Part 5 (2/2)

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A Wolf, wrapping himself in the skin of a Sheep, by that means got admission into a sheepfold, where he devoured several of the young Lambs. The Shepherd, however, soon found him out and hung him up to a tree, still in his a.s.sumed disguise.

Some other Shepherds, pa.s.sing that way, thought it was a sheep hanging and cried to their friend: ”What, brother! is that the way you serve Sheep in this part of the country?”

”No, friends,” cried he, giving at the same time the carca.s.s a swing around, so that they might see what it was; ”but it is the way to serve Wolves, even though they be dressed in Sheep's clothing.”

The Two Travellers

As two men were travelling through a wood, one of them took up an axe which he saw lying upon the ground. ”Look here,” said he to his companion, ”I have found an axe.”

”Don't say, 'I have found it,'” said the other, ”but 'We have found it.' As we are companions, we ought to share it between us.” The first would not agree to this idea, however.

They had not gone far when they heard the owner of the axe calling after them in a great pa.s.sion. ”We are in for it!” cried he who had the axe.

”Nay,” answered the other, ”say 'I'm in for it!'--not we. You would not let me share the prize, and I am not going to share the danger.”

The Fox in the Well

An unlucky Fox, having fallen into a well, was able, by dint of great efforts, just to keep his head above water.

While he was struggling there and sticking his claws into the side of the Well, a Wolf came and looked in. ”What! my dear brother,” cried he, with affected concern, ”can it really be you that I see down there?

How cold you must feel! How long have you been in the water? How came you to fall in? I am so pained to see you. Do tell me all about it!”

”The end of a rope would be of more use to me than all your pity,”

answered the Fox.

”Just help me to get my foot on solid ground once more, and you shall have the whole story.”

The Hen and the Fox

A Fox, having crept into an outhouse, looked up and down for something to eat, and at last espied a Hen sitting upon a perch so high that he could be no means come at her. He therefore had recourse to an old stratagem.

”Dear cousin,” said he to her, ”how do you do? I heard that you were ill and kept at home; I could not rest, therefore, till I had come to see you. Pray let me feel your pulse. Indeed, you do not look well at all.”

He was running on in this impudent manner, when the Hen answered him from the roost: ”Truly, dear Reynard, you are in the right. I was seldom in more danger than I am now. Pray excuse my coming down; I am sure I should catch my death.”

The Fox, finding himself foiled by the Hen's cleverness, made off and tried his luck elsewhere.

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