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Translated by George Fyler Townsend

The Wolf and the Lamb

WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to

lay violent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the

Lamb the Wolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him:"Sirrah,

last year you grossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a

mournful tone of voice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf

, "You feed in my pasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I

have not yet tasted grass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my

well." "No," exclaimed the Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as

yet my mother's milk is both food and drink to me." Upon which

the Wolf seized him and ate him up, saying, "Well! I won't remain

supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations."

The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.

 

 

The Bat and the Weasels

A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by a Weasel

pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that he

was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that he

was not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly

afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by

another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him. The

Weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The Bat assured

him that he was not a mouse, but a bat, and thus a second time

escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

 

 

The Ass and the Grasshopper

AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly

enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody,

demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such

beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that

he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.

The Lion and the Mouse A LION was awakened from sleep by a

Mouse running over his face.

Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when

the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare

my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness." The Lionlaughed

and let him go. It happened shortly after this that theLion was

caught by some hunters, who bound him by st ropes to the round.

The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came gnawed the rope with his

teeth, and set him free, exclaim "You ridiculed the idea ofmy ever

being able to help you,expecting to receive from me any repay

ment of your favor; I nowyou know that it is possible for even a

Mouse to con benefits on a Lion."