Aesop, in Rhyme | Page 4

of those he met, and to bite
them without notice. His master sometimes suspended a bell about his
neck, that he might give notice of his presence wherever he went, and
sometimes he fastened a chain about his neck, to which was attached a
heavy clog, so that he could not be so quick at biting people's heels.
The Dog grew proud of his bell and clog, and went with them all over
the market-place. An old hound said to him: "Why do you make such
an exhibition of yourself? That bell and clog that you carry are not,
believe me, orders of merit, but, on the contrary, marks of disgrace, a
public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill-mannered dog."
Those who achieve notoriety often mistake it for fame.
[Illustration]

The Quack Frog.
[Illustration]
A Frog once made proclamation to all the beasts that he was a learned
physician, and able to heal all diseases. A Fox asked him: "How can
you pretend to prescribe for others, and you are unable to heal your
own lame gait and wrinkled skin?"
Those who pretend that they can mend others should first mend
themselves, and then they will be more readily believed.

The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion.

[Illustration]
The Ass and the Fox, having entered into a partnership together, went
out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far, when they met a
Lion. The Fox approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him
the capture of the Ass, if he would pledge his word that his own life
should be spared. On his assuring him that he would not injure him, the
Fox led the Ass to a deep pit, and contrived that he should fall into it.
The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the
Fox, and then attacked the Ass at his leisure.
Traitors must expect treachery.

The Wolf and the Sheep.
[Illustration]
A Wolf, being sick and maimed, called to a Sheep, who was passing,
and asked him to fetch some water from the stream. "For," he said, "if
you will bring me drink, I will find means to provide myself with
meat." "Yes," said the Sheep, "if I should bring you the draught, you
would doubtless make me provide the meat also."
Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

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

The Two Pots.
[Illustration]
A river carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of earthenware,
and the other of brass. As they floated along on the surface of the
stream, the Earthen Pot said to the Brass Pot: "Pray keep at a distance,
and do not come near me, for if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall
be broken in pieces; and besides, I by no means wish to come near
you."
Equals make the best friends.

The Gnat and the Lion.
A Gnat came and said to a Lion: "I do not the least fear you, nor are
you stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You
can scratch with your claws, and bite with your teeth--so can a woman
in her quarrels. I repeat that I am altogether more powerful than you;
and if you doubt it, let us fight and see who will conquer." The Gnat,
having sounded his horn, fastened itself upon the Lion, and stung him
on the nostrils. The Lion, trying to crush him, tore himself with his
claws, until he punished himself severely. The Gnat thus prevailed over
the Lion, and buzzing about in a song of triumph, flew away. But
shortly afterwards he became entangled in the meshes of a cobweb, and
was eaten by a spider. He greatly lamented his fate, saying: "Woe is me,
that I, who can wage war successfully with the hugest beasts, should
perish myself from this spider."

The Widow and her Little Maidens.
A widow woman, fond of cleaning, had two little maidens to wait on
her. She was in the habit of waking them early in the morning, at
cockcrow. The maidens, being aggrieved by such excessive labor,
resolved to kill the cock who roused their mistress so early. When they

had done this, they found that they had only prepared for themselves
greater troubles, for their mistress, no longer hearing the cock, was
unable to tell the time, and so, woke them