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 THE FROG AND THE OX.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES, 
 
 mitr 
 
 WENTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 FROM DRAWINGS 
 
 ARRISON 
 
 LONDON : ^ ^-:\: 
 GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, 
 
 (SUCCESSORS TO NEWBERY AND HARRIS), 
 
 CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD. 
 
 MDCCCLXX.
 
 LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BV WERTHEI.MER, LEA AND CO., 
 FINSBURY CIRCUS.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 j[) THE Fox AND THE GOAT i 
 
 II. THE FROG AND THE Ox ... 2 
 
 III. THE MAN AND His GOOSE 3 
 
 IV. THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS ... 4 
 
 V. THE DOVE AND THE ANT 5 
 
 VI. THE Fox WITHOUT A TAIL 6 
 
 VII. THE BUTTERFLY AND THE SNAIL ... 7 
 
 (VlT> THE WOLF AND THE CRANE 9 
 
 IX. THE FROG AND THE RAT 10 
 
 X. THE FIGHTING COCK AND EAGLE ... ' 12 
 
 XI. THE DIAMOND AND THE LOADSTONE 13 
 
 XII. THE BEAR AND THE BEES 15 
 
 ,^nj- THE FROGS DESIRING A KING 16 
 
 XIV. THE Fox AND THE BOAR 17 
 
 XV. THE VINE AND THE GOAT 18 
 
 XVI. THE DISCONTENTED HORSE 19 
 
 XVII. THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR 21 
 
 XVIII. THE Fox AND THE STORK 21 
 
 XIX. THE HORSE AND THE STAG 23 
 
 XX. THE LION WOUNDED 24 
 
 Qfxfc^ THE Ass IN THE LION'S SKIN 25 
 
 XXII. JUPITER AND THE FARMER 25 
 
 XXIII. THE VAIN JACKDAW ... 28 
 
 429353
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 FABLE 
 
 XXIV. THE VIPER AND THE FILE 
 
 XXV. THE WOLF AND THE LAMB ... 
 
 XXVI. THE OLD BULLFINCH AND YOUNG BIRDS ... 
 
 ^y^ 1 ^ 3 ' THE MOUSE AND THE WEASEL 
 
 XXVIII. THE OLD HOUND 
 
 XXIX. THE CHARGER AND THE Ass ... 
 
 XXX. THE COLT AND THE FARMER ... 
 
 XXXI. THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES ... 
 
 flE3Q^TL> THE Fox AND THE CROW 
 
 XXXIII. THE PEACOCK'S COMPLAINT ..,, 
 
 XXXIV. THE STAG IN THE OX-STALL 
 
 XXXV. THE WIND AND THE SUN ~ ... 
 
 XXXVI. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR ... ' ... 
 
 THE DOG AND THE SHADOW 
 
 XXXVIUL THE HERMIT AND THE BEAR . " . . 
 
 THE SHEPHERD'S BOY AND THE WOLF ... 
 
 XL. THE FAWN AND HER MOTHER 
 
 IE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE 
 
 XLII. THE BROTHER AND SISTER 
 
 XLIII. THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND WOLF 
 
 XLIV. THE COVETOUS MAN 
 
 <3L3r THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE 
 
 XLVI. THE HOG AND THE ACORNS ... 
 2tLVlI> THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE CITY MOUSE 
 
 ajjjt? THE CAT AND THE MICE 
 
 XLIX. THE KID AND THE WOLF 
 
 L. THE COUNCIL OF HORSES 
 
 LI. THE Ass AND THE LITTLE DOG 
 
 LII. THE LION AND THE FOUR BULLS
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 FABLE 
 
 LIIL THE LEOPARD AND THE Fox 
 
 LIV. THE WARRIOR WOLF 
 
 LV. THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS 
 
 LVI. THE CUR, THE HORSE, AND THE SHEPHERD'S DOG 
 
 LVII. THE JACKDAW AND THE EAGLE 
 
 LVIII. THE Ass AND THE LION HUNTING ... 
 
 LLX? THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING 
 
 LX. THE Two BEES 
 
 LXI. THE TURKEY AND THE ANT 
 
 LXIL THE DOG AND THE WOLF 
 
 LXIII. THE SATYR AND THE TRAVELLER 
 
 LXIV. THE BARLEYMOW AND THE DUNGHILL 
 
 LXV. THE SHEEP-BITER AND SHEPHERD 
 
 LXVI. THE STAG AT THE POOL 
 
 LXVII. THE OLD SWALLOWS AND THE YOUNG BIRDS 
 
 LXVIII. THE WAGGONER AND THE BUTTERFLY 
 
 LXIX. THE LION, THE BEAR AND THE Fox 
 
 LXX. THE Fox AND THE GRAPES 
 
 LXXI. THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS 
 
 LXXII. THE COCK AND THE Fox 
 
 LXXIII. THE LION AND THE MOUSE 
 
 LXXIV. THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER 
 
 LXXV. THE MOUSE AND THE ELEPHANT 
 
 LXXVI. THE HUSBANDMAN AND HIS SONS 
 
 LXXVII. THE BALD KNIGHT 
 
 ,LXXVIir.) THE DOG IN THE MANGER 
 
 LXXIX. THE OLD MAN AND DEATH 
 
 LXXX. THE OLD HEN AND YOUNG COCK , 
 
 LXXXI. MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN 
 
 PAGE 
 72 
 
 73 
 74 
 76 
 78 
 
 79 
 80 
 81 
 82 
 84 
 86 
 
 87 
 88 
 90 
 9i 
 93 
 95 
 96 
 
 97 
 100 
 
 IO2 
 I0 3 
 
 I0 4 
 
 106 
 107 
 108 
 108 
 no 
 
 112
 
 VI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 > THE WOLF AND THE KID 114 
 
 LXXXIII. THE OLD MAN AND HIS SONS 114 
 
 LXXXIV. THE BROOK AND THE FOUNTAIN 1 1 6 
 
 LXXXV. THE MICE IN COUNCIL ... 117 
 
 LXXXYI. THE Fox ix THE WELL ... .... 119 
 
 LXXXVII. THE HORSE AND THE WOLF 120 
 
 LXXXVIII. THE Two SPRINGS 120 
 
 LXXXIX. THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE RAVEN 122 
 
 XC. THE Fox AND THE BRAMBLE ... 123 
 
 XCI. HERCULES AND THE CARTER 124 
 
 XCII. THE BOYS AND THE FROGS 125 
 
 XCIII. THE COCK AND THE JEWEL 126 
 
 XCIV. THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE GLOW-WORM 127 
 
 XCV. THE SICK LION 128 
 
 XCVI. THE LION, THE Fox, AND THE GEESE ... ... 130 
 
 XCVII. THE ONE-EYED DOE 132 
 
 XCVIII. THE Fox, THE RAVEN, AND THE DOVE 133 
 
 XCIX. THE Two POTS 136 
 
 C. THE Two FROGS 137 
 
 CI. THE Fox AND THE MASK ... ... 138 
 
 CII. THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE YOUNG MOUSE ... 138 
 
 CHI. THE MICE AND THE TRAP 140 
 
 CIV. THE CHAMELEON ... ... 141 
 
 CV. THE WOLF, THE Fox, AND THE Ass 144 
 
 CVI. THE BOY AND THE BUTTERFLY 148 
 
 CVIT. THE CROW AND THE PITCHER 149
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE I. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE GOAT. 
 
 N the extreme end of a 
 village a Fox one day 
 went to have a peep at a 
 hen-roost. He had the 
 bad luck to fall into a 
 well, where he swam first to 
 this side, and then to that 
 side, but could not get out 
 with all his pains. At last, 
 as chance would have it, a 
 poor Goat came to the same 
 place to seek for some drink. 
 
 " So ho ! friend Fox," said he, " you quaff it off there at a 
 great rate : I hope by this time you have quenched your 
 thirst." " Thirst !" said the sly rogue ; " what I have found 
 here to drink is so clear, and so sweet, that I cannot take my 
 
 B
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 fill of it; 'do, pray', comedown, my dear, and have a taste of 
 it." .WixIvthaX iniplujriped. the Goat as he bade him; but 
 as soon as he was down, the Fox jumped on his horns, and 
 leaped out of the well in a trice; and as he went off, " Good 
 bye, my wise friend," said he; "if you had as much brains 
 as you have beard, I should have been in the well still, and 
 you might have stood on the brink of it to laugh at me, as I 
 now do at you." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 A rogue will give up the best friend he has to get out of 
 a scrape ; so that we ought to know what a man is, that we 
 may judge how far we may trust to what he says. 
 
 FABLE II. 
 
 THE FROG AND THE OX. 
 
 AN old Frog, being wonderfully struck with the size and 
 majesty of an Ox that was grazing in the marshes, was 
 seized with the desire to expand herself to the same portly 
 magnitude. After puffing and swelling for some time, 
 "What think you," said she, to her young ones, "will this 
 do?" "Far from it," said they. "Will this?" "By no
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 3 
 
 means." " But this surely will ? " " Nothing like it," they 
 replied. After many fruitless and ridiculous efforts to the 
 same purpose, the foolish Frog burst her skin, and miserably 
 expired upon the spot. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 To attempt what is out of our power, and to rival those 
 greater than ourselves, is sure to expose us to contempt and 
 ruin. 
 
 FABLE III. 
 
 THE MAN AND HIS GOOSE. 
 
 A CERTAIN Man had a Goose, which laid him a golden 
 egg every day. But, not contented with this, which rather 
 ncreased than abated his avarice, he was resolved to kill the 
 Goose, and cut up her belly, so that he might come to the 
 nexhaustible treasure which he fancied she had within her, 
 vithout being obliged to wait for the slow production of a 
 ingle egg daily. He did so, and, to his great sorrow and 
 lisappointment, found nothing vvithin. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 The man that hastes to become rich often finds that he has 
 >nly brought on ruin.
 
 4 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE IV. 
 THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS. 
 
 THE Bull, and several other beasts, were ambitious of the 
 honour of hunting with the Lion. His savage Majesty 
 graciously condescended to their desire ; and it was agreed 
 that they should have an equal share in whatever might be 
 taken. They scour the forest, are unanimous in the pursuit, 
 and, after a long chase, pull down a noble stag. It was 
 divided with great dexterity by the Bull into four equal 
 parts; but just as he was going to secure his share 
 "Hold!" says the Lion, "let no one presume to help 
 himself till he hath heard our just and reasonable claims. I 
 seize upon the first quarter by virtue of my prerogative ; the 
 second I claim as due to my superior conduct and courage ; 
 I cannot forego the third, on account of the necessities oi 
 my den ; and if anyone is inclined to dispute my right to the 
 fourth, let him speak." Awed by the majesty of his frown, 
 and the terror of his paws, they silently withdrew, resolving 
 never to hunt again but with their equals. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Be certain that those who have great power are honest 
 before you place yourselves in their hands, or you will be 
 deprived of your just rights.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 5 
 
 FABLE V. 
 
 THE DOVE AND THE ANT. 
 
 THE Ant, compelled by thirst, went to drink in a clear, 
 purling rivulet; but the current, with its circling eddy, 
 snatched her away, and carried her down the stream. A 
 Dove, pitying her distressed condition, cropped a branch 
 from a neighbouring tree and let it fall into the water, by 
 means of which the Ant saved herself and got ashore. Not 
 long after, a Fowler, having a design against the Dove, 
 planted his nets in due order, without the bird's observing 
 what he was about ; which the Ant perceiving, just as he 
 was going to put his design into execution, she bit his heel, 
 and made him give so sudden a start, that the Dove took the 
 alarm, and flew away. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Kindness to others seldom fails of its reward ; and none 
 is so weak that he may not be able in some fashion to repay 
 it. Let us show kindness without looking for a return, but a 
 blessing will surely follow.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE VI. 
 
 THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL. 
 
 A Fox being caught in a steel trap by his tail, was glad 
 to compound for his escape with the loss of it ; but on coming 
 abroad into the world, began to be so sensible of the dis- 
 grace such a defect would bring upon him, that he almost 
 wished he had died rather than left it behind him. However, 
 to make the best of a bad matter, he formed a project in his 
 head to call an assembly of the rest of the Foxes, and propose 
 it for their imitation as a fashion which would be very agree- 
 able and becoming. He did so, and made a long harangue 
 upon the unprofitableness of tails in general, and endeavoured 
 chiefly to show the awkwardness and inconvenience of a Fox's 
 tail in particular ; adding that it would be both more graceful 
 and more expeditious to be altogether without them, and 
 that, for his part, what he had only imagined and conjectured 
 before, he now found by experience ; for that he never enjoyed 
 himself so well, nor found himself so easy as he had done 
 since he cut off his tail. He said no more, but looked about 
 with a brisk air to see what proselytes he had gained ; when 
 a sly old Fox in the company, who understood trap, answered
 
 
 THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 7 
 
 him, with a leer, lt I believe you may have found a con- 
 veniency in parting with your tail ; and when we are in the 
 same circumstances, perhaps we may do so too." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 It is common for men to wish others reduced to their own 
 level, and we ought to guard against such advice as may 
 proceed from this principle. 
 
 FABLE VII. 
 
 THE BUTTERFLY AND THE SNAIL. 
 
 As in the sunshine of the morn, 
 A Butterfly, but newly born, 
 Sat proudly perking on a rose, 
 With pert conceit his bosom glows ; 
 His wings, all glorious to behold, 
 Bedropt with azure, jet and gold, 
 Wide he displays ; the spangled dew 
 Reflects his eyes, and various hue. 
 
 His now forgotten friend, a Snail, 
 Beneath his house, with slimy trail, 
 Crawls o'er the grass ; whom, when he spies, 
 In wrath he to the gardener cries :
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 " What means yon peasant's daily toil, 
 From choaking weeds to rid the soil ? 
 Why wake you to the morning's care ? 
 Why with new arts correct the year ? 
 Why glows the peach with crimson hue ? 
 And why the plum's inviting blue? 
 Were they to feast his taste designed, 
 That vermin, of voracious kind ? 
 Crush, then, the slow, the pilfring race; 
 So purge thy garden from disgrace." 
 
 " What arrogance ! " the Snail replied ; 
 " How insolent is upstart pride ! 
 Hadst thou not thus, with insult vain, 
 Provoked my patience to complain, 
 I had concealed thy meaner birth, 
 Nor traced thee to the scum of earth : 
 For, scarce nine suns have wak'd the hours, 
 To swell the fruit, and paint the flowers, 
 Since I thy humbler life surveyed, 
 In base, in sordid guise arrayed ; 
 A hideous insect, vile, unclean, 
 You dragg'd a slow and noisome train ; 
 And from your spider-bowels drew 
 Foul film, and spun the dirty clue.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 9 
 
 I own my humble life, good friend ; 
 Snail was I born, and Snail shall end. 
 And what's a Butterfly? At best, 
 He's but a Caterpillar, dress' d; 
 And all thy race (a numerous seed) 
 Shall prove of Caterpillar breed." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 All upstarts, insolent in place, 
 Remind us of their vulgar race. 
 
 FABLE VIII. 
 
 THE WOLF AND THE CRANE. 
 
 A WOLF, after too greedily devouring his prey, happened 
 to have a bone stick in his throat, which gave him so much 
 pain that he went howling up and down, and importuning 
 every creature he met to lend him a kind hand in order to 
 his relief; nay, he even promised a reward to anyone who 
 should undertake the operation with success. At last the 
 Crane, tempted with the lucre of the reward, and having first 
 made the Wolf confirm his promise with an oath, undertook 
 the business, and ventured his long neck into the rapacious 
 felon's throat. 
 
 In short, he plucked out the bone, and expected the pro- 
 mised gratuity ; when the Wolf, turning his eyes disdainfully
 
 10 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 towards him, said, " I did not think you had been so un- 
 reasonable ! Have I not suffered you safely to draw your 
 neck out of my jaws? And have you the conscience to 
 demand a further reward ? " 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 When we do good to bad men, we must not expect good 
 from them. 
 
 FABLE IX. 
 
 THE FROG AND THE RAT. 
 
 ONCE on a time, a foolish Frog, 
 Vain, proud, and stupid as a log, 
 Tired with the marsh, her native home, 
 Imprudently abroad would roam, 
 And fix her habitation where 
 She'd breathe at least a purer air. 
 She was resolved to change, that's poz ; 
 Could she be worse than where she was ? 
 
 Away the silly creature leaps. 
 A Rat, who saw her lab' ring steps, 
 Cried out, "Where in this hurry, pray? 
 You certainly will go astray ! "
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 1 
 
 " Ne'er fear ; I quit that filthy bog, 
 Where I so long have croaked incog : 
 People of talents, sure, should thrive, 
 And not be buried thus alive. 
 But, pray (for I'm extremely dry), 
 Know you of any water nigh ? " 
 
 " None," said the Rat, "you'll reach to-day, 
 As you so slowly make your way. 
 Believe a friend, and take my word, 
 This jaunt of yours is quite absurd. 
 Go to your froggery again ; 
 In your own element remain." 
 No : on the journey she was bent, 
 Her thirst increasing as she went ; 
 For want of drink she scarce can hop, 
 And yet despairing of a drop : 
 Too late she moans her folly past ; 
 She faints, she sinks, she breathes her last. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Vulgar minds will pay full dear, 
 
 When once they move beyond their sphere.
 
 12 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE X. 
 
 THE FIGHTING COCK AND EAGLE. 
 
 Two Cocks were fighting for the sovereignty of the dung- 
 hill, and one of them having got the better of the other, he 
 that was vanquished crept into a hole, and hid himself for 
 some time ; but the victor flew up to an eminent place, clapt 
 his wings, and crowed out victory. An Eagle, who was 
 watching for his prey near the place, saw him, and, making a 
 swoop, trussed him up in his talons, and carried him off. The 
 Cock that had been beaten, perceiving this, soon quitted his 
 hole, and, shaking off all remembrance of his late disgrace, 
 gallanted the hens with all the intrepidity imaginable. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Before honour is humility. We must not be too much 
 elevated by prosperity lest we meet a grievous fall.
 
 THE FIGHTING COCK AND EAGLE.
 
 FA VO URITE CABLES j <j 
 
 FABLE XL 
 
 THE DIAMOND AND THE LOADSTONE. 
 
 A DIAMOND, of great beauty and lustre, observing, not 
 only many other gems of a lower class ranged together with 
 himself in the same cabinet, but a Loadstone likewise placed not 
 far from him, began to question the latter how he came there, 
 and what pretensions he had to be ranked among the precious 
 stones ; he, who appeared to be no better than a mere flint, 
 a sorry, coarse, rusty-looking pebble, without any the least 
 shining quality to advance him to such an honour ; and con- 
 cluded with desiring him to keep his distance, and pay a 
 proper respect to his superiors. 
 
