Complete Aesop’s Fables

Chapter 146 A charcoal-burner, who had more room in his house than he needed for himself, proposed to a cloth-fuller to come and share his quarters with him. “Thank you,” said the fuller, “but I must decline your offer, for I fear that as fast as I fill and whiten my goods, you will blacken […]

Chapter 147 Once upon a time the rivers joined together and went in one body to the sea.“Why is it,” they accused her, “that after we rivers pour our fresh and sweet waters into you, you immediately make them salty and unpalatable?”Fully aware of their unfair and bad tempers, the sea merely answered, “If you

Chapter 146 When a lion reached a ripe old age, he became weak and could no longer hunt for his prey. All he could do was to lie in his den, where he breathed with great difficulty. Soon he made it known that he was indeed very ill, and the news spread among the beasts,

Chapter 145 A dog made his bed in a manger and kept the horses from eating their food by snarling and growling at them.“See what a miserable creature that dog is!” said one of the horses. “Even though he himself can’t eat the hay, he won’t allow anyone else to eat it who can.”The arrogant

Chapter 144 The lion and other beasts formed a party to go out hunting. After they had killed a fat stag, the lion nominated himself to divide the stag into three parts. Taking the best piece for himself, he said, “This is mine in view of my official role as king, and the second I’ll

Chapter 143 Once there was a city expecting to be attacked, and accordingly, a meeting was called to discuss the best means to defend it. A bricklayer claimed that brick was the best way to fortify the city. A carpenter suggested that timber was better. Finally a currier stood up and said, “Sirs, when all

Chapter 142 A herdsman, who had lost a calf, went roaming through the forest, intent on finding it. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow to all the nymphs of the forest and the mountains, as well as to Mercury, that he would sacrifice a lamb to them if they would help

Chapter 141 There was once a blacksmith who had a little dog. While he hammered away at his metal, the dog slept. But whenever he sat down to have dinner, the dog woke up.“You sluggard!” cried the brazier, throwing him a bone. “You sleep through the noise of the anvil, but wake up at the

Chapter 140 An ass who was carrying a statue in a religious procession was driven through a town, and all the people bowed in deep reverence as the statue passed them. As a result the ass, who thought that they were actually worshipping him, became very much taken with himself and refused to budge another

Chapter 139 A wolf followed a flock of sheep for a long time and made no attempt to attack them. However, the shepherd had his suspicions, and for a while he was always on his guard against him, knowing that the wolf was an avowed enemy of the sheep. But when the wolf stayed close

Chapter 138 There was once a man who was lucky enough to own a goose that laid him a golden egg every day. However, since the process was so slow and since he wanted the entire treasure at once, he became dissatisfied and eventually killed the goose. After cutting her open, he found her to

Chapter 137 Once a boy put his hand into a bottle containing a lot of hazel nuts and figs. He grabbed as many as his fist could possibly hold, but when he endeavored to pull his hand out, he was hampered because the neck was too narrow. Unwilling to lose any of his treasure, but

Chapter 136 Once upon a time there was a fierce war waged between the birds and the beasts. For a while the out-come of the battle was uncertain, and the bat, taking advantage of his ambiguous nature, kept out of the fray and remained neutral. Finally, when it appeared that the beasts would prevail, the

Chapter 135 An ass that was being driven along the road by his master suddenly left the beaten track and bolted as fast as he could to the edge of a cliff. When he was just at the point of falling over, his master ran up, grabbed him by the tail, and tried to pull

Chapter 134 After deciding to become partners, an ass and a fox went out into the country to hunt. On the way they met a lion, and realizing the danger ahead, the fox went straight to the lion and whispered, “If you promise not to harm me, I’ll betray the ass, and you’ll easily have