly on an aspen,
and began to exhibit its musical talents. After
a time, it looks round. All the birds are flying
away, some laughing at it, others abusing it.

226 THE TALKING BEASTS

Our Cuckoo grows angry, and hastens to the
Eagle with a complaint against the birds.

'Have pity on me!' it says. 'According
to your command, I have been appointed
Nightingale to these woods, and yet the birds
dare to laugh at my singing."

'My friend," answers the Eagle, 'I am
a king, but I am not God. It is impossible for
me to remedy the cause of your complaint. I
can order a Cuckoo to be styled a Nightin-
gale ; but to make a Nightingale out of a Cuckoo
that I cannot do."

The Peasant and the Sheep

A PEASANT summoned a Sheep into court*
charging the poor thing with a criminal offence
The judge was the Fox.

The case was immediately in full swing.
Plaintiff and defendant were equally adjured
to state, point by point, and without both
speaking at once, how the affair took place,
and in what their proof consisted.

Says the Peasant: 'On such and such a
day, I missed two of my fowls early in the morn-
ing. Nothing was left of them but bones and
leathers; and no one had been in the yard but
the Sheep."

Then the Sheep depones that it was fast

FABLES FROM KRILOF 227

asleep all the night in question, and it calls
all its neighbours to testify that they had never
known it guilty either of theft or any roguery ;
and besides this, it states that it never touches
flesh-meat.

Here is the Fox's decision, word for word:
'The explanation of the Sheep cannot,
under any circumstances, be accepted, for all
rogues are notoriously clever at concealing their
real designs; and it appears manifest, on due
inquiry, that, on the aforesaid night, the Sheep
was not separated from the fowls. Fowls
are exceedingly savoury, and opportunity
favoured. Therefore I decide, according to
my conscience, that it is impossible that the
Sheep should have forborne to eat the fowls.
The Sheep shall accordingly be put to death.
Its carcass shall be given to the court, and its
fleece be taken by the Plaintiff.' 1

The Elephant in Favour

ONCE upon a time the Elephant stood high
in the good graces of the Lion. The forest
immedately began to talk of the matter, and,
as usual, many guesses w r ere made as to the
means by which the Elephant had gained such
favour.

"It is no beauty," say the beasts to each

THE TALKING BEASTS

other, "and it is not amusing; and what habits
it has! what manners!'

Says the Fox, whisking about his brush,
"If it had possessed such a bushy tail as mine,
I should not have wondered.' 1

"Or, sister,' 3 says the Bear, 'if it had gotten
into favour on account of its claws, no one
would have found the matter at all extra-
ordinary; but it has no claws at all, as we all
know well.' :

"Isn't it its tusks that have gotten it into
favour?' thus the Ox broke in upon their
conversation. "Haven't they, perhaps, been
mistaken for horns. 5:

"Is it possible," said the Ass, shaking its ears,
"that you don't know how it has succeeded
in making itself liked, and in becoming dis-
tinguished? Why, I have guessed the reason!
If it hadn't been remarkable for its long ears,
it would never in the world have gotten into

favour.' 1

The Sword-blade

THE keen blade of a Sw^ord, made of Damas-
cus steel, which had been thrown aside on a
heap of old iron, was sent to market with the
other pieces of metal, and sold for a trifle to a
Moujik. Now, a Moujik's ideas move in a
narrow circle. He immediately set to work to

FABLES FROM KRILOF

turn the blade to account. Our Moujik fitted
a handle to the blade, and began to strip lime-
trees in the forest with it, of the bark he wanted
for shoes, while at home he unceremoniously
splintered fir chips with it. Sometimes, also,
he would lop off twigs with it, or small branches
for mending his wattled fences, or would shape
stakes with it for his garden paling. And the
result was that, before the year was out, our
blade was notched and rusted from one end to
the other, and the children used to ride astride
of it. So one day a Hedgehog, which was lying
under a bench in the cottage, close by the spot
where the blade had been flung, said to it:

"Tell me, what do you think of this life of
yours? If there is any truth in all the fine
things that are said about Damascus steel,
you surely must be ashamed of having to splinter
fir chips, and square stakes, and of being turned,
at last, into a plaything for children.' 1

But the Sword-blade replied :

"In the hands of a warrior, I should have
been a terror to the foe; but here my special
faculties are of no avail. So in this house I
am turned to base uses only. But am I free
to choose my employment? No, not I, but
he, ought to be ashamed who could not see for
what I was fit to be employed.' 1

230 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Cuckoo and the Turtle-dove

A CUCKOO sat on a bough, bitterly complain-
ing.

'Why art thou so sad, dear friend?' sym-
pathizingly cooed the Turtle-dove to her, from
a neighbouring twig. "Is it because spring
has passed away from us, and love with it;
that the sun has sunk lower, and that we are
nearer to the winter?'

'How can I help grieving, unhappy one
that I am?' replied the Cuckoo: "thou shalt
thyself be the judge. This spring my love was
a happy one, and, after a while, I became a
mother. But my offspring utterly refused
even to recognize me. Was it such a return
that I expected from them? And how can I
help being envious when I see how ducklings
crow r d around their mother - how chickens
hasten to the hen when she calls to them. Just
like an orphan I sit here, utterly alone, and
know not what filial affection means. >:

'Poor thing!' says the Dove, "I pity you
from my heart. As for me, though I know
such things often occur, I should die outright
if my dovelets did not love me. But tell me,
have you already brought up your little ones?
When did you find time to build a nest? I

FABLES FROM KRILOF

never saw you doing anything of the kind: you
were always flying and fluttering about.' 3

"No, indeed!' says the Cuckoo. "Pretty
nonsense it would have been if I had spent
such fine days in sitting on a nest! That would,
indeed, have been the highest pitch of stupidity!
I always laid my eggs in the nests of other
birds/'

"Then how can you expect your little ones
to care for you?' says the Turtle-dove.

The Peasant and the Horse

A PEASANT was sowing oats one day. See-
ing the work go on, a young Horse began to
reason about it, grumbling to himself:

'A pretty piece of work, this, for which he
brings such a quantity of oats here! And yet
they are all the time saying that men are
wiser than we are. Can anything possibly
be more foolish or ridiculous than to plough
up a whole field like this in order to scatter
one's oats over it afterward to no purpose.
Had he given them to me, or to the bay there,
or had he even thought fit to fling them to the
fowls, it would have been more like business. Or
even if he had hoarded them up, I should have
recognized avarice in that. But to fling them
uselessly away why, that is [sheer stupidity!'

THE TALKING BEASTS

Meanwhile time passed; and in the autumn
the oats were garnered, and the Peasant fed
this very Horse upon them all the winter.

There can be no doubt, Reader, that you do
not approve of the opinions of the Horse. But
from the oldest times to our own days has not
man been equally audacious in criticising the
designs of a Providence of whose means or ends
he sees and knows nothing?

The Wolf and the Cat

A WOLF ran out of the forest into a village
not to pay a visit, but to save its life; for it
trembled for its skin.

The huntsmen and a pack of hounds were
after it. It would fain have rushed in through
the first gateway; but there was this unfortunate
circumstance against the scheme that all the
gateways were closed.

The Wolf sees a Cat on a partition fence,
and says pleadingly, * ; Vaska, my friend, tell me
quickly, which of the moujiks here is the
kindest, so that I may hide myself from my evil
foes? Listen to the cry of the dogs and the
terrible sound of the horns? All that noise is
actually made in chase of me!'

'Go quickly, and ask Stefan,' 5 says Vaska,
the Cat; "he is a very kind man.' 5

FABLES FROM KRILOF 233

'Quite true; only I have torn the skin off
one of his sheep. ' :

"Well, then, you can try Demian."
'I'm afraid he's angry with me, too; I carried
off one of his kids.' :

'Run over there, then; Trofim lives there.' 3
' Trofim ! I should be afraid of even meeting
him. Ever since the spring he has been threat-
ening me about a lamb.' :

'Dear me, that's bad! But perhaps Klim
will protect you.' ;

'Oh, Vaska, I have killed one of his calves.' 3
'What do I hear, friend? You've quarrelled
with all the village," cried Vaska to the Wolf.
'What sort of protection can you hope for
here? No, no; our moujiks are not so des-
titute of sense as to be willing to save you to
their own hurt. And, really, you have only
yourself to blame. What you have sown,
that you must now reap."

The Eagle and the Mole

AN EAGLE and his mate flew into a deep
forest and determined to make it their per-
manent abode. So they chose an oak, lofty
and wide-spreading, and began to build them-
selves a nest on the top of it, hoping there to
rear their young in the summer.

234 THE TALKING BEASTS

A Mole, who heard about all this, plucked
up courage enough to inform the Eagles that
the oak was not a proper dwelling-place for
them; that it was almost entirely rotten at the
root, and was likely soon to fall, and that
therefore the Eagles ought not to make their
nest upon it.

But is it becoming that an Eagle should
accept advice coming from a Mole in a hole?
Where then would be the glory of an Eagle
having such keen eyes? And how comes it
that Moles dare to meddle in the affairs of the
king of Birds?

So, saying very little to the Mole, whose
counsel he despised, the Eagle set to work
quickly and the King soon got ready the
new dwelling for the Queen.

All goes well, and now the Eagles have little
ones. But what happens? One day, when at
early dawn the Eagle is hastening back from
the chase, bringing a rich breakfast to his
family, as he drops down from the sky he sees
his oak has fallen, and has crushed beneath it
his mate and his little ones!

"Wretched creature that I am!' he cries,
anguish blotting out from him the light; 'for
my pride has fate so terribly punished me,
and because I gave no heed to wise counsel.

FABLES FROM KRILOF 235

But could one expect that wise counsel could
possibly come from a miserable Mole?"

Then from its hole the Mole replies: "Had
not you despised me, you would have remem-
bered that I burrow within the earth, and that, as
I live among the roots, I can tell with cer-
tainty whether a tree be sound or not."

The Spider and the Bee

A MERCHANT brought some linen to a fair.
That's a thing everybody wants to buy, so it
would have been a sin in the Merchant if he
had complained of his sale. There was no keep-
ing the buyers back: the shop was at times
crammed full.

Seeing how rapidly the goods went off, an
envious Spider was tempted by the Merchant's
gains. She took it into her head to weave
goods for sale herself, and determined to open
a little shop for them in a window corner, seek-
ing thereby to undermine the Merchant's success.'

She commenced her web, spun the 'whole
night long, and then set out her wares on view.
From her shop she did not stir, but remained
sitting there, puffed up with pride, and thinking,
'So soon as the day shall dawn will all buyers
be enticed to me."

Well, the day did dawn. But what then?

236 THE TALKING BEASTS

There came a broom, and the ingenious creatures
and her little shop were swept clean away.

Our Spider went wild with vexation.

"There! 5 she cried, "what's the good of
expecting a just reward? And yet I ask the
whole world Whose work is the finer, mine
or that Merchant's?"

"Yours, to be sure,' 3 answered the Bee.
"Who would venture to deny the fact? Every
one knew that long ago. But what is the good
of it if there's neither warmth nor wear in it?'

The Cuckoo and the Cock

" How proudly and sonorously you sing, my
dear Cock!"

"But you, dear Cuckoo, my light, how
smoothly flows your long drawn-out note!
There is no such singer in all the rest of our
forest.' 3

"To you, dear friend, I could listen forever."

"And as for you, my beauty, I protest that
when you are silent I scarcely know how to
wait till you begin again. WTiere do you get
such a voice? so clear, so soft, so high!
But no doubt you were always like that: not
very large in stature, but in song a night-
ingale. J!

"Thanks, friend. As for you, I declare on

FABLES FROM KRILOF 237

my conscience you sing better than the birds
in the Garden of Eden. I appeal to public
opinion for a proof of this."

At this moment a Sparrow, who had over-
heard their conversation, said to them:

You may go on praising each other till you
are hoarse, my friends; but your music is utterly
worthless. "

Why was it, that, not fearing to sin, the
Cuckoo praised the Cock? Simply because
the Cock praised the Cuckoo.

The Peasant and the Robber

A PEASANT who was beginning to stock his
little farm had bought a cow and a milk-pail
at the fair, and was going quietly home by a
lonely path through the forest, when he sud-
denly fell into the hands of a Robber. The
Robber stripped him as bare as a lime-tree.

"Have mercy!' cried the Peasant. ( I am
utterly ruined. You have reduced me to
beggary. For a whole year I have worked to
buy this dear little cow. I could hardly bear
to wait for this day to arrive.' 2

"Very good,' 3 replied the Robber, touched
with compassion; "Don't cry out so against
me. After all, I shall not want to milk your
cow; so I'll give you back your milk-pail.''

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE

"Why have some more power than others?
Only one knows. Why have some longer life
than others? Only one knows. Why do some
try and not succeed; while others do not try and
yet they do succeed? Only one knows.''

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE

The Animals' Peace Party

HE ancient books say that the pig is
a very unclean animal and of no great
use to the world or man, and one of
them contains this story:

Once upon a time the Horses and Cattle
gave a party. Although the Pigs were very
greedy, the Horses said: "Let us invite them,
and it may be we can settle our quarrels in
this way and become better friends. We will
call this a Peace Party.

"Generations and generations of pigs have
broken through our fences, taken our food,
drunk our water, and rooted up our clean green
grass; but it is also true that the cattle children
have hurt many young pigs.

"All this trouble and fighting is not right,
and we know the Master wishes we should
live at peace with one another. Do you not
think it a good plan to give a Peace Party and
settle this trouble? 5

The Cattle said: "Who will be the leader

241

THE TALKING BEASTS

of our party and do the inviting? We should
have a leader, both gentle and kind, to go to
the Pig's home and invite them."

The next day a small and very gentle Cow
was sent to invite the Pigs. As she went across
to the pigs' yard, all the young ones jumped
up and grunted, 'What are you coming here
for? Do you want to fight?'

'No, I do not want to fight," said the Cow.
'I was sent here to invite you to our party.
I should like to know if you will come, so that
I may tell our leader."

The young Pigs and the old ones talked
together and the old ones said: 'The New
Year feast will soon be here. Maybe they will
have some good things for us to eat at the
party. I think we should go."

Then the old Pigs found the best talker in
all the family, and sent word by him that they
would attend the party.

The day came, and the Pigs all went to the
party. There were about three hundred all
together.

When they arrived they saw that the leader
of the cows was the most beautiful of all the
herd and very kind and gentle to her guests.

After a while the leader spoke to them in a
gentle voice and said to the oldest Pigs: 'We

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 243

think it would be a good and pleasant thing if
there were no more quarrels in this pasture.

"Will you tell your people not to break down
the fences and spoil the place and eat our food?
We will then agree that the oxen and horses
shall not hurt your children and all the old
troubles shall be forgotten from this day."

Then one young Pig stood up to talk. 'All
this big pasture belongs to the Master, and not
to you/' he said. "We cannot go to other
places for food.

"The Master sends a servant to feed us, and
sometimes he sends us to your yard to eat the
corn and potatoes.

"The servants clean our pen every day.
When summer comes, they fill the ponds with
fresh water for us to bathe in.

"Now, friends, can you not see that this place
and this food all belong to the Master? We
eat the food and go wherever we like. We take
your food only after you have finished. It would
spoil on the ground if we did not do this.

"Answer this question Do our people ever
hurt your people? No; even though every
vear some of our children are killed by bad

t>

oxen and cows.

"What is our food? It is nothing; but our
lives are worth much to us.

244 THE TALKING BEASTS

'Our Master never sends our people to work
as he does the horses and oxen. He sends us
food and allows us to play a year and a year
the same, because he likes us best.

: You see the Horses and Oxen are always
at work. Some pull wagons, others plough
land for rice; and they must work sick or
well.

'Our people never work. Every day at
happy time we play; and do you see how fat
we are?

: You never see our bones. Look at the
old Horses and the old Oxen. Twenty years'
work and no rest!

'I tell you the Master does not honour the
Horses and Oxen as he does the Pigs.

"Friends, that is all I have to say. Have
you any questions to ask? Is what I have
said not the truth?'

The old Cow said, "Moo, Moo," and shook
her head sadly. The tired old Horses groaned,
'Huh, Huh," and never spoke a word.

The leader said, ' ' My friends, it is best not
to worry about things we cannot know. We
do not seem to understand our Master.

'It will soon be time for the New Year feast
day; so, good night. And may the Pig people
live in the world as long and happily as the

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 245

Horses and the Oxen, although our Peace Party
did not succeed.' 1

On their way home the little Pigs made a
big noise, and every one said, "We, we! We
win, we win!'

Then the old Horses and Oxen talked among
themselves. 'We are stronger, wiser, and
more useful than the Pigs," they said. "Why
does the Master treat us so?'

EE-SzE (Meaning) : Why have some more power than others?
Only one knows. Why have some longer life than others?
Only one knows. Why do some try and not succeed; while
others do not try and yet they do succeed? Only one knows.

The Proud Chicken

A WIDOW named Hong-Mo lived in a little
house near the market place. Every year she
raised many hundreds of chickens, which she
sold to support herself and her two children.

Each day the Chickens went to the fields near
by and hunted bugs, rice, and green things to eat.

The largest one was called the King of the
Chickens, because of all the hundreds in the
flock he was the strongest. And for this
reason he was the leader of them all.

He led the flock to new places for food. He
could crow the loudest, and as he was the
strongest, none dared oppose him in any way.

246 THE TALKING BEASTS

One day he said to the flock, "Let us go to
the other side of the mountain near the wilder-
ness to-day, and hunt rice, wheat, corn, and
wild silkworms. There is not enough food
here."

But the other Chickens said, "We are afraid
to go so far. There are foxes and eagles in
the wilderness, and they will catch us."

The King of the Chickens said, 'It is better
that all the old hens and cowards stay at home.' :

The King's secretary said, 'I do not know
fear. I will go with you." Then they started
away together.

When they had gone a little distance, the
Secretary found a beetle, and just as he was
going to swallow it, the King flew at him in
great anger, saying, "Beetles are for kings, not for
common chickens. Why did you not give it
to me?' So they fought together, and while
they were fighting, the beetle ran away and
hid under the grass where he could not be
found.