 "I find," said the Loadstone, "you judge by external 
 appearances, and condemn without due examination ; but I 
 will not act so ungenerously by you. I am willing to allow 
 you your due praise : you are a pretty bauble ; I am mightily 
 delighted to see you glitter and sparkle; I look upon you 
 with pleasure and surprise ; but I must be convinced you are 
 of some sort of use before I acknowledge that you have any 
 real merit, or treat you with that respect which you seem to 
 demand. With regard to myself, I confess my deficiency in
 
 1 4 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 outward beauty; but I may venture to say, that I make 
 amends by my intrinsic qualities. The great improvement 
 of navigation is entirely owing to me. By me the distant 
 parts of the world have been made known and are accessible 
 to each other ; the remotest nations are connected together, 
 and all, as it were, united into one common society ; by a 
 mutual intercourse they relieve one another's wants, and all 
 enjoy the several blessings peculiar to each. The world is 
 indebted to me for its wealth, its splendour, and its power; 
 and the arts and sciences are, in a great measure, obliged to 
 me for their improvements, and their continual increase. All 
 these blessings I am the origin of; for by my aid it is that 
 man is enable to construct that valuable instrument, the 
 Mariner's Compass." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Let dazzling stones in splendour glare ; 
 Utility's the gem for wear.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 5 
 
 FABLE XII. 
 THE BEAR AND THE BEES. 
 
 A BEAR happened to be stung by a Bee ; and the pain 
 was so acute, that in the madness of revenge he ran into the 
 garden, and overturned the hive. This outrage provoked 
 their anger to such a degree that it brought the fury of the 
 whole swarm upon him. They attacked him with such 
 violence that his life was in danger, and it was with the 
 utmost difficulty that he made his escape, wounded from 
 head to tail. In this desperate condition, lamenting his 
 misfortunes, and licking his sores, he could not forbear 
 reflecting how much more advisable it had been to have 
 patiently borne one injury, than by an unprofitable resent- 
 ment to have provoked a thousand. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 It is more prudent to acquiesce under an injury from a 
 single person, then by an act of vengeance to bring upon us 
 the resentment of a whole community.
 
 j 6 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XIII. 
 
 THE FROGS DESIRING A KING. 
 
 THE Frogs, living an easy, free life everywhere among the 
 lakes and ponds, assembled together one day, in a very tumul- 
 tuous manner, and petitioned Jupiter to let them have a king, 
 who might inspect their morals, and make them live a little 
 honester. Jupiter, being at that time in pretty good humour, 
 was pleased to laugh heartily at their ridiculous request, 
 and, throwing a little log down into the pool, cried, " There 
 is a king for you!" The sudden splash which this made 
 by its fall into the water, at first terrified them so exceedingly 
 that they were afraid to come near it. But, in a little time, 
 seeing it lie still without moving, they ventured, by degrees, 
 to approach it ; and at last, finding there was no danger, 
 they leaped upon it, and, in short, treated it as familiarly as 
 they pleased. But, not contented with so insipid a king as 
 this was, they sent their deputies to petition again for another 
 sort of one ; for this they neither did nor could like. Upon 
 that he sent them a Stork, who, without any ceremony, fell 
 devouring and eating them up, one after another, as fast as 
 he could. Then they applied themselves privately to Mer- 
 cury, and got him to speak to Jupiter in their behalf, that he 
 would be so good as to bless them again with another king,
 
 FA YOU RITE FABLES. \ j 
 
 or restore them to their former state. "No," says he; 
 "since it was their own choice, let the obstinate wretches 
 suffer the punishment due to their folly." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 This fable teaches that it is better to be content with our 
 present condition, however bad we may think it, than, by 
 ambitious change, to risk making it worse. 
 
 FABLE XIV. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE BOAR. 
 
 THE Boar stood whetting his tusks against an old tree. 
 The Fox, who happened to come by at the same time, asked 
 him why he made those martial preparations of whetting his 
 teeth, since there was no enemy near, that he could perceive. 
 "That may be, Master Reynard," says the Boar, "but we 
 should scour up our arms, while we have leisure, you know ; 
 for, in time of danger, we shall have something else to do." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 It is well to have preparations made for all emergencies, 
 that when we are placed in any difficult position we may be 
 calm and self-possessed. These preparations are best made 
 in times of leisure.
 
 i 8 FA VOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XV. 
 
 THE VINE AND THE GOAT. 
 
 A GOAT having taken shelter from the heat of the sun 
 under the broad leaves of a shady- spreading vine, began to 
 crop and eat them ; by this means, the branches being put 
 into a rustling motion, he drew the eyes of some hunters who 
 were passing that way, and, seeing the vine stir, thought some 
 wild beast had taken covert there ; they shot their arrows at a 
 venture, and killed the Goat, who, before he expired, uttered 
 his dying words to this purpose : " Ah ! I suffer justly for my 
 ingratitude, who could not forbear doing an injury to the 
 vine that had so kindly afforded me shelter." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Ingratitude is a great crime, and from which we should 
 seek earnestly to be preserved. He that is capable of in- 
 juring his benefactor, what would he scruple to do towards 
 another ?
 
 THE VINE AND THE GOAT.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XVI. 
 
 THE DISCONTENTED HORSE. 
 
 As JUPITER once was receiving petitions 
 From birds and from beasts of all ranks and conditions ; 
 With an eye full of fire, and mane quite erect, 
 Which, I'm sorry to say, shewed but little respect, 
 The Horse went as near as he dared to the throne, 
 And thus made his donkey-like sentiments known : 
 
 " For beauty of symmetry, fleetness, and force, 
 It is said that all animals yield to the Horse; 
 While my spirit I feel, and my figure I view 
 In the brook, I' m inclined to believe it is true ; 
 But still, mighty Jupiter, still, by your aid, 
 In my form might some further improvements be made. 
 To run is my duty, and swifter and stronger 
 I surely should go, were my legs to be longer : 
 And as man always places a seat on my back, 
 I should have been made with a saddle or sack ; 
 It had saved him much trouble, on journies departing, 
 And /had been constantly ready for starting."
 
 20 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 Great Jupiter smiled (for he laughed at the brute, 
 As he saw more of folly than vice in his suit), 
 And striking the earth with omnipotent force, 
 A Camel rose up near the terrified Horse : 
 He trembled he started his mane shook with fright, 
 And he staggered half round, as preparing for flight. 
 
 " Behold !" exclaimed Jove, " there an animal stands 
 With both your improvements at once to your hands : 
 His legs are much longer ; the hump on his back 
 Well answers the purpose of saddle or sack : 
 Of your shapes, tell me, which is more finished and trim ? 
 Speak out, silly Horse, would you wish to be him?" 
 
 The Horse looked abashed, and had nothing to say 
 And Jove, with reproaches, thus sent him away : 
 " Begone, till you gratefully feel and express 
 Your thanks for the blessings and gifts you possess. 
 The Camel, though plain, is mild, useful, and good ; 
 You are handsome, but proud, discontented and rude."
 
 FA VO URHE FABLES. 2 l 
 
 FABLE XVII. 
 
 THE MOUNTAIN IN LABOUR. 
 
 A RUMOUR once prevailed that a neighbouring mountain 
 was in labour ; it was affirmed that she had been heard to 
 utter prodigious groans ; and a general expectation had been 
 raised that some extraordinary birth was at hand. 
 
 Multitudes flocked in much eagerness to be witnesses of 
 the wonderful event, one expecting her to be delivered of a 
 giant, another of some enormous monster, and all were in 
 earnest expectation of something grand and astonishing ; 
 when, after waiting with great impatience a considerable 
 time, behold, out crept a MOUSE. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 To raise uncommon expectations renders an ordinary 
 event ridiculous. 
 
 FABLE XVIII. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE STORK. 
 
 THE Fox, though in general more inclined to roguery 
 than wit, had once a strong inclination to play the wag with 
 his neighbour the Stork. He accordingly invited her to 
 dinner in due form. But when she came to the table, the
 
 22 FA VO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 Stork found it consisted entirely of different soups, served in 
 broad, shallow dishes, so that she could only dip the end of 
 her bill in them, but could not possibly satisfy her hunger. 
 The Fox lapped them up very readily, and every now and 
 then addressing himself to his guest, desired to know how 
 she liked her entertainment, hoped that everything was to 
 her liking, and protested he was very sorry to see her eat so 
 sparingly. 
 
 The Stork, perceiving she was jested with, took no notice, 
 but pretended to like every dish extremely ; and, at parting, 
 pressed the Fox so earnestly to return her visit that he could 
 not, in civility, refuse. 
 
 The day arrived, and he repaired to his appointment. 
 But, to his great dismay, he found the dinner was composed of 
 minced meat, served up in long, narrow-necked bottles; so 
 that he was only tantalized with the sight of what it was 
 impossible for him to taste. The Stork thrust in her long 
 bill, and helped herself very plentifully; then, turning to 
 Reynard, who was eagerly licking the outside of a jar where 
 some sauce had been spilled, "I am very glad," said she, 
 smiling, " that you appear to have so good an appetite. I 
 hope you will make as hearty a dinner at my table as I did 
 the other day at yours." The Fox hung down his head, and 
 looked very much displeased. " Nay, nay!" said the Stork; 
 "don't pretend to be out of humour about the matter; they 
 that cannot take a jest should never make one.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 23 
 
 FABLE XIX. 
 
 THE HORSE AND THE STAG. 
 
 THE Stag, with his sharp horns, got the better of the 
 Horse, and drove him clear out of the pasture where they 
 used to feed together. So the latter craved the assistance of 
 man, and, in order to receive the benefit of it, suffered him 
 to put a bridle into his mouth, and a saddle upon his back. 
 By this means he entirely defeated his enemy, but was 
 mightily disappointed when, upon returning thanks, and 
 desiring to be dismissed, he received this answer: "No; I 
 never knew before how useful a drudge you were ; now I 
 have found out what you are good for, you may depend upon 
 it, I will keep you to it." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Help yourself, if you can do so ; but at any rate, before 
 you seek the assistance of a powerful man, be sure that the 
 help he gives you will be disinterested, or you may find that 
 in helping you he may put you under obligations fatal to 
 liberty.
 
 FAVO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XX. 
 
 THE LION WOUNDED. 
 
 A MAX, who was very skilful with his bow, went up into 
 the forest to hunt. At his approach, there was a great con- 
 sternation and rout among the wild beasts, the Lion alone 
 showing any determination to fight. " Stop," said the 
 Archer to him, "and await my messenger, who has some- 
 what to say to you." With that, he sent an arrow after the 
 Lion, and wounded him in the side. The Lion, smarting 
 with anguish, fled into the depths of the forest ; but a Fox, 
 seeing him run, bade him take courage, 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 
 power of him who sends it ? " 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 It is better to yield to a superior force than foolishly brave 
 its power.
 
 THE LION WOUNDED.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXI. 
 
 THE ASS IX. THE LIOx's SKIN. 
 
 AN Ass, finding a Lion's skin, disguised himself with it, 
 and ranged about the forest, putting all the beasts that saw 
 him into bodily fear. After he had diverted himself thus for 
 some time, he met a Fox, and, being desirous to frighten 
 him too, as well as the rest, he leapt at him with some fierce 
 ness, and endeavoured to imitate the roaring of the Lion. 
 
 "Your humble servant," says the Fox, " if you had held 
 your tongue, I might have taken you for a Lion, as others 
 did ; but now you bray I know who you are." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 A silent man may pass for a wise man, but when we hear 
 him speak we are able to form an estimate of his value. 
 
 FABLE XXII. 
 
 JUPITER AND THE FARMER. 
 
 'Tis said, that Jove had once a farm to let, 
 
 And sent down Mercury, his common crier, 
 
 To make the most that he could get ; 
 Or sell it to the highest buyer.
 
 2 6 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 To view the premises the people flocked : 
 And, as 'tis usual in such case, 
 Began to run them down apace ; 
 
 The soil was poor, the farm ill stocked : 
 In short, a barren, miserable place, 
 Scarce worth th' expense to draw a lease. 
 
 One bolder, tho' not wiser than the rest, 
 Offered to pay in so much rent, 
 Provided he had Jove's consent 
 
 To guide the weather just as he thought best ; 
 Or wet, or dry ; or cold, or hot ; 
 Whate'er he asked should be his lot; 
 
 To all which Jove gave a consenting nod. 
 The seasons now obsequious stand, 
 Quick to obey their lord's command, 
 
 And now the Farmer undertakes the god ; 
 Now calls for sunshine, now for rains, 
 Dispels the clouds, the wind restrains ; 
 
 But still confined within his farm alone, 
 
 He makes a climate all his own ; 
 
 For when he sheds, or when he pours, 
 Refreshing dews, or soaking showers,
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 27 
 
 His neighbours never share a drop ; 
 So much the better for their crop ; 
 Each glebe a plenteous harvest yields ; 
 Whilst our director spoils his fields. 
 
 Next year, he tries a different way ; 
 New moulds the seasons, and directs again ; 
 
 But all in vain : 
 His neighbour's grounds still thrive while his decay. 
 
 What does he do in this sad plight ? 
 For once he acted right : 
 He to the god his fate bemoaned, 
 Asked pardon, and his folly owned. 
 Jove, like a tender master, fond to save, 
 His weakness pityed, and his fault forgave. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 He, who presumes the ways of heaven to scan, 
 
 Is not a wise, nor yet a happy man : 
 
 In this firm truth securely we may rest, 
 
 Whatever Providence ordains is best ; 
 
 Had man the power, he'd work his own undoing ; 
 
 To grant his will would be to cause his ruin.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXIII. 
 
 THE VAIN JACKDAW. 
 
 A CERTAIN Jackdaw was so proud and ambitious that, 
 not contented to live within his own sphere, he picked up the 
 feathers which fell from the Peacocks, stuck them among his 
 own, and very confidently introduced himself into an assembly 
 of those beautiful birds. They soon found him out, stripped 
 him of his borrowed plumes, and falling upon him with their 
 sharp bills, punished him as his presumption deserved. 
 
 Upon this, full of grief and affliction, he returned to 
 his old companions, and would have flocked with them 
 again ; but they, knowing his late life and conversation, 
 industriously avoided him, and refused to admit him into 
 their company; and one of them, at the same time, gave him 
 this serious reproof: "If, friend, you could have been con- 
 tented with your station, and had not disdained the rank 
 in which nature had placed you, you had not been used so 
 scurvily by those amongst whom you introduced yourself, nor 
 suffered the notorious slight which we now think ourselves 
 obliged to put upon you."
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Great evils arise from vanity ; for when we try to place 
 ourselves in a position for which we are not fit, we are liable 
 to be laughed at, and, when we would return to our former 
 state, we find we have lost the esteem of our former friends. 
 
 FABLE XXIV. 
 
 THE VIPER AND THE FILE. 
 
 A VIPER, crawling into a smith's shop to seek for some- 
 thing to eat, cast her eyes upon a File, and darting upon it 
 in a moment, "Now I have you," said she, "and so you 
 may help yourself how you can ; but you may take my word 
 for it that I shall make a fine meal of you before I think of 
 parting with you." " Silly wretch !" said the File, as gruff 
 as could be, " you had much better be quiet, and let me 
 alone ; for, if you gnaw for ever, you will get nothing but 
 your trouble for your pains. Make a meal of me, indeed ! 
 why, I myself can bite the hardest iron in the shop ; and if 
 you go on with your foolish nibbling I shall tear all the teeth 
 out of your spiteful head before you know where you are." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Take care that you never strive with those who are too 
 strong for you, nor do spiteful things, lest you suffer for it.
 
 j FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXV. 
 
 THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 
 
 ONE hot, sultry day, a Wolf and a Lamb happened to 
 come just at the same time to quench their thirst in the 
 stream of a clear, silver brook, that ran tumbling down the 
 side of a rocky mountain. The Wolf stood upon the higher 
 ground, and the Lamb at some distance from him down the 
 current. However, the Wolf, having a mind to pick a 
 quarrel with him, asked him what he meant by disturbing 
 the water, and making it so muddy that he could not drink, 
 and at the same time demanded satisfaction. The Lamb, 
 frightened at this threatening charge, told him, in a tone as 
 mild as possible, that, with humble submission, he could not 
 conceive how that could be, since the water which he drank 
 ran down from the Wolf to him, and therefore it could not be 
 disturbed so far up the stream. " Be that as it will," replies 
 the Wolf, " you are a rascal ; and I have been told that you 
 treated me with ill-language behind my back about half a 
 year ago." "Upon my word," says the Lamb, "the time 
 you mention was before I was born. The Wolf finding it to 
 no purpose to argue any longer against truth, fell into a 
 great passion, snarling and foaming at the mouth, as if he
 
 THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 3 r 
 
 had been mad ; and, drawing nearer to the Lamb, " Sirrah," 
 said he, " if it was not you, it was your father, and that's all 
 one." So he seized the poor innocent, helpless thing, tore 
 it to pieces, and made a meal of it. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Bad men, who wish to quarrel, will always find a pretence ; 
 if they can find no true grounds, they will resort to those 
 which are false. 
 
 FABLE XXVI. 
 
 THE OLD BULLFINCH AND YOUNG BIRDS. 
 
 IT chanced, that, on a winter's day, 
 
 But warm and bright, and calm as May, 
 
 The birds, conceiving a design 
 
 To forestall sweet St. Valentine, 
 
 In many an orchard, copse, and grove, 
 
 Assembled on affairs of love ; 
 
 And with much twitter and much chatter, 
 
 Began to agitate the matter.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 At length, a Bullfinch, who could boast 
 More years and wisdom than the most, 
 Entreated, opening wide his beak, 
 A moment's liberty to speak ; 
 And, silence publicly enjoined, 
 Delivered briefly thus his mind : 
 
 " My friends, be cautious how ye treat 
 The subject upon which we meet ; 
 I fear we shall have winter yet." 
 
 A Finch, whose tongue knew no control, 
 With golden wing, and satin poll, 
 A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried 
 What marriage means, thus pert replied : 
 
 " Methinks, the gentleman," quoth she, 
 " Opposite, in the apple-tree, 
 By his good will, would keep us single, 
 'Till yonder heaven and earth shall mingle; 
 Or (which is likelier to befall) 
 'Till death exterminate us all. 
 I marry without more ado ; 
 My dear Dick Redcap, what say you ?"
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 Dick heard ; and tweedling, ogling, bridling, 
 Turning short round, strutting, and sidling, 
 Attested glad his approbation 
 Of an immediate conjugation. 
 Their sentiments so well express' d, 
 Influenced mightily the rest ; 
 All pair'd, and each pair built a nest. 
 
 But though the birds were thus in haste, 
 The leaves came on not quite so fast ; 
 And destiny, that sometimes bears 
 An aspect stern on man's affairs, 
 Not altogether smil'd on theirs. 
 
 The wind, that late breath' d gently forth, 
 Now shifted east, and east by north ; 
 Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know, 
 Could shelter them from rain or snow ; 
 Stepping into their nests, they paddled, 
 Themselves were chill' d, their eggs were addled; 
 Soon every father bird, and mother, 
 Grew quarrelsome, and peck'd each other; 
 Parted without the least regret, 
 Except that they had ever met ; 
 And learn' d in future to be wiser 
 Than to neglect a good adviser.
 
