Aesop's Fables: An Anthology of the Fabulists of All Countries (2024)

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Aesop's Fables: An Anthology of the Fabulists of All Countries (1913) by Ernest Percival Rhys

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The fame of AEsop, however we look at it, has this advantage, that it is thoroughly in keeping with his book. Thereare all the elements of fable in the old story of his life, andthe man himself has been made into a folk-tale creature, as if to suit the atmosphere that surrounds "The Lion andthe Fox" and "The Frog and the Mouse" in his pages.Sir Roger L'Estrange in the "Life" which opens his fine seventeenth century folio of the Fables, has described thefabulist with lineaments that have become distinct as the crookback of Richard IIL ^sop was a slave, says Sir Roger (following Camerarius),already twice bought and sold when the record opens, andwe see him first on the road to Ephesus to be sold a third time. In his person he was "deformed to the highestdegree: flat-nosed, hunch-backed, bladder-lipped, baker- legged," with a long, misshapen head, and "his complexionso swarthy that he took his very name from it, for ^sopis the same with Ethiop." In fact the "most scandalousfigxire of a man that ever was heard of," and so tonguetied that people could hardly understand what he said. This we feel is just as it should be, for it at once brings i^sopinto range with the beast-fable and the wonderful array offolk-tale animals that start up in his world. In the frontis- piece to L 'Estrange 's book, he appears surrounded by thesecreatures. An ape and a fox are at either foot; a lion is behind him; a hare is being devoured by an eagle before him. On the tree over his head are grouped a peaco*ck, anowl, and what looks like a mythological jackdaw. Then,to aggravate his own deformity, his hunched shoulders andhis protuberant front are encased in steel armour. Final touch of all, he holds in one hand a scroll inscribed " Utile Dulci " and in the other a style. In the following account of his going to Ephesus with2046567viii Introductionother slaves to be sold, his wit at once appears. Whenthe burdens they had to carry were allotted, /^sop chose a pannier of bread twice as heavy as the bales the rest lifted, which made the other slaves call him a fool for his pains. But as the bread was to feed the slaves on the road, by the afternoon his burden was reduced by half, and before even- ing he had nothing to carry but an empty basket. Fablesto the fabulist: we see how finely this episode falls ioto place in the /Esop legend. When we turn from the proverbial ALsop and try to get at his actual or his literarybeginnings, we have to go back to the father of history,who again tells us that /4isop was a slave. Herodotus hasthe pull over the later biographers in that he is able to getinto the page an allusion to the pyramids. The pyramidsbring him to Rhodopls, a Thracian by birth and the slaveof ladmon, and one of her fellow-slaves was /Esop. Andas the death of Marlowe is able to add a deeper tinge to his poetry, the murder of iE;sop is made by Herodotus to add a touch of reality to his fables. "The Delphians," hesays, "proclaimed that if any one asked compensation for /Esop's death, it should duly be given to him. But the only man to come forward was a grandson of ladmon, bearingthe same name."This serves to bear out the fact that he was the older ladmon 's slave, and it lies very near the base of his his- tory. It confirms the popular idea of him as a slave, and it leaves us with the belief that he really was murdered, or as we should say executed, in accordance with the sentenceof the Delphic oracle, and in all likelihood because someof the fables had been held to convey a seditious meaning that may or may not have been intended by himself. Ergo, if this be true, iEsop, like Socrates, suffered for his wisdom. As Crainquebille went to prison for saying " Mortaux vaches," ^ so we may conjecture ^sop went to his death because he told too feelingly the fable of "The Ox andthe Frog" or "The Oak and the Reed."

• Can M. Anatole France have recollected, one wonders, how in the Indian fable the tiger confessed to the unpardonable sin— the killing of cows?

Introduction ixThe earliest fable of yEsop of which there is any recordis found in Aristotle's Rhetoric: "The Fable of the Fox andthe Hedgehog," and it is worth notice that in this there is a reference to embezzling the revenues of the State. In other early references ^sop appears to take on some of thefeatures of a court-jester. We see him as one who hadfreed himself from slavery and had come to the Court of Croesus, and, while Solon edified that monarch, /Esoptaught him by inuendo, drollery, riddle and fable. We see him afterwards moving in a kind of fabulous progress fromcity to city. At Corinth he warned his hearers against moblaw in a fable which Socrates used afterwards. At Athenshe taught prince and people by the fable of "The Frogsand Jupiter." Finally, he was sent by Croesus—so the tradi- tion goes—with a sum of money due to the Delphians, andthey repaid him, being afraid, no doubt, of his wit, by acry of sacrilege. It is said that he tried to save himself by appealing to their known reverence for the laws ofhospitality, and his appeal was of course a fable, that of "The Eagle and the Beetle." But it was in vain, and thestory goes that he was taken to one of the Phaedrian precipices and hurled headlong from its summit.Even this was not all: his very death attained animmortality; and the proverb of "iEsop's Blood" lived to remind the Delphians and his own countrymen that the blood of a slain man cries to Heaven. As some sort of reparation, a statue to him was put up two hundred yearsafter his death in front of the statues of the Seven Sages.However we read these memoirs of " the Real ^Esop," weare driven at length to see him in the light they throw over him, and to take him once and for all as the type of his kind. But having decided that, we have to admit that thebeast-fable did not begin with him, or in Greece at all. We have, in fact, to go East and to look to India andburrow in the " tales within tales " of the Hitopadesa to get an idea of how old the antiquity of the fable actually is. "The Father of all Fables," Sir Edwin Arnold suggestedthe Hitopadesa should be called, as from its various adaptations and translations have come ^Esop and Bidpai orX IntroductionPilpay, to say nothing of Reinecke Fuchs in later time. So deep is the Indian impress it lays on all its later migrants, that one cannot read of a mouse in a fable with- out remembering that the little beast, as Gunesh's emissary, was of great account in Hindoo legend; or of a crow with- out thinking of the Indian bird of that name with its grey hood; or of a serpent without recalling Vasuki or Ananta,chief of the snakes that have human heads and live in the subterranean land, P^t^la. Max Miiller even prepared a kind of family tree to showthe descent of the modern fables that sprang from this antique stock. He traced one in particular, the fable of Perrette as we know it in La Fontaine's "Milkmaid andher Milkpail "; and showed how it went back to the Indianstory of "The Brahman and the Pot of Rice." In this, Perrette's Indian ancestor has a jar into which he puts oneday some butter and honey, left over after his repast, andhangs the jar on a nail. Then, leaning back on his couch,a stick in his hand, he falls to musing on the high price of butter and honey, and thinks that when the jar is full hewill sell what it holds, and buy ten goats with the money.In two years, he calculates, the ten goats will be four hundred; and these can be sold and turned into cattle. So he goes on; adds flock to flock, field to field; and builds a great house, and sets up a great family, with a son andheir. If this son is good, all will be well; if not?—at this point the Brahman raises his stick—" I shall beat him overhis head with my stick 1 " So saying, he strikes the honeyjar and breaks it, and the honey and butter pour down overhis head. Some centuries later and the story has reached the milkmaid version in the " Dialogue of Creatures Moralised " (1517). " It is tolde in fablys that a lady uppon a tyme delyveredto her mayden a galon of mylke to sell at a cite, and bythe way, as she sate and restid her by a dyche side, she began to thinke that with the money of the mylke she woldbye an henne, the which shulde bringe forth chekyns, andwhen they were growyn to hennys she wolde sell them andIntroduction xiby piggis, and exchaunge them in to shepe, and the shepein to oxen, and so whan she was come to richesse shesholde be maried right worshipfully unto some worthy man,and thus she reioycid. And whan she was thus mervelously comfortid and ravisshed inwardly in her secrete solace, thinkynge with howe greate joye she shuld be ledde towardethe chirche with her husbond on horsebacke, she sayde to her self: ' Goo we, goo we.' Sodaynlye she smote the ground with her fote, myndynge to spurre the horse, buther fote slypped, and she fell in the dyche, and there layall her mylke, and so she was farre from her purpose, andnever had that she hopid to have." This is, however, from a Latin original, "Dialogus Crea- turarum Optime Moralizatus." As we turn on from Indian to Persian fables, and then from Greek to Latin, or Latin to English, we do not find much which we can set apart as due to classic sources in the most typical and proverbial of the beast-tales. But,indeed, it is one of the tests of a good fable that it has anair of innocence in all its sleight or subtlety, and belongs to the childhood of the world. It does not seem to dependon any one language or race for its character. It turns upon the relation of man to the beasts, in whose doings he can trace the droll pattern of his own human nature. As men went on, and grew literary, it was still possible for a writer of wit like La Fontaine, or a philosophical artist like Lessing, to adapt the old mode. But we are conscious, inall the new play of their wit and fable fantasy, of somethingless than the real Simon Pure; something which is not ^sop, but his shadow.The puzzling thing is that, when we set about tracing some of the fables to their origins, often at the further Oriental remove, we are carried beyond the pitch of simplicity and come to a much earlier literary incarnation. Mr. Joseph Jacob in his interesting account of the Oriental /^sop points out, for instance, a Jataka variant of thefable of "The Wolf and the Lamb." It occurs in the " Dipi," translated by Dr. Morris in the Folk-lore Journal.In this story the Panther meets a Kid, and complainsxii Introductionthat the Kid has trodden on his tail. The Kid says that as the Panther's face was towards it, how could it havetrodden on the end of his tail? But the Panther replies that his tail is so long and reaches so far that it coversthe earth in its four quarters, therefore the Kid musthave stepped on his tail. The Kid thereupon explains that it came through the air and did not touch the ground. Thefatal end may be foreseen. The Panther insists that the Kid, by coming through the air, startled the beasts andspoilt his food and his chances of a dinner. So saying, hefalls upon the Kid, tears its throat, and greedily devoursit. The same writer suggests that the Greek fable of "TheWolf and the Lamb" is merely a simpler version of this story, arrived at by omitting the Indian exaggeration of the world- wide tail and the flying Kid. As it appears, there is also a Thibetan version in which the two actors have alreadybecome the Wolf and the Sheep, and of course the next metamorphosis to the familiar form we know is easy. What we learn from this instance is that a fable, which onthe face of it looks like the natural beast-fancy of a childish mind, may be a bit of an older myth; just as a ballad,which looks like the pure outcome of the border life, sometimes turns out to be nothing more or less than a piece of stolen romance. This may help to account for that lurkingair of hidden meanings and immemorial mythical signswhich we find in some fables, recalling a people, wise andchildish at once, who had built up a theory of the world ages before ^sop was born. However, when we havedecided that any fable may have this enormous pedigree, we can save ourselves the trouble of trying to carry it backand simply read it for entertainment, like any listener whosits by the winter's hearth. Not much need be said about the make-up of this enlarged'* Book of /Esop " and his fellow-fabulists. It begins with some of the very earliest versions that found their way into English through the printing-office of old Caxton. Thebulk of those that follow are, for the convenience of the modern reader, borrowed from the translation of ThomasJames, made some four hundred years later. Sir RogerIntroduction xiiiL'Estrangfe's folio supplies some of the later classical fables by iEsop's imitators, and Phaedrus, and /Esop's far ancestorin the Hitopadesa, are not forgotten. One or two Englishand Welsh tales, and La Fontaine, Lessing and Gay carry on the tradition; and at the end Tolstoi brings it within reach of our own day This does not by any means exhaustthe vast store. But the book, it must be remembered, is intended, first of all, to give pleasure to those eternal tale- lovers, who are the only true ^^sopians and still belong to the childhood of a new time; and it only gives what they are likely to care for. A word of thanks is due finally to those revisers, including Mr. Vaughan Lloyd, Mr. W.Hughes-Jones and B. R., who have helped to prepare newversions of certain Indian, Russian and other fables. Ernest Rhys.Caxton, "iEsop," 1485; Thomas James, "iEsop," 1848;Phaedrus, Bohn's Library, 1848; Lessing, "Fables," translated i860; Pilpay, "Fables," translated 1852; Sir Robert L'Estrange, "Fables of ^Esop, Barlandus, Avianus, and Abstemius," 1694;lolo Manuscripts (Welsh Fables), by Edward Williams, 1848;English Fables from old chap-books, 1801-3; G. M. Bussey,"Book of Fables," 1890 (for Florian and others); La Fontaine,"Fables," Bohn's Library, translated by E. Wright, 1842;Krilof, "Fables," translated 1869; Gay, "Fables," first vol., 1728, second vol., 1738; Lokman, "Fables," 1869; Tolstoi, 1872;Hitopadesa, translated by Sir William Jones, 1851.JCONTENTSI. FABLES FROM CAXTON'S iESOPrAca The Fox and the Grapes ....... 4 5 The Rat and the Frog 5 The Wolf and the Skull 5 The Lion and the Cow, the Goat and the Sheep ...6 The Pilgrim and the Sword .......6 The Oak and the Reed 6 The Fox and the co*ck 7 The Fisher ..........7 The He-Goat and the Wolf 8 The Bald Man and the Fly . 8 The Fox and the Thorn Bush 9 H. FABLES FROM JAMES'S MSOFThe Bowman and the Lion .......9 The Wolf and the Crane 10 The Boy and the Scorpion 10 The Fox and the Goat 10 The Widow and the Hen II The Vain Jackdaw .... .....il The Kid and the Wolf 12 The Mountain in Labour 12 The Kite and the Pigeons 12 The Old Hound 13 The Ant and the Grasshopper . . . . . . .13The co*ck and the Jewel 13 The Fawn and her Mother 14 The Two Wallets 14 The Eagle and the Fox 14 The Horse and the Groom 15 The Countryman and the Snake 15 The Man and the Satyr IS ~ The Flies and the Honey Pot 16 The Fighting co*cks and the Eagle 16 The Dog and the Shadow 16 The Fox and the Lion 17 The Creaking Wheels 17 The Wolf and the Lamb C i5* ~--^XVI ContentsThe Bear and the Fox The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse The Dog, the co*ck, and the Fox The Lion and the Mouse . The Gull and the Kite The House Dog and the Wolf The Frog and the. OxThe Pomegranate, the Apple, and the Bramble The Tortoise and the EagleThe Mule .... The Hare and the Tortoise The Hen and the Cat The Shepherd- Boy and the Wolf The Sick Stag . The Old Woman and the WineThe Moon and her Mother . The Ass and the GrasshopperThe Fox and the WoodmanThe Lamb and the Wolf . The Crow and the Pitcher . The Crab and her MotherJupiter and the Camel The One- Eyed Doe . The Lion and the Fox The Travellers and the Bear The Stag in the Ox-Stall . The Collier and the Fuller The Lion, the Ass, and the Fox HuntingThe Ass and the Lap- DogThe Wind and the Sun The Trees and the AxeThe Hare and the HoundThe Lion in Love The Dolphins and the SpratThe Wolves and the SheepThe lilind Man and the WhelpThe Belly and its Members The Dove and the Crow . Hercules and the WaggonerThe Monkey and the Camel The Fox without a Tail The Farthing Rushlight . The Hares and the Frogs . The Lioness The Angler and the Little Fish The Farmer and his Sons . The Husbandman and the Stork The Mole and hei Mother .Contents XVI

The Old Woman and the PhysicianThe Swallow and the Raren The Nurse and the Wolf The Dog and his Master The Monkey and the Dolph The Wolf and the SheepThe Bundle of Sticks . The Widow and the SheepThe Man and the Lion The Man Bitten by a DogThe Horse and the StagThe Birdcatcher and the Lark The Mischievous Dog . The Trarellers and the Plane Tree The Herdsman and the Lost Bull The Viper and the P'ile Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and MomusMercury and the WoodmanThe Geese and the Cranes . Jupiter and the Bee The Goatherd and the Goats The Country Maid and Her Milk-Can The Beeves and the Butchers The Thief and his Mother The Cat and the Mice The Marriage of the Sun The Gnat and the Bull The Eagle and the Arrow The Dog in the MangerThe Mice in Council . The Lion, the Bear, and the FoxThe Fox and the HedgehogThe Goose with the Golden EggsThe Lion and the Dolphin . The Trumpeter taken Prisoner The Mountebank and the CountrymanThe Hunter and the Fisherman The Dog invited to Supper . The Frogs asking for a KingThe Fir-Tree and the Bramble The Lark and her Young Ones The Fisherman . The Thief and the DogThe Ass and his Masters The Old Man and Death . The Doctor and his Patient The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat The Two Pots ....B 657xviii ContentsPAOR The Lion and the Goat . -59The Arab and the Camel ........59 The Wolf and the Shepherd 59 The Trarellers and the Hatchet .......60 The Ass. the Fox, and the Lion 60 The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp 60 The Lion and Ass Hunting .......61 The Ass and his Driver ........61 The Mice and the Weasels 62 The Hart and the Vine ........62 The Hedge and the Vineyard .......62 The Fox and the Mask ........63 The Father and his Two Daughters ......63 The Horse and the Loaded Ass 63 The Sick Lion 64 The Farmer and the Cranes .......65 The Eagle and the Jackdaw .......65 The Thirsty Pigeon .........65 The Heifer and the Ox 66 The Bald Knight 66 The Fox and the Stork 66 The Falconer and the Partridge .......67 The Bull and the Goat ........67 The Husbandman and the Sea .... . . -67The Jackass in Office .........68 The Porker and the Sheep ........68 The Hound and the Hare 68 The Boy and the Filberts ........69 The Kid and the Wolf 69 The Quack Frog .69The Ant and the Dove 70 The Ass in the Lion's Skin . 70 The Goat and the Goatherd 70 The Boy Bathing 71 The Farmer and the Dogs •71The Mouse and the Weasel 71 The Farmer and the Lion 72 The Charger and the Ass 72 The Brazier and his Dog ........72 Venus and the Cat 73 The Wolf and the Lion 73 The Great and the Little Fishes 73 The Boys and the Frogs 74 The Wolf and the Goat 74 The Ass, the co*ck, and the Lion 74 The Rivers and the Sea 75 The Ass Carrying Salt 75 The Lion &nd his Three Councillors ......76Contents xixfa*gB The Blackamoor • 76 The Sea-Side Travellers 76 The Leopard and the Fox 77 The Monkey and the Fisherman .......77 The Eagle and the Beetle 77 The Man and his Two Wives 78 The Vine and the Goat 79 The Sick Kite ..........79 The Boy and the Nettle 79^ The Fox and the Crow . 80 The Three Tradesmen ' . .80The Ass's Shadow .........80 The Dogs and the Hides 81 The Lion and the Bulls . .......81 The Raven and the Swan ........81 The Shepherd and the Sea ........82 The Swallow in Chancery 82 The Old Woman and her Maids 82 The Miser 83 The Wild Boar and the Fox 83 The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing 84 The Boasting Traveller ........84 The Wolf and the Horse 84 The Stag at the Pool 85 The Old Lion 85 The Hunter and the Woodman . 85 Mercury and the Sculptor ........86 The Wolf and the Shepherds 86 The Astronomer ..........86 The Miller, his Son, and their Ass 87III. FABLES FROM PH^DRUSThe Vain Jackdaw and the Peaco*ck The Cow, the She-Goat, the Sheep, and the Lion The Ass and the Lion Hunting . The Man and the Weasel .... The Faithful Dog ..... The Dog and the Crocodile The Dog, the Treasure, and the Vulture The Frogs Frightened at the Battle of the Bulls The Kite and the Pigeons .... The Lion, the Robber, and the Traveller The Eagle, the Crow, and the TortoiseSocrates to his Friend ..... The Bees and the Drones .... ^sop at Play *.....The Ass and the Priests of Cybele899090909191929293939394XX ContentsPAGB The Horse and the Wild Boar . 94 The Thief and the Altar 95 The Pilot and the Mariners 95 The Man and the Snake 95 The Shipwreck of Simonides 96 The Ant and the Fly 97 Simonides preserved by the Gods -97Demetrius and Menander 98 The Travellers and the Robber 99 The Man and the Ass 99 The Two Bald Men 99 The Huntsman and the Dog 100IV. iCSOPIAN FABLES(Attributed to PHiEDRUs)The City Mouse and the Country Mouse lOO The Crane, the Crow, and the Countryman ....loi The Birds and the Swallow I02 The Partridge and the Fox 102 The Ass, the Ox, and the Birds .......103 The Gnat and the Bull 103 The Stork, the Goose, and the Hawk 103 The Camel and the Fly 104V. ENGLISH FOLK TALESThe Woodman's Luck 105 The Moon in the Pond 105VI. WELSH FOLK TALESEnvy Burning Itself 106Sir Foulk and the Knights of Glamorgan 107VII. FABLES FROM HITOPADESAThe Ass in the Tiger Skin 109 The Mouse and the Saint 109 The Three Rogues noThe Monkeys and the Bell 1 1

The Elephant and the Moon Ill The Cat and the Vulture lia The Elephant and the Shakal 114 The Stag and the Lion 115Contents XXIVIII. FABLES FROM BARLANDUSAn Ant and a Pigeon.A Peaco*ck and a Pye.A Lion, Ass, and Fox A Woman and her Maids ^Bustards and Cranes . Jupiter and an ApeAn Eagle and an OwlrACBIi6ii6117 117117118 118IX. FABLES FROM AVIANUSAn Oak and a Willow Il8 A Fisherman and a Little Fish 119 A Bull and a Goat "9A Nurse and a Wolf 119 An Eagle and a Tortoise 120 An Old Crab and a Young 120 The Goose and the Gosling 120 The Dog and the Bell 120 The Two Pots I2I An Old Woman and the Devil 121 V A Peaco*ck and a Crane 122 The Fir and the Bramble 122 A Covetous Man and an Envious 123 A Crow and a Pitcher 123 A Man and a Satyr 123 A Bull and a Mouse 124 A Countryman and Hercules 124 X. FABLES FROM ABSTEMIUSA Mouse in a Chest 124 A Husbandman and Ceres 125 A Countryman and a Hawk 125 A Swallow and a Spider 125 A Countryman and a River 125 Capons Fat and Lean 126 fA Swan and a Stork 126 A Fly upon a Wheel 126 The Fishes and the Frying- Pan 126 A League of Beasts and Fishes 127 A Spaniel and a Sow 127 Wax and Brick 127 XI. FABLES FROM PILPAYThe Travelling Pigeon 128 The Greedy and Ambitious Cat 133XXI

ContentsThe Poor Man who became a Great KingThe Dervise, the Falcon, and the Raven The Fox and the HenThe Savage Tyrant . A Raven, a Fox, and a SerpentThe Crane and the Crawfish The Rabbit, Fox, and the Wolf The Two Fisherman and the Three Fishes The Falcon and the Hen . The Nightingale and the CountrymanThe Hunter, the Fox, and the LeopardThe Gardener and the Bear The Merchant and his Friend The Prince and his Minister The Blind Man . The Three Envious Persons The Ignorant PhysicianThe Man and the AdderPACB141149149160162 164167 170174179 XII. FABLES FROM LOKMANThe Gnat and the Bull 183 The Old^an and Death 183 The Dog and the Wolf 183 The Weasel and the Chickens . . . . . . .184The Stomach and the Feet .......184 The Dogs and the Fox 184 The Woman and the Hen 184 The Doe and the Lioness ........184 XIII. FABLES FROM FLORIANThe Youth and the Old ManThe Squirrel and the Lion . The Two Peasants and the Cloud The Old Tree and the Gardener.The Mole and the Rabbits . The King and the Two ShepherdsThe Husbandman of Castile The House of Cards . The Horse and the Colt .i8S185 186187 188189190192193 XIV. FABLES FROM LA FONTAINEThe Two Mules .........194 The Rats in Council 195 The Wolf accusing the Fox before the Monkey ....196 The Wolf turned Shepherd 197Contents xxiiiPACK The Lion going to War 198 The Cobbler and the Rich Man 198 The Sculptor and the Statue 200 The Fishes and the Shepherd who played the Flute . . .201The Four Friends 202 The Acorn and the Pumpkin 205 XV. FABLES FROM GAYThe Wild Boar and the Ram 206 The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf 207 The Mastiff 208 The Owl and the Farmer 209 The Cur, the Horse, and the Shepherd's Dog ....210 The Owl, the Swan, the co*ck, the Spider, the Ass, and the Farmer 211 XVL FABLES FROM LESSINGThe Lion and the Hare 213 The Ass and the Race-Horse 213Jupiter and the Horse 213 The Nightingale and the Peaco*ck 214 The Horse and the Ox 215 The Phoenix 215 The Nightingale and the Hawk 215 The Goose 216 The Sparrows 216 The Sparrow and the Ostrich 216 The Owl and the Treasure Seeker 217 Merops 217 The Ass and the Wolf 217 The Knight in Chess 218Hercules 218 The Wolf on his Death-Bed .......218 The Lion with the Ass 219 The Ass with the Lion 219 The Two Dogs and the Lamb 219 The Fox 220 The Sheep 2CX> The Thorn 220 The Nightingale and the Lark 221 Solomon's Ghost .........221 The Gift of the Fairies 221 Msop and the Ass 222 The Archer 222 The Beasts Striving for Precedence: in Four Fables . . .223The Benefactors 224xxiv ContentsrACB The Blind Hen 225 The Brass Statue 225 The Two Dogs ..........225 The Eagle 226 XVII. FABLES FROM KRILOFThe Rain-Cloud 226 The Cuckoo and the Eagle . 227 The Monkey and the Spectacles .......227 The Ass and the Nightingale .......227 The Comb 228 XVIII. FABLES FROM TOLSTOIThe Water-Demon and the Pearl 229 The Monkey .......... 229 The Wolf and the Bow 230 The Corn-Crake and his Mate .......230 The Wolf &nd the Hunters >......231iESOP'S AND OTHER FABLESA VISION OF ^SOPBy Robert HenrysonI In mlddis of June, that jolly sweet season, When that fair Phoebus, with his beamis bright,Had dried up the dew frae dale and down,And all the land made with his lemys ^ light; In a morning, between mid-day and night,I rose and put all sloth and sleep on side,And to a wood I went alone, but ^ guide.Sweet was the smell of flowris white and red. The noyis of birdis right delicious;The bewis ^ broad bloomW above my head.The ground growand with grasses gracious

Of all pleasance that was plenteousWith sweet odours and birdis harmony.The morning mild, my mirth was more forthy.Ill The roses red arrayed on rone and ryse,*The primrose and the purple viola

To hear it was a point of paradiseSic mirth the mavis and the merle couth ma.'The blossoms blithe brake upon bank and brae,The smell of herbis, and of fowls the cry, Contending who should have the victory.

• Rays. * Without. * Branches. * Bushes and twigi.

' Blackbird could make.^sop's and Other FablesXII "Yet, gentle sir," said I, "for my requestNot to displease your father-head, I pray, Under the figure of some brutal beastA moral fable ye would dedane to say. Wha wate nor I may lear ^ and bare awaySomething thereby hereafter may avail." "I grant," quoth he, and thus begouth ane tale.

• Who knows but that I may leara?

I. FABLES FROM CAXTON'S vESOP(1484)THE FOX AND THE GRAPESA hungry Fox stole one day into a vineyard wheremany bunches of Grapes hung ripe and ready for eating. But as luck would have it, they were fastened upon a tall trellis, just too high for Reynard to reach. He jumped, and paused, and jumped agfain, in the attempt to get at them. But it was all in vain. Atlast he was fairly tired out, and thereupon, " Take themwho will," he cried, "the Grapes are Sour! " THE RAT AND THE FROGThe Rat went on a pilgrimage, and he came by a River, and demanded of a Frog that she should be his ferryman, and ferry him over the water. And there- upon the Frog bound the Rat's foot to her foot, andin that wise she swam with him to the middle of theRiver. But when they were come thither, the Frogceased to paddle, and came to a halt; to the end that the Rat should be drowned. Meanwhile a hungryKite, seeing them there in mid-water, swooped downupon them, and bore them both off. This fable madei^sop for a similitude profitable to many folks. Forhe that thinketh evil may chance to find that evil fall on himself. THE WOLF AND THE SKULLA Wolf found a dead man's head, which he turnedupside down with his foot. And he said, "Ah ha!how fair hast thou been, and pleasant. And now thouhast in thee neither wit nor beauty; and thou art without voice and without any thought." Therefore men ought not only to behold the beauty and fairnessof the body, but also the goodness and the courage.56 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE LION AND THE COW, THE GOATAND THE SHEEPMen say that it is not good for a servant to eat plums with his lord; and to the poor, it is not good to have partage and division with him which is rich andmighty; whereof /Esop rehearseth such a fable. The Cow, the Goat and the Sheep went once a-hunt- ing in the chase with a Lion, and they took a Hart. And when they came to have their part and share init, the Lion said to them

" My lords, I let you wit that the first part is mine,because I am your lord; the second because I amstronger than ye be; the third because I ran moreswift than ye did; and whosoever toucheth the fourthpart, he shall be my mortal enemy! " And thus the Lion took for himself alone the Hart. And therefore this fable teacheth to all folk that the poor ought not to hold fellowship with the mighty. Forthe mighty man is never faithful to the poor. THE PILGRIM AND THE SWORDAn evil man may be cause of the perdition or loss of many folk. As rehearseth unto us this present fableof a Pilgrim which found in his way a Sword, and askedof the Sword, "What is he that hath lost thee? " Andthe Sword answered to the Pilgrim, "A man alone hathlost me, but many a one have I lost." And therefore an evil man may be lost, but ere hebe lost he may well harm many a one. For by causeof an evil man may come in a country many evils. THE OAK AND THE REEDA great Oak would never bow him for no wind, anda Reed which was at his foot bowed himself as muchas the wind would. And the Oak said to him, " Whydost thou not abide still as I do? " And the ReedThe Fox and the co*ck 7answered, "I have not the might which thou hast." And the Tree said to the Reed proudly, "Then have I more strength than thou."And anon after came a great wind which threwdown to the ground the said great Tree, and the Reedabode in his own being. For the proud shall be alwayshumbled, and the meek and humble shall be enhanced,for the root of all virtue is obedience and humility.THE FOX AND THE co*ckA Fox came toward a co*ck and said to him, " I would fain know if thou canst as well sing as thyfather did." And then the co*ck shut his eyes andbegan to cry and sing. And the Fox took and barehim away. And the people of the town cried, "TheFox beareth away the co*ck! " And then the co*ck said thus to the Fox, "My lord, understandest thou not what the people saith, that thou bearest away their co*ck? Tell to them that it is thine and not theirs." And as the Fox said, "It is not yours, but it is mine,"the co*ck escaped from the Fox's mouth and flew upona tree. And then the co*ck said to the Fox, "Thouliest: for 1 am theirs and not thine." And the Foxbegan to hit earth with his mouth and head, saying," Mouth, thou hast spoken too much! Thou shouldest have eaten the co*ck had not thy words been over many."And therefore over much talking harmeth, and too much crowing smarteth. Therefore keep thyself fromover many words, to the end that thou repentest not. THE FISHERA Fisher sometime touched his bagpipe nigh theriver for to make the fish to dance. And when he sawthat for no song that he could pipe would the fishes dance, as wroth did he cast his nets into the river andtook of fishes great quantity. And when he had drawnout his nets out of the water, the fish began to leap8 -^sop's and Other Fablesand dance. And then he said to them, "Certainly it agpeareth now well that ye be evil beasts. For nowwhen ye be taken ye leap and dance; and when I pipedand played of my muse or bag-pipe ye deigned ye wouldnot dance." Therefore it appeareth well that the thingswhich be made in season be well made and done byreason. THE HE-GOAT AND THE WOLFA Wolf some time ran after a He-goat, and theHe-goat, for to save him, leapt upon a rock; and theWolf besieged him. And after when they had dwelledthere two or three days, the Wolf began to wax hungryand the He-goat to have thirst. And thus the Wolfwent for to eat, and the He-goat went for to drink.And as the He-goat drank he saw his shadow in thewater; and, spying and beholding his shadow, profferedand said such words within himself, "Thou hast sofair legs, so fair a beard, and so fair horns, and hastfear of the Wolf! If it happen that he come again, I shall correct him well and shall keep him well, that heshall have no might over me." And the Wolf, whichheld his peace and hearkened what was said, took himby the one leg, thus saying, "What words be thesewhich thou profferest and sayest, brother He-goat?"And when the He-goat saw that he was taken, hebegan to say to the Wolf, " Ha! my lord, I saynothing, and have pity of me! I know well that it is to my blame." And the Wolf took him by the neckand strangled him. And therefore it is great follywhen the feeble maketh war against the puissant(powerful) and strong.THE BALD MAN AND THE FLYOf a little evil may well come a greater. Whereof/Esop reciteth such a fable of a Fly which pricked a Manupon his bald head. And when he would have smoteThe Fox and the Thorn-Bush 9her she flew away. And thus he smote himself, whereofthe Fly began to laugh. And the Bald Man said to her, " Ha, an evil beast! Thou demandest well thydeath if I smote myself, whereof thou laughest andmockest me. But if I had hit thee thou haddest beenthereof slain." And therefore men say commonly thatof the evil of others men ought not to laugh nor scorn. But the injurious mocketh and scorneth the world, andgetteth many enemies. For the which cause ofttimesit happeneth that of a few words cometh a great noise and danger.THE FOX AND THE THORN-BUSHA Fox, to escape the peril of the chase, leapt into a Thorn-bush, whose thorns hurt him sore. Thereuponthe Fox, weeping in his anguish, said to the Thornbush, " I am come to thee as to my refuge; and thouhast hurted me to the death." And then the Thornbush said to the Fox, "Thou hast erred; and well thouhast beguiled thyself. For thou thought to have taken me as thou art accustomed to take chickens and hens."II. FABLES FROM JAMES'S 7ESOP(1848)THE BOWMAN AND THE LIONA Man who was very skilful with his bow, went upinto the mountains to hunt. At his approach there was instantly a great consternation and rout amongall the wild beasts, the Lion alone showing anydetermination to fight. " Stop," said the Bowman to him " and await my messenger, who has somewhatto say to you." With that he sent an arrow after the Lion, and wounded him in the side. The Lion,C657lo yEsop's and Other Fablessmarting with anguish, fled into the depth of thethickets, but a Fox seeing him run, bade him takecourage, and face his enemy. "No," said the Lion,"you will not persuade me to that; for if the messenger he sends is so sharp, what must be the powerof him who sends it? " THE WOLF AND THE CRANEA Wolf had got a bone stuck in his throat, andin the greatest agony ran up and down, beseechingevery animal he met to relieve him: at the same timehinting at a very handsome reward to the successful operator. A Crane, moved by his entreaties and pro- mises, ventured her long neck down the Wolf's throat,and drew out the bone. She then modestly asked for the promised reward. To which, the Wolf, grinningand showing his teeth, replied with seeming indignation, " Ungrateful creature! to ask for any other rewardthan that you have put your head into a Wolf's jaws,and brought it safe out again! " Those who are charitable only in the hope of areturn, must not be surprised if, in their dealings withevil men, they meet with more jeers than thanks.THE BOY AND THE SCORPIONA Boy was hunting Locusts upon a wall, and hadcaught a great number of them; when, seeing aScorpion, he mistook it for another Locust, and wasjust hollowing his hand to catch it, when the Scorpion,lifting up his sting, said: " I wish you had done it, forI would soon have made you drop me, and the Locustsinto the bargain."THE FOX AND THE GOATA Fox had fallen into a well, and had been castingabout for a long time how he should get out again

when at length a Goat came to the place, andThe Widow and the Hen iiwanting to drink, asked Reynard whether the water was good, and if there was plenty of it. The Fox,dissembling the real danger of his case, replied, "Comedown, my friend; the water is so good that I cannotdrink enough of it, and so abundant that it cannotbe exhausted." Upon this the Goat without any moreado leaped in; when the Fox, taking advantage ofhis friend's horns, as nimbly leaped out; and coollyremarked to the poor deluded Goat,—" If you had half as much brains as you have beard, you would havelooked before you leaped."THE WIDOW AND THE HENA Widow woman kept a Hen that laid an egg everymorning. Thought the woman to herself, " If I doublemy Hen's allowance of barley, she will lay twice a-day."So she tried her plan, and the Hen became so fat andsleek, that she left off laying at all. Figures are not always facts. THE VAIN JACKDAWA Jackdaw, as vain and conceited as Jackdawcould be, picked up the feathers which some Pea- co*cks had shed, stuck them amongst his own, anddespising his old companions, introduced himself withthe greatest assurance into a flock of those beautifulbirds. They, instantly detecting the intruder, strippedhim of his borrowed plumes, and falling upon him withtheir beaks, sent him about his business. The unluckyJackdaw, sorely punished and deeply sorrowing, betookhimself to his former companions, and would haveflocked with them again as if nothing had happened.But they, recollecting what airs he had given himself,drummed him out of their society, while one of thosewhom he had so lately despised, read him this lecture: "Had you been contented with what nature madeyou, you would have escaped the chastisem*nt of yourbetters and also the contempt of your equals."12 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE KID AND THE WOLFA Kid being mounted on the roof of a lofty house,and seeing a Wolf pass below, began to revile him.The Wolf merely stopped to reply, " Coward! it is not you who revile me, but the place on which youare standing."THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOURIn days of yore, a mighty rumbling was heard in a Mountain. It was said to be in labour, and multitudes flocked together, from far and near, to see whatit would produce. After long expectation and manywise conjectures from the bystanders—out popped a Mouse! The story applies to those whose magnificent pro- mises end in a paltry performance.THE KITE AND THE PIGEONSSome Pigeons had long lived in fear of a Kite, butby being always on the alert, and keeping near their dove-cote, they had contrived hitherto to escape the attacks of the enemy. Finding his sallies unsuccessful,the Kite betook himself to craft: "Why," said he,"do you prefer this life of continual anxiety, when,if you would only make me your king, I would secure you from every attack that could be made upon you?"The Pigeons, trusting to his professions, called him to the throne; but no sooner was he established there than he exercised his prerogative by devouring a pigeona-day. Whereupon one that yet awaited his turn, said no more than "It serves us right.'*They who voluntarily put power into the hand of atyrant or an enemy, must not wonder if it be at last turned against themselves.The Old Hound 13THE OLD HOUNDA Hound, who had been an excellent one in his time, and had done good service to his master in thefield, at length became worn out with the weight of years and trouble. One day, when hunting the wildboar, he seized the creature by the ear, but his teeth giving way, he was forced to let go his hold, and the boar escaped. Upon this the huntsman, coming up, severely rated him. But the feeble Dog replied," Spare your old servant! it was the power not thewill that failed me. Remembe> rather what I was,than abuse me for what I am."THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPEROn a cold frosty day an Ant was dragging out someof the corn which he had laid up in summer time,to dry it. A Grasshopper, half-perished with hunger,besought the Ant to give him a morsel of it to preservehis life. "What were you doing," said the Ant, "thislast summer? " "Oh," said the Grasshopper, "I wasnot idle. I kept singing all the summer long." Saidthe Ant, laughing and shutting up his granary, " Sinceyou could sing all summer, you may dance all winter."Winter finds out what Summer lays by.THE co*ck AND THE JEWELAs a co*ck was scratching up the straw in a farmyard, in search of food for the hens, he hit upon aJewel that by some chance had found its way there. "Ho! " said he, "you are a very fine thing, no doubt,to those who prize you; but give me a barley-cornbefore all the pearls in the world."The co*ck was a sensible co*ck: but there are manysilly people who despise what is precious only becausethey cannot understand it.14 -/Esop's and Other FablesTHE FAWN AND HER MOTHERA Fawn one day said to her mother, " Mother, youare bigger than a dog, and swifter and better winded,and you have horns to defend yourself; how is it that you are so afraid of the hounds?" She smiled andsaid, " All this, my child, I know full well; but nosooner do I hear a dog bark, than, somehow or other,my heels take me off as fast as they can carry me."There is no arguing a coward into courage.THE TWO WALLETSEvery man carries Two Wallets, one before and onebehind, and both full of faults. But the one before,is full of his neighbour's faults; the one behind, of his own. Thus it happens that men are blind to their ownfaults, but never lose sight of their neighbour's.THE EAGLE AND THE FOXAn Eagle and a Fox had long lived together as good neighbours; the Eagle at the summit of a hightree, the Fox in a hole at the foot of it. One day,however, while the Fox was abroad, the Eagle madea swoop at the Fox's cub, and carried it off to hernest, thinking that her lofty dwelling would secure her from the Fox's revenge. The Fox, on her return home, upbraided the Eagle for this breach of friendship, and begged earnestly to have her young oneagain; but finding that her entreaties were of no avail,she snatched a torch from an altar-fire that had beenlighted hard by, and involving the whole tree in flameand smoke, soon made the Eagle restore, through fearfor herself and her own young ones, the cub which shehad just now denied to her most earnest prayers. The tyrant, though he may despise the tears of the oppressed, is never safe from their vengeance.The Horse and the Groom 15THE HORSE AND THE GROOMA Groom who used to steal and sell a Horse's corn, was yet very busy in g-rooming and wisping him all the day long. " If you really wish me," said the Horse,

• • to look well, give me less of your currying and more

of your corn." THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE SNAKEA Countryman returning- home one winter's day,found a Snake by the hedge-side, half dead withcold. Taking compassion on the creature, he laid it in his bosom and brought it hom.e to his fire-side to revive it. No sooner had the warmth restored it, thanit began to attack the children of the cottage. Uponthis the Countryman, whose compassion had saved itslife, took up a mattock and laid the Snake dead athis feet. Those who return evil for good, may expect their neighbour's pity to be worn out at last. THE MAN AND THE SATYRA Man and a Satyr having struck up an acquaint- ance sat down together to eat. The day being wintryand cold, the Man put his fingers to his mouth andblew upon them. "What's that for, my friend? " asked the Satyr. "My hands are so cold," said the Man; "I do it to warm them." In a little while somehot food was placed before them, and the Man, raising the dish to his mouth, again blew upon it. "Andwhat's the meaning of that, now? " said the Satyr."Oh," replied the Man, "my porridge is so hot, I doit to cool it." "Nay, then," said the Satyr, "fromthis moment I renounce your friendship, for I will havenothing to do with one who blows hot and cold withthe same mouth."1 6 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE FLIES AND THE HONEY-POTA Pot of Honey having been upset in a grocer'sshop, the Flies came around it in swarms to eat it up, nor would they move from the spot while there was a drop left. At length their feet became so clogged that they could not fly away, and stifled in the luscious sweets they exclaimed, '* Miserable creatures that weare, who for the sake of an hour's pleasure, havethrown away our lives! "THE FIGHTING-co*ckS AND THE EAGLETwo young co*cks were fighting as fiercely as if theyhad been men. At last the one that was beaten creptinto a corner of the hen-house, covered with wounds.But the conqueror, straightway flying up to the topof the house, began clapping his wings and crowing,to announce his victory. At this moment an Eagle,sailing by, seized him in his talons and bore him awaywhile the defeated rival came out from his hiding-place,and took possession of the dunghill for which they hadcontended.THE DOG AND THE SHADOWA Dog had stolen a piece of meat out of a butcher's shop, and was crossing a river on its way home,when he saw his own shadow reflected in the streambelow. Thinking that it was another dog with anotherpiece of meat, he resolved to make himself master of that also; but in snapping at the supposed treasure,he dropped the bit he was carrying, and so lost all. Grasp at the shadow and lose the substance—the common fate of those who hazard a real blessing for some visionary good.The Fox and the Lion 17THE FOX AND THE LIONA Fox who had never seen a Lion, when by chancehe met him for the first time, was so terrified that he almost died of fright. When he met him the secondtime, he was still afraid, but managed to disguise hisfear. When he saw him the third time, he was so much emboldened that he went up to him and askedhim how he did. Familiarity breeds contempt.THE CREAKING WHEELSAs some Oxen were dragging a waggon along a heavy road, the Wheels set up a tremendous creaking."Brute!" cried the driver to the waggon; "why doyou groan, when they who are drawing- all the weightare silent? " Those who cry loudest are not always the mosthurt. THE WOLF AND THE LAMBAs a Wolf was lapping at the head of a runningbrook, he spied a stray Lamb paddling, at some dis- tance, down the stream. Having made up his mindto seize her, he bethought himself how he might justifyhis violence. "Villain!" said he, running up to her,"how dare you muddle the water that I am drinking? " "Indeed," said the Lamb humbly, "I do not see how I can disturb the water, since it runs from you to me,not from me to you." "Be that as it may," replied the Wolf, "it was but a year ago that you called memany ill names." "Oh, Sir!" said the Lamb, trembling-, "a year ago I was not born." "Well," replied the Wolf, "if it was not you, it was your father, andthat is all the same; but it is no use trying to argue me out of my supper; "—and without another word1 8 yEsop's and Other Fableshe fell upon the poor helpless Lamb and tore her topieces. K-;"" -^^ A tyrant never wants a plea. And they hVye little /chance of resisting the injustice of the powerfm whoseypnly weapons are innocence and reason. \/^THE BEAR AND THE FOXA Bear used to boast of his excessive love for Man,saying that he never worried or mauled him when dead.The Fox observed, with a smile, " I should have thoughtmore of your profession, if you never eat him alive." Better save a man from dying than salve him whendead.THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THETOWN MOUSEOnce upon a time a Country Mouse who had a friendin town invited him, for old acquaintance sake, topay him a visit in the country. The invitation beingaccepted in due form, the Country Mouse, though plainand rough and somewhat frugal in his nature, openet!his heart and store, in honour of hospitality and an oldfriend. There was not a carefully stored up morselthat he did not bring forth out of his larder, peas andbarley, cheese-parings and nuts, hoping by quantity tomake up what he feared was wanting in quality, to suitthe palate of his dainty guest. The Town Mouse,condescending to pick a bit here and a bit there, whilethe host sat nibbling a blade of barley-straw, at lengthexclaimed, " How is it, my good friend, that you canendure the dullness of this unpolished life? You areliving like a toad in a hole. You can't really preferthese solitary rocks and woods to streets teeming withcarriages and men. On my honour, you are wastingyour time miserably here. We must make the mostof life while it lasts. A mouse, you know, does notlive for ever. So come with me and I'll show youCountry Mouse and Town Mouse 19life and the town." Overpowered with such fine words and so polished a manner, the Country Mouseassented; and they set out together on their journeyto town. It was late in the evening when they creptstealthily into the city, and midnight ere they reachedthe great house, where the Town Mouse took up his quarters. Here were couches of crimson velvet, carv- ings in ivory, everything in short that denoted wealthand luxury. On the table were the remains of asplendid banquet, to procure which all the choicest shops in the town had been ransacked the day before.It was now the turn of the courtier to play the host;he places his country friend on purple, runs to and froto supply all his wants, presses dish upon dish anddainty upon dainty, and as though he were waiting ona king, tastes every course ere he ventures to place it before his rustic cousin. The Country Mouse, for his part, affects to make himself quite at home, and blessesthe good fortune that had wrought such a change in his way of life; when, in the midst of his enjoyment,as he is thinking with contempt of the poor fare he hasforsaken, on a sudden the door flies open, and a partyof revellers returning from a late entertainment, burstsinto the room. The affrighted friends jump from thetable in the greatest consternation and hide themselvesin the first corner they can reach. No sooner do they venture to creep out again than the barking of dogsdrives them back in still greater terror than before. Atlength, when things seemed quiet, the Country Mousestole out from his hiding place, and bidding his friend good-bye, whispered in his ear, " Oh, my good sir, thisfine mode of living may do for those who like it; butgive me my barley-bread in peace and security beforethe daintiest feast where Fear and Care are in waiting."THE DOG, THE co*ck, AND THE FOXA Dog and a co*ck having struck up an acquaintance,went out on their travels together. Nightfall foundthem in a forest; so the co*ck, flying up on a tree.20 ^sop's and Other Fablesperched among the branches, while the Dog dozedbelow at the foot. As the night passed away and theday dawned, the co*ck, according to his custom, set upa shrill crowing. A Fox hearing him, and thinking tomake a meal of him, came and stood under the tree, and thus addressed him:—"Thou art a good little bird,and most useful to thy fellow-creatures. Come down,then, that we may sing our matins and rejoice together."The co*ck replied, " Go, my good friend, to the foot ofthe tree, and call the sacristan to toll the bell." Butas the Fox went to call him, the Dog jumped out in amoment, and seized the Fox and made an end of him.They who lay traps for others are often caught bytheir own bait. THE LION AND THE MOUSEA Lion was sleeping in his lair, when a Mouse, notknowing where he was going, ran over the mightybeast's nose and awakened him. The Lion clappedhis paw upon the frightened little creature, and wasabout to make an end of him in a moment, whenthe Mouse, in pitiable tone, besought him to spareone who had so unconsciously offended, and not stainhis honourable paws with so insignificant a prey. TheLion, smiling at his little prisoner's fright, generouslylet him go. Now it happened no long time after, thatthe Lion, while ranging the woods for his prey, fell intothe toils of the hunters; and finding himself entangledwithout hope of escap>e, set up a roar that filled thewhole forest with its echo. The Mouse, recognising thevoice of his former preserver, ran to the spot, and with-out more ado set to work to nibble the knot in the cordthat bound the Lion, and in a short time set the noblebeast at liberty; thus convincing him that kindness is seldom thrown away, and that there is no creature somuch below another but that he may have it in his power to return a good office.The Gull and the Kite 21THE GULL AND THE KITEA Gull had pounced upon a fish, and in endeavouring to swallow it got choked, and lay upon the deckfor dead. A Kite who was passing by and saw him,gave him no other comfort than—" It serves you right