And the Secretary said, "I wiH not fight
for you, neither will I go to the wilderness with
you." And he went home again.

At sunset the King came home. The other
Chickens had saved the best roosting place
for him; but he was angry because none of

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 247

them had been willing to go to the wilderness
with him, and he fought first with one and
then with another.

He was a mighty warrior, and therefore none
of them could stand up against him. And he
pulled the feathers out of many of the flock.

At last the Chickens said, 'We will not
serve this king any longer. We will leave this
place. If Hong-Mo will not give us another
home, we will stay in the vegetable garden.
We will do that two or three nights, and see if
she will give us another place to live.' 2

So the next day, when Hong-Mo waited at
sunset for the Chickens to come home, the
King was the only one who came.

And she asked the King, f Where are all
my Chickens?'

But he was proud and angry, and said, "They
are of no use in the world. I would not care if
.they always stayed away.' 3

Hong-Mo answered, "You are not the only
Chicken in the world. I want the others to
come back. If you drive them all away, you
will surely see trouble.' 1

But the King laughed and jumped up on
the fence and crowed, "Nga-Un-Gan-Yu-Na
(cock-a-doodle-doo-oo) in a loud voice.
don't care for you! I don't care for you!

"
'

'

248 THE TALKING BEASTS

Hong-Mo went out and called the Chickens,
and she hunted long through the twilight until
the dark night came, but she could not find
them. The next morning early she went to
the vegetable garden, and there she found her
Chickens. They were glad to see her, and
bowed their heads and flew to her.

Hong-Mo said, "What are yon doing? Why
do you children stay out here, when I have
given you a good house to live in?'

The Secretary told her all about the trouble
with the King.

Hong-Mo said, c Now you must be friendly
to each other. Come with me, and I will bring
you and your King together. We must have
peace here.' :

When the Chickens came to where the King
was he walked about, and scraped his wings
on the ground, and sharpened his spurs. His
people had come to make peace, and they bowed
their heads and looked happy when they saw
their King. But he still walked about alone
and would not bow.

He said, 'I am a King always a King. Do
you know that? You bow your heads and think
that pleases me. But what do I care? I should
not care if there was never another Chicken in
the world but myself. I am King.' 1

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 249

And he hopped up on a tree and sang some
war songs. But suddenly an eagle who heard
him, flew down and caught him in his talons
and carried him away. And the Chickens
never saw their proud, quarrelsome King again.

(Meaning): No position in life is so high that it
gives the right to be proud and quarrelsome.

The Hen and the Chinese Mountain Turtle

FOUR hundred and fifty years ago in Lze-
Cheung Province, Western China, there lived
an old farmer named Ah-Po.

The young farmers all said Ah-Po knew
everything. If they wanted to know when
it would rain, they asked Ah-Po, and when
he said: 'It will not rain to-morrow," or,
'You will need your bamboo-hat this time to-
morrow," it was as he said. He knew all about
the things of nature and how to make the
earth yield best her fruits and seeds, and some
said he was a prophet.

One day Ah-Po caught a fine Mountain
Turtle. It was so large that it took both of
Ah-Po's sons to carry it home. They tied
its legs together and hung it on a strong stick,
and each son put an end of the stick on his
shoulder.

Ah-Po said, "We will not kill the Turtle.

250 THE TALKING BEASTS

He is too old to eat, and I think we will keep
him and watch the rings grow around his legs
each year.' 3 So they gave him a corner in
the barnyard and fed him rice and water.

Ah-Po had many Chickens, and for three
months the Turtle and Chickens lived in peace
with each other. But one day all the young
Chickens came together and laughed at the
Turtle. Then they said to him, "Why do you
live here so long? Why do you not go back to
your own place? This small barnyard corner
is not so good as your cave in the wilderness.
You have only a little sand and grass to live
on here. The servant feeds you, but she never
gives you any wilderness fruits. You are
very large, and you take up too much room.
We need all the room there is here. You fool-
ish old thing, do you think our fathers and
mothers want you? No. There is not one
of our people who likes you. Besides, you are
not clean. You make too much dirt. The
servant girl gave you this water to drink, and
your water bowl is even now upside down.
You scatter rice on our floor. Too many flies
come here to see you, and we do not like flies.' 1

The Turtle waited until they had all finished
scolding. Then he said, "Do you think I
came here myself? Who put me here, do you

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 251

know? Do you suppose I like to be in jail?
You need not be jealous. I never ate any rice
that belonged to you or your family. I am
not living in your house. What are you com-
plaining about? If our master should take
your whole family and sell it, he would only
get one piece of silver. Who and what are you
to talk so much? Wait and see; some day I
may have the honoured place.' 2

Some of the Chickens went home and told their
mother, "We had an argument with the Turtle
to-day and he had the last word. To-morrow
we want you to go with us and show him that
a Chicken can argue as well as a Turtle."

The next day all the Chickens of the barn-
yard went to see the Turtle. And the old
Hen said, "My children came here to play
yesterday, and you scolded them and drove
them away. You said all my family was not
worth one piece of silver. You think you are
worth many pieces of gold, I suppose. No
one likes you. Your own master would not
eat you. And the market people would never
buy a thing so old and tough as you are. But
I suppose you will have to stay here in our yard
a thousand years or so, until you die. Then
they will carry you to the wilderness and
throw you into the Nobody-Knows Lake. 52

THE TALKING BEASTS

Then the Turtle answered and said, 'I am
a Mountain Turtle. I come from a wise
family, and it is not easy for even man to catch
me. Educated men, doctors, know that I
am useful for sickness, but if all the people
knew the many ways they could use me, I
think there would soon be no more turtles in
the world. Many Chinese know that my skin
is good for skin disease, and my forefeet are good
for the devil-sickness in children, as they drive
the devil away; and then my shells are good
for sore throat, and my stomach is good for
stomach-ache, and my bones are good for tooth-
ache. Do you remember that not long ago
our master brought three turtle eggs to feed
your children? I heard him say: 'Those little
Chickens caught cold in that damp place,
and so I must give them some turtle eggs. 5 I
saw your children eat those three eggs, and in
two or three days they were well.

"So you see the Turtle is a useful creature
in the world, even to Chickens. Why do you
not leave me in peace? As I must stay here
against my will, it is not right that your children
should trouble me. Sometimes they take all
my rice and I go hungry, for our master will not
allow me to go outside of this fence to hunt food
for myself. I never come to your house and

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 253

bother you, but your children will not even let
me live in peace in the little corner our master
gave me. If I had a few of my own people here
with me, as you have, I think you would not
trouble me. But I have only myself, while
you are many.

"Yesterday your children scolded me and
disturbed my peace. To-day you come again;
and to-morrow and many to-morrows will see
generations and still more unhatched genera-
tions of Chickens coming here to scold me, I
fear; for the length of life of a cackling hen
is as a day to me - a Mountain Turtle. I
know the heaven is large, I know the earth is
large and made for all creatures alike. But
you think the heavens and the earth were both
made for you and your Chickens only. If
you could drive me away to-day you would try
to-morrow to drive the dog away, and in time
you would think the master himself ought not
to have enough of your earth and air to live
in. This barnyard is large enough for birds,
chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs. It makes
our master happy to have us all here.' 5

The Chickens went away ashamed. Talk-
ing to each other about it, they said: "The
Turtle is right. It is foolish to want every-
thing. We barnyard creatures must live at

254 THE TALKING BEASTS

peace with each other until we die. The
barnyard is not ours; we use it only a little
while."

EE-SzE (Meaning): The Creator made the world for all to
use, and, while using it, the strong should not try to drive out
the weak.

The Proud Fox and the Crab

ONE day a Fox said to a Crab: ' Crawling
thing, did you ever run in all your life.

"Yes," said the Crab," I run very often from
the mud to the grass and back to the river. ' :

"Oh, shame!' said the Fox," that is no
distance to run. How many feet and legs
have you? I have only four. Why, if I had
as many feet as you have, I would run at least
six times as fast as you do. Did you know that
you are really a very slow, stupid creature?
Though I have only four feet I run ten times as
far as you do. I never heard of any one with
so many feet as you have, running so slowly.' 1

The Crab said: "Would you like to run a
race with a stupid creature like me? I will
try to run as fast as you. I know I am small,
so suppose we go to the scales and see how much
heavier you are. As you are ten times larger
than I, of course you will have to run ten times
faster.

'* "ONE DAY A FOX SAID TO A CRAB: 'CBAWLJNG THING, DID YOU
EVER RUN IN ALL YOUR LITE?'

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 255

"Another reason why you can run so fast
is because you have such a fine tail and hold
it so high. If you would allow me to put it
down, I do not think you would run any faster
than I."

"Oh, very w r ell," said the Fox, contempt-
uously, 'do as you like, and still the race will
be so easy for me that I will not even need to try.
Your many legs and your stupid head do not
go very well together. Now, if I had my sense
and all of your legs, no creature in the forest
could outrun me. As it is, there are none that
can outwit me. I am known as the sharp-
witted. Even man says, 'Qui-kwat-wui-lai'
(sly as a fox). So do what you will, stupid

one. 5

'If you will let me tie your beautiful tail
down so it will stay," said the Crab, "I am
sure I can win the race."

'Oh, no, you cannot," said the Fox. "But
I will prove to even your stupid, slow brain
that it will make no difference. Now, how do
you wish that I should hold my tail?'

Said the Crab: 'If you will allow me to
hang something on your tail to hold it down,
I am sure you cannot run faster than I."

'Do as you like," said the Fox.

"Allow me to come nearer," said the Crab,

256 THE TALKING BEASTS

'and when I have it fastened to your tail, I
will say 'Ready!' Then you are to start. 51

So the Crab crawled behind and caught
the Fox's tail with his pincers and said, " Ready !''
The Fox ran and ran until he was tired. And
when he stopped, there was the Crab beside
him.

"Where are you now?' said the Crab. "I
thought you were to run ten times faster than
I. You are not even ahead of me with all your
boasting.' 1

The Fox, panting for breath, hung his head
in shame and went away where he might
never see the crab again.

EE-SzE (Meaning) : A big, proud, boastful mouth is a worse
thing for a man than it is for a fox.

The Mule and the Lion

ONE night the Lion was very hungry, but
as the creatures of the wilderness knew and
feared him even from afar, he could not find
food. So he went to visit the young Mule
that lived near the farmer's house, and w r hen
he saw him he smiled blandly and asked, * ; What
do you eat, fair Lii, to make you so sleek and
at? What makes your hair so smooth and
beautiful? I think your master gives you
tender fresh grass and fat young pig to eat."

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 25?

The Mule answered, 'No, I am fat because
I am gentle. My hair is beautiful because I
do not fight with other creatures. But why
do you come here, Sii? Are you hungry? I
believe you are seeking for food.' 1

The Lion said, 'Oh, no, I am not hungry.
I only walk around to get the cool, fresh air.
And then the night is very beautiful. The
moon hangs up in the clear sky with the stars
and makes a soft light, and so I came to visit
you. Would you not like to take a walk with
me? I will take you to visit my friend, the Pig.
I never go to his house alone; I always take a
friend with me.' :

The Mule asked, "Shall we go to any other
place?'

; Yes," answered the Lion, 'I think we will
go to visit another friend of mine who lives
not far away.' :

Then the Mule asked his mother, 'Will you
allow me to go with Sii to see his friend?'

"Who is his friend?' asked the mother.

"The farmer's Pig,' 5 said the Mule.

"I think it is no harm if you go only there,"
said the mother Mule. 'But you must not go
anywhere else with Sii. The hunter is looking
for him, I hear, and you must be careful. Do
not trust him fully, for I fear he will tempt you

258 THE TALKING BEASTS

to go to some other place or into some wrong
thing. If I allow you to go, you must come
home before midnight. The moon will not be
gone then and you can see to find your way."

So the Lion and the Mule went to visit the
Pig, who lived in a house in the farmer's yard.
But as soon as the Pig saw the Lion, he called
out in a loud voice to his mother.

The Lion said, "He is afraid of me. I will
hide and you may go in first. v

When the Pig saw that the Mule was alone,
he thought the Lion had gone. He opened his
door wide and was very friendly to the Mule,
saying, " Come in."

But the Lion jumped from his hiding place
and caught the Pig as he came to the door.
The Pig called to his mother in great fear, and
the Mule begged the Lion, saying, "Let the
poor little creature go free."

But the Lion said, "No, indeed; I have many
Pigs at my house. It is better for him to go
with me."

Then the Lion carried the Pig, while the Mule
followed. Soon they came to where a fine
looking dog lay on some hay behind a net.
The Lion did not seem to see the net, for he
dropped the Pig and tried to catch the Dog,
who cried loudly for mercy.

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 259

But the Lion said to the foolish Mule, "See
how rude the Dog is to us. We came to visit
him and he makes a loud noise and tries to
call the hunter so that he will drive us away.
I have never been so insulted. Come here,
Lii-Tsze, at once and help me!'

The Mule went to the Lion and the net fell
and caught them both. At sunrise the Hunter
came and found the Mule and the Lion in his
net. The Mule begged earnestly and said,
"Hunter, you know me and you know my
mother. We are your friends and we do no
wrong. Set me free, oh, hunter, set me free!'

The Hunter said, ' c No, I will not set you free.
You may be good, but you are in bad company
and must take what it brings. I will take
you and the Lion both to the market place and
sell you for silver. That is my right. I am
a hunter. If you get in my net, that is your
business. If I catch you, that is my business.

EE-SZE (Meaning): Bad company is a dangerous thing for
man or beast.

The Lion and the Mosquitoes

ONE day Ah-Fou's father said to him, "Come
here, my boy, and I will tell you a story. Do
you remember the great lion we saw one day,
which Ah-Kay caught? You know a strong

260 THE TALKING BEASTS

rope held him, and he roared and tried to free
himself until he died. Then when Ah-Kay
took him from the net, he looked at the rope
and the bamboo carefully, and found five of
the great ropes broken.

"How strong is the lion? Twenty children
like you could not break one strand of that
great rope. But the lion broke five complete
ropes. He is the strongest of all animals. He
catches many creatures for his food, but once
he lost a battle with one of the least of the
wilderness creatures. Do you know what it

was:

'A bird could fight and then fly away.
Was it a bird?"
"No, my son."

'A man is stronger than a lion."

'No; do you not remember the woodcutter
who could put down five strong men? One
night a wilderness lion caught and killed
him."

'Then what was the smallest of all creatures
of the wilderness that battled with a lion?'

The father said, 'I will tell you the story:
Once in the summer time the Lion was verv

tt

Xhirsty. But the sun had taken all the water
near the Lion's home and he went to many
places seeking for it. In time he found an old

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 261

well, but the water was not fresh. As the
Lion was very thirsty, he said, 'I must drink,
even though the water is stale. 5

'But when he reached down into the old
well, he found that it was the home of all the
Mosquitoes of the wilderness.

'The Mosquitoes said to the Lion, 'Go away,
we do not want you. This is our home and
we are happy. We do not wish the lion, the fox,
or the bear to come here. You are not our
friend. Why do you come?'

'The Lion roared and said, 'Weak and fool-
ish things! I am the Lion. It is you that
should go away, for I have come to drink.
This is my wilderness, and I am king. Do
you know, weak things, that when I come out
from my place and send forth my voice, all
the creatures of the wilderness shake like leaves
and bow their heads to me? What are you
that you should have a place you call your
home and tell me that I may or I may not?'

"Then the Mosquitoes answered, 'You are
only one. You speak as if you were many.
Our people had this old well for a home before
your roar was heard in the wilderness. And
many generations of us have been born here.
This home is ours, and we are they that say
who shall come or go. And yet you come and

262 THE TALKING BEASTS

tell us to go out of our own door. If you do
not leave us, we will call our people, and you
shall know trouble.'

"But the Lion held his head high with pride
and anger and said, 'What are you, oh, small
of the small? I will kill every one of your
useless people. When I drink, I will open my
mouth only a little w T ider, and you shall be
swallowed like the water. And to-morrow
I shall forget that I drank to-day.'

'Boastful one,' said the Mosquitoes, 'we
do not believe that you have the power to
destroy all our people. If you wish battle, we
shall see. We know your name is great and
that all animals bow their heads before you;
but our people can kill you.'

'The Lion jumped high in his rage and said,
'No other creature in the wilderness has dared
to say these things to me - the king. Have
I come to the vile well of the silly Mosquitoes
for wisdom?' And he held his head high, and
gave the mighty roar of battle, and made
ready to kill all the Mosquitoes.

'Then the Mosquitoes, big and little, flew
around him. Many went into his ears, and the
smallest ones went into his nose, and the big
old ones went into his mouth to sting. A
thousand and a thousand hung in the air just

FABLES FROM THE CHINESE 263

over his head and made a great noise, and the
Lion soon knew that he could not conquer.

' He roared and jumped, and two of his front
feet went down into the well. The well was
narrow and deep and he could not get out, for
his two hind feet were in the air and his head
hung downward. And as he died, he said to
himself :

4 My pride and anger have brought me this
fate. Had I used gentle words, the Mosquitoes
might have given me w r ater for my thirst.
I was wise and strong in the wilderness, and
even the greatest of the animals feared my power.
But I fought with the Mosquitoes and I die
not because I have not strength to overcome, but
because of the foolishness of anger.' 3

EE-SZE (Meaning) : The wise can conquer the foolish. Power
is nothing, strength is nothing. The wise, gentle and care-
ful can always win.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE*

'Of Fables judge not by their face;
They give the simplest brute a teacher's place.
Bare precepts were inert and tedious things;
The story gives them life and wings. 9

JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

^Translated by Elizur Wright, Jr.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE

The Grasshopper and the Ant

A GRASSHOPPER gay
Sang the summer away,
And found herself poor
By the winter's first roar.
Of meat or of bread,
Not a morsel she had!
So a-begging she went,
To her neighbour the Ant,

For the loan of some wheat,

Which would serve her to eat,
Till the season came round.

