EsPingli

The Fox and the Grapes

A hungry fox saw some fine bunches of grapes hanging from a vine that was trained along a high trellis, and did his best to reach them by jumping as high as he could into the air.

But it was all in vain, for they were just out of reach.

So he gave up trying, and walked away with an air of dignity and unconcern, remarking, "I thought those grapes were ripe, but I see now they are quite sour."

The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs

A man and his wife had the good fortune to possess a goose which laid a golden egg every day.

Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose.

Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

Much wants more and loses all.

The Mischievous Dog

There was once a dog who used to snap at people and bite them without any provocation, and who was a great nuisance to every one who came to his master’s house.

So his master fastened a bell round his neck to warn people of his presence.

The dog was very proud of the bell, and strutted about tinkling it with immense satisfaction. But an old dog came up to him and said, "The fewer airs you give yourself the better, my friend. You don’t think, do you, that your bell was given you as a reward of merit? On the contrary, it is a badge of disgrace."

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller

There was once a charcoal-burner who lived and worked by himself.

A fuller, however, happened to come and settle in the same neighbourhood; and the charcoal-burner, having made his acquaintance and finding he was an agreeable sort of fellow, asked him if he would come and share his house.

"We will get to know one another better that way," he said, "and, beside, our household expenses will be diminished."

The fuller thanked him, but replied, "I couldn’t think of it, sir: everything I take such pains to whiten would be blackened in no time by your charcoal."

The Dog and the Sow

A dog and a sow were arguing and each claimed that its own young ones were finer than those of any other animal. "Well," said the sow at last, "mine can see, at any rate, when they come into the world: but yours are born blind."

The Horse and the Groom

There was once a groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit.

The horse gradually got into worse and worse condition, and at last cried to the groom, "If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must comb me less and feed me more."

The Peacock and the Crane

A peacock taunted a crane with the dullness of her plumage.

"Look at my brilliant colours," said she, "and see how much finer they are than your poor feathers."

"I am not denying," replied the crane, "that yours are far gayer than mine; but when it comes to flying I can soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any dunghill cock."

The Cat and the Birds

A cat heard that the birds in an aviary were ailing.

So he got himself up as a doctor, and, taking with him a set of the instruments proper to his profession, presented himself at the door, and inquired after the health of the birds.

"We will do very well," they replied, without letting him in, "when we’ve seen the last of you."

A villain may disguise himself, but he will not deceive the wise.

The Spendthrift and the Swallow

A spendthrift, who had wasted his fortune, and had nothing left but the clothes in which he stood, saw a swallow one fine day in early spring. Thinking that summer had come, and that he could now do without his coat, he went and sold it for what it would fetch.

A change, however, took place in the weather, and there came a sharp frost which killed the unfortunate swallow. When the spendthrift saw its dead body he cried, "Miserable bird! Thanks to you I am perishing of cold myself."

One swallow does not make summer.

The Moon and Her Mother

The Moon once begged her mother to make her a gown. "How can I?" replied she; "there’s no fitting your figure. At one time you’re a new moon, and at another you’re a full moon; and between whiles you’re neither one nor the other."

The Crow and the Pitcher

A thirsty crow found a pitcher with some water in it, but so little was there that, try as she might, she could not reach it with her beak, and it seemed as though she would die of thirst within sight of the remedy.

At last she hit upon a clever plan.

She began dropping pebbles into the pitcher, and with each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it reached the brim, and the knowing bird was enabled to quench her thirst.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

The Boys and the Frogs

Some mischievous boys were playing on the edge of a pond, and, catching sight of some frogs swimming about in the shallow water, they began to amuse themselves by pelting them with stones, and they killed several of them. At last one of the frogs put his head out of the water and said, "Oh, stop! stop! I beg of you: what is sport to you is death to us."

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

A wolf resolved to disguise himself in order that he might prey upon a flock of sheep without fear of detection.

So he clothed himself in a sheepskin, and slipped among the sheep when they were out at pasture. He completely deceived the shepherd, and when the flock was penned for the night he was shut in with the rest.

But that very night as it happened, the shepherd, requiring a supply of mutton for the table, laid hands on the wolf in mistake for a sheep, and killed him with his knife on the spot.

The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Sprat

The dolphins quarrelled with the whales, and before very long they began fighting with one another.