for what business have the fowls of the air to meddlewith the fish of the sea." THE HOUSE-DOG AND THE WOLFA lean hungry Wolf chanced one moonshiny night tofall in with a plump well-fed House-Dog. After thefirst compliments were passed between them, " How isit, my friend," said the Wolf, "that you look so sleek?How well your food agrees with you! and here am I striving for my living night and day, and can hardly save myself from starving." "Well," says the Dog," if you would fare like me, you have only to do as I do." "Indeed!" says he, "and what is that?""Why," replies the Dog, "just to guard the master'shouse and keep off the thieves at night." "With all my heart; for at present I have but a sorry time of it. This woodland life, with its frosts and rains, is sharpwork for me. To have a warm roof over my head anda bellyful of victuals always at hand will, methinks, be no bad exchange." "True," says the Dog; "thereforeyou have nothing to do but to follow me." Now as they were jogging on together, the Wolf spied a markin the Dog's neck, and having a strange curiosity,could not forbear asking what it meant. " Pooh 1 nothing at all," says the Dog. "Nay, but pray"says the Wolf. " Oh! a mere trifle, perhaps the collar to which my chain is fastened " "Chain! " cries the Wolf in surprise; "you don't mean to say that youcannot rove when and where you please? " "Why, notexactly perhaps; you see I am looked upon as ratherfierce, so they sometimes tie me up in the day-time,22 ^sop's and Other Fablesbut I assure you I have perfect liberty at night, andthe master feeds me off his own plate, and the servantsgive me their tit-bits, and I am such a favourite, and—but what is the matter? where are you going?""Oh, good-night to you," says the Wolf; "you arewelcome to your dainties; but for me, a dry crust withliberty against a king's luxury with a chain."THE FROG AND THE OXAn Ox, grazing in a swampy meadow, chanced toset his foot among a parcel of young Frogs, andcrushed nearly the whole brood to death. One thatescaped ran off to his mother with the dreadful news;"And, O mother! " said he, "it was a beast—such abig four-footed beast!—that did it." "Big?" quoththe old Frog, " how big? was it as big "—and shepuffed herself out to a great degree—"as big as this? ""Oh! " said the little one, "a great deal bigger thanthat." "Well, was it so big? " and she swelled herselfout yet more. " Indeed, mother, but it was; and if youwere to burst yourself, you would never reach halfits size." Provoked at such a disparagement of herpowers, the old Frog made one more trial, and burstherself indeed. So men are ruined by attempting a greatness towhich they have no claim. THE POMEGRANATE, THE APPLE, ANDTHE BRAMBLEThe Pomegranate and the Apple had a contest onthe score of beauty. When words ran high, andthe strife waxed dangerous, a Bramble, thrusting hishead from a neighbouring bush, cried out, "We havedisputed long enough; let there be no more rivalrybetwixt us." The most insignificant are generally the mostpresuming.The Tortoise and the Eagle 23THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLEA Tortoise, dissatisfied with his lowly life, when hebeheld so many of the birds, his neighbours, disparting themselves in the clouds, and thinking that, if hecould but once get up into the air, he could soar withthe best of them, called one day upon an Eagle andoffered him all the treasures of Ocean if he could only teach him to fly. The Eagle would have declined, thetask, assuring him that the thing was not only absurdbut impossible, but being further pressed by the entreaties and promises of the Tortoise, he at lengthconsented to do for him the best he could. So takinghim up to a great height in the air and loosing his hold upon him, "Now, then!" cried the Eagle; but theTortoise, before he could answer him a word, fell plumpupon a rock, and was dashed to pieces.Pride shall have a fall. THE MULEA Mule that had grown fat and wanton on too great an allowance of corn, was one day jumping and kickingabout, and at length, co*cking up her tail, exclaimed," My dam was a Racer, and I am quite as good as ever she was." But being soon knocked up with hergalloping and frisking, she remembered all at oncethat her sire was but an Ass. Every truth has two sides; it is well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either. THE HARE AND THE TORTOISEA Hare jeered at a Tortoise for the slowness ofhis pace. But he laughed and said, that he wouldrun against her and beat her any day she would name. "Come on," said the Hare, "you shall soon see whatmy feet are made of." So it was agreed that they>24 ^sop's and Other Fablesshould start at once. The Tortoise went off joggingalong, without a moment's stopping, at his usual steadypace. The Hare, treating the whole matter verylightly, said she would first take a little nap, and thatshe should soon overtake the Tortoise. Meanwhile theTortoise plodded on, and the Hare oversleeping herself,arrived at the goal, only to see that the Tortoise hadgot in before her. Slow and steady wins the race. THE HEN AND THE CATA Cat hearing that a Hen was laid up sick in hernest, paid her a visit of condolence; and creeping upto her said, " How are you, my dear friend? whatcan I do for you? what are you in want of? only tellme, if there is anything in the world that I can bringyou; but keep up your spirits, and don't be alarmed."** Thank you," said the Hen; "do you be good enoughto leave me, and I have no fear but I shall soon bewell." Unbidden guests are often welcomest when they aregone.THE SHEPHERD-BOY AND THE WOLFA Shepherd-boy, who tended his flock not far froma village, used to amuse himself at times in crying out" Wolf! Wolf! " Twice or thrice his trick succeeded.The whole village came running out to his assistance

when all the return they got was to be laughed atfor their pains. At last one day the Wolf came indeed.The Boy cried out in earnest. But his neighbours,supposing him to be at his old sport, paid no heed tohis cries, and the Wolf devoured the Sheep. So theBoy learned, when it was too late, that liars are notbelieved even when they tell the truth.The Sick Stag 25THE SICK STAGA Stag that had fallen sick, lay down on the rich herbage of a lawn, close to a wood-side, that she mightobtain an easy pasturage. But so many of the beasts came to see her—for she was a good sort of neighbour —that one taking a little, and another a little, they ate up all the grass in the place. So, though recoveringfrom the disease, she pined for want, and in the endlost both her substance and her life. THE OLD WOMAN AND THE WINE-JARAn Old Woman saw an empty Wine-jar lying onthe ground. Though not a drop of the noble Falernian,with which it had been filled, remained, it still yielded a grateful fragrance to the passers-by. The OldWoman, applying her nose as close as she could andsnufhng with all her might and main, exclaimed," Sweet creature! how charming must your contents once have been, when the very dregs are so delicious! " THE MOON AND HER MOTHERThe Moon once asked her Mother to make her a little cloak that would fit her well. " How," replied she,"can I make you a cloak to fit you, who are now a NewMoon, and then a Full Moon, and then again neither one nor the other? " THE ASS AND THE GRASSHOPPERAn Ass hearing some Grasshoppers chirping, wasdelighted with the music, and determining, if he could,to rival them, asked them what it was that they fed upon to make them sing so sweetly? When they told him that they supped upon nothing but dew, the Assbetook himself to the same diet, and soon died of hunger.One man's meat is another man's poison.D 65726 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE FOX AND THE WOODMANA Fox, hard pressed by the hounds after a long run,came up to a man who was cutting wood, and beggedhim to aflford him some place where he might hidehimself. The man showed him his own hut, and theFox creeping in, hid himself in a corner. The Hunterspresently came up, and asking the man whether hehad seen the Fox, "No," said he, but pointed withhis finger to the corner. They, however, not understanding the hint, were off again immediately. Whenthe Fox perceived that they were out of sight, he wasstealing off without saying a word. But the manupbraided him, saying, " Is this the way you take leaveof your host, without a word of thanks for yoursafety?" "A pretty host!" said the Fox, turninground upon him; "if you had been as honest with yourfingers as you were with your tongue, I should nothave left your roof without bidding you farewell." There is as much malice in a wink as in a word.THE LAMB AND THE WOLFA Lamb pursued by a Wolf took refuge in a temple.Upon this the Wolf called out to him, and said, thatthe priest would slay him if he caught him. " Be it so," said the Lamb: "it is better to be sacrificed toGod, than to be devoured by you."THE CROW AND THE PITCHERA Crow, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to aPitcher, which he saw at a distance. But when hecame up to it, he found the water so low that with all his stooping and straining he was unable to reach it. Thereupon he tried to break the Pitcher; then to over-turn it; but his strength was not sufficient to do either.At last, seeing some small pebbles at hand, he droppeda great many of them, one by one, into the Pitcher, andThe Crab and her Mother 27so raised the water to the brim, and quenched histhirst. Skill and Patience will succeed where Force fails. Necessity is the Mother of Invention,THE CRAB AND HER MOTHERSaid an old Crab to a young one, " Why do you walkso crooked, child? walk straight!" "Mother," said the young Crab, " show me the way, will you? andwhen I see you taking a straight course, I will tryand follow." Example is better than precept.JUPITER AND THE CAMELWhen the Camel, in days of yore, besought Jupiterto grant him horns, for that it was a great grief to him to see other animals furnished with them, whilehe had none; Jupiter not only refused to give him the horns he asked for, but cropped his ears short for his importunity.By asking too much, we may lose the little that wehad before. THE ONE-EYED DOEA Doe that had but one eye used to graze nearthe sea, and that she might be the more secure fromattack, kept her eye towards the land against the approach of the hunters, and her blind side towardsthe sea, whence she feared no danger. But some sailors rowing by in a boat and seeing her, aimed at her fromthe water and shot her. When at her last gasp, shesighed to herself: "Ill-fated creature that I ami I was safe on the land-side whence I expected to beattacked, but find an enemy in the sea to which I mostlooked for protection.**Our troubles often come from the quarter whence we least expect them.28 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE LION AND THE FOXA Fox agreed to wait upon a Lion in the capacityof a servant. Each for a time performed the partbelonging- to his station; the Fox used to point outthe prey, and the Lion fell upon it and seized it. Butthe Fox, beginning to think himself as good a beastas his master, begged to be allowed to hunt the gameinstead of finding it. His request was granted, but ashe was in the act of making a descent upon a herd, thehuntsmen came out upon him, and he was himself madethe prize.Keep to your place, and your place will keep you. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEARTwo friends were travelling on the same roadtogether, when they met with a Bear. The one in great fear, without a thought of his companion, climbedup into a tree, and hid himself. The other seeing thathe had no chance, single-handed, against the Bear, hadnothing left but to throw himself on the ground andfeign to be dead; for he had heard that the Bear will never touch a dead body. As he thus lay, the Bearcame up to his head, muzzling and snuffing at his nose,and ears, and heart, but the man immovably held hisbreath, and the beast supposing him to be dead, walkedaway. When the Bear was fairly out of sight, his companion came down out of the tree, and asked whatit was that the Bear whispered to him,—"for," says he,"I observed he put his mouth very close to your ear.""Why," replies the other, "it was no great secret; heonly bade me have a care how I kept company withthose who, when they get into a difficulty, leave their friends in the lurch." THE STAG IN THE OX-STALLA hunted Stag, driven out of covert and distractedby fear, made for the first farm-house he saw, andThe Stag in the Ox-Stall 29hid himself in an Ox-stall which happened to be open. As he was trying to conceal himself under the straw,"What can you mean," said an Ox, "by running into such certain destruction as to trust yourself to the haunts of man?" "Only do you not betray me,"said the Stag, "and I shall be off again on the first opportunity." Evening came on; the herdsman fod- dered the cattle, but observed nothing. The other farmservants came in and out. The Stag was still safe. Presently the bailiff passed through; all seemed right.The Stag now feeling himself quite secure began to thank the Oxen for their hospitality. "Wait awhile,"said one of them, "we indeed wish you well, but thereis yet another person, one with a hundred eyes; if heshould happen to come this way I fear your life will be still in jeopardy," While he was speaking, the Master, having finished his supper, came round to seethat all was safe for the night, for he thought that hiscattle had not of late looked as well as they ought.Going up to the rack, "Why so little fodder here?"says he; "Why is there not more straw? " And "Howlong, I wonder, would it take to sweep down these cobwebs! " Prying and observing, here and there andeverywhere, the Stag's antlers, jutting from out the straw, caught his eye, and calling in his servants heinstantly made prize of him.No eye like the Master's eye.THE COLLIER AND THE FULLERA Collier, who had more room in his house than hewanted for himself, proposed to a Fuller to come andtake up his quarters with him. "Thank you," said theFuller, "but I must decline your offer; for I fear that as fast as I whiten my goods you will blacken themagain."There can be little liking where there is no likeness.30 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE LION, THE ASS, AND THE FOXHUNTINGThe Lion, the Ass, and the Fox formed a party togo out hunting. They took a large booty, and whenthe sport was ended bethought themselves of having ahearty meal. The Lion bade the Ass allot the spoil.So dividing it into three equal parts, the Ass beggedhis friends to make their choice; at which the Lion, ingreat indignation, fell upon the Ass, and tore him topieces. He then bade the Fox make a division; who,gathering the whole into one great heap, reserved butthe smallest mite for himself. "Ah! friend," says theLion, " who taught you to make so equitable a divi-sion?" "I wanted no other lesson," replied the Fox,"than the Ass's fate." Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than byyour own.THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOGThere was an Ass and a Lap-dog that belonged tothe same master. The Ass was tied up in the stable,and had plenty of corn and hay to eat, and was aswell oif as Ass could be. The little Dog was alwayssporting and gambolling about, caressing and fawning upon his master in a thousand amusing ways, sothat he became a great favourite, and was permitted tolie in his master's lap. The Ass, indeed, had enough todo; he was drawing wood all day, and had to take histurn at the mill at night. But while he grieved overhis own lot, it galled him more to see the Lap-dogliving in such ease and luxury; so thinking that if heacted a like part to his master, he should fare the same,he broke one day from his halter, and rushing into thehall began to kick and prance about in the strangestfashion; then swishing his tail and mimicking the frolicsof the favourite, he upset the table where his masterwas at dinner, breaking it in two and smashing all thecrockery; nor would he leave off till he jumped uponThe Wind and the Sun 31his master, and pawed him with his rougfh-shod feet. The servants, seeing their master in no little danger,thought it was now high time to interfere, and havingreleased him from the Ass's caresses, they so belabouredthe silly creature with sticks and staves, that he nevergot up again; and as he breathed his last, exclaimed," Why could not I have been satisfied with my naturalposition, without attempting, by tricks and grimaces,to imitate one who was but a puppy after all! " THE WIND AND THE SUNA dispute once arose between the Wind and the Sun,which was the stronger of the two, and they agreed to put the point upon this issue, that whichever soonest made a traveller take off his cloak, should be accountedthe more powerful. The Wind began, and blew withall his might and main a blast, cold and fierce as a Thracian storm; but the stronger he blew the closerthe traveller wrapped his cloak around him, and thetighter he grasped it with his hands. Then brokeout the Sun: with his welcome beams he dispersedthe vapour and the cold; the traveller felt the genialwarmth, and as the Sun shone brighter and brighter,he sat down, overcome with the heat, and cast his cloak on the ground.Thus the Sun was declared the conqueror; and it has ever been deemed that persuasion is better thanforce; and that the supshiae of a kind and gentle manner will sooner lay sopeji a poor man's heart thanall the threatenings and wrce of blustering authority,THE TREES AND THE AXEA Woodman came into a forest to ask the Trees to give him a handle for his Axe, It seemed so modesta request that the principal Trees at once agreed to it, and it was settled among them that the plain homelyAsh should furnish what was wanted. No sooner hadthe Woodman fitted the staff to his purpose, than he32 ^sop's and Other Fablesbeg-an laying about him on all sides, felling the noblestTrees in the wood. The Oak now seeing the wholematter too late, whispered to the Cedar, "The first concession has lost all; if we had not sacrificed ourhumble neighbour, we might have yet stood for ag-es ourselves." When the rich surrender the rights of the poor, theygive a handle to be used against their own privileges.THE HARE AND THE HOUNDA Hound having put up a Hare from a bush, chasedher for some distance, but the Hare had the best of it, and got off. A Goatherd who was coming by jeered at the Hound, saying that Puss was the better runner ofthe two. "You forget," replied the Hound, "that it is one thing to be running for your dinner, and anotherfor your life." THE LION IN LOVEIt happened in days of old that a Lion fell in lovewith a Woodman's daughter; and had the folly toask her of her father in marriage. The Woodman wasnot much pleased with the offer, and declined thehonour of so dangerous an alliance. But upon theLion threatening him with his royal displeasure, thepoor man, seeing that so formidable a creature was notto be denied, hit at length upon this expedient: " I feel greatly flattered," said he, "with your proposal; but,noble sir, what great teeth you have got! and what greatclaws you have got! where is the damsel that wouldnot be frightened at such weapons as these? You musthave your teeth drawn and your claws pared beforeyou can be a suitable bridegroom for my daughter."The Lion straightway submitted (for what will not a body do for love?) and then called upon the father to accept him as a son-in-law. But the Woodman, no longerafraid of the tamed and disarmed bully, seized a stout cudgel and drove the unreasonable suitor from his doorThe Dolphins and the Sprat 33THE DOLPHINS AND THE SPRATThe Dolphins and the Whales were at war with oneanother, and while the battle was at its height, the Sprat stepped in and endeavoured to separate them.But one of the Dolphins cried out, " Let us alone,friend! We had rather perish in the contest, than bereconciled by you."THE WOLVES AND THE SHEEPOnce on a time, the Wolves sent an embassy to the Sheep, desiring that there might be peace betweenthem for the time to come. "Why," said they, "should we be for ever waging this deadly strife? Thosewicked Dogs are the cause of all; they are incessantlybarking at us, and provoking us. Send them away,and there will be no longer any obstacle to our eternal friendship and peace." The silly Sheep listened, the Dogs were dismissed, and the flock, thus deprived oftheir best protectors, became an easy prey to their treacherous enemy.THE BLIND MAN AND THE WHELPA Blind Man was wont, on any animal being putinto his hands, to say what it was. Once they broughtto him a Wolf's whelp. He felt it all over, and beingin doubt, said, " I know not whether thy father was a Dog or a Wolf; but this I know, that I would not trust thee among a flock of sheep."Evil dispositions are early shown.THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERSIn former days, when all a man's limbs did not worktogether as amicably as they do now, but each had awill and way of its own, the Members generally beganto find fault with the Belly for spending an idle luxu-34 ^sop's and Other Fablesrious life, while they were wholly occupied in labouringfor its support, and ministering to its wants and plea-sures; so they entered into a conspiracy to cut off its supplies for the future. The Hands were no longer tocarry food te the Mouth, nor the Mouth to receive thefood, nor the Teeth to chew it. They had not longpersisted in this course of starving the Belly intosubjection, ere they all began, one by one, to failand flag, and the whole body to pine away. Thenthe Members were convinced that the Belly also, cumbersome and useless as it seemed, had an importantfunction of its own; that they could no more do with-out it than it could do without them; and that if theywould have the constitution of the body in a healthystate, they must work together, each in his propersphere, for the common good of all. THE DOVE AND THE CROWA Dove that was kept shut up in a cage was congratulating herself upon the number of her family."Cease, good soul," said a Crow, "to boast on thatsubject; for the more young ones you have, so manymore slaves will you have to groan over." What are blessings in freedom are curses in slavery.HERCULES AND THE WAGGONERAs a Countryman was carelessly driving his waggonalong a miry lane, his wheels stuck so deep in the claythat the horses came to a stand-still. Upon this theman, without making the least effort of his own, beganto call upon Hercules to come and help him out of histrouble. But Hercules bade him lay his shoulder to thewheel, assuring him that Heaven only aided those whoendeavoured to help themselves.It is in vain to expect our prayers to be heard, if we do not strive as well as pray.The Monkey and the Camel 35THE MONKEY AND THE CAMELAt a great meeting- of the Beasts, the Monkey stoodup to dance. Having greatly distinguished himself, andbeing applauded by all present, it moved the spleen of the Camel, who came forward and began to dance also;but he made himself so utterly absurd, that all the Beasts in indignation set upon him with clubs anddrove him out of the ring. Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve will reachTHE FOX WITHOUT A TAILA Fox being caught in a trap, was glad to compoundfor his neck by leaving his tail behind him; but uponcoming abroad into the world, he began to be so sensible of the disgrace such a defect would bring uponhim, that he almost wished he had died rather than come away without it. However, resolving to makethe best of a bad matter, he called a meeting of therest of the Foxes, and proposed that all should followhis example. "You have no notion," said he, "of the ease and comfort with which I now move about: I could never have believed it if I had not tried it myself;but really, when one comes to reason upon it, a tailis such an ugly, inconvenient, unnecessary appendage,that the only wonder is that, as Foxes, we could haveput up with it so long. I propose, therefore, my worthybrethren, that you all profit by the experience that I am most willing to afford you, and that all Foxes fromthis day forward cut off their tails." Upon this one of the oldest stepped forward, and said, ** I rather think,my friend, that you would not have advised us to partwith our tails, if there were any chance of recoveringyour own."36 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE FARTHING RUSHLIGHTA Rushlight that had grown fat and saucy withtoo much grease, boasted one evening before a largecompany, that it shone brighter than the sun, the moon,and all the stars. At that moment, a puff of windcame and blew it out. One who lighted it again said,"Shine on, friend Rushlight, and hold your tongue; thelights of heaven are never blown out."THE HARES AND THE FROGS ' Once upon a time, the Hares, driven desperate bythe many enemies that compassed them about on everyside, came to the sad resolution that there was nothingleft for them but to make away with themselves, oneand all. Off they scudded to a lake hard by, deter-mined to drown themselves as the most miserable ofcreatures. A shoal of Frogs seated upon the bank,frightened at the approach of the Hares, leaped in thegreatest alarm and confusion into the water. "Nay,then, my friends," said a Hare that was foremost, "ourcase is not so desperate yet; for here are other poorcreatures more faint-hearted than ourselves." Take not comfort, but courage, from another's dis-tress; and be sure, whatever your misery, that thereare some whose lot you would not exchange with yourTHE LIONESSThere was a great stir made among all the Beasts,which could boast of the largest family. So theycame to the Lioness. "And how many," said they,"do you have at a birth? " "One," said she, grimly;"but that one is a Lion."Quality comes before quantity.The Swallow and the Raven 39contrary; for when my malady first came on, I couldsee all sorts of furniture and goods in my house; butnow, when he says he has restored my sight, I cannotsee one jot of either." He who plays a trick must be prepared to take ajoke.THE SWALLOW AND THE RAVENThe Swallow and the Raven contended which wasthe finer bird. The Raven ended by saying, "Yourbeauty is but for the summer, but mine will standmany winters."Durability is better than show.THE NURSE AND THE WOLFA Wolf, roving about in search of food, passed bya door where a child was crying and its Nurse chidingit. As he stood listening he heard the Nurse say, "Now leave off crying this instant, or I'll throw youout to the Wolf." So thinking that the old womanwould be as good as her word, he waited quietly aboutthe house, in expectation of a capital supper. But asit grew dark and the child became quiet, he againheard the Nurse, who was now fondling the child, say, "There's a good dear then; if the naughty Wolf comesfor my child, we'll beat him to death, we will." TheWolf, disappointed and mortified, thought it was nowhigh time to be going home, and, hungry as a wolfindeed, muttered as he went along: "This comes of heeding people who say one thing and mean another I " THE DOG AND HIS MASTERA certain Man was setting out on a journey, when,seeing his Dog standing at the door, he cried out to him, "What are you gaping about? Get ready to come with me." The Dog, wagging his tail, said, "I am all right. Master; it is you who have to pack up."40 i^sop's and Other FablesTHE MONKEY AND THE DOLPHINIt was an old custom among sailors to carry aboutwith them little Maltese lap-dogs, or Monkeys, toamuse them on the voyage; so it happened once upona time that a man took with him a Monkey as a companion on board ship. While they were off Sunium,the famous promontory of Attica, the ship was caughtin a violent storm, and being capsized, all on boardwere thrown in the water, and had to swim for land asbest they could. And among them was the Monkey.A Dolphin saw him struggling, and, taking him for aman, went to his assistance and bore him on his backstraight for shore. When they had just got oppositePiraeus, the harbour of Athens, the Dolphin asked theMonkey "If he were an Athenian? " "Yes," answeredthe Monkey, "assuredly, and of one of the first familiesin the place." "Then, of course, you know Piraeus,"said the Dolphin. "Oh, yes," said the Monkey, whothought it was the name of some distinguished citizen,"he is one of my most intimate friends." Indignant atso gross a deceit and falsehood, the Dolphin dived tothe bottom, and left the lying Monkey to his fate. THE WOLF AND THE SHEEPA Wolf that had been bitten by a dog, and wasina very sad case, being unable to move, called to aSheep, that was passing by, and begged her to fetchhim some water from the neighbouring stream. " Forif you," said he, "will bring me drink, I will find meatmyself." "Yes," said the Sheep, "I make no doubt ofit; for, if I come near enough to give you the drink,you will soon make mince-meat of me."THE BUNDLE OF STICKSA Husbandman who had a quarrelsome family, afterhaving tried in vain to reconcile them by words,The Widow and the Sheep 41thought he might more readily prevail by an example.So he called his sons and bade them lay a bundle of sticks before him. Then having tied them into a fa*ggot, he told the lads, one after the other, to takeit up and break it. They all tried, but tried in vain. Then untying the fa*ggot, he gave them the sticks to break one by one. This they did with the greatestease. Then said the father, "Thus you, my sons, as long as you remain united, are a match for all yourenemies; but differ and separate, and you are undone."Union is strength.THE WIDOW AND THE SHEEPThere was a certain Widow who had an only Sheep

and, wishing to make the most of his wool, she shearedhim so closely that she cut his skin as well as hisfleece. The Sheep, smarting under this treatment,cried out—"Why do you torture me thus? Whatwill my blood add to the weight of the wool? If youwant my flesh. Dame, send for the Butcher, who will put me out of my misery at once; but if you want myfleece, send for the Shearer, who will clip my woolwithout drawing my blood."Middle measures are often but middling measures. THE MAN AND THE LIONOnce upon a time a Man and a Lion were journeying together, and came at length to high words which was the braver and stronger creature of the two. Asthe dispute waxed warmer they happened to pass by, on the road-side, a statue of a man strangling a lion. "See there," said the Man; "what more undeniableproof can you have of our superiority than that? " "That," said the Lion, "is your version of the story;let us be the sculptors, and for one lion under the feet of a man, you shall have twenty men under the paw ofa lion." Men are but sorry witnesses in their own cause. E 65742 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE MAN BITTEN BY A DOGA Man who had been bitten by a Dog, was goingabout asking who could cure him. One that met himsaid, " Sir, if you would be cured, take a bit of breadand dip it in the blood of the wound, and give it tothe dog that bit you." The Man smiled, and said, "IfI were to follow your advice, I should be bitten by allthe dogs in the city."He who proclaims himself ready to buy up hisenemies will never want a supply of them.THE HORSE AND THE STAGA Horse had the whole range of a meadow to himself; but a Stag coming and damaging the pasture,the Horse, anxious to have his revenge, asked a Manif he could not assist him in punishing the Stag."Yes," said the Man, "only let me put a bit in yourmouth, and get upon your back, and I will find theweapons." The Horse agreed, and the Man mountedaccordingly; but instead of getting his revenge, theHorse has been from that time forward the slave of Man.Revenge is too dearly purchased at the price ofliberty.THE BIRDCATCHER AND THE LARKA Birdcatcher was setting springes upon a common,when a Lark, who saw him at work, asked him froma distance what he was doing. " I am establishing acolony," said he, "and laying the foundations of myfirst city." Upon that, the man retired to a littledistance and hid himself. The Lark, beheving hisassertion, soon flew down to the place, and swallowing the bait, found himself entangled in the noosewhereupon the Birdcatcher straightway coming up tohim, made him his prisoner. "A pretty fellow areyou! " said the Lark; " if these are the colonies youfound, you will not find many emigrants."The Mischievous Dog 43THE MISCHIEVOUS DOGThere was a Dog so wild and mischievous, that his master was oblig^ed to fasten a heavy clog about his neck, to prevent him biting and worrying his neighbours. The Dog, priding himself upon his badge,paraded in the market-place, shaking his clog to attractattention. But a sly friend whispered to him, "Theless noise you make, the better; your mark of distinc- tion is no reward of merit, but a badge of disgrace! " Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and wouldrather be remarked for their vices or follies than not be noticed at all. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE-TREESome Travellers, on a hot day in summer, oppressedwith the noontide sun, perceiving a Plane-tree nearat hand, made straight for it, and throwing themselves on the ground rested under its shade. Looking; up, as they lay, towards the tree, they said one to another, " What a useless tree to man is this barren Plane 1 " But the Plane-tree answered them," Ungrateful creatures! at the very moment that youare enjoying benefit from me, you rail at me as beinggood for nothing."Ingratitude is as blind as it is base. THE HERDSMAN AND THE LOST BULLA Herdsman, who had lost a Bull, went roamingthrough the forest in search of it. Being unable tofind it, he began to vow to all the Nymphs of theforest and the mountain, to Mercury and to Pan, that he would offer up a lamb to them, if he could only dis- cover the thief. At that moment, gaining a high ridgeof ground, he sees a Lion standing over the carcase ofhis beautiful Bull. And now the unhappy man vows^44 ^sop's and Other Fablesthe Bull into the bargain, if he may only escape fromthe thief's clutches. Were our ill-judged prayers to be always granted,how many would be ruined at their own request

THE VIPER AND THE FILEA Viper entering into a smith's shop began lookingabout for something to eat. At length, seeing a File,he went up to it and commenced biting at it; butthe File bade him leave him alone, saying, "You arelikely to get little from me, whose business it is to biteothers." JUPITER, NEPTUNE, MINERVA, ANDMOMUSJupiter, Neptune, and Minerva (as the story goes)once contended which of them should make the mostperfect thing. Jupiter made a Man; Pallas made aHouse; and Neptune made a Bull; and Momus—for hehad not yet been turned out of Olympus—was chosenjudge to decide which production had the greatestmerit. He began by finding fault with the Bull, becausehis horns were not below his eyes, so that he might seewhen he butted with them. Next he found fault withthe Man, because there was no window in his breastthat all might see his inward thoughts and feelings.And lastly he found fault with the House, because it had no wheels to enable its inhabitants to remove frombad neighbours. But Jupiter forthwith drove the criticout of heaven, telling him that a fault-finder could neverbe pleased, and that it was time to criticise the worksof others when he had done some good thing himself. MERCURY AND THE WOODMANA Woodman was felling a tree on the bank of ariver, and by chance let slip his axe into the water,when it immediately sunk to the bottom. BeingThe Geese and the Cranes 45thereupon in great distress, he sat down by the sideof the stream and lamented his loss bitterly. ButMercury, whose river it was, taking compassion onhim, appeared at the instant before him; and hearingfrom him the cause of his sorrow, dived to the bottomof the river, and bringing up a golden axe, asked the Woodman if that were his. Upon the man's denyingit, Mercury dived a second time, and brought up oneof silver. Again the man denied that it was his. Sodiving a third time, he produced the identical axe whichthe man had lost. "That is mine! " said the Woodman,delighted to have recovered his own; and so pleased was Mercury with the fellow's truth and honesty,that he at once made him a present of the other two. The man goes to his companions, and giving theman account of what had happened to him, one of themdetermined to try whether he might not have the like good fortune. So repairing to the same place, as if for the purpose of cutting wood, he let slip his axe onpurpose into the river, and then sat down on the bank,and made a great show of weeping. Mercury appearedas before, and hearing from him that his tears werecaused by the loss of his axe, dived once more into the stream; and bringing up a golden axe, asked him if that was the axe he had lost. "Aye, surely," said the man, eagerly; and he was about to grasp the treasure,when Mercury, to punish his impudence and lying, notonly refused to give him that, but would not so muchas restore him his own axe again.Honesty is the best policy.THE GEESE AND THE CRANESSome Geese and some Cranes fed together in the same field. One day the sportsmen came suddenlydown upon them. The Cranes being light of body,flew off in a moment and escaped; but the Geese,weighed down by their fat, were all taken. In civil commotions, they fare best who have least to fetter them.46 ^sop's and Other FablesJUPITER AND THE BEEIn days of yore, when the world was young, a Beethat had stored her combs with a bountiful harvest,fiew up to heaven to present as a sacrifice an offering ofhoney. Jupiter was so delighted with the gift, that hepromised to give her whatsoever she should ask for. She therefore besought him, saying, "O glorious Jove,maker and master of me, poor Bee, give thy servant asting, that when any one approaches my hive to takethe honey, I may kill him on the spot." Jupiter, outof love to the man, was angry at her request, and thusanswered her: " Your prayer shall not be granted in the way you wish, but the sting which you ask foryou shall have; and when any one comes to take awayyour honey and you attack him, the wound shall befatal not to him but to you, for your life shall go withyour sting."He that prays harm for his neighbour, begs a curseupon himself. THE GOATHERD AND THE GOATSIt was a stormy day, and the snow was falling fast,when a Goatherd drove his Goats, all white with snow,into a desert cave for shelter. There he found that aherd of Wild-goats, more numerous and larger thanhis own, had already taken possession. So, thinkingto secure them all, he left his own Goats to take careof themselves, and threw the branches which he hadbrought for them to the Wild-goats to browse on. Butwhen the weather cleared up, he found his own Goatshad perished from hunger, while the Wild-goats wereoff and away to the hills and woods. So the Goatherdreturned a laughing-stock to his neighbours, havingfailed to gain the Wild-goats, and having lost his own.They who neglect their old friends for the sake of new, are rightly served if they lose both.The Country Maid and her Milk-can 47^ v^THE COUNTRY MAID AND HER MILK-CANA Country Maid was walking along with a can of Milk upon her head, when she fell into the followingtrain of reflections. "The money for which I shall sell this milk will enable me to increase my stock of eggsto three hundred. These eggs, allowing for what mayprove addle, and what may be destroyed by vermin,will produce at least two hundred and fifty chickens.The chickens will be fit to carry to market just at the time when poultry is always dear; so that by the new-year I cannot fail of having money enough to purchase a new gown. Green—let me consider—yes, green becomes my complexion best, and green it shallbe. In this dress I will go to the fair, where all the young fellows will strive to have me for a partner

but no—I shall refuse every one of them, and with adisdainful toss turn from them." Transported withthis idea, she could not forbear acting with her headthe thought that thus passed in her mind; whendown came the can of milk I and all her imaginaryhappiness vanished in a moment.THE BEEVES AND THE BUTCHERSThe Beeves, once on a time, determined to makean end of the Butchers, whose whole art, they said, was conceived for their destruction. So they assembledtogether, and had already whetted their horns for thecontest, when a very old Ox, who had long worked at the plough, thus addressed them: —" Have a care, myfriends, what you do. These men, at least, kill us withdecency and skill, but if we fall into the hands of botchers instead of butchers, we shall suffer a doubledeath; for be well assured, men will not go withoutbeef, even though they were without butchers."Better to bear the ills we have, than fly to othersthat we know not of.48 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE THIEF AND HIS MOTHERA Schoolboy stole a horn-book from one of hisschoolfellows, and brought it home to his mother.Instead of chastising- him, she rather encouraged himin the deed. In course of time the boy, now growninto a man, began to steal things of greater value,till at length being caught in the very act, he wasbound and led to execution. Perceiving his motherfollowing among the crowd, wailing and beating herbreast, he begged the officers to be allowed to speakone word in her ear. When she quickly drew near andapplied her ear to her son's mouth, he seized the lobeof it tightly between his teeth and bit it off. Upon thisshe cried out lustily, and the crowd joined her in up-braiding the unnatural son, as if his former evil wayshad not been enough, but that his last act must be adeed of impiety against his mother. But he replied: " It is she who is the cause of my ruin; for if when I stole my schoolfellow's horn-book and brought it to her,she had given me a sound flogging, I should never haveso grown in wickedness as to come to this untimely end."Nip evil in the bud. Spare the rod and spoil the child. THE CAT AND THE MICEA Cat, grown feeble with age, and no longer ableto hunt the Mice as she was wont to do, bethoughtherself how she might entice them within reach of herpaw. Thinking that she might pass herself off for abag, or for a dead cat at least, she suspended herselfby the hind legs from a peg, in the hope that the Micewould no longer be afraid to come near her. An old Mouse, who was wise enough to keep his distance,whispered to a friend, " Many a bag have I seen in my day, but never one with a cat's head." "Hangthere, good Madam," said the other, "as long as youplease, but I would not trust myself within reach ofyou though you were stuff'ed with straw."Old birds are not to be caught with chaff.The Marriage of the Sun 49THE MARRIAGE OF THE SUNOnce upon a time, in a very warm summer, it wascurrently reported that the Sun was going to bemarried. All the birds and the beasts were delightedat the thought; and the Frogs, above all others, weredetermined to have a good holiday. But an old Toadput a stop to their festivities by observing that it wasan occasion for sorrow rather than for joy. " For if," said he, "the Sun of himself now parches up the marshes so that we can hardly bear it, what will become of us if he should have half a dozen little Suns in addition? " THE GNAT AND THE BULLA Gnat that had been buzzing about the head of aBull, at length setthng himself down upon his horn,begged his pardon for incommoding him: "but if," says he, "my weight at all inconveniences you, praysay so and I will be off in a moment." "Oh, nevertrouble your head about that," says the Bull, "for 'tis all one to me whether you go or stay; and, to say thetruth, I did not know you were there." The smaller the Mind the greater the Conceit.THE EAGLE AND THE ARROWA Bowman took aim at an Eagle and hit him in theheart. As the Eagle turned his head in the agoniesof death, he saw that the Arrow was winged with his own feathers. "How much sharper," said he, "arethe wounds made by weapons which we ourselves havesupplied! "THE DOG IN THE MANGERA Dog made his bed in a Manger, and lay snarlingand growling to keep the horses from their provender."See," said one of them, "what a miserable cur! whoneither can eat corn himself, nor will allow those to eat it who can."50 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE MICE IN COUNCILOnce upon a time the Mice being sadly distressed bythe persecution of the Cat, resolved to call a meeting, to decide upon the best means of getting rid ofthis continual annoyance. Many plans were discussedand rejected; at last a young Mouse got up and profX)sed that a Bell should be hung round the Cat's neck,that they might for the future always have notice of hercoming, and so be able to escape. This propositionwas hailed with the greatest applause, and was agreedto at once unanimously. Upon which an old Mouse,who had sat silent all the while, got up and said that heconsidered the contrivance most ingenious, and that it would, no doubt, be quite successful; but he had onlyone short question to put, namely, which of them it was who would Bell the Cat?It is one thing to propose, another to execute. THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOXA Lion and a Bear found the carcase of a Fawn, andhad a long fight for it. The contest was so hard andeven, that, at last, both of them, half-blinded and half-dead, lay panting on the ground, without strength totouch the prize that was stretched between them. AFox coming by at the time, and seeing their helplesscondition, stepped in between the combatants andcarried off the booty. "Poor creatures that we are,"cried they, "who have been exhausting all our strengthand injuring one another, merely to give a rogue adinner! " THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOGA Fox, while crossing over a river, was driven bythe stream into a narrow gorge, and lay there for along time unable to get out, covered with myriadsof horse-flies that had fastened themselves upon him.A Hedgehog, who was wandering in that direction, sawThe Goose with the Golden Eggs 51him, and, taking compassion on him, asked him if heshould drive away the flies that were so tormentinghim. But the Fox begged him to do nothing of thesort. "Why not? " asked the Hedgehog. "Because,"replied the Fox, "these flies that are upon me now, are already full, and draw but little blood, but should youremove them, a swarm of fresh and hungry ones will come, who will not leave a drop of blood in my body."When .we throw off rulers or dependants, who havealready made the most of us, we do but, for the mostpart, lay ourselves open to others who will make usbleed yet more freely.THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGSA certain man had the good fortune to possess a Goose that laid him a Golden Egg every day. Butdissatisfied with so slow an income, and thinking toseize the whole treasure at once, he killed the Goose