"I will pay you,' she saith,

"On an animal's faith,
Double weight in the pound
Ere the harvest be bound. '

The Ant is a friend

(And here she might mend)

Little given to lend.
"How spent you the summer?'

Quoth she, looking shame

At the borrowing dame.

267

268 THE TALKING BEASTS

'Night and day to each comer
I sang, if you please. '

You sang! I'm at ease,
For 'tis plain at a glance,
Now, ma'am, you must dance. '

The Sioan and the Cook

THE pleasures of a poultry yard
Were by a Swan and Gosling shared.
The Swan was kept there for his looks,
The thrifty Gosling for the Cooks;
The first the garden's pride, the latter
A greater favourite on the platter.
They s\vam the ditches, side by side,
And oft in sports aquatic vied,
Plunging, splashing far and wide,
With rivalry ne'er satisfied.

One day the Cook, named Thirsty John,
Sent for the Gosling, took the Swan,

In haste his throat to cut,

And put him in the pot.
The bird's complaint resounded

In glorious melody;
Whereat the Cook, astounded

His sad mistake to see,
Cried, : What! make soup of a musician!
Please God, I'll never set such dish on.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 269

No, no; I'll never cut a throat
That sings so passing sweet a note. '

'Tis thus, whatever peril may alarm us,
Sweet words will surely never harm us.

The Hornets and the Bees
' '

artist by his work is known.
A piece of honey-comb, one day,
Discover'd as a waif and stray,
The Hornets treated as their own.
Their title did the Bees dispute,
And brought before a Wasp the suit.
The judge was puzzled to decide,
For nothing could be testified
Save that around this honey-comb
There had been seen, as if at home,
Some longish, brownish, buzzing creatures,
Much like the Bees in wings and features.
But what of that? for marks the same,
The Hornets, too, could truly claim.
Between assertion and denial,
The Wasp, in doubt, proclaim'd new trial;
And, hearing what an ant-hill swore,
Could see no clearer than before.
'What use, I pray, of this expense?'
At last exclaim'd a Bee of sense.

270 THE TALKING BEASTS

' We've labour'd months in this affair,
And now are only where we were.
Meanwhile the honey runs to waste:
'Tis time the judge should show some haste.
Both sides have had sufficient bleeding,
Without more fuss of scrawls and pleading.
Let's set to work, these drones and we,
And then all eyes the truth may see,
Whose art it is that can produce
The magic cells, the nectar juice. '

The Hornets, flinching on their part,
Show that the work transcends their art.
The Wasp at length their title sees,
And gives the honey to the Bees.

Oh, would that suits at law with us
Might every one be managed thus!

The Two Rats, the Fox, and the Egg

Two Rats in foraging fell on an Egg
For gentry such as they
A genteel dinner every way;
They needed not to find an ox's leg.
Brimful of joy and appetite,

They were about to sack the box,

So tight without the aid of locks,

When suddenly there came in sight

A personage Sir Slyboots Fox.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 271

Sure, luck was never more untoward
Since Fortune was a vixen froward!
How should they save their Egg and bacon?

Their plunder couldn't then be bagg'd*
Should it in forward paws be taken,
Or roll'd along, or dragg'd?
Each method seem'd impossible,
And each was then of danger full.
Necessity, ingenious mother,
Brought forth what help'd them from their

pother.

As still there was a chance to save their prey,
The sponger yet some hundred yards away
One seized the Egg, and turn'd upon his back,
And then, in spite of many a thump and thwack,
That would have torn, perhaps, a coat of mail,
The other dragg'd him by the tail.

Who dares the inference to blink,

That beasts possess wherewith to think?

Were I commission 9 d to bestow
This power on creatures here below,
The beasts should have as much of mind
As infants of the human kind.

The Lion's Share

THE Heifer, the Goat, and their sister the Sheep,
Compacted their earnings in common to keep,

272 THE TALKING BEASTS

'Tis said, in time past, with a Lion, who sway 'd
Full lordship o'er neighbours, of whatever grade.
The Goat, as it happen'd, a Stag having snared,
Sent off to the rest, that the beast might be

shared.

All gather'd; the Lion first counts on his claws,
And says, ' ; We'll proceed to divide with our paws
The stag into pieces, as fix'd by our laws. '
This done, he announces part first as his own;
"'Tis mine," he says, "truly, as Lion alone.'
To such a decision there's nought to be said,
As he who has made it is doubtless the head.
'Well, also, the second to me should belong;
'Tis mine, be it known, by the right of the strong.
Again, as the bravest, the third must be mine.
To touch but the fourth whoso maketh a sign,
I'll choke him to death
In the space of a breath ! '

The Shepherd and His Dog

A SHEPHERD, with a single Dog,

Was ask'd the reason why

He kept a Dog, whose least supply

Amounted to a loaf of bread

For every day. The people said

He'd better give the animal

To guard the village seignior's hall;

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 273

For him, a Shepherd, it would be
A thriftier economy
To keep small curs, say two or three,
That would not cost him half the food,
And yet for watching be as good.
The fools, perhaps, forgot to tell
If they would fight the wolf as well.
The silly Shepherd, giving heed,
Cast off his Dog of mastiff breed,
And took three dogs to watch his cattle,
Which ate far less, but fled in battle.

Not vain our tale, if it convinces
Small states that 'tis a wiser thing
To trust a single powerful king,

Than half a dozen petty princes.

The Old Man and the Ass

AN OLD Man, riding on his Ass,
Had found a spot of thrifty grass,
And there turn'd loose his weary beast.
Old Grizzle, pleased with such a feast,
Flung up his heels, and caper'd round,
Then roll'd and rubb'd upon the ground,
And frisk'd and browsed and bray'd,
And many a clean spot made.
Arm'd men came on them as he fed:
"Let's fly!" in haste the Old Man said.

274 THE TALKING BEASTS

'And wherefore so?' the Ass replied;

" With heavier burdens will they ride? '
" No, ' said the man, already started,
"Then,' cried the Ass, as he departed.
"I'll stay, and be no matter w r hose;
Save you yourself, and leave me loose,
But let me tell you, ere you go
(I speak plain English, as you know),
My master is my only foe. 5

The Lion Going to War

THE Lion had an enterprise in hand ;

Held a war-council, sent his provost-marshal,

And gave the animals a call impartial
Each, in his way, to serve his high command.
The Elephant should carry on his back
The tools of war, the mighty public pack,
And fight in elephantine way and form;
The Bear should hold himself prepared to

storm;

The Fox all secret stratagems should fix;
The Monkey should amuse the foe by tricks.
"Dismiss,' said one, "the blockhead Asses,

And Hares, too cowardly and fleet.'
"No," said the King; "I use all classes;

Without their aid my force were incomplete.
The Ass shall be our trumpeter, to scare

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 275

Our enemy. And then the nimble Hare
Our royal bulletins shall homeward bear.'

A monarch provident and wise
Will hold his subjects all of consequence,
* And know in each what talent lies.
There's nothing useless to a man of sense.

The Ass and the Lap-dog

ONE'S native talent from its course
Cannot be turned aside by force;
But poorly apes the country clown
The polish'd manners of the town.
Their Maker chooses but a few
With power of pleasing to imbue;
Where wisely leave it we, the mass,
Unlike a certain fabled Ass,
That thought to gain his master's blessing
By jumping on him and caressing.

"What!" said the Donkey in his heart; v

"Ought it to be that Puppy's part \

To lead his useless life
In full companionship
With master and his wife,

While I must bear the whip?
What doth the Cur a kiss to draw
Forsooth, he only gives his paw!

276 THE TALKING BEASTS

If that is all there needs to please,
I'll do the thing myself, with ease.'

Possess'd with this bright notion
His master sitting on his chair,
At leisure in the open air -

He ambled up, with awkward motion,
And put his talents to the proof;
Upraised his bruised and batter'd hoof,
And, with an amiable mien,
His master patted on the chin,
The action gracing with a word
The fondest bray that e'er was heard!
Oh, such caressing was there ever?
Or melody with such a quaver?
'Ho! Martin! here! a club, a club bring!'

Out cried the master, sore offended.
So Martin gave the Ass a drubbing

And so the comedy was ended.

The Hare and the Partridge

A FIELD in common share
A Partridge and a Hare,
And live in peaceful state,
Till, woeful to relate!
The hunter's mingled cry
Compels the Hare to fly.
He hurries to his fort,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 277

And spoils almost the sport
By faulting every hound
That yelps upon the ground.
At last his reeking heat
Betrays his snug retreat.
Old Tray, with philosophic nose,
Snuffs carefully, and grows
So certain, that he cries,
"The Hare is here; bow wow!'
And veteran Ranger now
The dog that never lies
"The Hare is gone,' replies.
Alas ! poor, wretched Hare,
Back comes he to his lair,
To meet destruction there!
The Partridge, void of fear,
Begins her friend to jeer:
"You bragg'd of being fleet;
How serve you, now, your feet?'
Scarce has she ceased to speak
The laugh yet in her beak
When comes her turn to die,
From which she could not fly.
She thought her wings, indeed,
Enough for every need;
But in her laugh and talk,
Forgot the cruel hawk!

278 THE TALKING BEASTS

r

The Weasel in the Granary

A WEASEL through a hole contrived to squeeze,

(She was recovering from disease),

Which led her to a farmer's hoard.
There lodged, her wasted form she cherish'd;
Heaven knows the lard and victuals stored

That by her gnawing perish'd !

Of which the consequence

Was sudden corpulence.

A week or so was past,
When having fully broken fast,

A noise she heard, and hurried
To find the hole by which she came,
And seem'd to find it not the same;

So round she ran, most sadly flurried;
And, coming back, thrust out her head,
Which, sticking there, she said,
"This is the hole, there can't be blunder:
What makes it now so small, I wonder,
Where, but the other day, I pass'd with ease?'

A Rat her trouble sees,
And cries, 'But with an emptier belly;
You enter'd lean, and lean must sally.'

T FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 279

The Wolf Turned Shepherd

A WOLF, whose gettings from the flocks

Began to be but few,
Bethought himself to play the fox

In character quite new.
A Shepherd's hat and coat he took,
A cudgel for a crook,
Nor e'en the pipe forgot:
And more to seem what he was not,
Himself upon his hat he wrote,
" I'm Willie, shepherd of these sheep. '
His person thus complete,
His crook in upraised feet,
The impostor Willie stole upon the keep.
The proper Willie, on the grass asleep,

Slept there, indeed, profoundly,
His dog and pipe slept, also soundly;
His drowsy sheep around lay.
As for the greatest number,
Much bless'd the hypocrite their slumber
And hoped to drive away the flock,
Could he the Shepherd's voice but mock.

He thought undoubtedly he could.
He tried: the tone in which he spoke,
Loud echoing from the wood,
The plot and slumber broke;
Sheep, dog, and man awoke.

280 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Wolf, in sorry plight,
In hampering coat bedight,
Could neither run nor fight.

There's always leakage of deceit
Which makes it never safe to cheat.
Whoever is a Wolf had better
Keep clear of hypocritic fetter.

The Lion and the Ass Hunting

THE King of animals, with royal grace,
Would celebrate his birthday in the chase.
'Twas not with bow and arrows,
To slay some wretched sparrows;
[The Lion hunts the wild boar of the wood,
The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good.
This time, the King, t' insure success,
Took for his aide-de-camp an Ass,
A creature of stentorian voice,
That felt much honoured by the choice.
The Lion hid him in a proper station,
And order'd him to bray, for his vocation,
Assured that his tempestuous cry
The boldest beasts would terrify,
And cause them from their lairs to fly.
And, sooth, the horrid noise the creature made
Did strike the tenants of the wood with dread;

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 281

And, as they headlong fled,
All fell within the Lion's ambuscade.

"Has not my service glorious

Made both of us victorious?"

Cried out the much-elated Ass.
"Yes," said the Lion; "bravely bray'd!

Had I not known yourself and race,
I should have been myself afraid!'

The Donkey, had he dared,

With anger would have flared
At this retort, though justly made;

For who could suffer boasts to pass

So ill-befitting to an Ass?

The Oak and the Reed

THE Oak one day address'd the Reed:

"To you ungenerous indeed

Has nature been, my humble friend,

With weakness aye obliged to bend.

The smallest bird that flits in air

Is quite too much for you to bear;

The slightest wind that wreathes the lake

Your ever-trembling head doth shake.

The while, my towering form

Dares with the mountain top

The solar blaze to stop,
And wrestle with the storm.
What seems to you the blast of death,

282 THE TALKING BEASTS

To me is but a zephyr's breath.
Beneath my branches had you grown,
Less suffering would your life have known,

Unhappily you oftenest show
In open air your slender form,

Along the marshes wet and low,

That fringe the kingdom of the storm.

To you, declare I must,

Dame Nature seems unjust. '
Then modestly replied the Reed:
"Your pity, sir, is kind indeed,
But wholly needless for my sake.
The wildest wind that ever blew
Is safe to me compared with you.
I bend, indeed, but never break.
Thus far, I own, the hurricane
Has beat your sturdy back in vain;
But wait the end. ' Just at the word,
The tempest's hollow voice was heard.
The North sent forth her fiercest child,
Dark, jagged, pitiless, and wild.
The Oak, erect, endured the blow;
The Reed bow'd gracefully and low.
But, gathering up its strength once more,
In greater fury than before,
The savage blast o'erthrew, at last,
That proud, old, sky-encircled head,
Whose feet entwined the empire of the dead!

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 283

The Bat and the Two Weasels

A BLUNDERING Bat once stuck her head
Into a wakeful Weasel's bed;
Whereat the mistress of the house,

A deadly foe of rats and mice,

Was making ready in a trice
To eat the stranger as a mouse.
"What! do you dare," she said, "to creep in
The very bed I sometimes sleep in,
Now, after all the provocation
I've suffered from your thievish nation?
It's plain to see you are a mouse,
That gnawing pest of every house,
Your special aim to do the cheese ill.
Ay, that you are, or I'm no Weasel.'

C I beg your pardon," said the Bat;

' My kind is very far from that.
What! I a mouse! Who told you such a lie?

W T hy, ma'am, I am a bird;

And, if you doubt my word,
Just see the wings with which I fly.
Long live the mice that cleave the sky ! '

These reasons had so fair a show,

The Weasel let the creature go.

By some strange fancy led,
The same wise blunderhead,

284 THE TALKING BEASTS

But two or three days later,

Had chosen for her rest

Another Weasel's nest,
This last, of birds a special hater.
New peril brought this step absurd:

Without a moment's thought or puzzle,

Dame Weasel, oped her peaked muzzle
To eat th' intruder as a bird.

"Hold! do not wrong me," cried the Bat;

"I'm truly no such thing as that.
Your eyesight strange conclusions gathers.
What makes a bird, I pray? Its feathers.

I'm cousin of the mice and rats.

Great Jupiter confound the cats ! '
The Bat, by such adroit replying,
Twice saved herself from dying.

And many a human stranger

Thus turns his coat in danger;

And sings, as suits, where'er he goes,

6 'God save the king!" or "save his foes 1 '

The Dove and the Ant

A DOVE came to a brook to drink,
When, leaning o'er its crumbling brink,
An Ant fell in, and vainly tried,
In this, to her, an ocean tide,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 285

To reach the land; whereat the Dove,
With every living thing in love,
Was prompt a spire of grass to throw her,
By which the Ant regain'd the shore.

A barefoot scamp, both mean and sly,
Soon after chanced this Dove to spy;
And, being arm'd with bow and arrow,

The hungry codger doubted not

The bird of Venus, in his pot,
Would make a soup before the morrow.
Just as his deadly bow he drew,

Our Ant just bit his heel.

Roused by the villain's squeal,
The Dove took timely hint, and flew

Far from the rascal's coop

And with her flew his soup.

The Cock and the Fox

UPON a tree there mounted guard

A veteran Cock, adroit and cunning;
When to the roots a Fox up running,
Spoke thus, in tones of kind regard:
"Our quarrel, brother, 's at an end;
Henceforth I hope to live your friend;

For peace now reigns
Throughout the animal domains.

236 THE TALKING BEASTS

I bear the news come down, I pray,
And give me the embrace fraternal;
And please, my brother, don't delay.
So much the tidings do concern all,
That I must spread them far to-day.
Now you and yours can take your walks
Without a fear or thought of hawks.
And should you clash with them or others,
In us you'll find the best of brothers;
For which you may, this joyful night,
Your merry bonfires light.
But, first, let's seal the bliss
With one fraternal kiss. '
The Cock replied, "Upon my word,
A better thing I never heard;
And doubly I rejoice
To hear it from your voice;
There really must be something in it,
For yonder come two greyhounds, which I

flatter
Myself are couriers on this very matter.

They come so fast, they'll be here in a minute.
I'll down, and all of us will seal the blessing
With general kissing and caressing. '
"Adieu," said Fox; "my errand's pressing;
I'll hurry on my way,
And we'll rejoice some other day.'
So off the fellow scamper'd, quick and light,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 28T

To gain the fox-holes of a neighbouring height,
Less happy in his stratagem than flight.

The Cock laugh'd sweetly in his sleeve
'Tis doubly sweet deceiver to deceive.

The Wolf,, the Goat., and the Kid

As WENT a Goat of grass to take her fill,
And browse the herbage of a distant hill.
She latch'd her door, and bid,
With matron care, her Kid;
fi My daughter, as you live,
This portal don't undo
To any creature who
This watchword does not give:
'Deuce take the Wolf and all his race'!'
The Wolf was passing near the place
By chance, and heard the words with pleasure,

And laid them up as useful treasure;
And hardly need we mention,
Escaped the Goat's attention.
No sooner did he see
The matron off, than he,
With hypocritic tone and face,
Cried out before the place,
'Deuce take the Wolf and all his race!'
Not doubting thus to gain admission.
The Kid, not void of all suspicion,
Peer'd through a crack, and cried,

288 THE TALKING BEASTS

'Show me white paw before
You ask me to undo the door. '

The Wolf could not, if he had died,
For wolves have no connection
With paws of that complexion.

So, much surprised, our gourniandiser

Retired to fast till he was wiser.

