Chapter 77 One day a fir tree was boasting to a bramble, “Your life is really without significance and no use to anyone, whereas mine is filled with many high and noble purposes. How could barns and houses be built without me? I furnish taper spars for ships and beams for roofs of palaces.”“Good sir,” […]
Chapter 76 A hunter was returning from the mountains, loaded with game he had bagged, when he met a fisherman coming home with his basket full of fish. The hunter admired the fish and desired to have them for supper, while the fisherman longed to have a meal of game. So they quickly agreed to
Chapter 75 A trumpeter, who had bravely led the charging soldiers of his regiment, was taken prisoner in battle and begged hard for mercy from his captors.“Spare me, good sirs, I beseech you!” he cried. “There’s no reason to put me to death. I haven’t killed anyone, and I was not carrying any weapons. The
Chapter 74 A fox was once caught in a trap, and the only way he could save himself was by leaving his tail behind him. Knowing that without a tail he would be the laughing stock of all the other foxes, he almost wished that he had died rather than having saved himself. Determined to
Chapter 73 On a hot summer’s day, some travellers, worn out by the heat of the sun, noticed a plane tree and rushed toward it. Once they arrived, they threw themselves down on the ground and rested in the shade of its wide spreading branches. As they were lying there, one of the travellers said
Chapter 72 A long time ago when the world was young, a bee had stocked her combs with a bountiful harvest and flew up to heaven to make an offering of honey, Jupiter was so delighted with the gift that he promised to give her whatever she desired. In turn, she responded immediately and said,
Chapter 71 A bird-catcher was setting traps upon a meadow when a lark, who was watching from a distance, asked him what he was doing.“I’m building a colony,” he said, “and I’m laying the foundations for my first city.”After he finished his work, the man retreated to a nearby spot and hid himself. Meanwhile, the
Chapter 70 While roaming about in search of food, a wolf passed a door where a child was crying and his nurse was chiding him. As the wolf stood listening, he heard her say, “If you don’t stop crying this instant, I’ll put you outside, and the wolf will get you.”Thinking the old woman would
Chapter 69 A long time ago a lion fell in love with a woodcutter’s daughter and demanded to marry her. The woodcutter was not very pleased by this offer and declined the honor of such a dangerous alliance. When the lion showed his royal displeasure and threatened the poor man, however, the woodcutter realized that
Chapter 68 Jupiter, Neptune, and Minerva (so the story goes) once had a contest to determine which one could make the most perfect thing in the world. Jupiter made a man; Minerva made a house; Neptune made a bull. And Momus – for he had not been banished from Olympus yet – was chosen to
Chapter 67 There was once a man who had an ass and a beautiful Maltese lap dog. The ass was kept in a stable and had plenty of corn and hay to eat. Indeed, he was just a well off as any ass could be. The little dog stayed in the house and was a
Chapter 66 A fox, who was hard-pressed by some hounds during a hunt, approached a man who was cutting wood, and begged him to provide him with a hiding place. The man pointed to his own hut, and the fox crept inside and concealed himself in a corner. Soon the hunters arrived and asked the
Chapter 65 At a great meeting of the beasts a monkey stood up to dance, and his performance delighted all those present so much that they honored him with great applause. Such praise infuriated the camel, who stood up and tried to show up the monkey with his own dancing. He made such a fool
Chapter 64 A farmer was carelessly driving his wagon along a muddy road when his wheels became stuck so deep in the clay that the horses came to a standstill. Consequently, the man dropped to his knees and began to pray for Hercules to come and help him without making the least effort to move
Chapter 63 A stag whose joints had become stiff with old age fell sick and decided to lie down on the rich grass of a meadow close to some woods so that he might be able to graze more easily. Since he had always been a friendly and good neighbor, many beasts came to visit