and cutting her open, found her—just what any other goose would be! Much wants more and loses all. THE LION AND THE DOLPHINA Lion was roaming on the sea-shore, when, seeinga Dolphin basking on the surface of the water, heinvited him to form an alliance with him, "for," saidhe, "as I am the king of the beasts, and you are the king of the fishes, we ought to be the greatest friends and allies possible." The Dolphin gladly assented; andthe Lion, not long after, having a fight with a wild bull, called upon the Dolphin for his promised support. Butwhen he, though ready to assist him, found himselfunable to come out of the sea for the purpose, the Lionaccused him of having betrayed him. " Do not blameme," said the Dolphin in reply, "but blame my nature,which however powerful at sea, is altogether helpless on land."In choosing allies we must look to their power aswell as their will to aid us.52 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONERA Trumpeter being taken prisoner in a battle, beggedhard for quarter. " Spare me, good sirs, I beseechyou," said he, "and put me not to death without cause,for I have killed no one myself, nor have I any armsbut this trumpet only." "For that very reason," saidthey who had seized him, " shall you the sooner die, forwithout the spirit to fight, yourself, you stir up othersto warfare and bloodshed."He who incites to strife is worse than he who takespart in it.THE MOUNTEBANK AND THECOUNTRYMANA certain wealthy patrician, intending to treat theRoman people with some theatrical entertainment, publicly offered a reward to any one who would producea novel spectacle. Incited by emulation, artists arrivedfrom all parts to contest the prize, among whom a well-known witty Mountebank gave out that he had a newkind of entertainment that had never yet been producedon any stage. This report being spread abroad, broughtthe whole city together. The theatre could hardly contain the number of spectators. And when the artistappeared alone upon the stage, without any apparatus,or any assistants, curiosity and suspense kept the spectators in profound silence. On a sudden he thrust downhis head into his bosom, and mimicked the squeakingof a young pig, so naturally, that the audience insistedupon it that he had one under his cloak, and orderedhim to be searched; which being done, and nothingappearing, they loaded him with the most extravagantapplause.A Countryman among the audience observing whatpassed—" Oh! " says he, " I can do better than this; "and immediately gave out that he would perform thenext day. Accordingly, on the morrow, a yet greaterThe Hunter and the Fisherman 53crowd was collected. Prepossessed, however, in favourof the Mountebank, they came rather to laugh at the Countryman than to pass a fair judgment on him.They both came out upon the stage. The Mountebankgrunts away first, and calls forth the greatest clappingand applause. Then the Countryman, pretending that he concealed a little pig under his garments (and hehad, in fact, really got one), pinched its ear till he madeit squeak. The people cried out that the Mountebankhad imitated the pig much more naturally, and hootedto the Countryman to quit the stage; but he, to convict them to their face, produced the real pig from his bosom, "And now, gentlemen, you may see," said he, " what a pretty sort of judges you are! "It is easier to convince a man against his senses thanagainst his will. THE HUNTER AND THE FISHERMANA Hunter was returning from the mountains loadedwith game, and a Fisherman was at the same timecoming home with his creel full of fish, when theychanced to meet by the way. The Hunter took a fancy to a dish of fish: the Fisher preferred a supperof game. So each gave to the other the contents of his own basket. And thus they continued daily to exchange provisions, till one who had observed themsaid: "Now, by this invariable interchange, will theydestroy the zest of their meal; and each will soon wishto return to his own store again."THE DOG INVITED TO SUPPERA Gentleman, having prepared a great feast, invited a Friend to supper; and the Gentleman's Dog, meetingthe Friend's Dog, "Come," said he, "my good fellow,and sup with us to-night." The Dog was delightedwith the invitation, and as he stood by and saw the preparations for the feast, said to himself, "Capital54 ^sop's and Other Fablesfare indeed! this is, in truth, good luck. I shall revelin dainties, and I will take good care to lay in anample stock to-night, for I may have nothing to eatto-morrow." As he said this to himself, he waggedhis tail, and gave a sly look at his friend who hadinvited him. But his tail wagging to and fro caughtthe cook's eye, who seeing a stranger, straightwayseized him by the legs, and threw him out of thewindow. When he reached the ground, he set offyelping down the street; upon which the neighbours'Dogs ran up to him, and asked him how he liked hissupper. "I'faith," said he, with a sorry smile, "Ihardly know, for we drank so deep that I can't eventell you which way I got out of the house."They who enter by the back-stairs may expect tobe shown out at the window.THE FROGS ASKING FOR A KINGIn the days of old, when the Frogs were all at libertyin the lakes, and had grown quite weary of followingevery one his own devices, they assembled one daytogether, and with no little clamour petitioned Jupiterto let them have a King to keep them in better order,and make them lead honester lives. Jupiter, knowingthe vanity of their hearts, smiled at their request, andthrew down a Log into the lake, which by the splashand commotion it made, sent the whole commonwealthinto the greatest terror and amazement. They rushedunder the water and into the mud, and dared not comewithin ten leaps' length of the spot where it lay. Atlength one Frog bolder than the rest ventured to pophis head above the water, and take a survey of theirnew King at a respectful distance. Presently, whenthey perceived the Log lie stock-still, others began toswim up to it and around it; till by degrees, growingbolder and bolder, they at last leaped upon it, andtreated it with the greatest contempt. Dissatisfied withso tame a ruler, they forthwith petitioned Jupiter aThe Fir-tree and the Bramble 55second time for another and more active King. Uponwhich he sent them a Stork, who no sooner arrivedamong them than he began laying hold of them anddevouring them one by one as fast as he could, andit was in vain that they endeavoured to escape him.Then they sent Mercury with a private message to Jupiter, beseeching him that he would take pity on them once more; but Jupiter replied, that they wereonly suffering the punishment due to their folly, andthat another time they would learn to let well alone,and not be dissatisfied with their natural condition. THE FIR-TREE AND THE BRAMBLEA Fir-tree was one day boasting itself to a Bramble." You are of no use at all; but how could barns andhouses be built without me?" "Good sir," said the Bramble, " when the woodmen come here with their axes and saws, what would you give to be a Brambleand not a Fir? " A humble lot in security is better than the dangersthat encompass the high and haughty.THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONESThere was a brood of Young Larks in a field of corn, which was just ripe, and the mother, lookingevery day for the reapers, left word, whenever she wentout in search of food, that her young ones should reportto her all the news they heard. One day, while she wasabsent, the master came to look at the state of the crop. "It is full time," said he, "to call in all my neighboursand get my corn reaped." When the old Lark camehome, the young ones told their mother what theyhad heard, and begged her to remove them forthwith. "Time enough," said she; "if he trusts to his neighbours, he will have to wait awhile yet for his harvest." Next day, however, the owner came again, and finding the sun still hotter and the corn more ripe, and nothingdone, "There is not a moment to be lost," said he; "we56 ^sop's and Other Fablescannot depend upon our neighbours: we must call inour relations; " and, turning to his son, "Go call youruncles and cousins, and see that they begin to-morrow."In still greater fear, the young ones repeated to theirmother the farmer's words. " If that be all," says she," do not be frightened, for the relations have got harvestwork of their own; but take particular notice what youhear the next time, and be sure you let me know." Shewent abroad the next day, and the owner coming asbefore, and finding the grain falling to the ground fromover-ripeness, and still no one at work, called to hisson. " We must wait for our neighbours and friends nolonger; do you go and hire some reapers to-night, andwe will set to work ourselves to-morrow." When theyoung ones told their mother this—"Then," said she,"it is time to be off, indeed; for when a man takes uphis business himself, instead of leaving it to others, youmay be sure that he means to set to work in earnest."THE FISHERMANA Fisherman went to a river to fish; and when hehad laid his nets across the stream, he tied a stoneto a long cord, and beat the water on either side ofthe net, to drive the fish into the meshes. One of theneighbours that lived thereabout seeing him thus employed, went up to him and blamed him exceedinglyfor disturbing the water, and making it so muddy as tobe unfit to drink. "I am sorry," said the Fisherman,"that this does not please you, but it is by thustroubling the waters that I gain my living."THE THIEF AND THE DOGA Thief coming to rob a house would have stoppedthe barking of a Dog by throwing sops to him. " Awaywith you! " said the Dog; " I had my suspicions ofyou before, but this excess of civility assures me thatyou are a rogue."A bribe in hand betrays mischief at heart.The Ass and his Masters 57THE ASS AND HIS MASTERSAn Ass, that belonged to a Gardener, and had Httle to eat and much to do, besought Jupiter to release him from the Gardener's service, and give him anothermaster. Jupiter, angry at his discontent, made himover to a Potter. He had now heavier burdens to carry than before, and again appealed to Jupiter torelieve him, who accordingly contrived that he shouldbe sold to a Tanner. The Ass having now fallen into worse hands than ever, and daily observing how his master was employed, exclaimed with a groan, "Alas,wretch that I am! it had been better for me to haveremained content with my former masters, for now I see that my present owner not only; works me harderwhile living, but will not even spare my hide when I am dead! " He that is discontented in one place will seldom behappy in another. THE OLD MAN AND DEATHAn Old Man that had travelled a long way with a huge bundle of sticks, found himself so weary that he cast it down, and called upon Death to deliver himfrom his most miserable existence. Death camestraightway at his call, and asked him what he wanted."Pray, good sir," says he, "do me but the favour to help me up with my burden again."It is one thing to call for Death, and another to see him coming.THE DOCTOR AND HIS PATIENTA Doctor had been for some time attending upon asick man, who, however, died under his hands. Atthe funeral the Doctor went about among the relations,saying, "Our poor friend, if he had only refrained from wine, and attended to his inside, and used properF 65758 ^sop's and Other Fablesmeans, would not have been lying there." One of themourners answered him, " My good sir, it is of no useyour saying this now; you ought to have prescribedthese things when your Patient was alive to take them."The best advice may come too late.THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BATOnce upon a time there was a fierce war wagedbetween the Birds and the Beasts. For a long whilethe issue of the battle was uncertain, and the Bat, takingadvantage of his ambiguous nature, kept aloof andremained neutral. At length when the Beasts seemedto prevail, the Bat joined their forces and appearedactive in the fight; but a rally being made by theBirds, which proved successful, he was found at theend of the day among the ranks of the winning party.A peace being speedily concluded, the Bat's conductwas condemned alike by both parties, and being acknowledged by neither, and so excluded from the terms ofthe truce, he was obliged to skulk off as best he could,and has ever since lived in holes and corners, neverdaring to show his face except in the duskiness oftwilight.THE TWO POTSTwo Pots, one of earthenware, the other of brass,were carried down a river in a flood. The BrazenPot begged his companion to keep by his side, and hewould protect him. "Thank you for your offer," saidthe Earthen Pot, "but that is just what I am afraid of;if you will only keep at a distance, I may float downin safety; but should we come in contact, I am sureto be the sufferer." Avoid too powerful neighbours; for, should there bea collision, the weakest goes to the wall.The Lion and the Goat 59THE LION AND THE GOATOn a summer's day, when everything was sufferingfrom extreme heat, a Lion and a Goat came at the same time to quench their thirst at a small fountain. They at once fell to quarrejling which should first drinkof the water, till at length it seemed that each wasdetermined to resist the other even to death. But,ceasing from the strife for a moment, to recover breath,they saw a flock of vultures hovering over them, onlywaiting to pounce upon whichever of them should fall. Whereupon they instantly made up their quarrel, agreeing that it was far better for them both to becomefriends, than to furnish food for the crows and vultures. THE ARAB AND THE CAMELAn Arab having loaded his Camel, asked him whetherhe preferred to go up hill or down hill. " Pray,Master," said the Camel dryly, "is the straight wayacross the plain shut up?"THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERDA Wolf had long hung about a flock of sheep, andhad done them no harm. The Shepherd, however,had his suspicions, and for a while was always on the look-out against him as an avowed enemy. But whenthe Wolf continued for a long time following in thetrain of his flock without the least attempt to annoythem, he began to look upon him more as a friend thana foe; and having one day occasion to go into the city,he intrusted the sheep to his care. The Wolf no sooner saw his opportunity than he forthwith fell upon the sheep and worried them; and the Shepherd, on his return, seeing his flock destroyed, exclaimed, " Foolthat I am! yet I deserved no less for trusting my Sheepwith a Wolf! " There is more danger from a pretended friend thanfrom an open enemy.6o ^sop's and Other FablesTHE TRAVELLERS AND THE HATCHETTwo men were travelling along the same road, whenone of them picking up a hatchet cries, " See what I have found! " "Do not say 7," says the other, "bulWE have found." After a while, up came the men whohad lost the hatchet, and charged the man who had it with the theft. "Alas," says he to his companion, "weare undone!" "Do not say we," replies the other,"but / am undone; for he that will not allow his friendto share the prize, must not expect him to share thedanger."THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LIONAn Ass and a Fox having made a compact alliance,went out into the fields to hunt. They met a Lion onthe way. The Fox seeing the impending danger, madeup to the Lion, and whispered that he would betraythe Ass into his power, if he would promise to bearhim harmless. The Lion having agreed to do so, theFox contrived to lead the Ass into a snare. TheLion no sooner saw the Ass secured, than he fell atonce upon the Fox, reserving the other for his nextmeal. THE BEES, THE DRONES, AND THE WASPSome Bees had built their comb in the hollow trunkof an oak. The Drones asserted that it was theirdoing, and belonged to them. The cause was broughtinto court before Judge Wasp. Knowing somethingof the parties, he thus addressed them: —"The plaintiffs and defendants are so much alike in shape andcolour as to render the ownership a doubtful matter,and the case has very properly been brought beforeme. The ends of justice, and the object of the court,will best be furthered by the plan which I propose.Let each party take a hive to itself, and build up aThe Lion and Ass Hunting 6inew comb, that from the shape of the cells and thetaste of the honey, the lawful proprietors of the propertyin dispute may appear." The Bees readily assented to the Wasp's plan. The Drones declined it. Whereupon the Wasp gave judgment: —" It is clear now whomade the comb, and who cannot make it; the Courtadjudges the honey to the Bees."THE LION AND ASS HUNTINGA Lion and an Ass made an agreement to go out hunting together. By-and-bye they came to a cave, where many wild goats abode. The Lion took up his station at the mouth of the cave, and the Ass, goingwithin, kicked and brayed and made a mighty fuss to frighten them out. When the Lion had caught verymany of them, the Ass came out and asked him if hehad not made a noble fight, and routed the goatsproperly. "Yes, indeed," said the Lion; "and I assure you, you would have frightened me too, if I had not known you to be an Ass."When braggarts are admitted into the company oftheir betters, it is only to be made use of and belaughed at.THE ASS AND HIS DRIVERAn Ass that was being driven along the road by his Master, started on ahead, and, leaving the beaten track,made as fast as he could for the edge of a precipice.When he was just on the point of falling over, his Master ran up, and, seizing him by the tail, endeavouredto pull him back; but the Ass resisting and pullingthe contrary way, the man let go his hold, saying,"Well, Jack, if you will be master, I cannot help it. A wilful beast must go his own way."62 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE MICE AND THE WEASELSThe Mice and the Weasels had long been at warwith each other, and the Mice being always worstedin battle, at length agreed at a meeting, solemnlycalled for the occasion, that their defeat was attributableto nothing but their want of discipline, and they deter-mined accordingly to elect regular Commanders for thetime to come. So they chose those whose valour andprowess most recommended them to the importantpost. The new Commanders, proud of their position,and desirous of being as conspicuous as possible, boundhorns upon their foreheads as a sort of crest and markof distinction. Not long after a battle ensued. TheMice, as before, were soon put to flight; the commonherd escaped into their holes; but the Commanders, notbeing able to get in from the length of their horns, wereevery one caught and devoured.There is no distinction without its accompanyingdanger.THE HART AND THE VINEA Hart pursued by hunters concealed himself amongthe branches of a Vine. The hunters passed by withoutdiscovering him, and when he thought that all wassafe, he began browsing upon the leaves that had concealed him. But one of the hunters, attracted by therustling, turned round, and guessing that their preywas there, shot into the bush and killed him. As hewas dying, he groaned out these words: " I suffer justlyfor my ingratitude, who could not forbear injuring theVine that had protected me in time of danger."THE HEDGE AND THE VINEYARDA foolish young Heir who had just come into possession of his wise father's estate, caused all the Hedgesabout his Vineyard to be grubbed up, because they boreThe Fox and the Mask 63no grapes. The throwing down of the fences laid his grounds open to man and beast, and all his vines werepresently destroyed. So the simple fellow learnt, whenit was too late, that he ought not to expect to gathergrapes from brambles, and that it was quite as importantto protect his Vineyard as to possess it. THE FOX AND THE MASKA FoK had stolen into the house of an actor, and in rummaging among his various properties, laid hold of ahighly-finished Mask. "A fine-looking head, indeed!"cried he; " what a pity it is that it wants brains! " A fair outside is but a poor substitute for inwardworth.THE FATHER AND HIS TWO DAUGHTERSA Man who had two daughters married one to a Gardener, the other to a Potter. After awhile hepaid a visit to the Gardener's, and asked his daughterhow she was, and how it fared with her. " Excellentlywell," said she; "we have everything that we want;I have but one prayer, that we may have a heavy stormof rain to water our plants." Off he set to the Potter's,and asked his other daughter how matters went withher. "There is not a thing we want," she replied;"and I only hope this fine weather and hot sun maycontinue, to bake our tiles." "Alack," said the Father,"if you wish for fine weather, and your sister for rain,which am I to pray for myself? " THE HORSE AND THE LOADED ASSA Man who kept a Horse and an Ass was wont in his journeys to spare the Horse, and put all the burdenupon the Ass's back. The Ass, who had been somewhile ailing, besought the Horse one day to relieve him of part of his load; "For if," said he, "you would64 yEsop's and Other Fablestake a fair portion, I shall soon get well again; but if you refuse to help me, this weight will kill me." TheHorse, however, bade the Ass get on, and not trouble him with his complaints. The Ass jogged on in silence,but presently, overcome with the weight of his burden,dropped down dead, as he had foretold. Upon this, the master coming up, unloosed the load from the dead Ass,and putting it upon the Horse's back, made him carrythe Ass's carcase in addition. "Alas, for my ill nature! " said the Horse; *' by refusing to bear myjust portion of the load, I have now to carry the wholeof it, with a dead weight into the bargain."A disobliging temper carries its own punishmentalong with it. /THE SICK LIONA Lion, no longer able, from the weakness of oldage, to hunt for his prey, laid himself up in his den,and, breathing with great difficulty, and speaking witha low voice, gave out that he was very ill indeed. Thereport soon spread among the beasts, and there wasgreat lamentation for the sick Lion. One after theother came to see him; but, catching him thus alone,and in his own den, the Lion made an easy prey ofthem, and grew fat upon his diet. The Fox, suspectingthe truth of the matter, came at length to make hisvisit of inquiry, and standing at some distance, asked hisMajesty how he did? "Ah, my dearest friend," saidthe Lion, "is it you? Why do you stand so far fromme? Come, sweet friend, and pour a word of consolation in the poor Lion's ear, who has but a short time tolive." "Bless you! " said the Fox, "but excuse meifI cannot stay; for, to tell the truth, I feel quite uneasyat the mark of the footsteps that I see here, all pointingtowards your den, and none returning outwards."Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before weventure in.The Farmer and the Cranes 65THE FARMER AND THE CRANESSome Cranes settled down in a Farmer's field that was newly sown. For some time tfie Farmer frightenedthem away by brandishing an empty sling at them.But when the Cranes found that he was only slingingto the winds, they no longer minded him, nor flew away. Upon this the Farmer slung at them withstones, and killed a great part of them. "Let us beoff," said the rest, "to the land of the Pygmies, for this man means to threaten us no longer, but is determinedto get rid of us in earnest." THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAWAn Eagle made a swoop from a high rock, andcarried off a lamb. A Jackdaw, who saw the exploit,thinking that he could do the like, bore down with all the force he could muster upon a ram, intending to bearhim off as a prize. But his claws becoming entangledin the wool, he made such a fluttering in his efforts to escape, that the shepherd, seeing through the wholematter, came up and caught him, and having clippedhis wings, carried him home to his children at nightfall."What bird is this, father, that you have brought us? " exclaimed the children. "Why," said he, "if you askhimself, he will tell you that he is an Eagle; but if youwill take my word for it, I know him to be but a Jackdaw."THE THIRSTY PIGEONA Pigeon severely pressed by thirst, seeing a glassof water painted upon a sign, supposed it to be real; so dashing down at it with all her might, she struckagainst the board, and, breaking her wing, fell helplessto the ground, where she was quickly captured by oneof the passers-by.Great haste is not always good speed.66 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE HEIFER AND THE OXA Heifer that ran wild in the fields, and had neverfelt the yoke, upbraided an Ox at plough for submittingto such labour and drudgery. The Ox said nothing,but went on with his work. Not long after, there wasa great festival. The Ox got his holiday: but theHeifer was led oflf to be sacrificed at the altar. " If this be the end of your idleness," said the Ox, " I thinkthat my work is better than your play. I had rathermy neck felt the yoke than the axe."THE BALD KNIGHTA certain Knight growing old, his hair fell off, andhe became bald; to hide which imperfection, he worea periwig. But as he was riding out with some othersa-hunting, a sudden gust of wind blew off the periwig,and exposed his bald pate. The company could notforbear laughing at the accident; and he himselflaughed as loud as anybody, saying, " How was it tobe expected that I should keep strange hair upon myhead, when my own would not stay there? " THE FOX AND THE STORKA Fox one day invited a Stork to dinner, and beingdisposed to divert himself at the expense of his guest,provided nothing for the entertainment but some thin soup in a shallow dish. This the Fox lapped up veryreadily, while the Stork, unable to gain a mouthful withher long narrow bill, was as hungry at the end of dinneras when she began. The Fox meanwhile professed his regret at seeing her eat so sparingly, and feared thatthe dish was not seasoned to her mind. The Stork saidlittle, but begged that the Fox would do her the honourof returning her visit; and accordingly he agreed to dine with her on the following day. He arrived trueto his appointment, and the dinner was ordered forth-with; but when it was served up, he found to hisThe Falconer and the Partridge 67dismay that it was contained in a narrow-necked vessel,down which the Stork readily thrust her long neck andbill, while he was obliged to content himself with licking the neck of the jar. Unable to satisfy his hunger, heretired with as good a grace as he could, observing that he could hardly find fault with his entertainer, who hadonly paid him back in his own coin. THE FALCONER AND THE PARTRIDGEA Falconer having taken a Partridge in his net, thebird cried out sorrowfully, " Let me go, good MasterFalconer, and I promise you I will decoy other Partridges into your net." "No," said the man, "whateverI might have done, I am determined now not to spareyou; for there is no death too bad for him who is readyto betray his friends." THE BULL AND THE GOATA Bull being pursued by a Lion, fled into a cave where a wild Goat had taken up his abode. TheGoat upon this began molesting him and butting at him with his horns. "Don't suppose," said the Bull, "if I suffer this now, that it is you I am afraid of. Let the Lion be once out of sight, and I will soon showyou the difference between a Bull and a Goat."Mean people take advantage of their neighbours'difficulties to annoy them; but the time will come whenthey will repent them of their insolence. THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SEAA Husbandman seeing a ship full of sailors tossed about up and down upon the billows, cried out, " O Sea! deceitful and pitiless element, that destroyest all whoventure upon thee! " The Sea heard him, and assuming a woman's voice replied, "Do not reproach me; 1 am not the cause of this disturbance, but the "Winds,68 ^sop's and Other Fablesthat when they fall upon me will give no repose. Butshould you sail over me when they are away, you will say that I am milder and more tractable than yourown mother earth." THE JACKASS IN OFFICEAn Ass carrying an Image in a religious procession,was driven through a town, and all the people whopassed by made a low reverence. Upon this the Ass,supposing that they intended this worship for himself,was mightily puffed up, and would not budge anotherstep. But the driver soon laid the stick across hisback, saying at the same time, " You silly dolt! it is not you that they reverence, but the Image which youcarry."Fools take to themselves the respect that is given totheir office. THE PORKER AND THE SHEEPA young Porker took up his quarters in a fold ofSheep. One day the shepherd laid hold on him, whenhe squeaked and struggled with all his might and main.The Sheep reproached him for crying out, and said,"The master often lays hold of us, and we do not cry.""Yes," replied he, "but our case is not the same; forhe catches you for the sake of your wool, but me formy fry."THE HOUND AND THE HAREA Hound after long chasing a Hare at length came upto her, and kept first biting and then licking her. TheHare, not knowing what to make of him, said: "Ifyou are a friend, why do you bite me?^—but if a foe,why caress me? " A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemylet a man be one thing or the other, and we then knowhow to meet him.The Boy and the Filberts 69THE BOY AND THE FILBERTSA certain Boy put his hand into a pitcher wheregreat plenty of Figs and Filberts were deposited; hegrasped as many as his fist could possibly hold, butwhen he endeavoured to pull it out, the narrownessof the neck prevented him. Unwilling to lose any of them, but unable to draw out his hand, he burst intotears, and bitterly bemoaned his hard fortune. Anhonest fellow who stood by, gave him this wise andreasonable advice: —"Grasp only half the quantity, myboy, and you will easily succeed."THE KID AND THE WOLFA Kid that had strayed from the herd was pursuedby a Wolf. When she saw all other hope of escapecut off, she turned round to the Wolf, and said, " I mustallow indeed that I am your victim, but as my life is now but short, let it be a merry one. Do you pipe for awhile, and I will dance." While the Wolf was pipingand the Kid was dancing, the Dogs hearing the musicran up to see what was going on, and the Wolf wasglad to take himself off as fast as his legs would carry him.He who steps out of his way to play the fool, mustnot wonder if he misses the prize.THE QUACK FROGA Frog emerging from the mud of a swamp, pro- claimed to all the world that he was come to cure all diseases. "Here! " he cried, "come and see a doctor,the proprietor of medicines such as man never heardof before; no, not i^sculapius himself, Jove's court- physician! " "And how," said the Fox, "dare you set up to heal others, who are not able to cure your ownlimping gait, and blotched and wrinkled skin?"Test a man's professions by his practice. Physician,heal thyself

70 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE ANT AND THE DOVEAn Ant went to a fountain to quench his thirst, andtumbling in, was almost drowned. But a Dove thathappened to be sitting on a neighbouring tree saw theAnt's danger, and plucking off a leaf, let it drop intothe water before' him, and the Ant mounting upon it, was presently wafted safe ashore. Just at that time, aFowler was spreading his net, and was in the act ofensnaring the Dove, when the Ant, perceiving his object,bit his heel. The start which the man gave made himdrop his net, and the Dove, aroused to a sense of herdanger, flew safe away.One good turn deserves another.THE ASS IN THE LION'S SKINAn Ass having put on a Lion's skin, roamed about,frightening all the silly animals he met with, and,seeing a Fox, he tried to alarm him also. But Reynard,having heard his voice, said, " Well, to be sure! andI should have been frightened too, if I had not heardyou bray."They who assume a character that does not belongto them generally betray themselves by overacting it. THE GOAT AND THE GOATHERDA Goat had strayed from the herd, and the Goatherd was trying all he could to bring him back tohis companions. When by calling and whistling hecould make no impression on him, at last, taking upa stone, he struck the Goat on the horn and broke it. Alarmed at what he had done, he besought the Goatnot to tell his master; but he replied, " O most foolishof Goatherds! my horn will tell the story, though I should not utter a word."Facts speak plainer than words.The Boy Bathing 71THE BOY BATHINGA Boy was bathing in a river, and, getting out ofhis depth, was on the point of sinking, when he sawa wayfarer coming by, to whom he called out for helpwith all his might and main. The Man began to readthe Boy a lecture for his foolhardiness; but the urchincried out, "O, save me now, sir! and read me thelecture afterwards."THE FARMER AND THE DOGSA Farmer, during a severe winter, being shut up bythe snow in his farm-house, and sharply pressed for food, which he was unable to get about to procure, began consuming his own sheep. As the hard weathercontinued, he next ate up his goats. And at last—for there was no break in the weather—he betook himselfto the plough-oxen. Upon this, the Dogs said to oneanother, " Let us be off; for since the master, as wesee, has had no pity on the working oxen, how is it likely he will spare us?"When our neighbour's house is on fire, it is time to look to our own.THE MOUSE AND THE WEASELA little starveling Mouse had made his way with somedifficulty into a basket of corn, where, finding the enter- tainment so good, he stuffed and crammed himself to such an extent, that when he would have got out again,he found the hole was too small to allow his puffed-upbody to pass. As he sat at the hole groaning over hisfate, a Weasel, who was brought to the spot by hiscries, thus addressed him: —" Stop there, my friend,and fast till you are thin; for you will never comeout till you reduce yourself to the same condition as when you entered."72 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE FARMER AND THE LIONA Lion entered one day into a farm-yard, and theFarmer, wishing to catch him, shut the gate. Whenthe Lion found that he could not get out, he beganat once to attack the sheep, and then betook himself to the oxen. So the Farmer, afraid for himself,now opened the gate, and the Lion made off as fastas he could. His wife, who had observed it all, whenshe saw her husband in great trouble at the loss ofhis cattle, cried out—" You are rightly served; forwhat could have made you so mad as to wish to detaina creature, whom, if you saw at a distance, you wouldwish further off." Better scare a thief than snare him.THE CHARGER AND THE ASSA Charger adorned with his fine trappings camethundering along the road, exciting the envy of a poorAss who was trudging along the same way with aheavy load upon his back. *' Get out of my road! "said the proud Horse, " or I shall trample you undermy feet." The Ass said nothing, but quietly movedon one side to let the Horse pass. Not long after-wards the Charger was engaged in the wars, and beingbadly wounded in battle was rendered unfit for militaryservice, and sent to work upon a farm. When the Asssaw him dragging with great labour a heavy waggon,he understood how little reason he had had to envyone who, by his overbearing spirit in the time of hisprosperity, had lost those friends who might havesuccoured him in time of need. THE BRAZIER AND HIS DOGThere was a certain Brazier who had a little Dog.While he hammered away at his metal, the Dog slept;but whenever he sat down to his dinner the Dog wokeup. " Sluggard cur! " said the Brazier, throwing himVenus and the Cat 73a bone; "you sleep through the noise of the anvil, butwake up at the first clatter of my teeth." Men are awake enough to their own interests, whoturn a deaf ear to their friend's distress. VENUS AND THE CATA Cat having fallen in love with a young man,besought Venus to change her into a girl, in the hope of gaining his affections. The Goddess, takingcompassion on her weakness, metamorphosed her into a fair damsel; and the young man, enamoured of herbeauty, led her home as his bride. As they weresitting in their chamber, Venus, wishing to knowwhether in changing her form she had also changedher nature, set down a Mouse before her. The Girl,forgetful of her new condition, started from her seat,and pounced upon the Mouse as if she would have eatenit on the spot; whereupon the Goddess, provoked at her frivolity, straightway turned her into a Cat again.What is bred in the bone, will never out of theflesh. THE WOLF AND THE LIONOne day a Wolf had seized a sheep from a fold, and was carrying it home to his own den, when he meta Lion, who straightway laid hold of the sheep andbore it away. The Wolf, standing at a distance, criedout, that it was a great shame, and that the Lion hadrobbed him of his own. The Lion laughed, and said, " I suppose, then, that it was your good friend the shepherd who gave it to you."THE GREAT AND THE LITTLE FISHESA Fisherman was drawing up a net which he hadcast into the sea, full of all sorts of fish. The Little Fish escaped through the meshes of the net, and gotback into the deep, but the Great Fish were all caughtand hauled into the ship.Our insignificance is often the cause of our safety.G 65774 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE BOYS AND THE FROGSA troop of Boys were playing at the edge of a pond,when, perceiving a number of Frogs in the water, theybegan to pelt at them with stones. They had alreadykilled many of the poor creatures, when one more hardythan the rest putting his head above the water, criedout to them: " Stop your cruel sport, my lads; consider,what is Play to you is Death to us."THE WOLF AND THE GOATA Wolf seeing a Goat feeding on the brow of a highprecipice where he could not come at her, besoughther to come down lower, for fear she should miss herfooting at that dizzy height; "and moreover," said he,"the grass is far sweeter and more abundant herebelow." But the Goat replied: "Excuse me; it is notfor my dinner that you invite me, but for your own."THE ASS, THE co*ck, AND THE LIONAn Ass and a co*ck lived in a farm-yard together.One day a hungry Lion passing by and seeing theAss in good condition, resolved to make a meal ofhim. Now, they say that there is nothing a Lionhates so much as the crowing of a co*ck; and at thatmoment the co*ck happening to crow, the Lionstraightway made off with all haste from the spot.The^Ass, mightily amused to think that a Lionshould be frightened at a bird, plucked up courageand galloped after him, delighted with the notion ofdriving the king of beasts before him. He had, however, gone no great distance, when the Lion turnedsharply round upon him, and made an end of him in atrice. ... . . Presumption begins in ignorance and ends m rum.The Rivers and the Sea 75THE RIVERS AND THE SEAOnce upon a time the Rivers combined against the Sea, and, going in a body, accused her, saying: " Whyis it that when we Rivers pour our waters into you sofresh and sweet, you straightway render them salt andunpalatable? " The Sea, observing the temper in whichthey came, merely answered: "If you do not wish to become salt, please to keep away from me altogether."Those who are most benefited are often the first to complain.THE ASS CARRYING SALTA certain Huckster who kept an Ass, hearing thatSalt was to be had cheap at the sea-side, drove downhis Ass thither to buy some. Having loaded the beastas much as he could bear, he was driving him home,when, as they were passing a slippery ledge of rock,the Ass fell into the stream below, and the Salt beingmelted, the Ass was relieved of his burden, and havinggained the bank with ease, pursued his journey onward,light in body and in spirit. The Huckster soon after- wards set off for the sea-shore for some more Salt, andloaded the Ass, if possible, yet more heavily than before. On their return, as they crossed the stream into whichhe had formerly fallen, the Ass fell down on purpose,and by the dissolving of the Salt, was again released from his load. The Master, provoked at the loss, andthinking how he might cure him of this trick, on his next journey to the coast freighted the beast with a loadof sponges. When they arrived at the same stream asbefore, the Ass was at his old tricks again, and rolled himself into the water; but the sponges becomingthoroughly wet, he found to his cost, as he proceededhomewards, that instead of lightening his burden, hehad more than doubled its weight.The same measures will not suit all circ*mstances;and we may play the same trick once too often.76 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE LION AND HIS THREE COUNCILLORSThe Lion called the Sheep to ask her if his breathsmelt: she said Ay; he bit off her head for a fool. He called the Wolf, and asked him: he said No; hetore him in pieces for a flatterer. At last he calledthe Fox, and asked him. Truly he had got a cold, andcould not smell. Wise men say nothing in dangerous times. THE BLACKAMOORA certain man bought a Blackamoor, and thinkingthat the colour of his skin arose from the neglectof his former master, he no sooner brought him homethan he procured all manner of scouring apparatus,scrubbing-brushes, soaps, and sand-paper, and set towork with his servants to wash him white again. Theydrenched and rubbed him for many an hour, but all in vain; his skin remained as black as ever; whilethe poor wretch all but died from the cold he caughtunder the operation.No human means avail of themselves to change anature originally evil. THE SEA-SIDE TRAVELLERSAs some Travellers were making their way along thesea-shore, they came to a high cliff, and looking outupon the sea saw a fa*ggot floating at a distance, whichthey thought at first must be a large Ship; so theywaited, expecting to see it come into harbour. Asthe fa*ggot drifted nearer to the shore, they thought it no longer to be a Ship, but a Boat. But when it wasat length thrown on the beach, they saw that it wasnothing but a fa*ggot after all. Dangers seem greatest at a distance; and comingevents are magnified according to the interest or inclina-tion of the beholder.The Leopard and the Fox 77THE LEOPARD AND THE FOXA Leopard and a Fox had a contest which was thefiner creature of the two. The Leopard put forwardthe beauty of its numberless spots; but the Foxreplied—" It is better to have a versatile mind than a variegated body."THE MONKEY AND THE FISHERMENA Monkey was sitting up in a high tree, when,seeing some Fishermen laying their nets in a river,he watched what they were doing. The Men had nosooner set their nets, and retired a short distance totheir dinner, than the Monkey came down from thetree, thinking that he would try his hand at the samesport. But in attempting to lay the nets he got so entangled in them, that being well-nigh choked, he wasforced to exclaim: " This serves me right; for whatbusiness had I, who know nothing of fishing, to meddlewith such tackle as this? "THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLEA Hare being pursued by an Eagle, betook himselffor refuge to the nest of a Beetle, whom he entreatedto save him. The Beetle therefore interceded with the Eagle, begging of him not to kill the poor suppliant,and conjuring him, by mighty Jupiter, not to slight his intercession and break the laws of hospitality becausehe was so small an animal. But the Eagle, in wrath,gave the Beetle a flap with his wing, and straightwayseized upon the Hare and devoured him. When the Eagle flew away, the Beetle flew after him, to learn where his nest was, and getting into it, he rolled the Eagle's eggs out of it one by one, and broke them. TheEagle, grieved and enraged to think that any one shouldattempt so audacious a thing, built his nest the nextyS ^sop's and Other Fablestime in a higher place; but there too the Beetle got atit again, and served him in the same manner as before.Upon this the Eagle, being at a loss what to do, flewup to Jupiter, his Lord and King, and placed the thirdbrood of eggs, as a sacred deposit, in his lap, begginghim to guard them for him. But the Beetle, havingmade a little ball of dirt, flew up with it and droppedit in Jupiter's lap; who, rising up on a sudden to shakeit off, and forgetting the eggs, threw them down, andthey were again broken. Jupiter being informed by theBeetle that he had done this to be revenged upon theEagle, who had not only wronged him, but had actedimpiously towards Jove himself, told the Eagle, whenhe came to him, that the Beetle was the aggrievedparty, and that he complained not without reason. Butbeing unwilling that the race of Eagles should bediminished, he advised the Beetle to come to an accom-modation with the Eagle. As the Beetle would notagree to this, Jupiter transferred the Eagle's breedingto another season, when there are no Beetles to be seen.No one can slight the laws of hospitality with impunity; and there is no station or influence, howeverpowerful, that can protect the oppressor, in the end,from the vengeance of the oppressed.THE MAN AND HIS TWO WIVESIn days when a man was allowed more wives thanone, a middle-aged bachelor, who could be called neitheryoung nor old, and whose hair was only just beginningto turn grey, must needs fall in love with two women atonce, and marry them both. The one was young andblooming, and wished her husband to appear as youthful as herself; the other was somewhat more advancedin age, and was as anxious that her husband shouldappear a suitable match for her. So, while the youngone seized every opportunity of pulling out the goodman's grey hairs, the old one was as industrious in plucking out every black hair she could find. For aThe Vine and the Goat 79while the man was highly gratified by their attention and devotion, till he found one morning that, betweenthe one and the other, he had not a hair left. He that submits his principles to the influence and caprices of opposite parties will end in having noprinciples at all. THE VINE AND THE GOATThere was a Vine teeming with ripe fruit and tendershoots, when a wanton Goat came up and gnawed the bark, and browsed upon the young leaves. " I will revenge myself on you," said the Vine, "for this insult;for when in a few days you are brought as a victimto the altar, the juice of my grapes shall be the dewof death upon thy forehead."Retribution though late comes at last. THE SICK KITEA Kite, who had been long very ill, said to his mother, "Don't cry, mother; but go and pray to the gods that I may recover from this dreadful disease andpain." "Alas! child," said the mother, "which of the gods can I entreat for one who has robbed all their altars?"A death-bed repentance is poor amends for the errorsof a life-time. THE BOY AND THE NETTLEA Boy playing in the fields got stung by a Nettle. He ran home to his mother, telling her that he had buttouched that nasty weed, and it had stung him. " It was just your touching it, my boy," said the mother,"that caused it to sting you; the next time you meddlewith a Nettle, grasp it tightly, and it will do you nohurt." Do boldly what you do at all.8o -^sop's and Other FablesTHE FOX AND THE CROWA Crow had snatched a goodly piece of cheese outof a window, and flew with it into a high tree, intentto enjoy her prize. A Fox spied the dainty morsel, andthus he planned his approaches. "O Crow," said he,"how beautiful are thy wings, how bright thine eye!how graceful thy neck! thy breast is the breast of aneagle! thy claws—I beg pardon—thy talons, are amatch for all the beasts of the field. O! that such abird should be dumb, and want only a voice! " TheCrow, pleased with the flattery, and chuckling to thinkhow she would surprise the Fox with her caw, openedher mouth: —down dropped the cheese! which the Foxsnapping up, observed, as he walked away, "that whatever he had remarked of her beauty, he had said nothingyet of her brains."Men seldom flatter without some private end in viewand they who listen to such music may expect to haveto pay the piper.THE THREE TRADESMENThere was a city in expectation of being besieged,and a council was called accordingly to discuss the bestmeans of fortifying it. A Bricklayer gave his opinionthat no material was so good as brick for the purpose.A Carpenter begged leave to suggest that timber wouldbe far preferable. Upon which a Currier started up,and said, " Sirs, when you have said all that can besaid, there is nothing in the world like leather."V THE ASS'S SHADOWA Youth, one hot summer's day, hired an Ass tocarry him from Athens to Megara. At mid-day theheat of the sun was so scorching, that he dismounted,and would have sat down to repose himself under theshadow of the Ass. But the driver of the Ass dis-The Dogs and the Hides 8iputed the place with him, declaring that he had anequal right to it with the other. "What!" said the Youth, "did I not hire the Ass for the whole journey? " "Yes," said the other, "you hired the Ass, but not the Ass's Shadow." While they were thus wrangling andfighting for the place, the Ass took to his heels andran away.THE DOGS AND THE HIDESSome hungry Dogs, seeing some raw Hides whicha skinner had left in the bottom of a stream, and not being able to reach them, agreed among themselves to drink up the river to get at the prize. So they set to work, but they all burst themselves with drinking before ever they came near the Hides.They who aim at an object by unreasonable means,are apt to ruin themselves in the attempt.THE LION AND THE BULLSThree Bulls fed in a field together in the greatestpeace and amity. A Lion had long watched them in the hope of making a prize of them, but found that there was little chance for him so long as they kept all together. He therefore began secretly to spread evil and slanderous reports of one against the other, till he had fomented a jealousy and distrust amongst them.No sooner did the Lion see that they avoided oneanother, and fed each by himself apart, than he fell upon them singly, and so made an easy prey of them all. The quarrels of friends are the opportunities of foes. THE RAVEN AND THE SWANA Haven envied a Swan the whiteness of her plumage; and, thinking that its beauty was owing to the water in which she lived, he deserted the altars82 ^sop's and Other Fableswhere he used to find his livelihood, and betook himselfto the pools and streams. There he plumed and dressedhimself and washed his coat, but all to no purpose, forhis plumage remained as black as ever, and he himself soon perished for want of his usual food. Change of scene is not change of nature. THE SHEPHERD AND THE SEAA Shepherd moved down his flock to feed near theshore, and beholding the Sea lying in a smooth andbreathless calm, he was seized with a strong desire tosail over it. So he sold all his sheep and bought a cargo of Dates, and loaded a vessel, and set sail. Hehad not gone far when a storm arose; his ship waswrecked, and his Dates and everything lost, and hehimself with difficulty escaped to land. Not long after,when the Sea was again calm, and one of his friends came up to him and was admiring its repose, he said," Have a care, my good fellow, of that smooth surface

it is only looking out for your Dates."THE SWALLOW IN CHANCERYA Swallow had built her nest under the eaves of a Court of Justice. Before her young ones could fly, a Serpent gliding out of his hole ate them all up. Whenthe poor bird returned to her nest and found it empty,she began a pitiable wailing; but a neighbour suggesting, by way of comfort, that she was not the first bird who had lost her young, "True," she replied, "but it is not only my little ones that I mourn, but that I shouldhave been wronged in that very place where the injuredfly for justice."THE OLD WOMAN AND HER MAIDSA thrifty old Widow kept two Servant-maids, whomshe used to call up to their work at co*ck-crow. TheThe Miser 83Maids disliked exceedingly this early rising, and deter- mined between themselves to wring off the co*ck's neck,as he was the cause of all their trouble by waking their mistress so early. They had no sooner done this, thanthe old lady, missing her usual alarum, and afraid of oversleeping herself, continually mistook the time of day, and roused them up at midnight.Too much cunning overreaches itself. THE MISERA Miser, to make sure of his property, sold all that he had and converted it into a great lump of gold,which he hid in a hole in the ground, and wentcontinually to visit and inspect it. This roused thecuriosity of one of his workmen, who, suspecting that there was a treasure, when his master's back wasturned, went to the spot, and stole it away. Whenthe Miser returned and found the place empty, hewept and tore his hair. But a neighbour who sawhim in this extravagant grief, and learned the causeof it, said, "Fret thyself no longer, but take a stone and put it in the same place, and think that it is yourlump of gold; for, as you never meant to use it, the one will do you as much good as the other." The worth of money is not in its possession, but inits use.THE WILD BOAR AND THE FOXA Wild Boar was whetting his tusks against a tree, when a Fox coming by asked why he did so; "For,"said he, " I see no reason for it; there is neither hunter nor hound in sight, nor any other danger thatI can see, at hand." "True," replied the Boar; "butwhen that danger does arise, I shall have somethingelse to do than to sharpen my weapons."It is too late to whet the sword when the trumpetsounds to draw it.84 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHINGA Wolf, once upon a time, resolved to disguise himself, thinking that he should thus gain an easier liveli- hood. Having, therefore, clothed himself in a sheep'sskin, he contrived to get among a flock of Sheep, andfeed along with them, so that even the Shepherd wasdeceived by the imposture. When night came on andthe fold was closed, the Wolf was shut up with the Sheep, and the door made fast. But the Shepherd,wanting something for his supper, and going in to fetch out a sheep, mistook the Wolf for one of them, andkilled him on the spot.THE BOASTING TRAVELLERA man who had been travelling in foreign parts, onhis return home was always braggings and boastingof the great feats he had accomplished in different places. In Rhodes, for instance, he said he had takensuch an extraordinary leap, that no man could comenear him, and he had witnesses there to prove it. "Possibly," said one of his hearers; "but if this betrue, just suppose this to be Rhodes, and then try the leap again."THE WOLF AND THE HORSEAs a Wolf was roaming over a farm, he came to afield of oats, but not being able to eat them, he left them and went his way. Presently meeting with aHorse, he bade him come with him into the field

"For," says he, "I have found some capital oats; andI have not tasted one, but have kept them all for you,for the very sound of your teeth is music to my ear." But the Horse replied: " A pretty fellow! if Wolveswere able to eat oats, I suspect you would not havepreferred your ears to your appetite."Little thanks are due to him who only gives awaywhat is of no use to himself.The Stag at the Pool 85THE STAG AT THE POOLA Stag one summer's day came to a pool to quenchhis thirst, and as he stood drinking he saw his formreflected in the water. "What beauty and strength,"said he, "are in these horns of mine; but how unseemlyare these weak and slender feet! " While he was thuscriticising, after his own fancies, the form which Naturehad given him, the huntsmen and hounds drew that way. The feet, with which he had found so muchfault, soon carried him out of the reach of his pursuers

but the horns, of which he was so vain, becomingentangled in a thicket, held him till the hunters again came up to him, and proved the cause of his death. Look to use before ornament.THE OLD LIONA Lion worn out with years lay stretched upon the ground, utterly helpless, and drawing his last breath. A Boar came up, and to satisfy an ancient grudge,drove at him with his tusks. Next a Bull, determinedto be revenged on an old enemy, gored him with his horns. Upon this an Ass, seeing that the old Lion couldthus be treated with impunity, thought that he wouldshow his spite also, and came and threw his heels in the Lion's face. Whereupon the dying beast exclaimed: "The insults of the powerful were bad enough, but thoseI could have managed to bear; but to be spurned byso base a creature as thou—the disgrace of nature, is to die a double death."THE HUNTER AND THE WOODMANA Man went out Lion-hunting into a forest, wheremeeting with a Woodman, he asked him if he hadseen any tracks of a Lion, and if he knew where hislair was. "Yes," says the Man, "and if you will comewith me I will show you the Lion himself." At this86 ^sop's and Other Fablesthe Hunter, turning- ghastly pale, and his teeth chattering, he said, "Oh! thank you; it was the Lion's track, not himself, that I was hunting."A coward can be a hero at a distance; it is presenceof danger that tests presence of mind.MERCURY AND THE SCULPTORMercury having a mind to know in what estimationhe was held among men, disguised himself as a traveller,and going into a Sculptor's workshop, began asking theprice of the different statues he saw there. Pointing to an image of Jupiter, he asked how much he wanted forthat. "A drachma," said the image-maker. Mercurylaughed in his sleeve, and asked, " How much for this of Juno?" The man wanted a higher price for that. Mercury's eye now caught his own image. "Now, will this fellow," thought he, "ask me ten times as muchfor this, for I am the messenger of heaven, and the source of all his gain." So he put the question to him,what he valued that Mercury at. "Well," says the Sculptor, "if you will give me my price for the other two, I will throw you that into the bargain."They who are over anxious to know how the worldvalues them, will seldom be set down at their ownprice.THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERDSA Wolf looking into a hut and seeing some shepherdscomfortably regaling themselves on a joint of mutton"A pretty row," said he, "would these men have madeif they had caught me at such a supper! " Men are too apt to condemn in others the very thingsthat they practise themselves.THE ASTRONOMERAn Astronomer used to walk out every night to gazeupon the stars. It happened one night that, as he wasThe Miller, his Son, and their Ass 87wandering in the outskirts of the city, with his wholethoughts rapt up in the skies, he fell into a well. Onhis holloaing and calling out, one who heard his cries ran up to him, and when he had listened to his story,said, "My good man, while you are trying to pry into the mysteries of heaven, you overlook the commonobjects that are under your feet." THE MILLER, HIS SON, AND THEIR ASSA Miller and his Son were driving their Ass to a neighbouring fair to sell him. They had not gone far when they met with a troop of girls returning from the town, talking and laughing. " Look there! " cried oneof them, "did you ever see such fools, to be trudgingalong the road on foot, when they might be riding! " The old Man, hearing this, quietly bade his Son get on the Ass, and walked along merrily by the side of him. Presently they came up to a group of old menin earnest debate. "There!" said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shownto old age in these days? Do you see that idle youngrogue riding, while his old father has to walk?—Getdown, you scapegrace! and let the old Man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the Father made his Son dis- mount, and got up himself. In this manner they hadnot proceeded far when they met a company of womenand children. "Why, you lazy old fellow!" cried several tongues at once, "how can you ride upon thebeast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keeppace by the side of you." The good-natured Miller stood corrected, and immediately took up his Son behindhim. They had now almost reached the town. "Pray,honest friend," said a townsman, "is that Ass yourown? " "Yes," says the old Man. "Oh! One wouldnot have thought so," said the other, "by the wayyou load him. Why, you two fellows are better ableto carry the poor beast than he you! " "^gythingto plegsfi-you," said the old Man; "we can but try."88 ^sop's and Other FablesSo, alighting with his Son, they tied the Ass's legstogether, and by the help of a pole endeavoured tocarry him on their shoulders over a bridge that ledto the town. This was so entertaining a sight thatthe people ran out in crowds to laugh at it; till theAss, not liking the noise nor his situation, kickedasunder the cords that bound him, and, tumbling offthe pole, fell into the river. Upon this the old Man,vexed and ashamed, made the best of his way homeagain—convinced that by endeavouring to please every-body he had pleased nobody, and lost his Ass into thebargain.FABLES FROM PHi^DRUSTHE VAIN JACKDAW AND THE PEAco*ckThat one ought not to plume oneself on the meritswhich belong to another, but ought rather to pass hislife in his own proper guise, ^sop has given us thisillustration:

A Jackdaw, swelling with empty pride, picked upsome feathers which had fallen from a Peaco*ck, anddecked himself out therewith; upon which, despisinghis own kind, he mingled with a beauteous flock ofPeaco*cks. They tore his feathers from off the impudentbird, and put him to flight with their beaks. The Jackdaw, thus roughly handled, in grief hastened to returnto his own kind; repulsed by whom, he had to submitto sad disgrace. Then said one of those whom he hadformerly despised: " If you had been content with ourstation, and had been ready to put up with what naturehad given, you would neither have experienced theformer affront, nor would your ill fortune have had tofeel the additional pang of this repulse."The Ass and the Lion Hunting 89THE cow, THE SHE-GOAT, THE SHEEP,AND THE LIONA Cow, a She-Goat, and a Sheep patient underinjuries, were partners in the forests with a Lion.When they had captured a Stag of vast bulk, thusspoke the Lion, after it had been divided into shares:"Because my name is Lion, I take the first; the secondyou will yield to me because I am courageous; then,because I am the strongest, the third will fall to mylot; if any one touches the fourth, woe betide him."THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTINGA Lion having resolved to hunt in company with anAss, concealed him in a thicket, and at the same timeenjoined him to frighten the wild beasts with his voice,to which they were unused, while he himself was to catch them as they fled. Upon this, Long-ears, withall his might, suddenly raised a cry, and terrified the beasts with this new cause of astonishment. While, in their alarm, they are flying to the well-known outlets,they are overpowered by the dread onset of the Lion

who, after he was wearied with slaughter, called forth the Ass from his retreat, and bade him cease his clamour. On this the other, in his insolence, inquired: "What think you of the assistance given by my voice? " "Excellent! " said the Lion, "so much so, that if I hadnot been acquainted with your spirit and your race, I should have fled in alarm like the rest."THE MAN AND THE WEASELA Weasel, on being caught by a Man, wishing to escape impending death: "Pray," said she, "do spare me, for 'tis I who keep your house clear of troublesome90 ^sop's and Other Fablesmice." The Man made answer: " If you did so for mysake, it would be a reason for thanking you, and I should have granted you the pardon you entreat. But,inasmuch as you do your best that you may enjoy thescraps which they would have gnawed, and devour themice as well, don't think of placing your pretendedservices to my account; " and so saying, he put thewicked creature to death. Those persons ought to recognise this as applicableto themselves, whose object is private advantage, andwho boast to the unthinking of an unreal merit. THE FAITHFUL DOGA Thief one night threw a crust of bread to a Dog,to try whether he could be gained by the profferedvictuals: "Hark you," said the Dog, "do you think tostop my tongue so that I may not bark for my master'sproperty? You are greatly mistaken. For this suddenliberality bids me be on the watch, that you may notprofit by my neglect."THE DOG AND THE CROCODILEIt has been related, that Dogs drink at the river Nilerunning along, that they may not be seized by theCrocodiles. Accordingly, a Dog having begun to drinkv.hile running along, a Crocodile thus addressed him: " Lap as leisurely as you like; drink on; come nearer,and don't be afraid," said he. The other replied

" Egad, I would do so with all my heart, did I notknow that you are eager for my flesh." THE DOG, THE TREASURE, AND THEVULTUREGrubbing up human bones, a Dog met with aTreasure; and, because he had offended the Gods,The Kite and the Pigeons 91a desire for riches was inspired in him, that so hemight pay the penalty due to the holy character of the place. Accordingly, while he was watching over the gold, forgetful of food, he was starved to death; on which a Vulture, standing over him, is reported to havesaid: "O Dog, you justly meet your death, who, be- gotten at a cross-road, and bred up on a dunghill, havesuddenly coveted regal wealth."THE FROGS FRIGHTENED AT THE BATTLEOF THE BULLSWhen the powerful are at variance, the lowly are thesufferers. A Frog, viewing from a marsh, a combat of someBulls: "Alas! " said she, "what terrible destruction is threatening us." Being asked by another why she saidso, as the Bulls were contending for the sovereignty of the herd, and passed their lives afar from them: "Theirhabitation is at a distance," said she, "and they areof a different kind; still, he who is expelled from the sovereignty of the meadow, will take to flight, and cometo the secret hiding-places in the fens, and trample andcrush us with his hard hoof. Thus does their fury concern our safety."THE KITE AND THE PIGEONSSome Pigeons, having often escaped from a Kite, andby their swiftness of wing avoided death, the spoilerhad recourse to stratagem, and by a crafty device ofthis nature, deceived the harmless race. " Why do youprefer to live a life of anxiety, rather than conclude a treaty, and make me your king, who can ensure yoursafety from every injury? " They, putting confidence in him, entrusted themselves to the Kite, who, on obtain- ing the sovereignty, began to devour them one by one,92 -^sop's and Other Fablesand to exercise authority with his cruel talons. Thensaid one of those that were left: " Deservedly are wesmitten."THE LION, THE ROBBER, AND THETRAVELLERWhile a Lion was standing over a Bullock, which hehad brought to the ground, a Robber came up, anddemanded a share. " I would give it to you," said theLion, "were you not in the habit of taking withoutleave; " and so repulsed the rogue. By chance, a harmless Traveller was led to the same spot, and on seeingthe wild beast, retraced his steps; on which the Lionkindly said to him: " You have nothing to fear; boldlytake the share which is due to your modesty." Thenhaving divided the carcase, he sought the woods, thathe might make room for the Man.THE EAGLE, THE CROW, AND THETORTOISEAn Eagle carried a Tortoise aloft, who had hiddenher body in her horny abode and thought, in herconcealment, she could not be injured in any way.A Crow came through the air, and flying near, ex-claimed: " You really have carried off a rich prize inyour talons; but if I don't instruct you what you mustdo, in vain will you tire yourself with the heavy weight."So a share of the prey being promised her, the Crowpersuades the Eagle to dash the hard shell uponarock, that, it being broken to pieces, he may easilyfeed upon the meat. Induced by her words, the Eagleattends to her suggestion, and at the same time gives alarge share of the banquet to his instructress, mistressCrow.Socrates to his Friends 93SOCRATES TO HIS FRIENDSSocrates having laid for himself the foundation of asmall house, one of the people, no matter who, amongstsuch passing remarks as are usual in these cases, asked: " Why do you, so famed as you are, build so small a house? " "I only wish," he replied, "I could fill it with real friends." THE BEES AND THE DRONES, THE WASPSITTING AS JUDGESome Bees had made their combs in a lofty oak.Some lazy Drones asserted that these belonged to them.The cause was brought into court, the Wasp sitting as judge; who, being perfectly acquainted with either race, proposed to the two parties these terms: " Your shapeis not unlike, and your colour is similar; so that theaffair clearly and fairly becomes a matter of doubt. But that my sacred duty may not be at fault throughinsufficiency of knowledge, each of you take hives, andpour your productions into the waxen cells; that fromthe flavour of the honey and the shape of the comb, the maker of them, about which the present dispute exists,may be evident." The Drones decline; the proposalpleases the Bees. Upon this, the Wasp pronouncessentence to the following effect: " It is evident whocannot, and who did, make them; wherefore, to the Bees I restore the fruits of their labours."^SOP AT PLAYAn Athenian seeing i^sop in a crowd of boys at playwith nuts, stopped and laughed at him for a madman.As soon as the Sage,—a laugher at others rather than one to be laughed at, —perceived this, he placed an unstrung bow in the middle of the road: " Hark you,94 ^sop's and Other Fableswise man," said he, "unriddle what I have done," Thepeople gather round. The man torments his inventiona long time, but cannot make out the reason of theproposed question. At last he gives up. Upon this,the victorious Philosopher says: " You will soon breakthe bow, if you always keep it bent; but if you loosenit, it will be fit for use when you want it." THE ASS AND THE PRIESTS OF CYBELEThe Galli, priests of Cybele, were in the habit, ontheir begging excursions, of leading about an Ass, tocarry their burdens. When he was dead with fatigueand blows, his hide being stripped off, they made themselves tambourines therewith. Afterwards, on beingasked by some one what they had done with theirfavourite, they answered in these words: " He fanciedthat after death he would rest in quiet; but see, deadas he is, fresh blows are heaped upon him."THE HORSE AND THE WILD BOARWhile a Wild Boar was wallowing, he muddied theshallow water, at which a Horse had been in the habitof quenching his thirst. Upon this, a disagreementarose. The Horse, enraged with the beast, sought theaid of man, and, raising him on his back, returnedagainst the foe. After the Horseman, hurling hisjavelins, had slain the Boar, he is said to have spokenthus: " I am glad that I gave assistance at your entreaties, for I have captured a prey, and have learnedhow useful you are; " and so compelled him, unwillingas he was, to submit to the rein. Then said the Horse,sorrowing: " Fool that I am! while seeking to revengea trifling matter, I have met with slavery."This Fable will admonish the passionate, that it is better to be injured with impunity, than to put ourselvesin the power of another.The Pilot and the Mariners 95A THIEF PILLAGING THE ALTAR OFJUPITERA Thief lighted his Lamp at the altar of Jupiter, andthen plundered it by the help of its own light. Just as he was taking- his departure, laden with the results ofhis sacrilege, the Holy Place suddenly sent forth these words: "Although these were the gifts of the wicked,and to me abominable, so much so that I care not to bespoiled of them, still, profane man, thou shalt pay the penalty with thy life, when hereafter, the day of punishment, appointed by fate, arrives. But, that our fire, by means of which piety worships the awful Gods, may notafford its light to crime, I forbid that henceforth thereshall be any such interchange of light." Accordingly, tothis day, it is neither lawful for a lamp to be lighted at the fire of the Gods, nor yet a sacrifice kindled from a lamp.THE PILOT AND THE MARINERSOn a certain man complaining of his adverse fortune,i^sop, for the purpose of consoling him, invented this Fable. A ship which had been tossed by a fierce tempest(while the passengers were all in tears, and filled withapprehensions of death) on the day suddenly changingto a serene aspect, began to be borne along in safetyupon the buoyant waves, and to inspire the marinerswith an excess of gladness. On this, the Pilot, who hadbeen rendered wise by experience, remarked: " Weought to be moderate in our joy, and to complain withcaution; for the whole of life is a mixture of grief andjoy."THE MAN AND THE SNAKEA Man took up a Snake stiffened with frost, andwarmed her in his bosom, being compassionate to his96 -^sop's and Other Fablesown undoing-; for when she had recovered, she instantlykilled the Man. On another one asking her the reasonof this crime, she made answer: "That people maylearn not to assist the wicked."THE SHIPWRECK OF SIMONIDESA learned man has always a fund of riches in himself.Simonides, who wrote such excellent lyric poems, themore easily to support his poverty, began to makeatour of the celebrated cities of Asia, singing the praisesof victors for such reward as he might receive. Afterhe had become enriched by this kind of gain, he resolvedto return to his native land by sea; (for he was born, itis said, in the island of Ceos). Accordingly he embarkedin a ship, which a dreadful tempest, together with itsown rottenness, caused to founder at sea. Some gatheredtogether their girdles, others their precious effects,which formed the support of their existence. One whowas over inquisitive, remarked: " Are you going to savenone of your property, Simonides?" He made reply:"All my possessions are about me." A few only madetheir escape by swimming, for the majority, beingweighed down by their burdens, perished. Some thievestoo made their appearance, and seized what each personhad saved, leaving him naked. Clazomenae, an ancientcity, chanced to be near; to which the shipwreckedpersons repaired. Here a person devoted to the pursuitsof literature, who had often read the lines of Simonides,and was a very g-reat admirer of him though he hadnever seen him, knowing from his very language whohe was, received him with the greatest pleasure into hishouse, and furnished him with clothes, money, andattendants. The others meanwhile were carrying abouttheir pictures, begging for victuals. Simonides chancedto meet them; and, as soon as he saw them, remarked: " I told you that all my property was about me; whatyou have endeavoured to save is lost."The Ant and the Fly 97THE ANT AND THE FLYAn Ant and a Fly were contending with great warmthwhich was of the greater importance. The Fly was thefirst to begin: " Can you possibly compare with myendowments? When a sacrifice is made, I am the first to taste of the entrails that belong to the Gods. 1 passmy time among the altars, I wander through all the temples; soon as I have espied it, I seat myself on the head of a king; and I taste of the chaste kisses of matrons. I labour not, and yet enjoy the nicest of things: what like to this, good rustic, falls to yourlot?" "Eating with the Gods," said the Ant, "iscertainly a thing to be boasted of; but by him who is invited, not him who is loathed as an intruder. Youtalk about kings and the kisses of matrons. While I am carefully heaping up a stock of grain for winter, I see you feeding on filth about the walls. You frequentthe altars; yes, and are driven away as often as youcome. You labour not; therefore it is that you havenothing when you stand in need of it. And, further,you boast about what modesty ought to conceal. Youtease me in summer; when winter comes you are silent. While the cold is shrivelling you up and putting you to death, a well-stored abode harbours me. Surely I have now pulled down your pride enough."SIMONIDES PRESERVED BY THE GODSI have said, above, how greatly learning is esteemedamong men: I will now hand down to posterity howgreat is the honour paid to it by the Gods.Simonides, the very same of whom I have before made mention, agreed, at a fixed price, to write a panegyric for a certain Pugilist, who had been vic- torious: accordingly he sought retirement. As the meagreness of his subject cramped his imagination, heused, according to general custom, the license of the Poet, and introduced the twin stars of Leda, citing them98 yEsop's and Other Fablesas an example of similar honours. He finished the Poemaccording- to contract, but received only a third part of the sum agreed upon. On his demanding the rest

