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Partnering with Lions
 
Aesop on Partnering

 

Aesop (also known as Babrius) was a Phrygian Greek renowned for his fables that illustrated fundamental principles of human behavior and business behavior. His fables are more than children's stories. Many of them involved collaborative relationships between animals. They contain good business advice and good partnering advice.

Aesop was born a slave in 620 BC and lived a long life of approximately 60 years. As as a result of his learning and wit he rose to serve in the court of the great King Croesus.

Aesop is the source of many wise sayings and phrases that we have all heard before, including: "Birds of a feather flock together", "Look before you leap", "One bad turn deserves another", "one good turn deserves another", "Familiarity breeds contempt", "Wolf in sheep's clothing", "The goose that laid the golden egg", and "Do not count your chickens before they are hatched".

As a personal counselor to the King Croesus he was more than a simple story teller. He was a man of great gravitas in the ancient world who was also known for his ribald tongue. He was intimately involved in the greatest ventures of his day... personally assisting King Croesus in becoming the wealthiest man in the then known world (and the source of the phrase "as rich as Croesus").

His advice rings true today. In his business dealings he was often the Lion. His advice on how to partner with Lions deserves a hearing from anyone who intends to do so today.


 

The Lion's Share

 

Ever wonder where the term "The Lion's Share" came from? It came from an Aesop's fable. This fable was actually used in an old Roman civil case regarding a joint venture over 1,000 years ago.

What lesson should you draw from it?

When you partner with a stronger company, pay attention to your exit strategy... and the leverage you will, or will not have, when your partner obtains its objectives. Don't expect a strong partner to stick around and pay attention to your needs after their needs have been satisfied.

The Lion's Share

The Lion, the Fox and the Wolf went hunting together. Each had particular talents that would lend themselves to such an alliance. The fox could trick the stag out into the open; and the wolf could run it down to where the lion lay in wait to make the kill.

They hunted until they found a stag, and soon took its life. Then came the question how the spoil should be divided.

The Lion then ordered the other animals to skin it and cut it into three parts. The Lion then took his stand in front of the carcass, gave himself two of the three parts and challenged the other animals to dare to lay a paw on the third, which he also ate. They stood by, helplessly watching the lion eat almost the entire carcass.

Afterwards, they asked the Lion why he had only left them a few scraps.

The Lion replied, "All I took was the Lion's share"


 

The Lion, the Fox and the Ass

 

Here is a fable similar to the "Lion's Share" fable with a similar fact pattern, but with a different lesson.

The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass

The Lion, the Fox and the Ass entered into an agreement to assist each other in the chase.

Having secured a large booty, the Lion on their return from the forest asked the Ass to allot his due portion to each of the three partners in the treaty. The Ass carefully divided the spoil into three equal shares and modestly requested the two others to make the first choice. The Lion, bursting out into a great rage, devoured the Ass.

Then he requested the Fox to do him the favor to make a division. The Fox accumulated all that they had killed into one large heap and left to himself the smallest possible morsel. The Lion said, "Who has taught you, my very excellent fellow, the art of division? You are perfect to a fraction."

He replied, "I learned it from the Ass, by witnessing his fate.


 

The Gnat and the Lion

 

Size by itself is no assurance of leverage. In fast moving environments, it's often it is not the large that eat the small, but the fast that eat the slow. Aesop's Fable of the Gnat and the Lion illustrates how that can be.

The Gnat and the Lion

A Gnat issued the following challenged to a Lion, "I do not in the least fear you, nor are you stronger than I am. For in what does your strength consist? You can scratch with your claws and bite with your teeth a woman in her quarrels. I repeat that I am altogether more powerful than you; and if you doubt it, let us fight and see who will conquer."

The Gnat then fastened himself to the Lion and stung him on the nostrils and the parts of the Lion's face. The Lion tore himself with his claws while trying to crush the gnat, until he punished himself severely.

The Gnat thus prevailing over the Lion, flew away in a song of triumph.


 

The Lion & the Woodcutter's Daughter

 

This Aesop's Fable exemplifies how even a weak partner who plans a careful exit strategy can overcome even a lion.