How would the Kid have been undone

Had she but trusted to the loord

The Wolf by chance had overheard!
Two sureties better are than one;

And caution's worth its cost,

Though sometimes seeming lost.

The Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals

LEFT kingless by the lion's death,
The beasts once met, our story saith,
Some fit successor to install.
Forth from a dragon-guarded, moated place,
The crown was brought and, taken from its case,
And being tried by turns on all,
The heads of most were found too small;
Some horned were, and some too big;

Not one would fit the regal gear.
Forever ripe for such a rig,
The Monkey, looking very queer,
Approach'd with antics and grimaces,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 289

And, after scores of monkey faces,
With what would seem a gracious stoop,
Pass'd through the crown as through a hoop.
The beasts, diverted with the thing,
Did homage to him as their king.
The Fox alone the vote regretted,
But yet hi public never fretted.
When he his compliments had paid
To royalty, thus newly made,
" Great sire, I know a place, ' said he,

"Where lies conceal'd a treasure,
Which, by the right of royalty,

Should bide your royal pleasure. '
The King lack'd not an appetite

For such financial pelf,
And, not to lose his royal right,

Ran straight to see it for himself.
It was a trap, and he was caught.
Said Reynard, " W T ould you have it thought,
You Ape, that you can fill a throne,
And guard the rights of all, alone,
Not knowing how to guard your own?'

The beasts all gathered from the farce,
That stuff for kings is very scarce.

290 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Rat and the Oyster

A COUNTRY .Rat of little brains,

Grown weary of inglorious rest,
Left home with all its straws and grains,

Resolved to know beyond his nest.
When peeping through the nearest fence,
"How big the world is, how immense!'
He cried; "there rise the Alps, and that
Is doubtless famous Ararat. '
His mountains were the works of moles,
Or dirt thrown up in digging holes!
Some days of travel brought him where
The tide had left the Oysters bare.
Since here our traveller saw the sea,
He thought these shells the ships must be.
"My father was, in truth," said he,

"A coward, and an ignoramus;
He dared not travel: as for me,

I've seen the ships and ocean famous;
Have cross'd the deserts without drinking,
And many dangerous streams, unshrinking/
Among the shut-up shell-fish, one
Was gaping widely at the sun;
It breathed, and drank the air's perfume,
Expanding, like a flower in bloom.

Both white and fat, its meat

Appear'd a dainty treat.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 291

Our Rat, when he this shell espied,
Thought for his stomach to provide.
"If not mistaken in the matter/
Said he, "no meat was ever fatter,
Or in its flavour half so fine,
As that on which to-day I dine.'
Thus full of hope, the foolish chap

Thrust in his head to taste,
And felt the pinching of a trap

The Oyster closed in haste.

Now those to w/iom the world is new
Are wonder-struck at every view;
And the marauder finds his match
When he is caught who thinks to catch.

The Ass and the Dog

ALONG the road an Ass and Dog
One master following, did jog.
Their master slept : meanwhile, the Ass
Applied his nippers to the grass,
Much pleased in such a place to stop,
Though there no thistle he could crop.
He would not be too delicate,
Nor spoil a dinner for a plate,
Which, but for that, his favourite dish,
Were all that any Ass could wish.

"My dear companion,' Towser said

292 THE TALKING BEASTS

"'Tis'as a starving Dog I ask it
Pray low r er down your loaded basket,

And let me get a piece of bread. '
No answer not a w r ord ! indeed,
The truth was, our Arcadian steed
Fear'd lest, for every moment's flight,
His nimble teeth should lose a bite.
At last, 'I counsel you,' said he, fi to wait

Till master is himself awake,

Who then, unless I much mistake,
Will give his Dog the usual bait. '
Meanwhile, there issued from the wood
A creature of the wolfish brood,
Himself by famine sorely pinch'd.
At sight of him the Donkey flinch'd,
And begg'd the Dog to give him aid.
The Dog budged not, but answer made,
"I counsel thee, my friend, to run,
Till master's nap is fairly done;
There can, indeed, be no mistake
That he will very soon awake;
Till then, scud off with all your might;
And should he snap you in your flight,
This ugly Wolf why, let him feel
The greeting of your well-shod heel.
I do not doubt, at all, but that
Will be enough to lay him flat. '

But ere he ceased it was too late;

The Ass had met his cruel fate.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 293

The Monkey and the Leopard

A MONKEY and a Leopard were
The rivals at a country fair.

Each advertised his own attractions.
Said one, ' ' Good sirs, the highest place
My merit knows; for, of his grace,
The King hath seen me face to face;

And, judging by his looks and actions,

I gave the best of satisfactions.

When I am dead, 'tis plain enough,

My skin will make his royal muff.

So richly is it streak' d and spotted,

So delicately waved and dotted,

Its various beauty cannot fail to please. '

And, thus invited, everybody sees;

But soon they see, and soon depart.

The Monkey's show-bill to the mart

His merits thus sets forth the while,

All in his own peculiar style:

"Come, gentlemen, I pray you, come;

In magic arts I am at home.

The whole variety in which

My neighbour boasts himself so rich

Is to his simple skin confined,

While mine is living in the mind.

For I can speak, you understand;

Can dance, and practise sleight-of-hand;

294 THE TALKING BEASTS

Can jump through hoops, and balance sticks;
In short, can do a thousand tricks;
One penny is my charge to you,
And, if you think the price won't do,
When you have seen, then I'll restore
Each man his money at the door.'

The Ape was not to reason blind;
For who in wealth of dress can find
Such charms as dwell in wealth of mind?
One meets our ever-new desires,
The other in a moment tires.
Alas! how many lords there are,

Of mighty sway and lofty mien,
Who, like this Leopard at the fair,

Show all their talents on the skin!

The Rat and the Elephant

A RAT, of quite the smallest size,
Fix'd on an Elephant his eyes,
And jeer'd the beast of high descent
Because his feet so slowly went.
Upon his back, three stories high,
There sat, beneath a canopy,
A certain sultan of renown,

His Dog, and Cat, and wife sublime*
His parrot, servant, and his wine,
All pilgrims to a distant to\vn.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 295

The Rat profess'd to be amazed
That all the people stood and gazed
With wonder, as he pass'd the road,
Both at the creature and his load.
'As if,' said he, 'to occupy
A little more of land or sky
Made one, in view of common sense,
Of greater worth and consequence!
What see ye, men, in this parade,
That food for wonder need be made?
The bulk which makes a child afraid?
In truth, I take myself to be,
In all aspects, as good as he. '
And further might have gone his vaunt;
But, darting down, the Cat
Convinced him that a Rat
Is smaller than an elephant.

The Acorn and the Pumpkin

GOD'S works are good. This truth to prove
Around the world I need not move;

I do it by the nearest Pumpkin.
"This fruit so large, on vine so small,'

Surveying once, exclaim'd a bumpkin
"What could He mean who made us all?
He's left this Pumpkin out of place.
If I had order'd in the case,
Upon that oak it should have hung

296 THE TALKING BEASTS

A noble fruit as ever swung

To grace a tree so firm and strong.

Indeed, it was a great mistake,

As this discovery teaches,
That I myself did not partake
His counsels whom my curate preaches.
All things had then in order come;
This Acorn, for example,

Not bigger than my thumb,
Had not disgraced a tree so ample.
The more I think, the more I wonder
To see outraged proportion's laws,
And that without the slightest cause;
God surely made an awkward blunder.'
With such reflections proudly fraught,
Our sage grew tired of mighty thought,
And threw himself on Nature's lap,
Beneath an oak, to take his nap.
Plump on his nose, by lucky hap,
An Acorn fell: he waked, and in
The scarf he wore beneath his chin,
He found the cause of such a bruise
As made him different language use.
"Oh! Oh!" he cried; "I bleed! I bleed!
And this is what has done the deed!
But, truly, what had been my fate,
Had this had half a Pumpkin's weight !
I see that God had reasons good,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 297

And all His works were understood.'
Thus home he went in humbler mood.

The Cat and the Fox

THE Cat and Fox, when saints were all the rage
Together went upon pilgrimage.
Our Pilgrims, as a thing of course,
Disputed till their throats were hoarse.

Then, dropping to a lower tone,
They talk'd of this, and talk'd of that,
Till Reynard whisper 'd to the Cat,

You think yourself a knowing one :
How many cunning tricks have you?
For I've a hundred, old and new.
All ready in my haversack. '
The Cat replied, ' ' I do not lack,

Though with but one provided;
And, truth to honour, for that matter,
I hold it than a thousand better. '

In fresh dispute they sided;
And loudly were they at it, when
Approach'd a mob of dogs and men.
"Now,' said the Cat, "your tricks ransack,
And put your cunning brains to rack,
One life to save; I'll show you mine
A trick, you see, for saving nine. '
With that, she climb'd a lofty pine.

298 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Fox his hundred ruses tried,

And yet no safety found.
A hundred times he falsified.

The nose of every hound
Was here, and there, and everywhere,

Above, and under ground;
But yet to stop he did not dare,
Pent in a hole, it was no joke,
To meet the terriers or the smoke.
So, leaping into upper air,
He met two dogs, that choked him there.

Expedients may be too many,

Consuming time to choose and try.

On one, but that as good as any 9
'Tis best in danger to rely.

The City Rat and the Country Rat

A CITY Rat, one night
Did with a civil stoop

A Country Rat invite
To end a turtle soup.

Upon a Turkey carpet

They found the table spread,
And sure I need not harp it

How well the fellows fed.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 299

The entertainment was

A truly noble one;
But some unlucky cause

Disturbed it when begun

It was a slight rat-tat,

That put their joys to rout;

Out ran the City Rat;

His guest, too, scampered out.

Our rats but fairly quit,

The fearful knocking ceased,
"Return we,' said the cit,
"To finish there our feast.'

"No," said the Rustic Rat;

"To-morrow dine with me.
I'm not offended at

Your feast so grand and free,

For I've no fare resembling;
But then I eat at leisure,
And would not swap for pleasure

So mixed with fear and trembling.

The Ploughman and His Sons

A WEALTHY Ploughman drawing near his end
Call'd in his Sons apart from every friend,

300 THE TALKING BEASTS

And said, "When of your sire bereft,

The heritage our fathers left

Guard well, nor sell a single field.

A treasure in it is conceal'd:

The place, precisely, I don't know,

But industry will serve to show.

The harvest past, Time's forelock take,

And search with plough, and spade, and rake;

Turn over every inch of sod,

Nor leave unsearch'd a single clod.'

The father died. The Sons in vain -

Turn'd o'er the soil, and o'er again;

That year their acres bore

More grain than e'er before.

Though hidden money found they none,

Yet had their Father wisely done,

To show by such a measure

That toil itself is treasure.

The farmer's patient care and toil
Are oftener wanting than the soil.

The Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse

A Fox, though young, by no means raw,

Had seen a Horse, the first he ever saw:
"Ho! neighbour Wolf,' said he to one quite
green,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 301

"A creature in our meadow I have seen
Sleek, grand ! I seem to see him yet
The finest beast I ever met. '
'Is he a stouter one than we?'
The Wolf demanded, eagerly;
"Some picture of him let me see.'
"If I could paint, " said Fox, "I should delight
T' anticipate your pleasure at the sight;
But come; who knows? perhaps it is a prey

By fortune offer'd in our way.'
They went. The Horse, turn'd loose to graze,
Not liking much their looks and ways,

Was just about to gallop off.
'Sir,'" said the Fox, 'your humble servants, we
Make bold to ask you what your name may be. '
The Horse, an animal with brains enough,
Replied, 'Sirs, you yourselves may read my

name ;

My shoer round my heel hath writ the same.'
The Fox excus'd himself for want of knowledge:
'Me, sir, my parents did not educate,
So poor, a hole was their entire estate.
My friend, the Wolf, however, taught at college,
Could read it, \vere it even Greek. '

The^ Wolf, to flattery weak,
Approach'd to verify the boast;
For which four teeth he lost.
The high raised hoof came down with such a blow

302 THE TALKING BEASTS

As laid him bleeding on the ground full low.

'My brother,' said the Fox, 'this shows how

just

What once was taught me by a fox of wit
Which on thy jaws this animal hath writ

'All unknown things the wise mistrust.'

The Woodman and Mercury

A MAN that labour'd in the wood
Had lost his honest livelihood;

That is to say,
His axe was gone astray.
He had no tools to spare;
This wholly earn'd his fare.
Without a hope beside,
He sat him down and cried,

"Alas, my axe! where can it be?
O Jove! but send it back to me,
And it shall strike good blows for thee.'
His prayer in high Olympus heard,
Swift Mercury started at the word.

"Your axe must not be lost," said he:

"Now, will you know it when you see?
An axe I found upon the road. '
With that an axe of gold he show'd.

"Is't this?" The Woodman answer'd, "Nay."
An axe of silver, bright and gay,
Refused the honest Woodman too.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 303

At last the finder brought to view

An axe of iron, steel, and wood.
"That's mine,' he said, in joyful mood;
"With that I'll quite contented be."

The god replied, "I give the three,

As due reward of honesty.'

This luck when neighbouring choppers knew,

They lost their axes, not a few,

And sent their prayers to Jupiter

So fast, he knew not which to hear.

His winged son, however, sent

With gold and silver axes, went.

Each would have thought himself a fool

Not to have own'd the richest tool.

But Mercury promptly gave, instead

Of it, a blow upon the head.

With simple truth to be contented,
Is surest not to be repented:
But still there are who would
With evil trap the good,
Whose cunning is but stupid,
For Jove is never duped.

The Eagle and the Owl

THE Eagle and the Owl, resolved to cease
Their war, embraced in pledge of peace.
On faith of King, on faith of Owl, they swore

304 THE TALKING BEASTS

That they would eat each other's chicks no more.
'But know you mine?' said Wisdom's bird.
'Not I, indeed,' the Eagle cried.
'The worse for that,' the Owl replied:
"I fear your oath's a useless word;
I fear that you, as king, will not
Consider duly who or what:
Adieu, my young, if you should meet them!'
"Describe them, then, and I'll not eat them,'
The Eagle said. The Owl replied:
"My little ones, I say with pride,
For grace of form cannot be match'd
The prettiest birds that e'er were hatch'd;
By this you cannot fail to know them;
'Tis needless, therefore, that I show them. '
At length God gives the Owl some heirs,
And while at early eve abroad he fares,
In quest of birds and mice for food,
Our Eagle haply spies the brood,
As on some craggy rock they sprawl,
Or nestle in some ruined wall,
(But which it matters not at all,)
And thinks them ugly little frights,
Grim, sad, with voice like shrieking sprites.
'These chicks,' says he, 'with looks almost

infernal,

Can't be the darlings of our friend nocturnal.
I'll sup of them.' And so he did, not slightly:

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 305

He never sups, if he can help it, lightly.

The Owl return'd; and, sad, he found

Nought left but claws upon the ground.
He pray'd the gods above and gods below
To smite the brigand who had caused his woe.
Quoth one, 'On you alone the blame must fall;
Thinking your like the loveliest of all,
You told the Eagle of your young ones' graces;

You gave the picture of their faces:

Had it of likeness any traces?'

The Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot

AN IRON Pot proposed

To an Earthen Pot a journey.
The latter was opposed,

Expressing the concern he
Had felt about the danger
Of going out a ranger.
He thought the kitchen hearth
The safest place on earth
For one so very brittle.
'For thee, who art a kettle,
And hast a tougher skin,
There's nought to keep thee in."
"I'll be thy bodyguard,"

Replied the Iron Pot;
'If anything that's hard

Should threaten thee a jot,

306 THE TALKING BEASTS

Between you I will go,

And save thee from the blow.'

This offer him persuaded.

The Iron Pot paraded

Himself as guard and guide

Close at his cousin's side.

Now, in their tripod way,

They hobble as they may;

And eke together bolt

At every little jolt

Which gives the crockery pain;
But presently his comrade hits
So hard, he dashes him to bits,

Before he can complain.

Take care that you associate
With equals only, lest your fate
Between these pots should find its mate.

The Wolf and the Lean Dog

A TROUTLING, some time since,

Endeavour'd vainly to convince
A hungry fisherman
Of his unfitness for the frying-pan.
The fisherman had reason good
The troutling did the best he could

Both argued for their lives.
Now, if my present purpose thrives,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 307

I'll prop my former proposition
By building on a small addition.
A certain Wolf, in point of wit
The prudent fisher's opposite,
A Dog once finding far astray,
Prepared to take him as his prey.
The Dog his leanness plead;
"Your lordship, sure,' he said,
" Cannot be very eager
To eat a dog so meagre.
To wait a little do not grudge:
The wedding of my master's only daughter
Will cause of fatted calves and fowls a slaughter;
And then, as you yourself can judge,
I cannot help becoming fatter. '
The Wolf, believing, waived the matter,
And so, some days therefrom,
Return 'd with sole design to see
If fat enough his Dog might be.
The rogue was now at home:
He saw the hunter through the fence.

c My friend," said he, "please wait;
I'll be with you a moment hence,

And fetch our porter of the gate. '
This porter was a dog immense,
That left to wolves no future tense.
Suspicion gave our Wolf a jog
It might not be so safely tamper'd.

308 THE TALKING BEASTS

' My service to your porter dog, '
Was his reply, as off he scampered.
His legs proved better than his head,
And saved him life to learn his trade.

The Ears of the Hare

SOME beast with horns did gore

The Lion; and that sovereign dread,
Resolved to suffer so no more,

Straight banish'd from his realm, 'tis said,
All sorts of beasts with horns
Rams, bulls, goats, stags, and unicorns.

Such brutes all promptly fled.
A Hare, the shadow of his ears perceiving,

Could hardly help believing
That some vile spy for horns would take them,
And food for accusation make them.

"Adieu,' said he, 'my neighbour cricket;

I take my foreign ticket.
My ears, should I stay here,
Will turn to horns, I fear;

And were they shorter than a bird's,

I fear the effect of words. '
"These horns!' the cricket answer'd; "why,
God made them ears who can deny?'
"Yes," said the coward, "still they'll make them
horns,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 309

And horns, perhaps, of unicorns!

