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- Herausgeber: Classics HQ
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
I am excited to introduce you to Aesop's Fables, a book filled with memorable and captivating legends that impart deep morals and valuable lessons. Each fable is told in a simple and accessible manner, with fascinating animal characters and stories that will stay with you forever. Aesop's fables have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries, and there's a reason why they're still popular today. Whether you're young or old, you will be captivated by the life and human relationship lessons that lie behind each story. Furthermore, the elegant illustrations and cover design of this Aesop's Fables book make it a worthy collector's item for your library. Don't miss the opportunity to acquire this classic and precious book, which will bring you wisdom, laughter, and reflection for your entire life. Order your copy of Aesop's Fables now!
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Illustrations
• The Fox and the Grapes
A famished Fox saw some clusters of ripe black Grapes hanging from a trellised vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them. At last she turned away, hiding her disappointment and saying: “The Grapes are sour, and not at all fit for eating.”
There are many who pretend to despise and belittle that which is beyond their reach.
• The Goose with the Golden Eggs
A certain Man had the good fortune to possess a Goose that laid him a Golden Egg every day. But dissatisfied with so slow an income, and thinking to seize the whole treasure at once, he killed the Goose; and cutting her open, found her—just what any other goose would be!
Much wants more and loses all. Greed often overreaches itself.
• The Cat and the Mice
A Cat, grown feeble with age and no longer able to hunt the Mice, considered how she might entice them within reach of her paw. Thinking that she might pass herself off for a bag, or for a dead cat at least, she suspended herself by the hind legs from a peg, in the hope that the Mice would no longer be afraid to come near her. An old Mouse, who was wise enough to keep his distance, whispered to a friend, “Many a bag have I seen in my day, but never one with a cat’s head.” “Hang there, good Madam,” said the other, “as long as you please, but I would not trust myself within reach of you if you were stuffed with straw.”
Old birds are not to be caught with chaff. Experience brings wisdom.
Don’t be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be dangerous.
• The Mischievous Dog
A Dog used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and to bite them without notice. His master suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might give notice of his presence wherever he went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over the marketplace. One day an old hound said to him: “Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself? That bell that you carry is not, believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of disgrace, a public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill-mannered dog.”
Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.
• The Collier and the Fuller
A Collier who had more room in his house than he wanted for himself, proposed to a Fuller to come and take up his quarters with him. “Thank you,” said the Fuller, “but I must decline your offer; for I fear that as fast as I whiten my goods, you will blacken them.”
There can be little liking where there is no likeness.
[A fuller cleans freshly woven cloth; a collier is a coal miner.]
• The Mice in Council
The Mice summoned a council to decide how they might best devise means of warning themselves of the approach of their great enemy, the Cat. Among the many plans suggested, the one that found most favour was the proposal to tie a bell to the neck of the Cat, so 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 “bell the Cat,” there was no one found to do it.
It is easy to propose impossible remedies.
Let those who propose be willing to perform.
• The Bat and the Weasels
A Weasel seized upon a Bat, who begged hard for her life. “No, no,” said the Weasel; “I give no quarter to Birds.” “Birds!” cried the Bat. “I am no Bird. I am a Mouse. Look at my body.” And so she got off that time. A few days after, she fell into the clutches of another Weasel, who, unlike the first, had a stronger antipathy to Mice than to Birds. The Bat cried for mercy. “No,” said the Weasel; “no mercy to a Mouse.” “But,” said the Bat, “you can see from my wings that I am a Bird.” And so the wise Bat escaped a second time as well.
Set your sails with the wind. It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
• The Fox and the Crow
A Crow having stolen a piece of cheese, flew with it to a tree that was some way off. A Fox, seeing this, came and sat at the foot of the tree, and tried to find some way of making it his. “Good morning, dear Miss Crow,” said he. “How well you are looking today! What handsome feathers yours are, to be sure! Perhaps, too, your voice is as sweet as your feathers are fine. If so, you are really the Queen of Birds.” The Crow, quite beside herself to hear such praise, at once opened a wide beak to let the Fox judge her voice, and so let fall the cheese. The Fox snapped it up, and exclaimed, “My good Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is wanting.”