The Lion and the Woodcutter's Daughter

A Lion demanded the daughter of a Woodcutter in marriage.

The woodcutter did not want to grant the demand, but was afraid to refuse it. After some thought he devised a solution to his dilemma.

He stated his willingness to accept the Lion as his daughter's suitor, but on one condition. The Lion would have to permit the Woodcutter to extract his teeth, and cut off his claws, as his daughter was fearful of both.

The Lion agreed to the proposal.

The now toothless and clawless Lion returned to receive his part of the bargain. He never received it. The Woodcutter, no longer afraid of the Lion, simply laughed in his face, and bade him do his worst.


 

The Fox and the Lion

 

Some companies are not to be partnered with. This fable illustrates why it is important to keep you eyes open to your environment and to the real interests of those around you, even when dealing with friendly and apparently harmless partners.

The Fox and the Lion

A Lion, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with food by force, resolved to do so by artifice. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them.

The Fox, presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was. "I am very middling," replied the Lion, "but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to talk with me."

"No, thank you," said the Fox. "I notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any returning."


 

The Lion and the Bull

 

Partners should try to make money from customers, not from each other. Some partners just can't keep away from eyeing their partner as a customer. They want to serve you for dinner. Nothing good ever comes out of that. This fable reminds me of such partners. Follow the example of the Bull, avoid entanglements with such partners.

The Lion and the Bull

A Lion, desiring to capture a Bull, and yet afraid to attack him on account of his great size, resorted to a trick to ensure his destruction. The Lion approached the Bull and said, "I have slain a fine sheep, my friend; and if you will come home and partake of him with me, I shall be delighted to have your company." The Lion said this in the hope that, as the Bull was in the act of reclining to eat, he might attack him to advantage, and make his meal on him.

The Bull, on approaching the Lion's den, saw the huge spits and giant caldrons, and no sign whatever of the sheep, and, without saying a word, quietly took his departure. The Lion inquired why he went off so abruptly without a word of salutation to his host, who had not given him any cause for offense.

"I have reasons enough," said the Bull. "I see no indication whatever of your having slaughtered a sheep, while I do see very plainly every preparation for your dining on a bull."


 

More Partnering Fables

 

Here are more lessons from Aesop. I'll let you formulate the partnering lesson to be learned from each one.


The Mouse and the Bull

A Bull was bitten by a Mouse. The Bull gave chase to the Mouse, but the Mouse was too quick for him and slipped into a hole in a wall.

The Bull charged furiously into the wall again and again until he was tired out, and sank down on the ground exhausted with his efforts.

When all was quiet, the Mouse darted out and bit him again.

Beside himself with rage he started to his feet, but by that time the Mouse was back in his hole again, and he could do nothing but bellow and fume in helpless anger.

The Mouse said from inside the wall, "The battle does not always go to the large, often it is the quick that prevail over the slow."


The Lion and the Eagle

An Eagle stayed his flight and entreated a Lion to make an alliance with him to their mutual advantage.

The Lion replied, "I have no objection, but you must excuse me for requiring you to find surety for your good faith, for how can I trust anyone as a friend who is able to fly away from his bargain whenever he pleases?


The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion

The Ass and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for their mutual protection, went out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they met a Lion.

The Fox, seeing imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harm the Fox.

The Fox, assuring the Ass that he would not be injured, led the Ass to a him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it.

The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure.


The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox

A Lion and a Bear seized a Kid at the same moment, and fought fiercely for its possession. When they had fearfully lacerated each other and were faint from the long combat, they lay down exhausted with fatigue.

A Fox, who had gone round them at a distance several times, saw them both stretched on the ground with the Kid lying untouched in the middle. He ran in between them, and seizing the Kid scampered off as fast as he could.

The Lion and the Bear saw him, but not being able to get up, said, "Woe be to us, that we should have fought and belabored ourselves only to serve the turn of a Fox."


The Lion and the Fox

A Fox entered into partnership with a Lion on the pretense of becoming his servant.