In vain shall I protest,
With all the learning of the schools:

My reasons they will send to rest
In th' Hospital of Fools."

The Ass Carrying Relics

AN Ass, with relics for his load,
Supposed the worship on the road
Meant for himself alone,

And took on lofty airs,
Receiving as his own

The incense and the prayers.
Some one, who saw his great mistake,
Cried, "Master Donkey, do not make

Yourself so big a fool.
Not you they worship, but your pack;
They praise the idols on your back,

And count yourself a paltry tool. '

9 Tis thus a brainless magistrate
Is honoured for his robe of state.

The Two Mules

Two Mules were bearing on their backs,
One, oats; the other, silver of the tax.
The latter glorying in his load,

310 THE TALKING BEASTS

March'd proudly forward on the road;
And, from the jingle of his bell,
'Twas plain he liked his burden well.
But in a wild-wood glen
A band of robber men
Rush'd forth upon the twain.

Well with the silver pleased,
They by the bridle seized
The treasure Mule so vain.
Poor Mule ! in struggling to repel
His ruthless foes, he fell

Stabb'd through; and with a bitter sighing,
He cried: 'Is this the lot they promised me?
My humble friend from danger free,
While, weltering in my gore, I'm dying?'

' My friend, ' ' his fellow-mule replied,
'It is not well to have one's work too high.
If thou hadst been a miller's drudge, as I,
Thou wouldst not thus have died."

The Lion and the Gnat

'Go, PALTRY insect, nature's meanest brat!'
Thus said the royal Lion to the Gnat.
The Gnat declared immediate war.
'Think you," said he, 'your royal name

To me worth caring for?
Think you I tremble at your power or fame?

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 311

The ox is bigger far than you;
Yet him I drive, and all his crew. 53
This said, as one that did no fear owe,
Himself he blew the battle charge,
Himself both trumpeter and hero.

At first he play'd about at large,
Then on the Lion's neck, at leisure, settled,
And there the royal beast full sorely nettled.
With foaming mouth, and flashing eye,
He roars. All creatures hide or fly
Such mortal terror at
The work of one poor Gnat!
With constant change of his attack,
The snout now stinging, now the back,
And now the chambers of the nose;
The pigmy fly no mercy shows.
The Lion's rage was at its height;
His viewless foe now laugh'd outright,
When on his battle-ground he saw,
That every savage tooth and claw
Had got its proper beauty
By doing bloody duty;
Himself, the hapless Lion tore his hide,
And lash'd with sounding tail from side to side.
Ah! bootless blow, and bite, and curse!
He beat the harmless air, and worse;
For, though so fierce and stout,
By effort wearied out,

312 THE TALKING BEASTS

He fainted, fell, gave up the quarrel;

The Gnat retires with verdant laurel.

t

We often have the most to fear
From those we most despise;

Again, great risks a man may clear
Who by the smallest dies.

The Countryman and the Serpent

A COUNTRYMAN, as ^Esop certifies,
A charitable man, but not so wise,

One day in winter found,

Stretch'd on the snowy ground,

A chill'd or frozen Snake,

As torpid as a stake,

And, if alive, devoid of sense.
He took him up, and bore him home,

And, thinking not what recompense
For such a charity would come,

Before the fire stretch'd him,
And back to being fetch'd him.

The Snake scarce felt the genial heat

Before his heart with native malice beat.
He raised his head, thrust out his forked tongue,
Coil'd up, and at his benefactor sprung.
"Ungrateful wretch!" said he, "is this the way

My care and kindness you repay?
Now you shall die.' : With that his axe he takes,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 313

And with two blows three serpents makes.
Trunk, head, and tail were separate snakes;

And, leaping up with all their might,

They vainly sought to reunite.

'Tis good and lovely to be kind;
But charity should not be blind;
For as to wretchedness ingrate 9
You cannot raise it from its wretched state.

The Dairywoman and the Pot of Milk

A POT of Milk upon her cushioned crown,
Good Peggy hastened to the market town;
Short-clad and light, with step she went,
Not fearing any accident;

Indeed to be the nimbler tripper,
Her dress that day,
The truth to say,
Was simply petticoat and slipper.
And, thus bedight,
Good Peggy, light,
Her gains already counted,
Laid out the cash
At single dash,

Which to a hundred eggs amounted.
Three nests she made,
Which, by the aid
Of diligence and care, were hatched.

314 THE TALKING BEASTS

'To raise the chicks,
We'll easily fix,"
Said she, " beside our cottage thatched.

The fox must get

More cunning yet,
Or leave enough to buy a pig.

With little care,

And any fare,
He'll grow quite fat and big;

And then the price

Will be so nice
For which the pork will sell!

'Twill go quite hard

But in our yard
I'll bring a cow and calf to dwell

A calf to frisk among the flock!'
The thought made Peggy do the same;
And down at once the milk pot came,

And perished with the shock.
Calf, cow, and pig, and chicks, adieu!
Your mistress' face is sad to view
She gives a tear to fortune spilt;
Then, with the down-cast look of guilt,
Home to her husband empty goes,
Somewhat in danger of his blows.

Who buildeth not, sometimes, in air,
His cots, or seats, or castles fair?

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 315

From kings to dairywomen all
The wise, the foolish, great and small
Each thinks his waking dream the best.
Some flattering error fills the breast:
The world, with all its wealth, is ours,
Its honours, dames, and loveliest bowers.
Instinct with valour, where alone,
I hurl the monarch from his throne;
The people glad to see him dead,
Elect me monarch in his stead,
And diadems rain on my head.
Some accident then calls me back,
And I'm no more than simple Jack!

The Monkey and the Cat

SLY Bertrand and Ratto in company sat,
(The one was a Monkey, the other a Cat,)

Co-servants and lodgers:

More mischievous codgers
Ne'er mess'd from a platter, since platters

were flat.

Was anything wrong in the house or about it,
The neighbours were blameless no mortal

could doubt it;

For Bertrand was thievish, and Ratto so nice,
More attentive to cheese than he was to the mice.
One day the two plunderers sat by the fire.

316 THE TALKING BEASTS

Where chestnuts were roasting, with looks of

desire.

To steal them would be a right noble affair.
A double inducement our heroes drew there
'Twould benefit them, could they swallow

their fill,

And then 'twould occasion to somebody ill.
Said Bertrand to Ratto, 'My brother, to-day
Exhibit your powers in a masterly way,
And take me these chestnuts, I pray.
Which were I but otherwise fitted
(As I am ingeniously witted)
For pulling things out of the flame,
Would stand but a pitiful game.' !
'Tis done,' 2 ' replied Ratto, all prompt to obey;
And thrust out his paw in a delicate way.
First giving the ashes a scratch,
He open'd the coveted batch;
Then lightly and quickly impinging,
He drew out, in spite of the singeing,
One after another, the chestnuts at last-
While Bertrand contrived to devour them as fast.
A servant girl enters. Adieu to the fun.
Our Ratto was hardly contented, says one.

No more are the princes, by flattery paid
For furnishing help in a different trade,
And burning their fingers to bring
More power to some mightier king.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 317

The Lioness and the Bear

THE Lioness had lost her young;

A hunter stole it from the vale;
The forests and the mountains rung

Responsive to her hideous wail.
Nor night, nor charms of sweet repose,
Could still the loud lament that rose

From that grim forest queen.
No animal, as you might think,
With such a noise could sleep a wink.
A Bear presumed to intervene.

"One word, sweet friend," quoth she,
"And that is all, from me.
The young that through your teeth have pass'd,
In file unbroken by a fast,

Had they nor dam nor sire?'
"They had them both." "Then I desire,
Since all their deaths caused no such grievous

riot,

While mothers died of grief beneath your fiat,
To know why you yourself cannot be quiet?'
' I quiet ! I ! a wretch bereaved !
My only son ! such anguish be relieved !
No, never! All for me below
Is but a life of tears and woe!"
'But say, why doom yourself to sorrow so?'
"Alas! 'tis Destiny that is my foe."

318 THE TALKING BEASTS

Such language, since the mortal fall,

Has fallen from the lips of all.

Ye human wretches, give your heed;

For your complaints there's little need.
Let him who thinks his own the hardest case,

Some widowed, childless Hecuba behold,

Herself to toil and shame of slavery sold,
And he will own the wealth oj heavenly grace.

The Cat and the Two Sparrow?

CONTEMPORARY with a Sparrow tame
There lived a Cat; from tenderest age,
Of both, the basket and the cage
Had household gods the same.
The Bird's sharp beak full oft provoked the Cat,
Who play'd in turn, but with a gentle pat,
His wee friend sparing with a merry laugh,
Not punishing his faults by half.

In short, he scrupled much the harm,
Should he with points his ferule arm.
The Sparrow, less discreet than he,
With dagger beak made very free.
Sir Cat, a person wise and staid,
Excused the warmth with which he play'd:
For 'tis full half of friendship's art
To take no joke in serious part.
Familiar since they saw the light,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 319

Mere habit kept their friendship good;
Fair play had never turn'd to fight,

Till, of their neighbourhood,
Another sparrow came to greet
Old Ratto grave and Saucy Pete.
Between the birds a quarrel rose,

And Ratto took his side.
'A pretty stranger, with such blows

To beat our friend!' he cried.
; 'A neighbour's sparrow eating ours!
Not so, by all the feline powers."
And quick the stranger he devours.
'Now, truly,' 2 saith Sir Cat,
'I know how sparrows taste by that.
Exquisite, tender, delicate!'
This thought soon seal'd the other's fate.
But hence what moral can I bring?
For, lacking that important thing,
A fable lacks its finishing:
I seem to see of one some trace,
But still its shadow mocks my chase.

The Sick Stag

A STAG, where stags abounded,
Fell sick and was surrounded
Forthwith by comrades kind,
All pressing to assist,

320 THE TALKING BEASTS

Or see, their friend, at least,
And ease his anxious mind -

An irksome multitude.
"Ah, sirs!' the sick was fain to cry,
"Pray leave me here to die,

As others do, in solitude.
Pray, let your kind attentions cease,
Till death my spirit shall release/ 3
But comforters are not so sent:
On duty sad full long intent,
When Heaven pleased, they went:
But not without a friendly glass;
That is to say, they cropp'd the grass
And leaves which in that quarter grew 5
From which the sick his pittance drew.
By kindness thus compell'd to fast,
He died for want of food at last.

The men take off no trifling dole
Who heal the body, or the soul.
Alas the times! do what we will,
They have their payment, cure or kill.

The Wolf and the Fox

DEAR Wolf," complain'd a hungry Fox,
A lean chick's meat, or veteran cock's,
Is all I get by toil or trick:

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 321

Of such a living I am sick.
With far less risk, you've better cheer;
A house you need not venture near,
But I must do it, spite of fear.
Pray, make me master of your trade.
And let me by that means be made
The first of all my race that took
Fat mutton to his larder's hook:
Your kindness shall not be repented.' 1
The Wolf quite readily consented.
"I have a brother, lately dead:
Go fit his skin to yours,'' he said.
'Twas done; and then the wolf proceeded:
" Now mark you well what must be done
The dogs that guard the flock to shun.' :
The Fox the lessons strictly heeded.
At first he boggled in his dress;
But awkwardness grew less and less,
Till perseverance gave success.
His education scarce complete,
A flock, his scholarship to greet,

Came rambling out that way.
The new-made Wolf his work began,
Amidst the heedless nibblers ran.

And spread a sore dismay.
The bleating host now surely thought
That fifty wolves were on the spot:

Dog, shepherd, sheep, all homeward fled*

THE TALKING BEASTS

And left a single sheep in pawn,

Which Reynard seized when they were gone.

But, ere upon his prize he fed,
There crow'd a cock near by, and down
The scholar threw his prey and gown,
That he might run that way the faster
Forgetting lessons, prize and master.

Reality, in every station,

Will burst out on the first occasion.

The Woods and the Woodman

A CERTAIN Wood-chopper lost or broke

From his axe's eye a bit of oak.

The forest must needs be somewhat spared

While such a loss was being repair'd.

Came the man at last, and humbly pray'd
That the Woods would kindly lend to him
A moderate loan a single limb,

Whereof might another helve be made,

And his axe should elsewhere drive its trade.

Oh, the oaks and firs that then might stand,

A pride and a joy throughout the land,

For their ancientness and glorious charms!

The innocent Forest lent him arms;

But bitter indeed was her regret;

For the wretch, his axe new-helved and whet,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 323

Did nought but his benefactress spoil
Of the finest trees that graced her soil;
And ceaselessly was she made to groan,
Doing penance for that fatal loan.

Behold the world-stage and its actors,
Where benefits hurt benefactors!

A weary theme, and full of pain;
For where* s the shade so cool and sweet,
Protecting strangers from the heat,
But might of such a wrong complain?
Alas! I vex myself in vain;
Ingratitude, do what I will,
Is sure to be the fashion still.

The Shepherd and the Lion

THE Fable ^Esop tells is nearly this:
A Shepherd from his flock began to miss,
And long'd to catch the stealer of his sheep.
Before a cavern, dark and deep,
Where wolves retired by day to sleep,
Which he suspected as the thieves,
He set his trap among the leaves;
And, ere he left the place,
He thus invoked celestial grace:
*O king of all the powers divine,
Against the rogue but grant me this delight,

324 THE TALKING BEASTS

That this my trap may catch him in my sight,
And I, from twenty calves of mine,
Will make the fattest thine.' 3
But while the words were on his tongue,
Forth came a Lion great and strong.
Down crouch'd the man of sheep, and said,
With shivering fright half dead,
"Alas! that man should never be aware
Of what may be the meaning of his prayer!

To catch the robber of my flocks,
O king of gods, I pledged a calf to thee:
If from his clutches thou wilt rescue me,
I'll raise my offering to an ox."

The Animals Sick of the Plague

THE sorest ill that Heaven hath
Sent on this lower world in wrath
The Plague (to call it by its name)

One single day of which

Would Pluto's ferryman enrich
Waged war on beasts, both wild and tame.
They died not all, but all were sick:
No hunting now, by force or trick,
To save what might so soon expire,
No food excited their desire;
Nor wolf nor fox now watch'd to slay
The innocent and tender prey.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 325

The turtles fled;

So love and therefore joy were dead.
The Lion council held, and said:
"My friends, I do believe
This awful scourge, for which we grieve,
Is for our sins a punishment
Most righteously by Heaven sent.
Let us our guiltiest beast resign,
A sacrifice to wrath divine.
Perhaps this offering, truly small,
May gain me life and health of all.
By history we find it noted
That lives have been just so devoted.
Then let us all turn eyes within,
And ferret out the hidden sin.
Himself let no one spare nor flatter,
But make clean conscience in the matter.
For me, my appetite has play'd the glutton
Too much and often upon mutton.
What harm had e'er my victims done?

I answer, truly, None.
Perhaps, sometimes, by hunger press'd,
I've eat the shepherd with the rest.
I yield myself, if need there be;
And yet I think, in equity,
Each should confess his sins with me;
For laws of right and justice cry,
The guiltiest alone should die.' :

326 THE TALKING BEASTS

"Sire," said the Fox, 'your majesty
Is humbler than a king should be,
And over-squeamish in the case.

What! eating stupid sheep a crime?

No, never, sire, at any time.
It rather was an act of grace,
A mark of honour to their race.
And as to shepherds, one may swear,

The fate your majesty describes
Is recompense less full than fair

For such usurpers o'er our tribes.' 2

Thus Reynard glibly spoke,
And loud applause from flatterers broke
Of neither tiger, boar, nor bear,
Did any keen inquirer dare
To ask for crimes of high degree;

The fighters, biters, scratchers, all
From every mortal sin were free;

The very dogs, both great and small,
Were saints, as far as dogs could be.

The Ass, confessing in his turn,
Thus spoke in tones of deep concern:
"I happen' d through a mead to pass;
The monks, its owners, were at mass;
Keen hunger, leisure, tender grass,
And add to these the devil too,
All tempted me the deed to do.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 327

I browsed the bigness of my tongue;
Since truth must out, I own it wrong.' 5

On this, a hue and cry arose,

As if the beasts were all his foes:

A Wolf, haranguing lawyer-wise,

Denounced the Ass for sacrifice

The bald-pate, scabby, ragged lout,

By whom the plague had come, no doubt.

His fault was judged a hanging crime.

"What? eat another's grass? O shame!
The noose of rope and death sublime,
For that offence, were all too tame!'
And soon poor Grizzle felt the same.

Thus human courts acquit the strong,
And doom the weak., as therefore wrong.

The Fowler, the Hawk, and the Lark

FROM wrongs of wicked men we draw

Excuses for our own;
Such is the universal law.

Would you have mercy shown,

Let yours be clearly known.

A Fowler's mirror served to snare
The little tenants of the air.
A Lark there saw her pretty face,
And was approaching to the place.

66

CC

328 THE TALKING BEASTS

A Hawk, that sailed on high,
Like vapour in the sky,
Came down, as still as infant's breath.
On her who sang so near her death.
She thus escaped the Fowler's steel,
The Hawk's malignant claws to feel.
While in his cruel way,
The pirate plucked his prey,
Upon himself the net was sprung. .
O Fowler," prayed he in the hawkish tongue,
Release me in thy clemency!
I never did a wrong to thee.
The man replied, 'Tis true;
And did the Lark to you?'

Phoebus and Boreas

OLD Boreas and the Sun, one day,
Espied a traveller on his way,
Whose dress did happily provide
Against whatever might betide.
The time was autumn, when, indeed,
All prudent travellers take heed.
The rains that then the sunshine dash,
And Iris with her splendid sash,
Warn one who does not like to soak
To wear abroad a good thick coat.
Our man was therefore well bedight

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 39

With double mantle, strong and tight.
"This fellow/' said the Wind, "has meant
To guard from every ill event;
But little does he wot that I

Can blow him such a blast

That, not a button fast,
His cloak shall cleave the sky.
Conie, here's a pleasant game, Sir Sun!

Wilt play?" Said Phoebus, "Done!

We'll bet between us here

Which first will take the gear

From off this cavalier.

