^OF-CALIFO/?^ ^E'UNIVER%. QC """" \ S S* %-Xf ^ %13DNY-SO^ AME-INIVER% ^ rS ^ ^ o gf i I ^l\E-UNIVER% ^lOSANCELfj^ ^ %5lflAIN(l3t\^ dOS-ANCElfjv, '* 5 I s S I * i^7> ^OJIIVJ-JO 51 < I S 5' ^ | -n 1-- 1 8 ,-P & s > ^ s 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