The Farmer and the Snake
One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion read more

The Farmer and the Snake
One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound. Oh, cried the Farmer with his last breath, I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel.
The greatest kindness will not bind the ungrateful.

The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice
A swallow, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with read more

The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice
A swallow, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where all others' rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong.

The Ass and His Purchaser
A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that
he read more

The Ass and His Purchaser
A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that
he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the
Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon
which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the
one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all.
Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his
owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have
made a trial of him, he answered, I do not need a trial; I know
that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his
companion.
A man is known by the company he keeps.

The Oxen and the Butchers
The oxen once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade read more

The Oxen and the Butchers
The oxen once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race. They assembled on a certain day to carry out their purpose, and sharpened their horns for the contest. But one of them who was exceedingly old (for many a field had he plowed) thus spoke: These Butchers, it is true, slaughter us, but they do so with skillful hands, and with no unnecessary pain. If we get rid of them, we shall fall into the hands of unskillful operators, and thus suffer a double death: for you may be assured, that though all the Butchers should perish, yet will men never want beef.
Do not be in a hurry to change one evil for another.

The Fox and the Crow
A crow having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree and held it read more

The Fox and the Crow
A crow having stolen a bit of meat, perched in a tree and held it in her beak. A Fox, seeing this, longed to possess the meat himself, and by a wily stratagem succeeded. How handsome is the Crow, he exclaimed, in the beauty of her shape and in the fairness of her complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to her beauty, she would deservedly be considered the Queen of Birds! This he said deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute the reflection cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw and dropped the flesh. The Fox quickly picked it up, and thus addressed the Crow: My good Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is wanting.

The Ass and the Old Shepherd
A SHEPHERD, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all
of read more

The Ass and the Old Shepherd
A SHEPHERD, watching his Ass feeding in a meadow, was alarmed all
of a sudden by the cries of the enemy. He appealed to the Ass to
fly with him, lest they should both be captured, but the animal
lazily replied, Why should I, pray? Do you think it likely the
conqueror will place on me two sets of panniers?' No, rejoined
the Shepherd. Then, said the Ass, as long as I carry the
panniers, what matters it to me whom I serve?'
In a change of government the poor change nothing beyond the name of their master.

The Fir-Tree and the Bramble
A fir-tree said boastingly to the Bramble, You are useful for nothing at all; while read more

The Fir-Tree and the Bramble
A fir-tree said boastingly to the Bramble, You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses. The Bramble answered: 'You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree.
Better poverty without care, than riches with.

The Cat and the Birds
A cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up read more

The Cat and the Birds
A cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired of the inmates how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. They replied, We are all very well, and shall continue so, if you will only be good enough to go away, and leave us as we are.

The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion
The ass and the fox, having entered into partnership together for
their mutual read more

The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion
The ass and the fox, having entered into partnership together for
their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. Theyhad
not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent
danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the
capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harmthe
Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not be injured,the
Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it.
The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutchedthe
Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.