Begin, and shut away

The brightness of my ray.' 5
'Enough.' 3 Our blower, on the bet,

Swelled out his pursy form

With all the stuff for storm -
The thunder, hail, and drenching wet,
And all the fury he could muster;
Then, with a very demon's bluster,
He whistled, whirled, and splashed.
And down the torrents dashed,

Full many a roof upbearing
He never did before,

Full many a vessel bearing
To wreck upon the shore

And all to doff a single cloak.

But vain the furious stroke;

330 THE TALKING BEASTS

The traveller was stout,
And kept the tempest out,
Defied the hurricane,
Defied the pelting rain;
And as the fiercer roared the blast,
His cloak the tighter held he fast.
The Sun broke out, to win the bet;
He caused the clouds to disappear,
Refreshed and warmed the cavalier,
And through his mantle made him sweat,

Till off it came, of course,
In less than half an hour;
And yet the Sun saved half his power
So much does mildness more than force.

The Stag and the Vine

A STAG, by favour of a Vine,

Which grew where suns most genial shine,

And formed a thick and matted bower

Which might have turned a summer shower,

Was saved by ruinous assault.

The hunters thought their dogs at fault,

And called them off. In danger now no more

The Stag, a thankless wretch and vile,
Began to browse his benefactress o'er.

The hunters listening the while,
The rustling heard, came back,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 331

With all their yelping pack,

And seized him in that very place.
"This is," said he, "but justice, in my case.
Let every black ingrate
Henceforward profit by my fate."
The dogs fell to 'twere wasting breath
To pray those hunters at the death.
They left, and we will not revile 'em,
A warning for profaners of asylum.

The Peacock Complaining to Juno

THE Peacock to the Queen of heaven
Complained in some such words:

" Great goddess, you have given
To me, the laughing stock of birds,

A voice which fills, by taste quite just,
All nature with disgust;

Whereas that little paltry thing,

The nightingale, pours from her throat
So sweet and ravishing a note;

She bears alone the honours of the spring."
In anger Juno heard,

And cried, "Shame on you, jealous bird!

Grudge you the nightingale her voice,

Who in the rainbow neck rejoice,

Than costliest silks more richly tinted,

In charms of grace and form unstinted

332 THE TALKING BEASTS

Who strut in kingly pride,

Your glorious tail spread wide
With brilliants which in sheen do
Outshine the jeweller's bow window?
Is there a bird beneath the blue
That has more charms than you?
No animal in everything can shine.
By just partition of our gifts divine,
Each has its full and proper share.
Among the birds that cleave the air
The hawk's a swift, the eagle is a brave one,
For omens serves the hoarse old raven,
The rook's of coming ills the prophet;

And if there's any discontent,

I've heard not of it.
Cease, then, your envious complaint;
Or I, instead of making up your lack,
Will take your boasted plumage from your

back."

The Eagle and the Beetle

JOHN RABBIT, by Dame Eagle chased,

Was making for his hole in haste,

When, on his way, he met a Beetle's burrow.

I leave you all to think

If such a little chink
Could to a rabbit give protection thorough.

But, since no better could be got,

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 333

John Rabbit, there was fain to squat.

Of course, in an asylum so absurd,

John felt ere long the talons of the bird.

But first the Beetle, interceding, cried,

' Great queen of birds, it cannot be denied
That, maugre my protection, you can bear
My trembling guest, John Rabbit, through the
air,

But do not give me such affront, I pray;
And since he craves your grace,
In pity of his case,

Grant him his life, or take us both away;
For he's my gossip, friend and neighbour/ 2
In vain the Beetle's friendly labour;
The Eagle clutched her prey without reply,
And as she flapped her vasty wings to fly,

Struck down our orator and stilled him

The wonder is she hadn't killed him.
The Beetle soon, of sweet revenge in quest

Flew to the old, gnarled mountain oak,
Which proudly bore that haughty Eagle's nest.
And while the bird was gone,

Her eggs, her cherished eggs, he broke,

Not sparing one.

Returning from her flight, the Eagle's cry
Of rage and bitter anguish filled the sky.

But, by excess of passion blind,

Her enemy she failed to find.

334 THE TALKING BEASTS

Her wrath in vain, that year it was her fate
To live a mourning mother, desolate.
The next, she built a loftier nest; 'twas vain;
The Beetle found and dashed her eggs again.

John Rabbit's death was thus avenged anew.
The second mourning for her murdered brood
Was such that through the giant mountain wood,
For six long months, the sleepless echo flew r .
The bird, once Ganymede, now made
Her prayer to Jupiter for aid;
And, laying them within his godship's lap,
She thought her eggs now safe from all mishap;
The god his own could not but make them
No wretch would venture there to break them.
And no one did. Their enemy, this time,
Upsoaring to a place sublime,
Let fall upon his royal robes some dirt,
Which Jove just shaking, with a sudden flirt,
Threw out the eggs, no one knows w r hither.
When Jupiter informed her how th' event
Occurred by purest accident,
The Eagle raved; there was no reasoning with her;
She gave out threats of leaving court,
To make the desert her resort,
And other brav'ries of this sort.
Poor Jupiter in silence heard
The uproar of his favourite bird.

FABLES OF LA FONTAINE 335

Before his throne the Beetle now appeared,

And by a clear complaint the mystery cleared.

The god pronounced the Eagle in the wrong.

But still, their hatred was so old and strong,
These enemies could not be reconciled;
And, that the general peace might not be spoiled
The best that he could do the god arranged
That thence the Eagle's pairing should be

changed,

To come when Beetle folks are only found
Concealed and dormant under ground.

FABLES FROM THE SPANISH

OF

CARLOS YRIARTE*

"As the impressions made upon a new vessel
are not easily to be effaced, so here youth are taught
prudence through the allurement of fable. 9 ''

*Translated by Richard Andrews

FABLES FROM THE SPANISH

The Bee and the Cuckoo

CUCXOO, near a hive, one day,
Yv r as chaunting in his usual way,
When to the door the Queen-bee ran,
And, humming angrily, began:
Do cease that tuneless song I hear
How can we work while thou art near?
There is no other bird, I vow,
Half so fantastical as thou,
Since all that ugly voice can do,
Is to sing on 'Cuckoo! cuckoo'!"

If my monotony of song
Displeases you, shall I be wrong,' 3
The Cuckoo answered, 'if I find
Your comb has little to my mind?
Look at the cells through every one
Does not unvaried sameness run?
Then if in me there's nothing new,
Dear knows, all's old enough in you.' :
The Bee replied: 'Hear me, my friend,
In works that have a useful end

339

340 THE TALKING BEASTS

It is not always worth the while
To seek variety in style,
But if those works whose only views
Are to give pleasure and amuse,
Want either fancy or invention,
They fail of gaining their intention.

The Rope Dancer and His Pupil

A TIGHT-ROPE Dancer who, they say,
Was a great master in his way,
Was tutoring a Youth to spring
Upon the slight and yielding string,
Who, though a novice in the science,
Had in his talents great reliance,
And, as on high his steps he tried,
Thus to his sage instructor cried:
'This pole you call the counterpoise
My every attitude annoys;
I really cannot think it good
To use this cumbrous piece of wood
In such a business as ours,
An art requiring all our powers.
Why should I with this burden couple?
Am I not active, strong and supple?
So see me try this step without it,
I'll manage better, do not doubt it
See, 'tis not difficult at all/ 3

FABLES FROM THE SPANISH 341

He said, and let the balance fall,
And, taking fearlessly a bound,
He tumbled headlong on the ground,
With compound fracture of the shin,
And six or seven ribs crushed in.

Unhappy youth!' the Master said,
What was your truest help and aid
Impediment you thought to be
For art and method if you flee,
Believe me, ere your life is past,
This tumble will not be your last.' 2

The Squirrel and the Horse

A SQUIRREL, on his hind legs raised.

Upon a noble Charger gazed,

Who docile to the spur and rein,

Went through his menage on the plain;

Now seeming like the wind to fly,

Now gracefully curvetting by.

Good Sir," the little Tumbler said,

And with much coolness, scratched his head,

In all your swiftness, skill and spirit,

I do not see there's much of merit,

For, all you seem so proud to do,

I can perform, and better too;

I'm light and nimble, brisk and sprightly,

342 THE TALKING BEASTS

I trot, and skip, and canter lightly,
Backward and forward here and there,
Now on the earth now in the air
From bough to bough from hill to hill,
And never for a moment still."
The Courser tossed his head on high;
And made the Squirrel this reply:
"My little nimble jealous friend,
Those turns and tumbles without end
That hither, thither, restless springing
Those upsand downs and leaps and swinging -
And other feats more wondrous far,
Pray tell me, of what use they are?
But what I do, this praise may claim
My master's service is my aim,
And laudably I use for him
My warmth of blood and strength of limb."

The Bear, the Monkey, and the Pig

A BEAR with whom a Piedmontese
Had voyaged from the Polar seas,
And by whose strange unwieldy gambols
He earned a living in his rambles,
One day, upon his hind legs set,
Began to dance a minuet.
At length, being tired, as well he might,
Of standing such a time upright,

FABLES FROM THE SPANISH 343

He to a Monkey near advancing,

Exclaimed : " What think you of my dancing?"
"Really," he said, "ahem!" (I'm sure

This Monkey was a connoisseur)
'To praise it, I'd indeed be glad,

Only it is so very bad!'
'How!' said the Bear, not over pleased,
'Surely, your judgment is diseased,

Or else you cannot well have seen

My elegance of step and mien;

Just look again, and say what graces

You think are wanting in my paces.' 2
'Indeed, his taste is quite amazing,"

Replied a Pig with rapture gazing;
'Bravo! encore! well done! Sir Bear,

By heaven, you trip as light as air;

I vow that Paris never knew

A dancer half so fine as you.' 2

With some confusion, Bruin heard
Such praises by a Pig conferred;
He communed with himself a while,
And muttered thus, in altered style:
C I must confess the Monkey's blame
Made me feel doubtful of my fame;
But since the Pigs their praise concede,
My dancing must be bad, indeed!'

344 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Muff, the Fan, and the Parasol

'!T SOUNDS presumptuous and ill
To boast of universal skill,
But 'tis a scarce less fault, I own,
To serve one sort of use alone. "
An idle Parasol, one day,
Within a lady's chamber lay,
And having nothing else to do,
Addressing his companions two,
Reclining near, a Muff and Fan,
He thus insultingly began,
Using a form of dialect,
In which, if ^Esop is correct,
The Brass and Earthern Jars, of old,
Conversed as down the stream they rolled
"Oh! sirs, ye merit mighty praise!
Yon Muff may do for wintry days,
A corner is your lot in spring;
While you, Fan, are a useless thing
When cold succeeds to heat; for neither
Can change yourself to suit the weather
Learn, if you're able to possess,
Like me a double usefulness,
From winter's rain I help to shun
And guard in summer from the sun.' 3

FABLES FROM THE SPANISH 345

The Duck and the Serpent

A SELF-CONCEITED Duck, one day,
Was waddling from her pond away:

"What other race can boast,' 3 she cried,

: 'The many gifts to ours allied?
Earth water air are all for us.
When I am tired of walking thus,
I fly, if so I take the whim,
Or if it pleases me I swim.' :
A cunning Serpent overheard
The boasting of the clumsy bird,
And, with contempt and scorn inflamed,
Came hissing up, and thus exclaimed:

>e lt strikes me, ma'am, there's small occasion
For your just uttered proclamation;
These gifts of yours shine rather dim,
Since neither like the trout you swim,
Nor like the deer, step swift and light,
Nor match the eagle in your flight.' 3
They err who think that merit clings
To knowledge slight of many things;
He who his fellows would excel,
Whate'er he does should do it well.

The Tea and the Sage

THE Tea from China on her way,
Met in some sea, or gulf, or bay

346 THE TALKING BEASTS

(Would to her log I might refer!)
The Sage, who thus accosted her:
" Sister- -ahoy! ho whither bound?'
"I leave," she said, 'my native ground
For Europe's markets, where, I'm told,
They purchase me by weight of gold."
"And I," the Sage replied, "am seeking
The route to Canton or to Peking;
Your Chinese use me largely in
Their cookery and medicine;
They know my virtues, nor deny
The praise I ask, however high,
While Europe scorns me, just indeed,
As if I was the vilest weed.
Go; and good luck t'ye; know full well
That you are sure enough to sell,
For nations all, (fools that they are!)
Value whatever comes from afar,
And give their money nothing loth,
For anything of foreign growth."

The Swan and the Linnet

PIQUED at the Linnet's song one day,
The Swan exclaimed: "Leave off! I say
Be still, you little noisy thing!
What ! dare you challenge me to sing,
When there's no voice, however fine,

FABLES FROM THE SPANISH 347

Can match the melody of mine?'
(The Linnet warbled on) "D'ye hear?
This impudence may cost you dear;
I could with one harmonious note
Forever stop your squeaking throat,
And, if I do not choose to try,
Respect my magnanimity.' 1
: I wish/ 3 at length the Linnet said,
; I wish, to heaven, the proof were made;
You cannot imagine how I long
To hear that rich and flowing song
Which though so sweet, by fame averred,
I know not w T ho has ever heard. 53

The Swan essayed to sing, but whew!
She screeched and squalled a note or two,
Until the Linnet, it appears,
Took to her wings to save her ears.
'Tis strange when some of learned fame
Will prove their title to the name,
How often ill-placed praise they mar,
And show how ignorant they are.

The Flint and the Steel

THE Flint, with language harsh and high,
Accused the Steel of cruelty
In striking her with all his might,
Whene'er he wanted fire and light.

348 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Steel the imputation spurned,
And with such warmth the contest burned
That both, at last, agreed to slip
Their contract of companionship.

'Good-by then, madame," said the one;

'And since my company you shun,
And to continue w r ith me, doubt,
We'll see what use you are without.' 1

* About as much as you will be,
Good sir,' : she answered, "without me."

FABLES OF GAY, COWPER, AND

OTHERS

Brutes are my theme. Am I to blame

If men in morals are the same?
I no man call or ape or ass;

9 Tis his own conscience holds the glass.
Thus void of all offence I write;

Who claims the fable, knows his right. 9 ''

JOHN GAY

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER

The Monkey Who Had Seen the World

A MONKEY, to reform the times,
Resolved to visit foreign climes;
For men in distant regions roam,
To bring politer manners home.
So forth he fares, all toil defies;
Misfortune serves to make us wise.

At length the treacherous snare was laid;
Poor Pug was caught, to town conveyed;
There sold. How envied was his doom,
Made captive in a lady's room!
Proud as a lover of his chains,
He day by day her favour gains.
Whene'er the duty of the day
The toilette calls, with mimic play
He twirls her knot, he cracks her fan,
Like any other gentleman.
In visits, too, his parts and wit,
When jests grew dull, were sure to hit.
Proud with applause, he thought his mind
In every courtly art refined;
Like Orpheus, burned with public zeai

351

352 THE TALKING BEASTS

To civilize the monkey weal:

So watched occasion, broke his chain,

And sought his native woods again.

The hairy sylvans round him press
Astonished at his strut and dress.
Some praise his sleeve, and others gloat
Upon his rich embroidered coat;
His dapper periwig commending,
With the black tail behind depending;
His powdered back above, below,
Like hoary frost or fleecy snow:
But all, with envy and desire,
His flutt'ring shoulder-knot admire.

'Hear and improve,' 2 he pertly cries,
'I come to make a nation wise.
Weigh your own worth, support your place,
The next in rank to human race.
In cities long I passed my days,
Conversed with men, and learned their ways,
Their dress, their courtly manners see;
Reform your state, and copy me.
Seek ye to thrive? in flatt'ry deal;
Your scorn, your hate, with that conceal.
Seem only to regard your friends,
But use them for your private ends.
Stint not to truth the flow of wit;
Be prompt to lie whene'er 'tis fit.
Bend all your force to spatter merit;

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 353

Scandal is conversation's spirit.
Boldly to everything pretend,
And men your talents shall commend.
I know the Great. Observe me right,
So shall you grow like man polite.' 2

He spoke and bowed. With mutt'ring jaws
The wond'ring circle grinned applause.
Now, warmed with malice, envy, spite,
Their most obliging friends they bite;
And, fond to copy human ways,
Practise new mischiefs all their days.

Thus the dull lad, too tall for school.
With travel finishes the fool:
Studious of every coxcomb's airs,
He gambles, dresses, drinks, and swears;
O'er looks with scorn all virtuous arts,
For vice is fitted to his parts.

JOHN GAY

The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf

A WOLF, with hunger fierce and bold,

Ravag'd the plains, and thinn'd the fold:
Deep in the wood secure he lay,
The thefts of night regal'd the day.
In vain the shepherd's wakeful care
Had spread the toils, and watch'd the snare:
In vain the Dog pursu'd his pace,
The fleeter robber mock'd the chase.

354 THE TALKING BEASTS

As Lightfoot rang'd the forest round,
By chance his foe's retreat he found.
'Let us a while the war suspend,
And reason as from friend to friend.' 5

"A truce?" replies the Wolf. "Tis done."
The Dog the parley thus begun.

'How can that strong intrepid mind
Attack a weak defenceless kind?
Those jaws should prey on nobler food,
And drink the boar's and lion's blood,
Great souls with generous pity melt,
Which coward tyrants never felt.
How harmless is our fleecy care!
Be brave, and let thy mercy spare/

"Friend," says the Wolf, "the matter weigh;
Nature design'd us beasts of prey;
As such, when hunger finds a treat,
'Tis necessary Wolves should eat.
If mindful of the bleating weal,
Thy bosom burn with real zeal,
Hence, and thy tyrant lord beseech;
To him repeat the moving speech:
A Wolf eats sheep but now and then;
Ten thousands are devour'd by men.
An open foe may prove a curse,
But a pretended friend is worse.' 2

JOHN GAY

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 355

The Rat-catcher and Cats

THE rats by night such mischief did,

Betty was ev'ry morning chid.
They undermin'd whole sides of bacon,
Her cheese was sapp'd, her tarts were taken.
Her pasties, fenc'd with thickest paste,
Were all demolish'd, and laid waste.
She curs'd the cat for want of duty,
Who left her foes a constant booty.