 34 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Young folks, who think themselves so wise, 
 That old folks' counsel they despise, 
 Will find, when they too late repent, 
 Their folly prove their punishment. 
 
 FABLE XXVII. 
 
 THE MOUSE AND THE WEASEL. 
 
 A LITTLE starveling rogue of a Mouse had, with much 
 pushing application, made his way through a small hole in a 
 corn-basket, where he stuffed and crammed so plentifully, 
 that, when he would have retired the way he came, he found 
 himself too plump, with all his endeavours, to accomplish it. 
 A Weasel, who stood at some distance, and had been divert- 
 ing himself with beholding the vain efforts of the little fat 
 thing, called to him, and said, " Harkee, honest friend ; if 
 you have a mind to make your escape, there is but one way 
 for it : contrive to grow as poor and lean as you were when 
 you entered, and then, perhaps, you may get off." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 If evil habits have got a man into difficulties, there is no 
 surer way to extricate himself than, by God's help, to cast 
 those habits off.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 35 
 
 FABLE XXVIII. 
 
 THE OLD HOUND. 
 
 AN old Hound, who had been an excellent good one in 
 his time, and given his master great sport and satisfaction in 
 many a chase, at last, by the effect of years, became feeble 
 and unserviceable. 
 
 However, being in the field one day when the Stag was 
 almost run down, he happened to be the first that came in 
 with him, and seized him by one of his haunches ; but his 
 decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, 
 the deer escaped and threw him quite out. Upon which his 
 master, being in a great passion, and going to strike him, 
 the honest old creature is said to have barked out this 
 apology. "Ah! do not strike your poor old servant; it is 
 not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed that 
 fail me. If what I now am displeases you, pray don't forget 
 what I have been." 
 
 MORAL. 
 Past services should never be forgotten.
 
 2 6 FAVO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXIX. 
 
 THE CHARGER AND TPIE ASS 
 
 THE Horse, adorned with his great war-saddle, and champ- 
 ing his foaming bridle, came thundering along the way, and 
 made the mountains echo with his loud, shrill neighing. He 
 had not gone far before he overtook an Ass, who was labour- 
 ing under a heavy burthen, and moving slowly on in the 
 same track with himself. Immediately he called out to him, 
 in a haughty, imperious tone, and threatened to trample 
 him in the dirt, if he did not make way for him. The poor, 
 patient Ass, not daring to dispute the matter, quietly got out 
 of his way as fast as he could, and let him go by. Not long 
 after this, the same Horse, in an engagement with the enemy, 
 happened to be shot in the eye, which -made him unfit for 
 show or any military business ; so he was stript of his fine 
 ornaments, and sold to a carrier. The Ass, meeting him in 
 this forlorn condition, thought that now it was his time to 
 speak; and so, says he, "Heyday, friend, is it you? Well, 
 I always believed that pride of yours would one day have a 
 fall." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Pride and haughtiness are foreign to really great men. 
 Those who show it, when in their high estate, if the wheel of 
 fortune should change, instead of friendship or pity, will meet 
 with nothing but contempt.
 
 THE CHARGER AND THE ASS.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 37 
 
 FABLE XXX. 
 
 THE COLT AND THE FARMER. 
 
 A COLT, for blood and mettled speed, 
 The choicest of the running- breed, 
 Of youthful strength and beauty vain, 
 Refused subjection to the rein. 
 
 In vain the groom's officious skill 
 Opposed his pride, and checked his will ; 
 In vain the master's forming care 
 Restrained with threats, or soothed with prayer 
 Of freedom proud, and scorning man, 
 Wild o'er the spacious plain he ran. 
 
 Where'er luxuriant Nature spread 
 Her flowery carpet o'er the mead, 
 Or bubbling streams soft gliding pass 
 To cool and freshen up the grass, 
 Disdaining bounds, he cropped the blade, 
 And wantoned in the spoil he made. 
 
 429353
 
 3 8 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 In plenty thus the summer passed ; 
 Revolving winter came at last : 
 The trees no more a shelter yield ; 
 The verdure withers from the field : 
 Perpetual snows invest the ground ; 
 In icy chains the streams are bound : 
 Cold, nipping winds, and rattling hail, 
 His lank, unsheltered -sides assail. 
 
 As round he cast his rueful eyes, 
 He saw the thatched-roof cottage rise : 
 The prospect touched his heart with cheer, 
 And promised kind deliverance near. 
 A stable, erst his scorn and hate, 
 Was now become his wished retreat ; 
 His passion cool, his pride forgot, 
 A Farmer's welcome yard he sought. 
 
 The master saw his woful plight, 
 His limbs, that tottered with his weight, 
 And, friendly, to the stable led, 
 And saw him littered, dressed, and fed. 
 In slothful ease all night he lay ; 
 The servants rose at break of day ; 
 The market calls. Along the road 
 His back must bear the pond'rous load ;
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 In vain he struggles or complains, 
 Incessant blows reward his pains. 
 To-morrow varies but his toil : 
 Chained to the plough, he breaks the soil 
 While scanty meals at night repay 
 The painful labours of the day. 
 
 Subdued by toil, with anguish rent, 
 His self-upbraidings found a vent. 
 " Wretch that I am !" he sighing said, 
 " By arrogance and folly led ; 
 Had but my restive youth been brought 
 To learn the lesson nature taught, 
 Then had I, like my sires of yore, 
 The prize from every courser bore. 
 Now, lasting servitude's my lot, 
 My birth contemned, my speed forgot ; 
 Doomed am I, for my pride, to bear 
 A living death from year to year.'* 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 He who disdains control, will only gain 
 A youth of pleasure for an age of pain.
 
 4 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXXI. 
 
 THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES. 
 
 A LARK, who had young ones in a field of corn almost 
 ripe, was under some fear lest the reapers should come to 
 reap it before her young- brood was fledged and able to 
 remove from that place. She, therefore, upon flying abroad 
 to look for food, left this charge with them to take notice 
 what they heard talked of in her absence, and tell her of it 
 when she came back again. 
 
 When she was gone, they heard the owner of the corn 
 call to his son : "Well," says he, "I think this corn is ripe 
 enough. I would have you go early to-morrow, and desire 
 our friends and neighbours to come and help us to reap it." 
 When the old Lark came home, the young ones fell a quiver- 
 ing and chirping round her, and told her what had happened, 
 begging her to remove them as fast as she could. The 
 mother bid them be easy: "For," said she, "if the owner 
 depends on his friends and neighbours, I am pretty sure the 
 corn will not be reaped to-morrow." 
 
 Next day, she went out again, leaving the same orders as 
 before. The owner came, and staid, expecting his friends ; 
 but the sun grew hot, and nothing was done, for not a soul 
 came to help them. Then says he to his son, "I perceive
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 4 1 
 
 these friends of ours are not to be depended upon ; so you 
 must go to your uncles and cousins, and tell them I desire 
 they would be here betimes to-morrow morning, to help us 
 to reap." Well, this the young ones, in a great fright, 
 reported also to their mother. " If that be all," says she, 
 "do not be frightened, dear children; for kindred and rela- 
 tions are not so very forward to serve one another ; but take 
 particular notice what you hear said next time, and be sure 
 you let me know it." 
 
 She went abroad next day, as usual; and the owner, 
 finding his relations as slack as the rest of his neighbours, 
 said to his son, " Harkee, George; get a couple of good 
 sickles ready against to-morrow morning, and we will even 
 reap the corn ourselves." When the young ones told their 
 mother this, "Then," said she, "we must be gone indeed; 
 for, when a man undertakes to do his business himself, it is 
 not so likely he will be disappointed." So she removed her 
 young ones at once, and the corn was reaped next day by 
 the good man and his son. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Never depend on the assistance of others. No business 
 is so sure to be done as that which a man sets about doing 
 himself.
 
 42 FAVO VRITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXXII. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE CROW. 
 
 A CROW, having taken a piece of cheese out of a cottage 
 window, flew up with it into a high tree in order to eat it ; 
 which the Fox observing, came and sat underneath, and 
 began to compliment the Crow upon the subject of her 
 beauty. "I protest," says he, "I never observed it before, 
 but your feathers are of a more delicate white than any that 
 ever I saw in my life ! Ah ! what a fine shape and graceful 
 turn of body is there ! And I make no question but you 
 have a tolerable voice. If it is but as fine as your com- 
 plexion, I do not know a bird that can pretend to stand in 
 competition with you." The Crow foolishly believed all that 
 the Fox said was true ; but, thinking the Fox a little dubious 
 as to her vocal powers, and having a mind to set him right 
 in that matter, opened her mouth, and, in the same instant, 
 let the cheese drop out of her mouth. This being what the 
 Fox wanted, he caught it up in a moment, and trotted away, 
 laughing to himself at the easy credulity of the Crow. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 When anyone is flattered as possessing qualities he ought 
 to feel conscious he does not possess, let him beware lest the 
 flatterers wish either to deprive him of some solid good, or to 
 make him appear ridiculous in the eyes of others.
 
 THE FOX AND THE CROW
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 43 
 
 FABLE XXXIII. 
 THE PEACOCK'S COMPLAINT. 
 
 THE Peacock presented a memorial to Juno, importing 
 how hardly he thought he was used, in not having so good a 
 voice as the Nightingale; how that bird was agreeable to 
 every ear that heard it, while he was laughed at for his ugly, 
 screaming noise, if he did but open his mouth. 
 
 The goddess, concerned at the uneasiness of her favourite 
 bird, answered him very kindly to this purpose : " If the 
 Nightingale is blest with a fine voice, you have the advan- 
 tage in point of beauty and size." "Ah!" says he, "but 
 what avails my silent, unmeaning beauty, when I am so far 
 excelled in voice?" 
 
 The goddess dismissed him, bidding him consider that 
 the properties of every creature were appointed by the decree 
 of Fate ; to him beauty, to the Eagle strength, to the Night- 
 ingale a voice of melody, to the Parrot the faculty of speech, 
 and to the Dove innocence ; that each of these was contented 
 with his own peculiar quality ; and, unless he wished to be 
 miserable, he must also learn to be equally satisfied.
 
 44 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 The man who to his lot 's resigned 
 True happiness is sure to find ; 
 While envy ne'er can mend the ill, 
 But makes us feel it keener still. 
 
 FABLE XXXIV. 
 
 THE STAG IN THE OX-STALL. 
 
 A STAG, roused from his thick covert in the midst of the 
 forest, and driven hard by the hounds, made towards a farm- 
 house, and, seeing the door of an ox-stall open, entered 
 therein, and hid himself under a heap of straw. One of the 
 oxen, turning his head about, asked him what he meant by 
 venturing himself in such a place, where he was sure to meet 
 his doom. "Ah!" said the Stag, "if you will but be so 
 good as to favour me with your concealment, I hope I shall 
 do well enough ; I intend to make off again the first 
 opportunity." 
 
 Well, he stayed there till towards night ; in came the 
 ox-man with a bundle of fodder, and never saw him. In 
 short, all the servants of the farm came and w r ent, and not 
 one of them suspected anything of the matter. Nay, the 
 bailiff himself came, according to form, and looked in, but 
 walked away, no wiser than the rest. Upon this the Stag,
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 45 
 
 ready to jump out of his skin for joy, began to return thanks 
 to the good-natured Oxen, protesting that they were the 
 most obliging people he had ever met with in his life. 
 
 After he had done his compliments, one of them answered 
 him, gravely, " Indeed, we desire nothing more than to have 
 it in our power to contribute to your escape, but there is a 
 certain person you little think of who has a hundred eyes ; if 
 he should happen to come, I would not give this straw for 
 your life." 
 
 In the meanwhile, home comes the master himself from a 
 neighbour's, where he had been invited to dinner; and, 
 because he had observed the cattle not look well of late, he 
 went up to the rack, and asked why they did not give them 
 more fodder ; then, casting his eyes downward, " Heydey !" 
 says he, " why so sparing of your litter? pray scatter a little 
 
 more here. And these cobwebs But I have spoken so 
 
 often that, unless I do it myself " Thus, as he went on, 
 
 prying into everything, he chanced to look where the Stag's 
 horns lay sticking out of the straw ; upon which he raised a 
 hue and cry, called his people about him, killed the Stag, and 
 made a prize of him. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 For a work to be done thoroughly, it ought to be done by 
 oneself; the eye of a master is keener than that of a servant.
 
 4 6 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XXXV. 
 
 THE WIND AND THE SUN. 
 
 A DISPUTE once arose betwixt the North Wind and the 
 Sun about the superiority of their power ; and they agreed 
 to try their strength upon a traveller, which should be able to 
 get off his cloak first. 
 
 The North Wind began, and blew a very cold blast, 
 accompanied with a sharp, driving shower. But this, and 
 whatever else he could do, instead of making the man quit 
 his cloak, obliged him to gird it about his body as close as 
 possible. 
 
 Next came the Sun, who, breaking out from the thick, 
 watery cloud, drove away the cold vapours from the sky, and 
 darted his warm, sultry beams upon the head of the poor 
 weather-beaten traveller. The man, growing faint with the 
 heat, and unable to endure it any longer, first throws off his 
 heavy cloak, and then flies for protection to the shade of a 
 neighbouring grove. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Soft and gentle means will often accomplish what force 
 and fury can never effect.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 47 
 
 FABLE XXXVI. 
 
 THE TRAVELLERS AND THE BEAR. 
 
 Two men, being about to travel through a forest together, 
 mutually promised to stand by each other in any danger they 
 should meet on the way. They had not gone far when a 
 Bear came rushing towards them out of a thicket; upon 
 which, one, being a light, nimble fellow, got up into a tree. 
 The other, falling flat upon his face, and holding his breath, 
 lay still, while the Bear came up and smelled at him ; but 
 that creature, supposing him to be a dead carcass, went back 
 to the wood without doing him the least harm. When all 
 was over, the man who had climbed the tree came down 
 to his companion, and, with a pleasant smile, asked what 
 the Bear had said to him; " For," says he, "I took notice 
 that he clapped his mouth very close to your ear." " Why," 
 replied the other, " he charged me to take care, for the 
 future, not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals as 
 you are." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Nothing is more common than to hear people profess 
 friendship when there is no occasion for it ; but he is a true 
 friend who is ready to assist us in the time of danger and 
 difficulty. Choose, therefore, friends whom you can depend 
 on for such a time, and greatly value them.
 
 48 FA VO URITE FABLES 
 
 FABLE XXXVII. 
 
 THE DOG AND THE SHADOW. 
 
 A DOG, crossing a small rivulet, with a piece of flesh in his 
 mouth, which he had stolen from a butcher's shop, saw his own 
 shadow represented in the clear mirror of the limpid stream ; 
 and, believing it to be another dog who was carrying another 
 piece of flesh, he could not forbear catching at it, but was so 
 far from getting anything by his greedy design, that he 
 dropped the piece he had in his mouth, which immediately 
 sank to the bottom, and was irrecoverably lost. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 It is the just punishment of greediness to lose the 
 substance by grasping at the shadow; while the man who 
 would take what does not belong to him deserves to lose 
 what he has.
 
 THE DOG AND THE SHADOW.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 FABLE XXXVIII. 
 
 THE HERMIT AND THE BEAR. 
 
 OXCE on a time, a mountain Bear 
 Lived in a forest drear, with no Bears near him ; 
 Fat, fierce, and sulky. 
 
 Nor man nor other beast approached his lair ; 
 His neighbours all despise, or hate, or fear him. 
 
 *Tis good to talk to hold one's tongue 
 
 Though either in excess be wrong : 
 
 Our hermit bulky, 
 
 So shaggy, sullen, taciturn, and rude, 
 Bear as he was, grew sick of solitude. 
 
 At the same time, by chance, retired 
 Far from the world, a man advanced in age, 
 But stout and healthy. 
 
 Not with devotion's flame his heart was fired ; 
 Not prayer and fasting occupied the sage ; 
 
 Though on mankind he shut his door, 
 
 No vows of poverty he swore : 
 
 The wight was wealthy. 
 
 But by some treacherous friend, or fair, betrayed, 
 He lived with plants, and communed with his spade.
 
 5 o FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 High priest of Flora you might call him ; 
 Nor less was he the favourite of Pomona. 
 But one day, walking, 
 
 He found it dull ; and should some ill befall him, 
 In his sweet paradise, he felt alone, Ah ! 
 
 For neither rose, nor pink, nor vine, 
 
 Except in such a lay as mine, 
 
 Are given to talking. 
 
 His head old Time had now long years heaped many on ; 
 So he resolved to look for some companion. 
 
 On this important expedition 
 But fearing his researches would be vain 
 The sage departed : 
 
 Revolving deeply his forlorn condition, 
 He slowly mused along a narrow lane ; 
 
 When on a sudden unawares 
 
 A nose met his : it was the Bear's ! 
 
 With fright he started. 
 Fear is a common feeling : he that wise is, 
 Although his fright be great, his fear disguises. 
 
 Prudence suggested " Stand your ground ; 
 'Tis hard to tur. and harder still to dash on." 
 Prudence prevails. 
 
 'Twixt kindred minds a sympathy is found 
 Which lights up oft at sight a tender passion,
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 Where sexes are of different kind ; 
 
 And oft 'twill ties of friendship bind 
 
 Between two males : 
 
 These magic signs our hermits, at a glance, see: 
 Each found he strongly pleased the other's fancy. 
 
 Bruin at compliments was awkward, 
 But was not long his sentiments in telling 
 
 "Old man, I like you !" 
 
 The man replied, " Fair sir, you need not walk hard, 
 In half an hour you'll reach my humble dwelling. 
 I've milk, and various sorts of fruit, 
 If any should your palate suit, 
 
 Take what may strike you ; 
 On me it will confer the highest pleasure 
 To spread before you all my garden's treasure." 
 
 On jogged the human Hermit with the Bear, 
 Like smoking Germans, few words interlarding ; 
 
 Though little said, 
 
 Finding their tempers suited to a hair, 
 They grew firm friends before they reached the garden. 
 Each took his task, their moods the same, 
 One dug, the other hunted game, 
 And often sped ;
 
 j 2 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 And Bruin, o'er his friend a strict watch keeping, 
 Chased off the flies that haunted him when sleeping. 
 
 One afternoon, as in the sun 
 The weary Hermit took his usual nap, 
 And at his post 
 
 The faithful Bear his daily work begun, 
 Giving full many a brush and gentle slap, 
 
 With a light whisp of herbs sweet-scented, 
 
 And thus the teasing flies prevented, 
 
 That buzzing host, 
 
 From fixing on his sleeping patron's visage, 
 Sunk in the deep repose so fit for his age. 
 
 One blue-bottle his care defied ; 
 No place could please him but the old man's nose, 
 
 Quite unabashed. 
 
