Fables by Aesop (e book reader pdf txt) ๐
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Whether itโs the benefits of taking it slow and steady (โThe Tortoise and the Hareโ), the necessity of invention (โThe Crow and the Pitcherโ), or the problems of cognitive dissonance (โThe Fox and the Grapesโ), Aesop has a fable for every occasion. Aesop lived in Greece in the 6th century BCE, far enough in the past that itโs become impossible to ascribe all these fables to him. Some were certainly retellings of older myths, some share their roots in collections of fables from India and further afield, and many were added well after his time. However, they all share a certain quality of prose that marks them out as belonging to the collection regardless of authorship. Itโs that quality, combined with their insight into the human character, that has meant that theyโve stood the test of time for twenty-five centuries.
This collection is the 1912 translation by V. S. Vernon Jones, comprising two hundred and eighty-four of the fables.
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- Author: Aesop
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A Dog was lying in the sun before a farmyard gate when a Wolf pounced upon him and was just going to eat him up; but he begged for his life and said, โYou see how thin I am and what a wretched meal I should make you now: but if you will only wait a few days my master is going to give a feast. All the rich scraps and pickings will fall to me and I shall get nice and fat: then will be the time for you to eat me.โ The Wolf thought this was a very good plan and went away. Some time afterwards he came to the farmyard again, and found the Dog lying out of reach on the stable roof. โCome down,โ he called, โand be eaten: you remember our agreement?โ But the Dog said coolly, โMy friend, if ever you catch me lying down by the gate there again, donโt you wait for any feast.โ
Once bitten, twice shy.
The Wasp and the SnakeA Wasp settled on the head of a Snake, and not only stung him several times, but clung obstinately to the head of his victim. Maddened with pain the Snake tried every means he could think of to get rid of the creature, but without success. At last he became desperate, and crying, โKill you I will, even at the cost of my own life,โ he laid his head with the Wasp on it under the wheel of a passing wagon, and they both perished together.
The Eagle and the BeetleAn Eagle was chasing a hare, which was running for dear life and was at her witsโ end to know where to turn for help. Presently she espied a Beetle, and begged it to aid her. So when the Eagle came up the Beetle warned her not to touch the hare, which was under its protection. But the Eagle never noticed the Beetle because it was so small, seized the hare and ate her up. The Beetle never forgot this, and used to keep an eye on the Eagleโs nest, and whenever the Eagle laid an egg it climbed up and rolled it out of the nest and broke it. At last the Eagle got so worried over the loss of her eggs that she went up to Jupiter, who is the special protector of Eagles, and begged him to give her a safe place to nest in: so he let her lay her eggs in his lap. But the Beetle noticed this and made a ball of dirt the size of an Eagleโs egg, and flew up and deposited it in Jupiterโs lap. When Jupiter saw the dirt, he stood up to shake it out of his robe, and, forgetting about the eggs, he shook them out too, and they were broken just as before. Ever since then, they say, Eagles never lay their eggs at the season when Beetles are about.
The weak will sometimes find ways to avenge an insult, even upon the strong.
The Fowler and the LarkA Fowler was setting his nets for little birds when a Lark came up to him and asked him what he was doing. โI am engaged in founding a city,โ said he, and with that he withdrew to a short distance and concealed himself. The Lark examined the nets with great curiosity, and presently, catching sight of the bait, hopped on to them in order to secure it, and became entangled in the meshes. The Fowler then ran up quickly and captured her. โWhat a fool I was!โ said she: โbut at any rate, if thatโs the kind of city you are founding, itโll be a long time before you find fools enough to fill it.โ
The Fisherman PipingA Fisherman who could play the flute went down one day to the seashore with his nets and his flute; and, taking his stand on a projecting rock, began to play a tune, thinking that the music would bring the fish jumping out of the sea. He went on playing for some time, but not a fish appeared: so at last he threw down his flute and cast his net into the sea, and made a great haul of fish. When they were landed and he saw them leaping about on the shore, he cried, โYou rascals! you wouldnโt dance when I piped: but now Iโve stopped, you can do nothing else!โ
The Weasel and the ManA Man once caught a Weasel, which was always sneaking about the house, and was just going to drown it in a tub of water, when it begged hard for its life, and said to him, โSurely you havenโt the heart to put me to death? Think how useful I have been in clearing your house of the mice and lizards which used to infest it, and show your gratitude by sparing my life.โ โYou have not been altogether useless, I grant you,โ said the Man: โbut who killed the fowls? Who stole the meat? No, no! You do much more harm than good, and die you shall.โ
The Ploughman, the Ass, and the OxA Ploughman yoked his Ox and his Ass together, and set to work to plough his field. It was a poor makeshift of a team, but it was the best he could do, as he had but a single Ox. At the end of the day, when the beasts were loosed from the yoke, the Ass said to the Ox, โWell, weโve had a hard day: which of us is to carry the master home?โ The Ox looked surprised at the question. โWhy,โ said he, โyou, to be sure, as usual.โ
Demades and His FableDemades
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