The Jay and the Peacock (aesop)

A Jay venturing into a yard where Peacocks used to walk, foundthere a number of feathers which had fallen from the Peacocks whenthey were moulting. He tied them all to his tail and strutteddown towards the Peacocks. When he came near them they soondiscovered the cheat, and striding up to him pecked at him andplucked away his borrowed plumes. So the Jay could do no betterthan go back to the other Jays, who had watched his behaviour froma distance; but they were equally annoyed with him, and told him: "It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds."


(no comment)

The Horse and Groom (aesop)

A GROOM used to spend whole days in currycombing and rubbing downhis Horse, but at the same time stole his oats and sold them forhis own profit. "Alas!" said the Horse, "if you really wish meto be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed memore."



(commen)
A man may smile yet be a villain

The Horse, Hunter and Stag (aesop)

A quarrel had arisen between the Horse and the Stag, so theHorse came to a Hunter to ask his help to take revenge on theStag. The Hunter agreed, but said: "If you desire to conquer theStag, you must permit me to place this piece of iron between yourjaws, so that I may guide you with these reins, and allow thissaddle to be placed upon your back so that I may keep steady uponyou as we follow after the enemy." The Horse agreed to theconditions, and the Hunter soon saddled and bridled him. Thenwith the aid of the Hunter the Horse soon overcame the Stag, andsaid to the Hunter: "Now, get off, and remove those things from mymouth and back." "Not so fast, friend," said the Hunter. "I have now got youunder bit and spur, and prefer to keep you as you are at present."




(comment)
If you allow men to use you for your own purposes, they will use you for theirs.

The Hunter and the Woodman (aesop)

A HUNTER, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a Lion. He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen anymarks of his footsteps or knew where his lair was. "I will,"said the man, "at once show you the Lion himself." The Hunter,turning very pale and chattering with his teeth from fear,replied, "No, thank you. I did not ask that; it is his trackonly I am in search of, not the Lion himself."


(comment)
The hero is brave in deeds as well as words.

The Eagle and the Fox (aesop)

AN EAGLE and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided tolive near each other. The Eagle built her nest in the branchesof a tall tree, while the Fox crept into the underwood and thereproduced her young. Not long after they had agreed upon thisplan, the Eagle, being in want of provision for her young ones,swooped down while the Fox was out, seized upon one of the littlecubs, and feasted herself and her brood. The Fox on her return,discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the deathof her young than for her inability to avenge them. A justretribution, however, quickly fell upon the Eagle. Whilehovering near an altar, on which some villagers were sacrificinga goat, she suddenly seized a piece of the flesh, and carried it,along with a burning cinder, to her nest. A strong breeze soonfanned the spark into a flame, and the eaglets, as yet unfledgedand helpless, were roasted in their nest and dropped down dead atthe bottom of the tree. There, in the sight of the Eagle, theFox gobbled them up.



(comment)
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

The Dog and the Wolf (aesop)

A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened tomeet a House-dog who was passing by. "Ah, Cousin," said the Dog."I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruinof you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your foodregularly given to you?" "I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could onlyget a place." "I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come withme to my master and you shall share my work." So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. Onthe way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part ofthe Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how thathad come about. "Oh, it is nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the placewhere the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; itchafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it." "Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, MasterDog."



(comment)
Better starve free than be a fat slave.

Little by little does the trick.

A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance. Being naturallygreat mimics of men's actions, they showed themselves most aptpupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, theydanced as well as any of the courtiers. The spectacle was oftenrepeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier,bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts andthrew them upon the stage. The Monkeys at the sight of the nutsforgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeysinstead of actors. Pulling off their masks and tearing theirrobes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancingspectacle thus came to an end amidst the laughter and ridicule ofthe audience.


(comment)
Not everything you see is what it appears to be.