Maxioms Pet

X
  •   11  /  24  

    The Apes and the Two Travelers
    TWO MEN, one who always spoke the truth and the other who told
    nothing but lies, were traveling together and by chance came to
    the land of Apes. One of the Apes, who had raised himself to be
    king, commanded them to be seized and brought before him, that he
    might know what was said of him among men. He ordered at the
    same time that all the Apes be arranged in a long row on his
    right hand and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him,
    as was the custom among men. After these preparations he
    signified that the two men should be brought before him, and
    greeted them with this salutation: What sort of a king do I seem
    to you to be, O strangers?' The Lying Traveler replied, You seem
    to me a most mighty king. And what is your estimate of those
    you see around me?' These, he made answer, are worthy
    companions of yourself, fit at least to be ambassadors and
    leaders of armies. The Ape and all his court, gratified with the
    lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to the flatterer.
    On this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, If so great a
    reward be given for a lie, with what gift may not I be rewarded,
    if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?' The Ape quickly
    turned to him. And pray how do I and these my friends around me
    seem to you?' Thou art, he said, a most excellent Ape, and all
    these thy companions after thy example are excellent Apes too.
    The King of the Apes, enraged at hearing these truths, gave him
    over to the teeth and claws of his companions.

Share to:

You May Also Like   /   View all maxioms

  ( comments )
  26  /  43  

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar
An old woman found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime read more

The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar
An old woman found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime old wine and which still retained the fragrant smell of its former contents. She greedily placed it several times to her nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, O most delicious! How nice must the Wine itself have been, when it leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a perfume!
The memory of a good deed lives.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  12  /  27  

The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf
A sheperd boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out read more

The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf
A sheperd boy, who watched a flock of sheep near a village, brought out the villagers three or four times by crying out, Wolf! Wolf! and when his neighbors came to help him, laughed at them for their pains. The Wolf, however, did truly come at last. The Shepherd-boy, now really alarmed, shouted in an agony of terror: Pray, do come and help me; the Wolf is killing the sheep; but no one paid any heed to his cries, nor rendered any assistance. The Wolf, having no cause of fear, at his leisure lacerated or destroyed the whole flock.
There is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  18  /  60  

The Wild Ass and the Lion
A wild ass and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might read more

The Wild Ass and the Lion
A wild ass and a Lion entered into an alliance so that they might capture the beasts of the forest with greater ease. The Lion agreed to assist the Wild Ass with his strength, while the Wild Ass gave the Lion the benefit of his greater speed. When they had taken as many beasts as their necessities required, the Lion undertook to distribute the prey, and for this purpose divided it into three shares. I will take the first share, he said, because I am King: and the second share, as a partner with you in the chase: and the third share (believe me) will be a source of great evil to you, unless you willingly resign it to me, and set off as fast as you can.
Might makes right.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  27  /  40  

The Cock and the Jewel
A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a precious stone read more

The Cock and the Jewel
A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a precious stone and exclaimed: If your owner had found thee, and not I, he would have taken thee up, and have set thee in thy first estate; but I have found thee for no purpose. I would rather have one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  10  /  18  

The Farmer and the Cranes
Some cranes made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a read more

The Farmer and the Cranes
Some cranes made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying to each other, It is time for us to be off to Liliput: for this man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in earnest what he can do.
If words suffice not, blows must follow.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  9  /  21  

The Tortoise and the Eagle
A tortoise, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, read more

The Tortoise and the Eagle
A tortoise, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float her in the air. I will give you, she said, all the riches of the Red Sea. I will teach you to fly then, said the Eagle; and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces. The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the earth?'
If men had all they wished, they would be often ruined.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  18  /  30  

The Farmer and His Sons
A father, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his sons read more

The Farmer and His Sons
A father, being on the point of death, wished to be sure that his sons would give the same attention to his farm as he himself had given it. He called them to his bedside and said, My sons, there is a great treasure hid in one of my vineyards. The sons, after his death, took their spades and mattocks and carefully dug over every portion of their land. They found no treasure, but the vines repaid their labor by an extraordinary and superabundant crop.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  32  /  43  

The Ass and the Grasshopper
An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the read more

The Ass and the Grasshopper
An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, The dew. The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  18  /  16  

The Charger and the Miller
A charger, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to work in a mill instead read more

The Charger and the Miller
A charger, feeling the infirmities of age, was sent to work in a mill instead of going out to battle. But when he was compelled to grind instead of serving in the wars, he bewailed his change of fortune and called to mind his former state, saying, Ah! Miller, I had indeed to go campaigning before, but I was barbed from counter to tail, and a man went along to groom me; and now I cannot understand what ailed me to prefer the mill before the battle. Forbear, said the Miller to him, harping on what was of yore, for it is the common lot of mortals to sustain the ups and downs of fortune.

by Aesop Found in: Aesop fables Quotes,
Share to:
Maxioms Web Pet