more."

The Ass and the Lapdog
A MAN had an Ass, and a Maltese Lapdog, a very great beauty. The

Ass was left in a stable and had plenty of oats and hay to eat,
just as any other Ass would. The Lapdog knew many tricks and was

a great favorite with his master, who often fondled him and
seldom went out to dine without bringing him home some tidbit to

eat. The Ass, on the contrary, had much work to do in grinding
the corn-mill and in carrying wood from the forest or burdens

from the farm. He often lamented his own hard fate and
contrasted it with the luxury and idleness of the Lapdog, till at

last one day he broke his cords and halter, and galloped into his
master's house, kicking up his heels without measure, and

frisking and fawning as well as he could. He next tried to jump
about his master as he had seen the Lapdog do, but he broke the

table and smashed all the dishes upon it to atoms. He then
attempted to lick his master, and jumped upon his back. The

servants, hearing the strange hubbub and perceiving the danger of
their master, quickly relieved him, and drove out the Ass to his

stable with kicks and clubs and cuffs. The Ass, as he returned
to his stall beaten nearly to death, thus lamented: "I have

brought it all on myself! Why could I not have been contented to
labor with my companions, and not wish to be idle all the day

like that useless little Lapdog!"
The Lioness

A CONTROVERSY prevailed among the beasts of the field as to which
of the animals deserved the most credit for producing the

greatest number of whelps at a birth. They rushed clamorously
into the presence of the Lioness and demanded of her the

settlement of the dispute. "And you," they said, "how many sons
have you at a birth?' The Lioness laughed at them, and said:

"Why! I have only one; but that one is altogether a thoroughbred
Lion."

The value is in the worth, not in the number.
The Boasting Traveler

A MAN who had traveled in foreign lands boasted very much, on
returning to his own country, of the many wonderful and heroic

feats he had performed in the different places he had visited.
Among other things, he said that when he was at Rhodes he had

leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap
anywhere near him as to that, there were in Rhodes many persons

who saw him do it and whom he could call as witnesses. One of
the bystanders interrupted him, saying: "Now, my good man, if

this be all true there is no need of witnesses. Suppose this
to be Rhodes, and leap for us."

The Cat and the Cock
A CAT caught a Cock, and pondered how he might find a reasonable

excuse for eating him. He accused him of being a nuisance to men
by crowing in the nighttime and not permitting them to sleep.

The Cock defended himself by saying that he did this for the
benefit of men, that they might rise in time for their labors.

The Cat replied, "Although you abound in specious apologies, I
shall not remain supperless"; and he made a meal of him.

The Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat
A YOUNG PIG was shut up in a fold-yard with a Goat and a Sheep.

On one occasion when the shepherd laid hold of him, he grunted
and squeaked and resisted violently. The Sheep and the Goat

complained of his distressing cries, saying, "He often handles
us, and we do not cry out." To this the Pig replied, "Your

handling and mine are very different things. He catches you only
for your wool, or your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very

life."
The Boy and the Filberts

A BOY put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped
as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out

his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the
pitcher. Unwilling to lose his filberts, and yet unable to

withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and bitterly lamented his
disappointment. A bystander said to him, "Be satisfied with half

the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."
Do not attempt too much at once.

The Lion in Love
A LION demanded the daughter of a woodcutter in marriage. The

Father, willing" target="_blank" title="a.不愿意的；不情愿的">unwilling to grant, and yet afraid to refuse his request,
hit upon this expedient to rid himself of his importunities. He

expressed his willingness" target="_blank" title="n.情愿，乐意，自愿">willingness to accept the Lion as the suitor of his
daughter on one condition: that he should allow him to extract

his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter was fearfully
afraid of both. The Lion cheerfully assented to the proposal.

But when the toothless, clawless Lion returned to repeat his
request, the Woodman, no longer afraid, set upon him with his

club, and drove him away into the forest.
The Laborer and the Snake

A SNAKE, having made his hole close to the porch of a cottage,
inflicted a mortal bite on the Cottager's infant son. Grieving

over his loss, the Father resolved to kill the Snake. The next
day, when it came out of its hole for food, he took up his axe,

but by swinging too hastily, missed its head and cut off only the
end of its tail. After some time the Cottager, afraid that the

Snake would bite him also, endeavored to make peace, and placed
some bread and salt in the hole. The Snake, slightly hissing,

said: "There can henceforth be no peace between us; for whenever
I see you I shall remember the loss of my tail, and whenever you

see me you will be thinking of the death of your son."
No one truly forgets injuries in the presence of him who caused

the injury.
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 the shepherd, returning to the fold during the night

to obtain meat for the next day, mistakenly caught up the Wolf
instead of a sheep, and killed him instantly.

Harm seek. harm find.
The Ass and the Mule

A MULETEER set forth on a journey, driving before him an Ass and
a Mule, both well laden. The Ass, as long as he traveled along

the plain, carried his load with ease, but when he began to
ascend the steep path of the mountain, felt his load to be more

than he could bear. He entreated his companion to relieve him of
a small portion, that he might carry home the rest; but the Mule

paid no attention to the request. The Ass shortly afterwards
fell down dead under his burden. Not knowing what else to do in

so wild a region, the Muleteer placed upon the Mule the load
carried by the Ass in addition to his own, and at the top of all

placed the hide of the Ass, after he had skinned him. The Mule,
groaning beneath his heavy burden, said to himself: "I am treated

according to my deserts. If I had only been willing to assist
the Ass a little in his need, I should not now be bearing,

together with his burden, himself as well."
The Frogs Asking for a King

THE FROGS, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent
ambassadors to Jupiter entreating for a King. Perceiving their