"They," said he, "will give it you whose praises occupythe other two-thirds; but, that I may feel convinced that you have not departed in anger, promise to dine withme, as I intend to-day to invite my kinsmen, in the number of whom I reckon you." Although defrauded,and smarting under the injury, in order that he mightnot, by parting on bad terms, break off all friendly inter- course, he promised that he would. At the hour namedhe returned, and took his place at table. The banquetshone joyously with its cups; the house resounded withgladness, amid vast preparations, when, on a sudden,two young men, covered with dust, and dripping withperspiration, their bodies of more than human form,requested one of the servants to call Simonides to them,and say that it was of consequence to him to make nodelay. The man, quite confused, called forth Simonides; and hardly had he put one foot out of the banqueting-room, when suddenly the fall of the ceiling crushedthe rest, and no young men were to be seen at the gate.DEMETRIUS AND MENANDERDemetrius, who was called Phalereus, unjustly tookpossession of the sovereignty of Athens. The mob,according to their usual practice, rush from all quartersvying with each other, and cheer him, and wish him joy.Even the chief men kiss the hand by which they are oppressed, while they silently lament the sad vicissitudesof fortune. Moreover, those who live in retirement, andtake their ease, come creeping in last of all, that their absence may not injure them. Among these Menander,famous for his Comedies (which Demetrius, who did not know him, had read, and had admired the genius of the man), perfumed with unguents, and clad in a flowingrobe, came with a mincing and languid step. As soonas the Tyrant caught sight of him at the end of theThe Man and the Ass 99train: "What eflfeminate wretch," said he, "is this, whopresumes to come into my presence? " Those near himmade answer: "This is Menander the Poet." Changedin an instant, he exclaimed: "A more agreeable-looking man could not possibly exist." THE TRAVELLERS AND THE ROBBERTwo Soldiers having fallen in with a Robber, onefled, while the other stood his ground, and defendedhimself with a stout right hand. The Robber slain, his cowardly companion comes running up, and draws his sword; then throwing back his travelling cloak, says: "Let's have him; " "I'll take care he shall soon knowwhom he attacks." On this, he who had vanquishedthe robber made answer: " I wish you had seconded mejust now at least with those words; I should have beenstill more emboldened, believing them true; now keepyour sword quiet, as well as your silly tongue, that youmay be able to deceive others who don't know you. I, who have experienced with what speed you take to yourheels, know full well that no dependence is to be placedupon your valour."THE MAN AND THE ASSA Man having sacrificed a young boar to the godHercules, to whom he owed performance of a vow madefor the preservation of his health, ordered the remainsof the barley to be set for the Ass. Rut he refused to touch it, and said: " I would most willingly accept yourfood, if he who had been fed upon it had not had his throat cut." THE TWO BALD MENA Bald Man chanced to find a comb in the publicroad. Another, equally destitute of hair, came up

icx) ^sop's and Other Fables"Come," said he, "shares, whatever it is you havefound." The other showed the booty, and added withal

"The will of the Gods has favoured us, but through the malignity of fate, we have found, as the saying is, acoal instead of a treasure." THE HUNTSMAN AND THE DOGA Dog, who had always given satisfaction to his master by his boldness against swift and savage beasts,began to grow feeble under increasing years. On oneoccasion, being urged to the combat with a bristlingBoar, he seized him by the ear; but, through the rotten- ness of his teeth, let go his prey. Vexed at this, the Huntsman upbraided the Dog. Old Barker replied:" It is not my courage that disappoints you, but mystrength. You commend me for what I have been; andyou blame me that I am not what I was."THE CITY MOUSE AND COUNTRY MOUSEA City Mouse being once entertained at the tableof a Country one, dined on humble acorns in a hole. Afterwards he prevailed upon the Countryman by his entreaties to enter the city and a cellar that aboundedwith the choicest things. Here, while they were enjoying remnants of various kinds, the door is thrown open,and in comes the Butler; the Mice, terrified at the noise,fly in different directions, and the City one easily hideshimself in his well-known holes; while the unfortunateRustic, all trepidation in that strange house, and dreading death, runs to and fro along the walls. When the Butler had taken what he wanted, and had shut the door, the City Mouse bade the Country one again to take courage. The latter, still in a state of perturbation,replied: "I hardly can take any food for fear. Do youthink he will come? " " Why are you in such a fright? " said the City one; "come, let us enjoy dainties whichThe Crane, Crow, and Countryman loiyou may seek in vain in the country." The Countrymanreplied: "You, who don't know what it is to fear, will enjoy all these things; but, free from care and at liberty,may acorns be my food! " 'Tis better to live secure in poverty, than to be con- sumed by the cares attendant upon riches. THE CRANE, THE CROW, AND THECOUNTRYMANA Crane and a Crow had made a league on oath, that the Crane should protect the Crow against the Birds,and that the Crow should foretell the future, so that the Crane might be on her guard. After this, on their frequently flying into the fields of a certain Countryman,and tearing up by the roots what had been sown, the owner of the field saw it, and being vexed, cried out

"Give me a stone. Boy, that I may hit the Crane."When the Crow heard this, at once she warned the Crane, who took all due precaution. On another day,too, the Crow hearing him ask for a stone, again warnedthe Crane carefully to avoid the danger. The Countryman, suspecting that the divining Bird heard his commands, said to the Boy: " If I say, give me a cake, doyou secretly hand me a stone." The Crane came again;he bade the Boy give him a cake, but the Boy gave hima stone, with which he hit the Crane, and broke herlegs. The Crane, on being wounded, said: " PropheticCrow, where now are your auspices? Why did you not hasten to warn your companion, as you swore youwould, that no such evil might befall me? " The Crowmade answer: " It is not my art that deserves to beblamed; but the purposes of double-tongued people are so deceiving, who say one thing and do another."Those who impose upon the inexperienced by deceitful promises, fail not to cajole them by and by withpretended reasons.I02 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE BIRDS AND THE SWALLOWThe Birds having assembled in one spot, saw a Mansowing- flax in a field. When the Swallow found that they thought nothing at all of this, she is reported to have called them together, and thus addressed them: ** Danger awaits us all from this, if the seed should cometo maturity." The Birds laughed at her. When the crop, however, sprang up, the Swallow again remarked: "Our destruction is impending; come, let us root up the noxious blades, lest, if they shortly grow up, nets maybe made thereof, and we may be taken by the contriv- ances of man." The Birds persist in laughing at the words of the Swallow, and foolishly despise this mostprudent advice. But she, in her caution, at once betookherself to Man, that she might suspend her nest in safetyunder his rafters. The Birds, however, who had dis-/ regarded her wholesome advice, being caught in net^' made of the flax, came to an untimely end. 'THE PARTRIDGE AND THE FOXOnce on a time a Partridge was sitting in a lofty tree. A Fox came up, and began thus to speak: "O Partridge, how beautiful is your aspect! Your beak trans- cends the coral; your thighs the brightness of purple.And then, if you were to sleep, how much morebeauteous you would be." As soon as the silly Birdhad closed her eyes, that instant the Fox seized the credulous thing. Suppliantly she uttered these words,mingled with loud cries: "O Fox, I beseech you, by the graceful dexterity of your exquisite skill, utter my nameas before, and then you shall devour me." The Fox,willing to speak, opened his mouth, and so the Partridgeescaped destruction. Then said the deluded Fox

"What need was there for me to speak?" The Partridge retorted: " And what necessity was there for meto sleep, when my hour for sleep had not come? "The Gnat and the Bull 103This is for those who speak when there is no occasion,and who sleep when it is requisite to be on the watch.THE ASS, THE OX, AND THE BIRDSAn Ass and an Ox, fastened to the same yoke, weredrawing- a waggon. While the Ox was pulling with all his might he broke his horn. The Ass swears that heexperiences no help whatever from his weak companion.Exerting himself in the labour, the Ox breaks his otherhorn, and at length falls dead upon the ground. Presently, the Herdsman loads the Ass with the flesh of the Ox, and he breaks down amid a thousand blows, andstretched in the middle of the road, expires. The Birdsflying to the prey, exclaim: " If you had shown yourselfcompassionate to the Ox when he entreated you, youwould not have been food for us through your untimelydeath."THE GNAT AND THE BULLA Gnat having challenged a Bull to a trial of strength,all the People came to see the combat. Then said the Gnat: " 'Tis enough that you have come to meet me in combat; for though little in my own idea, I am greatin your judgment," and so saying, he took himself off on light wing through the air, and duped the multitude,and eluded the threats of the Bull. Now if the Bull hadkept in mind his strength of neck, and had contemnedan ignoble foe, the vapouring of the trifler would havebeen all in vain. He loses character who puts himself on a level withthe undeserving.THE STORK, THE GOOSE, AND THE HAWKA Stork, having come to a well-known pool, found a Goose diving frequently beneath the water, and inquiredI04 -^sop's and Other Fableswhy she did so. The other replied: " This is ourcustom, and we find our food in the mud; and then,besides, we thus find safety, and escape the attack of the Hawk when he comes against us." "I am muchstronger than the Hawk," said the Stork; "if youchoose to make an alliance with me, you will be ablevictoriously to deride him." The Goose believing her,and immediately accepting her aid, goes with her into the fields: forthwith comes the Hawk, and seizes the Goose in his remorseless claws and devours her, whilethe Stork flies off. The Goose called out after her: " He who trusts himself to so weak a protector, deservesto come to a still worse end."THE CAMEL AND THE FLYA Fly, chancing to sit on the back of a Camel whowas going along weighed down with heavy burdens, was quite delighted with himself, as he appeared to beso much higher. After they had made a long journey,they came together in the evening to the stable. TheFly immediately exclaimed, skipping lightly to the ground: "See, I have got down directly, that I maynot weary you any longer, so galled as you are." TheCamel replied: " I thank you; but neither when youwere on me did I find myself oppressed by your weight, nor do I feel myself at all lightened now you havedismounted."He who, while he is of no standing, boasts to be of a lofty one, falls under contempt when he comes to beknown.The Woodman's Luck 105ENGLISH FOLK TALESTHE WOODMAN'S LUCKOnce a Woodman went to a wood to fell trees. Justas he was laying the axe to the trunk of a great old oak, out jumped a Dryad, who begged him to sparethe tree. Moved more by fright than anything, he consented, and as a reward was promised his three next wishes should come true. At night, when he and his dame sat by the fire, the old Woodman waxed hungry,and said aloud he wished for a link of hog's pudding.No sooner had he said it than a rustling was heard in the chimney, and down came a bunch of black-puddingsand fell at the feet of the Woodman, who, reminded of the Dryad and the three wishes, began to tell his wifeabout them. "Thou art a fool, Jan," said she, angryat his neglecting to make the best of his good luck;" I wish 'em were at thy nose! " Whereupon the black- puddings at once stuck there, so tight that the Woodman, finding no force would remove them from his nose, was obliged to wish them off again. This wasthe last of his three wishes, and with it all the riches and gold-pieces they might have brought him flew upthe chimney.Good luck is no gain to him that hath not the wit to use it. THE MOON IN THE PONDOnce a merchant went on his travels. And he cameto a village, and outside the village there was a Pond,and round the Pond was a crowd of people. And theyhad got rakes, and brooms, and pikels (pitchforks)reaching into the Pond; and the traveller asked what was the matter? "Why," they says, "matter enough! Moon's tumbled into the Pond, and we can't get her out anyhow I " So the merchant burst out a-laughing,I 65;io6 ^sop's and Other Fablesand told them to look up at the Moon in the sky, andsaid it was only its shadow in the water. But theywouldn't listen to him, and only abused him for his pains.You cannot teach sense to the silly.WELSH FABLESENVY BURNING ITSELFCwta Cyfarwydd, of Glamorgan, had a son namedHowel, who was brought up by his father in everyhonourable acquirement and in all knowledge. WhenHowel grew up, he wished to follow his fortunes aboutthe world. As he set out, his father gave him this advice: Never to pass by the preaching of God's wordwithout stopping to listen. So Howel departed; andafter travelling a long way, he came to the sea-shore,where the road passed over a long, smooth and level beach. And Howel, with the point of his staff, wroteon the sand the following old proverb: "Whoso wishesevil to his neighbour, to himself will it come." Andas he was writing it, behold, a powerful noblemanovertook him; and on seeing the beauty of the writing,he knew that Howel was not a common rustic, and heasked him whence he came, and who he was, andwhither he was going. And Howel gave him courteousanswers to all he had asked him. The noblemanadmired him much, and asked him if he would comeand live with him as his domestic clerk, in order to manage for him all matters of learning and knowledge

and he promised him a salary suitable to a gentleman.So Howel agreed with him, and went to live with him.And all the noblemen and knights who came to visit this nobleman were amazed at the learning and wisdomSir Foulk and Glamorgan Knights 107of Howel, and praised him greatly, so that the noble- man became jealous of him for excelling him so vastlyin wisdom, and learning, and good breeding.Howel's fame increased daily, and in the samemeasure did the envy of the nobleman, his master,increase. And one day he complained to his lady of the great evil and disrespect that Howel had causedhim, and he counselled with her about slaying him.And she, in her great affection for him, bethought herhow to do it. The nobleman had on his property lime- burners, burning lime; and tlie lady went to them, andgave them a large sum of gold, upon condition of their throwing into the kiln the first person who should cometo them with a vessel of mead; and they promised to do so; and the lady, when she returned home, mentionedthe plan to her husband; and they filled a large vessel with mead, and ordered Howel to take it to the lime- burners. Howel took the vessel and carried it towardsthe kiln; and on the way he heard in a house an old and godly man reading the Word of God; and heturned in to listen to him, and stayed with him a longtime, according to his father's advice. After this delay, the nobleman concluded that Howel was by this timeburnt in the kiln; so he took another vessel of meadas a reward to the lime-burners; and when he came to the kiln, he was seized by the lime-burners, and throwninto the fire in the kiln, and burnt there. Thus did envy burn itself.SIR FOULK AND THE KNIGHTS OFGLAMORGANThe Castle of Foulk of Glamorgan consisted of onelarge and lofty tower, and much higher than any other tower in the island of Britain. As Sir Foulk, on oneWhitsuntide, speaking of the trials he had enduredwhen fighting with the Saracens, and of the way in which he managed to defeat them, whilst knights andnoblemen of high descent were listening: " I couldio8 yEsop's and Other Fableseasily have done that myself," said one Knight. "AndI also," said another. "And I also," said a third. And so from "I also" to "I also," until each washeard to boast himself equal to the best, and as goodas Sir Foulk himself. "One thing besides I did,"said Sir Foulk, "but less wonderful, I confess, thananything else." "What was that?" said one and theother of all that were present. Said Sir Foulk, " I jumped to the top of my own castle, which every one ofyou acknowledges to be the highest in the kingdom.""This is true as relates to its height," said one andthe other and all of them, "but as to jumping to its top, nothing but seeing the exploit with my own eyeswill make me believe that." "Very good, truly," saidSir Foulk; " and if I shall have the honour of yourcompany to dine with me some day in my castle, youshall see me jumping to the top of it." Every onepromised to come, and the day was named, and all ofthem came, and they dined, eating and drinking well. "Now," said Sir Foulk, "for jumping to the top ofthe castle tower; come with me and see every one withhis own eyes." They proceeded to the foot of thestairs, and Sir Foulk jumped to the top of the first step, and from that to the second, and then to thethird, and thus jumped from step to step till he jumpedto the top of the castle. "O!" said one, and afterhim every one else, " I could have easily jumped to thetop of the castle in that way myself." "Yes," said SirFoulk, " I know you could, and that every one of youeasily can, now after seeing me do so, and the wayI did it." From step to step to the top of the castle ofknowledge.The Ass in the Tiger Skin 109HITOPADESA FABLESTHE ASS IN THE TIGER SKINSaid the King to the Birds: "The Ass, who had beenfed on good corn, and fell to braying ignorantly in the hide of a Tiger, was slain for his impertinence.""How happened that? " said the Birds. "There is," answered the King, "in a certain towna fuller, whose Ass, weakened by carrying heavy loads, was like an animal wanting to die. The master, therefore, carried him in a Tiger's skin, and left him in a wood in a field of corn. The owners of the field, takinghim at a distance for a Tiger, fled; but one of them,covering himself with a piece of cloth of an Ass's colour,stooped down to bend his bow; and the Ass perceivinghim, thought he was another Ass, and began braying,and ran towards him. But the keeper of the cornfield knowing, by his voice, that he was only an Ass, killed him with ease." THE MOUSE AND THE SAINTA mean person, raised to a high degree, seeks theruin of his lord: as the Mouse, having attained the formand force of a Tiger, went to kill the Saint. For thereis in the sacred grove of the divine philosopher a Saintwho is very pious; who seeing a young Mouse fall nearhis dwelling, from the bill of a Crow, kindly took himup, and fed him with grains of rice. One day whenthe Mouse was preparing to eat, a Cat appeared, andthe kind Saint, by the power of his devotion, changedthe Mouse into a Cat. This new animal was soon after- wards terrified by a Dog, and so he, too, was turnedby the Saint into a Dog. At length, being in dread of a Tiger, he became a Tiger, through the prayers of theSaint, who then perceived the difference between ano yEsop's and Other FablesTiger and a Rat. All the people said: " See how thepiety of the Saint has changed yon Rat into a Tiger! " Then the ungrateful beast thought within himself: "Aslong as the Saint lives, they will say these spiteful thingsagainst me." With this thought, he ran towards hisprotector and attempted to kill him, but was changed,by a short prayer of the heaven-eyed Saint, into a Mouseagain. Thus a mean person, raised to a high degree,seeks the ruin of his lord. THE THREE ROGUESOnce there was a Brahmin who bought a goat in another village, and carrying it home on his shoulder,was seen by three Rogues, who said to one another: " If by some contrivance that goat can be taken fromhim, it will be great pleasure to us." With this viewthey severally sat down in the road under three trees, at some distance from each other, by which the Brahminwas to pass. One of the Scoundrels called out, as hewas going by: " O Brahmin! why dost thou carry thatdog on thy shoulder?" "It is not a dog," answeredthe Brahmin; "it is a goat for a sacrifice." Then at a certain distance away, the second Knave put the samequestion to him; which when the Brahmin heard, hethrew the goat down on the ground, and looking at it again and again, placed it a second time on his shoulder,and walking on with a mind waving like a swing. TheBrahmin heard the same question from the third Villain, was persuaded that the goat was really a dog, and takingit from his back, threw it down, and having washedhimself, returned to his home. The three Rogues tookthe goat to their own house, and feasted on it. Thencehe who thinks a knave as honest as himself, is deceivedby him, like this Brahmin who was ruined.The Monkeys and the Bell iiiTHE MONKEYS AND THE BELLA noise only, when the cause of it is unknown, mustnot be dreaded. One day a thief, escaping from a housein which he had stolen a Bell, was killed and eaten bya tiger on the top of this mountain; and the Bell, whichhad dropped from his hand, was taken up by someMonkeys, who from time to time made it sound. Thepeople of the town having discovered that a man hadbeen killed, and hearing continually the noise of theBell, said that the Cruel Demon had in his rage eaten him, and they all fled from the town. It came into the head of a certain woman that the Bell was only soundedby Monkeys; and she went to the Prince, saying, "If you will advance me a large sum of money, I will makethe Demon quiet." The King gave her a treasure, andshe, having paid adoration to a certain quarter of the globe, made idols, and formed circles, and acquiredgreat reputation for sanctity, she then took such fruits as Monkeys love, and having entered the forest, scattered them about, which the Monkeys perceiving,quitted the Bell, and eagerly devoured the fruits. The woman took up the Bell, and went with it to the palaceof the King, where all the people did her reverence. Hence a noise only, when the cause of it is unknown,must not be dreaded.THE ELEPHANT AND THE MOONBy using the great name of a powerful king, prosperity is attained, as the Fawn found security by namingthe Moon. For in the forest of Dandaca a herd of Elephants being distressed by a scarcity of rain in winter, thus addressed their king: "O, sir, whatremedy has our distress? Yonder is a pool used bylittle quadrupeds, who are bending their necks to drinkit; but we, parched with thirst, whither shall we go?What can we do? " The king of the Elephants hearingthis, went to a little distance, and discovered a pond of112 ^sop's and Other Fablesclear water, on the borders of which were some little Antelopes, who were trodden from time to time by thefeet of the Elephants. One of them thus thoug:htwithin himself: " If this mighty Elephant bring his herdhither every day to quench their thirst, our whole racewill be destroyed." An old Antelope guessing the causeof his melancholy, said: " Be not sorrowful; I will provide a remedy for this evil," With this promise hedeparted, and considered how he should approach theElephant near enough to address him without danger."I will," said he, "climb up yon mountain and thencediscourse with him." Having done as he had resolved,he thus began: "O sovereign of Elephants, I come tothee, by the command of that great monarch theMoon." "Who art thou?" said the Elephant; "andwhat is thy business? " "I am an ambassador," heanswered; " I speak by order of his Lunar Majesty.In driving away the Antelopes who are appointedkeepers of the pool thou hast acted improperly: weAntelopes are its guardians." When the pretendedambassador had said this, the Elephant said with greatfear: " This has been done by me through ignorance

we will not again come hither." "Come, then," saidthe Antelope, "and having saluted the god who dwellshere, and trembles with rage, appease him." TheElephant went, and as it was night, the Antelope showedhim the reflection of the Moon quivering in the water,and commanded him to bow down. "Great sir," saidthe Elephant, "my offence was through ignorance;therefore be moved to forgiveness." Saying this andmaking profound salutation, he went his way.THE CAT AND THE VULTUREThe Crow said to the Rat: "To a strange person of an unknown tribe, or uncertain temper, no one shouldgive his house: by means of a Cat, the Vulture Jaradgabah was slain." "How did it happen? " said the Rat. The Crow answered: " There stands near the Gangh,The Cat and the Vulture 113on a mountain called ' Vulture-fort,' a large hollowtree; high in whose trunk, his sight dim with the fear of danger, lived a Vulture, named Jaradgabah; by little and little he supplied his young with sustenance fromhis own prey, and thus the other birds of his species were supported. It happened that a Cat, named Longears, used to devour the young birds, and then todepart. The young ones saw her coming, and con- founded with fear, made a noise. Jaradgabah heardit, and said: 'Who is coming? ' The Cat seeing the Vulture, was alarmed, and said:' Alas! I am de- stroyed. I cannot now escape from this enemy; so, as a last resource, let me boldly go to him.' Havingresolved on this, she went near him, and said:

• Great

sir, I am thy servant!' "' Who art thou? ' said the Vulture. ' A Cat,' saidhe. 'Depart far off,' said the other, 'or thou shahbe chastised.' ' Hear me, however,' replied the Cat,'and if I deserve chastisem*nt, then chastise me.'' Speak on,' said the Vulture. ' I live here,' said the Cat, ' near the Ganga, in which I daily bathe myself

eating neither fish nor flesh, and performing the hardtasks of a holy person: thou, who art well acquaintedwith justice, art therefore one worthy to be trusted by me. The birds continually pray before me; and I came hither to hear a discourse on justice from thee,who art great in age and wisdom. And now tell me,thou who art so learned, why shouldst thou be preparedto beat me, who am a stranger? ' '"Shall cats,' answered the Vulture, 'who lovedelicate flesh, dwell here with young birds? On that account I forbid thee. ' Then the Cat, stroking her ears and touching the ground with her head, thus spoke:' I who have learnt the Dermasastra, and who haveperformed all the difficult offices of religion, am withoutappetite for flesh, and I speak nothing but truth.' "And so the Vulture trusted him, and he abode in the cavern; but some days having elapsed, he assailed the young birds, carried them off, and devoured them:£14 ^sop's and Other Fablesduring- this cruel repast, on their plaintive cries, a question was asked, what he was doing?"The Cat perceiving the discovery, left the cavern and ran away. The birds having examined the place on all sides, took up the scattered bones of their young,and suspecting that the Vulture had eaten them, unitedall their force, and by their first onset the Vulture waskilled. For this reason I say: To a person of anunknown temper no one should give his house."THE ELEPHANT AND THE SHAKALIn the forest of Brahma lives an Elephant, whomwhen the Shakals saw, they said among themselves: " If this animal can by any stratagem be killed, weshall be supplied with food from his carcase for fourmonths." An old Shakal upon this boldly said: "Bymy sagacity and courage his death shall be effected." He accordingly went close to the Elephant, and salutinghim by bending his whole body, thus addressed him: "Divine beast! grant me the favour of an interview.""Who art thou?" said the Elephant, "and whencedost thou come hither?" "J am," replied he, "aShakal, surnamed Little and Wise, and am sent intothy presence by the assembled inhabitants of thesewoods. Since the vast forest cannot subsist withouta king, it is therefore determined to perform the cere-mony of washing thee, as sovereign of the forest; theewho art possessed of every princely virtue. Lest, therefore, the fortunate time for thy inauguration should slipaway, come quickly." So saying, he rose, and erecting:his tail, ran on; while the Elephant, conceiving in his mind the desire of royalty, marched in the same roadwith the Shakal, and stuck in a deep bog. "FriendShakal," said he, "what can now be contrived for myescape? I am fallen into a quagmire, and cannot rise out of it." The Shakal said, laughing, "Take hold ofmy tail, my lord, and get out by the help of it." " Suchis the fruit," said the Elephant, "of my confidence in your deceitful speech."The Stag and the Lion 115THE STAG AND THE LIONHe who has knowledge has force. See how a proudLion was killed by a Stag. In the mountain namedMandara dwells a Lion called Darganta, who hunts the other beasts, and kills great numbers of them for his food. All the beasts being assembled, he was thusaddressed by them: Why are so many beasts killed by thee? We will give you one every day in our turnsfor your food: so many ought not to be slain by thee." "Be it so," said the Lion; and all of them, one by one,for his food daily gave a beast. On a certain day, when the lot fell upon an old Stag,he thus thought within himself: " For the sake of our own souls, and in hope of life, homage is paid: but ifI must meet this fate, what need have I to respect the Lion?" He moved, therefore, slowly step by step;and the Lion, tormented by hunger, said to him angrily: " Why dost thou come so late? " " It is not my fault," said he, "for in the way I was forcibly seized by anotherLion, till I swore to the necessity of my coming to you

and now I approach thee with supplication." The Lionhaving heard this, passionately said: "Where is that audacious animal?" The Stag led him near a deepwell, and said: "Let my lord behold." Then the Lionseeing his own image in the water, proudly roared, andthrowing himself down with rage, perished in the well.III. FABLES FROM L']£STRANGE'S iESOPAND OTHER MYTHOLOGISTS(1692)BARLANDUS'S FABLESAN ANT AND A PIGEONAn Ant dropped unluckily into the water as she wasdrinking at the side of a brook. A Wood-pigeon tookpity of her, and threw her a little bough to lay holdon. The Ant saved herself by that bough, and in that very instant spies a fellow with a birding-piece, makinga shot at the Pigeon. Upon this discovery, she pre- sently runs up to him and stings him. The fowlerstarts, and breaks his aim, and away flies the Pigeon.A PEAco*ck AND A PYEIn the days of old, the birds lived at random in alawless state of anarchy; but in time they began to weary on't, and moved for the setting up of a king.The Peaco*ck valued himself upon his gay feathers, andput in for the office: The pretenders were heard, the question debated; and the choice fell upon the poll to King Peaco*ck: The vote was no sooner passed, butup stands a Pye with a speech in his mouth to this effect: "May it please your Majesty," says he, "weshould be glad to know, in case the Eagle should fall upon us in your reign, as she has formerly done, howwill you be able to defend us? "116A Lion, Ass and Fox 117A LION, ASS, AND FOXThere was a hunting-match agreed upon betwixt aLion, an Ass, and a Fox, and they were to go equalshares in the booty. They ran down a brave stag, andthe Ass was to divide the prey; which he did veryhonestly and innocently into three equal parts, and left the Lion to take his choice: who never minded the dividend; but in a rage worried the Ass, and then badethe Fox divide; who had the wit to make only one shareof the whole, saving a miserable pittance that hereserved for himself. The Lion highly approved of his way of distribution; but " Prithee, Reynard," says he,"who taught thee to carve? " "Why, truly," says the Fox, "I had an Ass to my master; and it was his follymade me wise."A WOMAN AND HER MAIDSIt was the way of a good housewifely Old Woman,to call up her Maids every morning just at the co*ckcrowing. The Wenches were loth to rise so soon, andso they laid their heads together, and killed the poorco*ck; "For," say they, "if it were not for his wakingour dame, she would not wake us." But when the good Woman's clock was gone, she'd mistake the hourmany times, and call them up at midnight: so that instead of mending the matter, they found themselvesin a worse condition now than before. BUSTARDS AND CRANESSome sportsmen that were abroad upon game, spied a company of Bustards and Cranes a-feeding together,and so made in upon them as fast as their horses couldcarry them. The Cranes that were light, took wingimmediately, and saved themselves, but the Bustards were taken; for they were fat and heavy, and could not shift so well as the other.ii8 ^sop's and Other FablesJUPITER AND AN APEJupiter took a fancy once to summon all the birds and beasts under the canopy of heaven to appear before him with tlieir brats and their little ones, to see whichof them had the prettiest children: and who but the Ape to put herself foremost, with a brace of her cubsin her arms, for the greatest beauties in the company.AN EAGLE AND AN OWLA certain Eagle that had a mind to be well served,took up a resolution of preferring those that she foundmost agreeable for person and address; and so there passed an order of council for all her Majesty's subjectsto bring their children to court. They came accordingly, and every one in their turn was for advancingtheir own: till at last the Owl fell a-mopping andtwinkling, and told her Majesty, that if a gracious mienand countenance might entitle any of her subjects to apreference, she doubted not but her brood would belooked upon in the first place; for they were as like the mother, as if they had been spit out of her mouth.Upon this the board fell into a fit of laughing, andcalled another cause.ANIANUS'S FABLESAN OAK AND A WILLOWThere happened a controversy betwixt an Oak anda Willow, upon the subject of strength, constancy, andpatience, and which of the two should have the prefer- ence. The Oak upbraided the Willow, that it was weak and wavering, and gave way to every blast. TheWillow made no other reply, than that the next tempestA Fisherman and a Little Fish 119should resolve that question. Some very little whileafter this dispute, it blew a violent storm. The Willowplied, and gave way to the gust, and still recovereditself again, without receiving any damage: but the Oak was stubborn, and chose rather to break thanbend.A FISHERMAN AND A LITTLE FISHAs an Angler was at his sport, he had the hap to draw up a very little Fish from among the fry. Thepoor wretch begged heartily to be thrown in again

"For," says he, "I'm not come to my growth yet, andif you'll let me alone till I am bigger, your purchasewill turn to a better account." "Well," says the man,"but I'd rather have a little fish in possession, than a great one in reversion."A BULL AND A GOATA Bull that was hard pressed by a Lion, ran directlytoward a goat-stall, to save himself. The Goat madegood the door, and head to head disputed the passagewith him. "Well," says the Bull, with indignation,"if I had not a more dangerous enemy at my heels,than I have before me, I should soon teach you thedifference betwixt the force of a Bull and of a Goat."A NURSE AND A WOLFAs a Wolf was hunting up and down for his supper,he passed by a door where a little child was bawling,and an old woman chiding it. " Leave your vixentrickr>," says the Woman, "or I'll throw you to the Wolf." The Wolf overheard her, and waited a prettywhile, in hope the Woman would be as good as her word; but no child coming, away goes the Wolf for that bout. He took his walk the same way againI20 ^sop's and Other Fablestoward the evening, and the Nurse, he found, hadchanged her note; for she was then soothing andcoaxing of it. "That's a good dear," says she, "if the Wolf comes for my child, we'll e'en beat his brains out." The Wolf went muttering away upon it. "There's no meddling with people," says he, "thatsay one thing and mean another."AN EAGLE AND A TORTOISEA Tortoise was thinking with himself, how irksomea sort of life it was to spend all his days in a hole,with a house upon his head, when so many othercreatures had the liberty to divert themselves in thefree, fresh air, and to ramble about at pleasure. Sothat the humour took him one day, and he must needsget an Eagle to teach him to fly. The Eagle wouldfain have put him off, and told him 'twas a thingagainst nature and common sense; but (according to a freak of the wilful part of the world) the more theone was against it, the more the other was for it: andwhen the Eagle saw that the Tortoise would not besaid "Nay," she took him up a matter of steeple-highinto the air, and there turned him loose to shift for himself. That is to say, she dropped him down squabupon a rock, that dashed him to pieces.AN OLD CRAB AND A YOUNG"Child," says the Mother, "you must use yourselfto walk straight, without skewing and scuffling so everystep you set." "Pray, Mother," says the Young Crab,"do but set the example yourself, and I'll follow ye."THE GOOSE AND THE GOSLING"Why do you go nodding and waggling so like afool, as if you were Hipshot? " says the Goose to herGosling. The young one tried to mend it, but couldThe Dog and the Bell 121not; and so the Mother tied little sticks to her legs, to keep her upright: but the little one complained then, that she could neither swim nor dabble with them."Well," says the Mother, "do but hold up your headat least." The Gosling endeavoured to do that too;but upon the stretching out of her long neck, she complained that she could not see the way before her. "Nay, then," says the Goose, "if it will be no better, e'en carry your head and your feet as your elders have done before ye."THE DOG AND THE BELLThere was a very good House-Dog, but so dangerousa cur to strangers, that his master put a bell abouthis neck, to give people notice beforehand when he wasa-coming. The Dog took this bell for a particularmark of his master's favour, till one of his companionsshowed him his mistake. "You are mightily out," sayshe, "to take this for an ornament or a token of esteem,which is, in truth, no other than a note of infamy set upon you for your ill manners."THE TWO POTSThere were Two Pots that stood near one anotherby the side of a river, the one of brass, and the otherof clay. The water overflowed the banks, and carried them both away: the Earthen Vessel kept aloof fromt'other, as much as possible. "Fear nothing," saysthe Brass Pot, "I'll do you no hurt." "No, no," sayst'other, " not willingly; but if we should happen to knock by chance, 'twould be the same thing to me: so that you and I shall never do well together."AN OLD WOMAN AND THE DEVIL'Tis a common practice, when people draw mischiefsupon their own heads, to cry, "The Devil's in it," andK 657122 ^sop's and Other Fables"The Devil's in it." Now the Devil happened to spyan old Woman upon an apple-tree. "Look ye," sayshe, "you shall see that Beldam catch a fall there byand by, and break her bones, and then say 'twas alllong of me. Pray, good people, will you bear mewitness, that I was none of her adviser." The Womangot a tumble, as the Devil said she would, and therewas she at it. "The Devil ought her a shame, and it was the Devil that put her upon't." But the Devilcleared himself by sufficient evidence that he had nohand in it at all.A PEAco*ck AND A CRANEAs a Peaco*ck and a Crane were in company together,the Peaco*ck spreads his tail, and challenges the otherto show him such a fan of feathers. The Crane, uponthis, springs up into the air, and calls to the Peaco*ckto follow him if he could. " You brag of your plumes,"says he, " that are fair indeed to the eye, but no wayuseful or fit for any manner of service." A FIR AND A BRAMBLEThere goes a story of a Fir-tree, that in a vainspiteful humour, was mightily upon the pin of com-mending itself, and despising the Bramble. "Myhead," says the Fir, "is advanced among the stars. I furnish beams for palaces, masts for shipping: the verysweat of my body is a sovereign remedy for the sickand wounded: whereas the rascally Bramble runs creep-ing in the dirt, and serves for nothing in the world butmischief." "Well," says the Bramble (that overheardall this), "you might have said somewhat of your ownmisfortune, and to my advantage too, if your prideand envy would have suffered you to do it. But praywill you tell me, however, when the Carpenter comesnext with his axe into the wood to fell timber, whetheryou had not rather be a Bramble than a Fir-tree."A Covetous Man and an Envious 123A COVETOUS MAN AND AN ENVIOUSThere was a Covetous and an Envious Man, thatjoined in a petition to Jupiter; who very graciouslyordered Apollo to tell them that their desire should begranted at a venture; provided only, that whatever the one asked, should be doubled to the other. TheCovetous Man, that thought he could never haveenough, was a good while at a stand; considering, thatlet him ask never so much, the other should have twiceas much. But he came, however, by degrees to pitchupon one thing after another, and his companion hadit double. It was now the Envious Man's turn to offer up his request, which was, that one of his own eyesmight be put out, for his companion was then to lose both. A CROW AND A PITCHERA Crow that was extremely thirsty, found a Pitcherwith a little water in it, but it lay so low he could not come at it. He tried first to break the pot, andthen to overturn it, but it was both too strong and too heavy for him. He bethought himself, however, of a device at last that did his business; which was, bydropping a great many little pebbles into the water,and raising it that way, till he had it within reach. A MAN AND A SATYRThere was a Man and a Satyr that kept muchtogether. The Man clapped his fingers one day to his mouth, and blew upon them. " V^hat's that for? " saysthe Satyr. "Why," says he, "my hands are extremelycold, and I do it to warm them." The Satyr, at anothertime, found this Man blowing his porridge. "Andpray," says he, "what's the meaning of that now?""Oh! " says the Man, "my porridge is hot, and I do it to cool it." " Nay," says the Satyr, "if you have gottena trick of blowing hot and cold out of the same mouth,I have e'en done with ye."124 -^sop's and Other FablesA BULL AND A MOUSEA Mouse pinched a Bull by the foot, and then slunkinto her hole. The Bull tears up the ground upon it, and tosses his head in the air, looking about, in a rage,for his enemy, but sees none. As he was in the heightof his fury, the Mouse puts out her head, and laughsat him. "Your pride," says she, "may be broughtdown, I see, for all your blustering and your hornsfor here's a poor Mouse has got the better of ye, andyou do not know how to help yourself."A COUNTRYMAN AND HERCULESA Carter that had laid his waggon fast in a slough,stood gaping and bawling to as many of the gods andgoddesses as he could muster up, and to Herculesespecially, to help him out of the mire. "Why, yelazy puppy you," says Hercules, "lay your shoulder tothe wheel, and prick your oxen first, and then's yourtime to pray. Are the gods to do your drudgery, d'yethink, and you lie bellowing with your finger in yourmouth? "ABSTEMIUS'S FABLESA MOUSE IN A CHESTA Mouse that was bred in a Chest, and had lived all her days there upon what the dame of the house laidup in it, happened one time to drop out over the side,and to stumble upon a very delicious morsel, as shewas hunting up and down to find her way in again.She had no sooner the taste of it in her mouth, butshe brake out into exclamations, what a fool she hadbeen thus long, to persuade herself that there was nohappiness in the world but in that box.A Husbandman and Ceres 125A HUSBANDMAN AND CERESA certain Farmer complained that the beards of his corn cut the reapers' and the thrashers' fingers sometimes, and therefore he desired Ceres that his corn might grow hereafter without beards. The request wasgranted, and the little birds ate up all his grain. " Foolthat I was," says he, "rather to lose the support of my life, than venture the pricking of my servants'fingers."A COUNTRYMAN AND A HAWKA Country Fellow had the fortune to take a Hawkin the hot pursuit of a Pigeon. The Hawk pleaded forherself, that she never did the Countryman any harm,"and therefore I hope," says she, "that you'll do menone." "Well," says the Countryman, "and pray whatwrong did the Pigeon ever do you? Now by the reasonof your own argument, you must e'en expect to betreated yourself, as you yourself would have treatedthis Pigeon."A SWALLOW AND A SPIDERA Spider that observed a Swallow catching of flies,fell immediately to work upon a net to catch swallows,for she looked upon it as an encroachment upon herright: but the birds, without any difficulty, brakethrough the work, and flew away with the very netit*elf. "Well," says the Spider, "bird-catching is noneof my talent, I perceive." And so she returned to herold trade of catching flies again.A COUNTRYMAN AND A RIVERA Countryman that was to pass a river sounded it up and down to try where it was most fordable; and126 ^sop's and Other Fablesupon trial he made this observation on it: " Where thewater ran smooth, he found it deepest; and on thecontrary, shallowest where it made most noise." CAPONS FAT AND LEANThere were a great many crammed Capons togetherin a coop; some of them very fair and fat, andothers again that did not thrive upon feeding. TheFat ones would be ever and anon making sport withthe Lean, and calling them starvelings; till in the end,the cook was ordered to dress so many Capons forsupper, and to be sure to take the best in the pen: when it came to that once, they that had most fleshupon their backs wished they had had less, and 'twouldhave been better for them.A SWAN AND A STORKA Stork that was present at the song of a dyingSwan, told her 'twas contrary to nature to sing somuch out of season; and asked her the reason of it?"Why," says the Swan, "I am now entering into astate where I shall be no longer in danger of eithersnares, guns, or hunger: and who would not joy atsuch a deliverance? "A FLY UPON A WHEEL"What a dust do I raise! " says the Fly, "upon theCoach-wheel? And what a rate do I drive at," saysthe same Fly again, "upon the horse's buttock! "THE FISHES AND THE FRYING-PANA Cook was frying a dish of live fish, and so soonas ever they felt the heat of the pan: "There's noA League of Beasts and Fishes 127enduring of this," cried one, and so they all leapt into the fire; and instead of mending the matter, they wereworse now than before.A LEAGUE OF BEASTS AND FISHESThe Beasts entered into a league with the Fishesagainst the Birds. The war was declared; but theFishes, instead of their quota, sent their excuse, that they were not able to march by land.A SPANIEL AND A SOW"I wonder," says a Sow to a Spaniel, "how you can fawn thus upon a master that gives you so manyblows and twinges by the ears." "Well," says the Dog, "but then set the good bits and the good wordshe gives me, against those blows and twinges, and I'ma gainer by the bargain."WAX AND BRICKThere was a question started once about Wax andBrick, why the one should be so brittle, and liable to be broken with every knock, and the other bear upagainst all injuries and weathers, so durable and firm. The Wax philosophised upon the matter, and finding out at last, that it was burning made the Brick so hard,cast itself into the fire, upon an opinion that heat wouldharden the Wax too; but that which consolidated the one, dissolved the other.V. FABLES FROM PILPAY: Tales told by the Brahmin Pilpay to the Great King,Dabschelimy whose Grand Vizir he was. THE TRAVELLING PIGEONThere were once in a certain part of your Majesty'sdominions two Pigeons, a male and a female, whichhad been hatched from the same brood of eggs, andbred up together afterwards in the same nest, under theroof of an old building, in which they lived together in mutual content and perfect happiness, safely shelteredfrom all the injuries of the weather, and contented witha little water and a few tares. It is a treasure to livein a desert when we enjoy the happiness of a friend

and there is no loss in quitting for the sake of such aone all other company in the world. But it seerns toooften the peculiar business of destiny to separatefriends. Of these Pigeons the one was called theBeloved, the other the Lover. One day the Lover,having an eager desire to travel, imparted his designto his companion. "Must we always," said he, "liveconfined to a hole? No; be it with you as you please,but for my part I am resolved to take a tour about theworld. Travellers every day meet with new things, andacquire experience; and all the great and learned amongour ancestors have told us, that travelling is the onlymeans to acquire knowledge. If the sword be neverunsheathed, it can never show the valour of the personthat wears it; and if the pen takes not its run throughthe extent of a page, it can never show the eloquenceof the author that uses it. The heavens, by reason oftheir perpetual motion, exceed in glory and delight the128The Travelling Pigeon 129regions beneath them; and the dull brute earth is thesolid place for all creatures to tread upon, only becauseit is immovable. If a tree could remove itself from oneplace to another, it would neither be afraid of the sawnor the wedge, nor exposed to the ill usage of the wood-mongers.

