Chapter 66 A fox, who was hard-pressed by some hounds during a hunt, approached a man who was cutting wood, and begged him to provide him with a hiding place. The man pointed to his own hut, and the fox crept inside and concealed himself in a corner. Soon the hunters arrived and asked the […]
Chapter 65 At a great meeting of the beasts a monkey stood up to dance, and his performance delighted all those present so much that they honored him with great applause. Such praise infuriated the camel, who stood up and tried to show up the monkey with his own dancing. He made such a fool
Chapter 64 A farmer was carelessly driving his wagon along a muddy road when his wheels became stuck so deep in the clay that the horses came to a standstill. Consequently, the man dropped to his knees and began to pray for Hercules to come and help him without making the least effort to move
Chapter 63 A stag whose joints had become stiff with old age fell sick and decided to lie down on the rich grass of a meadow close to some woods so that he might be able to graze more easily. Since he had always been a friendly and good neighbor, many beasts came to visit
Chapter 62 A blind man could distinguish any kind of animal simply by touching it. One time, some friends wanted to test him and brought him a wolf’s whelp.After feeling it all over, the blind man was not entirely certain about the animal, but said correctly: “I’m not sure whether your father was a dog
Chapter 61 One day a leopard and a fox had a contest to decide who was the handsomer of the two. The leopard boasted about the beauty of its innumerable spots. But the fox replied, “You may have beautiful spots, but it’s better to have a versatile mind than a variegated* body.”Beware! The good-looking may
Chapter 60 An old woman found an empty wine bottle that had once been filled with choice wine and still retained the fragrant smell of its former contents. Though not a drop of the choice wine remained, the old woman pressed her nose to the top of the bottle as close as she could, and
Chapter 59 Hearing that a hen was laid up sick in her nest, a cat paid a visit out of sympathy. After creeping up to her he said, “How are you, my dear friend? What can I do for you? Do you need anything? Just tell me, and I’ll bring you anything in the world
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