The Hares and

the Frogs
An Aesop's Fable



The Hares were so persecuted by the other beasts, they did not know where to go. As soon
as they saw a single animal approach them, off they used to run. One day they saw a troop
of wild Horses stampeding about, and in quite a panic all the Hares
scuttled off to a lake hard by, determined to drown themselves rather than live in such a
continual state of fear. But just as they got near the bank of the lake, a troop of Frogs,
frightened in their turn by the approach of the Hares scuttled off, and jumped into the
water. "Truly," said one of the Hares, "things are not so bad as they seem:














The Vain Jackdaw
An Aesop's Fable



Jupiter determined, it is said, to create a sovereign over the birds, and made proclamation
that, on a certain day, they should all present themselves before him, when he would
himself choose the most beautiful among them to be king. The Jackdaw, knowing his own
ugliness, searched through the woods and fields, and collected the feathers which had
fallen from the wings of his companions, and stuck them in all parts of his body. When the
appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembled before Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made
his appearance in his many-feathered finery. On Jupiter proposing to make him king, on
account of the beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly protested, and each plucking
from him his own feathers, the Jackdaw was again nothing but a Jackdaw.
Moral of Aesops Fable: Hope not to succeed in borrowed plumes.













The Hare and the Tortoise
An Aesop's Fable



The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been
beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with
me."

The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way."

"Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once,
but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The
Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the
Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said
the Tortoise:
Moral of Aesops Fable: Plodding wins the race.
The Hare and the Tortoise Fable








The Lion and the Statue
An Aesop's Fable



A Man and a Lion were discussing the relative strength of men and lions in general. The
Man contended that he and his fellows were stronger than lions by reason of their greater
intelligence. "Come now with me," he cried, "and I will soon prove that I am right." So he
took him into the public gardens and showed him a statue of Hercules overcoming the Lion
and tearing his mouth in two.

"That is all very well," said the Lion, "but proves nothing, for it was a man who made the
statue."
Moral of Aesops Fable: We can easily represent things as we wish them to be














The Ass and the Charger
An Aesop's Fable



An Ass congratulated a Horse on being so ungrudgingly and carefully provided for, while he
himself had scarcely enough to eat, nor even that without hard work. But when war broke
out, the heavy armed soldier mounted the Horse, and rushed into the very midst of the
enemy, and the Horse, being wounded, fell dead on the battle-field. Then the Ass, seeing all
these things, changed his mind, and commiserated the Horse, saying: "How much more
fortunate am I than a charger. I can remain at home in safety while he is exposed to all the
perils of war."
Moral of Aesops Fable: Be not hasty to envy the condition of others.














The Ass in the Lion's Skin
An Aesop's Fable



An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on
and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he
was a proud Ass that day. In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every
one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he
had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said:
"Ah, I knew you by your voice."
Moral of Aesops Fable: Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool














The Lion, the Fox, and
the Beasts
An Aesop's Fable



The Lion once gave out that he was sick unto death and summoned the animals to come
and hear his last Will and Testament. So the Goat came to the Lion's cave, and stopped
there listening for a long time. Then a Sheep went in, and before she came out a Calf came
up to receive the last wishes of the Lord of the Beasts.
But soon the Lion seemed to recover, and came to the mouth of his cave, and saw the Fox,
who had been waiting outside for some time.
"Why do you not come to pay your respects to me?" said the Lion to the Fox.

"I beg your Majesty's pardon," said the Fox, "but I noticed the track of the animals that
have already come to you; and while I see many hoof-marks going in, I see none coming
out. Till the animals that have entered your cave come out again I prefer to remain in the
open air."
Moral of Aesops Fable: It is easier to get into the enemy's toils than out again











The Mischievous Dog
An Aesop's Fable



A Dog used to run up quietly to the heels 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."
Moral of Aesops Fable: Those who achieve notoriety often mistake it for fame.













The Man and the Wooden God
An Aesop's Fable



In the old days men used to worship stocks and stones and idols, and prayed to them to
give them luck. It happened that a Man had often prayed to a wooden idol he had received
from his father, but his luck never seemed to change. He prayed and he
prayed, but still he remained as unlucky as ever. One day in the greatest rage he went to
the Wooden God, and with one blow swept it down from its pedestal. The idol broke in
two, and what did he see? An immense number of coins flying all over the place.
The Man and the Wooden God Fable
An Aesop's Fable
With a Moral













The Nurse and the Wolf
An Aesop's Fable



"Be quiet now," said an old Nurse to a child sitting on her lap. "If you make that noise again
I will throw you to the Wolf."

Now it chanced that a Wolf was passing close under the window as this was said. So he
crouched down by the side of the house and waited.
"I am in good luck to-day," thought he. "It is sure to cry soon, and a daintier morsel I
haven't had for many a long day."
So he waited, and he waited, and he waited, till at last the child began to cry, and the Wolf
came forward before the window, and looked up to the Nurse, wagging his tail. But all the
Nurse did was to shut down the window and call for help, and the dogs of the house came
rushing out.
"Ah," said the Wolf as he galloped away,
Moral of Aesops Fable: Enemies promises were made to be broken