Complete Aesop’s Fables

Chapter 58 A mule had grown fat and wanton from his huge daily rations of corn, and one day, as he was jumping, kicking, and gamboling about the fields, he thought to himself, “My mother must surely have been a thoroughbred racer, and I’m quite as good as she ever was!”But he was soon exhausted […]

Chapter 57 A tortoise was dissatisfied with his lowly life and with crawling about on the ground at a snail’s pace. He envied the birds, which could soar high into the cloud whenever they desired. He thought that, if he could but once get up into the air, he would be able to fly with

Chapter 56 After a man and a satyr became friends, they began talking together. Since it was a cold wintry day, the man put his fingers to his mouth and blew on them.“Why are you doing that, my friend?” the satyr asked.“To warm my hands,” said the man. “They’re nearly frozen.”Later on in the day,

Chapter 55 Two young cocks were fighting fiercely for the right to rule a dunghill. At last, the one who was beaten crept into the corner of the hen house, covered with wounds. The victor flew straight to the top of an out-house, clapped his wings, and crowed loudly to announce his victory. Just then

Chapter 53 A dog had stolen a piece of meat out of a butcher shop and was crossing a river on his way home when he saw his own shadow reflected in the water below. Thinking that it was another dog with another piece of meat, he became intent on capturing the other piece as

Chapter 52 Once upon a time a country mouse, who had a friend in town, invited him to pay a visit in the country for old acquaintance’s sake. After the invitation was accepted, the country mouse, though plain, coarse, and somewhat frugal, opened his heart and pantry to honor his old friend and to show

Chapter 51 As a fisherman was drawing-in his net that he had cast into the sea, he noticed that it was full of all sorts of fish. However, little fish escaped through the meshes of the net and swam back into the deep water, while the big fish remained trapped and were hauled into the

Chapter 50 One day a fawn said to her mother, “You’re larger than a dog and swifter. You also have greater endurance and horns to defend yourself. Why is it then, Mother, that you’re so afraid of the hounds?”She smiled and said, “I know all this full well, my child. But no sooner do I

Chapter 49 On a cold, frosty day the ants began dragging out some of the grain they had stored during the summer and began drying it. A grasshopper, half-dead with hunger, came by and asked the ants for a morsel to save his life.“What did you do this past summer?” responded the ants.“Oh,” said the

Chapter 48 An old hound had served his master extremely well in the field but had lost his strength over the years and now had many troubles. One day, while out hunting with his master, he encountered a wild boar and boldly seized the beast by the ear, but his teeth gave way, and the

Chapter 47 A fox had fallen into a well and could not find any means to escape. Eventually, a thirsty goat appeared, and upon noticing the fox, he asked him whether the water was good and plentiful.Pretending that his situation was not precarious, the fox replied, “Come down, my friend. The water is so good

Chapter 46 An eagle and a fox had lived together for a long time as good neighbors. The eagle’s nest was on top of a high tree; and the fox’s lair, was at the foot of it. One day, however, while the fox was away, the eagle could not find any food for her young

Chapter 45 Some pigeons had long lived in fear of a hawk, but since they had always kept on the alert and stayed near their dovecote, they had consistently managed to escape their enemy’s attacks. Finding his sallies unsuccessful, the hawk now sought to use cunning to trick the pigeons.“Why,” he once asked, “do you

Chapter 44 A swallow built her nest under the eaves of a court of justice, and before her young ones could fly, a serpent slid out of his bole and ate them all up. When the poor bird returned to her nest and found it empty, she began to wail in a most pitiful way.

Chapter 43 After putting on a lion’s skin, an ass roamed about and amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he encountered. Upon meeting a fox, he tried to scare him as well, but once Reynard* heard his voice, he said, “I would’ve been frightened, too, but your braying gave you away.”Those who assume