"All this is true," said the Beloved; "but, my dearcompanion, you know not, nor have you ever yet undergone the fatigues of travel, nor do you understandwhat it is to live in foreign countries; and believe me,travelling is a tree, the chiefest fruit of which is labourand disquiet." "If the fatigues of travelling are very great,"answered the Lover, "they are abundantly rewardedwith the pleasure of seeing a thousand rarities; andwhen people are once grown accustomed to labour,they look upon it to be no hardship.""Travelling," replied the Beloved, "my dear companion, is never delightful but when we travel in company of our friends; for when we are at a far distancefrom them, besides that we are exposed to the injuries of the weather, we are grieved to find ourselves separated from what we love: therefore take, mydearest, the advice which my tenderness suggests to you: never leave the place where you live at ease, norforsake the object of your dearest affection." " If I find these hardships insupportable," replied the Lover, "believe me, I will return in a little time.If I do not, be assured that I am happy, and let the consciousness of that make you also so." After theyhad thus reasoned the case together, they went to theirrest, and meeting the next morning, the Lover beingimmovable in his resolution, took their leaves of eachother, and so parted.The Lover left his hole, like a bird that had madehis escape out of a cage; and as he went on his journey, was ravished with delight at the prospect of the mountains, rivers, and gardens which he flew over; and,arriving towards evening at the foot of a little hill,130 ^sop's and Other Fableswhere several rivulets, shaded with lovely trees, wateredthe enamelled meadows, he resolved to spend the nightin a place that so effectually resembled a terrestrial paradise. But, alas! how soon began he to feel thevicissitudes of fortune! Hardly had he betaken himself to his repose upoq a tree, when the air grewgloomy, and blazing gleams of lightning began toflash against his eyes, while the thunder rattled alongthe plains, and became doubly terrible by its echoesfrom the neighbouring mountains. The rain also andthe hail came down together in whole torrents, andmade the poor Pigeon hop from bough to bough,beaten, wetted to the skin, and in continual terror of being consumed in a flash of lightning. In short, hespent the night so ill, that he already heartily repentedhis having left his comrade.The next morning, the sun having dispersed the clouds, the Lover was prudent enough to take his leaveof the tree, with a full resolution to make the best ofhis way home again; he had not, however, flown fifty yards, when a Sparrow-hawk, with a keen appetite,perceiving our traveller, pursued him up>on the wing.The Pigeon, seeing him at a distance, began to tremble; and, as he approached nearer, utterly despairing ever to see his friend again, and no less sorry that he had not followed her advice, protested that if ever he escaped that danger, he would never more think of travelling. In this time the Sparrow-hawk had over- taken, and was just ready to seize him and tear himin pieces, when a hungry Eagle, lancing down with afull swoop upon the Sparrow-hawk, cried out, " Hold,let me devour that Pigeon to stay my stomach, tUl I find something else more solid." The Sparrow-hawk,however, no less courageous than hungry, would not,though unequal in strength, give way to the Eagle: so that the two birds of prey fell to fighting one withanother, and in the meantime the poor Pigeon escaped,and perceiving a hole so small that it would hardlyg^ive entrance to a Titmouse, yet made shift to squeezeThe Travelling Pigeon 131himself into it, and so spent the night in a world offear and trouble. By break of day he got out again,but he was now become so weak for want of food that he could hardly fly; add to this, he had not yet half recovered himself from the fear he was in the daybefore. As he was, however, full of terror, lookinground about him to see whether the Sparrow-hawk or the Eagle appeared, he spied a Pigeon in a field at a small distance, with a great deal of com scattered in the place where he was feeding. The Lover, rejoicedat the sight, drew near this happy Pigeon, as hethought him, and without compliments fell to: but hehad hardly pecked three grains before he found himselfcaught by the legs. The pleasures of this world,indeed, are generally but snares which the devil laysfor us. "Brother," said the Lover to the other Pigeon, "weare both of one and the same species; wherefore, then,did you not inform me of this piece of treachery, thatI might not have fallen into these springes they havelaid for us? " To which the other answered: "Forbearcomplaints; nobody can prevent His destiny; nor canall the prudence of man preserve him from inevitable accidents." The Lover, on this, next besought him to teach him some expedient to free himself from the dangerthat threatened him. "Poor, innocent creature,"answered the other, "if I knew any means to do this,dost thou not think I would make use of it to deliver myself, that so I might not be the occasion of sur- prising others of my fellow-creatures? Alas! unfor- tunate friend, thou art but like the young Camel, who,weary with travelling, cried to his mother, with tearsin his eyes, ' O mother without affection! stop a little, that I may take breath and rest myself.' To whomthe mother replied, * O son without consideration I seest thou not that my bridle is in the hand of another?Were I at liberty, I would gladly both throw downmy burden, and give thee my assistance: but, alas I we must both submit to what we cannot avoid or132 ^sop's and Other Fablesprevent.' " Our traveller perceiving, by this discourse,that all hopes of relief from others were vain, resolvedto rely only on himself, and strengthened by his owndespair, with much striving and long fluttering, at lengthbroke the snare, and taking the benefit of his unexpected good fortune, bent his flight toward his owncountry; and such was his joy for having escaped sogreat a danger, that he even forgot his hunger. However, at length passing through a village, and lighting,merely for a little rest, upon a wall that was overagainst a field newly sown, a countryman, that waskeeping the birds from his corn, perceiving the Pigeon,flung a stone at him, and, while the poor Lover wasdreaming of nothing less than of the harm that v/asso near him, hit him so terrible a blow, that he fell quite stunned into a deep and dry well that was atthe foot of the wall. By this, however, he escapedbeing made the countryman's supper, who, not beingable to come at his prey, left it in the well, and neverthought more of it. There the Pigeon remained all thenight long in the well, with a sad heart, and a winghalf broken. During the night his misfortunes wouldnot permit him to sleep, and a thousand times over hewished himself at home with his friend; the next day,however, he so bestirred himself, that he got out ofthe well, and towards evening arrived at his oldhabitation. The Beloved, hearing the fluttering of her companion's wings, flew forth with a more than ordinaryjoy to meet him; but seeing him so weak and in sobad a condition, asked him tenderly the reason of it

upon which the Lover told her all his adventures, protesting heartily to take her advice for the future, andnever to travel more. "I have recited," concluded the Vizir, "this exampleto your Majesty, to dissuade you from preferring the inconveniences of travelling, to the repose that youenjoy at home, among the praises and adorations of aloyal and happy people."The Travelling Pigeon 133"Wise Vizir," said the King, "I acknowledge it apainful thing to travel; but it is no less true that thereis great and useful knowledge to be gained by it. Should a man be always tied to his own house or his own country, he would be deprived of the sight andenjoyment of an infinite number of noble things. Andto continue your allegoric history of birds, the Falconis happy in seeing the beauties of the world, whilePrinces frequently carry them upon their hands, andfor that honour and pleasure he quits the ingloriouslife of the nest. On the other hand, the Owl is con- temned, because he always hides himself in ruinousbuildings and dark holes, and delights in nothing butretirement. The mind of man ought to fly abroad andsoar like the Falcon, not hide itself like tiie Owl. Hethat travels renders himself acceptable to all the world,and men of wisdom and learning are pleased with his conversation. Nothing is more clear and limpid thanrunning water, while stagnating puddles grow thick and muddy. Had the famous Falcon, that was bredin the Raven's nest, never flown abroad, he would never have been so highly advanced."THE FABLE OF THE GREEDY CAT, WHICHTHE RAVEN NARRATES TO THE FALCONThere was formerly an old Woman in a village,extremely thin, half-starved, and meagre. She lived in a little cottage as dark and gloomy as a fool's heart,, and withal as close shut up as a miser's hand. This^f^miserable creature had for the companion of herv/retched retirements a Cat meagre and lean as herself; the poor creature never saw bread, nor beheldthe face of a stranger, and was forced to be contentedwith only smelling the mice in their holes, or seeingthe prints of their feet in the dust. If by some extra- ordinary lucky chance this miserable animal happenedto catch a mouse, she was like a beggar that discovers134 ^sop's and Other Fablesa treasure; her visage and her eyes were inflamed withjoy, and that booty served her for a whole week; andout of the excess of her admiration, and distrust of herown happiness, she would cry out to herself, " HeavensI Is this a dream, or is it real?" One day, however,ready to die for hung-er, she got upon the ridge of herenchanted castle, which had long been the mansion offamine for cats, and spied from thence another Cat,that was stalking upon a neighbour's wall like a Lion,walking along as if she had been counting her steps,and so fat that she could hardly go. The old Woman'sCat, astonished to see a creature of her own speciesso plump and so large, with a loud voice, cries out toher pursy neighbour, " In the name of pity, speak tome, thou happiest of the Cat kind 1 why, you look asif you came from one of the Khan ^ of Kathai's feasts;I conjure ye, to tell me how or in what region it is that you get your skin so well stuffed? " "Where? " replied the fat one; "why, where shouldone feed well but at a King's table? I go to thehouse," continued she, "every day about dinner-time,and there I lay my paws upon some delicious morselor other, which serves me till the next, and then leaveenough for an army of mice, which under me live in peace and tranquillity; for why should I commit murderfor a piece of tough and skinny mouse-flesh, when I can live on venison at a much easier rate? " The leanCat, on this, eagerly inquired the way to this house ofplenty, and entreated her plump neighbour to carry herone day along with her. "Most willingly," said the fat Puss; "for thou seestI am naturally charitable, and thou art so lean that I heartily pity thy condition." On this promise theyparted; and the lean Cat returned to the old Woman'schamber, where she told her dame the story of whathad befallen her. The old Woman prudently endeavoured to dissuade^ A Nobleman of the East, famous for bis hospitality.The Greedy Cat 135her Cat from prosecuting her design, admonishing herwithal to have a care of being deceived; " for, believe me," said she, "the desires of the ambitious are neverto be satiated, but when their mouths are stuffed withthe dirt of their graves. Sobriety and temperance arethe only things that truly enrich people. I must tell thee, poor silly Cat, that they who travel to satisfytheir ambition, have no knowledge of the good thingsthey possess, nor are they truly thankful to Heaven for what they enjoy, who are not contented with their fortune." The poor starved Cat, however, had conceived sofair an idea of the King's table, that the old Woman'sgood morals and judicious remonstrances entered in at one ear and went out at the other; in short, she de- parted the next day with the fat Puss to go to the King's house; but, alas! before she got thither, herdestiny had laid a snare for her. For being a houseof good cheer, it was so haunted with cats, that the servants had, just at this time, orders to kill all the cats that came near it, by reason of a great robberycommitted the night before in the King's larder byseveral grimalkins. The old Woman's Cat, however,pushed on by hunger, entered the house, and no sooner saw a dish of meat unobserved by the cooks, than shemade a seizure of it, and was doing what for manyyears she had not done before, that is, heartily filling her belly; but as she was enjoying herself under the dresser-board, and feeding heartily upon her stolen morsels, one of the testy officers of the kitchen, missing his breakfast, and seeing where the poor Cat wassolacing herself with it, threw his knife at her withsuch an unlucky hand, that it struck her full in thebreast. However, as it has been the providence of Nature to give this creature nine lives instead of one, poor Puss made a shift to crawl away, after she hadfor some time shammed dead: but, in her flight,observing the blood come streaming from her wound,"Well," said she, "let me but escape this accident, and136 ^sop's and Other Fablesif ever I quit my old hold and my own mice for all therarities in the King's kitchen, may I lose all my ninelives at once."" I cite you this example, to show you, that it isbetter to be contented with what one has than to travelin search of what ambition prompts us to seek for." "What you say," said the Falcon, "is true, and it is a very wholesome advice; but it is for mean andlow spirits only to confine themselves always to a littlehole. He that aspires to be a King, must begin withthe conquest of a kingdom, and he that would meeta crown must go in search of it. An effeminate andlazy life can never agree with a great soul." "You are very magnanimous. Son," replied theRaven, " and I perceive design great conquests; butlet me tell you, your enterprise cannot so soon be putin execution: before you can conquer a kingdom, youmust get together arms and armies, and make greatpreparations.""My talons," replied the Falcon, "are instrumentssufficient to bring about my design, and myself amequal to the undertaking. Sure you never heard thestory of the warrior, who by his single valour becamea King?""No," replied the Raven; "therefore let me hear it from you." On which the Falcon related it in thismanner.THE POOR MAN WHO BECAME A GREATKINGIt being the pleasure of Heaven to rescue from miserya Man who lived in extreme poverty, Providence gavehim a Son, who from his infancy showed signal signsthat he would one day come to be a great man. Thisinfant became an immediate blessing to the old Man'shouse, for his wealth increased from day to day, fromthe time that the child was born. So soon as thisPoor Man who became a King 137young one could speak, he talked of nothing butswords, and bows and arrows. The Father sent himto school, and did all he could to infuse into him a good relish of learning; but he neglected his book,and devoted his thoughts to nothing but running at the ring, and other warlike exercises with the otherchildren. When he came to the years of discretion, " Son,"said his Father to him, "thou art now past the age of childhood, and art in the greatest danger to fall into disorder and irregularity, if thou givest thyself overto thy passions. I therefore intend to prevent that accident by marrying thee betimes.""Dear Father," replied the stripling, "for Heaven'ssake, refuse me not the mistress which my youthfulyears have already made choice of." "Who is that mistress?" presently replied the old Man, with great earnestness and uneasiness (for hehad already looked out for him the daughter of a neighbouring hind, and agreed the matter with her father),"and what is her condition? " "This is she," the lad made answer, showing his Father a very noble sword; " and by virtue of this I expect to become master of a throne."The Father gave him many reasons to imagine hedisapproved his intentions, and looked on them as little better than madness: many a good lecture followedduring the remainder of the day; to avoid which for the future, the young hero the next morning quittedhis Father's house, and travelled in search of opportunities to signalise his courage: many years he warredunder the command of different Monarchs: at length,after he had everywhere signalised himself, not onlyby his conduct, but by his personal courage, a neighbouring Monarch, who, with his whole family, laybesieged in a small fortress, sent to him to beseechhim to accept of the command of all his forces, to getthem together, and endeavour to raise the siege, andrelieve them; in which, if he succeeded, he would makeL 657138 ^sop's and Other Fableshim his adopted son, and the heir of his vast empire: our young warrior engaged in this, raised a vast army,fought the besiegers in their trenches, entirely con-quered them, and was the gainer of a glorious victory: but, alas! the heat of the action made him not perceivethat the fortress in which the King was, was in flamessome treacherous person had fired it, at the instigationof the general of the besieger's army, and the Kingand his whole family perished in the flames; the oldMonarch just lived, however, to see his deliverer, andto settle on him the inheritance of his crown. TheRoyal Family being all extinct by this fatal calamity,the nobles ratified the grant, and our illustrious herolived many years a great and glorious monarch."I have recited this example," said the Falcontothe Raven, "that you may understand that I also findmyself born to undertake great enterprises: I haveastrange foreboding within me, that I shall prove noless fortunate than this famous warrior; and for thisreason can never quit my design." When the Ravenperceived him so fixed in his resolution, he consentedto his putting it in execution: persuaded that so noblea courage would never be guilty of idle or unworthyactions. The Falcon having taken his leave of the Raven, andbid farewell to all his pretended brethren, left the nestand flew away; long he continued flying, and in lovewith liberty, and at length stopped upon a highmountain; here, looking round about him, he spiedaPartridge in the fallow grounds that made all theneighbouring hills resound with her note. Presentlythe Falcon lanced himself upon her, and having gother in his pounce, began to tear and eat her. "Thisis no bad beginning," said he to himself; "thoughitwere for nothing but to taste such delicate food; 'tisbetter travelling than to lie sleeping in a nasty nest,and feed upon carrion, as my brothers do." Thushespent three days in caressing himself with delicatemorsels; but on the fourth, being on the top of anotherPoor Man who became a King 139mountain, he saw a company of men that were hawking; these happened to be the King of the countrywith all his court; and while he was gazing upon them,he saw their Falcon in pursuit of a Heron. Upon that,pricked forward by a noble emulation, he flies with all his force, gets before the King's Falcon, and overtakesthe Heron. The King, admiring this agility, commandshis Falconers to make use of all their cunning to catchthis noble bird, which by good luck they did. And in a little time he so entirely won the affection of the King, that he did him the honour to carry him usuallyupon his own hand." Had he always stayed in his nest," concluded the Monarch, "this good fortune had never befallen him.And you see by this Fable, that it is no unprofitablething to travel. It rouses the genius of people, andrenders them capable of noble achievements." Dabschelim having ended his discourse, the Vizir, after hehad made his submissions, and paid his duty accordingto custom, came forward, and addressing himself to the King, said, " Sir, what your Majesty has said is most true, but I cannot but think yet that it is notadvisable that a great, a glorious, and happy Kingshould quit his repose for the hardship and danger of travelling.""Men of courage," answered the King, "delight in labour, fatigue, and danger. If Kings, who havepower, strip not the thorns from the rose-bushes, the poor can never gather the roses; and till Princes haveendured the inconveniences of campaigns, the people can never sleep in peace. Nobody can be safe in these dominions, while thou seekest nothing but my ease."THE DERVISE, THE FALCON, AND THERAVENA certain Dervise used to relate, that, in his youth, once passing through a wood and admiring the works140 ^sop's and Other Fablesof the great Author of Nature, he spied a Falcon thatheld a piece of flesh in his beak; and hovering abouta tree, tore the flesh into bits, and gave it to a youngRaven that lay bald and featherless in its nest. TheDervise admiring the bounty of Providence, in a rapture of admiration, cried out, "Behold this poor bird,that is not able to seek out sustenance for himself, is not, however, forsaken of its Creator, who spreads thewhole world like a table, where all creatures have theirfood ready provided for them! He extends Hisliberality so far, that the serpent finds wherewith tolive upon the mountain of Gahen.^ Why, then, amI so greedy, and wherefore do I run to the ends of theearth, and plough up the ocean for bread? Is it notbetter that I should henceforward confine myself inrepose to some little corner, and abandon myself tofortune." Upon this he retired to his cell, where,without putting himself to any farther trouble foranything in the world, he remained three days andthree nights without victuals. At last, "Servant of mine," said the Creator to himin a dream, " know thou that all things in this worldhave their causes; and though my providence can neverbe limited, my wisdom requires that men shall makeuse of the means that I have ordained them. If thouwouldst imitate any one of the birds thou hast seento my glory, use the talents I have given thee, andimitate the Falcon that feeds the Raven, and not theRaven that lies a sluggard in his nest, and expects hisfood from another.""This example shows us that we are not to lead idleand lazy lives upon the pretence of depending uponProvidence."On this the elder son was silenced, but the secondson, taking upon him to speak, said to his Father,"You advise us, sir, to labour, and get estates and' A Mountain in the East, famous for a vast number of venomousanimals.The Fox and the Hen 141riches; but when we have heaped up a great deal of wealth, is it not also necessary that you inform us what we shall do with it? " " 'Tis easy to acquire wealth," replied the Father,"but a difficult thing to expend it well. Riches manytimes prove very fatal."THE FABLE OF THE FOX AND THE HEN,WHICH DAMNA THE FOX TOLD TOTHE LION"There was once upon a time a certain hungryFox, who eagerly searching about for something to appease his hunger, at length spied a Hen, that wasbusy scratching the earth and picking up worms at the foot of a tree. Upon the same tree there also hung a drum, which made a noise every now and then, the branches being moved by the violence of the wind, andbeating upon it. The Fox was just going to flinghimself upon the Hen, and make amends for a longfast, when he first heard the noise of the drum. ' Oho,' quoth he, looking up, ' are you there? I will bewith ye by and by: that body, whatever it be, I promisemyself must certainly have more flesh upon it than asorry Hen;' so saying, he clambered up the tree, andin the meanwhile the Hen made her escape. Thegreedy and famished Fox seized his prey, and fell to work with teeth and claws upon it. But when he hadtorn off the head of the drum, and found there wasnothing within but an empty cavity,—air instead offlesh and gristles, and a mere hollowness instead of good guts and garbage,—fetching a deep sigh,' Unfortunate wretch that I am,' cried he, ' what a delicate morsel have I lost, only for the show of a large bellyful!' "I have recited this example," concluded he, "tothe end your Majesty may not be terrified with the142 ^sop's and Other Fablessound of the bellowing- noise you hear, because loudand strenuous, for there is no certainty from that ofits coming from a terrible beast; and if you please, I will go and see what sort of creature it is." To whichthe Lion consented; nevertheless, when Damna wasgone, he repented his having sent him. "For," saidthe Monarch to himself, " I should have rememberedmy father's excellent rule, that it is a great error ina Prince to discover his secrets to any, but especiallythat there are ten sorts of people who are never to beintrusted with them. These are, i. Those whom hehas used ill without a cause. 2. Those who have losttheir estates or their honour at court. 3. Those whohave been degraded from their employments withoutany hopes of ever being restored to them again. 4. Those that love nothing but sedition and disturbance.5. Those that see their kindred or acquaintance in pre-ferments from whence themselves have been excluded.6. Such as, having- committed any crime, have beenmore severely punished than others who have trans-gressed in the same manner. 7. Such as have donegood service, and have been but ill rewarded for it. 8. Enemies reconciled by constraint. 9. Those whobelieve the ruin of the Prince will turn to their advantage. 10, And lastly, those who believe themselvesless obliged to their Sovereign than to his enemy.And as these are together so numerous a class ofpersons, I hope I have not done imprudently in dis-covering my secrets to Damna."While the Lion was making these reflections tohimself, Damna returned, and told him, with a smilingcountenance, that the beast which made such a noisewas no other than an Ox, that was feeding in ameadow, without any other design than to spend hisdays lazily in eating and sleeping. "And," addedDamna, " if your Majesty thinks it convenient, I willso order the matter, that he shall be glad to come andenroll himself in the number of your servants." TheLion was extremely pleased with Damna's proposals,The Fox and the Hen 143and made him a sign to go and fetch the Ox into his presence. On this, Damna went to Cohotorbe, the Ox, and asked him from whence he came, and whataccident had brought him into those quarters? In answer to which, when Cohotorbe had related his history at large, Damna said, " Friend, I am veryglad I have happened to see thee, for it may be in my power to do thee a singular service, by acquaintingthee with the state of the place thou hast accidentallywandered into: know, then, that here lives a Lionnot far off, who is the king of all the beasts of this country, and that he is, though a terrible enemy, yet a most kind and tender friend to all the beasts who putthemselves under his protection. When I first sawyou here, I acquainted his Majesty with it, and he hasgraciously desired to see thee, and given me ordersto conduct thee to his palace. If thou wilt follow me,I promise thee the favour of being admitted into his service and protection; but if thou refusest to go alongwith me, know that thou hast not many days to live in this place."So soon as the Ox but heard the word Lion pro- nounced, he trembled for fear; but, recovering himselfa little as Damna continued his speech, he at lengthmade answer, " If thou wilt assure me that he shall do me no harm, I will follow him." Damna, at that,immediately swore to him; and Cohotorbe, upon thefaith of his oaths, consented to go and wait upon theLion, Damna, on this, ran before to give the Kingnotice of Cohotorbe's coming; and our Ox, arriving soon after, made a profound reverence to the King,who received him with great kindness, and asked himwhat occasion had brought him into his dominions?In answer to which, when the Ox had recounted to him all his adventures, "Remain here," said the Lion," with us, and live in peace; for I permit all mysubjects to live within my dominions in repose andtranquillity." The Ox, having returned his Majestythanks for his kind reception, promised to serve him144 ^sop's and Other Fableswith a real fidelity; and at length insinuated himselfin such a manner into the Lion's favour, that he gainedhis Majesty's confidence, and became his most intimatefavourite. This, however, was matter of great affliction to poorDamna, who, when he saw that Cohotorbe was in greater esteem at court than himself, and that he wasthe only depository of the King's secrets, it wroughtin him so desperate a jealousy, that he could not rest, but was ready to hang himself for vexation: in thefullness of his heart he flew to make his moan tohis wife Kalila. "O wife," said he, "I have takena world of care and pains to gain the King's favour,and all to no purpose: I brought, you may remember,into his presence the object that occasioned all his disturbances, and that very Ox is now become the sole cause of my disquiet."To which Kalila answered, "Spouse, you ought notto complain of what you have done, or at least youhave nobody to blame but yourself.""It is true," said Damna, "that I am the cause ofall my troubles; this I am too sensible of, but what I desire of you is, to prescribe me the remedy."" I told you from the beginning," replied Kalila,"that for my part I would never meddle with youraffairs, and now do not intend to trouble myself withthe cure of your disturbances. Mind your own businessyourself, and consider what course you have to take,and take it; for, as to me, I have plagues enough of my own, without making myself unhappy about the misfortunes which your own follies have brought uponyou.""Well then," replied Damna, "what I shall do is this: I will use all my endeavours to ruin this Oxwhich occasions me all my misery, and shall be contented if I but find I have as much wit as the Sparrowthat revenged himself upon the Hawk." Kalila, uponthis, desired him to recite that Fable, and Damna gaveit to her in the following manner.The Sparrow and Sparrow- Hawk 145THE SPARROW AND THE SPARROW-HAWKTwo Sparrows had once built their nests under the same hovel, where they had also laid up some smallprovision for their young ones; but a Sparrow-hawk,who had built his nest upon the top of a mountain, at the foot of which this hovel stood, came continually to watch at what time their eggs would be hatched; andwhen they were, immediately ate up the young sparrows.This was a most sensible affliction to both the parents.However, they had afterwards another brood, whichthey hid so among the thatch of the hovel, that the Hawk was never able to find them; these, therefore,they bred up so well, and in so much safety, that theyhad both of them the pleasure to see them ready to fly. The father and the mother, by their continual chirping,testified for a long time their joy for such a happiness

but all of a sudden, as the young ones began to befledged, they fell into a profound melancholy, which was caused through extremity of fear lest the Sparrowhawk should devour these young ones as he had donethe others, as soon as they found their way out of thenest. The eldest of these young sparrows one day,perceiving this, desired to know of the father the reasonof his affliction, which the father having discovered to him, he made answer, that instead of breaking his heart with sorrow, it much better became him to seek out some way, if possible, to remove so dangerous a neighbour. All the sparrows approved this advice of the young one; and while the mother flew to get food, thefather went another way in search of some cure for his sorrows. After he had flown about for some time, said he to himself, ** I know not, alas! what it is I amseeking. Whither shall I fly? and to whom shall I discover my troubles?"At length he resolved, not knowing what course to take, to address himself to the first creature he met,and to consult him about his business. This first146 ^sop's and Other Fablescreature chanced to be a Salamander, whose extra-ordinary shape at first affrighted him: however, theSparrow would not alter his resolution, but accostedand saluted him. The Salamander, who was very civil,gave him an obliging reception; and looking upon himwith a fixed eye, "Friend," said he, "I discover muchtrouble in thy countenance; if it proceed from weariness, sit down and rest thyself; if frgm any other cause,let me know it; and if it be in my power to serve thee,command me." With that the Sparrow told his misfortunes in such moving language as raised compassionin the Salamander. "Well," said he, "be of courage,let not these troubles any more perplex thee; I willdeliver thee from this wicked neighbour this very nightonly show me his nest, and then go peaceably to roostwith thy young ones." This the Sparrow accordinglypunctually did, and returned the Salamander manythanks for being so much concerned for his misfortunes. No sooner was the night come, but the Salamander,determined to make good his promise, collected togethera number of his fellows, and away they went in a body,with every one a bit of lighted sulphur in their mouthsto the Sparrow-hawk's nest, who, not dreaming of anysuch thing, was surprised by the Salamanders, whothrew the sulphur into the nest, and burnt the old Hawk,with all the young ones. "This Fable teaches ye, that whoever has a designto ruin his enemy, may possibly bring it about, let himbe never so weak.""But consider, spouse," replied Kalila, " Cohotorbeis the King's chief favourite, and it will be a difficultthing, believe me, to ruin him; where prudent princeshave once placed their confidence, they seldom withdrawit because of bare report. And I presume you will notbe able to use any other means on this occasion.""I will take care, however," replied Damna, "of this,at least, that it shall be represented to the Lion, thatone of the six great things which cause the ruin ofThe Sparrow and Sparrow-Hawk 147kingdoms, and which is indeed the principal, is to neglect and contemn men of wit and courage.""That, indeed," replied Kalila, "is one very great one; but what, I pray, are the other five?""The second," continued Damna, "is not to punishthe seditious; the third is to be too much given to women, to play, and divertisem*nts; the fourth, the accidents attending a pestilence, a famine, or an earth- quake; the fifth is being too rash and violent; and thesixth is the preferring war before peace.""You are wise and prudent, spouse," replied Kalila;" but let me, though more simple, advise thee in this matter: be not the carver or your own revenge; butconsider that whoever meditates mischief, commonlybrings it at last upon his own head. On the otherside, he that studies his neighbour's welfare, prospersin everything he undertakes, as you may see by the ensuing Fable."THE KING WHO FROM A SAVAGE TYRANTBECAME A BENIGN RULERThere was once in the eastern part of Egypt a King,whose reign had long been a course of savage tyranny

long had he ruined the rich and distressed the poor

so that all his subjects, day and night, implored of heaven to be delivered from him. One day, as hereturned from hunting, after he had summoned his people together, "Unhappy subjects," says he to them," my conduct has been long unjustifiable in regard to you; but that tyranny, with which I have governedhitherto, is at an end, and I assure you from henceforward you shall live in peace and at ease, and nobodyshall dare to oppress you." The people were extremelyoverjoyed at this good news, and forbore prayingagainst the King.In a word, this Prince made from this time such an148 ^sop's and Other Fablesalteration in his conduct, that he acquired the title ofthe Just, and every one began to bless the felicity ofhis reign. One day, when his subjects were thus settledin happiness, one of his favourites presuming to askhim the reason of so sudden and so remarkable achange, the King gave him this answer: "As I rodea-hunting the other day," said he, "I saw a series ofaccidents which threw me into a turn of mind that hasproduced this happy change, which, believe me, cannotgive my people more real satisfaction than it doesmyself. The things that made this change in me werethese: I saw a dog in pursuit of a fox, who, after hehad overtaken him, bit off the lower part of his leg;however, the fox, lame as he was, made a shift toescape and get into a hole, and the dog, not able toget him out, left him there: hardly had he gone,however, a hundred paces, when a man threw a greatstone at him and cracked his skull; at the same instantthe man ran in the way of a horse, that trod upon hisfoot and lamed him for ever; and soon after the horse'sfoot stuck so fast between two stones, that he brokehis ankle-bone in striving to get it out. On seeing thesudden misfortunes befall those who had engaged indoing ill to others, I could not help saying to myself,Men are used as they use others: whoever does thatwhich he ought not to do, receives what he is notwilling to receive." "This example shows you, my dear spouse, thatthey who do mischief to others, are generally punishedthemselves for it, when they least expect it: believeme, if you attempt to ruin Cohotorbe, you will repentof it; he is stronger than you, and has more friends." "No matter for that, dear spouse," replied Damna,"wit is always beyond strength, as the following Fablewill convince you."A Raven, a Fox, and a Serpent 149A RAVEN, A FOX, AND A SERPENTA Raven had once built her nest for many seasonstogether in a convenient cleft of a mountain, but however pleasing the place was to her, she had alwaysreason enough to resolve to lay there no more; for every time she hatched, a Serpent came and devouredher young ones. The Raven complaining to a Foxthat was one of her friends, said to him, " Pray tell me, what would you advise me to do to be rid of this Serpent?""What do you think to do? " asked the Fox."Why, my present intent is," replied the Raven, "togo and peck out his eyes when he is asleep, that so he may no longer find the way to my nest." The Foxdisapproved this design, and told the Raven, that it became a prudent person to manage his revenge in sucha manner that no mischief might befall himself in takingit: "Never run jourself," says he, "into the misfortunethat once befell the Crane, of which I will tell you the Fable."THE CRANE AND THE CRAW-FISHA Crane had once settled her habitation by the sideof a broad and deep lake, and lived upon such fish as she could catch in it; these she got in plenty enoughfor many years; but at length having become old andfeeble, she could fish no longer. In this afflictingcirc*mstance she began to reflect, with sorrow, on the carelessness of her past years: " I did ill," said she toherself, "in not making in my youth necessary provisionto support me in my old age; but, as it is, I must nowmake the best of a bad market, and use cunning to geta livelihood as I can." With this resolution she placedherself by the water-side, and began to sigh and lookmighty melancholy. A Craw-fish, perceiving her at adistance, accosted her, and asked her why she appearedso sad? "Alas," said she, "how can I otherwise150 -/Esop's and Other Fableschoose but grieve, seeing my daily nourishment is liketo be taken from me? for I just now heard this talkbetween two fishermen passing this way: said the oneto the other, ' Here is great store of fish, what thinkyou of clearing this pond? ' to whom his companionanswered, ' No; there is more in such a lake: let usgo thither first, and then come hither the day after-wards. ' This they will certainly perform; and then,"added the Crane, "I must soon prepare for death."The Craw-fish, on this, went to the fish, and toldthem what she had heard: upon which the poor fish,in great perplexity, swam immediately to the Crane,and addressing themselves to her, told her what theyhad heard, and added, "We are now in so great aconsternation, that we are come to desire your protection. Though you are our enemy, yet the wise tell us,that they who make their enemy their sanctuary, maybe assured of being well received: you know full wellthat we are your daily food; and if we are destroyed,you, who are now too old to travel in search of food,must also perish; we pray you, therefore, for your ownsake, as well as ours, to consider, and tell us whatyou think is the best course for us to take."To which the Crane replied, "That which youacquaint me with, I heard myself from the mouths ofthe fishermen; we have no power sufficient to withstandthem; nor do I know any other way to secure you, butthis: it will be many months before they can clear theother pond they are to go about first; and, in themeantime, I can at times, and as my strength willpermit me, remove you one after another into a little pond here hard by, where there is very good water,and where the fishermen can never catch you, by reasonof the extraordinary depth." The fish approved thiscounsel, and desired the Crane to carry them one byone into this pond. Nor did she fail to fish up threeor four every morning, but she carried them no fartherthan to the top of a small hill, where she ate them: and thus she feasted herself for a while.The Crane and the Craw-Fish 151But one day, the Craw-fish, having a desire to seethis delicate pond, made known her curiosity to the Crane, who, bethinking herself that the Craw-fish washer most mortal enemy, resolved to get rid of her at once, and murder her as she had done the rest; withthis design she flung the Craw-fish upon her neck, andflew towards the hill. But when they came near theplace, the Craw-fish, spying at a distance the smallbones of her slaughtered companions, mistrusted the Crane's intention, and laying hold of a fair opportunity,got her neck in her claw, and grasped it so hard, that she fairly saved herself, and strangled the Crane. "This example," said the Fox, "shows you thatcrafty, tricking people often become victims to their own cunning."The Raven, returning thanks to the Fox for his good advice, said, " I shall not by any means neglectyour wholesome instructions; but what shall I do?""Why," replied the Fox, "you must snatch up something that belongs to some stout man or other, andlet him see what you do, to the end he may followyou. Which that he may easily do, do you fly slowly; and when you are just over the Serpent's hole, let fall the thing that you hold in your beak or talons, whatever it be, for then the person that follows you, seeingthe Serpent come forth, will not fail to knock him onthe head." The Raven did as the Fox advised him,and by that means was delivered from the Serpent."What cannot be done by strength," said Damna,"is to be performed by policy.""It is very true," replied Kalila; "but the mischiefhere is, that the Ox has more policy than you. Hewill, by his prudence, frustrate all your projects, andbefore you can pluck one hair from his tail, will flayoff your skin. I know not whether you have ever heard of the Fable of the Rabbit, the Fox, and the Wolf; if not, I will tell it you, that you may make youradvantage of it in the present case."152 -^sop's and Other FablesTHE RABBIT, THE FOX, AND THE WOLFA hungry Wolf once spied a Rabbit feeding at thefoot of a tree, and was soon preparing to seize him.The Rabbit, perceiving him, would have saved his life by flight, but the Wolf threw himself in his way, andstopped his escape: so that seeing himself in the powerof the Wolf, submissive and prostrate at his feet, hegave him all the good words he could think of. " I know," said he, "that the king of all creatures wantsa supply to appease his hunger, and that he is nowranging the fields in search of food; but I am but aninsignificant morsel for his royal stomach: thereforelet him be pleased to take my information. About afurlong from hence lives a Fox that is fat and plump,and whose flesh is as white as a capon's: such a preywill do your Majesty's business. If you please, I willgo and give him a visit, and engage him to comeforth out of his hole: then, if he prove to your liking,you may devour him; if not, it will be my glory thatI had the honour of dying not in vain, but being asmall breakfast for your Majesty."Tlius over-persuaded, the Wolf gave the Rabbit leaveto seek out the Fox, and followed him at the heels.The Rabbit left the Wolf at the entrance of the hole,and crept in himself, overjoyed that he had such anopportunity to revenge himself on the Fox, from whomhe had received an affront which he had for a long timepretended to have forgot. He made him a low cong^,and gave him great protestations of his friendship.On the other side, the Fox was no less obliging in hisanswers to the Rabbit's civilities, and asked him whatgood wind had blown him thither. "Only the great desire I had to see your worship,"replied the Rabbit; "and there is one of my relationsat the door, who is no less ambitious to kiss yourhands, but he dares not enter without your permission."The Fox on this, mistrusting there was somethingThe Rabbit, the Fox, and the Wolf 153more than ordinary in all this civility, said to himself, " I shall find the bottom of all this presently, and then,if it proves as I suspect, I will take care to pay this pretended friend of mine in his own coin." However,not seeming to take any notice of what he suspected,"Sir," said he to the Rabbit, "your friend shall bemost welcome; he does me too much honour; but,"added he, " I must entreat you to let me put my chamberin a little better order to receive him."The Rabbit, too much persuaded of the good successof his enterprise, " Poh, poh," said he, "my relationis one that never stands upon ceremony," and so wentout to give the Wolf notice that the Fox was fallen into the snare. The Wolf thought he had the Fox fast already, and the Rabbit believed himself quite out of danger, as having done the Wolf such a piece of goodservice. But the Fox was too sharp-sighted to bethus trepanned out of his life. He had, at the entranceof his hole, a very deep trench, which he had digged on purpose to guard him against surprises of this nature. Presently, therefore, he took away the planks,which he had laid for the convenience of those that came to visit him, covered the trench with a little earth and straw, and set open a back door in case of necessity; and having thus prepared all things, hedesired the Rabbit and his friend to walk in. Butinstead of the success of their plot, the two visitors found themselves, before they expected it, in the bottomof a very deep pit; and the Wolf, imagining that the Rabbit had a hand in the contrivance, in the heat ofhis fury, tore him to pieces." By this you see that finesse and policy signifynothing, where you have persons of wit and prudenceto deal with.""It is very true," said Damna; "but the Ox is nowproud of his preferment, and thoughtless of danger, at least from me; for he has not the least suspicion of my hatred."m657154 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE TWO FISHERMEN AND THE THREEFISHES: Being the Fable told by Damna, theFox, to the Lion, in order to warn him againstTHE Ox, CoHOTORBEThere was once in your Majesty's dominions a certainpond, the water of which was very clear, and emptieditself into a neighbouring river. This pond was in aquiet place; it was remote from the highway, and therewere in it three Fishes; the one of which was prudent,the second had but little wit, and the third was a merefool. One day, by chance, two Fishermen, in theirwalks, perceiving this pond, made up to it, and nosooner observed these three Fishes, which were largeand fat, but they went and fetched their nets to takethem. The Fishes suspecting, by what they saw ofthe Fishermen, that they intended no less than theirdestruction, began to be in a world of terror. Theprudent Fish immediately resolved what course to take: he threw himself out of the pond, through the littlechannel that opened into the river, and so made hisescape. The next morning the two Fishermen re-turned: they made it their first business to stop upall the passages, to prevent the Fishes from gettingout, and were making preparations for taking them.The half-witted Fish now heartily repented that he hadnot followed his companion: at length, however, hebethought himself of a stratagem; he appeared uponthe surface of the water with his belly upward, andfeigned to be dead. The Fishermen also, having takenhim up, thought him really what he counterfeited himself to be, so threw him again into the water. Andthe last, which was the foolish Fish, seeing himselfpressed by the Fishermen, sunk down to the bottomof the pond, shifted up and down from place to place,but could not avoid at last falling into their hands, andwas that day made part of a public entertainment."This example," continued Damna, "shows you thatThe Falcon and the Hen 155you ought to prevent Cohotorbe, who is a traitor to your Majesty, and has, I believe, some design on yoursacred person, from doing the mischief he intends, bymaking yourself master of his life, before he have yoursat his command.""What you say is very agreeable to reason," said the King, "but I cannot believe that Cohotorbe, uponwhom I have heaped so many favours, should be soperfidious as you say.""Why, it is most true," replied Damna, "that he never received anything but kindness from yourMajesty; but what is bred in the bone will never come out of the flesh; neither can anything come outof a vessel but what is put into it: of which the following Fable is a sufficient proof."THE FALCON AND THE HEN: Being the FableTOLD BY Damna, the Fox, to the Ox, Cohotorbe, IN ORDER to warn HIM AGAINST THELion"Of all the animals I was ever acquainted with,"said a Falcon once to a Hen, "you are the mostunmindful of benefits, and the most ungrateful.""Why, what ingratitude," replied the Hen, "haveyou ever observed in me? " "Can there be a greater piece of ingratitude," replied the Falcon, "than that which you commit in regardto men? By day they seek out every nourishment tofat you; and in the night you have a place alwaysready to roost in, where they take care that yourchamber be close barred up, that nothing may trouble your repose: nevertheless, when they would catch you, you forget all their goodness to you, and basely en- deavour to escape their hands; which is what I neverdo, I that am a wild creature, no way obliged to them, and a bird of prey. Upon the meanest of their156 ^sop's and Other Fablescaresses I grow tame; suffer myself to be taken, andnever eat but upon their fists." "All this is very true," replied the Hen; "but I findyou know not the reason of my flight: you never savi^a Falcon upon the spit; but I have seen a thousandHens dressed with all manner of sauces."" I have recited this Fable to show you that oftenthey who are ambitious of a court-life, know not theinconveniences of it." "I believe, friend," said Damna, "that the Lionseeks your life for no other reason than that he isjealous of your virtues." "The fruit-trees only," replied Cohotorbe, "aresubject to have their branches broken; Nightingalesare caged because they sing more pleasantly than otherbirds; and we pluck the Peaco*cks* feathers from theirtails for no other reason but because they are beautiful.Merit alone is, therefore, too often the source andorigin of our misfortunes. However, I am not afraidof whatever contrivances the malice of wicked peoplecan make to my prejudice; but shall endeavour tosubmit to what I cannot prevent, and imitate theNightingale in the following Fable."THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE COUNTRYMANA certain Countryman had a rose-bush in his garden,which he made his sole pleasure and delight. Everymorning he went to look upon it, in the season of itsflowering, and see his roses ready to blow. One dayas he was admiring, according to his custom, thebeauty of the flowers, he spied a Nightingale perchedupon one of the branches near a very fine flower, andplucking off the leaves of it one after another. Thisput him into so great a passion, that the next day helaid a snare for the Nightingale, in revenge of thewrong; in which he succeeded so well, that he tookthe bird, and immediately put her in a cage. TheNightingale, very melancholy to see herself in thatThe Nightingale and Countr^^man 157condition, with a mournful voice asked the Country- man the reason of her slavery. To whom he replied," Knowest thou not that my whole delight was in thoseflowers, which thou wast wantonly destroying? everyleaf that thou pluckedst from that rose was as a dropof blood from my heart." "Alas! " replied the Nightingale, "you use me veryseverely for having cropped a few leaves from a rose

but expect to be used harshly in the other world, forafflicting me in this manner; for there all people are used after the same manner as they here use the otheranimals."The Countryman, moved with these words, gave the Nightingale her liberty again; for which she, willingto thank him, said, " Since you have had compassionin your nature, and have done me this favour, I will repay your kindness in the manner it deserves. Knowtherefore," continued she, "that, at the foot of yondertree, there lies buried a pot full of gold; go and takeit, and Heaven bless you with it." The Countryman digged about the tree, and, finding the pot, astonished at the Nightingale's sagacity in dis- covering it, "I wonder," said he to her, "that, beingable to see this pot, which was buried under ground,you could not discover the net that was spread for yourcaptivity.""Know you not," replied the Nightingale, "that,however sharp-sighted or prudent we are, we can neverescape our destiny? "" By this example you see that, when we are conscious of our own innocence, we are wholly to resign ourselves up to our fate." "U is very true," replied Damna; "the Lion, however, according to the most just observation of the captive Nightingale in your Fable, in seeking yourdestruction, cannot but incur divine punishment; and,desirous as he is to augment his grandeur by your fall,I am apt to think that what once befell the Hunterwill be his destiny."158 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE HUNTER, THE FOX, AND THELEOPARD"A certain Hunter once," said Damna, pursuing hisdiscourse, "espied, in the middle of a field, a Fox, wholooked with so engaging an aspect, and had on a skinso fair and lovely, that he had a great desire to takehim alive. With this intent he found out his hole, andjust before the entrance into it dug a very deep trench,which he covered with slender twigs and straw, and,having laid on it a piece of smoking lamb's flesh, justcut up, went and hid himself in a corner out of sight.The Fox, returning to his hole, and observing at adistance what the Hunter had left for his breakfast,presently ran to see what dainty morsel it was. Whenhe came to the trench, he would fain have been tastingthe delicate entertainment; but the fear of sometreachery would not permit him to fall to: and, inshort, finding he had strong reasons to suspect someill design towards him, he was cunning enough toremove his lodging, and take up other quarters. In amoment after he was gone, as fortune would have it, came a hungry Leopard, who, being tempted by thesavoury odour of the yet warm and smoking flesh,made such haste to fall to, that he tumbled into thetrench. The Hunter, hearing the noise of the fallingLeopard, immediately threw himself into the trench,without looking into it, never questioning but that it was the Fox he had taken; but there found, insteadof him, the Leopard, who tore him in pieces, anddevoured him.""This Fable teaches us, that, however earnestly wemay wish for any event, providence and wisdom oughtto regulate our desires." "I did very ill, indeed," replied Cohotorbe, "to acceptthe Lion's offer of favour and friendship, and nowheartily wish I had been content with an humblerfortune."The Hunter, Fox, and Leopard 159"It is not enough," replied Damna, interruptinghim, "to repent and bewail your past life; your busi- ness is now to endeavour to moderate the Lion'spassion."" I am assured of his natural good will to me,"replied Cohotorbe; "but traitors and flatterers will dotheir utmost to change his favour into hatred, and I am afraid they will bring about their designs.""You are perfectly in the right," said Damna; "but,for my part, were I in your condition, I would defendmy life; and, if I must perish, fall like a warrior, notlike a victim of justice at the gallows. He that dies with his sword in his hand, renders himself famous.It is not good to begin a war; but, when we are attacked, it is ignominious to surrender ourselves like cowards into the enemy's hand.""This is right and proper counsel," replied Cohotorbe; "but we ought to know our strength before weengage in a combat and attack our enemy.""An enemy," said Damna, "I very well know, is at no time to be despised.""However," replied Cohotorbe, "I will not begin the combat; but if the Lion attacks me, I will endeavourto defend myself.""Well," answered Damna, "that you may know whento be upon your guard, let me give you this caution: when you see him lash the ground with his tail, androll his eyes angrily about, you may be sure he will immediately be upon you.""I thank you for your advice," replied Cohotorbe;"and when I observe the signs which you have, so like a friend, informed me of, I shall prepare myself to receive him."Here they parted; and Damna, overjoyed at the success of his enterprise, ran to Kalila, who asked himhow his design went forward. "I thank my fates,"cried Damna, " I am just going to triumph over myenemy." After this short confabulation, the two Foxeswent to court, where soon after Cohotorbe arrived.i6o ^sop's and Other FablesThe Lion no sooner beheld him, but he thought himg-uilty; and Cohotorbe, casting his eyes upon the Lion,made no question, from what he saw, but that hisMajesty had resolved his ruin: so that both the oneand the other manifesting those signs which Damnahad described to each, there began a most terrible combat, wherein the Lion killed the Ox, but not, however,without a great deal of trouble and hazard. When all was over, *' O! what a wicked creature thouart! " cried Kalila to Damna; " thou hast here, for thineown sake, endangered the King's life: thy end will bemiserable for contriving such pernicious designs; andthat which happened to a cheat, who was the cully ofhis own knaveries, will one day befall thee."THE GARDENER AND THE BEAR: BeingTHE Fable told to Damna, the Fox, by hisWife Kalila, to show him his KnaveryThere was once, in the eastern parts of our country,a Gardener, who loved gardening to that degree thathe wholly absented himself from the company of men,to the end he might give himself up entirely to thecare of his flowers and plants. He had neither wifenor children; and from morning till night he didnothing but work in his garden, so that it lay like aterrestrial paradise. At length, however, the goodman grew weary of being alone, and took a resolutionto leave his garden in search of good company.As he was, soon after, walking at the foot of amountain, he spied a Bear, whose looks had in themnothing of a savage fierceness natural to that animal,but were mild and gentle. This Bear was also wearyof being alone, and came down from the mountain, forno other reason but to see whether he could meet withany one that would join society with him. So soon,therefore, as these two saw each other, they began toThe Gardener and the Bear i6ihave a friendship one for another; and the Gardenerfirst accosted the Bear, who, in return, made him a profound reverence. After some compliments passedbetween them, the Gardener made the Bear a sign to follow him, and carrying him into his garden, regaledhim with a world of very delicious fruit, which he hadcarefully preserved; so that at length they entered into a very strict friendship together; insomuch that whenthe Gardener was weary of working, and lay down to take a little nap, the Bear, out of affection, stayed all the while by him, and kept off the flies from his face. One day as the Gardener lay down to sleep at the footof a tree, and the Bear stood by, according to his custom, to drive away the flies, it happened that oneof those insects did light upon the Gardener's mouth,and still as the Bear drove it away from one side, it would light on the other; which put the Bear into sucha passion, that he took up a great stone to kill it. Itis true he did kill the fly; but at the same time hebroke out two or three of the Gardener's teeth. Fromwhence men of judgment observe, that it is better to have a prudent enemy than an ignorant friend. "This example shows that we should take care whom we are concerned with; and I am of opinionthat your society is no less dangerous than the companyof the Bear.""This is an ill comparison," replied Damna; "I hopeI am not so ignorant, but that I am able to distinguishbetween what is baneful and what is beneficial to myfriend." "Why, I know very well indeed," replied Kalila,"that your transgressions are not the failings of ignor- ance; but I know, too, that you can betray your friends,and that when you do so, it is not without long pre- meditation; witness the contrivances you made use ofto set the Lion and the poor Ox together by the ears: but after this I cannot endure to hear you pretend to innocence. In short, you are like the man that wouldmake his friend believe that rats eat iron."1 62 yEsop's and Other FablesTHE MERCHANT AND HIS FRIEND"A certain Merchant," said Kalila, pursuing herdiscourse, " had once a great desire to make a longjourney. Now in regard that he was not very wealthy,' It is requisite,' said he to himself, ' that before mydeparture I should leave some part of my estate in thecity, to the end that if I meet with ill luck in mytravels, I may have wherewithal to keep me at myreturn.' To this purpose he delivered a great numberof bars of iron, which were a principal part of his wealth, in trust to one of his friends, desiring him to keep them during his absence; and then, taking his leave, away he went. Some time after, having hadbut ill luck in his travels, he returned home; and thefirst thing he did was to go to his Friend, and demandhis iron: but his Friend, who owed several sums of money, having sold the iron to pay his own debts,made him this answer: 'Truly, friend,' said he, 'I put your iron into a room that was close locked,imagining it would have been there as secure as myown gold; but an accident has happened which nobodycould have suspected, for there was a rat in the roomwhich ate it all up.'"The Merchant, pretending ignorance, replied, * Itis a terrible misfortune to me indeed; but I know of old that rats love iron extremely; I have suffered bythem many times before in the same manner, andtherefore can the better bear my present affliction.' This answer extremely pleased the Friend, who wasglad to hear the Merchant so well inclined to believe that a rat had eaten his iron; and to remove all suspicions, desired him to dine with him the next day.The Merchant promised he would, but in the meantimehe met in the middle of the city one of his Friend'schildren; the child he carried home, and locked up in a room. The next day he went to his Friend, whoseemed to be in great affliction, which he asked himThe Merchant and his Friend 163the cause of, as if he had been perfectly ignorant of what had happened." ' O, my dear friend,' answered the other, ' I begyou to excuse me, if you do not see me so cheerful as otherwise I would be; I have lost one of my children

I have had him cried by sound of trumpet, but I knownot what is become of him.''" O!