He who listens to the music of flattery may expect to pay the piper.
• The Horse and the Groom
A dishonest Groom used to steal and sell a good half of the measure of oats that was daily allowed for the Horse entrusted to his care. He would, however, keep currying the animal for hours together, to make him appear in good condition. The Horse naturally resented this treatment. “If you really wish me to look sleek,” said he, “in future give me half the currying, and leave off selling half my food.”
Appearances don’t always tell the whole story.
If you wish to do a service, do it right.
• The Wolf And The Lamb
A hungry Wolf one day saw a Lamb drinking at a stream, and wished to find some reason to justify to the Lamb the Wolf’s right to eat him. “What do you mean by muddling the water I am going to drink?” he said fiercely to the Lamb. “Pray forgive me,” the Lamb answered meekly; “I should be sorry in any way to displease you, but as the stream runs from you towards me, you will see that such cannot be the case.” “That’s all very well,” said the Wolf, readily finding another reason; “but you know you spoke ill of me behind my back a year ago.” “Nay, believe me,” replied the Lamb, “I was not then born.” “It must have been your brother then,” growled the Wolf. “It cannot have been, for I never had any,” answered the Lamb. “I know it was one of your lot,” rejoined the Wolf, “so make no more such idle excuses.” He then seized the poor Lamb, carried him off to the woods, and ate him.
The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.
A plea of Not Guilty goes for naught against malicious power.
• The Peacock and the Crane
A Peacock spreading its gorgeous tail mocked a Crane, ridiculing the plainess of his plumage and saying, “I am robed, like a king, in gold and purple and all the colours of the rainbow; while you have not a bit of colour on your wings.” “True,” replied the Crane; “but I soar to the heights of heaven and lift up my voice to the stars, while you walk below, like any common barnyard fowl.”
Fine feathers don’t make fine birds.
• The Cat and the Birds
A Cat, hearing that the Birds in a certain aviary were ailing, dressed himself up as a physician, and, taking his cane and a bag of instruments becoming his profession, went to call on them. He knocked at the door and inquired how they all did, saying that if they were ill, he would be happy to prescribe for them and cure them. They replied, “We are well enough—much better than if we should open our door and let you in.”
Know your enemies. A villain may disguise himself, but he will not deceive the wise.
• The Spendthrift and the Swallow
A prodigal Young Man had run through all his money, and even sold all his outer clothes except his cloak. He saw a Swallow skimming over the meadows one fine day in the early spring, believed that summer was really come, and sold his cloak too. The next morning there happened to be a severe frost, and, shivering and nearly frozen himself, he found the Swallow lying stiff and dead upon the ground. He thereupon upbraided the poor bird as the cause of all his misfortunes. “Stupid thing,” said he, “had you not come before your time, I should not now be so wretched as I am.”
One swallow does not make summer.
• The Old Woman and the Physician
An old Woman, who had become blind, called in a Physician, and promised him, before witnesses, that if he would restore her eyesight, she would give him a most handsome reward, but that if he did not cure her, he should receive nothing. The agreement being concluded, the rascally Physician from time to time treated the old lady’s eyes, and meanwhile, bit by bit, carried off her goods. After a time he set about the task in earnest and cured her, and asked for the stipulated fee. But the Old Woman, on recovering her sight, saw none of her goods left in the house. He claimed his reward, but the Old Lady protested that, so far from being cured, her sight was worse than ever. “We will soon see about that, my good Woman,” said he; and she was soon summoned to appear in Court. Being called upon for her defence, she said: “What this man says is true enough; I promised to give him his fee if my sight were restored, and nothing if my eyes continued bad. Now he says that I am cured, but I say just the contrary; for when my malady first came on, I could see all sorts of furniture and goods in my house; but now, when he says he has restored my sight, I cannot see one jot of either.”