 The Bear, provoked, no means would leave untried ; 
 At last, a vigorous, certain mode, he chose : 
 Extending wide his heavy paw, 
 And thrusting hard each crooked claw, 
 
 The fly was smashed : 
 
 But his poor patron's face, so roughly patted, 
 All streamed with blood, and smooth his nose was 
 flatted.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 53 
 
 The Bear sneaked off to humble distance, 
 Seeing the damage he had done his friend ; 
 
 Who raged with smart. 
 But calling in philosophy's assistance, 
 Anger, he thought, his wounds would never mend, 
 So coolly said, " Farewell, friend Bruin ! 
 Since you have laid my face in ruin, 
 'Tis time to part." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 All those must such mishaps expect to share, 
 Who, for a friend, think fit to take a Bear. 
 
 FABLE XXXIX. 
 
 THE SHEPHERD'S BOY AND THE WOLF. 
 A CERTAIN Shepherd's Boy, who kept sheep upon a 
 common, in sport and wantonness would often cry out, 
 "The Wolf! the Wolf!" By this means, he several times 
 drew the husbandmen in an adjoining field from their work ; 
 who, finding themselves deluded, resolved for the future to 
 take no notice of his alarm. Soon after the Wolf came 
 indeed. The boy cried out in earnest ; but no heed being 
 given to his cries, the sheep were devoured by the Wolf. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 The notorious liar, besides the sin of the thing, will not 
 be believed when, by chance, he tells the truth.
 
 FAVO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XL. 
 
 THE FAWN AXD HER MOTHER. 
 
 A HIXD was one day stamping with her foot, and bellowing 
 so loudly that the whole herd quaked for fear, when one of 
 her little Fawns, coming up to her, said, " Mother, what is the 
 reason that you, who are so strong and bold at all other 
 times, if you do but hear the cry of the hounds, are so 
 afraid of them? " " What you say is true," replied the Hind; 
 " though I know not how to account for it. I am, indeed, 
 vigorous and strong enough, and often resolve that nothing 
 shall ever dismay my courage ; but, alas ! I no sooner hear 
 the voice of a hound than all my spirits fail me, and I cannot 
 help making off as fast as my legs can carry me." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 When we have done all, Nature will remain what she was. 
 There is no arguing a coward into courage.
 
 Wtffi. 
 
 THE FAWN AND HER MOTHER.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 5 5 
 
 FABLE XLL 
 
 THE TORTOISE AND THE EAGLE. 
 
 THE Tortoise, weary of his condition, by which he was 
 confined to creep upon the ground, and being ambitious to 
 have a prospect, and look about him, gave out that, if any 
 bird would take him up into the air, and show him the world, 
 he would reward him with the discovery of many precious 
 stones, which he knew were hidden in a certain part of the 
 earth. 
 
 The Eagle undertook to do as he desired, and, when he 
 had performed his commission, demanded the reward. But, 
 finding the Tortoise could not make good his words, he 
 stuck his talons into the softer parts of his body, and made 
 him a sacrifice to his revenge. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 He that, to secure an advantage, deceives his friend by 
 an untruth, will surely suffer for it when he is detected.
 
 5 g FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XLII. 
 
 THE BROTHER AND SISTER. 
 
 A CERTAIN Man had two children, a Son and a Daughter 
 the Boy handsome enough, the Girl not quite so comely. 
 They were both very young, and happened one day to be 
 playing near the looking-glass, which stood on their mother's 
 toilet. The Boy, pleased with the novelty of the thing, 
 viewed himself for some time, and in a wanton, roguish 
 manner observed to the Girl how handsome he was. She 
 resented the insult, and ran immediately to her father, and, 
 with a great deal of aggravation, complained of her brother, 
 particularly for having acted so effeminate a part as to look 
 in a glass, and meddle with things which belong to women 
 only. The father, embracing them both with much tender- 
 ness and affection, told them that he should like to have 
 them both look in the glass every day; " To the intent that 
 you," says he to the Boy, " if you think that face of yours 
 handsome, may not disgrace and spoil it by an ugly temper 
 and a bad behaviour; and that you, " added he, addressing 
 the Girl, " may make up for the defects of your person by 
 the sweetness of your manners and the excellence of your 
 understanding." 
 
 MORAL. 
 A well-informed mind is better than a handsome person.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 5 7 
 
 FABLE XLIII. 
 THE SHEPHERD'S DOG AND THE WOLF. 
 
 A WOLF, with hunger fierce and bold, 
 
 Ravaged the plains, and thinned the fold ; 
 
 Deep in the wood secure he lay, 
 
 The thefts of night regaled the day. 
 
 In vain the shepherd's wakeful care 
 
 Had spread the toils, and watched the snare ; 
 
 In vain the Dog pursued his pace, 
 
 The fleeter robber mocked the chase. 
 
 As Lightfoot ranged 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 mind 
 Attack a weak, defenceless kind ? 
 Those jaws should prey on nobler food, 
 And drink the boar's and lion's blood;
 
 5 8 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 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 designed us beasts of prey ; 
 As such, when hunger finds a treat, 
 'Tis necessary Wolves should eat. 
 If, mindful of the bleating weal, 
 Thy bosom burn 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 devoured by men." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 An open foe may prove a curse, 
 But a pretended friend is worse.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 59 
 
 FABLE XLIV. 
 
 THE COVETOUS MAX. 
 
 A POOR covetous wretch, who had scraped together a 
 good parcel of money, went and dug a hole in one of his 
 fields and hid it. The great pleasure of his life \vas to go 
 and look upon this treasure once a day at least ; which one 
 of his servants observing, and guessing there was something 
 more than ordinary in the place, came at night, found it, and 
 carried it off. The next day, returning as usual to the scene 
 of his delight, and perceiving it had been stolen away from 
 him, he tore his hair for grief, and uttered the doleful com- 
 plaints of his despair to the woods and meadows. At last, a 
 neighbour of his, who knew his temper, overhearing him, 
 and being informed of the occasion of his sorrow, " Cheer 
 up, man! "says he, "thou has lost nothing; there is the hole 
 for thee to go and peep at still ; and if thou canst but fancy 
 thy money there, it will do just as well. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Money, well used, has its full value ; but when allowed to 
 lie useless to others or to one's self, it possesses no more value 
 than a heap of oyster shells. Avarice is, therefore, a silly as 
 well as a sinful vice. Use your wealth in doing good, and 
 its highest value will be attained.
 
 60 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XLV. 
 
 THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE. 
 
 A HARE twitted a Tortoise on account of his slowness, 
 and vainly boasted of her own great speed in running. " Let 
 us make a match," replied the Tortoise : "I'll run with you 
 five miles for five pounds, and the Fox yonder shall be the 
 umpire of the race." The Hare agreed, and away they both 
 started together. But the Hare, by reason of her exceeding 
 swiftness, outran the Tortoise to such a degree that she 
 made a jest of the matter, and, finding herself a little tired, 
 squatted in a tuft of fern that grew by the way, and took a 
 nap, thinking that, if the Tortoise went by, she could at any 
 time catch him up with all the ease imaginable. In the 
 meanwhile the Tortoise came jogging on, with a slow but 
 continued motion ; and the Hare, out of a too great security 
 and confidence of victory, oversleeping herself, the Tortoise 
 arrived at the end of the race first. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Industry and application will, in most cases, do more than 
 quick and ready wit. The highest genius, without industry, 
 will generally fail of any great exploit.
 
 THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE.
 
 FA 70 URITE FABLES. 6 1 
 
 FABLE XLVI. 
 
 THE HOG AND THE ACORXS. 
 
 OXE moonshiny night, 
 
 With a great appetite, 
 A Hog feasted on Acorns with all his might : 
 
 Quite pleased with his prize 
 
 Both in taste and in size, 
 While he ate he devoured the rest with his eyes. 
 
 You know, I'm in joke, 
 
 When I say that the oak, 
 Moved a bough to the grunter before she spoke ; 
 
 But you know, too, in fable, 
 
 We feel ourselves able 
 To make anything speak tree, flower, or table. 
 
 Said the Oak, looking big, 
 
 "I think, Mr. Pig, 
 You might thank me for sending you fruit from my twig ; 
 
 But, you ill-behaved Hog ! 
 
 You devour the prog, 
 And have no better manners, I think, than a dog."
 
 62 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 He replied, looking up, 
 
 Though not ceasing to sup, 
 Till the Acorns were eaten ay, every cup 
 
 " I acknowledge, to you 
 
 My thanks would be due, 
 If from feelings of kindness my supper you threw. 
 
 " To-morrow, good dame, 
 Give my children the same, 
 And then you, with justice, may gratitude claim." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 He merits no praise 
 To the end of his days, 
 Who to those who surround him no service conveys. 
 
 FABLE XLVII. 
 
 THE COUNTRY MOUSE AND THE CITY MOUSE. 
 
 AN honest, plain, sensible country Mouse is said to have 
 entertained at his hole one day a fine Mouse of the town. 
 Having formerly been playfellows together, they were old 
 acquaintances, which served as an apology for the visit.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 63 
 
 However, as master of the house, he thought himself obliged 
 to do the honours of it, in all respects, and to make as great 
 a stranger of his guest as he possibly could. In order to 
 this, he set before him a reserve of delicate grey pease and 
 bacon, a dish of fine oatmeal, some parings of new cheese, 
 and, to crown all with a dessert, a remnant of a charming 
 mellow apple. 
 
 In good manners, he forebore to eat any of it himself, lest 
 the stranger should not have enough; but, that he might 
 seem to bear the other company, sat and nibbled a piece of 
 wheaten straw very busily. At last, says the spark of the 
 town, " Old croney, give me leave to be a little free with 
 you. How can you bear to live in this nasty, dirty, melan- 
 choly hole here, with nothing but woods and meadows, 
 mountains and rivulets about you ? Do you not prefer the 
 busy world to the chirping of birds, and the splendour ofV 
 court to the rude aspect of an uncultivated desert ? Come, 
 take my word for it, you will find it a change for the better. 
 Stand not considering, but away this moment. Remember, 
 we are not immortal, and therefore have no time to lose. 
 Make sure of to-day, and spend it as agreeably as you can ; 
 you know not what may happen to-morrow." 
 
 In short, these and such like arguments prevailed, and 
 his country friend was resolved to go to town that night. 
 So they both set out upon their journey, proposing to sneak
 
 6 4 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 in after the close of the evening. They did so, and about 
 midnight made their entry into a certain great house, where 
 there had been an extraordinary entertainment the day 
 before, and several tit-bits, which some of the servants had 
 purloined, were hid under a seat of a window. The country 
 guest was immediately placed in the midst of a rich Persian 
 carpet ; and now it was the courtier's turn to entertain, who, 
 indeed, acquitted himself in that capacity with the utmost 
 readiness and address, changing the courses as elegantly, 
 and tasting everything first as judiciously, as any clerk of the 
 kitchen. The other sat and enjoyed himself like a delighted 
 epicure, tickled to the last degree with this new turn of his 
 affairs ; when, on a sudden, a noise of somebody opening the 
 door made them start from their seats and scuttle in con- 
 fusion about the dining-room. Our country friend, in par- 
 ticular, was ready to die with fear at the barking of a huge 
 Mastiff or two, which opened their throats just about the 
 same time, and made the whole house echo. 
 
 At last, recovering himself, "Well," says he, "if this be 
 your town life, much good may you do with it ; give me my 
 poor, quiet hole again, with my homely but comfortable 
 grey pease." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Povert> r and safety are preferable to luxury and danger.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 6 5 
 
 FABLE XLVIII. 
 
 THE CAT AND THE MICE. 
 
 A CERTAIN house was much infested with Mice ; but at 
 last they got a Cat, who caught and ate every day some of 
 them. The Mice, finding their numbers grow thin, consulted 
 what was best to be done for the preservation of the public 
 from the jaws of the devouring Cat. They debated and 
 came to this resolution, that no one should go down below 
 the upper shelf. 
 
 The Cat, observing the Mice no longer came down as 
 usual, hungry and disappointed of her prey, had recourse to 
 this stratagem : She hung by her hind legs on a peg which 
 stuck in the wall, and made as if she had been dead, hoping 
 by this lure to entice the Mice to come down. She had not 
 been in this posture long before a cunning old Mouse peeped 
 over the edge of the shelf, and spoke thus : " Ha ! ha ! my 
 good friend, are you there ? There you may be ! I would 
 not trust myself with you, though your skin were stuffed with 
 straw." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 They that are wise will never trust those a second time 
 who have deceived them once. 
 
 F
 
 66 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XLIX. 
 
 THE KID AND THE WOLF. 
 
 A KID, being mounted upon the roof of a lofty shed, and 
 seeing a Wolf below, loaded him with all manner of re- 
 proaches. Upon which, the Wolf, looking up, replied, " Do 
 not vaunt yourself, vain creature, and think you mortify me ; 
 for I look upon this ill language as not coming from you, 
 but from the place that protects you." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 To rail or give bad language is wrong at all times ; but 
 when a man is protected by circumstances, it is cowardly, as 
 well as wrong. The man who then uses it becomes a fit 
 object of contempt to him that he reviles. 
 
 FABLE L. 
 
 THE COUNCIL OF HORSES. 
 
 UPON a time, a neighing Steed, 
 
 Who grazed among a numerous breed, 
 
 With mutiny had fired the train, 
 
 And spread dissension through the plain.
 
 THE KID AND THE WOLF.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES, 7 
 
 On matters that concerned the state 
 The council met in grand debate. 
 A Colt, whose eye-balls flamed with ire, 
 Elate with strength and youthful fire, . 
 In haste stepped forth before the rest, 
 And thus the listening throng addressed: 
 
 " Good gods ! how abject is our race ! 
 Condemned to slavery and disgrace ! 
 Shall we our servitude retain, 
 Because our sires have borne the chain ? 
 Consider, friends, your strength and might ; 
 'Tis conquest to assert your right. 
 How cumberous is the gilded coach ! 
 The pride of man is our reproach. 
 Were we designed for daily toil, 
 To drag the ploughshare through the soil; 
 To sweat in harness through the road ; 
 To groan beneath the carrier's load ? 
 How feeble are the two-legged kind ! 
 What force is in our nerves combined ! 
 Shall, then, our nobler jaws submit 
 To foam and champ the galling bit ? 
 Shall haughty men my back bestride ? 
 Shall the sharp spur provoke my side ?
 
 6g FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 Forbid it, heavens ! reject the rein, 
 Your shame, your infamy disdain. 
 Let him the Lion first control, 
 And still the Tiger's famished growl ! 
 Let us, like them, our freedom claim ; 
 And make him tremble at our name." 
 
 A general nod approved the cause, 
 And all the circle neighed applause ; 
 When, lo ! with grave and solemn pace, 
 A Steed advanced before the race, 
 With age and long experience wise ; 
 Around he casts his thoughtful eyes, 
 And, to the murmurs of the train, 
 Thus spoke the Nestor of the plain : 
 
 " When I had health and strength, like you, 
 The toils of servitude I knew. 
 Now, grateful man rewards my pains, 
 And gives me all these wide domains. 
 At will I crop the year's increase ; 
 My latter life is rest and peace. 
 I grant, to man we lend our pains, 
 And aid him to correct the plains. 
 But doth not he divide the care, 
 Through all the labours of the year ?
 
 6 9 
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 How many thousand structures rise, 
 To fence us from inclement skies ! 
 For us he bears the sultry day, 
 And stores up all our winter's hay. 
 He sows, he reaps the harvest gain ; 
 We share the toil, and share the grain.'* 
 
 The tumult ceased. The Colt submitted ; 
 And, like his ancestors, was bitted. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Since every creature is decreed 
 To aid each other's mutual need; 
 Submit with a contented mind 
 To act the part by heaven assigned. 
 
 FABLE LI. 
 
 THE ASS AND THE LITTLE DOG. 
 
 THE Ass, observing how great a favourite a little Dog 
 was with his master, how much caressed, and fondled, and 
 fed with good bits at every meal, and for no other reason, as
 
 7 O ' FAVO URITE FABLES. . 
 
 he could perceive, but skipping and frisking : about, wagging 
 his tail, and leaping up in his master's lap, was resolved 
 to imitate the same, and see whether such behaviour would 
 not procure him the same favours. Accordingly, the master 
 was no sooner come home from walking about his fields and 
 gardens, and was seated in his easy chair, than the Ass, who 
 observed him, came gamboling and braying towards him, in 
 a very awkward manner. The master could not help laughing 
 aloud at the odd sight. But the jest soon became earnest, 
 when he felt the rough salute of the fore-feet, as the Ass, 
 raising himself upon his hinder legs, pawed against his 
 breast with a most loving air, and would fain have jumped 
 into his lap. The good man, terrified at this outrageous 
 conduct, and unable to endure the weight of so heavy a 
 beast, cried out; upon which one of his servants, running 
 in with a good stick, and laying heartily upon the bones 
 of the poor Ass, soon convinced him that everyone who 
 desires it is not qualified to be a favourite. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 All men have not the same gifts of pleasing. It will be 
 well, therefore, to keep in our own place; and, in that con- 
 dition of life, .'to do our duty. By which we shall be most 
 likely to give satisfaction. ,'.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. ~ i 
 
 FABLE LIT. 
 
 THE LION AND THE FOUR BULLS. 
 
 FOUR Bulls, which had entered into a very strict friendship, 
 kept always near one another, and fed together. The Lion 
 often saw them, and as often wished to make one of them his 
 prey; but though he could easily have subdued any of them 
 singly, yet he was afraid to attack the whole when together,- 
 knowing they would have been too hard for him ; and, there- 
 fore, contented himself for the present with keeping at a 
 distance. At last, perceiving no attempt was to be made 
 upon them as long as their combination lasted, he took occa- 
 sion, by whispers and hints, to foment jealousies and raise 
 divisions among them. 
 
 This stratagem succeeded so well, that the Bulls grew 
 cold and reserved towards one another, which soon after 
 ripened into a downright hatred and aversion, and, at last, 
 ended in a total separation. The Lion had now obtained his 
 ends; and, as impossible as it was for him to hurt them 
 while they were united, he found no difficulty, now they were 
 parted, to seize and devour every Bull of them, one after 
 another. 
 
 ... . . MORAL. 
 
 Union is strength. Jealousy and envy, especially when 
 fomented by whisperers, will destroy gradually the ties that 
 make us safe against enemies.
 
 72 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LIII. 
 
 THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX. 
 
 THE Leopard one day took it into his head to value himself 
 upon the great variety and beauty of his spots ; and, truly, 
 he saw no reason why even the lion should take place of him, 
 since he could not show so beautiful a skin. As for the rest 
 of the wild beasts of the forests, he treated them all, without 
 distinction, in the most haughty and disdainful manner. 
 But the Fox, being among them, went up to him with a great 
 deal of spirit and resolution, and told "him that he was mis- 
 taken in the value he was pleased to set upon himself, since 
 people of judgment were not used to form their opinion of 
 merit from an outside appearance, but by considering the 
 good qualities and endowments with which the mind was 
 stored within. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Haughty beauty is an ungraceful thing. True beauty is 
 always found in a setting of modesty, and then only" appears 
 the bright jewel that it is.
 
