Aesop's Fables (Penguin Classics) - Aesop [26]
CXXXII
The Cat and the Mice
A cat, who had grown feeble with age, was no longer able to hunt mice as she used to do. So, she tried to think of new ways to entice them within reach of her paws. Finally, it occurred to her that she might be able to pass herself off for a bag or, at least, for a dead cat, if she hung herself by her hind legs from a rafter 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, my good lady, as long as you please,” said the other. “For my part, I wouldn’t come within reach of you, even if you were stuffed with straw.”
Even when danger may not appear threatening, it is wise to avoid it.
CXXXIII
The Father and His Two Daughters
A man who had two daughters married one to a gardener and the other to a potter. After a while he paid a visit to the daughter who had married the gardener, and asked her how she was and how everything was going.
“Excellent,” she replied. “We have everything we want. Our only need right now is a heavy rainfall to provide water for our plants.”
Then the father went off to visit the daughter who had married the potter and asked her how everything was.
“There’s not a thing we need,” she responded, “and I only hope that this fine weather and hot sun may continue so that our tiles will bake well.”
“Alas,” said the father, “if you wish for fine weather, and your sister, for rain, how can I reconcile the two?”
CXXXIV
The Heifer and the Ox
A heifer that ran wild in the fields and had never felt the yoke derided an ox at plow for submitting himself to such labor and drudgery. The ox said nothing but went on with his work. Not long after this incident, there was a great festival. The ox was granted a holiday, but the heifer was led off to be sacrificed at the altar.
“If this is the reward for your idleness,” the ox said, “then I think my work is more rewarding than your play. Indeed, I’d rather have my neck feel the yoke than the ax.”
CXXXV
The Fox and the Hedgehog
While crossing a river, a fox was driven by the current into a narrow gorge and lay there exhausted for a long time, unable to get out. To add to his misfortune, a swarm of horseflies settled all over his body and began bothering and stinging him. A hedgehog, who came wandering in that direction; saw him and offered out of pity to drive away the flies that were tormenting him so much. However, the fox begged him to do nothing of the sort.
“Why not?” asked the hedgehog.
“Because these flies who have attached themselves to me right now are already full and draw very little blood,” he explained. “If you were to remove them, a swarm of fresh, hungry rascals would take their place, and I would not have a drop of blood left in my body.”
By ridding ourselves of rulers or dependents who have already taken the most out of us, we often lay ourselves open to others who will make us bleed even more blood than before.
CXXXVI
The Lion and the Ass
A lion and an ass agreed to go out hunting together, and after some time had passed, they came to a cave where wild goats were dwelling. The lion took his position at the mouth of the cave while the ass entered and began to kick, bray, and make a great fuss to frighten the goats out. When the lion had caught a good deal, the ass came out and wanted to know whether the lion thought he had fought nobly and routed the goats in a proper fashion.
“Yes, indeed,” said the lion, “and I can assure you that you would have frightened me too, if I had not known you to be an ass.”
CXXXVII
The Bald Knight
Once there was a knight who was growing old, and his hair was falling out. When he became bald, he decided to hide this imperfection by wearing a wig. One day, as he was out hunting with some friends,