Each undertook his proper duty in accordance with his own nature and powers. The Fox discovered and pointed out the prey; the Lion sprang on it and seized it.

But the Lion always took the Lion's share, leaving the Fox a very small one, which didn't please the latter at all. So the Fox determined to set up on his own account.

The Fox began by trying to steal a lamb from a flock of sheep: but the shepherd saw him and set his dogs on him.

The Fox was very soon caught and dispatched by the dogs.


The Ass and the Grasshopper

An Ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew."

The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.


The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller

A Charcoal Burner carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened.

The Fuller replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal."


The Father and His Sons

A Father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. Try as he might, he could not get them to live together in harmony.

He determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion by the following means. Bidding them fetch a bundle of sticks, he invited each in turn to break it across his knee.

All tried and all failed: and then he undid the bundle, and handed them the sticks one by one, when they had no difficulty at all in breaking them.

He then addressed them in these words: "united you will be more than a match for your enemies: but if you quarrel and separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy of those who attack you."


The Wolf and the Crane

A Wolf had a bone stuck in his throat.

He tried to induce every one he met to remove the bone. "I would give anything," said he, "if you would take it out." At last the Crane agreed to try, and told the Wolf to lie on his side and open his jaws as wide as he could. Then the Crane put its long neck down the Wolf's throat, and with its beak loosened the bone, till at last it got it out.

"Will you kindly give me the reward you promised?" said the Crane.

The Wolf grinned and showed his teeth and said: "Be content. You have put your head inside a Wolf's mouth and taken it out again in safety; that ought to be reward enough for you."


The Dog and the Shadow

A Dog, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size.

He immediately let go of his own, and fiercely attacked the other Dog to get his larger piece from him.

He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and his own, because the stream swept it away.


The Farmer and the Snake

One winter a Farmer found a Snake stiff and frozen with cold. He had compassion on it, and taking it up, placed it in his bosom. The Snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and resuming its natural instincts, bit its benefactor, inflicting on him a mortal wound.

"Oh," cried the Farmer with his last breath, "I am rightly served for pitying a scoundrel."


The Tortoise and the Eagle

A Tortoise desired to change its place of residence, so he asked an Eagle to carry him to his new home, promising her a rich reward for her trouble. The Eagle agreed and seizing the Tortoise by the shell with her talons soared aloft.

On their way they met a Crow, who said to the Eagle: "Tortoise is good eating." "The shell is too hard," said the Eagle in reply. "The rocks will soon crack the shell," was the Crow's answer.

The Eagle, taking the hint, let fall the Tortoise on a sharp rock, and the two birds made a hearty meal of the Tortoise.


The Fox and the Goat

By an unlucky chance a Fox fell into a deep well from which he could not get out.

A Goat passed by shortly afterwards, and asked the Fox what he was doing down there. "Oh, have you not heard?" said the Fox; "there is going to be a great drought, so I jumped down here in order to be sure to have water by me. Why don't you come down too?"

The Goat thought well of this advice, and jumped down into the well. But the Fox immediately jumped on her back, and by putting his foot on her long horns managed to jump up to the edge of the well.

"Good-bye, friend," said the Fox, "remember next time, never trust the advice of a man in difficulties."


The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

A Goatherd, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up together with his own for the night.

The next day it snowed very hard, so that he could not take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was obliged to keep them in the fold. He gave his own goats just sufficient food to keep them alive, but fed the strangers more abundantly in the hope of enticing them to stay with him and of making them his own.

When the thaw set in, he led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the mountains. The Goatherd scolded them for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he had taken more care of them than of his own herd.

The Wild Goats responded: "That is the very reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves."


The Boy and the Nettles

A Boy was stung by a Nettle. He ran home and told his Mother, saying, "Although it hurts me very much, I only touched it gently." "That was just why it stung you," said his Mother.

"The next time you touch a Nettle, grasp it boldly, and it will be soft as silk to your hand, and not in the least hurt you."


The Belly and the Members

The Members of the Body rebelled against the Belly, and said, "Why should we be perpetually engaged in administering to your wants, while you do nothing but take your rest, and enjoy yourself in luxury and self-indulgence?"

