Part 18 (2/2)

THE a.s.s, THE OX, AND THE BIRDS.

An a.s.s and an Ox, fastened to the same yoke, were drawing a waggon.

While the Ox was pulling with all his might he broke his horn. The a.s.s swears that he experiences no help whatever from his weak companion.

Exerting himself in the labour, the Ox breaks his other horn, and at length falls dead upon the ground. Presently, the Herdsman loads the a.s.s with the flesh of the Ox, and he breaks down amid a thousand blows, and stretched in the middle of the road, expires. The Birds flying to the prey, exclaim: ”If you had shown yourself compa.s.sionate to the Ox when he entreated you, you would not have been food for us through your untimely death.”

FABLE XV.

THE LION AND THE SHEPHERD.

A Lion,[3] while wandering in a wood, trod on a thorn, and soon after came up, wagging his tail, to a Shepherd: ”Don't be alarmed,” {said he}, ”I suppliantly entreat your aid; I am not in search for prey.” Lifting up the {wounded} foot, the Man places it in his lap, and, taking out the thorn, relieves {the patient's} severe pain: whereupon the Lion returns to the woods. Some time after, the Shepherd (being accused on a false charge) is condemned, and is ordered to be exposed to ravening Beasts at the ensuing games. While the Beasts, on being let out,[4] are roaming to-and-fro, the Lion recognizes the Man who effected the cure, and again raising his foot, places it in the Shepherd's lap. The King, as soon as he aware of this, immediately restored the Lion to the woods, and the Shepherd to his friends.

[Footnote AF.3: _A Lion_)--Ver. 1. This story is also told by Seneca--De Beneficiis, B. II. c. 19, and by Aulus Gellius, B. III.

c. 14.]

[Footnote AF.4: _The Beasts, on being let out_)--Ver. 10. The beasts were sent forth from ”caveae,” or ”cages,” into the area of the Circus or Amphitheatre.]

FABLE XVI.

THE GNAT AND THE BULL.

A Gnat having challenged a Bull to a trial of strength, all the People came to see the combat. Then {said} the Gnat: ”'Tis enough that you have come to meet me in combat; for {though} little in my own idea, I am great in your judgment,” {and so saying}, he took himself off on light wing through the air, and duped the mult.i.tude, and eluded the threats of the Bull. {Now} if the Bull had kept in mind his strength of neck, and had contemned an ign.o.ble foe, the vapouring of the trifler would have been all in vain.

He loses character who puts himself on a level with the undeserving.

FABLE XVII.

THE HORSE AND THE a.s.s.

A Steed, swelling {with pride} beneath his trappings, met an a.s.s, and because the latter, wearied with his load, made room very slowly: ”Hardly,” said {the Horse}, ”can I restrain myself from kicking you severely.” The a.s.s held his peace, only appealing with his groans to the G.o.ds. The Horse in a short s.p.a.ce of time, broken-winded with running, is sent to the farm. There the a.s.s espying him laden with dung, thus jeered him: ”Where are your former trappings, vain boaster, who have now fallen into the misery which you treated with such contempt?”

Let not the fortunate man, unmindful of the uncertainty of fortune, despise the lowly one, seeing that he knows not what he may come to himself.

FABLE XVIII.

THE BIRDS, THE BEASTS, AND THE BAT.

The Birds were at war with the Beasts, and the conquerors were defeated in their turn; but the Bat, fearing the doubtful issue of {the strife}, always betook himself to those whom he saw victorious. When they had returned to their former state of peace, the fraud was apparent to both sides; convicted therefore of a crime so disgraceful, {and} flying from the light, he thenceforth hid himself in deep darkness, always flying alone by night.

Whoever offers himself for sale to both sides, will live a life of disgrace, hateful to them both.

FABLE XIX.

THE NIGHTINGALE, THE HAWK, AND THE FOWLER.

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