There was a time in the youth of the world when Goods
and Ills entered equally into the concerns of men,
so that the Goods did not prevail to make them altogether
blessed, nor the Ills to make them wholly miserable.
But owing to the foolishness of mankind the Ills multiplied
greatly in number and increased in strength, until
it seemed as though they would deprive the Goods of
all share in human affairs, and banish them from the
earth. The latter, therefore, betook themselves
to heaven and complained to Jupiter of the treatment
they had received, at the same time praying him to
grant them protection from the Ills, and to advise
them concerning the manner of their intercourse with
men. Jupiter granted their request for protection,
and decreed that for the future they should not go
among men openly in a body, and so be liable to attack
from the hostile Ills, but singly and unobserved,
and at infrequent and unexpected intervals. Hence
it is that the earth is full of Ills, for they come
and go as they please and are never far away; while
Goods, alas! come one by one only, and have to travel
all the way from heaven, so that they are very seldom
seen.
THE HARES AND THE FROGS
The Hares once gathered together and lamented the
unhappiness of their lot, exposed as they were to
dangers on all sides and lacking the strength and
the courage to hold their own. Men, dogs, birds
and beasts of prey were all their enemies, and killed
and devoured them daily: and sooner than endure
such persecution any longer, they one and all determined
to end their miserable lives. Thus resolved and
desperate, they rushed in a body towards a neighbouring
pool, intending to drown themselves. On the bank
were sitting a number of Frogs, who, when they heard
the noise of the Hares as they ran, with one accord
leaped into the water and hid themselves in the depths.
Then one of the older Hares who was wiser than the
rest cried out to his companions, “Stop, my
friends, take heart; don’t let us destroy ourselves
after all: see, here are creatures who are afraid
of us, and who must, therefore, be still more timid
than ourselves.”
THE FOX AND THE STORK
A Fox invited a Stork to dinner, at which the only
fare provided was a large flat dish of soup.
The Fox lapped it up with great relish, but the Stork
with her long bill tried in vain to partake of the
savoury broth. Her evident distress caused the
sly Fox much amusement. But not long after the
Stork invited him in turn, and set before him a pitcher
with a long and narrow neck, into which she could get
her bill with ease. Thus, while she enjoyed her
dinner, the Fox sat by hungry and helpless, for it
was impossible for him to reach the tempting contents
of the vessel.
THE WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
Copyrights
Aesop's Fables; a new translation from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