The Members carried out their resolve and refused their assistance to the Belly. But after a day or two the Members began to find that they themselves were not in a very active condition: the Hands could hardly move, and the Mouth was all parched and dry, while the Legs were unable to support the rest.

So thus they found that even the Belly in its dull quiet way was doing necessary work for the Body, and that all must work together or the Body will go to pieces.


The Horse and His Rider

A Horse Soldier took the utmost pains with his charger. As long as the war lasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all emergencies and fed him carefully with hay and corn.

But when the war was over, he only allowed him chaff to eat and made him carry heavy loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish drudgery and ill-treatment.

War was again proclaimed, however, and when the trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier put on his charger its military trappings, and mounted, being clad in his heavy coat of mail. The Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no longer equal to the burden.

The Horse said to his master, "You must now go to the war on foot, for you have transformed me from a Horse into an Ass; and how can you expect that I can again turn in a moment from an Ass to a Horse?"


The Shepherd and the Wolf

A Shepherd once found the whelp of a Wolf and brought it up, and after a while taught it to steal lambs from the neighboring flocks. The Wolf, showed himself an apt pupil.

The Wolf said to the Shepherd, "Since you have taught me to steal, you must keep a sharp lookout, or you will lose some of your own flock."


The Wolf and the Sheep

A Wolf, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in his lair.

Being in want of food, he called to a Sheep who was passing, and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing close beside him. "For," he said, "if you will bring me drink, I will find means to provide myself with meat."

"Yes," said the Sheep, "if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless make me provide the meat also."


The Lion and the Dolphin

A Lion roaming by the seashore saw a Dolphin lift up its head out of the waves, and suggested that they contract an alliance.

The Lion reasoned that of all the animals they ought to be the best friends, since the one was the king of beasts on the earth, and the other was the sovereign ruler of all the inhabitants of the ocean. The Dolphin gladly consented to this request.

Not long afterwards the Lion had a combat with a wild bull, and called on the Dolphin to help him. The Dolphin, though quite willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by any means reach the land. The Lion abused him as a traitor.

The Dolphin replied, "Nay, my friend, blame not me, but Nature, which, while giving me the sovereignty of the sea, has quite denied me the power of living upon the land."


The Lion and the Boar

One hot and thirsty day in the height of summer a Lion and a Boar came down to a little spring at the same moment to drink.

In a trice they were quarreling as to who should drink first. The quarrel soon became a fight and they attacked one another with the utmost fury. Presently, stopping for a moment to take breath, they saw some vultures seated on a rock above evidently waiting for one of them to be killed, when they would fly down and feed upon the carcass. The sight sobered them at once, and they made up their quarrel.

They said to each other, "We had much better be friends than fight and be eaten by vultures."


The Oak and the Reeds

A very large oak was uprooted by the wind and thrown across a stream. It fell among some Reeds.

It addressed the Reeds: "I wonder how you, who are so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by these strong winds."

The Reeds replied, "You fight and contend with the wind, and consequently you are destroyed; while we on the contrary bend before the least breath of air, and therefore remain unbroken, and escape."


The Fisherman and the Little Fish

A Fisherman who lived on the produce of his nets, one day caught a single small Fish as the result of his day's labor.

The Fish, panting convulsively, thus entreated for his life: "O Sir, what good can I be to you, and how little am I worth? I am not yet come to my full size. Pray spare my life, and put me back into the sea. I shall soon become a large fish fit for the tables of the rich, and then you can catch me again, and make a handsome profit of me."

The Fisherman replied, "I should indeed be a very simple fellow if, for the chance of a greater uncertain profit, I were to forego my present certain gain."


The Lion and the Hare

A Lion came across a Hare, who was fast asleep. He was just in the act of seizing her, when a fine young Hart trotted by, and he left the Hare to follow him.

The Hare, scared by the noise, awoke and scudded away. The Lion was unable after a long chase to catch the Hart, and returned to feed upon the Hare.

On finding that the Hare also had run off, he said, "I am rightly served, for having let go of the food that I had in my hand for the chance of obtaining more."