The battle was very fierce, and had lasted some time without any sign of coming to an end, when a sprat thought that perhaps he could stop it, so he stepped in and tried to persuade them to give up fighting and make friends.

But one of the dolphins said to him contemptuously, "We would rather go on fighting till we’re all killed than be reconciled by a sprat like you!"

The Fir-Tree and the Bramble

A fir-tree was boasting to a bramble, and said, somewhat contemptuously, "You poor creature, you are of no use whatever. Now, look at me: I am useful for all sorts of things, particularly when men build houses; they can’t do without me then."

But the bramble replied, "Ah, that’s all very well: but you wait till they come with axes and saws to cut you down, and then you’ll wish you were a bramble and not a fir."

Better poverty without a care than wealth with its many obligations.

The Frogs’ Complaint Against the Sun

Once upon a time the Sun was about to take to himself a wife.

The frogs in terror all raised their voices to the skies, and Jupiter, disturbed by the noise, asked them what they were croaking about.

They replied, "The sun is bad enough even while he is single, drying up our marshes with his heat as he does. But what will become of us if he marries and begets other Suns?"

The Gnat and the Bull

A gnat alighted on one of the horns of a bull, and remained sitting there for a considerable time. When it had rested sufficiently and was about to fly away, it said to the bull, "Do you mind if I go now?"

The bull merely raised his eyes and remarked, without interest, "It’s all one to me; I didn’t notice when you came, and I won’t know when you go away."

We may often be of more consequence in our own eyes than in the eyes of our neighbours.

The Oak and the Reeds

An oak that grew on the bank of a river was uprooted by a severe gale of wind, and thrown across the stream.

It fell among some reeds growing by the water, and said to them, "How is it that you, who are so frail and slender, have managed to weather the storm, whereas I, with all my strength, have been torn up by the roots and hurled into the river?"

"You were stubborn," came the reply, "and fought against the storm, which proved stronger than you: but we bow and yield to every breeze, and thus the gale passed harmlessly over our heads."

The Blind Man and the Cub

There was once a blind man who had so fine a sense of touch that, when any animal was put into his hands, he could tell what it was merely by the feel of it.

One day the cub of a wolf was put into his hands, and he was asked what it was.

He felt it for some time, and then said, "Indeed, I am not sure whether it is a wolf’s cub or a fox’s: but I know it would never do to trust it in a sheepfold."

Evil tendencies are early shown.

The Boy and the Snails

A farmer’s boy went looking for snails, and, when he had picked up both his hands full, he set about making a fire at which to roast them; for he meant to eat them.

When it got well alight and the snails began to feel the heat, they gradually withdrew more and more into their shells with the hissing noise they always make when they do so.

When the boy heard it, he said, "You abandoned creatures, how can you find heart to whistle when your houses are burning?"

The Fisherman and the Sprat

A fisherman cast his net into the sea, and when he drew it up again it contained nothing but a single sprat that begged to be put back into the water.

"I’m only a little fish now," it said, "but I will grow big one day, and then if you come and catch me again I will be of some use to you."

But the Fisherman replied, "Oh, no, I will keep you now I’ve got you: if I put you back, should I ever see you again? Not likely!"

The Boasting Traveller

A man once went abroad on his travels, and when he came home he had wonderful tales to tell of the things he had done in foreign countries.

Among other things, he said he had taken part in a jumping-match at Rhodes, and had done a wonderful jump which no one could beat. "Just go to Rhodes and ask them," he said; "every one will tell you it’s true."

But one of those who were listening said, "If you can jump as well as all that, we needn’t go to Rhodes to prove it. Let’s just imagine this is Rhodes for a minute: and now--jump!"

Deeds, not words.

The Crab and His Mother

An old crab said to her son, "Why do you walk sideways like that, my son? You ought to walk straight." The young crab replied, "Show me how, dear mother, and I’ll follow your example." The old crab tried, but tried in vain, and then saw how foolish she had been to find fault with her child.

Example is better than precept.

The Ass and His Shadow

A certain man hired an ass for a journey in summertime, and started out with the owner following behind to drive the beast.

By and by, in the heat of the day, they stopped to rest, and the traveller wanted to lie down in the ass’s shadow, but the owner, who himself wished to be out of the sun, wouldn’t let him do that, for he said he had hired the ass only, and not his shadow. The other maintained that his bargain secured him complete control of the ass for the time being.

From words they came to blows, and while they were belabouring each other the ass took to his heels and was soon out of sight.

