Aesop's Fables (Penguin Classics) - Aesop [28]
A dubious friend is worse than a true enemy.
CXLV
The Boy and the Hazel Nuts
Once a boy put his hand into a bottle containing a lot of hazel nuts and figs. He grabbed as many as his fist could possibly hold, but when he endeavored to pull his hand out, he was hampered because the neck was too narrow. Unwilling to lose any of his treasure, but unable to draw out his hand, he burst into tears and lamented his hard fortune. Then a wise friend who stood nearby came to his aid by giving him the following advice: “Grab only half right now, and the other half later, and you’re bound to succeed.”
Do not attempt too much at once.
CXLVI
The Wolf and the Shepherd
A wolf followed a flock of sheep for a long time and made no attempt to attack them. However, the shepherd had his suspicions, and for a while he was always on his guard against him, knowing that the wolf was an avowed enemy of the sheep. But when the wolf stayed close to the flock day after day without trying to seize any one of them, he began to regard him more as a friend than a foe. Then, one day, when he had to go to town, he decided to entrust the sheep to his care. However, no sooner did the wolf accept this responsibility then he fell upon the sheep and devoured them. Upon his return, the shepherd found his flock destroyed and exclaimed, “What a fool I am! But this is what I deserve for trusting a wolf with my sheep.”
With friends like wolves you don’t need enemies.
CXLVII
The Jackass and the Statue
An ass who was carrying a statue in a religious procession was driven through a town, and all the people bowed in deep reverence as the statue passed them. As a result the ass, who thought that they were actually worshipping him, became very much taken with himself and refused to budge another step. But the driver soon laid the stick across his back and said, “You foolish dolt! They’re not paying you their respect but the statue that you’re carrying.”
Only fools try to take the credit due to others.
CXLVIII
The Blacksmith and His Dog
There was once a blacksmith who had a little dog. While he hammered away at his metal, the dog slept. But whenever he sat down to have dinner, the dog woke up.
“You sluggard!” cried the brazier, throwing him a bone. “You sleep through the noise of the anvil, but wake up at the first clatter of my teeth.”
People are always awake when food is on the platter, but they often turn a deaf ear when called to work.
CXLIX
The Herdsman and the Lost Calf
A herdsman, who had lost a calf, went roaming through the forest intent on finding it. After a long and fruitless search, he made a vow to all the nymphs of the forest and the mountains, as well as to Mercury and to Pan, that he would sacrifice a lamb to them if they would help him discover who stole his calf. Not long afterwards, as he reached the summit of a hill, he saw a lion feeding on the calf. And now the unhappy man vowed to sacrifice a full-grown bull along with the lamb if the gods would only let him escape from the thief’s clutches.
If all our rash vows were to be granted, many of us would be ruined by our requests.
CL
The Lion and the Other Beasts Who Went Out Hunting
The lion and other beasts formed a party to go out hunting. After they had killed a fat stag, the lion nominated himself to divide the stag into three parts. Taking the best piece for himself, he said, “This is mine in view of my official role as king, and the second I’ll take as my own personal share just for participating in the hunt. As far as the third part is concerned, let him take it who dares.”
CLI
The Bees, the Drones, and the Wasp
Some bees had built their comb in the hollow trunk of an oak tree. However, the drones claimed that they had done all the work and the comb belonged to them, not the bees. They brought their case to court before judge wasp, who knew something about both parties and thus addressed them as follows: “The plaintiffs and the defendants are so much alike in