Complete Aesop’s Fables

Chapter 27 A boy was hunting locusts on a wall and had already caught a great number of them when he spied a scorpion and mistook it for another locust. Just as he was cupping his hand to catch it, the scorpion lifted up its sting and said, “Just you try, and you’ll not only […]

Chapter 26 A thief who had come to rob a house during the night sought to stop the barking of a dog by throwing pieces of meat to him.“Get out of here!” said the dog. “I had my suspicions about you before, but this excess of kindness and generosity only confirms my opinion that you

Chapter 25 There was once a huckster* who kept an ass, and when he heard that some cheap salt was being sold at the seaside, he drove his ass there to buy some. After having loaded the ass with as much salt as it could carry, the huckster drove him home alongside a slippery ledge

Chapter 24 A rich gentleman invited a nobleman to dine with him, and extraordinary preparations were made for the repast. At the same time the gentleman’s dog met the nobleman’s dog, and he, too, said, “Come, my good fellow, and sup with us tonight.”The nobleman’s dog was delighted with the invitation and arrived early to

Chapter 23 A wealthy patrician once treated the people of Rome to great theatrical acts and publicly offered a prize to anyone who could perform something unique. Stimulated by this offer, numerous actors arrived from all over the country to compete for the prize, and among them was a well-known, witty comedian, who spread the

Chapter 22 While roaming along the seashore, a lion saw a dolphin basking on the surface of the water, and he suggested to him that they form an alliance.“Since I am king of the beasts,” the lion said, “and you are the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean, we ought to be

Chapter 21 A farmer, whose sons were always quarreling with one another, had tried a long time in vain to reconcile them with words. Finally, he decided that he might have more success by setting some sort of an example. So, he called his sons to him and told them to place a bundle of

Chapter 20 A viper entered a smith’s shop and began looking around for something to eat. At last, he saw a file, and after approaching it, he began nibbling. But the file warned him to stop.“You’re unlikely to get very much from me,” he said, “especially since it’s my business to bite others.”Sometimes you meet

Chapter 19 A man was about to set out on a journey when he saw his dog standing at the door. “What are you gaping at?” asked the man. “Get ready to come with me.”Wagging his tail, the dog replied, “I’m all set, master. It’s you who has to pack up.”The more appendages, the more

Chapter 18 It was an old custom among sailors to carry Maltese lap dogs or monkeys to amuse themselves on voyages. So, once while a man had a monkey with him as a companion during a voyage, the ship got caught in a violent storm off the coast of Sunium, the famous peninsula of Attica.

Chapter 17 Once, while a man and a lion were traveling together, they began arguing about who was the braver and the stronger of the two. Just as their tempers started to flare they happened to pass a statue carved in stone depicting a lion being strangled by a man.“Look at that!” exclaimed the man.

Chapter 16 A lean, hungry wolf happened to meet a plump, well-fed dog one bright moonlit night. After the first compliments were exchanged, the wolf asked, “How is it, my friend, that you look so sleek? Your food certainly agrees with you while I must struggle for my living day and night and can hardly

Chapter 15 A man who cared more for music than his nets saw some fish in the sea and began playing on his flute. He thought they would jump out on shore and hop into his net, but he was disappointed when he found that the fish would not comply. So he decided to cast

Chapter 14 A fox agreed to work for a lion as a servant, and for a while, each carried out his respective duties according to his own nature and powers. The fox used to point out the prey, and the lion would attack and seize it. The fox, however, soon became jealous of the lion

Chapter 13 Returning home one winter’s day, a farmer found a snake lying under a hedge, half dead with cold. Taking pity on the creature, he placed it in his bosom and brought it home, where he laid it upon the hearth near the fire. No sooner was the snake restored by the warmth of