Chapter 156 Once Mercury wished to learn what men thought about him. So he disguised himself as a traveller and entered a sculptor’s workshop, where he began asking the price of the different statues he saw there. Pointing to an image of Jupiter, he asked how much the sculptor wanted for it.“A drachma,”* said the […]
Chapter 155 To make sure that his property would always remain safe and protected, a miser sold all that he had and converted it into one great lump of gold, which he hid in a hole in the ground. Since he went there continually to visit and inspect it, one of his workers became curious
Chapter 154 A bear used to boast of his excessive love for humankind, saying that he never touched or mauled a human corpse.The fox observed with a smile, “I would be more impressed by your kindness if you never did so to a human being alive.”Wait not for a person to die before showing him
Chapter 153 A hawk, who had been very ill for a long time, said to his mother, “Don’t cry, Mother. Do me a favor and pray to the gods so that I may recover from this dreadful disease and pain.”“Alas, child!” the mother said. “Which one of the gods do you think will pity you?
Chapter 152 A boy was swimming in a river and went so far out that he was in danger of drowning. Fortunately, he saw a man walking by and yelled to him with all his might. Instead of rushing to his aid, however, the man began to lecture the boy for being so foolhardy and
Chapter 151 As some travellers were making their way along seashore, they came to a high cliff, and looking out at the sea, they saw a log floating at some distance. At first they thought it must be a large ship, and so they waited in hope of seeing it enter the harbor. But as
Chapter 150 A boy who was playing in the fields was stung by a nettle. He ran home to his mother and told her that he had merely touched the nasty weed and it had stung him.“It was just your touching it, my boy,” said his mother, “that caused it to sting you. The next
Chapter 149 Once a man bought a black-a-moor and assumed that the color of the slave’s skin was due to the neglect of his former master. No sooner did he bring him home than he procured all kinds of scouring utensils, scrubbing brushes, soaps, and sandpaper and set to work with his servants to wash
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