Excerpt
THE MOUSE & THE LION A poor thing the Mouse was, and yet,When the Lion got caught in a net,All his strength was no use’Twas the poor little MouseWho nibbled him out of the net.
SMALL CAUSES MAY PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS
THE MARRIED MOUSE So the Mouse had Miss Lion for bride;Very great was his joy and his pride:But it chanced that she putOn her husband her foot,And the weight was too much, so he died.
ONE MAY BE TOO AMBITIOUS
HERCULES & THE WAGGONER When the God saw the Waggoner kneel,Crying, “Hercules! Lift me my wheelFrom the mud, where ’tis stuck!”He laughed—“No such luck;Set your shoulder yourself to the wheel.”
THE GODS HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES
THE LAZY HOUSEMAIDS Two Maids killed the Rooster whose warningAwoke them too soon every morning:But small were their gains,For their Mistress took painsTo rouse them herself without warning.
LAZINESS IS ITS OWN PUNISHMENT
THE SNAKE & THE FILE A Snake, in a fix, tried a FileFor a dinner. “’Tis not worth your while,”Said the steel, “don’t mistake;I’m accustomed to take,To give’s not the way of a File.”
WE MAY MEET OUR MATCH
THE FOX & THE CROW Said sly Fox to the Crow with the cheese,“Let me hear your sweet voice, now do please!”And this Crow, being weak,Cawed the bit from her beak—“Music charms,” said the Fox, “and here’s cheese!”
BEWARE OF FLATTERERS
THE DOG IN THE MANGER A Cow sought a mouthful of hay;But a Dog in the manger there lay,And he snapped out “how now?”When most mildly, the CowAdventured a morsel to pray.
DON’T BE SELFISH
THE FROG & THE BULL Said the Frog, quite puffed up to the eyes,“Was this Bull about me as to size?”“Rather bigger, frog-brother.”“Puff, puff,” said the other,“A Frog is a Bull if he tries!”
BRAG IS NOT ALWAYS BELIEF
THE FOX & THE CRANE You have heard how Sir Fox treated Crane:With soup in a plate. When againThey dined, a long bottleJust suited Crane’s throttle;And Sir Fox licked the outside in vain.
THERE ARE GAMES THAT TWO CAN PLAY AT
HORSE AND MAN When the Horse first took Man on his back,To help him the Stag to attack;How little his dread,As the enemy fled,Man would make him his slave & his hack.
ADVANTAGES MAY BE DEARLY BOUGHT
THE ASS & THE ENEMY “Get up! let us flee from the Foe,”Said the Man: but the Ass said, “Why so?”“Will they double my load,Or my blows? Then, by goad,And by stirrup, I’ve no cause to go.”
YOUR REASONS ARE NOT MINE
THE FOX & THE MOSQUITOES Being plagued with Mosquitoes one day,Said old Fox, “pray don’t send them away,For a hungrier swarmWould work me more harm;I had rather the full ones should stay.”
THERE WERE POLITICIANS IN ÆSOP’S TIME
THE FOX & THE LION The first time the Fox had a sightOf the Lion, he ’most died of fright;When he next met his eye,Fox felt just a bit shy;But the next—quite at ease, & polite.
FAMILIARITY DESTROYS FEAR
THE MISER & HIS GOLD He buried his Gold in a hole....