Part 6 (1/2)
The a.s.s and His Shadow
A Man, one hot day, hired an a.s.s, with his Driver, to carry some merchandise across a sandy plain. The sun's rays were overpowering, and unable to advance farther without a temporary rest he called upon the Driver to stop, and proceeded to sit down in the shadow of the a.s.s.
The Driver, however, a l.u.s.ty fellow, rudely pushed him away, and sat down on the spot himself.
”Nay, friend,” said the Driver, ”when you hired this a.s.s of me you said nothing about the shadow. If now you want that, too, you must pay for it.”
The a.s.s in the Lion's Skin
An a.s.s, finding a Lion's skin, put it on, and ranged about the forest.
The beasts fled in terror, and he was delighted at the success of his disguise. Meeting a Fox, he rushed upon him, and this time he tried to imitate as well the roaring of the Lion.
”Ah,” said the Fox, ”if you had held your tongue I should have been deceived like the rest; but now you bray I know who you are!”
The Wolf and the Sheep
A Wolf, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in his lair. Parched with thirst, he called to a Sheep who was pa.s.sing and asked her to fetch some water from a stream flowing close by. ”For,”
he said, ”if you will bring me drink, sister, I will find means to provide myself with meat.”
”Yes,” said the Sheep, ”but if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless make me provide the meat also.”
Jupiter's Two Wallets
When Jupiter made Man, he gave him two Wallets; one for his neighbour's faults, the other for his own. He threw them over the Man's shoulder, so that one hung in front and the other behind.
The Man kept the one in front for his neighbour's faults, and the one behind for his own; so that, while the first was always under his nose, it took some pains to see the latter.
This custom, which began thus early, is not quite unknown at the present day.
The Satyr and the Traveller
A Satyr, ranging in the forest in winter, came across a Traveller, half starved with the cold. He took pity on him and invited him to go to his cave. On their way the Man kept blowing upon his fingers.
”Why do you do that?” said the Satyr, who had seen little of the world.
”To warm my hands, they are nearly frozen,” replied the Man.
Arrived at the cave, the Satyr poured out a mess of smoking pottage and laid it before the Traveller, who at once commenced blowing at it with all his might.
”What, blowing again!” cried the Satyr. ”Is it not hot enough?”
”Yes, faith,” answered the Man, ”it is hot enough in all conscience, and that is just the reason why I blow it.”