Avarice is both knave and fool.
• The Moon and Her Mother
The Moon once asked her Mother to make her a little coat that would fit her well. The Mother replied, “How can I make you a coat to fit you, who are now a slender New Moon, and then a plump Full Moon, and then again neither one nor the other?”
• Mercury and the Woodmen
A Man felling a tree on the bank of a river, by chance let his axe slip from his hand. It dropped into the water, and sank to the bottom. In great distress at the loss of his tool, he sat down on the bank and grieved bitterly. Mercury appeared, and asked him what was the matter. Having heard the Man’s story, he dove to the bottom of the river, and bringing up a golden axe, offered it to him. The Woodman refused to take it, saying it was not his. Mercury then dove a second time, and brought up a silver one. This also the Man refused, saying that that, too, was none of his. He dove a third time, and brought up the axe that the Man had lost. This the poor Man took with great joy and thankfulness. Mercury was so pleased with his honesty, that he gave him the other two into the bargain. The Woodman told this adventure to his mates, and one of them at once set off for the river, and let his axe fall in on purpose. He then began to lament his loss with a loud voice. Mercury appeared, as before, and demanded the cause of his grief. After hearing the Man’s account, he dove and brought up a golden axe, and asked him if that was his. Transported at the sight of the precious metal, the fellow eagerly answered that it was, and greedily attempted to snatch it. The god, detecting his falsehood and impudence, not only declined to give it to him, but refused to let him have his own again.
Honesty is the best policy.
• The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion
The Ass and the Fox, having entered into partnership for their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.
Traitors must expect treachery.
• The Lion and the Mouse
A Lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse piteously entreated, saying: “If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened that shortly after this, the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaiming:
“You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, not expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favour; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to help a Lion.”
The weak have their place in the world as truly as the strong. Little friends may prove to be great friends.
• The Fatal Courtship
It is said that the Mouse spoken of in the previous Fable was so emboldened by the offers of friendship made to him by the Lion in return for his assistance, that he asked for the hand of his daughter in marriage. The Lion, amused at the request, good-humouredly told the Mouse he should plead his own cause, and called the young Lioness to come to him. She bounded forward heedlessly like a giddy thing as she was, not minding how she walked, by chance set her paw upon her suitor who was coming to meet her, and crushed her little dear to pieces.
Ambition oft-times overleaps itself and falls into great peril.
Alliances prompted by ambition often prove disastrous.
• The Crow and the Pitcher
A Crow, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a Pitcher, hoping to find some water in it. He found some there, to be sure, but only a little drop at the bottom, which he was quite unable to reach. He then tried to break the Pitcher, then to overturn it, but he was not strong enough. So he gathered up some pebbles, and one by one dropped them into the Pitcher, and so raised the water to the brim, and quenched his thirst.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Skill and Patience may succeed where Force fails.
• The Boys and the Frogs
Some Boys happened to be playing at the edge of a pond. The game they were playing was ducks and drakes [A game in which a flat stone is bounced along the surface of calm water]; and whole volleys of stones were thrown into the water, to the great annoyance and danger of the poor terrified Frogs. At length one of the boldest Frogs lifted his head out of the water, and cried out: “Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us.”
One man’s pleasure may be another’s pain.
• The North Wind and the Sun
The 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. The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the keener his blasts, the closer the Traveller 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. The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveller 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.
Persuasion is better than Force.
• The Old Woman and Her Maids
A certain Old Woman had several Maids, whom she used to call to their work every morning at the crowing of the Cock. The Maids, finding it grievous to have their sweet sleep disturbed so early, killed the Cock, thinking that when he was quiet they should enjoy their warm beds a little longer. The Old Woman, vexed at the loss of her Cock, and suspecting them to be concerned in it, from that time made them rise soon after midnight.
In rash endeavours to reduce existing ills, we may easily increase our troubles.
Laziness brings its own punishment.