 THE LEOPARD AND THE FOX.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 FABLE LIV. 
 
 THE WARRIOR WOLF. 
 
 A YOUXG Wolf said aloud 
 
 To the listening crowd, 
 " I may well of my father's great courage be proud ; 
 
 Wherever he came, 
 
 Flock, shepherd, or dame, 
 All trembled and fled at the sound of his name. 
 
 Did anyone spy 
 
 My papa coming by 
 Two hundred or more Oh ! he made them all fly ! 
 
 One day, by a blow, 
 
 He was conquered, I know ; 
 But no wonder at last he should yield to a foe : 
 
 He yielded, poor fellow ! 
 
 The conquering bellow 
 Resounds in my ears as my poor father's knell Oh!" 
 
 A Fox then replied, 
 
 While, leering aside, 
 He laughed at his folly and vapouring pride : 
 
 " My chattering youth, 
 
 Your nonsense, forsooth, 
 Is more like a funeral sermon than truth. 
 
 73
 
 74 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 Let history tell 
 
 How your old father fell ; 
 And see if the narrative sounds as well. 
 
 Your folly surpasses, 
 
 Of monkeys all classes ; 
 The beasts which he frightened, or conquered, were asses, 
 
 Except a few sheep, 
 
 When the shepherd, asleep, 
 The dog by his side for safety did keep. 
 
 Your father fell back, 
 
 Knocked down by a whack 
 From the very first bull that he dared to attack. 
 
 Away he'd have scoured, 
 
 But soon overpowered, 
 He lived like a thief, and he died like a coward." 
 
 FABLE LV. 
 
 THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS. 
 
 IN former days, when the Belly and the other parts of the 
 body enjoyed the faculty of speech, and had .separate views 
 and designs of their own ; each part, it seems, in particular, 
 for himself, and in the name of the whole, took exception at
 
 fA VO URITE FABLES. 7 5 
 
 the conduct of the Belly, and were resolved to grant him 
 supplies no longer. 
 
 They said they thought it very hard that he should lead 
 an idle, good-for-nothing life, spending and squandering 
 away upon his own vile appetites all the fruits of their labour; 
 and that, in short, they were resolved for the future to strike 
 off his allowance, and let him shift for himself as well as he 
 could. 
 
 The hands protested they would not lift a finger to keep 
 him from starving; and the mouth wished he might never 
 speak again if he took in the least bit of nourishment for him 
 as long as he lived; and the teeth said, " May we be rotten 
 if ever we chew a morsel for him for the future!'* This 
 solemn league and covenant was kept so long, until each of 
 the rebel members pined away to the skin and bone, and 
 could hold out no longer. Then they found there was no 
 doing without the Belly, and that, as idle and insignificant 
 as he seemed, he contributed as much to the maintenance 
 and welfare of all the other parts as they did to his. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Men are dependent upon their fellow-creatures, and it is 
 foolish to expect we can do without the help of others.
 
 7 6 
 
 FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LVI. 
 
 THE CUR, THE HORSE, AND THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. 
 
 A VILLAGE Cur, of snappish race, 
 The pertest puppy in the place, 
 Imagined that his treble throat 
 Was blessed with music's sweetest note; 
 In the mid road he basking lay, 
 The yelping nuisance of the way ; 
 For not a creature passed along, 
 But had a sample of his song. 
 
 Soon as the trotting steed he hears, 
 He starts, he cocks 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 chanced, upon his evil day, 
 A Pad came pacing down the way ;
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 The Cur, with never-ceasing tongue, 
 Upon the passing traveller sprung. 
 The Horse, from scorn provoked to ire, 
 Flung backward ; rolling in the mire, 
 The Puppy howled, and bleeding lay ; 
 The Pad in peace pursued his way. 
 
 A Shepherd's Dog, who saw the deed, 
 Detesting the vexatious breed, 
 Bespoke him thus : " When coxcombs prate, 
 They kindle wrath, contempt, or hate ; 
 Thy teasing tongue, had judgment tied, 
 Thou hadst not like a Puppy died." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Too late the forward youth will find 
 That jokes are sometimes paid in kind ; 
 Or, if they canker in the breast, 
 He makes a foe who makes a jest. 
 
 77
 
 7 g FA VO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LVII. 
 
 THE JACKDAW AND THE EAGLE. 
 
 AN Eagle flew down from the top of a high rock, and 
 settled upon the back of a lamb, and then, instantly flying up 
 into the air again, bore his bleating prize aloft in his talons, 
 A Jackdaw, who sat upon an elm, and beheld his exploit, 
 resolved to imitate it. So, flying upon the back of a ram, 
 and entangling his claws in the wool, he fell a-chattering and 
 attempting to fly ; by which means he drew the observation 
 of the shepherd upon him, who, finding his feet hampered in 
 the fleece of the ram, easily took him, and gave him to his 
 boys for their sport and diversion, saying, "The silly bird 
 thought he was an Eagle ; but, no doubt, by this time he has 
 found out he is but a Jackdaw." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 A false estimate of our own abilities ever exposes us to 
 ridicule, and often to danger.
 
 
 THE JACKDAW AND THE EAGLE.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 7 9 
 
 FABLE LVIII. 
 
 THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTING. 
 
 THE Lion took a fancy to hunt in company with the Ass ; 
 and, to make him the more useful, gave him instructions 
 to hide himself in a thicket, and then to bray in the most 
 .frightful manner that he could possibly contrive. "By- this 
 means," says he, "you will rouse all the beasts within 
 hearing of you, while I stand at the outlets and take 
 them as they are making off." This was done; and the 
 stratagem took effect accordingly. The Ass brayed most 
 hideously, and the timorous beasts, not knowing what to 
 make of it, began to scour off as fast as they could ; when 
 the Lion, who was posted at a convenient place, seized and 
 devoured them as he pleased. 
 
 Having got his belly full, he called out to the Ass, and 
 bid him leave off braying, as he had had enough. Upon 
 this the lop-eared brute came out of his ambush, and, 
 approaching the Lion, asked him, with an air of conceit, 
 " how he liked his performance." " Prodigiously," says he; 
 "you did it so well, that I protest, had I not known your 
 nature and temper, I might have been frightened myself."
 
 So FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Boastful cowards may impose upon those who do not 
 know them, but are held to be only ridiculous by those who 
 do. Pompous persons who would wish themselves thought 
 perfect Lions, when known are mostly found arrant Asses. 
 
 FABLE LIX. 
 THE WOLF ix SHEEP'S CLOTHIXG. 
 
 A W T OLF clothing himself in the skin of a Sheep, and 
 getting in among the flock, by this means took the oppor- 
 tunity to devour many of them. At last, the Shepherd 
 discovered him, and cunningly fastened a rope about his 
 neck, tying him up to a tree which stood hard by. 
 
 Some other Shepherds happening to pass that way, and 
 observing what he was about, drew near, and expressed their 
 wonder at it. " What," says one of them, " Brother, do 
 you hang Sheep?" "No," replies the other; "I hang a 
 Wolf whenever I catch him, though in the habit and garb of 
 Sheep." Then he showed them their mistake, and they 
 applauded the justice of the execution. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Those who try to seem what they are not will not always 
 thereby escape the punishment of what they are.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 3 1 
 
 FABLE LX. 
 
 THE TWO BEES. 
 
 Ox a fine morning in May, two Bees set forward in quest 
 of honey; the one, wise and temperate; the other, careless and 
 extravagant. They soon arrived at a garden enriched with 
 aromatic herbs, the most fragrant flowers, and the most 
 delicious fruits. They regaled themselves for a time on the 
 various dainties that were set before them : the one loading 
 his thigh at intervals with provisions for the hive against the 
 distant winter, the other revelling in sweets, without regard 
 to anything but his present gratification. 
 
 At length, they found a wide-mouthed vial, that hung 
 beneath the bough of a peach-tree, filled with honey ready 
 tempered, and exposed to their taste in the most alluring 
 manner. The thoughtless Epicure, spite of all his friend's 
 remonstrances, plunged headlong into the vessel, resolving 
 to indulge himself in all the pleasures of sensuality. The 
 Philosopher, on the other hand, sipped a little with caution, 
 but, being suspicious of danger, flew off to fruits and flowers ; 
 where, by the moderation of his meals, he improved his 
 relish for the true enjoyment of them. 
 
 G 

 
 8 2 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 In the evening, however, he called upon his friend, to 
 inquire whether he would return to the hive, but found him 
 surfeited in sweets, which he was as unable to leave as to 
 enjoy. Clogged in his wings, enfeebled in his feet, and his 
 whole frame totally enervated, he was but just able to bid his 
 friend adieu, and to lament, with his latest breath, that 
 though a taste of pleasure may quicken the relish of life, an 
 unrestrained indulgence is inevitable destruction. 
 
 MORAL. 
 Moderation rewards and intemperance punishes itself. 
 
 FABLE LXI. 
 
 THE TURKEY AND THE ANT. 
 
 A TURKEY, tired of common food, 
 
 Forsook the barn, and sought the wood ; 
 
 Behind her ran her infant train, 
 
 Collecting here and there a grain. 
 
 " Draw near, my birds," the mother cries, 
 
 " This hill delicious fare supplies ; 
 
 Behold the busy negro race, 
 
 See millions blacken all the place.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 83 
 
 Fear not : like me, with freedom eat ; 
 An Ant is most delightful meat. 
 How blessed, how envied were our life, 
 Could we but 'scape the poulterer's knife! 
 But man, cursed man, on Turkeys preys, 
 And Christmas shortens all our days. 
 Sometimes with oysters we combine ; 
 Sometimes assist the savoury chine : 
 From the low peasant to the lord, 
 The Turkey smokes on every board ; 
 Sure, men for gluttony are cursed, 
 Of the seven deadly sins, the worst." 
 
 An Ant, who climbed beyond her reach, 
 Thus answered from the neighbouring beech : 
 " Ere you remark another's sin, 
 Bid thy own conscience look within ; 
 Control thy more voracious bill, 
 Nor, for a breakfast, nations kill." 
 
 MORAL. ' 
 
 In other folks we faults can spy, 
 And blame the mote that dims their eye ; 
 Each little speck and blemish find : 
 To our own stronger errors blind.
 
 ,8' 4 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXII. 
 
 THE DOG AND THE WOLF. 
 
 A LEAN, hungry, half-starved Wolf happened, one moon- 
 shiny night, to meet a jolly, plump, well-fed Mastiff; and 
 after the first compliments were passed, says the Wolf, "You 
 look extremely well; I protest, I think I never saw a more 
 graceful, comely person ; but how comes it about, I beseech 
 /ou, that you should live so much better than I ? I may say, 
 without vanity, that I venture fifty times more than you do, 
 and yet I am almost ready to perish with hunger." The Dog 
 answered very bluntly, " Why, you may live as well, if you 
 do the same for it as I do." " Indeed ! what is that ?". says 
 he. "Why," says the Dog, "only to guard the house at 
 night, and keep it from thieves." "With all my heart," 
 replies the Wolf, " for at present I have but a sorry time of 
 it ; and I think to change my hard lodging in the woods, 
 where I endure rain, frost, and snow, for a warm roof over 
 my head and enough of good victuals, will be no bad 
 bargain." "True," says the Dog; " therefore . you have 
 nothing to do but to follow me." 
 
 Now, as they were jogging on together, the Wolf spied a
 
 THE HOUSE DOG AND THE WOLF.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. g 
 
 crease in the Dog's neck, and having a strange curiosity, 
 could not forbear asking him what it meant! "Pugh! 
 nothing," says the Dog. "Nay, but pray," says the Wolf. 
 " Why," says the Dog, " if you must know, I am tied up in 
 the day-time, because I am a little fierce, for fear I should bite 
 people, and am only let loose at nights. But this is done 
 with a design to make me sleep by day, more than anything 
 else, and that I may watch the better in the night time ; for> 
 as soon as ever the twilight appears, out I am turned, and 
 may go where I please. Then my master brings me plates, 
 of bones from the table with his own hands ; and whatever 
 scraps are left by any of the family, all fall to my share ; for, 
 you must know, I am a favourite with everybody. So you 
 see how. you are to live. Come, come along; what is the 
 matter with you?" "No," replied the Wolf, "I beg your 
 pardon; keep your happiness all to yourself. Liberty is the 
 word with me ; and I would not be a king upon the terms 
 you mention." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 The lowest condition of life, with freedom, is happier 
 than the greatest without it. The bird of the air, though he 
 roosts on a bough, has more real joy than the well-fed 
 captive in a gilded cage.
 
 86 FAVO URITE FABLES, 
 
 FABLE LXIII. 
 
 THE SATYR AND THE TRAVELLER. 
 
 A SATYR, as he was ranging the forest in an exceedingly 
 cold, snowy season, met with a Traveller half starved with 
 the extremity of the weather. He took compassion on him, 
 and kindly invited him home to a warm, comfortable cave he 
 had in a hollow of a rock. As soon as they had entered and 
 sat down, notwithstanding there was a good fire in the 
 place, the chilled Traveller could not forbear blowing his 
 finger-ends. 
 
 Upon the Satyr asking him why he did so, he answered 
 that he did it to warm his hands. The honest Sylvan having 
 seen little of the world, admired a man who was master of so 
 valuable a quality as that of blowing heat ; and, therefore, 
 was resolved to entertain him in the best manner he could. 
 He spread the table before him with dried fruits of several 
 sorts, and produced a remnant of cold cordial wine, which, 
 as the rigour of the season made very proper, he mulled 
 with some warm spices, over the fire, and presented to his 
 shivering guest. But this the Traveller thought fit to blow 
 likewise; and upon the Satyr's demanding the reason why 
 he blowed again, he replied, to cool the dish.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 8 7 
 
 This second answer provoked the Satyr's indignation, as 
 much as the first had kindled his surprise; so, taking the 
 man by the shoulder, he thrust him out, saying he would 
 have nothing to do with a wretch who had so vile a quality 
 as to blow hot and cold with the same mouth. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Double dealing is always detestable. The man that blows 
 hot and cold at the same time is not worthy to be trusted ; 
 the sooner we part from him the better. 
 
 FABLE LXIV. 
 
 THE BARLEY-MOW AND THE DUNGHILL. 
 
 As 'CROSS his yard, at early day, 
 A careful farmer took his way, 
 He stopped, and leaning on his fork, 
 Observed the flail's incessant work. 
 In thought he measured all his store ; 
 His geese, his hogs, he numbered o'er; 
 In fancy weighed the fleeces shorn, 
 And multiplied the next year's corn. 
 
 A Barley-Mow, which stood beside, 
 Thus to its musing master cried :
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 " Say, good sir, is it fit or right, 
 To treat me with neglect and slight ? 
 Me, who contribute to your cheer, 
 And raise your mirth with ale and beer ! 
 Why thus insulted, thus disgraced, 
 And that vile Dunghill near me placed ? 
 Are those poor sweepings of a groom, 
 That filthy sight, that nauseous fume, 
 Meet objects here ? Command it hence : 
 A thing so mean must give offence." 
 
 The humble Dunghill thus replied : 
 " Thy master hears, and mocks thy pride. 
 Insult not thus the meek and low ; 
 In me thy benefactor know : 
 My warm assistance gave thee birth, 
 Or thou hadst perished low in earth : 
 But upstarts, to support their station, 
 Cancel at once all obligation." 
 
 FABLE LXV. 
 
 SHEEP-BITER AND SHEPHERD. 
 
 A CERTAIN Shepherd had a Dog, upon whose fidelity he 
 relied very much ; for whenever he had occasion to be absent
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 8 9 
 
 himself, he committed the care and tuition of the flock to 
 the charge of his Dog ; and, to encourage him to do his 
 duty cheerfully, he fed him constantly with sweet curds and 
 whey, and sometimes threw him a crust or two. Yet, not- 
 withstanding this, no sooner was his back turned, but 
 the treacherous cur fell foul of the flock, and devoured the 
 sheep, instead of guarding and defending them. The Shep- 
 herd being informed of this, was resolved to hang him ; and 
 the Dog, when the rope was about his neck, and he was 
 just going to be hung, began to expostulate with his master, 
 asking him, why he was so unmercifully bent against him, 
 who was his own servant and creature, and had only com- 
 mitted two or three crimes, and why he did not rather 
 execute vengeance upon the Wolf, who was a constant and 
 declared enemy? "Nay," replies the Shepherd, " it is for 
 that very reason that I think you ten times more deserving of 
 death than he. From him I expected nothing but hostilities ; 
 and therefore could guard against him. You I depended 
 upon as a just and faithful servant, and fed and encouraged 
 you accordingly; and therefore your treachery is the more 
 notorious, and your ingratitude the more unpardonable." 
 
 MORAL. 
 A known enemy is better than a treacherous friend.
 
 9 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXVI. 
 
 THE STAG AT THE POOL. 
 
 A STAG that had been drinking at a clear spring, saw 
 himself in the water ; and, pleased with the sight, stood long 
 contemplating and surveying his shape and features from head 
 to foot. " Ah ! " says he, " what a glorious pair of branching 
 horns are there ! How gracefully do those antlers hang over 
 my forehead, and give an agreeable turn to my whole face ! If 
 some other parts of my body were but in proportion to them, 
 I would turn my back to nobody ; but I have a set of such 
 legs as really make me ashamed to see them. People may 
 talk what they please of their conveniences, and what great 
 need we stand in of them, upon several occasions ; but, for 
 my part, I find them so very slender and unsightly that I had 
 as lief have none at all." 
 
 While he was giving himself these airs, he was alarmed 
 with the noise of some huntsmen and a pack of hounds that 
 had been just laid on upon the scent, and were making 
 towards him. 
 
 Away he flees in some consternation, and, bounding 
 nimbly over the plain, threw dogs and men at a vast distance 
 behind him. After which, taking a very thick copse, he had 
 the ill-fortune to be entangled by his horns in a thicket,
 
 THE STAG AT THE POOL.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 9 1 
 
 where he was held fast, till the hounds came in and pulled 
 him down. Finding now how it was likely to go with him, in 
 the pangs of death, he is said to have uttered these words : 
 " Unhappy creature that I am ! I am too late convinced that 
 what I prided myself in has been the cause of my undoing, 
 and what I so much disliked was the only thing that could 
 have saved me." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Beauty often becomes a snare and ruin, while solid virtue, 
 though unadorned, gains respect. The latter, too, will 
 mature with age, while the former will surely fade. 
 
 FABLE LXVII. 
 
 THE OLD SWALLOWS AND THE YOUNG BIRDS. 
 
 A SWALLOW, observing a husbandman employed in 
 sowing hemp, called the little Birds together, and informed 
 them what the farmer was about. He told them that hemp 
 was the material from which the nets, so fatal to the feathered 
 race, were composed ; and advised them unanimously to join 
 in picking it up, in order to prevent the consequences. 
 