The Farmer and His Sons

A farmer, being at death’s door, and desiring to impart to his sons a secret of much moment, called them round him and said, "My sons, I am shortly about to die; I would have you know, therefore, that in my vineyard there lies a hidden treasure. Dig, and you will find it."

As soon as their father was dead, the sons took spade and fork and turned up the soil of the vineyard over and over again, in their search for the treasure which they supposed to lie buried there.

They found none, however, but the vines, after so thorough a digging, produced a crop such as had never before been seen.

The Thieves and the Cock

Some thieves broke into a house, and found nothing worth taking except a cock, which they seized and carried off with them.

When they were preparing their supper, one of them caught up the cock, and was about to wring his neck, when he cried out for mercy and said, "Pray do not kill me: you will find me a most useful bird, for I rouse honest men to their work in the morning by my crowing."

But the thief replied with some heat, "Yes, I know you do, making it still harder for us to get a livelihood. Into the pot you go!"

The Farmer and Fortune

A farmer was ploughing one day on his farm when he turned up a pot of golden coins with his plough. He was overjoyed at his discovery, and from that time forth made an offering daily at the shrine of the Goddess of the Earth.

Fortune was displeased at this, and came to him and said, "My man, why do you give Earth the credit for the gift which I bestowed upon you? You never thought of thanking me for your good luck; but should you be unlucky enough to lose what you have gained I know very well that I, Fortune, should then come in for all the blame."

Show gratitude where gratitude is due.

Father and Sons

A certain man had several sons who were always quarrelling with one another, and, try as he might, he could not get them to live together in harmony.

So he determined to convince them ousf their folly by the following means. Bidding them fetch a bundle of sticks, he invited each in turn to break it across his knee. All tried and all failed, and then he undid the bundle, and handed them the sticks one by one, when they had no difficulty at all in breaking them.

"There, my boys," said he, "united you will be more than a match for your enemies, but if you quarrel and separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy of those who attack you."

Union is strength.

The Lamp

A lamp, well filled with oil, burned with a clear and steady light, and began to swell with pride and boast that it shone more brightly than the sun himself.

Just then a puff of wind came and blew it out.

Someone struck a match and lit it again, and said, "You just keep alight, and never mind the sun. Why, even the stars never need to be relit as you had to be just now."

The Ass in the Lion’s Skin

An ass found a lion’s skin, and dressed himself up in it. Then he went about frightening every one he met, for they all took him to be a lion, men and beasts alike, and took to their heels when they saw him coming.

Elated by the success of his trick, he loudly brayed in triumph.

The fox heard him, and recognised him at once for the ass he was, and said to him, "Oh, my friend, it’s you, is it? I, too, should have been afraid if I hadn’t heard your voice."

The She-Goats and Their Beards

Jupiter granted beards to the she-goats at their own request, much to the disgust of the he-goats, who considered this to be an unwarrantable invasion of their rights and dignities.

So they sent a deputation to him to protest against his action.

He, however, advised them not to raise any objections. "What’s in a tuft of hair?" said he. "Let them have it if they want it. They can never be a match for you in strength."

The Boy Bathing

A boy was bathing in a river and got out of his depth, and was in great danger of being drowned.

A man who was passing along a road heard his cries for help, and went to the riverside and began to scold him for being so careless as to get into deep water, but made no attempt to help him.

"Oh, sir," cried the boy, "please help me first and scold me afterwards."

Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.

The Quack Frog

Once upon a time a frog came forth from his home in the marshes and proclaimed to all the world that he was a learned physician, skilled in drugs and able to cure all diseases.

Among the crowd was a fox, who called out, "You a doctor! Why, how can you set up to heal others when you cannot even cure your own lame legs and blotched and wrinkled skin?"

Physician, heal yourself.

The Boy and the Nettles

A boy was gathering berries from a hedge when his hand was stung by a nettle. Smarting with the pain, he ran to tell his mother, and said to her between his sobs, "I only touched it ever so lightly, mother." "That’s just why you got stung, my son," she said; "if you had grasped it firmly, it wouldn’t have hurt you in the least."

The Dog in the Manger

A dog was lying in a manger on the hay which had been put there for the cattle, and when they came and tried to eat, he growled and snapped at them and wouldn’t let them get at their food.

"What a selfish beast," said one of them to his companions; "he can’t eat himself and yet he won’t let those eat who can."