• The Goods and the Ills
All the Goods were once driven out by the Ills from that common share which they each had in the affairs of mankind; for the Ills by reason of their numbers had prevailed to possess the earth. The Goods wafted themselves to heaven and asked for a righteous vengeance on their persecutors. They entreated Jupiter that they might no longer be associated with the Ills, as they had nothing in common and could not live together, but were engaged in unceasing warfare; and that an indissoluble law might be laid down for their future protection. Jupiter granted their request and decreed that henceforth the Ills should visit the earth in company with each other, but that the Goods should one by one enter the habitations of men. Hence it arises that Ills abound, for they come not one by one, but in troops, and by no means singly: while the Goods proceed from Jupiter, and are given, not alike to all, but singly, and separately; and one by one to those who are able to discern them.
Misfortunes seldom come singly.
• The Hares and the Frogs
The Hares once took serious counsel among themselves whether death itself would not be preferable to their miserable condition. “What a sad state is ours,” they said, “never to eat in comfort, to sleep ever in fear, to be startled by a shadow, and fly with beating heart at the rustling of the leaves. Better death by far;” and off they went to drown themselves in a neighbouring lake. Some scores of Frogs who were enjoying the moonlight on the bank, scared at the approach of the Hares, jumped into the water. The splash awoke fresh fears in the breasts of the timid Hares, and they came to a full stop in their flight. One wise old fellow among them cried, “Hold, brothers! See, weak and fearful as we are, there are creatures who are still more timid than ourselves. Why then should we seek to die? Let us rather make the best of our lot, such as it is.”
There is always someone worse off than ourselves.
• The Fox and the Stork
The Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and, wishing to be amused at the expense of his guest, provided nothing for the entertainment but some thin soup in a shallow dish. This the Fox could lap up with ease; but the Stork could only dip in the point of his bill, and his vexation at not being able to eat afforded the Fox much amusement.
The Stork, in his turn, asked the Fox to sup with him, and set before him a jug with a long narrow neck, so that the Stork could easily insert his bill and enjoy its contents at his leisure. The Fox, unable even to taste it, thus met with a fitting payment for the fashion of his own hospitality. The Fox was heartily vexed at first, but admitted that he had been used as he deserved, and that he had no reason to take any offence, for he himself had set the example.
He who would make jokes must take jokes. Those who practice cunning must expect to suffer by it.
• The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Once upon a time a Wolf resolved to disguise his appearance in order to secure food more easily. Encased in the skin of a sheep, he pastured with the flock, deceiving the shepherd by his costume. In the evening he was shut up by the shepherd in the fold; the gate was closed, and the entrance made thoroughly secure. But that night, the shepherd, returning to the fold to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.
Appearances can be deceptive.
The evildoer often comes to harm through his own deceit.
• The Stag in the Ox-Stall
A hunted Stag, hotly pursued by the hounds, ran to a farmyard and took refuge in a shed with the oxen. One of the Oxen turned, and asked him why he came to such a place as that, where he would be sure to be taken. The Stag replied that he should do well enough if the Oxen would not tell of him, and covering himself in a heap of straw, waited for the night.
Evening came on: the herdsman fed the cattle, but did not see the Stag; and even the bailiff with several labourers passed through and failed to notice him. The Stag, now feeling himself quite secure, began to thank the Oxen for their hospitality. The Ox warned him not to be too sure of his escape, and said that glad as they would all be for him to get away, there was a certain person still to come whose eyes were a deal sharper than the eyes of anyone who had been there yet.
This was the Master himself, who looked in to see that all was right. Going up to the rack, “Why so little fodder here?” says he; “and why is there not more straw? And how long, I wonder, would it take to sweep down these cobwebs!” Prying and observing here and there and everywhere, his eye was caught by the Stag’s antlers jutting from the straw, and, calling in his servants, he instantly made a prize of the Stag.
Nothing escapes the Master’s eye! A man will be more discerning about his own affairs than those of others.
• The Milkmaid and Her Pail