 The Birds, either disbelieving his information, or 
 neglecting his advice, gave themselves no trouble about the 
 matter. In a little time, the hemp appeared above the 
 ground. The friendly Swallow again addressed himself to 
 them told them it was not yet too late, provided they
 
 9 2 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 would immediately set about the work, before the seeds had 
 taken too deep root. But, they still rejecting his advice, he 
 forsook their society ; repaired, for safety, to towns and cities ; 
 there built his habitation, and kept his residence. 
 
 One day, as he was skimming along the streets, he 
 happened to see a great number of these very Birds, 
 imprisoned in a cage, on the shoulders of a bird-catcher. 
 "Unhappy wretches!" said he, "you now feel the punish- 
 ment of your former neglect. But those who, having no 
 foresight of their own, despise the wholesome admonition of 
 their friends, deserve the mischiefs which their own obstinacy 
 or negligence bring upon their heads." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 This Fable teaches thoughtless youth 
 A most important moral truth : 
 The seeds, which proved the young birds' ruin, 
 Are emblems of their own undoing, 
 Should they neglect, while yet 'tis time, 
 To pluck the early shoots of crime; 
 Or, in their own opinions wise, 
 The counsel of their friends despise. 
 For evil habits, left to grow, 
 Are ever sure to lead to woe ; 
 But checked in time with vigorous hand, 
 .Will bend to virtue's firm command.
 
 .FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXVIII. 
 
 THE WAGGONER AND THE BUTTERFLY. 
 
 THE rain so soft had made the road, 
 
 That, in a rut, a waggon-load, 
 
 The poor man's harvest, (bitter luck!) 
 
 Sank down a foot, and there it stuck. 
 
 He whipped his horses, but in vain ; 
 
 They pulled and splashed, and pulled again, 
 
 But vainly, still ; the slippery soil 
 
 Defied. their strength, and mocked their toil. 
 
 Panting they stood, with legs outspread ; 
 
 The driver stood, and scratched his head : 
 
 (A common custom, by-the-bye, 
 
 When people know not what to try, 
 
 Though hot, it seems, a remedy). 
 
 A Butterfly, in flower concealed, 
 Had travelled with them from the field ; : 
 Who in the waggon was thrown up, 
 While feasting on a buttercup.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 The panting of each labouring beast 
 
 Disturbed her at her fragrant feast ; 
 
 The sudden stop, the driver's sigh, 
 
 Awoke her generous sympathy. 
 
 And, seeing the distressing case 
 
 She cried, while springing from her place, 
 
 (Imagining her tiny freight 
 
 A vast addition to the weight,) 
 
 " I must have pity and be gone, 
 
 Now, master Waggoner, drive on." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Do not admire this Butterfly, 
 Young reader ; I will tell you why. 
 At first, goodnature seems a cause, 
 Why she should merit your applause ; 
 But 'twas conceit that filled her breast : 
 Her self-importance made a jest 
 Of what might otherwise have claimed 
 Your praise, but now she must be blamed. 
 Should any case occur, when you 
 May have some friendly act to do ; 
 Give all your feeble aid as such, 
 But estimate it not too much.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 9 5 
 
 FABLE LXIX. 
 
 THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX. 
 
 A LION and a Bear quarrelling over the carcase of a Fawn, 
 which they found in the forest, their title to him had to be 
 decided by force of arms. The battle was severe and tough 
 on both sides, and they fought it out, tearing and worrying one 
 another so long, that, what with wounds and fatigue, they 
 were so faint and weary, that they were not able to strike 
 another stroke. Thus, while they lay upon the ground, 
 panting and lolling out their tongues, a Fox chanced to pass 
 by that way, who, perceiving how the case stood, very 
 impudently stepped in between them, seized the booty which 
 they had all this while been contending for, and carried it off. 
 The two combatants, who lay and beheld all this, without 
 having strength to stir and prevent it, were only wise 
 enough to make this reflection : " Behold the fruits of our 
 strife and contention ! That villain, the Fox, bears away 
 the prize, and we ourselves have deprived each other of the 
 power to recover it from him." 
 
 MORAL. 
 When fools quarrel, knaves get the prize of contention.
 
 9 6 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXX. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE GRAPES. 
 
 IN days of yore, when a young Fox would take more pains 
 to get a bunch of grapes than a plump, fat goose, an arch 
 young thief cast his eyes on a fine bunch which hung on the 
 top of a poor man's vine, and made him lick his lips like a 
 hound at the sight of a joint of meat. "Oh," said he, "how 
 nice they look ! I must have a taste of them, if I die for it; " 
 and with that, up he jumped with all his might, but had the 
 ill-luck not to reach the grapes ; yet, as he could not find in 
 his heart to leave them, he tried for them as long as he was 
 able ; so he leaped and jumped, and jumped and leaped, till 
 at last he was glad to rest. But when he found all his pains 
 were in vain, " Hang them ! " said he, " I am sure they are 
 not fit to eat, for they are as sour as crabs, and would set my 
 teeth on edge for a whole week ; and so I shall leave them 
 for the next fool who may chance to come this way." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Some men make light of that which is out of their reach, 
 though at the same time in their hearts they know not what 
 to do for want of it.
 
 THE 'FOX AND THE GRAPES.
 
 PAVOURim FABLES, 
 FABLE LXXI. 
 
 THE HARE AND MANY FRIENDS. 
 
 A HARE, who, in a civil way, 
 Complied with everything, like Gay, 
 Was known by all the bestial train, 
 Who, haunt the wood, or graze the plain. 
 
 As forth she went, at early dawn, 
 To taste the dew-besprinkled lawn, 
 Behind she hears the hunter's cries, 
 And from the deep-mouthed thunder flies. 
 She starts, she stops, she pants for breath ; 
 She hears the near approach of death ; 
 She doubles, to mislead the hound, 
 And measures back her mazy round ; 
 Till, fainting in the public way, 
 Half dead with fear, she gasping lay : 
 What transport in her bosom grew, 
 When first the Horse appeared in view ! 
 
 " Let me," says she, " your back ascend, 
 And owe my safety to a friend ; 
 H
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 You know my feet betray my flight ; 
 To friendship, ev'ry burthen's light." 
 
 The Horse replied, " Poor, honest Puss ! 
 It grieves my heart to see thee thus : 
 Be comforted, relief is near ; 
 For all our friends are in the rear." 
 
 She next the stately Bull implored, 
 And thus replied the mighty lord : 
 " Since every beast alive can tell, 
 That I sincerely wish you well, 
 I may, without offence, pretend 
 To take the freedom of a friend. 
 Love calls me hence ; a favourite cow 
 Expects me near yon barley-mow ; 
 And when a lady's in the case, 
 You know, all other things give place. 
 To leave you thus may seem unkind ; 
 But see, the Goat is just behind." 
 
 The Goat remarked her pulse was high ; 
 Her languid head, her heavy eye ; 
 " My back," says she, " may do you harm ; 
 The Sheep's at hand, and wool is warm."
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 The Sheep was feeble, and complained, 
 His sides a load of wool sustained ; 
 Said he was slow ; confessed his fears ; 
 For Hounds eat Sheep as well as Hares. 
 
 She now the trotting Calf addressed, 
 To save from death a friend distressed. 
 " Shall I," says he, " of tender age, 
 In this important care engage ? 
 Older and abler pass you by ; 
 How strong are those ! how weak am I ! 
 Should I presume to bear you hence, 
 Those friends of mine may take offence. 
 Excuse me, then, you know my heart ; 
 But dearest friends, alas ! must part. 
 How shall we all lament ! Adieu ! 
 For see, the Hounds are just in view." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Friendships are single : who depend 
 On many rarely find a friend.
 
 j 00 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXII. 
 
 THE COCK AND THE FOX. 
 
 A COCK, being perched among the branches of a lofty 
 tree, crowed aloud, so that the shrillness of his voice echoed 
 through the wood and invited a Fox to the place, who was 
 prowling in that neighbourhood in quest of his prey. But 
 Reynard, finding the Cock was inaccessible by reason of the 
 height of his situation, had recourse to stratagem in order to 
 decoy him down. So, approaching the tree, " Cousin," says 
 he, "I am heartily glad to see you ; but at the same time I 
 cannot forbear expressing my uneasiness at the inconvenience 
 of the place, which will not let me pay my respects to you in 
 a handsomer manner ; though I suppose you will come down 
 presently, and thus the difficulty will be easily removed." 
 
 "Indeed, cousin," says the Cock, "to tell you the truth, 
 I do not think it safe to venture upon the ground; for 
 though I am convinced how much you are my friend, yet I 
 may have the misfortune to fall into the clutches of some other 
 beasts, and what will become of me then?" " Oh, dear!" 
 says Reynard, "is it possible that you can be so ignorant,
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. I o I 
 
 as not to know of the peace which has been lately. proclaimed 
 between all kinds of birds and beasts';-" and that- we are for 
 the future to forbear hostilities on alV-si;des;'aX^'to''li y /d4n the 
 utmost love and harmony, and this, under the penalty of 
 suffering the severest punishment that can be inflicted?" 
 All this while the Cock seemed to give little attention to what 
 was said, but stretched out his neck, as if he saw something 
 at a distance. 
 
 " Cousin," says the Fox, " what is it that you look at so 
 earnestly? " "Why," says the Cock, " I think I see a pack 
 of hounds yonder, a little way off." "Oh, then," says the 
 Fox, "your humble servant, I must begone." "Nay, pray 
 cousin, do not go," says the Cock, " I am just coming down; 
 surely you are not afraid of Dogs in these peaceable times ? " 
 " No, no," says he, " but ten to one whether they have heard 
 of the proclamation yet." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 When rogues are met in their own strain, they are 
 generally worsted. It is interesting to see the snares of the 
 wicked defeated by the discreet management of the innocent. 
 " Answer a fool according to his folly," is an old maxim.
 
 j 2 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 < ..FABLE LXXIII. 
 
 THE LION AXD THE MOUSE. 
 
 A Liox, faint with heat and weary with hunting, was 
 lying down to take his repose under the spreading boughs of 
 a thick shady oak. It happened that while he slept, a 
 company of scrambling mice ran over his back, and waked 
 him ; upon which, starting up, he clapped his paw upon one 
 of them, and was just going to put it to death, when the 
 little supplicant implored his mercy in a very moving manner, 
 begging him not to stain his noble character with the blood 
 of so despicable and small a beast. 
 
 The Lion, considering the matter, thought proper to do as 
 he was desired, and immediately released his little trembling 
 prisoner. 
 
 Not long after, while traversing the forest in pursuit of 
 his prey, he chanced to run into the toils of the hunters, 
 from whence, not being able to disengage himself, he set up 
 a most hideous and loud roar. 
 
 The Mouse, hearing a voice, and knowing it to be the 
 Lion's, immediately repaired to the place, and bid him fear 
 nothing, for that he was his friend. Then straight he fell to
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. j 03 
 
 work, and with his sharp little teeth gnawing asunder the 
 knots and fastenings of the toils, set the royal brute at 
 liberty. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 There is none so little, but that even the greatest may at 
 some time or other stand in need of his assistance. 
 
 FABLE LXXIV. 
 
 THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER. 
 
 A TRUMPETER, being taken prisoner in a battle, begged 
 hard for quarter, declaring his innocence, and protesting that 
 he neither had nor could kill any man, bearing no arms but 
 only a trumpet, which he was obliged to sound at the word of 
 command. " For that reason," replied his enemies, "we are 
 determined not to spare you ; for though you yourself never 
 fight, yet with that wicked instrument of yours, you blow up 
 animosity between other people, and so become the occasion 
 of much bloodshed." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 The hand may rest quiet by the side, and yet the tongue 
 be the means of doing more injury than a thousand hands.
 
 I04 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXV. 
 
 THE MOUSE AND THE ELEPHANT. 
 
 A PERT young Mouse, but just arrived 
 
 From Athens, where some time he'd lived 
 
 And daily to the portico, 
 
 To pick up learning, used to go ; 
 
 Vain of the wisdom he had stored, 
 
 And of the books he had devoured ; 
 
 Puffed up with pride and self-conceit, 
 
 And proud to show his little wit, 
 
 Thus to an Elephant, one day, 
 
 He took it in his head to say : 
 
 " Nay, not so pompous in your gait, 
 Because Dame Nature made you great ; 
 I tell you, sir, your mighty size 
 Is of no value in my eyes ; 
 Your magnitude, I have a notion, 
 Is quite unfit for locomotion ; 
 When journeying far, you often prove 
 How sluggishly your feet can move.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 Now, look at me : I'm made to fly ; 
 Behold, with what rapidity . . 
 
 I skip about from place to place, 
 And still unwearied with the race ; 
 But you how lazily you creep, 
 And stop to breathe at every step ! 
 Whenever I your bulk survey, 
 I pity " What he meant to say, 
 Or with what kind of peroration 
 He'd have concluded his oration, 
 I cannot tell ; for, all at once, 
 There pounced upon the learned dunce 
 An ambushed Cat ; who, very soon, 
 Experimentally made known, 
 That between Mice and Elephants 
 There is a mighty difference. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 When fools pretend to wit and sense, 
 And wish to shine at your expense, 
 Defy them to the proof, and you 
 Will make them their own folly show.
 
 j 06 FA VO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXVI. 
 
 THE HUSBANDMAN AND HIS SONS. 
 
 A CERTAIN Husbandman, lying at the point of death, and 
 being desirous his sons should pursue that innocent, enter- 
 taining course of agriculture in which he himself had been 
 engaged all his life, made use of this expedient to induce 
 them to it. He called them to his bed-side and spoke to this 
 effect: "All the patrimony I have to bequeath you, Sons, is 
 my farm and my vineyard, of which I make you joint heirs. 
 But I charge you not to let it go out of your own occupation ; 
 for if I have any treasure besides, it lies buried somewhere in 
 the ground, within a foot of the surface." 
 
 This made the Sons conclude that he talked of money 
 which he had hid there ; so, after their father's death, with 
 unwearied diligence and application, they carefully dug up 
 every inch, both of the farm and vineyard; from which it 
 came to pass that, though they missed the treasure which 
 they expected, the ground, by being so well stirred and 
 loosened, produced so plentiful a crop of all that was sowed 
 in it as proved a real, and no inconsiderable treasure.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 I0 7 
 
 Labour and industry, well applied, seldom fail of finding 
 a rich treasure. And if these do not give us exactly the 
 wealth we are looking for, they will certainly give us health 
 and cheerfulness, with a tranquil mind, and, without these, 
 all the gold of Peru would lie in our coffers useless. 
 
 FABLE LXXVII. 
 
 THE BALD KNIGHT. 
 
 A CERTAIN Knight growing old, his hair fell off, and he 
 became bald ; to hide which imperfection he wore a periwig. 
 But as he was riding out with some others a-hunting, a 
 sudden gust of wind blew off the periwig, and exposed his 
 bald pate. 
 
 The company could not forbear laughing at the accident; 
 and he himself laughed as loud as anybody, saying, " How 
 was it to be expected that I should keep strange hair on my 
 head, when my own would not stay there." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 If, by any word or action, we happen to raise the laughter 
 of those about us, we cannot stifle it better than, by a brisk 
 presence of mind, to join in the mirth of the company, and, 
 if possible, anticipate the jests they are ready to make on us.
 
 I O 8 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXVIII. 
 
 THE DOG IN THE MANGER. 
 
 A DOG was lying upon a manger full of hay. An Ox, 
 being hungry, came near, and wanted to eat of the hay; 
 but the envious, ill-natured cur, getting up and snarling at 
 him, would not suffer him to touch it. Upon which the Ox, 
 in the bitterness of his heart, said, "What a selfish wretch 
 thou art, for thou canst neither eat hay thyself, nor suffer 
 others to do so." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Selfishness is a most contemptible thing ; but that degree 
 of it which withholds from others what we can make no 
 possible use of ourselves, is hateful in the extreme. 
 
 FABLE LXXIX. 
 
 THE OLD MAN AND DEATH. 
 
 A POOR, feeble old Man, who had crawled out into a neigh- 
 bouring wood to gather a few sticks, had made up his bundle,
 
 THE DOG IN THE MANGER.
 
 FA VO UR1TE FABLES. 1 09 
 
 and, laying it over his shoulders, was trudging homeward 
 with it ; but what with age, and the length of the way, and 
 the weight of his burden, he grew so faint and weak that he 
 sunk under it, and, as he sat on the ground, called upon 
 Death to come and ease him of his troubles. Death no 
 sooner heard him than he came and demanded of him what 
 he wanted. The poor old creature, who little thought Death 
 had been so near, and frightened almost out of his senses 
 with his terrible aspect, answered him, trembling, That, 
 having by chance let his bundle of sticks fall, and being too 
 infirm to get it up himself, he had made bold to call upon 
 him to help him; that, indeed, this was all he wanted at 
 present, and that he hoped his worship was not offended with 
 him for the liberty he had taken in so doing. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Men lightly speak of Death when they think he is far 
 away ; but let him appear near, and the very sense of his 
 approach almost drives the life away. Men then resume the 
 burden of cares which they had thrown down as insupportable, 
 being content to bear the ills they have than fly to others 
 that they know not of.
 
 T ! FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXX. 
 
 THE OLD HEX AND YOUXG COCK. 
 
 As an old Hen led forth her train, 
 
 And seemed to peck, to show the grain ; 
 
 She raked the chaff, she scratched the ground, 
 
 And gleaned the spacious yard around. 
 
 A giddy chick, to try her wings, 
 
 On the well's narrow margin springs, 
 
 And prone she drops. The mother's breast 
 
 All day with sorrow was possessed. 
 
 A Cock she met her son, she knew ; 
 And in her heart affection grew. 
 
 " My son," says she, " I grant, your years 
 Have reached beyond a mother's cares; 
 I see you vigorous, strong, and bold ; 
 I hear, with joy, your triumphs told. 
 'Tis not from Cocks thy fate I dread ; 
 But let thy ever-wary tread 
 Avoid yon well ; that fatal place 
 Is sure perdition to our race.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. I r i 
 
 Print this, my counsel, on thy breast ; 
 To the just gods I leave the rest." 
 
 He thanked her care ; yet, day by day, 
 His bosom burned to disobey ; 
 And every time the well he saw, 
 Scorned, in his heart, the foolish law ; 
 Near and more near each day he drew, 
 And longed to try the dangerous view. 
 
 " Why was this idle charge ? " he cries ; 
 " Let courage female fears despise ! 
 Or did she doubt my heart was brave, 
 And, therefore, this injunction gave ? 
 Or does her harvest store the place, 
 A treasure for her younger race ? 
 And would she thus my search prevent? 
 I stand resolved, and dare th' event." 
 
 Thus said, he mounts the margin's round, 
 And pries into the depth profound. 
 He stretched his neck ; and, from below, 
 With stretching neck advanced a foe : 
 With wrath his ruffled plumes he ears ; 
 The foe with ruffled plumes appears :
 
 T 1 2 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 Threat answered threat, his fury grew ; 
 Headlong to meet the war he flew ; 
 But when the watery death he found, 
 He thus lamented as he drowned : 
 " I ne'er had been in this condition, 
 Had I obeyed the prohibition." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Obey your parents, or 'twill be your fate, 
 To feel repentance when it comes too late. 
 
