Aesop, in Rhyme | Page 8

Lion and the Fox.
[Illustration]
A Fox entered into partnership with a Lion, on the pretense of
becoming his servant. Each undertook his proper duty in accordance
with his own nature and powers. The Fox discovered and pointed out
the prey, the Lion sprang on it and seized it. The Fox soon became
jealous of the Lion carrying off the Lion's share, and said that he would
no longer find out the prey, but would capture it on his own account.
The next day he attempted to snatch a lamb from the fold, but fell
himself a prey to the huntsman and his hounds.

Keep to your place, if you would succeed.

The Horse and the Stag.
[Illustration]
The Horse had the plain entirely to himself. A Stag intruded into his
domain and shared his pasture. The Horse, desiring to revenge himself
on the stranger, requested a man, if he were willing, to help him in
punishing the Stag. The man replied, that if the Horse would receive a
bit in his mouth, and agree to carry him, he would contrive very
effectual weapons against the Stag. The Horse consented, and allowed
the man to mount him. From that hour he found that, instead of
obtaining revenge on the Stag, he had enslaved himself to the service of
man.
He who seeks to injure others often injures only himself.

The Lion and the Dolphin.
A Lion, roaming by the sea-shore, saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of
the waves, and asked him to contract an alliance with him; saying that
of all the animals, they ought to be the best friends, since the one was
the king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign ruler of
all the inhabitants of the ocean. The Dolphin gladly consented to this
request. Not long afterwards the Lion had a combat with a wild bull,
and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin, though quite
willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by
any means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor. The
Dolphin replied: "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which,
while giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the
power of living upon the land."
Let every one stick to his own element.

The Mice in Council.
[Illustration]
The Mice summoned a council to decide how they might best devise
means for obtaining notice of the approach of their great enemy the Cat.
Among the many plans devised, the one that found most favor was the
proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, that the Mice, being warned
by the sound of the tinkling, might run away and hide themselves in
their holes at his approach. But when the Mice further debated who
among them should thus "bell the Cat," there was no one found to do it.
Let those who propose be willing to perform.

The Camel and the Arab.
[Illustration]
An Arab Camel-driver having completed the lading of his Camel,
asked him which he would like best, to go up hill or down hill. The
poor beast replied, not without a touch of reason: "Why do you ask me?
Is it that the level way through the desert is closed?"

The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle.
[Illustration]
Two Game Cocks were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the
farm-yard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock
skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner. The conqueror, flying
up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his
might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him, and carried
him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of
his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery.

Pride goes before destruction.

The Boys and the Frogs.
Some boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water,
and began to pelt them with stones. They killed several of them, when
one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: "Pray stop,
my boys; what is sport to you is death to us."
What we do in sport often makes great trouble for others.

The Crab and its Mother.
A Crab said to her son: "Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? It is
far more becoming to go straight forward." The young Crab replied:
"Quite true, dear mother; and if you will show me the straight way, I
will promise to walk in it." The mother tried in vain, and submitted
without remonstrance to the reproof of her child.
Example is more powerful than precept.

The Wolf and the