• replied the Merchant, ' I am grieved to hear

this; for yesterday in the evening, as I parted fromhence, I saw an owl in the air with a child in his claws; but whether it were yours I cannot tell.

"' Why, you most foolish and absurd creature!' replied the Friend, ' are you not ashamed to tell such an egregious lie? An owl, that weighs at most not above two or three pounds, can he carry a boy that weighs above fifty?' "' Why,' replied the Merchant, ' do you make sucha wonder at that? as if in a country where one rat caneat an hundred tons' weight of iron, it were such a wonder for an owl to carry a child that weighs not over fifty pounds in all!' The Friend, upon this,found that the Merchant was no such fool as he tookhim to be, begged his pardon for the cheat which hedesigned to have put upon him, restored him the valueof his iron, and so had his son again."^This Fable shows," continued Kalila, "that thesefine-spun deceits are not always successful; but as to your principles, I can easily see that if you could beso unjust as to deceive the Lion, to whom you wereso much indebted for a thousand kindnesses, you will with much more confidence put your tricks upon thoseto whom you are less obliged. This is the reason why1 think your company is dangerous."While Damna and Kalila were thus confabulatingtogether, the Lion, whose passion was now over, madegreat lamentations for Cohotorbe, saying that he beganto be sensible of his loss, because of his extraordinaryendowments. "I know not," added he, "whether I did ill or well in destroying him, or whether what was164 ^sop's and Other Fablesreported of him was true or false." Thus musing for a while in a studious melancholy, at length he repentedof having punished a subject who might, for aught heknew, be innocent, Damna, observing that the Lionwas seized with remorse of conscience, left Kalila, andaccosted the King with a most respectful humility:"Sir," said he, "what makes your Majesty so pensive? Consider that here your enemy lies at your feet;and fix your eyes upon such an object with delight.""When I think upon Cohotorbe's virtues," said the Lion, " I cannot but bemoan his loss. He was mysupport and my comfort, and it was by his prudentcounsel that my people lived in repose.""This indeed was once the case," replied Damna;"but his revolt was therefore the more dangerous; andI am grieved to see your Majesty bewail the death of an unfaithful subject. It is true he was profitable to the public; but in regard he had a design upon yourperson, you have done no more than what the wisesthave already advised, which is to cut off a memberthat would prove the destruction of the whole body."These admonitions of Damna's for the present gavethe Lion a little comfort; but notwithstanding all, Cohotorbe's innocence crying continually afterwards in the Monarch's breast for vengeance, roused at last some thoughts in him, by which he found means to discover the long chain of villainies Damna had beenguilty of. He that will reap wheat must never sowbarley. He only that does good actions, and thinksjust thoughts, will be happy in this world, and cannotfail of rewards and blessings in the other.THE PRINCE AND HIS MINISTER: The FableWHICH THE Lion's Mother told to himThere was once a Prince who was very much famedthroughout all these countries; he was a great conqueror, and was potent, rich, and just. One day asThe Prince and his Minister 165he rode a-hunting, said he to his Minister, " Put onthy best speed; 1 will run my horse against thine, that we may see which is the swiftest: I have a long timehad a strange desire to make this trial." The Minister,in obedience to his master, spurred his horse, and rodefull speed, and the King followed him. But whenthey w^ere got at a great distance from the grandees andnobles that accompanied them, the King, stopping his horse, said to the Minister, " I had no other designin this but to bring thee to a place where we mightbe alone; for I have a secret to impart to thee, havingfound thee more faithful than any other of my servants.I have a jealousy that the Prince, my brother, is framing some contrivance against my person, and for that reason I have made choice of thee to prevent him; but be discreet" The Minister on this swore he wouldbe true to him; and when they had thus agreed, theystayed till the company overtook them, who were in great trouble for the King's person. The Minister,however, notwithstanding his promises to the King,upon the first opportunity he had to speak with the King's brother, disclosed to him the design that wasbrewing to take away his life. And this obliged the young Prince to thank him for his information, promisehim great rewards, and take some precautions in regardto his own safety.Some few days after, the King died, and his brothersucceeded him: but when the Minister who had donehim this signal service expected now some great pre- ferment, the first thing he did, after he was advancedto the throne, was to order him to be put to death. The poor wretch immediately upbraided him with theservice he had done him. "Is this," said he, "therecompense for my friendship to you? this the rewardwhich you promised me? " "Yes," answered the new King; "whoever reveals the secrets of his prince deserves no less than death

and since thou hast committed so foul a crime, thoudeservest to die. Thou betrayedst a king who put his1 66 ^sop's and Other Fablesconfidence in thee, and who loved thee above all his court; how is it possible, therefore, for me to trust thee in my service? " It was in vain for the Ministerto alleg-e any reasons in his own justification; theywould not be heard, nor could he escape the stroke of the executioner."You see by this Fable, son," continued the old Lioness, "that secrets are not to be disclosed." "But, my dear mother," answered the King, "hethat intrusted you with this secret desires it shouldbe made known, seeing he is the first that makes thediscovery; for if he could not keep it himself, howcould he desire another to be more reserved? Let meconjure you," continued he, "if what you have to saybe true, put me out of my pain."The mother seeing herself so hardly pressed, "Then,"said she, " I must inform you of a criminal unworthyof pardon; for though it be the saying of wise menthat a king ought to be merciful, yet there are certain crimes that ought never to be forgiven. It is DamnaI mean," pursued the matron Lioness, "who, by hisfalse insinuations, wrought Cohotorbe's fall." Andhaving so said, she retired, leaving the Lion in a deepastonishment. Some time he pondered with himself onthis discovery, and afterwards summoned an assemblyof the whole court. Damna, taking umbrage at this (as guilty consciences always make people cowards),comes to one of the King's favourites, and asks himif he knew the reason of the Lion's calling such anassembly; which the Lion's mother overhearing,"Yes," said she, "it is to pronounce thy death; for thy artifice and juggling politics are now, though toolate, discovered.""Madam," answered Damna, "they who renderthemselves worthy of esteem and honour at court bytheir virtues, never fail of enemies. O! that we,"added he, "would act no otherwise than as the Almighty acts in regard to us; for He gives to everyone according to his desert: but we, on the other side.The Blind Man who Travelled 167frequently punish those who are worthy of reward, andas often cherish those that deserve our indignation.How much was I to blame to quit my solitude, merelyto consecrate my life to the King's service, to meetwith this reward! Whoever," continued he, "dissatisfied with what he has, prefers the service of princes before his duty to his Creator, will be sure, I find,early or late, to repent in vain."THE BLIND MAN WHO TRAVELLED WITHONE OF HIS FRIENDS: Being the FableWHICH THE TRUE HeRMIT TOLD THE CoURTHermit"There were once," says the fable, "two Men thattravelled together, one of whom was blind. These twocompanions being, in the course of their journey, onetime, surprised by night upon the road, entered into a meadow, there to rest themselves till morning; and as soon as day appeared, they rose, got on horseback,and continued their journey. Now, the blind Man,instead of his whip, as ill fate would have it, hadpicked up a Serpent that was stiff with cold; buthaving it in his hand, as it grew a little warm, he feltit somewhat softer than his whip, which pleased himvery much; he thought he had gained by the change,and therefore never minded the loss. In this mannerhe travelled some time; but when the sun began to appear and illuminate the world, his Companion per- ceived the Serpent, and with loud cries, ' Friend,' saidhe, ' you have taken up a Serpent instead of yourwhip; throw it out of your hand, before you feel the mortal caresses of the venomous animal

" But the blind Man, no less blind in his intellects than in his body, believing that his friend had onlyjested with him to get away his whip, ' What!' saidhe, 'do you envy my good luck? I lost my whip that1 68 ^sop's and Other Fableswas worth nothing-, and here my kind fortune has sentme a new one. Pray do not take me for such asimpleton but that I can distinguish a Serpent froma whip.'" With that his friend replied, ' Companion, I amobliged by the laws of friendship and humanity toinform you of your danger; and therefore let me againassure you of your error, and conjure you, if you loveyour life throw away the Serpent.'"To which the blind Man, more exasperated thanpersuaded; ' Why do you take all this pains to cheatme, and press me thus to throw away a thing whichyou intend, as soon as I have done so, to pick upyourself? ' His Companion, grieved at his obstinacy,entreated him to be persuaded of the truth, swore hehad no such design, and protested to him that whathe held in his hand was a real and poisonous Serpent.But neither oaths nor protestations would prevail; theblind Man would not alter his resolution. The sun bythis time began to grow high, and his beams havingwarmed the Serpent by degrees, he began to crawl upthe blind Man's arm, which he immediately after bitin such a venomous manner, that he gave him his deathwound."This example teaches us, brother," continued thepious Hermit, "that we ought to distrust our senses;and that it is a difficult task to master them, when weare in possession of the thing that flatters our fancy."This apposite Fable, and judicious admonition,awakened the Court-Hermit from his pleasing dream: he opened his eyes, and surveyed the hazards that heran at court; and bewailing the time which he hadvainly spent in the service of the world, he passed thenight in sighs and tears. His friend constantly attendedhim, and rejoiced at making him a convert; but, alas!day being come, the new honours that were done himdestroyed all his repentance. At this melancholy sight, the pious stranger, with tears in his eyes, and manyprayers for his lost brother, as he accounted him, tookThe Blind Man who Travelled 169his leave of the court, and retired to his cell. On the other hand, the courtier began to thrust hirnself intoall manner of business, and soon became unjust, like the people of the world. One day, in the hurry of hisaffairs, he rashly and inconsiderately condemned to death a person, who, according to the laws and customsof the country, ought not to have suffered capitalpunishment. After the execution of the sentence, his conscience teased him with reproaches that troubledhis repose for some time: and, at length, the heirs of the person whom he had unjustly condemned, withgreat difficulty, obtained leave of the King to informagainst the Hermit, whom they accused of injusticeand oppression; and the council, after mature debateupon the informations, ordered that the Hermit shouldsuffer the same punishment which he had inflicted uponthe person deceased. The Hermit made use of all his credit and his riches to save his life. But all availednot, and the decree of the council was executed."I must confess," said Damna, "that, according tothis example, I ought long since to have been punishedfor having quitted my solitude to serve the Lion; not- withstanding that, I can safely appeal to Heaven, thatI am guilty of no crime against any person yet."Damna here gave over speaking, and his eloquence was admired by all the court: different opinions were formed of him by the different persons present; and asfor the Lion, he held down his head, turmoiled with so many various thoughts, that he knew not what to resolve, nor what answer to give. While the Lion,however, was in this dilemma, and all the courtiers kept silence, a certain creature, called Siagousch, whowas one of the most faithful servants the King had,stepped forward, and spoke to this effect:

" O thou most wicked wretch! all the reproacheswhich thou throwest upon those that serve kings, turnonly to thy own shame; for besides that it does no waybelongs to thee to enter into these affairs, know that N657lyo ^sop's and Other Fablesan hour of service done to the King is worth a hundredyears of prayers. Many persons of merit have we seen,that have quitted their little cells to go to court, where,serving princes, they have eased the people, and securedthem from tyrannical oppressions."THREE ENVIOUS PERSONS THAT FOUNDMONEY: Being the Fable told by the LionTO HIS MotherThree Men once were travelling the same road, andsoon by that means became acquainted. As they werejourneying on, said the eldest to the rest, " Pray tell me, fellow-travellers, why you leave your settled homesto wander in foreign countries? " "I have quitted my native soil," answered one,"because I could not endure the sight of some peoplewhom I hated worse than death: and this hatred ofmine, I must confess, was not founded on any injurydone me by them; but arose from my own temper,which, I own it, cannot endure to see another happy.""Few words will give you my answer," replied thesecond; "for the same distemper torments my breast,and sends me a-rambUng about the world." " Friends,"replied the eldest, "then let us all embrace; for I findwe are all three troubled with the same disease." Onthese reciprocal confessions they soon became ac-quainted, and, being of the same humour, immediatelyclosed in an union together. One day, as they travelledthrough a certain deep hollow way, they spied a bagof money, which some traveller had dropped in theroad. Presently they all three alighted, and cried oneto another, "Let us share this money and return homeagain, where we may be merry and enjoy ourselves."But this they only said in dissimulation; for every onebeing unwilling that his companion should have theleast benefit, they were truly each of them at a stand.Three Envious Persons 171whether it were not best to go on without meddlingwith the bag, to the end the rest might do the same

being well contented not to be happy themselves, lest another should be so also. In conclusion, they stoppeda whole day and night in the same place to considerwhat they should do. At the end of which time, the King of the country riding a-hunting with all his court, the chase led him to this place. He rode up to the three men, and asked them what they did with the money that lay on the ground. And being thussurprised, and dreading some ill consequence if theyequivocated, they all frankly told the truth. "Sir," said they, "we are all three turmoiled withthe same passion, which is envy. This passion hasforced us to quit our native country, and still keepsus company wherever we go; and a great act of kind- ness would it be in any one, if it were possible, that he would cure us of this accursed passion, which,though we cannot but carry in our bosoms, yet wehate and abhor.""Well," said the King, "I will be your doctor; butbefore 1 can do anything, it is requisite that every oneof you should inform me truly in what degree this passion prevails over him, to the end that I may applya remedy in proper proportion of strength.""My envy, alas!" said the first, "has got such a head, that I cannot endure to do good to any manliving." "You are an honest man in comparison withme," cried the second; "for I am so far from doinggood to another myself, that I mortally hate that anybody else should do another man good." Said thethird, "You both are children in this passion to me;neither of you possess the quality of envy in a degreeto be compared with me; for I not only cannot endureto oblige, nor to see any other person obliged, but I even hate that anybody should do myself a kindness."The King was so astonished to hear them talk atthis rate, that he knew not what to answer. At length,after he had considered some time, "Monsters, and not172 ^sop's and Other Fablesmen, that ye are," said he; "you deserve, not that I should let you have the money, but punishment, if thatcan be adequate to your tempers." At the same timehe commanded the bag to be taken from them, andcondemned them to punishments they justly merited.He that could not endure to do good, was sent intothe desert barefoot and without provision; he that couldnot endure to see good done to another, had his headchopped off, because he was unworthy to live, as beingone that loved nothing but mischief; and lastly, as forhim that could not endure any good to be done tohimself, his life was spared, in regard his torment wasonly to himself; and he was put into a quarter of thekingdom where the people were of all others famousfor being the best-natured, and the most addicted tothe performance of good deeds and charitable actions. The goodness of these people, and the favours theyconferred upon him from day to day, soon becamesuch torment to his soul, that he died in the utmostanguish."By this history," continued the Lion, "you seewhat envy is; that it is of all vices the most abominable,and most to be expelled out of all human society.""Most true," replied the Mother; "and it is for thatvery reason that Damna ought to be put to death,since he is attainted of so dangerous a vice." "If hebe guilty," replied the Lion, "he shall perish; but thatI am not well assured of; but am resolved to be, beforehe is condemned."While matters were thus carrying on at court, however, Damna 's wife, moved with compassion, went to see him in his prison, and read him this curtainlecture: "Did I not tell you," said she, "that it behovedyou to take care of going on with the execution of your enterprise; and that people of judgment and dis- cretion never begin a business till they have warilyconsidered what will be the issue of it? A tree is never to be planted, spouse," continued she, "beforewe know what fruit it will produce." While KalilaThree Envious Persons 173was thus upbraiding Damna, there was in the prison a Bear, of whom they were not aware, and who, havingoverheard them, resolved to make use of what his ears had furnished him withal, as occasion should direct him.The next day, betimes in the morning-, the council met again, where, after every one had taken his place, the Mother of the Lion thus began: " Let us remindyour Majesty," said she, "that we ought no more to delay the punishment of a capital offender than to hurry on the condemnation of the innocent; and that a Kingthat forbears the punishment of a malefactor is guilty of no less a crime than if he had been a confederatewith him." The old lady spoke this with much earnest- ness; and the Lion, considering that she spoke nothingbut reason, commanded that Damna should be immediately brought to his trial. On this, the chief justice,rising from his seat, made the accustomed speech onsuch occasions, and desired the several members of thecouncil to speak, and give their opinion freely, boldly,and honestly, in this matter; saying, withal, that it would produce three great advantages: first, that truth would be found out, and justice done; secondly, that wicked men and traitors would be punished; andthirdly, that the kingdom would be cleared of knavesand impostors, who by their artifices troubled the reposeof it. But, notwithstanding the eloquence of the judge,as nobody then present knew the depth of the business, none opened their mouths to speak.This gave Damna an occasion to defend himself withso much the greater confidence and intrepidity."Sir," said he, rising slowly from his seat, andmaking a profound reverence to his Majesty and thecourt, "had I committed the crime of which I standaccused, I might draw some colour of advantage fromthe general silence; but I find myself so innocent, thatI wait with indifference the end of this assembly.Nevertheless, I must needs say this, that seeing nobodyhas been pleased to deliver his sentiments upon thisaffair, it is a certain sign that all believe me innocent-174 ^sop's and Other FablesLet me not, sacred sir, be blamed for speaking in myown justification: I am to be excused in that, since it is lawful for every one to defend himself. Therefore,"said he, pursuing his discourse, " I beseech all this illustrious company to say in the King's presencewhatever they know concerning me; but let me cautionthem at the same time to have a care of affirminganything but what is true, lest they find themselvesinvolved in what befell the ignorant Physician; of whom, with 3'our Majesty's permission, I will relate the Fable."THE IGNORANT PHYSICIANThere was once, in a remote part of the East, a manwho was altogether void of knowledge, yet presumedto call himself a Physician. He was so ignorant thathe knew not the colic from the dropsy, nor could hedistinguish rhubarb from bezoar. He never visited apatient twice; for his first coming always killed him.On the other hand, there was in the same provinceanother Physician, of such art that he cured the mostdesperate diseases by the virtue of the several herbsof the country, of which he had a perfect knowledge.Now this learned man became blind, and not being ableto visit his patients, at length retired into a desert, there to live at his ease. The ignorant Physician nosooner understood that the only man he looked uponwith an envious eye was retired out of the way, but hebegan boldly to display his ignorance under the opinionof manifesting his knowledge. One day the King'sdaughter fell sick, upon which the wise Physician wassent for; because, that besides he had already servedthe court, people knew that he was much more able than his pompous successor. The wise Physician beingin the Princess's chamber, and understanding the natureof her disease, ordered her to take a certain pill composed of such ingredients as he prescribed. Presentlythey asked him where the drugs were to be had.The Ignorant Physician 175"Formerly," answered the Physician, "I have seen them in such and such boxes in the King's cabinet; butwhat confusion there may have been since among those boxes I Icnow not." Upon this the ignorant Physicianpretended that he knew the drugs very well, and that he also knew where to find and how to make use of them. "Go then," said the King, "to my cabinet, andtake what is requisite." Away went the ignorantPhysician, and fell to searching for the box; but as many of the boxes were alike, and because he knewnot the drugs when he saw them, he was not able tofind the right ones. He rather chose, in the puzzle ofhis judgment, to take a box at a venture than to acknowledge his ignorance. But he never considered that theywho meddle with what they understand not are likely to repent it; for in the box which he had picked outthere was a most deadly poison. Of this he made upthe pills, which he caused the Princess to take, whodied immediately after: on which the King commandedthe foolish Physician to be apprehended and condemnedto death. "This example," pursued Damna, "teaches us that no man ought to say or do a thing which he understandsnot."" A man may, however, perceive by your physiognomy," said one of the assistants, interrupting him," notwithstanding these fine speeches, that you are asly companion, one that can talk better than you canact; and therefore I pronounce that there is little heedto be given to what you say."The judge on this asked him that spoke last whatproof he could produce of the certainty of what heaverred. "Physiognomists," answered he, "observe,that they who have their eyebrows parted, their left eye bleared, and bigger than the right, the nose turnedtowards the left side, and who, counterfeiting yourhypocrites, cast their eyes always toward the ground,are generally traitors and sycophants; and therefore,Damna having all these marks, from what I know of176 ^sop's and Other Fablesthe art, I thought I might safely give that character of him which I have done, without injury to truth." "Your art may fail you," replied Damna; "for it is our Creator alone who forms us as He pleases, andgives us such a physiognomy as He thinks fitting, andfor what purposes He best knows. And permit me to add, that, if what you say were true, and every mancarried written in his forehead what he had in his heart, the wicked might certainly be distinguished from therigfhteous at sight, and there would be no need of judges and witnesses to determine the disputes anddifferences that arise in civil society. In like mannerit would be unjust to put some to their oaths and othersto the rack, to discover the truth, because it might beevidently seen. And if the marks you have mentionedimpose a necessity upon those that bear them to act amiss, would it not be palpable injustice to punish the wicked, since they are not free in their own actions?We must then conclude, according to this maxim, thatif I were the cause of Cohotorbe's death, I am not to be punished for it, since I am not master of my actions,but was forced to it by the marks which I bear. Yousee, by this way of arguing, therefore, that your infer- ences are false." Damna, having thus stopped theassistant's mouth, nobody durst venture to say anything more; which forced the judge to send him back to prison, and left the King yet undetermined what to think of him.Damna, being returned to his prison, was about to have sent a messenger to Kalila to come to him, whena brother Fox that was in the room by accident sparedhim that trouble, by informing him of Kalila's death,who died the day before of grief at seeing her husbandentangled in such an unfortunate affair. The news of Kalila's death touched Damna so to the quick, that, like one who cared not to live any longer,he seemed to be altogether comfortless. Upon whichthe Fox endeavoured to cheer him up, telling him, thatif he had lost a dear and loving wife, he might, how-The Ignorant Physician 177ever, if he pleased to try him, find him a zealous anda faithful friend. Damna, on this, knowing he hadno friend left that he could trust, and for that the Fox so frankly proffered him his service, accepted his kindness." I beseech you then," said Damna, "go to the court,and give me a faithful account of what people say of me: this is the first proof of friendship which I desireof you."" Most willingly," answered the Fox; and immediatelytaking his leave, he went to the court to see whatobservations he could make, but further report of his doing there is none. The next morning, by the break of day, the Lion'smother went to her son, and asked him what he haddetermined to do with Damna. " He is still in prison,"answered the King; "and I can find nothing provedupon him yet, nor know I what to do about him."" What a deal of difficulty is here," replied the Mother, "to condemn a traitor and a villain, whodeserves more punishments than you can inflict; andyet I am afraid, when all is done, will escape by his dexterity and cunning."" I cannot blame you for being discontented withthese delays," replied the King; "for I also am so, but know not how to help myself; and if you please to bepresent at his next examination yourself, I will orderit immediately, and you shall see what will be resolved upon." Which said, he ordered Damna to be sent for, that the business might be brought to a conclusion.The King's orders were obeyed, and the prisoner beingbrought to the bar, the chief justice put the samequestion as the day before. Whether anybody had anything to say against Damna? But nobody said a word;which Damna observing, " I am glad to see," said he,"that in your Majesty's court there is not a singlevillain; few sovereign princes can say as much: buthere is a proof of the truth of it before us, in that thereis nobody here who will bear false witness, though it178 ^sop's and Other Fablesbe wished by every one that something were said: andin other courts it were well if the same honour andhonesty were kept up."After Damna had done speaking, the Lion, lookingupon his Mother, asked her opinion. " I find," answeredshe, "that you have a kindness for this most cun-ning villain; but believe me, he will, if you pardonhim, cause nothing but faction and disorder in yourcourt." "I beseech you," replied the Lion, "to tell me whohas so strongly prepossessed you against Damna.""It is but too true," replied the Queen-mother, "thathe has committed the crime that is laid to his charge.I know him to be guilty; but I shall not now discoverthe person who intrusted me with this secret. However, I will go to him, and ask him whether he will bewilling that I should bring him in for a witness: " andso saying, she went home immediately, and sent for the Leopard.When he was come, "This villain whom you haveaccused to me," said she, "will escape the hands ofjustice, unless you appear yourself against him. Go,therefore," continued she, "at my request, and boldlydeclare what thou knowest concerning Damna. Fearno danger in so honest a cause; for no ill shall befall thee." "Madam," answered the Leopard, "you know thatI could wish to be excused from this; but you also know that I am ready to sacrifice my life to yourMajesty's commands; dispose of me, therefore, as youplease; I am ready to go wherever you command."With that she carried the Leopard to the King; to whom, "Sir," said she, "here is.an undeniable witnesswhich I have to produce against Damna." Then the Lion, addressing himself to the Leopard, asked himwhat proof he had of the delinquent's treason. "Sir," answered the Leopard, "I was willing to conceal this truth, on purpose, for some time, to see what reasons the cunning traitor would bring to justifyThe Man and the Adder 179himself; but now it is time your Majesty knew all." On this the Leopard made a long- recital of what hadpassed between Kalila and her husband: which deposition being made in the hearing of several beasts, wassoon divulged far and near, and presently afterwardsconfirmed by a second testimony, which was the Bear's,of whom I made mention before. After this the delin- quent was asked what he had now to say for himself;but he had not a word to answer. This at lengthdetermined the Lion to sentence that Damna, as atraitor, should be shut up between four walls, and there starved to death.THE MAN AND THE ADDER: Being theFable which the Rat told to the RavenA Man mounted upon a Camel once rode into a thicket, and went to rest himself in that part of it from whence a caravan was just departed, and wherethe people having left a fire, some sparks of it, beingdriven by the wind, had set a bush, wherein lay anAdder, all in a flame. The fire environed the Adderin such a manner that he knew not how to escape, and was just giving himself over to destruction, whenhe perceived the Man already mentioned, and with a thousand mournful conjurations begged of him to savehis life. The Man, on this, being naturally compassionate, said to himself, *' It is true these creaturesare enemies to mankind; however, good actions are of great value, even of the very greatest when done to our enemies; and whoever sows the seed of goodworks, shall reap the fruit of blessings." After hehad made this reflection, he took a sack, and tying it to the end of his lance, reached it over the flame to the Adder, who flung himself into it; and when he wassafe in, the traveller pulled back the bag, and gavethe Adder leave to come forth, telling him he mighti8o ^sop's and Other Fablesgo alx)ut his business; but hoped he would have thegratitude to make him a promise, never to do anymore harm to men, since a man had done him so greata piece of service. To this the ungrateful creature answered, "Youmuch mistake both yourself and me: think not thatI intend to be gone so calmly; no, my design is first to leave thee a parting blessing, and throw my venomupon thee and thy Camel."" Monster of ingratitude! " replied the Traveller,"desist a moment at least, and tell me whether it belawful to recompense good with evil." "No," replied the Adder, "it certainly is not; butin acting in that manner 1 shall do no more than whatyourselves do every day; that is to say, retaliate gooddeeds with wicked actions, and requite benefits withingratitude."" You cannot prove this slanderous and wicked aspersion," replied the Traveller: "nay, I will venture to say, that if you can show me any one other creaturein the world that is of your opinion, I will consent to whatever punishment you think fit to inflict on me for the faults of my fellow-creatures."" I agree to this willingly," answered the Adderand at the same time spying a Cow, "let us propoundour question," said he, "to this creature before us, and we shall see what answer she will make." TheMan consented; and so both of them accosting theCow, the Adder put the question to her, how a goodturn was to be requited. "By its contrary," replied the Cow, "if you mean according to the custom of men; and this I know by sad experience. I belong,"said she, " to a man, to whom I have long been several ways extremely beneficial: I have been used to bringhim a calf every year, and to supply his house withmilk, butter, and cheese; but now I am grown old,and no longer in a condition to serve him as formerlyI did, he has put me in this pasture to fat me, with a design to sell me to a butcher, who is to cut my throat,The Man and the Adder i8iand he and his friends are to eat my flesh: and is notthis requiting good with evil?"On this, the Adder taking upon him to speak, saidto the Man, "What say you now? are not your owncustoms a sufficient warrant for me to treat you as I intend to do? " The Traveller, not a little confounded at this ill-timed story, was cunning enough, however, to answer, "Thisis a particular case only, and give me leave to say, onewitness is not sufficient to convict me; therefore praylet me have another.""With all my heart," replied the Adder; "let us address ourselves to this Tree that stands here beforeus." The Tree, having heard the subject of their dispute, gave his opinion in the following words

"Among men, benefits are never requited but withungrateful actions. I protect travellers from the heatof the sun, and yield them fruit to eat, and a delightfulliquor to drink; nevertheless, forgetting the delightand benefit of my shade, they barbarously cut downmy branches to make sticks, and handles for hatchets,and saw my body to make planks and rafters. Is notthis requiting good with evil? " The Adder, on this, looking upon the Traveller,asked if he was satisfied. But he was in such a confusion that he knew not what to answer. However,in hopes to free himself from the danger that threatenedhim, he said to the Adder, " I desire only one favour more; let us be judged by the next beast we meet;give me but that satisfaction, it is all I crave: youknow life is sweet; suffer me therefore to beg for the means of continuing it." While they were thusparleying together, a Fox passing by was stopped bythe Adder, who conjured him to put an end to their controversy.The Fox, upon this, desiring to know the subjectof their dispute, said the Traveller, " I have done this Adder a signal piece of service, and he would fain persuade me that, for my reward, he ought to do me1 82 ^sop's and Other Fablesa mischief." "If he means to act by you as you mendo by others, he speaks nothing but what is true,"replied the Fox; " but, that I may be better able to judge between you, let me understand what service it is that you have done him."The Traveller was very glad of this opportunity of speaking for himself, and recounted the whole affair to him: he told him after what manner he had rescuedhim out of the flames with that little sack, which heshowed him."How!" said the Fox, laughing outright, "wouldyou pretend to make me believe that so large an Adderas this could get into such a little sack? It is impossible! " Both the Man and the Adder, on this, assuredhim of the truth of that part of the story; but theFox positively refused to believe it. At length saidhe, " Words will never convince me of this monstrousimprobability; but if the Adder will go into it again,to convince me of the truth of what you say, I shall then be able to judge of the rest of this affair." "That I will do most willingly," replied the Adder;and, at the same time, put himself into the sack. Then said the Fox to the Traveller, " Now you arethe master of your enemy's life: and, I believe, youneed not be long in resolving what treatment such amonster of ingratitude deserves of you." With thatthe Traveller tied up the mouth of the sack, and witha great stone, never left off beating it till he hadpounded the Adder to death; and, by that means, putan end to his fears and the dispute at once. "This Fable," pursued the Rat, "informs us, that there is no trusting to the fair words of an enemy, for fear of falling into the like misfortunes."VI. FABLES FROM LOKMANTHE GNAT AND THE BULLA Gnat full of manners, the Bull would address,And thus in fine language his fancy express: " I crave your diversion and humbly beg pardon,If the weight of my body your horn presses hard on, But if I offend you I'll quickly be gone;"" E'en go, sir, or stay," says the Bull, " 'tis all one."THE OLD MAN AND DEATHQuite spent with a burthen of sticks, an old Clown,To take breath a while, on a bank sat him down: He called upon Death, and wished he would pleaseTo shorten his life, and so give him some ease. Straight all of a sudden, pale Death did appear,Which made the old grumbler's teeth chatter wi' fear. " I called you," said he, " Mr. Death, in a maggot,But now you are here, help me up with fa*ggot."Men at a distance Death defie Who quake like cowards when they die.THE DOG AND THE WOLFA Dog once chased a Wolf, and boasted of his force and the lightness of his course, and the flight of the Wolf at his presence. And the Wolf returned towardshim, saying to him, " Do not think my fear was of' thee, for certainly my fear is of him who was huntingwith you."183184 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE WEASEL AND THE CHICKENSA Weasel heard that the Chickens were sick; theWeasel arose and donned the skin of a Peaco*ck, andwent to visit them, and said to them, *' Health to you,O Chickens! How are you and how is your state?"And the Chickens said to him, "We are always ill until we see your face." THE STOMACH AND THE FEETThe Stomach and the Feet disputed between themselves which of them supported the body. The Feetsaid, "We by our strength carry the body entirely."And the Stomach said, " If I took not some nourishment, surely you could not march far or supportanything."THE DOGS AND THE FOXThe Dogs once found the skin of a Lion, and beganto mangle it. A Fox saw them, and said to them,"Surely, if he were alive you would find that his clawsare sharper and longer than your teeth." THE WOMAN AND THE HENA Woman had with her a Hen that laid a silver eggevery day. The Woman said to herself, " If I increaseher food she will lay two eggs." Then the Hen gottoo much food, and died therefrom.THE DOE AND THE LIONESSA Doe once passed near a Lioness, saying, " I havemany children in a year, and thou only hast in all thylife but one or two." And the Lioness said to her, " It is true; nevertheless, if it be but one, yet he is a Lion."VII. FABLES FROM FLORIANTHE YOUTH AND THE OLD MAN"My dear father," said an ambitious youth, "havethe goodness to tell me how to make a fortune." "Itis," said the Old Man, "a glorious pursuit; in orderto acquire a fortune, one must labour in the commoncause, devote his days, his nights, his talents to theservice of his country." "Ah! that would be too weari- some a life; I wish for some less brilliant means.""There is a more certain method, intrigue." "Thatwere disgraceful; I would enrich myself without vice and without labour." "Well, then, be a fool, I haveknown many a one succeed."THE SQUIRREL AND THE LIONA Squirrel, merrily leaping on the branches of an oak tree, accidently missed its hold and fell upon a Lion who lay at the trunk, basking in the shade. HisMajesty awoke in anger, and, raising his shaggy mane,displayed his terrific teeth to the trembling Squirrel,who, in the most abject manner, begged forgiveness for the intrusion. "I grant you your life," said the Lion;"but on condition that you tell me the reason why youlittle beings are always so lively and happy, while mytime passes so irksomely." "Yes, sire," repHed theSquirrel, " 1 will, in return for your mercy, complywith your request: but he who speaks the truth oughtto stand higher than he who hears it; permit me,therefore, to ascend the tree." o 657 1851 86 ^sop's and Other FablesThe Lion consented to this; and when the Squirrelwas out of his reach he thus addressed him: " You seekto know how I am always merry. Conscience gives mea joyous mind, and learn, sire, that the infallible recipefor happiness—a good conscience—you are in want of.You are day and night oppressed with the sting ofiniquity for the crimes and wanton cruelties you havecommitted. How many animals have you devoured,while I have been employed in carrying nuts to alleviatethe distresses of my poor brethren 1 You hate, and I love! Believe me, there is great meaning and truth inthese words, and often have I heard my father observewhen young:' Son, let your happiness be founded invirtue, and hilarity will be the constant inmate of yourbosom. ' "THE TWO PEASANTS AND THE CLOUDTwo Peasants walking together, one of themremarked to the other, in a piteous tone, that he wassure yonder black Cloud would be the harbinger ofmisfortune. "How so?" replied William, pleasantly."How so?" retorted John: "I will wager that it ischarged with hailstones; the harvest will be destroyednot an ear of wheat will be left standing, and faminemust ensue."—"What is the man dreaming of? " saidWilliam, good-humouredly; "I see nothing in thatleaden Cloud but an abundance of rain, which has beenso long ardently prayed for. Instead of injury, the rainwill enrich us, and ensure a plentiful year; let us,therefore, rejoice, and take a cup of ale upon thestrength of it." —"How can you talk at this rate?"exclaimed John, angrily; to which William retorted:"Your eyes serve you to but little purpose." In thismanner the quarrel proceeded to such a height, thatthey were about to proceed to blows; when a briskwind arose, the Cloud was dispersed, and both weredeceived.The Old Tree and the Gardener 187THE OLD TREE AND THE GARDENERA Man had an old, barren Tree in his garden; it wasa large pear-tree, which had formerly been very fruitful, but had grown old; such is the fate of all. Theungrateful Gardener resolved to remove it; and one morning took his axe for the purpose. At the first blow, the Tree said to him: " Have some regard for my great age, and recollect the fruit that I have bornefor you every year. My death is at hand, I have buta moment to live; do not assassinate a dying Tree,which has so often been your benefactor."—"I regretbeing compelled to cut you down," replied the Gardener,"but I have need of wood." All at once, a hundrednightingales exclaimed: "Oh! spare it! we have butthis one left; when your wife seats herself beneath its shade, we rejoice her with our merry songs; she is often alone, we beguile her solitude." The Gardener drives them away, laughing at their request, and makes a second stroke. A swarm of beesimmediately issued from the trunk, saying to him

" Stay your hand, inhuman man, and listen to us; if you leave us this asylum, we will give you every daya delicious honey-comb, which you can carry to the market for sale." Does this appeal affect him?" I weep with tenderness," replied the avariciousGardener: " what am I not indebted to this unhappypear-tree, which has nourished me in its youth? Mywife often comes to listen to these birds; it is enoughfor me: let them continue their songs unmolested; andfor you, who condescend to augment my wealth, I will sow the whole province with flowers." Thus speaking,he departed, and left the old trunk to repose in peace.1 88 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE MOLE AND THE RABBITSMost of us are aware of some of our defects, but toavow them is quite another matter; we prefer theendurance of real evils, rather than confess that we areafflicted with them. I recollect to have been witness toa fact very difficult of belief, but not the less applicableto what has just been asserted. One fine moonlight evening, several Rabbits wereamusing themselves on the turf with playing at blind-man's buff. Rabbits! you exclaim, the thing is impossible. Nothing, however, is more true; a pliantleaf was placed over the eyes of one, like a bandage,and then tied under the neck; it was done in an instant.He whom the riband deprived of light placed himselfin the centre; the others leapt and danced round him,performing miracles; now running away, then comingclose, and pulling his ears or his tail. The poor blindRabbit, turning suddenly round, throws out his pawshap-hazard; but the flock quickly get out of his reach,and he seizes nothing but air; in vain does he tormenthimself, he would remain there till to-morrow. A stupidMole, who had heard the noise in her earthy dwelling,coming out of her hole, joined the party. You mayimagine that being blind she was immediately caught."Gentlemen," said the Rabbit, "it would not be fairplay to blindfold our sister; we must let her off, shehas no eyes and cannot help herself." " By no means,"sharply replied the Mole, " I am caught fairly; put onthe bandage." "Willingly, my dear, here it is; but I think it will be unnecessary to tie the knot tightly.""Excuse me, sir," replied the Mole angrily, "tie it very tightly, I can see. —That is not tight enough, I can still see."The King and the Two Shepherds 189THE KING AND THE TWO SHEPHERDSA certain Monarch was one day regretting the misfortune of being king: " What a wearisome occupation? " said he; " is there any mortal on the earth moreannoyed than I am? I wish to live in peace, and amforced to go to war; I cherish my subjects and imposefew taxes on them; I am a lover of truth, and yet amincessantly deceived; my people is oppressed with ills, and I am consumed with grief. I seek advice every- where, use all means; but my trouble is only thrownaway; the more I exert myself, the less do I succeed."At this moment a flock of lean sheep caught his eyein the plain. They were almost without fleece; eweswithout lambs, lambs without their mothers; dispersed,bleating, scattered; and the powerless rams wanderingamong the bushes. Their pastor Lubin was runninghere and there, now after this sheep, which was at the entrance of the forest, now after yonder, which waslagging behind, then after his pet lambs. While he is in one quarter, a wolf seizes one of the flock and makesofif with it. Away posts the Shepherd, and another wolfcarries off the lamb he has just quitted. Lubin stopsquite out of breath, and tears his hair, not knowingwhich way to run, and frantically beating his breast,calls on death for relief. " Here is a faithful representation of me," cried the Monarch; " these poor Shepherds endure a slavery nomilder than we Kings, constantly surrounded by danger.That's some consolation."As he uttered these words, he perceived in a meadowanother flock of sheep, all fat and scarcely able to walkfrom the weight of their fleece; the rams strutted proudly about, and the ewes with their dugs full, made the bounding lambs hasten to share the sweetnourishment. Their Shepherd luxuriously stretched beneath a hedge was composing verses in praise of his mistress, sweetly singing them to the listening echoes

and then repeating the plaintive air on his flute.190 ^sop's and Other FablesThe King was astonished, and said: "This beautifulflock will soon be destroyed; the wolves will scarcelybe afraid of amorous swains, singing to their shepherdesses; a flute is a sorry weapon wherewith to repelthem. Oh! how I should laugh! " At that moment,as if to please him, a wolf came in sight; but scarcelyhad he appeared, when a watchful dog sprung upon andthrottled him. Two sheep, frightened at the noise ofthe combat, quitted the flock and ran about the plain.Another dog sets off^, brings them back, and order is restored in an instant. The Shepherd views all, seatedon the turf, without ceasing to play.Hereupon the King said to him half angrily: " Howdo you manage? The woods are filled with wolves;your sheep, fat and beautiful, are almost countlessand with the utmost tranquillity you take care of thewhole flock yourself! " "Sire," replied the Shepherd, "the thing is perfectlyeasy; my whole secret consists in making choice ofgood dogs."THE HUSBANDMAN OF CASTILEThe Grandson of a king, rendered great by his verymisfortunes, Philip of Spain, without money, troops,or credit, being driven by the English from Madrid,fancied his diadem was lost. He fled almost alone,deploring his misery. Suddenly an old Husbandmanpresents himself to his view, a frank, simple, straightforward man, loving his children and his king, his wifeand his country, better than his life; speaking little ofvirtue, but extensively practising it; rich but beloved: held up as an example for every family in Castile. Hiscoat, made by his daughters, was girded by the skinof a wolf. Under a large hat, his intelligent headdisplayed a pair of sparkling eyes, and comely features,and his moustachios depended from his upper lip, reach-ing down to his ruff. A dozen sons followed him, allThe Husbandman of Castile 191tall, handsome and vigorous; a mule laden with gold was in the midst of them.This Man with his strange equipage stopped beforethe King, and said: "Where art thou going? Artthou cast down with a single reverse? Of what use is the advantage the arch-duke has gained over thee? it is thou who wilt reign, for thou art cherished by us. What matters it that Madrid has been retaken fromthee? Our love still remains, our bodies shall be thybucklers; we will perish for thee in the field of honour.Battles are gained by chance; but virtue is necessaryto gain our hearts. Thou art in possession of it, andwilt reign. Our money, our lives are thine, take all

thanks to forty years of labour and economy, I amenabled to offer thee this gold. Here are my twelvechildren, behold in them twelve soldiers, despite mygrey hairs I will make the thirteenth; and the warbeing finished, when thy generals, officers, and great men come to demand of thee, wealth, honour, riband, as the price of their services, we will ask but for reposeand justice; it is all that we require. We poor peoplefurnish the King with blood and treasure, but, far fromrevelling in his bounty, the less he gives, the more welove him. When thou shalt be happy, we will fly thypresence, we will bless thee in silence; thou art con- quered and we seek thee." Having so said, he fell on his knees; with a paternalhand, Philip raised him, sobbing audibly; he pressesthis faithful subject in his arms, wishes to speak, buttears interrupt his words.Soon, according to the prophecy of the good old Man, Philip became the conqueror; and, seated on the throne of Iberia, did not forget the Husbandman.The Monarch most beloved is always the most powerful. Fortune in vain endeavours to overwhelm him; in vain do a thousand enemies, leagued against him, seemto presage his destruction as inevitable; the love of his subjects renders their efforts useless.192 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE HOUSE OF CARDSA kind husband, his wife, and two pretty children,lived peacefully in the village where their parents hadresided before them. This couple sharing the care ofthe little household, cultivated their garden, andgathered in their harvests; on summer evenings, sup-ping beneath the green foliage, and in winter beforetheir hearth, they talked to their sons of virtue, wisdom,and of the happiness which these would always procure.The father enlivened his discourse by a story, themother by a kiss. The elder of these children, naturally grave andstudious, read and reflected incessantly; the younger,merry and active, was always jumping and laughing,and never happy but at play. One evening, accordingto custom, seated at a table beside their parents, theelder was reading Rollin, the younger, careless aboutbeing acquainted with the grand achievements of theRomans and Parthians, was employing all his ingenuity,all his skill, in erecting a fragile House of Cards; hescarcely breathed for fear of demolishing it. The student leaving off for a moment, said, " Father,be so good as to inform me, why certain warriors arecalled conquerors, and others founders of empireshave these two names a different meaning? " Thefather was thinking of a proper answer, when hisyounger son, transported with pleasure at having,after so much trouble, succeeded in building a secondstory, cried out: ** I have done it! " His brother,angry at the noise, with a single blow, destroyed thatwhich it had taken him so long to erect, and made himburst into tears. "My son," then replied the father, "the founder is your brother, and you are the conqueror."The Horse and the Colt 193THE HORSE AND THE COLTUnacquainted with the iron sway of tyrant man, lived a venerable Horse, who had been left a widower, with an only son; he reared him in a meadow, where thestreams, the flowers, and the inviting shade offered at once all that was requisite for happiness. Abusing^these enjoyments, as is customary witJi youth, the Coltstuffed himself every day with clover, fooled away thetime on the flowery plain, galloped about without amobject, bathed without requiring it, or rested himselfwithout being fatigued. Lazy and fat, the youn^hermit grew weary, and became tired of wanting for nothing; disgust soon followed; and, seeking his father, he said to him—'* For some time I have beenunwell; this grass is unwholesome, and kills me; this clover is without smell; this water is muddy; the air we breathe here attacks my lungs; in short, I shall die unless we leave it." "Since it concerns your life, my dear son," replied his parent, "we will instantlytake our departure." No sooner said than done—the two immediately set off in search of a new home.The young traveller neighed for joy; the old one,less merry, went at a sedate pace, taking the lead, andmade his child clamber up steep and arid mountainswithout a tuft of herbage, and where there was nothingwhich could afford them the least nourishment.Evening came, but there was no pasturage; and ourtravellers were fain to go to bed supperless. The nextday, when nearly exhausted by hunger, they were gladof a few stunted briars. This time there was no galloping on the part of the Colt; and after two days, hecould scarcely drag one leg after the other. Considering the lesson sufficient, the father returnedby a road unknown to his son, and reconducted himto his meadow in the middle of the night. As soon as our Colt discovered a little fresh grass, he attacked it with avidity. " Oh! what a delicious banquet! What194 ^sop's and Other Fablesbeautiful grass! " he exclaimed: " was there ever anything so sweet and tender? My father, we will seek no further, let us take up our abode for ever in this lovely spot: what country can equal this rural asylum! " As he thus spoke, day began to break; and the Colt recognising the meadow he had so lately quitted, cast down his eyes in the greatest confusion.His father mildly said to him: " My dear child, in future remember this maxim;' he who enjoys too much, is soon disgusted with pleasure; to be happy, one must be moderate. ' "VIII. FABLES FROM LA FONTAINETHE TWO MULESTwo Mules were bearing on their backs,One, oats; the other, silver of the tax. The latter glorying in his load,March 'd proudly forward on the road;And, from the jingle of his bell, 'Twas plain he liked his burden well. But in a wild-wood glenA band of robber menRush'd forth upon the twain.Well with the silver pleased,They by the bridle seized The treasure-mule so vain. Poor Mule! in struggling to repelHis ruthless foes, he fell Stabb'd through; and with a bitter sighing.He cried, "Is this the lot they promised me?My humble friend from danger free. While, weltering in my gore, I'm dying? "The Council held by the Rats 195"My friend," his fellow-mule replied,

• ' It is not well to have one's work too high.