 FABLE LXXXI. 
 
 MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN. 
 
 A MAN was felling a tree on the bank of a river, and by 
 chance let his hatchet slip out of his hand, which dropped 
 into the water, and immediately sunk to the bottom. Being, 
 therefore, in great distress from the loss of his tool, he sat 
 down and bemoaned himself most lamentably. 
 
 Upon this, Mercury appeared to him, and being informed 
 of the cause of his complaint, dived to the bottom of the 
 river, and, coming up again, showed the rnan a golden 
 hatchet, demanding if that were his. He denied that it was ;
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 1 j 
 
 upon which Mercury dived a second time, and brought up a 
 silver one. The Man refused it, alleging likewise that this 
 was not his. He dived a third time, and fetched up the 
 individual hatchet the man had lost; upon sight of which the 
 poor fellow was overjoyed, and took it with all humility and 
 thankfulness. Mercury was so pleased with the fellow's 
 honesty, that he gave him the other two into the bargain, as 
 a reward for his just dealing. 
 
 The man then went to his companions, and, giving them 
 an account of what had happened, one of them went presently 
 to the river side, and let his hatchet fall designedly into the 
 stream. Then, sitting down upon the bank, he fell a-weeping 
 and lamenting, as if he had been really and sorely afflicted. 
 Mercury appeared as before, and, diving, brought him up a 
 golden hatchet, asking if that was the one he had lost. 
 Transported at the precious metal, he answered "Yes," and 
 went to snatch it greedily. But the god, detesting his 
 abominable impudence, not only refused to give him that, 
 but would not so much as let him have his own hatchet 
 again. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Honesty is the best policy; it has made many a man's 
 fortune, being blessed by God, and highly valued by man.
 
 ! 4 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXXII. 
 
 THE WOLF AND THE KID. 
 
 THE Goat, going abroad to feed, shut up her young kid 
 at home, charging him to bolt the door fast, and open it to 
 nobody, till she herself should return. The Wolf, who lay 
 lurking just by, heard this charge given, and soon after 
 came and knocked at the door, counterfeiting the voice of the 
 Goat, and desiring to be admitted. The Kid, looking out of 
 the window and discovering the cheat, bid him go about his 
 business; for however he might imitate a Goat's voice, yet 
 he appeared too much like a Wolf to be trusted. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 We cannot use too much caution in avoiding those things 
 which those who have more experience than we have warned 
 us against. 
 
 FABLE LXXXIII. 
 
 THE OLD MAN AND HIS SOXS. 
 
 AN Old Man had many Sons, who were often falling out 
 with one another. When the father had exerted his authority,
 
 THE WOLF AND THE GOAT.
 
 - 
 

 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 1 5 
 
 and used other means in order to reconcile them, and all to 
 no purpose, he at last had recourse to this expedient: he 
 ordered his Sons to be called before him, and a short bundle 
 of sticks to be brought ; and then commanded them, one by 
 one, to try if, with all their might and strength, they could 
 any of them break it. They all tried, but to no purpose ; 
 for the sticks being closely and compactly bound up together* 
 it was impossible for the force of man to do it. 
 
 After this the father ordered the bundle to be untied, and 
 gave a single stick to each of his Sons, at the same time 
 bidding him try to break it, which, when each did, with all 
 imaginable ease, the father addressed himself to them to this 
 effect : " O, my sons, behold the power of unity ! for if you, 
 in like manner, would but keep yourselves strictly joined 
 in the bonds of friendship, it would not be in the power of 
 any mortal to hurt you ; but when once the ties of brotherly 
 affection are dissolved, how soon do you fall to pieces, and 
 become liable to be violated by every injurious hand that 
 assaults you." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Union is strength. Love is a powerful bond, which, 
 when cherished, will make those who are bound together 
 by itj irresistible.
 
 1 1 6 FA VO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXXIV. 
 
 THE BROOK AND THE FOUNTAIN. 
 
 A FOUNTAIN varied gambols played, 
 
 Close by an humble Brook ; 
 While gently murmuring through the glade, 
 
 Its peaceful course it took. 
 
 Perhaps it gave one envious gaze 
 
 Upon the Fountain's height, 
 While glittering in the morning rays 
 
 Pre-eminently bright. 
 
 In all the colours of the sky, 
 
 Alternately it shone : 
 The Brook observed it with a sigh, 
 
 But quietly rolled on. 
 
 The owner of the Fountain died ; 
 
 Neglect soon brought decay ; 
 The bursting pipes were ill-supplied ; 
 
 The Fountain ceased to play.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 1 y 
 
 But still the Brook its peaceful course 
 
 Continued to pursue ; 
 Her ample, inexhausted source, 
 
 From Nature's fount she drew. 
 
 " Now," said the Brook, " I bless my fate, 
 
 My showy rival gone ; 
 Contented in its native state 
 
 My little stream rolls on. 
 
 And all the world has cause, indeed, 
 
 To own, with grateful heart, 
 How much great Nature's works excel 
 
 The feeble works of art." 
 
 MORAL. 
 Humble usefulness is preferable to idle splendour. 
 
 FABLE LXXXV. 
 
 THE MICE IN COUNCIL. 
 
 THE Mice called a general council, and, having met, after 
 the doors were locked, entered into a free consultation about 
 ways and means how to render their fortunes and estates
 
 ! 1 8 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 more secure from the danger of the Cat. Many things were 
 offered, and much was debated, "pro and con," upon the 
 matter. At last, a young Mouse, in a fine, florid speech, 
 concluded with an expedient, and that the only one, which 
 was to put them for the future entirely out of the power of 
 the enemy; and this was that the Cat should wear a bell 
 about her neck, which, upon the least motion, would give the 
 alarm, and be a signal for them to retire into their holes. 
 This speech was received with great applause, and it was 
 even proposed by some that the Mouse who made it should 
 have the thanks of the assembly ; upon which an old, grave 
 Mouse, who had sat silent all the while, stood up, and, in 
 another speech, owned that the contrivance was admirable, 
 and the author of it, without doubt, an ingenious Mouse, 
 but, he said, he thought it would not be so proper to vote 
 him thanks till he should farther inform them how this bell 
 was to be fastened about the Cat's neck, and what Mouse 
 would undertake to do it. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Many things appear excellent in theory which are impos- 
 sible in practice. It often requires a great deal of courage 
 to carry out projects which a fine, florid speech may persuade 
 the hearers are most plausible.
 
 fA VO URITE FABLES. 1 1 9 
 
 FABLE LXXXVI. 
 
 THE FOX IN THE WELL. 
 
 A Fox, having fallen into a well, made a shift by sticking 
 his claws into the sides to keep his head above water. Soon 
 after a Wolf came and peeped over the brink, to whom the 
 Fox applied very earnestly for assistance ; entreating that 
 he would help him to a rope, or something of the kind, 
 w T hich might favour his escape. The Wolf moved with com- 
 passion at his misfortune, could not forbear expressing his 
 concern. "Ah, poor Reynard," says he, "I am sorry for 
 you with all my heart ; how could you possibly come into 
 this melancholy condition ? " 
 
 "Nay, pr'ythee, friend," replied the Fox, "if you wish 
 me well, do not stand pitying me, but lend me some succour 
 as fast as you can ; for pity is but cold comfort when one is 
 up to the chin in water, and within a hair's breadth of 
 starving or drowning. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Mere expressions of pity, without a desire or attempt to 
 alleviate suffering, are a mockery. He that would be truly a 
 friend, will be ready to give his assistance when needed.
 
 , 2 FA YO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE LXXXVIII. 
 
 THE HORSE AND THE WOLF. 
 
 As a Wolf was roaming over a farm, he came to a field 
 of oats, but not being able to eat them, he left them and 
 went his way, 
 
 Presently, meeting with a Horse, he bade him come with 
 him into the field, " For," says he, " I have found some capital 
 oats ; and I 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 Wolves were able 
 to eat oats, I suspect you would not have preferred your ears 
 to your appetite." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Little thanks are due to him, who only gives away what- 
 ever is of no use to himself. 
 
 FABLE LXXXIX. 
 
 THE TWO SPRINGS. 
 
 Two springs, which issued from the same mountain, began 
 their course together : one of them took her way in a silent
 
 THE HORSE AND THE WOLF.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 2 1 
 
 and gentle stream, while the other rushed along with a 
 sounding and rapid current. " Sister," said the latter, "at 
 the rate you move, you will probably be dried up, before you 
 advance much farther ; whereas, for myself, I will venture a 
 wager, that, within two or three hundred furlongs, I shall 
 become navigable; and, after distributing commerce and 
 wealth wherever I flow, I shall majestically proceed to pay 
 my tribute to the ocean. So, farewell, dear sister! and 
 patiently submit to your fate." 
 
 Her sister made no reply ; but, calmly descending to the 
 meadows below, increased her stream by numberless little 
 rills which she collected in her progress, till, at length, she 
 was enabled to rise into a considerable river ; whilst the proud 
 stream, who had the vanity to depend solely upon her own 
 sufficiency, continued a shallow brook; and was glad, at last, 
 to be helped forward, by throwing herself into the arms of 
 her despised sister. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 His strength in words the blusterer vainly spends, 
 While steadiness in quiet gains its ends.
 
 I22 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XC. 
 
 THE COUNTRYMAN AND THE RAVEN. 
 
 A RAVEN, while with glossy breast, 
 Her new laid eggs she fondly pressed, 
 And, on her wicker-work high mounted, 
 Her chickens prematurely counted. 
 (A fault philosophers might blame, 
 If quite exempted from the same,) 
 Enjoyed at ease the genial day ; 
 'Twas April, as the bumpkins say; 
 The legislature called it May ; 
 But suddenly, a wind, as high 
 As ever swept a winter's sky, 
 Shook the young leaves about her ears, 
 And filled her with a thousand fears, 
 Lest the rude blast should snap the bough, 
 And spread her golden hopes below. 
 But just at eve the blowing weather, 
 And all her fears, were hushed together. 
 " And now, quoth poor unthinking Ralph, 
 " 'Tis over, and the brood is safe."
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. j 23 
 
 (For Ravens, though as birds of omen, 
 
 They teach both conjurors and old women ; 
 
 To tell us what is to befall, 
 
 Can't prophesy themselves at all.) 
 
 The morning came, when neighbour Hodge, 
 
 Who long had marked her airy lodge, 
 
 And destined all the treasure there, 
 
 A gift to his expecting fair, 
 
 Climbed, like a squirrel to his dray, 
 
 And bore the worthless prize away. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Safety consists not in escape 
 From danger of a frightful shape ; 
 Fate steals along with silent tread, 
 Found oftenest in what least we dread ; 
 Frowns in the storm with angry brow, 
 But in the sunshine strikes the blow. 
 
 FABLE XCI. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLE. 
 
 A Fox, hard pressed by the hounds, was getting over a 
 hedge, but tore his foot upon a Bramble, which grew just in
 
 124- 
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 the midst of it, upon which he reproached the Bramble for 
 inhospitable cruelty in using a stranger, which had fled to 
 him for protection, after such a barbarous manner. " Yes," 
 says the Bramble, "you intended to have made me serve 
 your turn, I know ; but take this piece of advice with you for 
 the future : Never lay hold of a Bramble again, as you value 
 your sweet person ; for laying hold is a privilege that belongs 
 to us Brambles, and we do not care to let it go out of the 
 family." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Impertinent people, who take liberties with others, are 
 often much surprised if they are retorted on with severity. 
 It is better, then, to keep from undue familiarity with strangers, 
 for we know not of what temper they may be. 
 
 FABLE XCII. 
 
 HERCULES AND THE CARTER. 
 
 As a clownish fellow was driving his cart along a deep 
 miry lane, the wheels stuck so fast in the clay, that the horses 
 could not draw them out. Upon this he fell a-bawling and 
 praying to Hercules to come and help him. 
 
 Hercules, looking down from a cloud, bade him not lie
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 125 
 
 there, like an idle rascal, as he was, but get up and whip his 
 horses stoutly, and clap his shoulder to the wheel ; adding, 
 that this was the only way for him to obtain his assistance. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 The man who asks Heaven for gifts, and neglects the 
 gifts Heaven has given, must expect silence until he shows 
 that he is in earnest by putting his shoulder to the wheel. 
 
 FABLE XCIII. 
 
 THE BOYS AND THE FROGS. 
 
 ON the margin of a large lake, which was inhabited by a 
 great number of Frogs, a company of Boys happened to be 
 at play. Their diversion was duck and drake, and whole 
 volleys of stones were thrown into the water, to the great 
 annoyance and danger of the poor terrified Frogs. At 
 length, one of the most hardy, lifting up his head above the 
 surface of the lake ; " Ah ! dear children ! " said he, " why 
 will ye learn so soon to be cruel ? Consider, I beseech you, 
 hat though this may be sport to you, it is death to us." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 A noble mind disdains to gain 
 Its pleasure from another's pain.
 
 126 FAPO URITE FA BLES. 
 
 FABLE XCIV. 
 
 THE COCK AXD THE JEWEL. 
 
 A BRISK young Cock, in company with two or three 
 pullets, raking- upon a dunghill for something to entertain 
 them with, happened to scratch up a jewel, which sparkled 
 with an exceeding bright lustre ; but, not knowing what to do 
 with it, endeavoured to cover his ignorance under a look of 
 contempt. So, shrugging up his wings, shaking his head, 
 and putting on a grimace, he expressed himself to this 
 purpose : " Indeed, you are a very fine thing, but I know not 
 what business you have here. I make no scruple of declaring 
 that my taste lies quite another way, and I had rather have 
 one grain of dear delicious barley than all the jewels under 
 the sun." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 We should not despise as worthless what does not come 
 within the limit of our understanding. Some lose what is 
 truly valuable for want of knowledge, and prefer what is 
 comparatively worthless.
 
 THE COCK AND THE JEWEL.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 FABLE XCV. 
 
 THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE GLOW-WORM. 
 
 A NIGHTINGALE, that, all day long, 
 Had cheered the village with his song, 
 Nor yet at eve his note suspended, 
 Nor yet when eventide was ended, 
 Began to feel, as well he might, 
 The keen demands of appetite ; 
 When, looking eagerly around, 
 He spied, far off, upon the ground, 
 A something shining in the dark, 
 And knew the Glow-worm by his spark ; 
 So, stooping down from hawthorn top, 
 He thought to put him in his crop. 
 The Worm, aware of his intent, 
 Harangued him thus, right eloquent : 
 " Did you admire my lamp," quoth he, 
 " As much as I your minstrelsy, 
 You would abhor to do me wrong, 
 As much as I to spoil your song ; 
 For 'twas the self-same power divine 
 Taught you to sing and me to shine ; 
 
 127
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 That you with music, I with light, 
 Alight beautify and cheer the night." 
 The songster heard his short oration, 
 And, warbling out his approbation, 
 Released him, as my story tells, 
 And found a supper somewhere else. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 From this short fable, youth may learn 
 Their real interest to discern, 
 That brother should not strive with brother, 
 And worry and oppress each other ; 
 But, joined in unity and peace, 
 Their mutual happiness increase : 
 Pleased when each others' faults they hide, 
 And in their virtues feel a pride. 
 
 FABLE XCVI. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE SICK LIOX. 
 
 IT was reported that the Lion was sick, and the beasts 
 were made to believe that they could not make their court
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 2 9 
 
 better than by going to visit him. Upon this, they generally 
 went, but it was particularly remarked that the Fox was not 
 one of the number. The Lion, therefore, dispatched one of his 
 Jackals to sound him about it, and to ask him why he had 
 so little charity and respect as never to come near him at a 
 time when he lay so dangerously ill, and everybody else had 
 been to see him. "Why," replied the Fox, " pray present 
 my duty to his majesty, and tell him that I have the same 
 respect for him as ever, and have been coming several times 
 to kiss his royal paw, but I am so terribly frightened at the 
 mouth of his cave, to see the print of my fellow-subjects' 
 feet all pointing forwards, and none backwards, that I had 
 not resolution enough to venture in." 
 
 Now, the truth of the matter was, that the sickness of 
 the Lion was only a sham to draw the beasts into his den, 
 the more easily to devour them. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 It is well to weigh and consider the nature of any proposal 
 thoroughly before we accede to it ; but, certainly, if we have 
 reason, from the injury done to others, to suspect that we 
 may suffer harm, it is decidedly better to decline. 
 
 K
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 FABLE XCVI. 
 
 THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE GEESE. 
 
 A Liox, tired with state affairs, 
 Quite sick of pomp, and worn with cares, 
 Resolved (remote from noise and strife) 
 In peace to pass his latter life. 
 
 It was proclaimed : the day was set : 
 Behold the general council met : 
 The Fox was viceroy named. The crowd 
 To the new regent humbly bowed ! 
 Wolves, bears, and mighty tigers bend, 
 And strive who most shall condescend. 
 The crowd admire his wit, his sense : 
 Each word hath weight and consequence. 
 The flatterer all his art displays ; 
 He who hath power, is sure of praise. 
 A Fox stepped forth before the rest, 
 And thus the servile throng addressed : 
 
 " How vast his talents, born to rule, 
 And train' d in virtue's honest school !
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 What clemency his temper sways ! 
 How uncorrupt are all his ways ! 
 Beneath his conduct and command' 
 Rapine shall cease to waste the land ; 
 What blessings must attend the nation 
 Under this good administration !" 
 
 He said. A Goose, who distant stood, 
 Harangu'd apart the cackling brood : 
 
 " Whene'er I hear a knave commend, 
 He bids me shun his worthy friend. 
 What praise ! what mighty commendation ! 
 But 'twas a Fox who spoke th' oration. 
 Foxes this government may prize, 
 As gentle, plentiful, and wise ; 
 If they enjoy the sweets, 'tis plain 
 We Geese must feel a tyrant reign. 
 What havoc now shall thin our race ! 
 When every petty clerk in place, 
 To prove his taste, and seem polite, 
 Will feed on Geese both noon and night." 
 
 MORAL. 
 Those flatter the plunderer who share in the spoil. 
 
 '3*
 
 I j 2 fAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XCVII. 
 
 THE ONE-EYED DOE. 
 
 A DOE, that had but one eye, used to graze near the sea, 
 and that she might be the more secure from harm, she kept 
 her blind side toward the water, from whence she had no 
 apprehension of danger, and with the other surveyed the 
 country as she fed. 
 
 By this vigilance and precaution she thought herself in 
 the utmost security ; when a sly fellow, with two or three of 
 his companions, who had been poaching after her several 
 days to no purpose, at last took a boat, and, fetching a 
 compass upon the sea, came gently down upon her, and shot 
 her. The Doe, in the agonies of death, breathed out this 
 doleful complaint : tl Oh, hard fate! that I should receive my 
 death wound from that side whence I expected no ill ; and 
 be safe in that part where I looked for the most danger." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Our troubles and dangers frequently arise from the 
 direction we least expect them.
 
 THE ONE-EYED DOE.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. ,jj 
 
 FABLE XCVIII. 
 