The Two Bags

Every person carries two bags about with them, one in front and one behind, and both are packed full of faults. The bag in front contains their neighbours’ faults, the one behind their own. Hence it is that most people do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.

The Oxen and the Axletrees

A pair of oxen were drawing a heavily loaded waggon along the highway, and, as they tugged and strained at the yoke, the axletrees creaked and groaned terribly.

This was too much for the oxen, who turned round indignantly and said, "Hello, you there! Why do you make such a noise when we do all the work?"

They complain most who suffer least.

The Boy and the Filberts

A boy put his hand into a jar of filberts, and grasped as many as his fist could possibly hold. But when he tried to pull it out again, he found he couldn’t do so, for the neck of the jar was too small to allow of the passage of so large a handful.

Unwilling to lose his nuts but unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears.

A bystander, who saw where the trouble lay, said to him, "Come, my boy, don’t be so greedy: be content with half the amount, and you’ll be able to get your hand out without difficulty."

Do not attempt too much at once.

The Olive Tree and the Fig Tree

An olive tree taunted a fig tree with the loss of her leaves at a certain season of the year.

"You," he said, "lose your leaves every autumn, and are bare till the spring, whereas I, as you see, remain green and flourishing all the year round."

Soon afterwards there came a heavy fall of snow, which settled on the leaves of the olive so that she bent and broke under the weight, but the flakes fell harmlessly through the bare branches of the fig, which survived to bear many more crops.

The Lion and the Boar

One hot and thirsty day in the height of summer a lion and a boar came down to a little spring at the same moment to drink. In a trice they were quarrelling as to who should drink first.

The quarrel soon became a fight and they attacked one another with the utmost fury.

Presently, stopping for a moment to take breath, they saw some vultures seated on a rock above evidently waiting for one of them to be killed, when they would fly down and feed upon the carcase.

The sight sobered them at once, and they made up their quarrel, saying, "We had much better be friends than fight and be eaten by vultures."

The Walnut Tree

A walnut tree, which grew by the roadside, bore every year a plentiful crop of nuts. Every one who passed by pelted its branches with sticks and stones, in order to bring down the fruit, and the tree suffered severely.

"It is hard," it cried, "that the very persons who enjoy my fruit should thus reward me with insults and blows."

The Fox Without a Tail

A fox once fell into a trap, and after a struggle managed to get free, but with the loss of his tail.

He was then so much ashamed of his appearance that he thought life was not worth living unless he could persuade the other foxes to part with their tails also, and thus divert attention from his own loss.

So he called a meeting of all the foxes, and advised them to cut off their tails.

"They’re ugly things anyhow," he said, "and besides they’re heavy, and it’s tiresome to be always carrying them about with you." But one of the other foxes said, "My friend, if you hadn’t lost your own tail, you wouldn’t be so keen on getting us to cut off ours."

The Traveller and His Dog

A traveller was about to start on a journey, and said to his dog, who was stretching himself by the door, "Come, what are you yawning for? Hurry up and get ready. I mean you to go with me." But the dog merely wagged his tail and said quietly, "I’m ready, master, it’s you I’m waiting for."

The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea

A shipwrecked man cast up on the beach fell asleep after his struggle with the waves.

When he woke up, he bitterly reproached the sea for its treachery in enticing men with its smooth and smiling surface, and then, when they were well embarked, turning in fury upon them and sending both ship and sailors to destruction.

The sea arose in the form of a woman, and replied, "Lay not the blame on me, oh sailor, but on the winds. By nature I am as calm and safe as the land itself: but the winds fall upon me with their gusts and gales, and lash me into a fury that is not natural to me."

The Wild Boar and the Fox

A wild boar was engaged in whetting his tusks upon the trunk of a tree in the forest when a fox came by and, seeing what he was at, said to him:

"Why are you doing that? The huntsmen are not out today, and there are no other dangers at hand that I can see."

"True, my friend," replied the boar, "but the instant my life is in danger I will need to use my tusks. There’ll be no time to sharpen them then."

The Fawn and His Mother

A hind said to her fawn, who was now well grown and strong:

"My son, Nature has given you a powerful body and a stout pair of horns, and I can’t think why you are such a coward as to run away from the hounds."

Just then they both heard the sound of a pack in full cry, but at a considerable distance.

"You stay where you are," said the hind; "never mind me": and with that she ran off as fast as her legs could carry her.