If thou hadst been a miller's drudge, as I, Thou wouldst not thus have died."THE COUNCIL HELD BY THE RATSOld Rodilard, a certain Cat,Such havoc of the Rats had made,'Twas difficult to find a RatWith nature's debt unpaid.The few that did remain,To leave their holes afraid,From usual food abstain. Not eating half their fill. And wonder no one will That one who made of Rats his revel. With Rats pass'd not for Cat, but Devil. Now, on a day, this dread Rat-eater,Who had a wife, went out to meet her;And while he held his caterwauling.The unkill'd Rats, their chapter calling,Discuss'd the point, in grave debate. How they might shun impending fate. Their dean, a prudent Rat,Thought best, and better soon than late, To bell the fatal Cat

That, when he took his hunting round,The Rats, well caution 'd by the sound,Might hide in safety under ground;Indeed he knew no other means. And all the rest At once confess 'd Their minds were with the dean's. No better plan, they all believed. Could possibly have been conceived.No doubt the thing would work right well,If any one would hang the bell.196 ^sop's and Other FablesBut, one by one, said every Rat,"I'm not so big a fool as that." The plan, knock 'd up in this respect,The council closed without effect. To argue or refute Wise counsellors abound; The man to executeIs harder to be found.THE WOLF ACCUSING THE FOX BEFORETHE MONKEYA Wolf, affirming his belief That he had suffer 'd by a thief. Brought up his neighbour Fox

Of whom it was by all confess 'd, His character was not the best

To fill the prisoner's box.As judge between these vermin,A Monkey graced the ermine;And truly other gifts of ThemisDid scarcely seem his;For while each party plead his cause, Appealing boldly to the laws. And much the question vex'd,Our Monkey sat perplex 'd. Their words and wrath expended.Their strife at length was ended

When, by their malice taught.The judge this judgment brought

" Your characters, my friends, I long have known.As on this trial clearly shown; And hence I fine you both—the grounds at largeTo state would little profit

You Wolf, in short, as bringing groundless charge,You Fox, as guilty of it." Come at it right or wrong-, the judge opinedNo other than a villain could be fined.The Wolf turned Shepherd 197THE WOLF TURNED SHEPHERDA Wolf, whose gettings from the flocks Began to be but few,Bethought himself to play the FoxIn character quite new. A Shepherd's hat and coat he took,A cudgel for a crook.Nor e'en the pipe forgot:And more to seem what he was not,Himself upon his hat he wrote,"I'm Willie, Shepherd of these sheep."His person thus complete.His crook in upraised feet, The impostor Willie stole upon the keep.The real Willie, on the grass asleep.Slept there, indeed, profoundly.His dog and pipe slept, also soundly

His drowsy sheep around lay.As for the greatest number,Much bless 'd the hypocrite their slumber.And hoped to drive away the flock,Could he the Shepherd's voice but mock.He thought undoubtedly he could. He tried: the tone in which he spoke,Loud echoing from the wood,The plot and slumber broke

Sheep, dog, and man awoke.The Wolf, in sorry plight, In hampering coat bedight,Could neither run nor fight.There's always leakage of deceit Which makes it never safe to cheat. Whoever is a Wolf had better Keep clear of hypocritic fetter.198 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE LION GOING TO WARThe Lion had an enterprise in hand

Held a war-council, sent his provost-marshal,And gave the animals a call impartial

Each, in his way, to serve his high command.The Elephant should carry on his backThe tools of war, the mighty public pack,And fight in elephantine way and form

The Bear should hold himself prepared to storm

The Fox all secret stratagems should fix

The Monkey should amuse the foe by tricks. "Dismiss," said one, "the blockhead Asses,And Hares, too cowardly and fleet." "No," said the King; "I use all classes;Without their aid my force were incomplete.The Ass shall be our trumpeter, to scare Our enemy. And then the nimble hareOur royal bulletins shall homeward bear."A monarch provident and wiseWill hold his subjects all of consequence,And know in each what talent lies. There's nothing useless to a man of sense.THE COBBLER AND THE RICH MANA Cobbler sang from morn till night

'Twas sweet and marvellous to hear. His trills and quavers told the ear Of more contentment and delight.Enjoy 'd by that laborious wightThan e'er enjoy'd the sages seven, Or any mortals short of heaven.His neighbour, on the other hand,With gold in plenty at command.But little sang, and slumber'd less

A Financier of great success.The Cobbler and the Rich Man 199If e'er he dozed, at break of day,The Cobbler's song drove sleep away;And much he wish'd that Heaven had madeSleep a commodity of trade, In market sold, like food and drink,So much an hour, so much a wink.At last, our songster did he call To meet him in his princely hall. Said he, " Now, honest Gregory,What may your yearly earnings be? " "My yearly earnings! faith, good sir,I never go, at once, so far,"The cheerful Cobbler said,And queerly scratched his head,

" I never reckon in that way,But cobble on from day to day,Content with daily bread."" Indeed! Well, Gregory, pray, What may your earnings be per day? ** "Why, sometimes more and sometimes less. The worst of all, I must confess,(And but for which our gains would beA pretty sight, indeed, to see,)Is that the days are made so manyIn which we cannot earn a penny

The sorest ill the poor man feels: They tread upon each other's heels,Those idle days of holy saints! And though the year is shingled o'er. The parson keeps a-finding more! " With smiles provoked by these complaints.Replied the lordly Financier,"I'll give you better cause to sing.These hundred pounds I hand you hereWill make you happy as a king.Go, spend them with a frugal heed; They'll long supply your every need."The Cobbler thought the silver more Than he had ever dream 'd before,200 ^sop's and Other FablesThe mines for ages could produce,Or world, with all its people, use. He took it home, and there did hide

And with it laid his joy aside. No more of song, no more of sleep,But cares, suspicions in their stead,And false alarms, by fancy fed. His eyes and ears their vigils keep.And not a cat can tread the floor But seems a thief slipp'd through the door. At last, poor man! Up to the Financier he ran,

Then in his morning nap profound: "O, give me back my songs," cried he,"And sleep, that used so sweet to be. And take the money, every pound! "THE SCULPTOR AND THE STATUE OFJUPITERA block of marble was so fine. To buy it did a Sculptor hasten. "What shall my chisel, now 'tis mine

A god, a table, or a basin? " "A god," said he, "the thing shall be;I'll arm it, too, with thunder. Let people quake, and bow the kneeWith reverential wonder."So well the cunning Artist wroughtAll things within a mortal's reach. That soon the marble wanted noughtOf being Jupiter, but speech.Indeed, the Man whose skill did makeHad scarcely laid his chisel down.Before himself began to quake.And fear his manufacture's frown.The Fishes and the Shepherd 201Imagination rules the heart

And here we find the fountain headFrom whence the pagan error start, Tliat o'er the teeming nations spread.All men, as far as in them lies. Create realities of dreams.To truth our nature proves but ice

To falsehood, fire it seems. THE FISHES AND THE SHEPHERD WHOPLAYED THE FLUTEThyrsis—who for his Annette dearMade music with his flute and voice,Which might have roused the dead to hear,And in their silent graves rejoice

Sang once the livelong- day,In the flowery month of May,Up and down a meadow brook,While Annette fish'd with line and hook.But ne'er a Fish would bite;So the Shepherdess's bait Drew not a Fish to its fate. From morning dawn till night.The Shepherd, who, by his charming songs.Had drawn savage beasts to him in throngs,And done with them as he pleased to. Thought that he could serve the Fish so. **0 citizens," he sang, "of this water. Leave your Naiad in her grot profound; Come and see the blue sky's lovely daughter.Who a thousand times more will charm you

Fear not that her prison will harm you. Though there you should chance to get bound.'Tis only to us men she is cruel

You she will treat kindly

A snug little pond she'll find ye, Clearer than a crystal jewel,P 657202 ^sop's and Other FablesWhere you may all live and do well

Or, if by chance some fewShould find their fate Conceal'd in the bait,The happier still are you

For envied is the death that's metAt the hands of sweet Annette."This eloquence not effectingThe object of his wishes,Since it failed in collectingThe deaf and dumb Fishes,

His sweet preaching wasted,His honey'd talk untasted,A net the Shepherd seized, and, pouncingWith a fell scoop at the scaly fry.He caught them; and now, madly flouncing,At the feet of his Annette they lie! O ye shepherds, whose sheep men are, To trust in reason never dare. The arts of eloquence sublimeAre not within your calling; Your fish were caught, from oldest time,By dint of nets and hauling.THE FOUR FRIENDSRat, Raven, Tortoise, and Gazelle,Once into firmest friendship fell. 'Twas in a home unknown to ManThat they their happiness began.But safe from Man there's no retreat Pierce you the loneliest wood.Or dive beneath the deepest flood,Or mount you where the eagles brood,

His secret ambuscade you meet. The light Gazelle, in harmless play,Amused herself abroad one day.The Four Friends 203When, by mischance, her track was foundAnd follow'd by the baying Hound

That barbarous tool of barbarous Man

From which far, far away she ran. At meal-time to the others The Rat observed,—"My brothers,How happens it that weAre met to-day but three?Is Miss Gazelle so little steady?Hath she forgotten us already? " Out cried the Tortoise at the word,

"Were I, as Raven is, a bird,I'd fly this instant from my seat. And learn what accident, and where,Hath kept away our sister fair,

Our sister of the flying: feet

For of her heart, dear Rat,It were a shame to doubt of that." The raven flew;He spied afar,—the face he knew,

The poor Gazelle entangled in a snare.In anguish vainly floundering there. Straight back he turn'd, and gave the alarm;For to have ask'd the sufferer now. The why and wherefore, when and how,She had incurr'd so great a harm,

And lose in vain debateThe turning-point of fate. As would the master of a school,

He was by no means such a fool. On tidings of so sad a pith.The three their council held forthwith. By two it was the vote To hasten to the spotWhere lay the poor Gazelle. "Our friend here in. his shell,I think, will do as well To guard the house," the Raven said;" For, with his creeping pace.204 ^sop's and Other FablesWhen would he reach the place?Not till the Deer were dead."Eschewing more debate,They flew to aid their mate,That luckless mountain Roe. The Tortoise, too, resolved to go. Behold him plodding on behind,And plainly cursing in his mind,The fate that left his legs to lack. And glued his dwelling to his back.The snare was cut by Rongemail,(For so the Rat they rightly hail). Conceive their joy yourself you may.Just then the Hunter came that way,And, "Who hath filch 'd my prey? " Cried he, upon the spotWhere now his prey was not.

A hole did Rongemail

A tree the Bird as well

The woods, the free Gazelle. The Hunter, well nigh mad,To find no inkling could be had.Espied the Tortoise in his path.And straightway check'd his wrath." Why let my courage flag.Because my snare has chanced to miss?I'll have a supper out of this,"He said, and put it in his bag.And it had paid the forfeit so. Had not the Raven told the Roe,Who from her covert came.Pretending to be lame.The Man, right eager to pursue.Aside his wallet threw.Which Rongemail took care To serve as he had done the snare

Thus putting to an endThe Hunter's supper on his friend.The Acorn and the Pumpkin 205THE ACORN AND THE PUMPKINGod's works are good. This truth to proveAround the world I need not move;I do it by the nearest pumpkin."This fruit so large, on vine so small,"Surveying once, exclaim 'd a Bumpkin

"What could He mean who made us all? He's left this Pumpkin out of place.If I had order'd in the case, Upon that Oak it should have hung

A noble fruit as ever swungTo grace a tree so firm and strong.Indeed, it was a great mistake,As this discovery teaches. That I myself did not partakeHis counsels whom my curate preaches.All things had then in order come

This Acorn, for example.Not bigger than my thumb.Had not disgraced a tree so ample.The more I think, the more I wonderTo see outraged proportion's laws,And that without the slightest cause; God surely made an awkward blunder."With such reflections proudly fraught.Our sage grew tired of mighty thought.And threw himself on Nature's lap.Beneath an Oak, to take his nap. Plump on his nose, by lucky hap,An Acorn fell: he waked, and in The matted beard that graced his chin. He found the cause of such a bruiseAs made him different language use." O! O! " he cried; " I bleed! I bleed I And this is what has done the deed! But, truly, what had been my fate,Had this had half a Pumpkin's weight I2o6 ^sop's and Other FablesI see that God had reasons good,And all His works well understood."Thus home he went in humbler mood.IX. FABLES BY JOHN GAYTHE WILD BOAR AND THE RAMAgainst an elm a sheep was tied,The butcher's knife in blood was dyed: The patient flock, in silent fright,From far beheld the horrid sight.A savage Boar, who near them stood. Thus mock'd to scorn the fleecy brood: "All cowards should be serv'd like youSee, see! your murd'rer is in view;With purple hands, and reeking knife. He strips the skin yet warm with life: Your quarter'd sires, your bleeding dams,The dying bleat of harmless lambs.Call for revenge. O, stupid race! The heart that wants revenge is base.""I grant," an ancient Ram replies,"We bear no terror in our eyes; Yet think us not of soul so tame. Which no repeated wrongs inflame

Insensible of ev'ry ill. Because we want thy tusks to kill. Know, those who violence pursueGive to themselves the vengeance due

For in these massacres they find The two chief plagues that waste mankind.Our skin supplies the wrangling bar.It wakes their slumbering sons to war; And well revenge may rest contented.Since drums and parchment were invented."The Shepherd's Dog and the Wolf 207THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE WOLFA Wolf, with hunger fierce and bold,Ravag'd the plains, and thinn'd the fold: Deep in the wood secure he lay.The thefts of night regal'd the day.In vain the shepherd's wakeful care Had spread the toils, and watch'd the snare;In vain the dog pursu'd his pace, The fleeter robber mock'd the chase. As Lightfoot rang'd the forest round,By chance his foe's retreat he found." Let us awhile the war suspend.And reason as from friend to friend." "A truce," replies the Wolf. '"Tis done."The dog the parley thus begun." How can that strong intrepid mindAttack a weak defenceless kind?Those jaws should prey on nobler food,And drink the boar's and lion's blood. Great souls with generous pity melt,Which coward tyrants never felt. How harmless is our fleecy care! Be brave, and let thy mercy spare.""Friend," says the Wolf, "the matter weigh;Nature design'd us beasts of prey;As such, when hunger finds a treat'Tis necessary Wolves should eat.If mindful of the bleating weal. Thy bosom burns with real zeal

Hence, and thy tyrant lord beseech;To him repeat the moving speech; A wolf eats sheep but now and then,Ten thousands are devour'd by men. An open foe may prove a curse. But a pretended friend is worse."2o8 -^sop's and Other FablesTHE MASTIFFThose who in quarrels interpose,Must often wipe a bleeding nose. A Mastiff of true English blood,Lov'd fighting better than his food. When dogs were snarling for a bone,He long'd to make the war his own: And often found when two contend.To interpose obtain 'd his end;He glory 'd in his Hmping pace;The scars of honour seam'd his face;In ev'ry limb a gash appears,And frequent fights retrench 'd his ears. As, on a time, he heard from far Two dogs engag'd in noisy war. Away he scours and lays about him,Resolv'd no fray should be without him.Forth from his yard a tanner flies, And to the bold intruder cries, " A cudgel shall correct your manners: Whence sprung this cursed hate to tanners?While on my dog you vent your spite,Sirrah! 'tis me you dare not bite." To see the battle thus perplex 'd, With equal rage a butcher vex'd,Hoarse-screaming from the circled crowd.To the curs'd Mastiff cries aloud: " Both Hockley-Hole and Marybone,The combats of my dog have known.He ne'er like bullies, coward-hearted.Attacks in public to be parted.Think not, rash fool, to share his fame

Be his the honour or the shame."Thus said, they swore, and rav'd like thunder.Then dragg'd their fasten'd dogs asunder;While clubs and kicks from ev'ry side Rebounded from the Mastiff's hide.The Owl and the Farmer 209All reeking now with sweat and blood,A while the parted warriors stood,Then pour'd upon the meddling foe;Who, worried, howl'd and sprawl'd below.He rose and limping from the frayBy both sides mangled, sneak'd away.THE OWL AND THE FARMERAn Owl of grave deport and mien,Who (like the Turk) was seldom seen, Within a barn had chose his station. As fit for prey and contemplation.Upon a beam aloft he sits, And nods, and seems to think, by fits. So have I seen a man of news. Or Postboy, or Gazette peruse

Smoke, nod, and talk with voice profound,And fix the fate of Europe round.Sheaves pil'd on sheaves hid all the floor. At dawn of morn, to view his store The Farmer came. The hooting guestHis self-importance thus express'd: " Reason in man is mere pretence: How weak, how shallow is his sense I To treat with scorn the Bird of Night,Declares his folly or his spite.Then too, how partial is his praise! The lark's, the linnet's chirping laysTo his ill judging ears are fine

And nightingales are all divine. But the more knowing feather'd race See wisdom stamp'd upon my face. Whene'er to visit light 1 deign,What flocks of fowls compose my train! Like slaves, they crowd my flight behind,And own me of superior kind."210 ^sop's and Other FablesThe Farmer laugh 'd, and thus reply 'd: "Thou dull important lump of pride,Dar'st thou, with that harsh grating tongueDepreciate birds of warbling song?Indulge thy spleen. Know, men and fowlRegard thee, as thou art, an Owl,Besides, proud blockhead, be not vainOf what thou call'st thy slaves and train. Few follow wisdom or her rules;Fools in derision follow fools."THE CUR, THE HORSE, AND THESHEPHERD'S DOGA Village-cur, of snappish race, The pertest puppy of the place,Imagin'd that his treble throat Was bless'd with music's sweetest note;In the mid-road he basking lay,The yelping nuisance of the way

F"or not a creature pass'd along,But had a sample of his song.Soon as the trotting steed he hears,He starts, he co*cks his dapper ears

Away he scours, assaults his hoof: Now near him snarls, now barks aloof;With shrill impertinence attends

Nor leaves him till the village ends.It chanc'd, upon his evil day,A Pad ^ came pacing down the way

The cur, with never-ceasing tongue,Upon the passing trav'ller sprung.The horse from scorn provok'd to ire, Flung backward; rolling in the mireThe Puppy howl'd and bleeding lay:The Pad in peace pursu'd his way.1 A Nag.The Owl, the Swan, the co*ck, etc. 2 1

A Shepherd's Dog, who saw the deed,Detesting the vexatious breed,Bespoke him thus: " When coxcombs prate,They kindle wrath, contempt, or hate

If thy vile tongue had judgment ty'd,Thou had'st not like a puppy dy'd."THE OWL, THE SWAN, THE co*ck, THESPIDER, THE ASS, AND THE FARMERAn Owl of magisterial air, Of solemn voice, of brow austere,Assum'd the pride of human race. And bore his wisdom in his face. Not to depreciate learned eyes,I 've seen a pedant look as wise. Within a barn from noise retir'd,He scorn'd the world, himself admir'd;And, like an ancient sage, conceal'dThe follies public life reveal'd. Philosophers of old he read,Their country's youth, to science bred. Their manners form'd for every station. And destin'd each his occupation.When Xenophon, by numbers brav'd,Retreated, and a people sav'd. That laurel was not all his own;The plant by Socrates was sown. To Aristotle's greater nameThe Macedonian ow'd his fame.Th' Athenian bird, with pride replete,Their talents equall'd in conceit;And, copying the Socratic rule, Set up for master of a school. Dogmatic jargon, learn'd by heart, Trite sentences, hard terms of art, To vulgar ears seem'd so profound,They fancy 'd learning in the sound.212 ^sop's and Other FablesThe school had fame: the crowded plaxjcWith pupils swarm 'd of every race. With these the Swan's maternal care Had sent her scarce-fledg'd cygnet heir: The Hen, tho' fond and loth to part,Here lodg'd the darling of her heart

The Spider, of mechanic kind,Aspir'd to science more refin'd: The Ass learn 'd metaphors and tropes,But most on music fix'd his hopes.The pupils now, advanc'd in age. Were call'd to tread life's busy stage;And to the master 'twas submitted,That each might to his part be fitted. "The Swan," says he, "in arms shall shine: The soldier's glorious toil be thine." "The co*ck shall mighty wealth attain: Go seek it on the stormy main.""The court shall be the Spider's sphere: Pow'r, fortune, shall reward him there." "In music's art the Ass's fameShall emulate Corelli's name."Each took the part that he advis'd. And all were equally despis'd.A Farmer, at his folly mov'd.The dull preceptor thus reprov'd: "Blockhead," says he, "by what you've done,One would have thought 'em each your son; For parents, to their offspring blind. Consult nor parts, nor turn of mind

But ev'n in infancy decreeWhat this, what t'other son shall be. Had you with judgment weigh 'd the case, Their genius thus had fix'd their place;The Swan had learnt the sailor's art

The co*ck had play'd the soldier's part;The Spider in the weaver's trade With credit had a fortune made;But for the fool, in ev'ry class The blockhead had appeared an Ass."X. FABLES FROM LESSINGTHE LION AND THE HAREA Lion once honoured a Hare with his friendship."Is it really a fact," demanded the Hare, "that the crowing of a miserable co*ck is sufficient to compel youLions to take to flight? " "Such is undoubtedly the case," replied the Lion;"and it is a general remark, that we large animalsare usually possessed by some trivial weakness. Voumust have heard for example that the grunt of a Pigcauses astonishment and fright in the Elephant.""Indeed!" interrupted the Hare. "Ha! now I canunderstand why we Hares are so terribly afraid of the Dogs."THE ASS AND THE RACE-HORSEAn Ass undertook to run a race with the Horse. Theresult was as might have been expected, and the Assgot laughed at. " I now see what was the matter withme," said the Donkey; " I ran a thorn into my foot some months ago, and it still pains me."JUPITER AND THE HORSE"Father of man and beast," said the Horse,approaching the throne of Jupiter, "it is said that I am one of the noblest of the creations with which you. have adorned the world, and my vanity bids me believeit. But do you not think my form still capable of improvement? "213214 ^sop's and Other Fables"And what dost thou suppose would improve thee?Speak; I am open to instruction: " said the graciousDeity, smiling."Perhaps," continued the Horse, "I should havemore speed if my legs were longer and more slender

a long swan-like neck would add to my beauty; abroader chest would increase my strength; and, oncefor all, since you have destined me to carry yourfavourite, man, it might be as well if the saddle, whichthe benevolent horseman supplies me with, were a partof my being.""Good," pursued Jupiter; "have patience amoment! " and, with a solemn air, the god spakethe word of creation. The dust became animated,organised matter was combined; and suddenly stoodbefore the throne, the frightful Camel.The Horse saw, shuddered, and trembled fromexcessive disgust." Here are longer and more slender legs," said Jove;" here is a long swan-like neck; a broader chest; aready created saddle! Dost thou desire to be endowedwith a similar form?"The Horse still trembled."Go," continued the deity, "and this time theadmonition shall suffice without the addition of punishment. To remind thee occasionally, however, of thyaudacity, this new creation shall continue to exist! "Then, casting a sustaining glance upon the Camel, Jovecontinued—"and the Horse shall never perceive theewithout fear and trembling."THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE PEAco*ckA sociable Nightingale found amongst the songstersof the grove plenty who envied her, but no friend." Perhaps," thought she, " I may find one in anotherspecies," and flew confidingly to the Peaco*ck."Beautiful Peaco*ck! I admire thee."—"And I thee,The Horse and the Ox 215lovely Nightingale!"—"Then let us be friends," continued the Nightingale; "we shall not be envious of each other; thou art as pleasing to the eye as I to the ear." The Nightingale and the Peaco*ck becamefriends. THE HORSE AND THE OXA brave Lad flew proudly along on a high mettledCourser: A wild Ox called out to the Horse: " Shameon thee! never would I be governed by a Boy! "—" I would," said the Horse; "for what honour should I acquire by throwing him off? "THE PHCENIXMany ages had now passed away since the Phoenixhad been seen in the world: at last he appeared.Immediately all the different kinds of animals, bothbirds and beasts, flock around him. Astonished at his beauty, they stared and admired, and broke out into great praise. But in a short time, the wisest and mostprudent amongst them began to look upon him with an eye of compassion, and they sighed: "O unhappyPhoenix! Fate has been hard to him. He has neither mate nor friend. He will never know the pleasure of loving, or of being loved."THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE HAWKAs a Nightingale was chanting his accustomed notes,a Hawk pounced upon him. " Since thou singest so charmingly," said he, "thou must be a delicious morsel! " Did the Hawk say this out of spite, outof scorn, or out of simplicity? I can't tell. But I heard a person say, yesterday: "That lady, who is sofine a poet, must undoubtedly be extremely hand- some; " and certainly he said it through simplicity.2i6 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE GOOSEThe feathers of a Goose put the newly-fallen snowto the blush. Proud of this dazzling gift of Nature,she considered herself intended for a Swan, rather thanfor that which she was. Accordingly, separating herself from her companions, she swam, solitary andmajestically, round the pond. She now stretched herneck, the treacherous shortness of which she en-deavoured to obviate with all her might. Now shetried to give it the graceful bend, which designates thebeautiful Swan the bird of Apollo. But in vain, it wastoo stiff, and with all her pains, she remained aridiculous Goose, without inspiring a single beholderwith the least idea of her resemblance to a Swan.How many geese are there, without wings, who,for similar assumption, become laughing-stocks to theirneighbours! THE SPARROWSAn old Church, in the chinks of which the Sparrowshad built innumerable nests, was repaired. As it stoodin its new lustre, the Sparrows returned to look fortheir old dwellings; but they found them all brickedup. "Of what earthly use," cried they, "can so largea building now be? Come, let us leave the uselessheap of stones to its fate I "THE SPARROW AND THE OSTRICH"You may boast as much as you please of yourstrength and size," said the Sparrow to the Ostrich,"but you will never be so good a bird as I am; I don'tfly far, 'tis true, and that only by starts; yet I do fly, and you cannot do any such thing."The Owl and the Treasure-Seeker 217THE OWL AND THE TREASURE-SEEKERA certain Treasure-seeker who was a very unreasonable man, ventured among the ruins of an old castle,and perceived there an Owl which had caught a half- starved Mouse to devour it. "Is that fitting," said he,"for the philosophical favourite of Minerva?"—"Whynot?" replied the Owl; "because I am fond of quietmeditation, can I therefore live upon air? though I am well aware that mankind frequently condemn the learned to such diet."MEROPS" 1 wish to ask you a question," said a young Eagleto a thoughtful and very studious Owl." It is said there is a bird called Merops, which, whenit rises into the air, flies with its tail first, and the headlooking down to the earth. Is it a fact? " "By no means," said the Owl; "it is only a silly fiction of mankind. Man is himself a sort of Merops;for he would most willingly soar towards Heavenwithout losing sight of the world for a single instant."THE ASS AND THE WOLFAn Ass had the misfortune to be met by a hungryWolf. " Have mercy on me," said the tremblinganimal; " I am a poor sick beast; look what a greatthorn I have run into my foot! " "Really, you quite grieve me," replied the Wolf."Conscientiously speaking, I feel myself compelled to put you out of your misery."He had scarcely spoken, when he tore the supplicating Donkey to pieces.Q6572i8 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE KNIGHT IN CHESSTwo Boys playing at Chess, having lost a Knight,put a mark on a spare Pawn, and agreed it should passfor one. "A word with you," cried the old Knights tothe new one: "whence come you, Mr. Upstart?""Silence!" said the Boys; "does he not give us thesame service as you do? " HERCULESWhen Hercules was admitted into Heaven, he madehis obeisance to Juno before any other deity. AllOlympus and Juno were struck with amazement."What," cried every one, "do you give precedenceto your enemy?"—"Yes, even to her," replied Hercules. "It was mainly her persecutions which gave methe opportunities of achieving those deeds by which I have rendered Heaven so much service." Olympus approved of the answer of the new god, andJuno became reconciled to him.THE WOLF ON HIS DEATH-BEDA Wolf lay at the last gasp, and glanced at theevents of his past life. "True, I am a sinner," saidhe; "but let me still hope, none of the greatest. I havedone harm; but also much good. Once, I remember,a bleating Lamb, which had wandered from the flock,came so near me, that I could easily have throttledit; and yet I did nothing to it. At the same time I listened to the jeers and jibes of a Sheep with the mostsurprising indifference, although I had no watchfulDogs to fear."" I can explain all that," interrupted his friend theFox, who was assisting in preparing him for death." I have a distinct recollection of all the attendantcirc*mstances. It was precisely the time that you solamentably choked yourself with the bone, which thekind-hearted Crane afterwards drew out of yourthroat."The Lion with the Ass 219THE LION WITH THE ASSAs iEsop's Lion was going to the forest in companywith the Ass, who was to assist him with his terrible voice, an impertinent Crow called to him from a tree: " A pretty companion I Are you not ashamed of yourself to be walking with an Ass?"—"Whomsoever I can make use of," replied the Lion, "I may very well allow to walk by my side." Thus think the great, when they honour a commonman with their company.THE ASS WITH THE LIONAs the Ass was going to the forest with ^Esop's Lion,who made use of him instead of a hunting-bugle, he was met by another Ass of his acquaintance, who calledto him: '* Good morning, brother 1 "—" Impertinentscoundrel! " was the reply."And wherefore?" said the former. "Because youare walking with a Lion, are you any better than I? anything more than an Ass? "THE TWO DOGS AND THE LAMBHylax, of the race of Wolfhounds, guarded a gentleLamb. Lycodes, who also in hair, muzzle and ears more resembled a Wolf than a Dog, espied him andrushed upon him. "Wolf," said he, "what are youdoing with this Lamb?""You are a Wolf yourself," returned the latter ^the Dogs both mistook each other). " Depart, or you shallfind that I know how to take care of it." Lycodes, however, would take the Lamb by force from Hylax. Hylax was equally determined to keepit, and between these excellent protectors the poorLamb was torn in pieces.220 ^sop's and Other FablesTHE FOXA Fox, closely followed by the Hounds, saved himselfby springing on to a wall. In order to get down withease on the other side, he caught hold of a Thorn-bush,and arrived safely at the bottom, with the exception ofbeing severely scratched by the Thorns. " Wretchedhelp," cried the Fox, "why could you not render assist-ance, without injuring those who relied upon you? "THE SHEEPAs Jupiter was celebrating his marriage festival, andall the animals had made offerings to him, Juno missedthe Sheep."Where is the Sheep?" enquired the goddess,"Why delays the pious Sheep to bring us its humbleoffering? " The Dog stepped forward and said: " Do not beangry, goddess 1 This morning have I seen the Sheep.It seemed very sorrowful, and wept bitterly.""What may have caused its grief?" asked thegoddess, already moved with compassion."' Wretched creature that I am!' it said; * I haveneither milk nor wool; what shall I offer the greatJupiter? Must I alone appear empty-handed beforehim? Rather will I go to the Shepherd and beg himto sacrifice me on Jove's altar!' " At this moment the Shepherd's prayer accompanyingthe scent from the sacrifice of the devoted Sheep, arosethrough the clouds. Could tears have bedewed celestial eyes, Juno would have wept for the first time.THE THORN"Just inform me," said the Willow to the Thorn,•* why you are so anxious to seize the clothes of man-The Nightingale and the Lark 221kind as they pass by you? Of what use can they beto you? " "None," said the Thorn. "Neither do I wish to takethem from him; I only want to tear them."THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE LARKWhat should we say to the poets who take flightsbeyond the understanding of their readers?Nothing but what the Nightingale said one day to the Lark. " Do you soar so very high, my friend, in order that you may not be heard? "SOLOMON'S GHOSTA venerable old Man, despite his years and the heatof the day, was ploughing his field with his own hand,and sowing the grain in the willing earth, in anticipation of the harvest it would produce.Suddenly, beneath the deep shadow of a spreadingoak, a divine apparition stood before him 1 The old Man was seized with affright. " I am Solomon," said the Phantom encouragingly."What dost thou here, old friend?"" If thou art Solomon," said the owner of the field, "how canst thou ask? In my youth I learnt from the Ant to be industrious and to accumulate wealth. Thatwhich I then learnt I now practise.""Thou hast learnt but the half of thy lesson," pursuedthe Spirit. "Go once more to the Ant, and she will teach thee to rest in the winter of thy existence, andenjoy what thou hast earned."THE FAIRIES' GIFTTwo benevolent Fairies attended at the birth of aPrince, who afterwards became one of the greatestMonarchs his country had ever boasted.222 ^sop's and Other Fables"I bestow on my proiigi," said one, "the piercingeye of the Eagle, from whose view not the smallestFly can escape in this extensive kingdom.""The gift is noble," interrupted the second Fairy."The Prince will become a discerning Monarch. Butthe Eagle is not blessed with his keen sight merely todiscover the smallest Fly; he possesses also a supremecontempt for chasing them. And this gift do I bestowon the Prince.""Thanks, dearest sister, for this wise restriction,"resumed the first Fairy. " Nothing is more true thanthat many would have been much greater kings, if, with their extreme penetration, they had less oftenmade use thereof on the most trifling occasions."JESO? AND THE ASS"The next time you write a fable about me," saidthe Donkey to ^sop, "make me say something wiseand sensible." "Something sensible from you!" exclaimed yEsop;"what would the world think? People would call youthe Moralist, and me the Donkey! "THE ARCHERAn Archer had an excellent Bow made of ebony,which would carry an arrow true to the mark from agreat distance. Consequently he held it in greatestimation. Once, however, as he considered it attentively, he soliloquised: "You are still a little too thick;and possess no decorations save your polish. Whatapity! —But that may be remedied," he pursued. " I will go to the cleverest Artist, and let him carve it ornamentally."—Without losing a moment, he set out;the Artist carved a complete hunt on the Bow; andwhat could be more appropriate on a weapon of thechase?The Beasts Striving for Precedence 223The Man was rejoiced. "Ah! my dear Bow," saidhe, "you deserve these embellishments!" Wishingagain to essay its powers, he spans the Bow and snapsit in two.THE BEASTS STRIVING FOR PRECEDENCEIN FOUR FABLESI A serious dispute arose among the Beasts, as to whoshould take precedence of his neighbour. " I propose,"said the Horse, " that we call in Man to adjust thedifference; he is not one of the disputants, and cantherefore be more impartial.""But has he sufficient understanding for it?" askedthe Mole. " It appears to me that it must be veryacute to detect all our deeply-hidden perfections.""That was well thought of! " said the Marmot." Undoubtedly! " exclaimed also the Hedge-hog. " I can never believe that Man possesses sufficient penetration for the task." "Silence! " commanded the Horse. "We know well enough, that he who can place least reliance on the merits of his cause, is always the readiest to doubt the wisdom of his judge."II Man, therefore, was constituted arbitrator. "Anotherword with thee," said the majestic Lion to him, "beforethou pronouncest judgment! By what standard dost thou intend fixing our relative worth? " "By what standard? Doubtless," replied the Man,"according as you are more or less useful to me."" Excellent! " returned the offended Lion. " Howmuch lower in the scale should I rank than the ass! Man 1 thou canst not judge for us. Quit the assembly 1 "224 -^sop's and Other FablesIII The Man retired. "Now," said the sneering- Mole(and the Marmot and Hedge-hog again chimed in withtheir friend), "dost thou perceive, friend Dobbin? the Lion also thinks that Man is not fit to be our judge.The Lion thinks like us."" But from weightier reasons than ye! " said theLion, glancing contemptuously at the speaker.IVThe Lion continued: " The struggle for precedency,now I consider all the circ*mstances, is but a sheerwaste of time I Whether you regard me as the highestor the least, is perfectly immaterial. Enough, I knowmy power! " Thus speaking, he rose, and left theassembly.He was followed by the sage Elephant, the fearlessTiger, the grave Bear, the cunning Fox, the nobleHorse; in short, all who felt their own worth, orthought they felt it. Those who went away last, and murmured most at the breaking up of the assembly, were—the Ape andthe Donkey.THE BENEFACTORS" Have you in the creation any greater benefactorthan me? " asked the Bee of a Man."Most undoubtedly," replied the Man."Name him! " "The Sheep! For his wool is necessary to me, andyour honey is only a luxury. And I will give youanother reason, Mrs. Bee, why I consider the Sheepa greater benefactor than you. The Sheep gives mehis wool without the least trouble or danger; but whenI take your honey, you keep me in constant apprehension of your sting."The Blind Hen 225THE BLIND HENA Hen who had lost her sight, and was accustomedto scratching up the earth in search of food; althoughbhnd, still continued to scratch away most diligently.Of what use was it to the industrious fool? Anothersharp-sighted Hen who spared her tender feet, never moved from her side, and enjoyed, without scratching,the fruit of the other's labour. For as often as theblind Hen scratched up a barley-corn, her watchfulcompanion devoured it. THE STATUE OF BRASSA Statue of Brass, the masterpiece of an excellentArtist, happened to be melted down by a terrible fire, and in that condition, fell into the hands of anotherStatuary. His happy chisel produced another; thesubject whereof was different from the former, but the workmanship was full as exquisite, and the expressionequally noble. Envy saw it, and gnashed her teeth. At last she endeavoured to console herself by saying: "This Statue is passable; but the workman would not have made it, if he had not found the metal of the old one."THE TWO DOGS" How greatly our race has degenerated! " said atravelled Poodle. "In a remote quarter of the globewhich men call India, Dogs are still found of the rightsort; Dogs, my friend, you will scarcely credit me,and yet I have seen it with my own eyes, which arenot afraid of a Lion, and will even attack him in the boldest manner possible! " "But," said a sedate Pointer to the Poodle, "do they overcome the Lion? "226 ^sop's and Other Fables"Overcome him?" was the answer, "why, I can'texactly pretend to say. Nevertheless, only think, to attack a Lion! " "Oh 1 " pursued the Pointer, "if they don't overcomehim, your boasted Dogs in India are no better than we: though undoubtedly they are infinitely more stupid."THE EAGLE"Why do you rear your Eaglets in such elevatedsituations?" said a Man to the Eagle. The latter replied, "Would they venture so near the sun whenarrived at the years of maturity, if I built my nest onthe ground? "XI. FABLES FROM KRILOFTHE RAIN-CLOUDA great Cloud passed rapidly over a country whichwas parched by heat, but did not let fall a single dropto refresh it. Presently it rained a great shower into the sea, and then began boasting of its kindness in thehearing of a neighbouring Mountain. But the Mountain replied, " What good have you done by suchgenerosity? And how can one help being pained at seeing it? If you had poured your showers over theland, you would have saved a whole district fromfamine. But as to the sea, my friend, it has plenty of water already, without your adding to it."The Cuckoo and the Eagle 227THE CUCKOO AND THE EAGLEThe Eagle promoted the Cuckoo to the rank of a Nightingale. The Cuckoo, proud of its new position, seated itself on an aspen and began to sing. After a time it looked round: all the birds were on the wing, some laughing, others abusing it. The Cuckoo grewangry and hastened to the Eagle, complaining againstthe birds. "Have pity on me," he said; "by your command I have been appointed Nightingale to these woods. Butthe birds laugh at my song.""My friend," said the Eagle, "I am a king, but I am not God. I can order a Cuckoo to be styled aNightingale, but I cannot make a Nightingale out of a Cuckoo."THE MONKEY AND THE SPECTACLESOnce a Monkey in his old age became weak-sighted.It had heard men say that this misfortune was of nogreat importance; only one must provide oneself withglasses. So he got half-a-dozen pairs of Spectacles,turned them now this way, and now that, put themon the top of his head, fastened them to his tail, smelled them, licked them; still the Spectacles had noeffect on his sight." Good lack! " it cries, " what fools they be wholisten to all the nonsense men utter. They have told me nothing but lies about the Spectacles." And thenhe threw them hard upon a stone, so that they werebroken to bits. So we speak ill of the things we do not understand.THE ASS AND THE NIGHTINGALEAn Ass happened to see a Nightingale one day, andsaid to it: " Listen, my dear. They say you have a great mastery over song. I have long wished to prove228 ^sop's and Other Fablesif your talent is so great as they say." On this theNightingale began to show her art: whistled in countless ways, sobbed, sustained notes, passed from onesong to another; at one time let her voice die away,and echoed the distant murmur of the reed; at anothertime poured through the wood a shower of tiny notes. There was no one that did not listen to the song: thebreezes died away, the birds were hushed, the cattle lay down on the grass; scarcely breathing, the Shepherd revelled in it, and only now and then as he listeneddid he smile on the shepherdess. At length the singer ended. Then the Ass, bendingits head towards the ground, observed

"It's tolerable. To speak the truth, one can listen to you without feeling weary. But it's a great pityyou don't know our co*ck. You would sing muchbetter if you were to take a few lessons from him."At this the Nightingale flew very far away.THE COMBA Mother one day bought a strong Comb to keepher boy's hair in order. The Child never let the newpresent go out of his hands; whether playing or learn-ing his alphabet, he was always passing the Combthrough his golden hair. It was a wonderful Comb! it never pulled out his hair, nor got caught in his curls. One day it happened that the Comb was mislaid, andthe Boy went to play and romp about, till his hair gotall a-tangle. Scarcely did his Nurse touch it, than hebegan to howl: "Where is my Comb? " At last it was found; but when they tried to pass it through his hair, it could not be moved either backwards or forwards, but it pulled his hair out by the roots,till the Boy cried: " How wicked you have become, mybad Comb! " To which the Comb replied