An Engineer, of noted skill,
Engag'd to stop the growing ill.

From room to room he now surveys
Their haunts, their works, their secret ways;
Finds where they 'scape an ambuscade.
And whence the nightly sally's made.

An envious Cat from place to place,
Unseen, attends his silent pace.
She saw, that if his trade went on,
The purring race must be undone;
So, secretly removes his baits,
And ev'ry stratagem defeats.

Again he sets the poison'd toils,
And Puss again the labour foils.

"What foe, to frustrate my designs,
My schemes thus nightly countermines?'
Incens'd, he cries: "This very hour
This wretch shall bleed beneath my power/'

356 THE TALKING BEASTS

So said, a pond'rous trap he brought,
And in the fact poor Puss was caught.

"Smuggler,"' says he, 'thou shalt be made
A victim to our loss of trade.' 3

The captive Cat, with piteous mews,
For pardon, life, and freedom sues.
"A sister of the science spare;
One int'rest is our common care."

"What insolence!' the man replies;
"Shall Cats with us the game divide?
Were all your interloping band
Extinguish'd, or expell'd the land,
We Rat-catchers might raise our fees.
Sole guardians of a nation's cheese!'

A Cat, who saw the lifted knife,
Thus spoke and sav'd her sister's life.

'In ev'ry age and clime we see
Two of a trade can ne'er agree.
Each hates his neighbour for encroaching;
'Squire stigmatizes 'squire for poaching;
Beauties with beauties are in arms.
And scandal pelts each other's charms;
Kings too their neighbour kings dethrone,
In hope to make the world their own.
But let us limit our desires;
Not war like beauties, kings, and 'squires!
For though we both one prey pursue,
There's game enough for us and you.' !

JOHN GAT

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 357

The Farmer's Wife and the Raven

BETWEEN her swaggering pannier's load

A Farmer's Wife to market rode,

And jogging on, with thoughtful care,

Summed up the profits of her ware;

When, starting from her silver dream,

Thus far and wide was heard her scream:

"That Raven on yon left-hand oak

(Curse on his ill-betiding croak)

Bodes me no good.' : No more she said,

When poor blind Ball, with stumbling head,

Fell prone; o'erturned the panniers lay,

And her mashed eggs bestrewed the way.

She, sprawling on the yellow road,

Railed, cursed, and swore : ' Thou croaking toad,

A murrain take thy noisy throat!

I knew misfortune in the note.' :

"Dame, 53 quoth the Raven, "spare your oaths,

Unclench your fist and wipe your clothes.

But why on me those curses thrown?

Goody, the fault was all your own;

For had you laid this brittle ware

On Dun, the old sure-footed mare,

Though all the Ravens of the hundred

With croaking had your tongue out-thundered,

Sure-footed Dun had kept her legs,

And you, good woman, saved your eggs.' :

JOHN GAY

358 THE TALKING BEASTS

The Council of Horses

UPON a time, a neighing steed,
Who grazed among a numerous breed,
With mutiny had fired the train,
And spread dissension through the plain.
On matters that concerned the state
The Council met in grand debate.
A Colt, whose eyeballs flamed with ire,
Elate with strength and youthful fire,
In haste stepped forth before the rest,
And thus the listening throng addressed:

'Good gods! how abject is our race,
Condemned to slavery and disgrace!
Shall we our servitude retain
Because our sires have borne the chain?
Consider, friends, your strength and might;
'Tis conquest to assert your right.
How cumb'rous is the gilded coach!
The pride of man is our reproach.
Were we designed for daily toil;
To drag the ploughshare through the soil;
To sweat in harness through the road;
To groan beneath the carrier's load?
How feeble are the two-legged kind!
What force is in our nerves combined!
Shall, then, our nobler jaws submit

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 359

To foam, and champ the galling bit?
Shall haughty man my back bestride?
Shall the sharp spur provoke my side?
Forbid it, heavens! Reject the rein;
Your shame, your infamy, disdain.
Let him the lion first control,
And still the tiger's famished growl;
Let us, like them, our freedom claim,
And make him tremble at our name.' 3

A general nod approved the cause,
And all the circle neighed applause,
When, lo! with grave and solemn face,
A Steed advanced before the race,
With age and long experience wise;
Around he cast his thoughtful eyes,
And to the murmurs of the train
Thus spoke the Nestor of the plain:

"When I had health and strength like you.
The toils of servitude I knew;
Now grateful man rewards my pains,
And gives me all these wide domains.
At will I crop the year's increase;
My latter life is rest and peace.
I grant, to man we lend our pains,
And aid him to correct the plains;
But doth he not divide the care
Through all the labours of the year?

360 THE TALKING BEASTS

How many thousand structures rise
To fence us from inclement skies!
For us he bears the sultry day,
And stores up all our winter's hay:
He sows, he reaps the harvest's gain,
We share the toil and share the grain.
Since every creature was decreed
To aid each other's mutual need,
Appease your discontented mind,
And act the part by Heaven assigned.' 1

The tumult ceased. The colt submitted,
And, like his ancestors, was bitted.

JOHN GAY

The Hare and Many Friends

FRIENDSHIP, like love, is but a name,
Unless to one you stint the flame;
The child whom many fathers share
Hath seldom known a father's care.
'Tis thus in friendships; who depend
On many, rarely find a friend.

A Hare, who in a civil w r ay
Complied with everything, like Gay,
Was known by all the bestial train
Who haunt the wood or graze the plain;
Her care was never to offend,
And every creature was her friend.

As forth she went at early dawn,

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 361

To taste the dew-besprinkled lawn,
Behind she hears the hunter's cries,
And from the deep-mouthed thunder flies.
She starts, she stops, she pants for breath;
She hears the near advance of death;
She doubles to mislead the Hound,
And measures back her mazy round,
Till, fainting in the public way,

Half dead with fear she gasping lay.

What transport in her bosom grew
When first the Horse appeared in view!

"Let me," says she, "your back ascend.
And owe my safety to a friend.
You know my feet betray my flight;
To friendship every burden's light,"
The Horse replied, "Poor honest Puss,
It grieves my heart to see you thus:
Be comforted, relief is near,
For all your friends are in the rear."

She next the stately Bull implored;
And thus replied the mighty lord:

"Since every beast alive can tell
That I sincerely wish you well,
I may without offence pretend
To take the freedom of a friend.
Love calls me hence; a fav'rite Cow
Expects me near the barley-mow,
And when a lady's in the case

362 THE TALKING BEASTS

You know all other things give place.
To leave you thus might seem unkind;
But see, the Goat is just behind."

The Goat remarked her pulse was high,
Her languid head, her heavy eye.

'My back," says she, "may do you harm.
The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm."

The Sheep was feeble, and complained
His sides a load of wool sustained:
Said he was slow, confessed his fears;
For Hounds eat Sheep as well as Hares.

She now the trotting Calf addressed
To save from death a friend distressed.

"Shall I," says he, "of tender age,
In this important care engage?
Older and abler passed you by
How strong are those; how weak am I!
Should I presume to bear you hence,
Those friends of mine may take offence;
Excuse me, then; you know my heart,
But dearest friends, alas! must part.
How shall we all lament! Adieu!
For see, the Hounds are just in view."

JOHN GAY

The Nightingale and the Glowworm

A NIGHTINGALE, that all day long
Had cheered the village with his song,

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 363

Nor had at eve his note suspended,
Nor yet when eventide was ended
Began to feel, as well he might,
The keen demands of appetite;
When, looking eagerly around,
He spied far off, upon the ground,
A something shining in the dark,
And knew the Glowworm by his spark;
So stepping down from hawthorn top,
He thought to put him in his crop.
The Worm, aware of his intent,
Harangued him thus, right eloquent:

"Did you admire my lamp," quoth he,
"As much as I your minstrelsy,
You would abhor to do me wrong,
As much as I to spoil your song;
For, 'twas the self-same Power Divine
Taught you to sing and me to shine;
That you with music, I with light,
Might beautify and cheer the night.' 5
The Songster heard his short oration,
And warbling out his approbation,
Released him, as my story tells,
And found a supper somewhere else.

Hence, jarring sectaries may learn
Their real interest to discern,
That brother should not war with brother,
And worry and devour each other;

364 THE TALKING BEASTS

But sing and shine by sweet consent,
Until life's poor transient night is spent-
Respecting in each other's case.
The gifts of Nature and of Grace.

Those Christians best deserve the name
Who studiously make peace their aim;
Peace both the duty and the prize
Of him that creeps and him that flies.

WILLIAM COWPER

The Raven

A RAVEN, while with glossy breast
Her new-laid eggs she fondly pressed,
And on her wickerwork high mounted,
Her chickens prematurely counted,
(A fault philosophers might blame
If quite exempted from the same),
Enjoyed at ease the genial day;
'Twas April, as the bumpkins say;
The legislature called it May.
But suddenly a wind, as high
As ever swept a winter sky,
Shook the young leaves about her ears
And filled her with a thousand fears,
Lest the rude blast should snap the bough,
And spread her golden hopes below.

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 365

But just at eve the blowing weather
Changed, and her fears were hushed together:
'And now," quoth poor unthinking Ralph, 1
'Tis over, and the brood is safe.' 3
(For Ravens, though, as birds of omen,
They teach both conjurers and old women
To tell us what is to befall,
Can't prophesy themselves at all.)
The morning came, when Neighbour Hodge,
Who long had marked her airy lodge,
And destined all the treasure there
A gift to his expecting fair,
Climbed, like a squirrel to his dray,
And bore the worthless prize away.

Moral

'Tis Providence alone secures,
In every change, both mine and yours:
Safety consists not in escape
From dangers of a frightful shape;
An earthquake may be bid to spare
The man that's strangled by a hair.
Fate steals along with silent tread
Found oftenest in what least we dread,
Frowns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.
WILLIAM COWPER

1 Pronounced Rafe.

36<S THE TALKING BEASTS

Pairing Time Anticipated

I SHALL not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau

If birds confabulate or no;

'Tis clear that they were always able

To hold discourse, at least in fable;

And e'en the child who knows no better

Than to interpret by the letter

A story of a cock and bull

Must have a most uncommon skull.

It chanced then on a winter day,

But warm and bright and calm as May,

The Birds conceiving a design

To forestall sweet Saint Valentine,

In many an orchard, copse and grove,

Assembled on affairs of love,

And with much twitter, and much chatter,

Began to agitate the matter.

At length a Bullfinch, who could boast

More years and wisdom than the most,

Entreated, opening wide his beak,

A moment's liberty to speak;

And silence publicly enjoined,

Delivered, briefly, thus his mind -

"My friends! Be cautious how ye treat

The subject upon which we meet;

I fear we shall have winter yet.' 3

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 367

A Finch, \vhose tongue knew no control,
With golden wing and satin poll,
A last year's bird who ne'er had tried
What marriage means, thus pert replied:

'Methinks the gentleman," quoth she,

'Opposite in the appletree,
By his good will would keep us single,
Until yonder heavens and earth shall mingle,
Or (which is likelier to befall)
Until death exterminate us all.
I marry without more ado,
My dear Dick Redcap; what say you?'

Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling,

With many a strut and many a sidling,

Attested, glad, his approbation

Of an immediate conjugation.

Their sentiments so well expressed

Influenced mightily the rest;

All paired, and each pair built a nest.

But though the birds were thus in haste,
The leaves came on not quite so fast,
And Destiny, that sometimes bears
An aspect stern on man's affairs,
Not altogether smiled on theirs.
The wind, of late breathed gently forth,
Now shifted east and east by north;

368 THE TALKING BEASTS

Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know,
Could shelter them from rain or snow;
Stepping into their nests, they paddled,
Themselves were chilled, their eggs were addled,
Soon every father-bird and mother
Grew quarrelsome and pecked each other,
Parted without the least regret,
Except that they had ever met,
And learned in future to be wiser
Than to neglect a good adviser.

WILLIAM COWPER

The Poet, the Oyster, and Sensitive Plant

An OYSTER cast upon the shore
Was heard, though never heard before,
Complaining in a speech well worded,
And worthy thus to be recorded:

"Ah, hapless wretch comdemn'd to dwell
Forever in my native shell,
Ordain'd to move when others please,
Not for my own content or ease,
But toss'd and buffeted about,
Now in the water, and now out.
'Twere better to be born a stone
Of ruder shape and feeling none,
Than with a tenderness like mine,
And sensibilities so fine!

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 369

I envy that unfeeling shrub,
Fast rooted against every rub.' :
The plant he meant grew not far off,
And felt the sneer with scorn enough;
Was hurt, disgusted, mortified,
And with asperity replied.

("When," cry the botanists, and stare,
"Did plants call'd Sensitive grow there?'
No matter when a poet's muse is
To make them grow just where she chooses) :

"You shapeless nothing in a dish,
You that are but almost a fish,
I scorn your coarse insinuation,
And have most plentiful occasion
To wish myself the rock I view,
Or such another dolt as you.
For many a grave and learned clerk,
And many a gay unletter'd spark,
With curious touch examines me
If I can feel as well as he;
And when I bend, retire, and shrink,
Says, 'Well 'tis more than one would think.'
Thus life is spent! oh fie upon't,
In being touch'd, and crying ' Don't ' ! '
A poet, in his evening walk,
O'erheard and check'd this idle talk.
"And your fine sense,' 2 he said, "and yours,
Whatever evil it endures,

370 THE TALKING BEASTS

Deserves not, if so soon offended,
Much to be pitied or commended.
Disputes, though short, are far too long,
Where both alike are in the wrong;
Your feelings in their full amount
Are all upon your own account.

" You, in your grotto-work enclosed,
Complain of being thus exposed,
Yet nothing feel in that rough coat,
Save when the knife is at your throat.
Wherever driven by wind or tide,
Exempt from every ill beside.

"And as for you, my Lady Squeamish,
Who reckon every touch a blemish,
If all the plants that can be found
Embellishing the scene around,
Should droop and wither where they grow,
You would not feel at all, not you.
The noblest minds their virtue prove
By pity, sympathy, and love:
These, these are feelings truly fine,
And prove their owner half divine.' 5

His censure reach 'd them as he dealt it.
And each by shrinking show'd he felt it.

WILLIAM COWPER

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 371

The Pineapple and the Bee

THE Pineapples, in triple row,
Were basking hot, and all in blow.
A Bee of most deserving taste
Perceived the fragrance as he pass'd.
On eager wing the spoiler came,
And search'd for crannies in the frame,
Urged his attempt on every side,
To every pane his trunk applied;
But still in vain, the frame was tight,
And only pervious to the light:
Thus having wasted half the day,
He trimm'd his flight another way.

Our dear delights are often such,
Exposed to view, but not to touch;
The sight our foolish heart inflames,
We long for pineapples in frames;
With hopeless wish one looks and lingers;
One breaks the glass, and cuts his fingers;
But they whom Truth and Wisdom lead,
Can gather honey from a weed.

WILLIAM COWPER

372 THE TALKING BEASTS

Amelia and the Spider

THE muslin torn, from tears of grief
In vain Amelia sought relief;
In sighs and plaints she passed the day,
The tattered frock neglected lay:
While busied at the weaving trade,
A Spider heard the sighing maid,
And kindly stopping in a trice,
Thus offered (gratis) her advice:

'Turn, little girl, behold in me
A stimulus to industry;
Compare your woes my dear, with mine,
Then tell me who should most repine;
This morning, ere you'd left your room,
The chambermaid's relentless broom,
In one sad moment that destroyed
To build which thousands were employed.
The shock was great, but as my life
I saved in the relentless strife,
I knew lamenting was in vain,
So patient went to work again;
By constant work a day or more
My little mansion did restore.
And if each tear which you have shed
Had been a needleful of thread,
If every sigh of sad despair
Had been a stitch of proper care,

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 373

Closed would have been the luckless rent,
Nor thus the day have been misspent.''

ANONYMOUS

The Goose and the Swans

A GOOSE, affected, empty, vain,
The shrillest of the cackling train,
With proud and elevated crest,
Precedence claimed above the rest.

Says she, ( I laugh at human race,
Who say Geese hobble in their pace;
Look here the slander base detect;
Not haughty man is so erect.
That Peacock yonder, see how vain
The creature's of his gaudy train.
If both were stripped, I'd pledge my word
A Goose would be the finer bird.
Nature, to hide her own defects,
Her bungled w r ork with finery decks.
Were Geese set off with half that show,
Would men admire the Peacock? No!'

Thus vaunting, 'cross the mead she stalks,
The cackling breed attend her walks;
The sun shot down his noontide beams,
The Swans were sporting in the streams.
Their snowy plumes and stately pride
Provoked her spleen. "Why, there," she cried,

374 THE TALKING BEASTS

"Again, what arrogance we see!
Those creatures, how they mimic me!
Shall every fowl the waters skim
Because we Geese are known to swim?
Humility they soon shall learn,
And their own emptiness discern.' 1

So saying, with extended wings,
Lightly upon the wave she springs;
Her bosom swells, she spreads her plumes,
And the Swan's stately crest assumes.
Contempt and mockery ensued,
And bursts of laughter shook the flood.

A Swan, superior to the rest,
Sprung forth, and thus the fool addressed:
"Conceited thing, elate with pride,
Thy affectation all deride;
These airs thy awkwardness impart,
And show thee plainly as thou art.
Among thy equals of the flock,
Thou hadst escaped the public mock;
And, as thy parts to good conduce,
Been deemed an honest, hobbling Goose.

Learn hence to study wisdom's rules;
Know, foppery's the pride of fools;
And, striving nature to conceal,

You only her defects reveal."

ANONYMOUS

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 375

The Rats and the Cheese

IF BEES a government maintain,
Why may not Rats, of stronger brain
And greater power, as well be thought
By Machiavellian axioms taught?
And so they are, for thus of late
It happened in the Rats' free state.

Their prince (his subjects more to please)
Had got a mighty Cheshire Cheese,
In which his ministers of state
Might live in plenty and grow great.