The Milkmaid and Her Spilt Milk ("don't count your chickens")

A Milkmaid was carrying her milk from the field on her head.

As she went along she began calculating what she would do with the money she would get for the milk. "The money for which this milk will be sold, will buy at least three hundred eggs. The eggs, allowing for all mishaps, will produce two hundred and fifty chickens. The chickens will become ready for the market when poultry will fetch the highest price, so that by the end of the year I shall have money enough from my share to buy a new frock.

At this moment she tossed her head in unison with her thoughts, when down fell the milk to the ground, and all her imaginary schemes perished in a moment. So she had to go home and tell her mother what had occurred.

"Ah, my child," said the mother, "Do not count your chickens before they are hatched."


The Trees and the Ax

A Man came into a Wood one day with an ax in his hand, and begged all the Trees to give him a small branch which he wanted for a particular purpose.

The Trees were good-natured and gave him one of their branches. What did the Man do but fix it into the ax head, and soon set to work cutting down tree after tree.

Then the Trees saw how foolish they had been in giving their enemy the means of destroying themselves.


The Crab and the Fox

A Crab once left the seashore and went and settled in a meadow some way inland, which looked very nice and green and seemed likely to be a good place to feed in.

But a hungry Fox came along and spied the Crab and caught him.

Just as he was going to be eaten up, the Crab said, "This is just what I deserve; for I had no business to leave my natural home by the sea and settle here as though I belonged to the land."


The Stag, the Wolf, and the Sheep

A Stag asked a Sheep to lend him a measure of wheat, and said that the Wolf would be his surety. The Sheep, fearing some fraud was intended, excused herself.

The Sheep pointed out, "The Wolf is accustomed to seize what he wants and to run off; and you, too, can quickly outstrip me in your rapid flight. How then shall I be able to find you, when the day of payment comes?"


The Two Frogs

Two Frogs were neighbors.

One lived in a marsh, where there was plenty of water, which frogs love: the other in a lane some distance away, where all the water to be had was that which lay in the ruts after rain.

The Marsh Frog warned his friend and pressed him to come and live with him in the marsh, for he would find his quarters there far more comfortable and - what was still more important - more safe.

But the other refused, saying that he could not bring himself to move from a place to which he had become accustomed.

A few days afterwards a heavy wagon passed through the gully and crushed him to death under its wheels.


The Hawk and the Nightingale

A Nightingale, sitting aloft upon an oak and singing according to his wont, was seen by a Hawk who, being in need of food, swooped down and seized him.

The Nightingale, about to lose his life, earnestly begged the Hawk to let him go, saying that he was not big enough to satisfy the hunger of a Hawk who, if he wanted food, ought to pursue the larger birds.

The Hawk, interrupting him, said: "You must think me very simple if you suppose I am going to give up a certain prize on the chance of a better of which I see at present no signs."


The Wolf and the Goat

A Wolf saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a steep precipice, where he had no chance of reaching her.

He called to her and earnestly begged her to come lower down, lest she fall by some mishap; and he added that the meadows lay where he was standing, and that the herbage was most tender.

She replied, "No, my friend, it is not for the pasture that you invite me, but for yourself, who are in want of food."


The Four Oxen and the Lion

A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell.

Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them.

At last, however, they fell a-quarrelling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field.

Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.


The Ass and the Horse

An Ass besought a Horse to spare him a small portion of his feed.

"Yes," said the Horse; "if any remains out of what I am now eating I will give it you for the sake of my own superior dignity, and if you will come when I reach my own stall in the evening, I will give you a little sack full of barley."

The Ass replied, "Thank you. But I can't think that you, who refuse me a little matter now will by and by confer on me a greater benefit."


The Hen and the Swallow

A Hen finding the eggs of a viper and carefully keeping them warm, nourished them into life.

A Swallow, observing what she had done, said, "You silly creature! why have you hatched these vipers which, when they shall have grown, will inflict injury on all, beginning with yourself?"


The Miller, His Son, and Their Ass

A Miller and his son were driving their Ass to a neighboring fair to sell him.