 THE FOX, THE RAVEX, AXD THE DOVL. 
 
 A Fox, who was half-starved with hunger, stretched 
 himself all along upon the ground, and lay as if he were 
 dead, that he might entice the harmless birds to come within 
 his reach, and then leap of a sudden upon them, and make 
 them his prey; but it happened that a Raven, who was 
 hovering near him, observed that he fetched his breath ; and, 
 by consequence, found it to be only a trick in him to catch 
 the birds. She, therefore, instantly gave them notice of it ; 
 and forewarned them, as they valued their own lives, not to 
 come within reach of the Fox, who only feigned himself to 
 be dead. 
 
 The Fox, finding his plot to be discovered, was obliged 
 to go away hungry ; but soon bethought himself of another 
 invention : which was, to go and kennel himself in a hollow 
 tree, upon which a Dove had her nest, and was breeding up 
 her young ones. Having done this, he called to her, that, 
 unless she would throw down to him sometimes one of her 
 eggs, and sometimes one of her young ones, he would climb 
 up the tree, take away all her eggs, kill both her and her 
 young, and break her nest to pieces. 
 ""The harmless Dove, thinking of two ills to choose the
 
 134 
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 least, did as the Fox required her; and threw him down now 
 one of her eggs, and then one of her young ones. Having 
 done so, for some time, with a great deal of grief and sorrow, 
 and the Fox continuing still to demand it of her, she, at last, 
 made her complaint to the Raven, who chanced to come and 
 perch herself on the same tree ; grievously bemoaning her 
 fate, that she, like a good mother, to provide for her children, 
 was at last obliged to make them a sacrifice to such a villain. 
 But the Raven, who was not so timorous as she, advised her, 
 whenever the Fox threatened her again, that he would kill 
 both her and her young, if she would not throw one of them 
 down to him, to answer him roundly, "If you could have 
 flown or climbed up the tree, you would not have been so 
 often contented with one of my eggs, or of my young ; but 
 would, long since, according to your ravenous and blood- 
 thirsty nature, have devoured both me and them." In short, 
 the next time the Fox came, and threatened her as before, 
 sh replied as the Raven had instructed her. 
 
 The Fox, hearing her answer, and knowing very well that 
 she was not so wise and cunning of herself, resolved to find 
 out the truth of the matter; and, at length, came to under- 
 stand that it was the Raven who had been her counsellor. 
 He, therefore, vowed to be revenged on her, who had now, 
 the second time, hindered him from getting his prey. Not 
 long after, he espied her sitting on a high thorn-tree ; and, 
 going to her, began to praise her at a mighty rate,
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. ! j 5 
 
 magnifying her good fortune above that of all beasts, who 
 could neither fly like her, nor tread the ground with so 
 majestical a gait : adding, withal, that it would be a great 
 pleasure to him to see her lordly \valk ; that he might from 
 thence, be certain whether she were indeed so divine and 
 prophetic a bird as men had always held her to be. 
 
 The Raven, transported to hear herself thus praised to 
 the skies, flew down ; and, pitching upon the ground, walked 
 to and fro, in mighty pomp and state. The Fox seemed 
 highly delighted ; and said, that he extremely wondered how 
 the Raven could keep upon the ground, when the wind blew 
 her feathers over her eyes, and hindered her sight; but 
 chiefly when it blew before, behind, and on all sides of her. 
 "I can very well provide against that," said the Raven; 
 "for then I hide my head under my left wing." "How!" 
 cried the Fox; "hide your head under your left wing! So 
 wonderful a thing I can never believe, till I see it." Imme- 
 diately the Raven put her head under her left wing, and held 
 it there so long that the Fox caught hold of her and killed 
 her for his prey. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 So must they fare who give good advice to others, but 
 have not discretion enough to follow it themselves.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE XCIX. 
 
 THE TWO POTS. 
 
 Two Pots, of different size and matter made, 
 
 Were swiftly down a rolling stream convey* d. 
 
 The larger vessel, form'd of solid brass, 
 
 Did boldly o'er the rapid water pass ; 
 
 While that whose substance was but brittle clay, 
 
 Would, for 'his safety, give the stronger way. 
 
 Him the Brass Pot invited to draw near, 
 
 And said, " His frailty need not cause his fear ; 
 
 For he, with just precaution would prevent 
 
 The danger of their jostling as they went." 
 
 The Earthen Pot, that knew his weaker frame, 
 Excused himself, that he no nearer came ; 
 And said, " My friend, if the impetuous tide 
 Should dash my clay against your brazen side, 
 By the hard fate of that unequal stroke, 
 While you are whole, I shall be surely broke." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Men safest still in equal friendship live, 
 Where they can do no harm, and none receive :
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 The strong, by power led to insult the weak, 
 With every 7 touch the brittle vessels break ; 
 While they, abused and injured by the strong, 
 Must, without remedy, sustain the wrong-. 
 
 FABLE C. 
 
 THE TWO FROGS. 
 
 OXE hot, sultry summer, the lakes and ponds being 
 almost everywhere dried up, a couple of Frogs agreed to 
 travel together in search of water. At last they came to a 
 deep well, and, sitting on the brink of it, began to consult 
 whether they should leap in or no. One of them was so 
 inclined, urging that there was plenty of clear, spring water, 
 and no danger of being disturbed. "Well," says the other, 
 " all this may be true, and yet I cannot come into your 
 opinion for my life ; for if the water should happen to dry up 
 here too, how should we get out again." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Skilful generals always secure a way for retreat. " Look 
 before you leap " is an old and trite proverb. We should 
 not undertake any action of importance without considering 
 what may be the result, in all its aspects.
 
 ! ^ 8 FAVO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE CI. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE MASK. 
 
 A Fox, being in a shop where Masks were sold, laid his 
 foot upon one of them, and considering it awhile attentively, 
 at last broke out into this exclamation : "Bless me!" says 
 he, " what a handsome face this is ! What a pity it is that 
 it should want brains !" 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Beauty without sense is of little value. A fair outside is 
 but a poor substitute for inward worth. 
 
 FABLE CII. 
 
 THE CAT, THE COCK, AND THE YOUNG MOUSE. 
 
 A YOUNG Mouse, that had seen very little of the world, 
 came running, one day, to his mother in great haste: "Oh, 
 mother!" said he, "I am frightened almost to death ! I have 
 seen the most extraordinary creature that ever was. He has 
 a fierce, angry look, and struts about on two legs ; a strange 
 piece of flesh grows on his head, and another under his 
 throat, as red as blood: he flapped his arms against his sides, 
 as if he intended to rise into the air ; and stretching out his
 
 THE FOX AND THE MASK.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 139 
 
 head, he opened a sharp- pointed mouth so wide, that I 
 thought he was preparing to swallow me up : then he roared 
 at me so horribly, that I trembled in every joint, and was glad 
 to run home as fast as I could. If I had not been frightened 
 away by this terrible monster, I was just going to commence 
 an acquaintance with the prettiest creature you ever saw. 
 She had a soft fur skin, thicker than ours, and all beautifully 
 streaked with black and grey; with a modest look, and a 
 demeanour so humble and courteous, that methought I could 
 have fallen in love with her. Then she had a fine, long tail, 
 which she waved about so prettily, and looked so earnestly at 
 me, that I do believe she was just going to speak to me, 
 when the horrid monster frightened me away." 
 
 "Ah, my dear child!" said the mother, "you have 
 escaped being devoured, but not by that monster you were so 
 much afraid, of; which, in truth, was only a bird, and would 
 have done you no manner of harm. Whereas, the sweet 
 creature, of whom you seem so fond, was no other than a 
 Cat ; who, under that hypocritical countenance, conceals the 
 most inveterate hatred to all our race, and subsists entirely 
 by devouring Mice. Learn from this incident, my dear, 
 never, while you live, to rely on outward appearances." 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Beneath a fair, alluring guise, 
 A hidden danger often lies.
 
 ! 4 o FA VO UR1TE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE CIII. 
 
 THE MICE AXD THE TRAP. 
 
 OXCE upon a time, the Mice saw a broiled rasher of 
 bacon hanging- up in a very little room, the door of which 
 being open, enticed them to fall on with greedy appetites. 
 But some of them took particular notice that there was but 
 one way into the room, and, by consequence, but one way to 
 get out of it ; so that, if that door, by misfortune or art, 
 should chance to be shut, they would all be inevitably taken : 
 they could not, therefore, find in their hearts to venture in ; 
 but said, that they had rather content themselves with homely 
 fare, in safety, than, for the sake of a dainty bit, to run the 
 danger of being taken, and lost for ever. 
 
 The other Mice, who were looked upon to be great 
 epicures,. declared that they saw no danger; and, therefore, 
 ran into the room, and fell to eating the bacon with great 
 delight : but they soon heard the door fall down, and saw 
 that they were all taken. Then the fear of approaching 
 death so seized them, that they found no relish in their 
 exquisite food ; and immediately came the Cook who had set 
 the Trap, and killed them : but the others, who had contented 
 themselves with their usual food, fled into their holes, and, 
 by that means, preserved their lives.
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 FABLE CIV. 
 
 THE CHAMELEON. 
 
 OFT has it been my lot to mark 
 A proud, conceited, talking spark, 
 With eyes that hardly served at most 
 To guard their master 'gainst a post ; 
 Yet round the world the blade has been, 
 To see whatever could be seen. 
 Returning from his finish' d tour, 
 Grown ten times perter than before, 
 Whatever word you chance to drop, 
 The travelled fool your mouth will stop ; 
 " Sir, if my judgment you'll allow, 
 I've seen, and, sure, I ought to know; ' 
 So begs you'd pay a due submission, 
 And acquiesce in his decision. 
 
 Two travellers, of such a cast, 
 As o'er Arabia's wilds they pass'd,
 
 1 4 2 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 And on their way, in friendly chat, 
 Now talked of this, and then of that ; 
 Discoursed awhile, 'mongst other matter, 
 Of the Chameleon's form and nature. 
 "A stranger animal," cries one, 
 " Sure never lived beneath the sun : 
 A lizard's body, lean and long, 
 A fish's head, a serpent's tongue. 
 In truth, with triple jaw disjoin' d ; 
 And what a length of tail behind ! 
 How slow its pace ! and then its hue ! 
 Who ever saw so fine a blue ? " 
 
 " Hold there !" the other quick replies, 
 " 'Tis green : I saw it with these eyes, 
 As late with open mouth it lay, 
 And warm'd it in the sunny ray : 
 Stretch' d at its ease the beast I view'd, 
 And saw it eat the air for food." 
 
 "I've seen it, sir, as well as you, 
 And must again affirm it blue ; 
 At leisure I the beast survey' d, 
 Extended in the cooling shade."
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 43 
 
 " 'Tis green ! 'tis green ! sir, I assure ye." 
 " Green !" cries the other, in a fury, 
 " Why, sir, d'ye think I've lost my eyes ? " 
 " 'Twere no great loss ! " the friend replies ; 
 " For if they always serve you thus, 
 You find 'em but of little use." 
 
 So high at last the contest rose, 
 From words they almost came to blows ; 
 When, luckily, came by a third ; 
 To him the question they referr'd ; 
 And begged he'd tell 'em, if he knew, 
 Whether the thing was green or blue. 
 
 " Sirs," cries the umpire, " cease your pother- 
 The creature's neither one nor t'other. 
 I caught the animal last night, 
 And viewed it o'er by candle-light; 
 I marked it well 'twas black as jet ; 
 You stare but, sirs, I've got it yet, 
 And can produce it." "Pray, sir, do; 
 I'll lay my life the thing is blue." 
 " And I'll be sworn that when you've seen 
 The reptile, you'll pronounce him green."
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 " Well, then, at once to ease the doubt," 
 Replies the man, " I'll turn him out; 
 And when before your eyes I've set him, 
 If you don't find him black I'll eat him ;" 
 He said. Then full before their sight, 
 Produced the beast, and lo ! 'twas white. 
 Both stared, the man looked wondrous wise. 
 " My children," the Chameleon cries, 
 (Then first the creature found a tongue), 
 " You all are right and all are wrong ; 
 When next you talk of what you view, 
 Think others see as well as you ; 
 Nor wonder, if you find that none 
 Prefers your eye-sight to his own." 
 
 FABLE CV. 
 
 THE WOLF, THE FOX, AND THE ASS. 
 
 THE Lion, as king of the beasts, made a law that no 
 beast should, without lawful cause, do any hurt to another ; 
 and should come once a year to court, to confess, and be 
 absolved or punished, according to his deserts. Now it 
 happened that the Wolf and the Fox were going thither
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 45 
 
 tog-ether, and overtaking the Ass on the road, said to him : 
 " Brother, it is a long way to court, and it certainly must be 
 much more tedious to you than to ourselves, because of your 
 slow pace ; but we can avoid the trouble of going thither, if 
 you think fit. Let us three confess ourselves to one another, 
 and send our absolutions to court, attested by two of us as 
 witnesses." 
 
 The Ass liked the proposal; into a clover field they 
 went, and the Fox thus confessed himself first: "It hap- 
 pened, as I was going one night through a village, a Cock, by 
 his loud crowing, disturbed all the people that were asleep ; at 
 which I grew very angry, and bit off his head ; then, fearing 
 that the stench of his dead body might be offensive to the 
 Hens, I ate him up. Nevertheless, it happened, three days 
 after, as I was going by the same village, those very Hens 
 spied me ; and, instead of thanking me for the great kindness 
 I had done them, cried out, ' Murderer, murderer ! ' Then 
 I, in defence of my honour, killed three of them ; and, lest 
 they should have stunk and offended the neighbourhood, ate 
 them up too. This is all I have done ; for which I now 
 await your sentence." 
 
 The Wolf thereupon expressed himself thus: "You 
 have, indeed, offended against the letter of our monarch's 
 law, but not against the meaning of it ; since your intentions 
 were honourable, to take care of the quiet of men, and to 
 
 L
 
 I4 6 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 vindicate your injured reputation. If, therefore, you will 
 promise never to be so hasty again in killing any beast, I 
 vote for your absolution." This the Fox readily did; and 
 the Ass joined in opinion with the Wolf, who then thus 
 began his confession : 
 
 " As I was one day walking along, I saw a Sow trampling 
 down the corn of a poor peasant, and tearing it up by the 
 roots, while her hungry Pigs were strayed far from her, and 
 could not get themselves out of the mire ; so that I, grow- 
 ing very angry at the great mischief she did the peasant, 
 and at her neglect of motherly duty, killed and ate her up. 
 Three days after, chancing to go again the same way, I 
 observed that those Pigs were grown very lean ; and reflect- 
 ing that, through want of their mother's milk, they would 
 certainly die a languishing death, I put an end to their 
 miseries, and ate them up too. This I have to confess." 
 
 The Fox instantly argued in this manner : " Though you 
 confess to having killed both mother and children ; and though 
 it seems, at first sight, that you have heinously offended 
 against the law of our king; yet I see, nevertheless, that 
 your intentions were good : to prevent mischief from falling 
 upon men, to stir up a mother to her duty, and to show com- 
 passion to her miserable children, are virtues that no law can 
 forbid or punish. I, therefore, declare you absolved." To 
 which the Ass agreed.
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. \ 47 
 
 The Ass then made his confession: "You both know," 
 said he, "that it is not in my nature to do hurt to other 
 beasts, nor to shed blood ; and, therefore, you cannot expect 
 to hear any such thing from me ; but, to content you, I will 
 relate to you what happened innocently to me, while I was in 
 the service of a master. He was an old man, and apt to take 
 cold in his feet ; so that, when he travelled, to keep them dry 
 and warm, he was wont to stick a little hay in his shoes. 
 Now I carried him, one winter, to an inn, where he was to lie 
 all night; and when we came to the door, the innkeeper 
 brought him a pair of dry slippers, that his dirty shoes might 
 not soil the house ; so that he pulled them off, and left them 
 without, and me by them. In short, my master and his host 
 found themselves so well in the chimney-corner, that they 
 never thought of poor me ; but left me all night in the bitter 
 cold, without giving me a handful of food : so that I ate up 
 all the hay that stuck in his shoes. This is all I have to say; 
 if you will call it a confession, you may : however, I think 
 nothing can be said against it." 
 
 " Oh ! " said the Fox, immediately, " this is not, indeed, 
 an offence against the letter of the law, which mentions only 
 the doing hurt to beasts, and takes no notice of eating of 
 hay ; but, if we reflect on the dangerous consequences of this 
 action, and that so reverend a creature as a chill, aged man, 
 by being thus robbed of his hay in the winter, and the next
 
 1 48 FAVO URITE FABLES. 
 
 day continuing his road without it, might have caught a cold, 
 a cough, and a cholic, that would have brought his grey hairs 
 to the grave : whoever, I say, reflects on this, cannot but be 
 of my opinion, which is, that the Ass largely deserves to 
 die. Cousin Wolf, what say you lo this matter?" "I," 
 said the Wolf, " am of opinion that by reason of the ill con- 
 sequences that might have attended this action, the Ass 
 deserves a double death, and to be made an example to 
 others." With that he leaped upon him, and tore out his 
 throat, and the Fox and he immediately ate him up. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Knaves can always find reasons for justifying their own 
 conduct, and condemning that of others. 
 
 FABLE CVI. 
 
 THE BOY AND THE BUTTERFLY. 
 
 A BOY, greatly smitten with the colours of a Butterfly, 
 pursued it from flower to flower with indefatigable pains. 
 First, he aimed to surprise it among the leaves of a rose ; 
 then to cover it with his hat, as it was feeding on a daisy ; 
 now hoped to secure it, as it rested on a sprig of myrtle ;
 
 FA VO URITE FABLES. 1 4 9 
 
 and now grew sure of his prize, perceiving it loiter on a bed 
 of violets. But the fickle Fly, continually changing one 
 blossom for another, still eluded his attempts. At length, 
 observing it half buried in the cup of a tulip, he rushed 
 forward, and snatching it with violence, crushed it all to 
 pieces. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Pleasure, like the Butterfly, 
 Will still elude as we draw nigh ; 
 And when we think we hold it fast, 
 Will, like the insect, breathe its last. 
 
 FABLE CVII. 
 
 THE CROW AND THE PITCHER. 
 
 A CROW, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a 
 Pitcher, which he beheld at some distance. When he came 
 he found water in it, indeed, but so near the bottom that, 
 with all his stooping and straining, he was not able to reach 
 it. Then he endeavoured to overturn the Pitcher, that so at 
 least he might be able to get a little of it. But his strength 
 was not sufficient for this. At last, seeing some pebbles lie 
 near the place, he cast them one by one into the Pitcher;
 
 I 5 
 
 FAVOURITE FABLES. 
 
 and thus, by degrees, raised the water up to the very brim, 
 and satisfied his thirst. 
 
 MORAL. 
 
 Necessity is the mother of invention, and that which 
 cannot be accomplished by strength may be achieved by 
 ingenuity. 
 
 WHERE THERE IS A WILL. THERE IS A WAY. 
 
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