Aesop’s Fables, part 13 · page 21 2101The Horse was wounded and fell dead on the battlefield.102Then the Ass, seeing all these things, changed his mind, and commiserated the Horse.103The Lion, Jupiter, and the Elephant104THE LION wearied Jupiter with his frequent complaints.105“It is true, O Jupiter!” he said, “that I am gigantic in strength, handsome in shape, and powerful in attack.106I have jaws well provided with teeth, and feet furnished with claws, and I lord it over all the beasts of the forest, and what a disgrace it is, that being such as I am, I should be frightened by the crowing of a cock.”107Jupiter replied, “Why do you blame me without a cause?108I have given you all the attributes which I possess myself, and your courage never fails you except in this one instance.”109On hearing this the Lion groaned and lamented very much and, reproaching himself with his cowardice, wished that he might die.110As these thoughts passed through his mind, he met an Elephant and came close to hold a conversation with him.111After a time he observed that the Elephant shook his ears very often, and he inquired what was the matter and why his ears moved with such a tremor every now and then.112Just at that moment a Gnat settled on the head of the Elephant, and he replied, “Do you see that little buzzing insect?113If it enters my ear, my fate is sealed.114I should die presently.”115The Lion said, “Well, since so huge a beast is afraid of a tiny gnat, I will no more complain, nor wish myself dead.116I find myself, even as I am, better off than the Elephant.”117The Dog and the Oyster118A DOG, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster and, opening his mouth to its widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg.119Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his stomach, he said, “I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything round must be an egg.”120They who act without sufficient thought, will often fall into unsuspected danger.121The Mules and the Robbers122TWO MULES well-laden with packs were trudging along.123One carried panniers filled with money, the other sacks weighted with grain.124The Mule carrying the treasure walked with head erect, as if conscious of the value of his burden, and tossed up and down the clear-toned bells fastened to his neck.125His companion followed with quiet and easy step.126All of a sudden Robbers rushed upon them from their hiding-places, and in the scuffle with their owners, wounded with a sword the Mule carrying the treasure, which they greedily seized while taking no notice of the grain.127The Mule which had been robbed and wounded bewailed his misfortunes.128The other replied, “I am indeed glad that I was thought so little of, for I have lost nothing, nor am I hurt with any wound.”129The Lamb and the Wolf130A WOLF pursued a Lamb, which fled for refuge to a certain Temple.131The Wolf called out to him and said, “The Priest will slay you in sacrifice, if he should catch you.”132On which the Lamb replied, “It would be better for me to be sacrificed in the Temple than to be eaten by you.”133The Partridge and the Fowler134A FOWLER caught a Partridge and was about to kill it.135The Partridge earnestly begged him to spare his life, saying, “Pray, master, permit me to live and I will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your mercy to me.”136The Fowler replied, “I shall now with less scruple take your life, because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying your friends and relations.”137The Flea and the Man138A MAN, very much annoyed with a Flea, caught him at last, and said, “Who are you who dare to feed on my limbs, and to cost me so much trouble in catching you?”139The Flea replied, “O my dear sir, pray spare my life, and destroy me not, for I cannot possibly do you much harm.”140The Man, laughing, replied, “Now you shall certainly die by mine own hands, for no evil, whether it be small or large, ought to be tolerated.”141The Rich Man and the Tanner142A RICH MAN lived near a Tanner, and not being able to bear the unpleasant smell of the tan-yard, he pressed his neighbor to go away.143The Tanner put off his departure from time to time, saying that he would leave soon.144But as he still continued to stay, as time went on, the rich man became accustomed to the smell, and feeling no manner of inconvenience, made no further complaints.1 2← previousAesop’s Fables, part 12next →Aesop’s Fables, part 14↑ back to Three hundred Aesop’s fablesThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/15/page/2/