" I am now just the same as I ever was. The faultlies with your hair, which has got all a-tangle."The Boy, at that, threw the Comb into the river,where the Naiads now comb their beautiful hair with itXII. FABLES FROM TOLSTOITHE WATER-DEMON AND THE PEARLA Man one day was rowing on the sea, and droppeda costly Pearl into the water. He thereupon put in to the shore, and began to bale up the water, and pour it out on the land. This he did for three days withoutcease. On the fourth day a Water-Demon came out of the sea and asked why he was drawing off the sea-water?The Man answered, " I am drawing the water becauseI have dropped a Pearl into it." The Water-Demonthen asked him how soon he would stop?"I will stop," he said, "when I have dried up the sea." The Water-Demon thereupon dived down again into the sea, fished up the Pearl, and gave it to the Man.THE MONKEYOne day a Man went into the woods, cut down atree, and began to saw it up. Raising the end of thetree upon a stump, he sat astride it, and began to saw.After he had sawn a little, he drove a wedge into theslit, and went on sawing; then he took out the wedgeand again drove it in, farther down.All this while a Monkey was sitting on a tree andwatching him. At last the Man lay down and went tosleep. Then the Monkey descended, and, sitting astride the tree, tried to do the same. But when she took outthe wedge, the tree sprang back and caught her tail, 229230 ^sop's and Other Fableswhereupon she set up a piteous cry, and began to tugat her tail in vain. At the noise, the Man woke up, and after beatingthe Monkey, made her captive with a rope.THE WOLF AND THE BOWA Hunter one day went out with Bow and Arrows.He managed to shoot and kill a Goat, which he threwon his shoulders and began to carry along. But spyinga Boar, he threw down the Goat, and shot at the Boarand wounded him. The Boar then rushed at theHunter, and after goring him to death, himself fell dead by the Man's side. Scenting the blood, a Wolf came to the place wherethe Goat, the Boar, the Man, and his Bow all lay.The Wolf was glad, and said, " Now I shall haveenough to eat for a long time. I will not eat every-thing at once, but little by little, that nothing may belost. First I will eat the tougher things, and then I will dine on what is soft and sweet."Then he began to gnaw the sinews of the Bow; butwhen he bit through the string, the Bow sprang backand struck him so violently, that the blow killed him.Then the other Wolves, that had scented a feast fromafar, came in their numbers, and ate up the Hunter,the Goat, the Boar, and their fellow Wolf.THE CORN-CRAKE AND HIS MATEA Corn-crake had made a nest in a meadow late in the year, and at mowing-time his Mate was still sitting on her eggs.Early in the morning the Peasants came to themeadow, took off their coats, whetted their scythes,and started one after another to mow down the grassand lay it in rows. The Corn-crake flew up to see whatThe Corn-Crake and his Mate 231they were doing, and when he saw a Peasant swing his scythe and cut a Snake in two, he rejoiced and flew back to his Mate, and said: " Have no fear of the Peasants! They have come to cut the Snakes to pieces."But his Mate said, "The Peasants are cutting the grass, and with the grass they are cutting everythingin their way—the Snakes, the Corncrake's nest, andthe Corn-crake's head. My heart forebodes nothinggood: but I cannot Carry away the eggs, nor fly fromthe nest, lest I chill them."When the mowers came to the Corn-crake's nest, one of the Peasants swung his scythe and cut off the head of the Corn-crake's Mate, and put the eggs in his bosom, and gave them to his children to play with.THE WOLF AND THE HUNTERSA Wolf devoured a Sheep. The Hunters caught the Wolf and began to beat him, whereupon he cried: " In vain do you beat me: it is not my fault that I amgrey; God made me so." But the Hunters said: "Wedo not beat the Wolf for being grey, but for eatingthe Sheep."Madc At Ths TeMPteTpRsss LeTCHivOPTHC^eAT BritainEVERYMAN'S LIBRARYA CLASSIFIED LIST OF THE 953 VOLUMESIn each of the thirteen classifications in this h§t (except biography)the volumes are arranged alphabetically under the authors' names, but Anthologies and works by various hands are listed under titles. Where authors appear in more than one seftion, a cross-referenceis given, viz.: {See also Fiction). The number at the end of eachitem is the number of the volume in the series. All the volumes are obtainable in the Standard Cloth binding, andin the special Library binding; selefted volumes obtainable in Leather are marked l. BIOGRAPHYAudubon the Naturalist, Life and Adventures of. By R. Buchanan. 601 Baxter (Richard), Autobiography of. Ed. by Kev. J. M. Lloyd Thomas. 8G8Leaconsfleld (Lord), Lite of. By J. A. Froude. 666Berlioz (Hector), Life of. Translated by Katherine F. Boult. 602Blackvvell (Dr Elizabeth): Pioneer Work for Women. With an Introduction by Mrs Fawcett. 667 Bronte (Charlotte), Life of. By Mrs Gaskell. Intro, by May Sinclair. 31S(&'ee also Fiction) Browning (Robert), Life of. By E. Dowden. 701(See cuLsn Poetry and Drama)Burns (Robert), Life of. By J. G. Loekhart. Intro, by E. Rhys. 156(Sec also Poetry and Drama)Buxton (Sir Thomas Fowell), Memoirs of. Ed. by Charles Buxton. 773L Byron's Letters. Introduction by Andr6 Maurois. U31(See also Poetry and Drama)Carey(William), Lifeof: Shoemaker and Mi.ssionary. By George Smith. 395Carlyle'B Letters and Speeches of Cromwfll. 3 vols. 2G6-S„ Reminiscences. 875 (See also Essays and History)Cellini's (Benvenuto) Autobiog:raphy. 51 Gibber's (Colley) An Apology for his Life. 668 Columbus, Life of. By Sir Arthur Helps. 332 Constable (John), Memoirs of. By C. R. Leslie, R.A. 563 Cowper (William), Selected Letters of. Intro, by VV. Uadley, M.A 774(See also Poetry and Drama)De Quincey's Reminiscences of the Lake Poets. Intro, by E. Rhys. 163(See also Essays) De Retz (Cardinal): Memoirs. By Himself. 2 vols. 735-6Dickens (Charles), Life of. By John Forster. Introduction by G. KChesterton. 2 vols. 781-2 (See also Fiction)Disi-aeli (Benjamin), Life of. By J. A. Froude. 666Evelyn's Diary. 2 vols. Introduction by G. W. E. Russell. 220-1 Fox (George), Journal of. Text revised by Norman Penney. 754Franklin's (Benjamin) Autobiography. 316 Gibbon(Edward), Autobiography of. 511 (See a/so History)Gladstone, Life of. By G. W. E. Russell (' Onlooker '). 661 Goethe, Life of. By G. H. Lewes. Intro, by Havelock Ellis. 269 Hastings (Warren), Life of. By Capt. L. J. Trotter. 452 Hodson of Hudson's Horse. By Capt. L. J. Trotter. 401 Hutchinson (Col.), Memoirs of. Intro. Monograjih byF. P. G. Guizot. 317L Johnson (Dr Samuel), Life of. By James Boswell. 2 vols. 1-2 Lives of the Poets. 770-1 (See a/so Travel)Keats (John), Life and Letters of. By Lord Houghton. Introduction by R. Lynd. 801 (See also Poetry and Drama)Lamb (Charles), Letters of. 2 vols. 342-3(See also Essays and For Young People)Lincoln (Abraham),Life of. By Henry Bryan Binns. 783 (Sec aZso Oratory)IEVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTmOGKAVHY—continued Mahomet, Life of. By Washinprton Irving. Intro. Prof. E. V. Arnold. 513Maz7.ini, Life of. By Bolton King, M.A. 562Mozart, Life of. By Edward Holmes. Intro, by Ernest Newmati. 504 Napoleon, Life of. By J. G. Lockhart. 3 Nelson, Life of. By Robert Southey. 52 [of Newcastle. 722 Newcastle (First Duke of). Life of, and other writings. By the duch*esaOutran! (Sir J.), The Bayard of India. By Capt. L. J. Trotter. 396L Pepys's Diary. Lord Bray lirooke's 1854 ed. 2 vols. 53—1Plutarch's Lives of Noble Greeks and Romans. Dryden's Translation. Revised, with Introduction, by Arthur Hugh Clough. 3 vols. 407-1) Rousseau, Confessions of. 2 vols. 859-60Scott (Sir Walter), Life of (abridged). By J. G. Lockhart. 55Scott's Lives of the Novelists. Introduction by George Saintsbury. 331(See also Fiction and Poetry) Seebohm (Frederic): The Oxford Reformers. 665Shakespeare, Life and Work of. By Oliphaut Smeaton. 514(See also Poetry and Drama)Swift's Journal to Stella. Newly deciphered and edited by J. K. Moorhead. Introduction by Sir Walter Scott. 757(-See also Essays and For Younq Peoe-lk)Vasari's Lives of the Painters. Trans, by A. B. Hinds. 4 vols. 784-7Voltaire's Life of Charles XII. Introduction by Rt Hon. J. Burns. 270{See also Fiction)Walpole (Horace), Selected Letters of. Intro, by W. Hadley, M.A. 775Wellington, Life of. By G. R. Gleig. 311 Weslev's Journal. 4 vols. Intro, by Rev. F. W. Macdonald. 105-8 Woolman's (John) Journal and Other Papers. Introduction by Vida D. Scuddor. 402 CLASSICALiEschylus' Lyrical Dramas. Translated by Professor J. S. Blackie. 62 Aristophanes' The Frogs, The Clouds. The Thesmophorians. 616„ The Acharnians, The Knights, and The Birds. Frere's Translation. Introduction by John P. Maine. 344Aristotle's Politics. Introduction by A. D. Lindsay. 605Poetics, etc., and Demetrius on Stylo, etc. Edited by Rev. T. A." Moxon. 901 (See also Philosophy)Caesar's The Gallic War and Other Commentaries. Translated by W. A.McDevitte. 702 . xr . ^ , ^ . Cicero's Essays and Select Letters. Intro. Note by de Qumcey. 345Epictetufl, Moral Discourses, etc. Elizabeth Carter's Translation. Editedby W. H. D. Rouse, M.A. 404Euripides' Plays in 2 vols. Introduction by V. R. Reynolds. Translatedby M. Wodhull and R. Potter, with Shelley's ' Cyclops ' aud DeanMilman's * Bacchanals.' 63, 271 Herodotus. Rawlinson's Translation, omitting his Essays, and Appendices. Edited, with Intro., by E. H. Blakeney, M.A. 2 vols. 405-6L Homer's Iliad. Lord Derby's Translation. 453 L „ Odyssey. William Cowper's Translation. 454 Horace. Complete Poetical Works. 515 Hutchinson's (W. M. L.) The Muses' Pageant. 3 vols. 581, 606, and 671Livv's History of Rome. Vols. I-VI. Translated by Rev. CanonRoberts. 603, 669, 670, 749, 755, and 756Lucretius: On the Nature of Things. Translated by W. E. Leonard. 750L Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. Introduction by W. II. D. Rouse. 9 Plato's Dialogues. 2 vols. Introduction by A. D. Lindsay. 456-7Republic. Translated, with an Introduction, by A. D.Lindsay. 64Plutarch's Moralia. 20 Essays translated by Philemon Holland. 666Sophocles' Dramas. Translated by Sir G. Young, Bart. 114 Thucydides' Peloponneeian War. Crawley's Translation. 455VirgU's ^neid. Translated by B. Fairfax-Taylor. 161 Eclogues and Georgics. Translated by T. F. Royds, M.A. 222Xenophon's Cyiopaedia. Translation revised by Miss F. M. Stawell. 6722EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTESSAYS AND BELLES-LETTRESAnthology of Prose. Compiled and Edited by Miss S. L. Edwards. 675Arnold's (Matthew) Essays. Introduction by G. K. Chesterton. 115„ „ Study of Celtic Literature, and other Critical Essays, with Supplement by Lord Strangford, etc. 458(-See also Poetry)Bacon's Essays. Introduction by Oliphant Smeaton. 10(See also Philosophy)Bagehot's Literary Studies. 2 vols. Intro, by George Sampson. 620-1BeUoc's (Hilaire) Stories, Essays, and Poems. 948 Brown's Rab and his Friends, etc. 116 Burke's Reflections on the French Revolution and contingent Essays. Introduction by A. J. Grieve, M.A. 460(AS'ee also Oratory)Canton's (William) The Invisible Playmate, W. V., Her Book, and In(See also For Younq People) [Memory of W. V. 566Carlyle's Essays. 2 vols. With Not&s by J. Russell Lowell. 70.3-4„' Past and Present. Introduction by R. W. Emerson. 608„ Sartor Resartus and Heroes and Hero Worship. 278(See also Biography and History)Castlgliono's The Courtier. Translated by Sir Thomas Hoby. Intro- duction by W. H. D. Rouse. 807 L Century of Essays, A. An Anthology of English Essayists. 653Chesterfield's (Lord) Letters to his Son. 823L Chesterton's (G. K.) Stories, Essays, and Poems. 913Coleridge's Biographia Literaria. Introduction by Arthur Symons. 11 „ Essays and Lectures on Shakespeare, etc. 162(See also Poetry)L De la Mare's (Walter) Stories, Essays, and Poems. 940 De Quiiicey's (Thomas) Opium Eater. Intro, by Sir G. Douglas. 223„ „ The English Mail Coach and Other Writings. Introduction by S. Hill Burton. 609(See also Biography)Dryden's Dramatic Essays. With an Introduction by W. H. Hudson. 568Elyot's Gouornour. Intro, and Glossary by Prof. Foster Watson. 221 L Emerson's Essays. First and Second Scries. 12 L „ Nature, Conduct of Life, Essays from the ' Dial.' 322„ Representative Men. Introduction by E. Rhys. 279„ Society and Solitude and Other Essays. 567(See also Poetry)Florio's Monteigne. Introduction by A. R. Waller, M.A. 3 vols. 440-3Froude's Short Studies. Vols. I and II. 13, 705(.S'se also History and Biography)Gilfillan's Literary Portraits. Intro, by Sir W. Robertson Nicoll. 348Goethe's Conversations with Eckermann. Intro, by Havelock Eliis 851. (Se^ also Fiction and I^oetry) Goldsmith's Citizen of the World and The Bee. Intro, by R. Church. 902(See also Fiction and Poetry)Hamilton's The Federalist. 519Hazlitt's Lectures on the English Comic Writers. 411„ The Round Table and Shakespeare's Characters. 65 „ Spirit of the Ago and Lectures on English Poets. 459 Table Talk. 321„ Plain Speaker. Introduction by P. P. Howe. 814 Holmes's Autocrat of the Breakfast Table. 66 „ Poet at the Breakfast Table. 68„ Professor at the Breakfast Table. 67 L Hudson's (W. H.) A Shepherd's Life. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 920 Hunt's (Leigh) Selected Essays. Introduction by J. B. Priestley. 829L Huxley's (Aldous) Stories, Essays, and Poems. 935Irving's Sketch Book of (Jeoffrey Crayon. 117(See also Biography and History)L Lamb's Essays of Elia. Introduction by Augustine Birrell. 14(See also Biography and For Young I'eople) 3EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTESSAYS AND BELLES-LETTRES—^^;;//;?//^^ Lander's Imaginary Conversations and Poems: A selection. Editedwith Intiociuction by Havelock Ellis. 890Lowell's (James Russell) Among My Books. C07 Macaulay's Essays. 2 vols. Introduction by A. J. Grieve, M.A. 225-0„ Miscellaneous Essays and The Lays of Ancient Rome. 439(See also Histouy and Oratory)Machiavelli'e Prince. Special Trans, and Intro, by W. K. Marriott. 280(See also History)Martinengo-Cesaresco (Countess): Essays in the Study of Folk-Songs. 673Mazzini's Duties of Man, etc. Introduction by Thomas Jones, M.A. 224Milton's Areopagitica. etc. Introduction by Professor C. E. Vaughan. 795(See also Poetry)L Mitford's Our Village. Edited, viith Intro., by Sir John Squire. 927 Montagu's (Lady) Letters. Introduction by R. Brimley Johnson. 69Nevi'man's On the Scope and Nature of University Education, and apaper on Christianity and Scientific Investigation, introduction byWiared Ward. 723(See also PHTLOSOrHY)Osborne's (Dorothy) Letters to Sir William Temple. Edited and con- notated by Judge Parry. 674 Penn's The Peace of Europe. Some Fruits of Solitude, etc. 724 Prelude to Poetry, The. Edited by Ernest Rhys. 789 Reynold's Discourses. Introduction by L. March Phillipps. 118 Rhys's New Book of Sense and Nonsense. 813 Rousseau's Emile. Translated by Barbara Foxley. 518(See also Philosophy and Theology)Ruskin's Cro\vn of Wild Olive and Cestus of Aglaia. 323„ Elements of Drawing and Perspective. 217'„ Ethics of the Dust. Introduction by Grace Rhys. 282 Modern Painters. 5 vols. Introduction by Lionel Chist. 203-12" Pre-Ilaphaelitism. Lectures on Architecture and Painting, Academy Notes, 1S55-9, and Notes on the Turner Gallery. Introduction by Laurence Binyon. 218, , Sesame and Lilies, The Two Paths, and The King of the GoldenRiver. Introduction by Sir Oliver Lodge. 219 Seven Lamps of Architecture. Intro, by Selwyn Image. 207 " Stones of Venice. 3 vols. Intro, by L. March Phillipps. 213-15" Time and Tide with other Essays. 450 " Unto This Last. The Political Economy of Art. 216 " (See also For Young People)Spectator, The. 4 vols. Introduction by G. Gregory Smith. 164-7Spencer's (Herbert) Essays on Education. Intro, by C. W. Eliot. 504Sterne's Sentimental Journey and Journal and Letters to Eliza. Intro, by George Suintsbm-y. 79lj (See also Fiction)Stevenson's In the South Seas and Island Nights' Entertainments. 769, ^Virginibus Puerisque and Familiar Studies of Men andBooks. 765(See also Fiction, Poetry. >ivd Travel)Swift's Tale of a Tub, The Battle of the Books, etc. 347(Sec also Biography and For Young People)Swinnerton's (Frank) The Georgian Literary Scene. 943 Table Talk. Edited by J. C. Thornton. 906Taylor's (I.^^oac) W^ords and Places, or Etymological Illustrations of History, Ethnology, and Geography. Intro, by Edward Thomas. 517Thackeray's (W. M.) The English Humorists and The i'our Georges.Introduction by Walter Jerrold. (ilO (Sec also Fiction)Thoreau's Walden. Introduction by Walter Raymond. 281 Trench's On the Study of Words and English Past and Present. Intro- duction by George Sampson. 788Tytler's Essay on the Principles of Translation. 168 Walton's Compleat Angler. Introducli.-n by Andrew Lang. 70 , 4EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTFICTIONAlmard'8 The Indian Scout. 428 Ainsworth's (Harrison) Old St Paul's. Intro, by W. E. A. Axon. 522 „ „ The Adnairable Crichton. Intro, by E. Rhys. 804L „ „ The Tower of London. 400 Windsor Castle. 709„ „ Rookwood. Intro, by Frank Swinnerton. 870 American Short Stories of the Nineteenth Century. Edited by JohnCournoa. 810 L Austen's (Jane) Emma. Introduction by R. B. Johnson. 24„!»laiisiield Park. Introduction by R. B. Joimson. 23,, „ Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Introduction byR. B. Johnson. 25 L „ ,, Pride and Prejudice. Introduction by R. B. Johnson. 22 L „ „ Sense and Sensibility. Intro, by R. B. Johnson. 21Balzac's (Honor6 de) Atheist's Mass. Preface by George Saiutsbury. 229„ Catherine de M6dici. Introduction by GeorgeSaintsbury. 419„ „ Christ in Flanders. Introduction by GeorgeSaiutsbury. 284 „ „ Cousin Pons. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 463 „ „ Eugenie Grandet. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 169„ „ Lost Illusions. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 656 „ ,, Old Goriot. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 170 „ „ The Cat and Racket, and Other Stories. 349„ ,, The Chouans. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 285 „ „ The Country Doctor. Intro. George Saintsbury. 530„ „ The Country Parson. 686„ „ The Quest of the Absolute. Introduction by GeorgeSaintsbury. 286 The Rise and Fall of C^sar Birotteau. 596„ „ The Wild Ass's Skin. Intro. George Saintsbury. 26,, ,, Ursule Mirouet. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 733 Barbusse's Under Fire. Translated by Fitzwater Wray. 798 L Bennett's (Arnold) The Old Wives' Tale. 919L Blackmore's (R. D.) Lorna Doone. 304L Borrow's Laveugro. Introduction by Thomas Seccombe. 119 „ Romany Rye. 120(&'ce also Travel)Bronte's (Anne) The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and Agnes Grey. 685h „ (Charlotte) Jano Eyre. Introduction by May Sinclair. 287„ Shirley. Introduction by May Sinclair. 283„ The Professor. Introduction by May Sinclair. 417Villette. Introduction by May Sinclair. 351(Emily) Wuthering Heights. 243 Bnrney's (Fanny) ETelina. Introduction by R. B. Johnson. 352Butler's (Samuel) Erewhon and Erewhon Revisited. Introduction by Desmond MacCarthy. 881„ „ The Way of All Flesh. Intro, by A. J. Hopp6. 895Collins' (WiUde) The Woman in White. 464L Conrad's Lord Jim. Introduction by R. B. Cuuninghamo Grahame. 925I- Conrerse's (Florence) Long Will. 328 Dana's (Richard H.) Two Years before the Mast. 588 Daudet's Tartarin of Tarascon ami Tartarin of the Alps. 423Defoe's Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders. Intro, by G. A. Altken„ Captain Singleton. Introduction by Edward Garnett. 74 [837Joxirnal of the Plague Year. Introduction by G. A. Aitken. 289 Memoirs of a Cavalier. Introduction by Q. A. Aitken. 283(See also For Young People) C^ARLE3 Dickens' Works. Each volume with an Intro, by G. K. Chesterton American Notes. 290 L Christmas Stories. 414L Barnaby Rudge. 76 L David Copperfleld. 242L Bleak House. 236 L Dombey and Son. 240Child's History of England. 291 Edwin Drood. 725L Christmas Books. 239 L Great Expectations. 234 5EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTmcnON—confmuedCharles Dickhxs' 'Works—con!inued Hard Times. 292 Our Mutiial Friend. 294 L Lltlio Dorrit. 2!»3 L Pickwink I'apera. 233 L Martin Chuzzlewit. 241 Reprinted Pieces. 744 L Nicl:olas Nickleby. 288 Sketches by Boz. 237 L Old Curiosity Shop. 173 L Tale of Two Cities. 102 L Oliver Twist. 233 Uncommercial Traveller. 636Disraeli's Coninpsby. Introduction by Langrdon Davies. 535 DoEtoevksy's (Fyodor) Crime and Punishment. Introduction byLaurence Irving. 501„ Letters from the Underworld and Other Tales. Translated by C. J. Hogarth. 654 „ Poor P'olk and the Gambler. Translated by C. J. HoRarth. 711 „ The Possessed. Introduction by J. MlddletonMurry. 2 vols. 861-2„ The House of the Dead, or Prison Life In Siberia. Introduction by Madame Stopniak. ."iSo „ The Brothers Karamazov. Translated by Constance Garnett. 2 vols. 802-3 The Idiot. 682 Du Maurier's (George) Triil)y. Introduction by Sir Gerald du Maurler.With the original illustrations. 863 Dtunas' Black Tulip. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 174 „ Chicot the Jester. 421„ Le Chevalier de Maison Rouge. Intro, by Julius Bramont. 614„ Marguerite do Valoie ("La Reine Margot'). 3'.i(j The Count of Monte Cristo. 2 vols. 393-4 The Forty-Five. 420 The Three Musketeers. 81,, The Vicomte de Bragelonne. 3 vols. fi03~5 Twenty Years After. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 175 Edgar's Cressy and Poictiers. Introduction by Ernest Rhya. 17„ Rurmymede and Lincoln Fair. Intro, by L. K. ilughes. 320{See also For Youno People)EdjTcworth's Castle Rackrent and The Absentee. 410Eliot's (George) Adam Bede. 27 Felix Holt. 353 Mlddlemarch. 2 vols. 854-6„ Mill on the Floss. Intro. Sir W. Robertson NIcoll. 325,, Romola. Introduction by Rudolf Dircks. 231,, ,, Scenes of Clerical Life. 4G3„ ,, Silas Mamer. Introduction by Annie Matheson. 121Enprlish Short Stories. An Anthology. 743 Erckmann-Chatrian's The Conscript and Waterloo. 354,, „ The Story of a Peasant. Translated by C. J. Hogarth. 2 vols. 706-7Feniiuore Cooper's The Deerslayer. 7 7 „ „ The Last of the Mohicans. 79 The Pathfinder. 78 The Pioneers. 171 The Prairie. 172Ferrier's (Susan) Marriage. Introduction by H. L. Morrow. 816Fielding's Amelia. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 2 vols. 852-3„ Jonathan Wild, and The Journal of a Voyage to Lisbon.Introduction by George Saintsbury. 877„ Joseph Andrews. Introduction by George Saintsbury. 407„ Tom Jones. Intro, by George Saintsbury. 2 vols. 355-6Flaubert's Madame Bovary. Translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling.Introduction by George Saintsbury. 808 „ Salammbfi. Tranplated by J. S. Chartres. Introduction byProfessor F. C. Green. 869 French Short Stories of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Selected, withan Introduction by Professor F. C. Green. 896 Gnlaworthy'B (John) The Country House. 917EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTFICTION—c-ofifimedGait's Annals of a Parish. Introduction by Balllie Macdonald. 427Gaskell's (Mrs) Cousin Phlllis, etc. Intro, by Thos. Seccombe. 6jOL „ Cranford. 83,, Mary Barton. Introduction by Thomas Seccombe. 698„ Sylvia's Lovers. Intro, by Mrs. Kills Chadwick. 624 Ghost Stories. Edited by John Hampden. 952(See also Poetry and Drama)Gleis'a (G. R.) The Subaltern. 708 Goethe's Wilhelm Melster. Carlyle's Trfinslatlon. 2 vole. 599-600(.Sfc also EesAYS and Poetry)Gogol's (Nicol) Dead Souls. Translated by C. J. Hogarth. 72G Tarae Bulba and Other Tales. 740L Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield. Introduction by J. M. D. 29 J (See also Essays and Poetry)Goncharov's Oblomov. Translated by Natalie Duddlngton. 873Gorki's Through Russia. Translated by C. J. Hogarth. 741 Harte's (liret) Luck of Roaring Camp and other Tales. 681L Hawthorne's The House of the Seven Gables. Intro. Ernest Rhys. 17 3 „ The Scarlet Letter. 122 The Bllthedale Romance. 592 „ The Marble Faun. Intro, by Sir Leslie Stephen. 424 „ Twice Told Tales. 531(See also For Young People)L Hugo's (Victor) Les Mls^rables. Intro, by S. R. John. 2 vols. 363-4L „ „ Notre Dame. Introduction by A. C. Swinburne. 42^',, Tollers of the Sea. Introduction bv Ernest Rhys. 609Italian Short Stories. Edited by D. Pettoello. 870 James's (G. P. R.) Richelieu. Introduction by Riido'.f Dircks. 357L James's (Henry), The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers. 912Jefferies's (Richard) After London and Amaryllis at the Fair. Intro, byDavid Garnett. 951(See also For Youno People)Kingelcy's (Charles) Alton Locke. 462L ,.» Heroward the Wake. Intro, by Ernest Rhys. 296 Hypatla. 230L „ „ Westward Hoi Introduction by A. Q. O.-irve 20 „ „ Yeast. 611(See also Poetry and For Youxo People)„ (Henry) Geoffrey Hamlyn. 416„ ,, Ravenshoe. 28L La\^Tence's (D. H.) The White Peaco*ck. 914Lpvor's Harry Lorrequer. Introduction by Lewis Melville. 177 L Loti's (Pierre) Iceland Fisherman. Translated by W. P. Baiues. 920Lover's Handy Andy. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 173L Lyttou's Harold. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 15 L „ Last Days of Pompeii. 80 „ Last of the Barons. Introduction by R. G. Watkin. 18 „ Rienzi. Introduction by E. H. Blakeney, M.A. 533(See also Travel)MacDonald's (George) Sir Glbble. 678(See also Romance)Manning's Mary Powell and Deborah's Diary. Introduction by Katherina Tynan (Mrs Hinkson). 324„ Sir Thomas More. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 19 Marryat's Jacob Faithful. 618L „ Mr Midshipman Easy. Introduction by R. B. Johnson. 82 „ Percival Keene. Introduction by R. Brimley Johnson. 358„ Peter Simple. Introduction by R. Brimley Johnson. 232„ The King's Own. 680(See also For Young People)l Maugham's (Somerset) Cakes and Ale. 932 Maupassant's Short Stories. Translated by Marjorle Laurie. Intro- duction by Gerald Gould. 907MelTiUe's (Herman) Moby Dick. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 1797EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTFICTION—con^im/edMelville's (Herman) Omoo. Introdnction by Ernest Rhys. 297 L ,, ,, Typee. introduction by Ernest Rhys. 180 L Meredith's (George) The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. 916M6rim<?e's Carmen, with Prevost's Manon Lescaut. Intro, by Philip Henderson. 83'1 Mickiewlcz's (Adam) Pan Tadeusz. 842 L Moore's (George) Esther Waters. 933 Mulock's John Halifax, Gentleman. Introduction by J. Bhaylor. 123Neale's (J. M.) The Fall of Constantinople. 655Paltock's (Robert) Peter Wilkins; or, The Flying Indians. Introduction by A. H. BuUen. 676Pater's Marius the Epicurean. Introduction by 0.°bert Burdett. 903 Peaco*ck's Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey. 3 '2

L. Poe's Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Intro, by Padraic Colum. 336{See also Poetry)Pr6vost's Manon Lescaut. with M6rim6e's Carmen. Introduction byPhilip Henderson. 834I, Priestley's Angel Pavement. 938 Pushkin's (Alexander) The Captain's Daughter and Other Tales. Trans. by Natalie Duddington. 898Qulller-Couch's (Sir Arthur) Hetty Wesley. 864 [2 vols. 865-6Radcliffe's (Ann) Mysteries of Udolpho. Intro, by R. Austin Freeman.L Reade's (C.) The Cloister and the Hearth. Intro, by A. C. Swinburne. 29,, Peg Wotiingtou and Christie Johnstone. 299 Richardson's (Samuel) Pamela. Intro, by G. Saintsbury. 2 vols. 683—1,, ,, Clarissa. Intro, by Prof. W. L. Phelpe. 4 vols 882-0 Ruesian Authors, Short Stories from. Trans, by R. S. Townsend. 758 Sand's (George) The Devil's Pool and Francois the Waif. 534Scheffel's Ekkehard: a Tale of the Tenth Century. 529Scott's (Michael) Tom Cringle's Log. 710 Sir Walter Scott's Works: Abbot, The. 124 l Ivanhoe. Intro. Ernest Rhys. 16 Anne of Gelerstein. 125 L KenUworth. 135 Antiquary, The. 126 Monastery, The. 136 Black Dwarf and Legend of Old Mortality. 137 Montrose. 128 Pevcril of the Peak. 138 Bride of Lammermoor. 129 Pirat<?, The. 129Castle Dangerous and the Sur- Quentin Durward. 140geon's Daughter. 130 Redgauntlet. 14 1 Count Robert of Paris. 131 Rob Roy. 142 Fair Maid of Perth. 132 St. Ronan's Weil. 143 Fortunes of Nigel. 71 Talisman, The. 144 Guv Mannering. 133 Waverley. 75 Heart of Midlothian, The. 134 Woodstock. Intro, by EdwardHighland Widow and Betrothed. 127 Garnett. 72(See also Bioqrapjiy and Poetry)Shchedrin's The Golovlyov Family. TraiiFlatcd by Natalie Duddington.Introduction by Edward Garnett. 9U8Shelley's (Mary WoUstonecraft) Frankenstein. 616 Sheppard's Charles Auchestor. Intro, by Jessie M. Middleton. 505Shorter Novels, Vol. I. Elizabethan and Jacobean. Edited by Philip Henderson. 824„ „ Vol. II. Jacobean and Restoration. Edited by Philip Henderson. 841Vol. III. Eighteenth Century (Beckford's Vathek,Walpole's Castle of Otranto, and Dr. Johnson'sRasselas). 856Slenklewicz (Henryk). Tales from. Edited by Monica M. Gardner. 871Smollett's Peregrine Pickle. 2 vols. 838-9„ Roderick Random. Introduction by H. W. Hodges. 790Stendhal's Scarlet and Black. Translated by C. K. Scott MoncreifT.2 vols. 94.'i-6 8EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTFICTION

continuedL Sterno'8 Tristram Shandy. Introduction by George Saintsbury. 617(See aUo Essays)L Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The Merry Men, and Other Tales. L „ The Master of Ballantrae and The Black Arrow. 764 [767 L ,, Treasure Island and Kidnapped. 763,, St. Ives. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 904{Set also Essays, Poetry, and Travel)Surtees' Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities. 817 L Tales of Detection. Edited, with Introduction, by Dorothy L. Sayers. 928 Thackeray's Rose and the Ring and other stories. Intro. Walter Jerrold. „ Esmond. Introduction by Walter Jerrold. 73 [3j9 „ Newcomes. Introduction by Walter Jerrold. 2 vols. 465-6„ Pendcnnie. Intro, by Walter Jerrold. 2 vols. 425-6„ Roundabout Papers. 687L „ Vanity Fair. Introduction by Hon. Whitelaw Reid. 298„ Virginians. Introduction by Walter Jerrold. 2 vols. 507-8(See also Essays)L Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Trans, by Rochelle S. Townsend. 2 vols. 612-13Childhood, Boyhood, and Youth. Trans, by C. J. Hogarth. 591„ Master and Man, and other Parables and Tales. 469„ War and Peace. 3 vols. 525-7Troliope's (Anthony) Barchester Towers. 30 Dr. Thome. 3(10 „ „ Framlcy I'arsouage. Intro, by Ernest Rhys. 181„ „ The Golden Lion of Granp6re. Introduction bySir Hugh Walpole. 761 „ „ The Last Chronicles of Barset. 2 vols. 391-2„ „ Phineas Finn. Intro, bv Sir Hugh Walpole. 2 vols. „ „ The Small House at Allington. 361 [832-3,, The Warden. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 182 Turgenev's Fathers and Sons. Translated by C. J. Hogarth. 742Liza. Translated by W. R. S. Ralston. 677,, Virgin Soil. Translated by Rochelle S. Townsend. 528L Voltaire's Candide and Other Tales. 936L Walpole's (Hugh) Mr Perrin and Mr TraiO. 918 L Well's (H. G.) The Time Machine and The Wheels of Chance. 915Whyte-Melville's The Gladiators. Introduction by J. Mavrogordato. 523 Wood's (Mrs Henry) The Channings. 84 Woolf's (Virginia) To the Lighthouse. Intro, by D. M. Hoare. 949 Yonge's (Charlotte M.) The Dove in the Eagle's Nest. 329„ „ The Heir of Redch-flo. Intro. Mrs Meynell. 362(See also For Young People)Zola's (Emile) Germinal. Translated by Havelock Ellis. 897 HISTORYAnglo-Saxon Chronicle, The. Translated by James Ingram. 624 Bede's Ecclesiastical History, etc. Introduction by Vida D. Scudder. 479Burnet's History of His Own Times. 85 L Carlyle's French Revolution. Introduction by H. Belloc. 2 vols. 31-2(See also Biography a7id Essays)Creasy's Decisive Battles of the World. Introduction by E. Rhys. 300 De Joinville (See ViUehai-douin) Duruy's (Jean Victor) A History of France. 2 vols. 737-8Finlay's Byzantine Empire. 33,, Greece under the Romans. 185 Froude's Henry VIII. Intro, by Llewellyn Williams, M.P. 3 vols. 372-4„ Edward VI. Intro, by Lleivellyn Willianas, M.P., B.C.L. 375„ Mary Tudor. Intro, by Llewellyn Williams, M.P., B.C.L. 477„ History of Queen Elizabeth's Reign. 5 vols. CompletingFroude's 'History of England,' in 10 vols. 583-7(See also Essays and Biography)Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Oliphant Smeaton, M.A. 6 vols. 434-6, 474-0(See also Biography)9EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTHISTORY—continuedGreen's Short Uistorv of the English People. Edited and Revised byL. Cecil Jane, with an Appendix by R. P. Farley, B.A. 2 vols. 727-8Grote'8 Histiiry of Greooe. Intro, by A. D. Lindsay. 12 vol.s. 186-97IJallam's (Henry) Constitutional History of England. 3 vols. 621-3Holinshed's Chronicle as used in Shaiiospeare's Plays. Introduction byProfessor Allardyce NIcoll. 800Irving's (Washin^on) Conquest of Granada. 478(See also Essays and Biography)Josephus' Wars of the Jews. Introduction by Dr Jacob Hart. 712 Macaulay's History of England. 3 vols. 31-6{See also Essays and Oratory)Maine's (Sir Henry) Ancient Law. 734Merivale's History of Rome. (An Introductory vol. to Gibbon.) 433Mignet's (F. A. M.) The French Revolution. 713 Milman's History of the Jews. 2 vols. 377-8 Mommsen's History of Rome. Translated by W. P. Dickson, LL.D.With a review of the work by E. A. Freeman. 4 vols. 542-5Motley's Dutch Republic. 3 vols. 8G-8 Parkman's Conspiracy of Pontiac. 2 vols. 302-3 Paston Letters, The. Based on edition of Knight. Introduction byMrs Archer-Hind, M.A. 2 vols. 752-3Pilgrim Fathers, The. Introduction by John Ma.sefield. 480 L Pinnow's History of Germany. Translated by M. R. Brailsford. 929Political Liberty, The Growth of. A Source-Book of English History.Arranged by Ernest Rhys. 745 [M.A. 2 vols. 397-8Prescott's Conquest of Mexico. With Introduction by Thomas Seccombe.„ Conquest of Peru. Intro, by Thomas Seccombe, M.A. 301 Sismondi's Italian Republics. 250 ^ ^ • nr^ Stanley's Lectures on the Eastern Church. Intro, by A. J. Grieve. 251Tacitus. Vol. I. Annals. Introduction by E. H. Blakeney. 273Vol. II. Agricola and Germania. Intro. E. H. Blakeney. /74Thierry's Norman Conquest. Intro, by J. A. Price, B.A. 2 vols. 198-9Villehardouin and De Joinville's Chronicles of the Crusades. Translated. with Introduction, by Sir F. Marzials, C.Ii. 333Voltaire's Age of Louis XIV. Translated by Martyn P. Pollack. 780ORATORYAnthology of British Historical Speeches and Orations. Compiled byErnest Rhys. 714 ^ . ., t u c^^ o-oBrlghfs I John^ Speeches. Selected with Intro, by Joseph Sturge. 2o2Burke's American Speeches and Letters. 340. (See also Essays) Demosthenes: Select Orations. 646ry a. Vox (Charles James): Speeches (French Rovolutionary War Period).Edited with Introduction by Irene Cooper WiUis, M.A. "59Lincoln's Speeches, etc. Intro, by the Rt Hon. James Bryco. 206(See also Bioorapuy)Macaulay's Speeches on Politics and Literature. 399(See also Essays and Histoky)Pitt's Orations on the War with France. 145 PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGYr A Kempis' Imitation of Christ. 484 ^, ^ „ . i. j . u Ancient Hebrew Literature. Being the Old Testament and Apocrypha.Arranged by the Rev. R. B. Taylor. 4 vols. 253-6 ^ ^ ^^Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics of. Translated by D. P. Chase.Introduction by Professor J. A. Smith. 547(See also Classical)Bacon's The Advancement of Learning. 719 (See also Essays)Berkeley's (Bishop) Principles of Human Knowledge, New Theory ofVision. With Introduction by A. D. Lindsay. 483 loEVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTPHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY—confm/edBoehme's (Jacob) Tho Signature of All Thinga, with Other Writinj^s, Introduction by Cliflord Bax. 569 Browne's Religio Medici, etc. Intro, by Professor C. H. Herford. 92 Bunyan's Grace Abounding and Mr Badman. Introduction by G. B.Harrison. 815 (-See also Romance)Burton's (Robert) Anatomy of Melancholy. Introduction by HolbrookJackson. 3 vols. 88G-8Butler's Analogy of Religion. Introduction by Rev. Ronald Bayne. 90Descartes' (Ren6) A Discourse on Method. Translated by Professor JohnVoitch. Introduction by A. D. Lindsay. 570L Ellis' (Havelock) Selected Essays. Introduction by J. S. Collls. 930L Gore's (Charles) The Philosophy of the Good Life. 924 Hindu Scriptures. Edited by Dr Nicol Macnicol. Introduction byllabindranath Tagore. 914 Hobbes' Leviathan. Edited, with Intro, by A. D. Lindsay, M.A. 691 Hooker's Ecclesiaatlcal Polity. Intro, by Rev. H. Bayne. 2 vols. 201-'J Hume's Treatise of Human Nature, and other Philosophical Works.Introduction by A. D. Lindsay, M.A. 2 vols. 543-9 James (William): Selected Papers on Philosophy. 739 Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Translated by J. M. D. Meiklejohu.Introduction by A. D. Lindsay, M.A. 909Keble's The Christian Year. Introduction by J. C. Shairp. C90 King Edward VI. First and Second Prayer Books. Introduction by the Right Rev. Bishop of Gloucester. 448L Koran, The. RodweH'a Translation. 380 Latimer's Sermons. Introduction by Canon Beeching. 40 Law's Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. 91 Leibniz's I'hilosophical Writings. Selected and trans, by Mary Morris. Introduction by C. R. Morris, M.A. 905Locke's Two Treatises of Civil Government. Introduction bj- Professor WiOiam S. Carpenter. 751 Malthus on the Principles of Population. 2 vols. 692-3Mill's (John Stuart) Utilitarianism, Liberty, Representative Government. With Introduction by A. D. Lindsay, M.A. 482,, Subjection of W^omen. {See Wollstonecraft, Mary, under Science)Mora's Utopia. Introduction by Judge O'Hagan. 401 New Testament. Arranged in the order in which the books came to thoChristians of the First Century. 93 Newman's Apologia pro Vita Sua. Intro, by Dr Charles Sarolea. 636(See also Essays)Nietzsche's Thus Spake Zarathustra. Trans, by A. Tille aad M. M. Bozman.Paine's Rights of Man. Introduction by G. J. Holyoake. 718 [892Pascal's Pens^es. Translated by W. F. Trotter. Introduction hvT.S.Eliot. 874 [CLE. 403 Ramayana and the Mahabharata, The. Translated by Rome.sh DuttRcnan's Life of Jrsus. Introduction by Right Rev. Chas. Gore, D.D. 805 Robertson's (F. W.) Sermons on Christian Doctrine, and Bible Subjects. Each Volume with Introduction by Canon Burnett. 3 vols. 37-9{Note: No. 37 is out of print.) Robinson's (Wade) The Philosophy of Atonement and Other SermonsIntroduction by Rev. F. B. Meyer. 637 Rousseau's (J. J.) The Social Contract, etc. 660. {See also Es.Says) St Augustine's Confessions. Dr Pusey's Translation. 200L St Francis: The Little Flowers, and The Life of St. Francis. 485Secley's Ecce hom*o. Introduction by Sir Oliver Lodge. 305Selection from St Thomas Aquinas. Edited by The Rev. Father M CD'Arcy. 953 (Ready Summer I'dZ'.))' ' Spinoza's Ethics, etc. Translated by Andrew J. Boyle. W^ith Intro- duction by Professor Santayana. 481 Swedeuborg's (Emmanuel) Heaven and Hell. 379.. ,. The Divine Love and Wisdom. 635„ „ The Divine Providence. 658 L >. ., The True Christian Religion. S93EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTPOETRY AND DRAMAAnglo-Saxon Poetry. Edited by Professor R. K. Gordon. 794 Arnold's (Matthew) Poems, 1840-66, including Thyrsis. 334Ballads, A liook of British. Selected by R. B. Johnson. 572 Beaiimont and Fletcher, The Select Plays of. Introduction by Professor Baker, of Harvard University. 506Bjorneon's Plays. Vol. I. The Newly Married Couple. Leonardo, AGauntlet. Trans, by R. Farquharson Sharp. 625Vol. II. The Editor, The Bankrupt, and The King.Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp. 696Blake's Poems and Prophecies. Introduction by Max Plowman. 792 Browning's Poems, 1833-44. Introduction by Arthur VVaugh. 41 1844-64. 42 The Ring and the Book. Intro, by Chas. W. Hodell. 502L Bums' Poems and Songs. Introduction by J. Doiiglas. 94 Byron's Poetical and Dramatic Works. 3 vols. 480-8Caldoron: Six Plays, translated by Edward FitzGerald. 819L Chaucer's Canterbiu-y Tales. Edited by Principal Burrell, M.A. 307Coleridge, Golden Book of. Edited by Stopford A. Brooke. 43{See also Essays)Cowper (William). Poems of. Edited by H. I'Anson Fauseet. 872(See also Biography)Dante's Divine Comedy (Gary's Translation). Specially edited byEdmund Gardner. 308 Donne's Poems. Edited by H. I'Anson Fausset. 867 Dryden's Poems. Edited by Bonamy Dobree. 910 Eighteenth-Century Plays. Edited by John Hampden. 818 Emerson's Poems. Introduction by Professor Bakewell, Yale, U.S.A. 715I. English Religious Verse. Edited by G. Lacoy May. 937L EverJ^nan and other Interludes, including eight Miracle Plays. Edited by Ernest Rhys. 381L FitzGerald's (Edward) Omar Khayyam and Six Plays of Calderon. 819Goethe's Faust. Parts I and II. Trans, and Intro, by A. G. Latham. 335(See also Essays and Fiction)L Golden Book of Modem English Poetry, The. Edited by Thomas Cald- weU. 921 Golden Treasury of Longer Poems, The. Edited by Ernest Rhys. 746 Goldsmith's Poems and Plays. Introduction by Austin Dobson. 415(See also Essays and Fiction)Gray's Poems and Letters. Introduction by John Drinkwater. 628 Hebbel's Plays. Translated with an Introduction by Dr C. K. Allen. 694 Heine: Prose and Poetry. 911Herbert's Temple. Introduction by Edward Thomas. 309Herrick's Hesperides and Noble Numbers. Intro, by Ernest Rhys. 310L Ibsen's Brand. Translated by F. E. Garrett. 716„ Ghosts, The Warriors at Helgoland, and An Enemy of the People. Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp. 552„ Lady luger of Ostraat, Love's Comedy, and The League of Youth. Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp. 729„ Peer Gynt. Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp. 747,, A Doll's House, The Wild Duck, and The Lady from the Sea. Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp. 494,, The Pretenders, Pillars of Society, and Rosmersholm. Translated by R. Farquharson Sharp. 659Jonson's (Ben) Plays. Intro, by Professor Schelling. 2 vols. 489-90Kalidasa: Shakuntala. Translated by Professor A. W. Ryder. 629L Keats' Poems. 101Kingsley's (Charles) Poems. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 793(See also Fiction and Fou Young People)L Langland's (William) Piers Plowman. 571Lesslng's Laocoon, Minna von Bamhelm, and Nathan the Wise. 843L Longfellow's Poems. Introduction by Katherine Tynan. 382 Marlowe's Plays and Poems. Introduction by Edward Thomas. 383 12EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LIS TPOETRY AND T>V.AUK—conthwedL Milton's Poems. Introduction by W. H. D. Rouse. 384(See also Essays) Minor Elizabethan Drama. Vol. I. Tragedy. Selected, with Introduction, by Professor Thorndike. Vol. II. Comedy. 491-2L Minor Poets of the 18th Century. Edited by H. I'Anson Fausset. 844 Minor Poets of the 17th Century. Edited by R. G. Howarth. 873L Modern Plays. 942Molifere's Comedies. Introduction by Prof. F. C. Green. 2 vols. 830-1 New Golden Treasury, The. An Anthology of Songs and Lyi-ics. 695 Old Yellow Book, The. Introduction by Charles E. Hodell. 503 Omar Khayy&m (The Rubdiy&t of). Trans, by Edward FitzGerald. 819L Palgrave's Golden Treasury. Introduction by Edward Hutton. 93 Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry. 2 vols. 148-9Poe'i (Edgar Allan) Poems and Essays. Intro, by Andrew Lang. 791(Sec also Fiction) Pope (Alexander): Collected Poems. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 760Proctor's (Adelaide A.) Legends and Lyrics. 150 Restoration Plays, A Volume of. Introduction by Edmund Gosse. 604Rossetti's Poems and Translations. Introduction by B. G. Gardner. 627Scott's Poems and Plays. Intro, by Andrew Lang. 2 vols. 550-1(See also Bioqraphy and Fiction)T, Shakespeare's Comedies. 153L Historical Plays, Poems, and Sonnets. 154L Tragedies. 155Shelley's Poetical Works. Introduction by A. H. Koszul. 2 vols. 257-8 L Sheridan's Plays. 95Spenser's Faerie Queene. Intro, by Prof. J. W. Hales. 2 vols. 443-4" Shepherd's Calendar and Other Poems. Edited by Philip Henderson. 879Stevenson's Poems-A Child's Garden of Verses, Underwoods, Songs of Travel, Ballads. 768 (See also Essays, Fiction, and Travel)L Tchekhov. Plays and Stories. 941 Tenuvson's Poems. Vol. I. 1830-56. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 44,, „ Vol. II. 1857-70. 626 Twenty One-Act Plays. Selected by John Hampden. 947 Webster and Ford. Plays. Selected, with Introduction, by Dr G. B.Harrison. 899 Whitman's (Walt) Leaves of Grass (I), Democratic Vistas, etc. 573 Wilde (Oscar), Pliys, Prose Writings, and Poems. 858 Wordsworth's Shorter Poems. Introduction by Eruost Rhys. 203„ Longer Poems. Note by Editor. 311 REFERENCEAtlas of Ancient and Classical Geography. Many coloured and line Maps; Historical Gazetteer, Index, etc. 451 Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. 449Biographical Dictionary of Foreign Literature. 900Dates, Dictionary of. 554Dictionary of Quotations and Proverbs. 2 vols. 809-10 Everyman's English Dictionary. 7 76 Literary and Historical Atlas. I. Europe. Many coloured and line Maps;full Index and Gazetteer. 496 „ II. America. Do. 553 "„ „ III. Asia. Do. 663 "„ „ IV. Africa and Australia. Do. 662Noil -Classical Mythology, Dictionary of. 632 Reader's Guide to Everyman's Library. Revised edition, covering thefirst 950 vols. 889 Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. 2 vols. 630-1Smith's Smaller Classical IMclionary. Revised and Edited by E. H.Wright's An Encvclopaedia of Gardening. 555 [Blali.cney, M.A. 495 13EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LIS TROMANCEAucassin and.Nicoletto, with other Medieval Romances. 497Boccaccio's Decameron. (Unabridged.) Translated by J. M. Rigg.Introdiictiou by Edward Hutton. 2 vols. 845-6L Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Introduction by Rev. H. E. Lewis. 204 Burnt Njal, The Story of. Translated by Sir George Dasent. 558Cervantes' Don Quixote. Motteux's Translation. Lockhart's Intro- duction. 2 vols. 385-6Chr6tien de Troves: Eric and Enid. Translated, with Introduction andNotes, by William Wistar Comfort. 698 French Medieval Romances. Translated by Eugene Mason. 557 Geoflrev of Monmouth's Histories of the Kings of Britain. 577Grettir Saga, The. Newly Translated by G. Ainslie Hight. 699 Gudrun. Done into English by Margaret Armour. 880Guest's (Lady) Mablnogion. Introduction by Rev. R. Williams. 97 Heimskringla: The Olaf Sagas. Translated by Samuel Laing. Intro- duction and Notes by John Beveridge. 717,, Sagas of the Norse Kings. Translated by Samuel Laing. Introduction and Notes by John Bevoridge. 847 Holy Graal, The High History of the, 445Kalevala. Introduction by W. F. Kirby, F.L.S., F.E.S. 2 vols. 259-60 Lo Sage's The Adventures of Gil Bias. Intro, by Anatole Le Bras. 2 vols. MacDonald's (George) Phantastes: A Faerie Romance. 732 [437-8{See also Fiction)Malory's Lo Morte d'Arthur. Intro, by Professor Rhys. 2 vols. 45-6L Morris (William): EarlT Romances. Introduction by Alfred Noyes. 261 „ „ The Life and Death of Jason. 575 Morte d'Arthur Romances, Two. Introduction by Lucy A. Paton. 634Nlbelungs, The Fall of the. Translated by Margaret Armour. 312Rabelais' The Heroic Deeds of Gargantua and Pantagruel. Introduction by D. B. Wyndham Lewis. 2 vols. 826-7 Waco's Arthurian Romance. Translated by Eugene Mason. Layam.on's Brut. Introduction by Lucy A. I'aton. 578 SCIENCEBoyle's The Sceptical Chymlst. 559 Darwin's The Origin of Species. Introduction by Sir Arthur Keith. 811(-See also Travel) [E. F. Bozman. 922 t Kddlngton's (Sir Arthur) The Nature of the Physical World. Intro, byEuclid: the Elements of. Todhunter's Edition. Introduction by Sir Thomas Heath. K.C.B. 891 Faraday's (Michael) Experimental Researches In Electricity. 576Galton's Inquiries into Human Faculty. Revised by Author. 2G3George's (Henry) Progress and Poverty. 560 Hahnemann's (Samuel) The Organon of the Rational Art of Healing. Introduction by C. E. Wheeler. 663 Harvey's Circulation of the Blood. Introduction by Ernest Parkyn. 262 Howard's State of the Prisons. Introduction by Kenneth Ruck. 835 Huxley's Essays. Introduction by Sir Oliver Lodge. 47 „ Select Lectures and Lay Sermons. Intro. Sir Oliver Lodge. 498Lyell's Antiquity of Man. With an introduction by R. H. Rastall. 700 Marx's (Karl) Capital. Translated by Eden and Cedar Paul. Intro- duction by G. D. H. Cole. 2 vols. 848-9Miller's Old Red Sandstone. 103 Owen's (Robert) A Now View of Society, etc. Intro, by G. D. H. Colo. 799L Pearson's (Karl) The Grammar of Science. 939Ricardo's Principles of Political Economy and Taxation. 690 Smith's (Adam) The Wealth of Nations. 2 vols. 412-13Tyndall's Glaciers of the Alps and Mountaineering in 1861. 98 White's Selborne. Introduction by Principal Windle. 48Wollstonecraft (Mary), The Itights of Woman, with John Stuart Mill'a The Subjection of Women. 825 14EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY • CLASSIFIED LISTTRAVEL AND TOPOGRAPHYA Book of the 'Bounty.' Edited by George Mackaness. 950 Anson's Voyages. Introduction by John Maeefleld. 510Bates' Naturalist on the Amazon. With Illustrations. 446Belt's The Naturalist In Nicaragua. Intro, by Anthony Belt, F.L.S. 561 Borrow's (George) The Gypsies in Spain. Intro, by Edward Thomas. 697,, „ The Bil)le in Spain. Intro, by Edward Thomas. 151 Wild Tales. Intro, by Theodore Watts-Dunton. 49(See also Fiction)Boswell's Tour In the Hebrides with Dr Johnson. 387{See also Bioguaphy)Burton's (Sir Ricliard) First Footsteps in East Africa. 500Cobbett's Rural Rides. Introduction by Edward Thomas. '2 vols. 638-9Cook's Voyages of Discovery. 99Crfevecoeur's (H. St John) Letters from an American Farmer. 640 Darwin's Voyage of the Beagle. 104(See also Science)Defoe's Tour through England and Wales. Introduction by Q. D. H.(See also Fiction) iCole. 820-1Dennis' Cities and Cemeteries of Etrurla. 2 vols. 183-4Dufferin's (Lord) Letters from High Latitudes. 499Ford's Gatherings from Spain. Introduction by Thomas Okey. 152Franklin's Journey to the Polar Sea. Intro, by Capt. R. F. Scott. 447Giraldus Cambrensis: Itinerary and Description of Wales. 272 Hakluyt's Voyages. 8 vols. 2G4, 2(16, 313, 314, 338, 339, 388, 389Kinglaico's Eothon. Introduction by Harold Spender, M.A. 337 Lane's Modern Egyptians. With many Illustrations. 315Mandeville's (Sir John) Travels. Introduction by Jules Braraont. 812 Park (Mungo): Travels. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 205Peaks, Passes, and Glaciers. Selected by E. H. Blakeney, M.A. 7 78 L Polo's (Marco) Travels. Introduction by John Masofleld. 3()(> Roberts' The Western Avernua. Intro, by Cunninghame Grahame. 762Speke's Discovery of the Source of the Nile. 50 [Squatters. 766L Stevenson's An Inland Voyage, Travels with a Donkey, and Silverado(See also Essays, Fiction, and Poetuy)Stow's Survey of London. Introduction by H. B. Wheatley, 589Wakefield's Letter from Sydney and Other Writings on Colonization. 828 Watorton's Wanderings in South America. Intro, by E. Selous. 77 2 Young's Travels in JYance and Italy. Intro, by Thomas Okey. 720 FOR YOUNG PEOPLEAesop's and Other Fables: An Anthologry from all sources. 657Alcott's Little Men. Introduction by Grace Rhys. 512L ,, Little Women and Good Wives. Intro, by Grace Rhys. 248 Andersen's Fairy Tales. Illustrated by the Brothers Robinson. 4 More Fairy Tales. IlluHtrated by Mary Shillabeer. 822 Annals of Fairyland. The Reign of King Oberon. 365 The Reign of King Cole. 360 Asgard and the Norse Heroes. Translated by Mrs lioult. 689Baker's Cast up by the Sea. 539Ballantyne's Coral Island. 245 Martin Rattler. 246„ Ungava. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 276 L Browne's (Frances) Granny's Wonderful Chair. Intro, bv DoUie RadfordBulfinch'a (Thomas) The Age of Fable. 472 [112 „ ,, Legends of Charlemagne. Intro, by Ernest Rhys. 556L Canton's A Child's Book of Saints. Illustrated by T. H. Robinson. 61(Sfe also Essays)L Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, etc. Illus- trated by the Author. Introduction by Ernest Rhys. 836Clarke's Tales from Chaucer. 537 CoUodl's Pinocchio; the Story of a Puppet. 53815EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY - CLASSIFIED LISTFOR YOUNG VWy?\.^--continuedConverse's (Florence) The House of Prayer. 923(See also Fiction)Cox's (Sir G. W.) Tales of Ancient Greece. 721Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Illustrated by J. A. Symington. 59(See also Fiction)Dodpe's (Mary Mapes) Hans Brinker; or, The Silver Skates. 620 Edgar's Heroes of England. 471(iSee aiso Fiction)Ewing's (Mis) Jackanapes, Daddy Darwin's Dovecot, llluslroted byII. Caldecott, and The Story of a Short Life. 731,, ,, Mrs Overtheway's Remembrances. 730 Fairy Gold. lUustrated by Herbert Cole. 157 Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights. Illustrated. 249Froiesart's Chronicles. 57 Gatty's Parables from Nature. Introduction by Grace lihys. 15a Grimm's Fairy Tales. Illustrated by R. Anning Bell. 5G Hawthorne's Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales. 5(-See also Fiction) Howard's Rattlin the Reefer. Introduction by Guy Poco*ck. 857L Hughes' Tom Brown's School Days. Illustrated by T. Robinson. 58Ingelow's (Jean) Mopsa the Fairy. Illustrated by Dora Curtis. 619Jefleries's (Richard) Bevis, the Story of a Boy. Intro, by Guy Poc<ick.Kingsley'a Heroes. Introduction by Grace Rhys. 113 [850„ Madam How and Lady Why. Introduction by O. I. GardinerM.A. 777 „ Water Babies and Glaucus. 277(Hce also Poetry and Fiction)Kingston's Peter the Whaler. 6 Three Midshipmen. 7 L Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare. Illustrated by A. Rackham.(See also Biography and Es3at8) Lear (and Others): A Book of Nonsense. 806Marryat'B Children of the New Forest. 247 „ Little Savage. Introduction by R. Brimley Johnson. 159„ Masterman Ready. Introduction by R. Brimley Johnson. 100„ Settlers in Canada. Introduction by R. Brimley Johnson 370(Edited by) Rattlin the Reefer. 857{See also Fiction)Martineau's Feats on the Fjords, etc. Illustrated by A. Rackham. 4C9Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. Illustrated. 473 Poetry Book for Boys and Girls. Edited by Guy Poco*ck. 894Reid's (Mayne) The Boy Hunters of the Mississippi. 582„ „ The Boy Slaves. Introduction by Guy Poco*ck. 797Ruskin'a The Two Boyhoods and Other Passages, 688(See also Essays)L Sewell's (Anna) Black Beauty. Illustrated by Lucy Kemp-Welch. 748Spyri's (Johanna) Heidi. Illustrations by Lizzie Lawson. 431L Story Book for Boys and Girls. Edited by Guy Poco*ck. 934 Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. 371L Swift's Gulliver's Travels. Illustrated by A. Rackham. 60(See also Biography and Essays)Swiss Family Robinson. Illustrations by Chas. Folkard. 430Verne's (Jules) Abandoned. 50 Illustrations. 368„ „ Dropped from the Clouds. 50 Illustrations. 367L „ >, Five Weeks in a Balloon and Around the World in EightyDays. Translated by Arthur Chambers and P. Desas'es.t, „ , „ Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. 319 (779„ ,, The Secret of the Island. 50 Illustrations. 369 Yonge's (Charlotte M.) The Book of Golden Deeds. 330 [579„ „ The Lances of Lynwood. Illus. by Dora Curtis.„ „ The Little Duke. Illustrated by Dora Curtis. 470(See also Fiction) Made in Great Britain at The Temple Press, hetcbwortb, Herts (M 274)