Aesop’s Fables, part 11 · page 21 2101THE NORTH WIND and the Sun disputed as to which was the most powerful, and agreed that he should be declared the victor who could first strip a wayfaring man of his clothes.102The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, resigning all hope of victory, the Wind called upon the Sun to see what he could do.103The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth.104The Traveler no sooner felt his genial rays than he took off one garment after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.105Persuasion is better than Force.106The Crow and Mercury107A CROW caught in a snare prayed to Apollo to release him, making a vow to offer some frankincense at his shrine.108But when rescued from his danger, he forgot his promise.109Shortly afterwards, again caught in a snare, he passed by Apollo and made the same promise to offer frankincense to Mercury.110Mercury soon appeared and said to him, “O thou most base fellow? how can I believe thee, who hast disowned and wronged thy former patron?”111The Fox and the Crane112A FOX invited a Crane to supper and provided nothing for his entertainment but some soup made of pulse, which was poured out into a broad flat stone dish.113The soup fell out of the long bill of the Crane at every mouthful, and his vexation at not being able to eat afforded the Fox much amusement.114The Crane, in his turn, asked the Fox to sup with him, and set before her a flagon with a long narrow mouth, so that he could easily insert his neck and enjoy its contents at his leisure.115The Fox, unable even to taste it, met with a fitting requital, after the fashion of her own hospitality.116The Wolf and the Lion117ROAMING BY the mountainside at sundown, a Wolf saw his own shadow become greatly extended and magnified, and he said to himself, “Why should I, being of such an immense size and extending nearly an acre in length, be afraid of the Lion?118Ought I not to be acknowledged as King of all the collected beasts?”119While he was indulging in these proud thoughts, a Lion fell upon him and killed him.120He exclaimed with a too late repentance, “Wretched me! this overestimation of myself is the cause of my destruction.”121The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat122THE BIRDS waged war with the Beasts, and each were by turns the conquerors.123A Bat, fearing the uncertain issues of the fight, always fought on the side which he felt was the strongest.124When peace was proclaimed, his deceitful conduct was apparent to both combatants.125Therefore being condemned by each for his treachery, he was driven forth from the light of day, and henceforth concealed himself in dark hiding-places, flying always alone and at night.1 2← previousAesop’s Fables, part 10next →Aesop’s Fables, part 12↑ back to Three hundred Aesop’s fablesThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/13/page/2/