A powerful party straight combined,
And their united forces joined
To bring their measures into play,

For none so loyal were as they;
And none such patriots to support
As well the country as the court.
No sooner were those Dons admitted,
But (all those wondrous virtues quitted)
They all the speediest means devise
To raise themselves and families.

Another party well observing
These pampered were, while they were starving,
Their ministry brought in disgrace,
Expelled them and supplied their place;
These on just principles were known
The true supporters of the throne.

376 THE TALKING BEASTS

And for the subjects' liberty,
They'd (marry, would they) freely die;
But being well fixed in their station,
Regardless of their prince and nation,
Just like the others, all their skill
Was how they might their paunches fill.

On this a Rat not quite so blind
In state intrigues as human kind,
But of more honour, thus replied:
'Confound ye all on either side;
All your contentions are but these,
Whose arts shall best secure the Cheese."

ANONYMOUS

The Drop of Rain

A LITTLE particle of rain

That from a passing cloud descended
Was heard thus idly to complain:

"My brief existence now is ended!
Outcast alike of earth and sky,
Useless to live, unknown to die!'
It chanced to fall into the sea,

And there an open shell received it;
And after years how rich was he

Who from its prison-house released it!
The drop of rain had formed a gem
To deck a monarch's diadem.

ANONYMOUS

FABLES OF GAY AND COWPER 377

The Lion and the Echo

A LION bravest of the wood.
Whose title undisputed stood,
As o'er the wide domains he prowled,
And in pursuit of booty growled,
An Echo from a distant cave
Re-growled articulately grave.
His Majesty, surprised, began
To think at first it was a man;
But, on reflection sage, he found
It was too like a lion's sound.
"Whose voice is that which growls at mine?'
His Highness asked. Says Echo, "Mine!'
"Thine," says the Lion; "who art thou?'
Echo as stern cried, "Who art thou?'
"Know I'm a lion, hear and tremble!'
Replied the king. Cried Echo, "Tremble!"
"Come forth," says Lion, "show thyself!'
Laconic Echo answered, "Elf!'
"Elf dost thou call me, vile pretender?'
Echo as loud replied, ' Pretender?'
At this, as jealous of his reign,
He growled in rage she growled again.
Incensed the more, he chafed and foamed,
And round the spacious forest roamed,
To find the rival of his throne,
Who durst with him dispute the crown.

378 THE TALKING BEASTS

A Fox, who listened all the while,
Addressed the monarch with a smile:
"My liege, most humbly I make bold,
Though truth may not be always told,
That this same phantom that you hear,
That so alarms your royal ear,
Is not a rival of your throne
The voice and fears are all your own."

Imaginary terrors scare
A timorous soul with real fear!
Nay, e'en the wise and brave are cowed
By apprehensions from the crowd;
A frog a lion may disarm,
And yet how causeless the alarm!

ANONYMOUS

Here check we our career;
Long books I greatly fear;
I would not quite exhaust my stuff;
The flower of subjects is enough.

JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

THE END

88HTRAL CIRCULATlOh

CHILDREN'S ROOM

INDEX OF TITLES

INDEX OF TITLES

PAGE

Acorn and the Pumpkin, The. La Fontaine (French) 295

jEsop and His Fellow Servants. JEsop (Greek) . 5

Amelia and the Spider. Anonymous (English) . 372

Animals' Peace Party, The. (Chinese) . . 241
Animals Sick of the Plague, The. La Fontaine

(French) 324

Ant and the Fly, The. ^Esop (Greek) ... 6

Ass and His Master, The. Msop (Greek) . . 14

Ass and His Purchaser, The. yEsop (Greek) . 56

Ass and His Shadow, The. JSsop (Greek) . . 36

Ass and the Dog, The. La Fontaine (French) . 291

Ass and the Lap-dog, The. La Fontaine (French) 275

Ass Carrying Relics, The. La Fontaine (French) 309

Ass in the Lion's Skin, The. Msop (Greek) . . 37

Bat and the Two Weasels, The. La Fontaine

(French) .283

Bear and the Fowls, The. Msop (Greek) . . 61
Bear, the Monkey and the Pig, The. Yriarte

(Spanish) ..... . 342

Bee and the Cuckoo, The. Yriarte (Spanish) . 339

Belling the Cat. ^Esop (Greek) .... 21

Birds and the Monkeys, The. Hitopadesa

(Sanskrit) . . . . . . .114

381

382 INDEX OF TITLES

PAGB

Blackamoor, The. ^Esop (Greek) ... 33

Blue Jackal, The. Hitopadesa (Sanskrit) . . 118

Boasting Traveller, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 11

Boy and the Filberts, The. JEsop (Greek) . . 52

Boy and the Wolf, The. ^Escp (Greek) . . 33

Boys and the Frogs, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 58

Brahmin and the Goat, The. Hitopadesa (Sanskrit) 121
Buffoon and the Countryman, The. ^Esop

(Greek) 45

Builder of Ability and the Builder of Haste, The.

(African) 209

Camel and His Master, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 58

Camel and the Pig, The. Raju (Indian) . . 148

Cat and the Fox, The. La Fontaine (French) . 297

Cat and the Mice, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 8
Cat and the Two Sparrows, The. La Fontaine

(French) 318

Chameleon, The. ^Esop (Greek) .... 50
City Rat and the Country Rat, The. La Fontaine

(French) 298

Cock and the Fox, The. La Fontaine (French) . 285

Cock and the Jewel, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 9

Council of Horses, The. Gay (English) . . 358

Country Fellow and the River, A. JSsop (Greek) . 57
Countryman and the Serpent, The. La Fontaine

(French) 312

Crab and Its Mother, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 19

Crane and the Fool, The. Raju (Indian) . . 137

Crow and the Mussel, The. Jsop (Greek) . . 56

INDEX OF TITLES 383

PAGE

Crow and the Partridge, The. Bidpai (Indian) . 96

Crow and the Pitcher, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 44

Cuckoo and the Cock, The. Krilof (Russian) . 236

Cuckoo and the Eagle, The. Krilof (Russian) . 225

Cuckoo and the Turtle-dove, The. Krilof (Russian) 230

Dairywoman and the Pot of Milk, The. La Fontaine

(French) 313

Deer and the Lion, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 29

Demlari's Fish Soup. Krilof (Russian) . . 222

Despot and the Wag, The. Raju (Indian) . . 136

Discontented Ass, The. ^Esop (Greek) ... 10

Dog and His Shadow, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 14

Dog and the Crocodile, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 54

Dog and the Kingship. (African) . . . 208

Dog in the Manger, The. Msop (Greek) . . 22

Dove and the Ant, The. La Fontaine (French) . 284

Drop of Rain, The. Anonymous (English) . . 376

Duck and the Serpent, The. Yriarte (Spanish) . 345

Eagle and the Beetle, The. La Fontaine (French) . 332

Eagle and the Mole, The. Krilof (Russian) . 233

Eagle and the Owl, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 44

Eagle and the Owl, The. La Fontaine (French) . 303
Eagle, the Jackdaw and the Magpie, The. Msop

(Greek) 52

Ears of the Hare, The. La Fontaine (French) . 308
Earthen Pot and the Iron Pot, The. La Fontaine

(French) 305

Education of the Lion, The. Krilof (Russian) . 213

Elephant and Frog (African) .... 207

384 INDEX OF TITLES

PAGE

Elephant and the Jackal, The. Hitopadesa (San-
skrit) ........ 108

Elephant as Governor, The. Krilof (Russian) . 219

Elephant Has a Bet with the Tiger, The . (Malayan) 162

Elephant in Favour, The. Krilof (Russian) . 227

Falcon and the Capon, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 43

Farmer and His Dog, The. JEsop (Greek) . . 19

Farmer and the Stork, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 30

Farmer's Wife and the Raven, The. Gay (English) 357

Father "Lime-stick" and the Flower-pecker (Malayan) 153

Fawn and the Little Tiger, The. Raju (Indian) . 130

Flies and the Honey-pot, The. JSsop (Greek) . 60

Flint and the Steel, The. Yriarte (Spanish) . 347
Fowler, the Hawk, and the Lark, The. La Fontaine

(French) 327

Fox and the Countryman, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 20
Fox and the Crabs, The. Raju (Indian) . . 147
Fox and the Crow, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 13
Fox and the Drum, The. Bidpai (Indian) . . 82
Fox and the Grapes, The. Msop (Greek) . . 30
Fox and the Stork, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 28
Fox and the Villagers, The. Raju (Indian) . 132
Fox in the Well, The. ^Esop (Greek) ... 35
Fox in the Well, The. Raju (Indian) ... 120
Fox, the Monkey, and the Animals, The. La Fon-
taine (French) ..... 288
Fox, the Wolf, and the Horse, The. La Fontaine

(French) 300

Fox Without a Tail, The. .Esop (Greek) . . 18

INDEX OF TITLES 385

PAGE

Frog Who Wished to Be as Big as an Ox, The.

(Greek) ....... 7

Frogs Desiring a King, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 24

Geese and the Tortoise, The. Bidpai (Indian) . 67

Glowworm and the Daw, The. Raju (Indian) . 133

Gnat and the Bull, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 28

Goose and the Swans, The. Anonymous (English) 373

Goose with the Golden Eggs, The. JEsop (Greek) . 24
Grasshopper and the Ant, The. La Fontaine

(French) ....... 267

Greedy Jackal, The. Hitopadesa (Sanskrit) . 106

Hare and Many Friends, The. Gay (English) . 360

Hare and the Partridge, The. La Fontaine (French) 276

Hare and the Pig, The. Raju (Indian) . . 142

Hare and the Tortoise, The. Msop (Greek) . 31

Hares and the Frogs, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 15
Hen and the Cat, The. (African) . . .177
Hen and the Chinese Mountain Turtle, The.

(Chinese) ....... 249

Hen and the Fox, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 36

Hercules and the Wagoner. ^Esop (Greek) . . 23
Hermit, the Thief, and the Demon, The. Bidpai

(Indian) ....... 87

Hornets and the Bees, The. La Fontaine (French) 269

How Sense Was Distributed. (African) . . 194

Invalid Lion, The. JSsop (Greek)

386 INDEX OF TITLES

PAGE

Jackal and the Cat, The. Hitopadesa (Sanskrit) . 103
Jackdaw with Borrowed Plumes, The. JSsop

(Greek) 19

Jupiter's Two Wallets. JEsop (Greek) . . 38

King and the Hawk, The. Bidpai (Indian) . 89

King-crow and the Water-snail, The. (Malayan) 160

Kite and the Pigeons, The. J?sop (Greek) . . 5

Lark and Her Young Ones, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 26

Leopard and the Other Animals (African) . . 206
Lion and the Ass Hunting, The. La Fontaine

(French) 280

Lion and the Echo, The. Anonymous (English) . 377

Lion and the Gadfly, The. Raju (Indian) . . 134

Lion and the Gnat, The. La Fontaine (French) . 310

Lion and the Goat, The. Raju (Indian) . . 138

Lion and the Mosquitoes, The. (Chinese) . . 259

Lion and the Mouse, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 11

Lion and the Rabbit, The. Hitopadesa (Sanskrit) 112
Lion and the Wild Dog, The. (African) . .190

Lion Going to War, The. La Fontaine (French) . 274
Lion, the Bear, the Monkey, and the Fox, The.

^Esop (Greek) 48

Lion, the Fox, and the Story-teller, The. Raju

(Indian) ....... 127

Lion, the Mouse, and the Cat, The. Hitopadesa

(Sanskrit) 110

Lion's Share, The. La Fontaine (French) . . 271

Lioness and the Bear, The. La Fontaine (French) 317

INDEX OF TITLES 387

PAGE

Man and His Piece of Cloth, The. Raju (Indian) 140
Man and the Lion, The. Jsop (Greek) . . 9
Man and Turtle (African) ..... 202
Man of Luck, and the Man of Pluck, The. Raju

(Indian) ....... 146

Matter of Arbitration, A. JSsop (Greek) . . 54
Monkey and the Cat, The. La Fontaine (French) 315
Monkey and the Leopard, The. La Fontaine

(French) 293

Monkey Who Had Seen the World, The. Gay

(English) . . . . . . .351

Mouse and the Frog, The. Bidpai (Indian) . . 92
Mouse Who Became a Tiger, The. Hitopadesa

(Sanskrit) . . . . . . .120

Mouse-deer' *s Shipwreck, The. (Malayan) . .154
Muff, the Fan, and the Parasol, The. Yriarte

(Spanish) ....... 344

Mule and the Lion, The. (Chinese) . . .256
Mule, Jackal and Lion. (Moorish) . . .173

Nianga Dia Ngenga and Leopard. (African) . 204
Nightingale and the Glowworm, The. Cowper

(English) 362

Oak and the Reed, The. La Fontaine (French) . 281

Old Man and His Sons, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 23

Old Man and the Ass, The. La Fontaine (French) 273

Old Man, His Son, and the Ass, The. ^Esop (Greek) 47

Old Woman and Her Maids, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 22

Old Woman and the Doctor, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 32

Old Woman's Cat, The. Bidpai (Indian) . . 73

388 INDEX OF TITLES

PACE

Pairing Time Anticipated. Cowper (English) . 366

Passenger and the Pilot, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 53

Peacock and the Fox, The. Raju (Indian) . . 143
Peacock Complaining to Juno, The. La Fontaine

(French) 331

Peasant and the Horse, The. Krilof (Russian) . 231

Peasant and the Robber, The. Krilof (Russian) . 237

Peasant and the Sheep, The. Krilof (Russian) . 226

Pebble and the Diamond, The. Krilof (Russian) 216

Phoebus and Boreas. La Fontaine (French) . . 328
Pike, The. Krilof (Russian) . . . .224

Pike and the Cat, The. Krilof (Russian) . . 217

Pineapple and the Bee, The. Cowper (English) 371

Playful Ass, The. ^Esop (Greek) ... 58
Ploughman and His Sons, The. La Fontaine

(French) 299

Poet, the Oyster, and Sensitive Plant, The. Cowper

(English) 368

Poor Woman and the Bell, The. Hitopadesa

(Sanskrit) . . . . . . .111

Porcupine and the Snakes, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 25

Power of Fables, The. JSsop (Greek) ... 3

Proud Chicken, The. (Chinese) .... 245

Proud Fox and the Crab, The. (Chinese) . . 254

Quartette, The. Krilof (Russian) . . . 220

Rabbits and the Elephants, The. Hitopadesa

(Sanskrit) . . . . . . .115

Rat and the Elephant, The. La Fontaine (French) 294

INDEX OF TITLES 389

PAGE

Rat and the Oyster, The. La Fontaine (French) 290

Rat and the Toad, The. (African) . . . 185

Rat-catcher and Cats, The. Gay (English) . 355

Rats and the Cheese, The. Anonymous (English) 375

Raven, The. Cowper (English) . . . 364

Rope Dancer and His Pupil, The. Yriarte (Spanish) 340

Sagacious Snake, The. Bidpai (Indian) . . 70

Satyr and the Traveller, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 38

Shepherd and His Dog, The. La Fontaine (French) 272

Shepherd and the Lion, The. La Fontaine (French) 323

Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf, The. Gay. (English) 353

Sick Stag, The. La Fontaine (French) . . . 319

Snake and the Sparrows, The. Bidpai (Indian) . 65

Sparrows and the Falcon, The. Bidpai (Indian) 83
Spectacles, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . . .60

Spider and the Bee, The. Krilof (Russian) . 235

Squirrel and the Horse, The. Yriarte (Spanish) . 341

ta<7 and the Vine, The. La Fontaine (French) . 330

Stork and the Toad, The. (African) . . . 181
Sunling, The. Raju (Indian) . . . .135

Swallow and Other Birds, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 12

Swan and the Cook, The. La Fontaine (French) . 268

Swan and the Linnet, The. Yriarte (Spanish) . 346

Sword-blade, The. Krilof (Russian) . . . 228

Tail of the Serpent, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 42

Tea and the Sage, The. Yriarte (Spanish) . . 345

Tiger and the Giraffe, The. Raju (Indian) . . 144
Tiger and the Shadow, The. (Malayan) . .159

390 INDEX OF TITLES

PAGE

Tiger Gets His Deserts, The. (Malayan) . .157

Tiger, the Fox, and the Hunters, The. Raju

(Indian) ....... 141

Tinsel and Lightning. Raju (Indian) . .132
Traveller and the Tiger, The. Hitopadesa (San-
skrit) ........ 101

Travellers and the Bear, The. ^Esop (Greek) . 17

Trishka's Caftan. Krilof (Russian) . . .218
Tune that Makes the Tiger Drowsy, The (Malayan) 158
Two Mules, The. La Fontaine (French) . . 309
Two Rats, the Fox, and the Egg, The. La Fontaine

(French) 270

Two Travellers, The. ^Esop (Greek) ..
Two Travellers and the Oyster, The.

(Greek) 39

Wagtail and the Jackal, The. (Moorish) . .171

Weasel in the Granary, The. La Fontaine (French) 278
What Employment Our Lord Gave to Insects

(African) ....... 197

Wolf and Its Cub, The. Krilof (Russian) . . 223

Wolf and the Cat. The. Krilof (Russian) . . 232

Wolf and the Crane, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 15

Wolf and the Fox, The. La Fontaine (French) . 320

Wolf and the Lamb, The. vEsop (Greek) . . 4

Wolf and the Lamb, The. ^Esop (Greek) . . 49

Wolf and the Lean Fog, The. La Fontaine (French) 306

Wolf and the Mastiff, The. ,Esop (Greek) . . 41

Wolf and the Sheep, The. JEsop (Greek) . . 37

Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, The. &sop (Greek) . 34

INDEX OF TITLES 391

PAGE

Wolf, the Goat, and the Kid, The. La Fontaine

(French) ....... 287

Wolf Turned Shepherd, The. La Fontaine (French) 279

Woodman and Mercury, The. La Fontaine (French) 302
Woods and the Woodman, The. La Fontaine

(French} ....... 322

Wren, The. (Moorish) ..... 172

Young Mouse, the Cock, and the Cat, The.

(Greek) ....... 40

Young Tiger, The. Bidpai (Indian) ... 77

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