Complete Aesop’s Fables

Chapter 103 One summer’s day a stag came to a pool to quench his thirst, and as he stood drinking, he saw his form reflected in the mirror. “How beautiful and strong my horns are!” he remarked. “But how weak and unseemly these feet of mine are!”While he was examining and criticizing the features that […]

Chapter 102 A candlelight that had grown fat and saucy with too much grease boasted one evening before a large gathering that it shone brighter than the sun, the moon, and all the stars put together. Right at that moment, a puff of wind came and blew it out. Someone lit it again and said,

Chapter 101 A wild boar was whetting his tusks against a tree when a fox came by and asked him why he was doing this. “I see no reason,” he remarked. “There are no hunters nor hounds in sight. In fact, at the moment I can’t see any danger at all.”“True,” responded the boar, “but

Chapter 100 A raven was jealous of a swan’s white feathers, and he thought that her beauty was due to the water in which she lived. Therefore, he deserted the altars, where he used to find his livelihood, and flew to the ponds and streams. After arriving, he plumed himself and washed his coat, but

Chapter 99 There was once a vine teeming with ripe fruit and tender shoots and looking forward to the day when it would provide a bountiful vintage. Suddenly a wanton goat appeared and gnawed its bark and nibbled its young leaves.“You have no right to harm me like this,” said the vine. “But I won’t

Chapter 98 One day a fox invited a stork to dinner, and since he wanted to amuse himself at the expense of his guest, he provided a meal that consisted only of some thin soup in a large flat dish. The fox was able to lap this soup up very easily, while the stork, unable

Chapter 97 Pursued by a wolf, a lamb took refuge in a temple. When the wolf cried out to the lamb that the priest would slay him if he caught him, the lamb responded, “So be it. I’d rather be sacrificed in the temple than be devoured by you!”Wisdom lies in avoiding the known danger,

Chapter 96 A wolf saw a goat grazing on the top of a high cliff where he could not get at her. Pretending to be concerned for her safety, the wolf advised her to move down. “You might lose your footing at that dizzy height,” he said. “Besides, the grass is much sweeter and more

Chapter 95 “Why do you walk so crooked, child?” said an old crab to her young one. “Walk straight!”“Mother,” the young crab replied, “show me the way, and when I see you moving straight ahead, I’ll try to follow.”Actions speak louder than words. (Also, the kids are always smarter than you think!)

Chapter 94 An ass and a cock lived together in a farmyard. One day a hungry lion passed by and saw the ass in such good condition that he decided to make a meal out of him. Now, they say that nothing irritates a lion so much as the crowing of a cock, and at

Chapter 93 The lion called the sheep to him to ask her if his breath smelled. She said yes, and he bit off her head for being a fool. He called the wolf and asked him as well. The wolf said no, and the lion tore him to pieces for being a flatterer. Finally he

Chapter 92 An old man who had traveled a long way with a huge bundle of sticks became so weary that he threw his bundle down on the ground and called upon death to deliver him from his most miserable existence. Death came straight to his side and asked him what he wanted.“Please, good sir,”

Chapter 91 Once when a bull was being pursued by a lion, he hid in a cave where a wild goat was living. The goat was an ornery* creature and began attacking the bull by butting with his horns.“If I put up with this now,” the bull said, “don’t suppose it’s because I’m afraid of

Chapter 90 A young pig, hoping to avoid the slaughterhouse, set up quarters in a fold of sheep. One day the shepherd grabbed hold of him, and he squeaked and struggled with all his might to get away. The sheep reproached him for making such a commotion and said, “The master often grabs hold of

Chapter 89 After hearing some grasshoppers chirping, an ass was enchanted by their music and wanted to acquire the same melodic charms. When he asked them what they ate to sing so sweetly, they told him that they dined on nothing but dew. Consequently, the ass followed the same diet, but he soon died of