They had not gone far when they met with a troop of women collected round a well, talking and laughing. "Look there," cried one of them, "did you ever see such fellows, to be trudging along the road on foot when they might ride?' The old man hearing this, quickly made his son mount the Ass, and continued to walk along merrily by his side.

Presently they came up to a group of old men in earnest debate. "There," said one of them, "it proves what I was a-saying. What respect is shown to old age in these days? Do you see that idle lad riding while his old father has to walk? Get down, you young scapegrace, and let the old man rest his weary limbs." Upon this the old man made his son dismount, and got up himself.

In this manner they had not proceeded far when they met a company of women and children: "Why, you lazy old fellow," cried several tongues at once, "how can you ride upon the beast, while that poor little lad there can hardly keep pace by the side of you?' The good-natured Miller immediately took up his son behind him.

They had now almost reached the town. "Pray, honest friend," said a citizen, "is that Ass your own?' "Yes," replied the old man. "O, one would not have thought so," said the other, "by the way you load him. Why, you two fellows are better able to carry the poor beast than he you." "Anything to please you," said the old man; "we can but try." So, alighting with his son, they tied the legs of the Ass together and with the help of a pole endeavored to carry him on their shoulders over a bridge near the entrance to the town.

This entertaining sight brought the people in crowds to laugh at it, till the Ass, not liking the noise nor the strange handling that he was subject to, broke the cords that bound him and, tumbling off the pole, fell into the river. Upon this, the old man, vexed and ashamed, made the best of his way home again.

As the Miller left he observed: "By endeavoring to please everybody I pleased no one and lost my Ass in the bargain.


The Crow and the Sheep

A troublesome Crow seated herself on the back of a Sheep.

The Sheep, much against his will, carried her backward and forward for a long time, and at last said, "If you had treated a dog in this way, you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth."

To this the Crow replied, "I despise the weak and yield to the strong. I know whom I may bully and whom I must flatter; and I thus prolong my life to a good old age."


The Fox and the Bramble

A Fox was mounting a hedge when he lost his footing and caught hold of a Bramble to save himself.

Having pricked and grievously tom the soles of his feet, he accused the Bramble because, when he had fled to her for assistance, she had used him worse than the hedge itself.

The Bramble, interrupting him, said, "But you really must have been out of your senses to fasten yourself on me, who am myself always accustomed to fasten upon others."


The Viper and the File

A Lion, entering the workshop of a smith, sought from the tools the means of satisfying his hunger. He more particularly addressed himself to a File, and asked of him the favor of a meal.

The File replied, "You must indeed be a simple-minded fellow if you expect to get anything from me, who am accustomed to take from everyone, and never to give anything in return."


The Eagle and the Kite

An Eagle, overwhelmed with sorrow, sat upon the branches of a tree in company with a Kite. "Why," said the Kite, "do I see you with such a rueful look?'

"I seek," the Eagle replied, "a mate suitable for me, and am not able to find one." "Take me," returned the Kite, "I am much stronger than you are." "Why, are you able to secure the means of living by your plunder?' "Well, I have often caught and carried away an ostrich in my talons."

The Eagle, persuaded by these words, accepted him as her mate.

Shortly after the nuptials, the Eagle said, "Fly off and bring me back the ostrich you promised me." The Kite, soaring aloft into the air, brought back the shabbiest possible mouse, stinking from the length of time it had lain about the fields. "Is this," said the Eagle, "the faithful fulfillment of your promise to me?'

The Kite replied, "That I might attain your royal hand, there is nothing that I would not have promised, however much I knew that I must fail in the performance."


The Doe and the Lion
A Doe hard pressed by hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a Lion. The Lion concealed himself on seeing her approach, but when she was safe within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to pieces.

"Woe is me," exclaimed the Doe, "who have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the mouth of a wild beast?"


The Frogs and the Well
Two Frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh dried up, and they left it to look for another place to live in: for frogs like damp places if they can get them.

By and by they came to a deep well, and one of them looked down into it, and said to the other, "This looks a nice cool place. Let us jump in and settle here." But the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied, "Not so fast, my friend.

Supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how should we get out again?"


The Horse, Hunter, and Stag
A quarrel had arisen between the Horse and the Stag, so the Horse came to a Hunter to ask his help to take revenge on the Stag.

The Hunter agreed, but said: "If you desire to conquer the Stag, you must permit me to place this piece of iron between your jaws, so that I may guide you with these reins, and allow this saddle to be placed upon your back so that I may keep steady upon you as we follow after the enemy."

The Horse agreed to the conditions, and the Hunter soon saddled and bridled him. Then with the aid of the Hunter the Horse soon overcame the Stag, and said to the Hunter: "Now, get off, and remove those things from my mouth and back."

"Not so fast, friend," said the Hunter. "I have now got you under bit and spur, and prefer to keep you as you are at present."


The Fisher and the Little Fish
It happened that a Fisher, after fishing all day, caught only a little fish.

"Pray, let me go, master," said the Fish. "I am much too small for your eating just now. If you put me back into the river I shall soon grow, then you can make a fine meal off me."

"Nay, nay, my little Fish," said the Fisher, "I have you now. I may not catch you hereafter. A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect."


The Goose With the Golden Eggs
A Man and his Wife had the good fortune to possess a Goose which laid a Golden Egg every day.

Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagined the bird must be made of gold inside.

They decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose.

Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.


The Horse and the Groom
There was once a Groom who used to spend long hours clipping and combing the Horse of which he had charge, but who daily stole a portion of his allowance of oats, and sold it for his own profit. The Horse gradually got into worse and worse condition.

The Horse at last cried to the Groom, "If you really want me to look sleek and well, you must comb me less and feed me more."


The North Wind and the Sun
A dispute arose between the North Wind and the Sun, each claiming that he was stronger than the other. At
last they agreed to try their powers upon a traveler, to see which could soonest strip him of his cloak.

The North Wind had the first try; and, gathering up all his force for the attack, he came whirling furiously down upon the man, and caught up his cloak as though he would wrest it from him by one single effort: but the harder he blew, the more closely the man wrapped it round himself.

Then came the turn of the Sun. At first he beamed gently upon the traveler, who soon unclasped his cloak and walked on with it hanging loosely about his shoulders: then he shone forth in his full strength, and the man, before he had gone many steps, was glad to throw his cloak right off and complete his journey more lightly clad.

"Persuasion is better than force" beamed the Sun.


The Boy and the Filberts
A Boy put his hand into a jar of Filberts, and grasped as many as his fist could possibly hold.
But when he tried to pull it out again, he found he couldn't do so, for the neck of the jar was too small to allow of the passage of so large a handful.

Unwilling to lose his nuts but unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears.

A bystander, who saw where the trouble lay, said to him, "Come, my boy, don't be so greedy: be content with half the amount, and you'll be able to get your hand out without difficulty - Do not attempt too much at once."


The Ass and the Old Peasant
An old Peasant was sitting in a meadow watching his Ass, which was grazing close by, when all of a sudden he caught sight of armed men stealthily approaching.

He jumped up in a moment, and begged the Ass to fly with him as fast as he could, "Or else," said he, "we shall both be captured by the enemy." But the Ass just looked round lazily and said, "And if so, do you think they'll make me carry heavier loads than I have to now?" "No," said his master.

"Oh, well, then," said the Ass, "I don't mind if they do take me, for I shan't be any worse off."


The Pack-Ass, the Wild Ass, and the Lion
A Wild Ass saw a Pack-Ass jogging along under a heavy load, and taunted him with the condition of slavery in which he lived, in these words: "What a vile lot is yours compared with mine! I am free as the air, and never do a stroke of work; and, as for fodder, I have only to go to the hills and there I find far more than enough for my needs. But you! you depend on your master for food, and he makes you carry heavy loads every day and beats you unmercifully."

At that moment a Lion appeared on the scene, and made no attempt to molest the Pack-Ass owing to the presence of the driver; but he fell upon the Wild Ass, who had no one to protect him, and without more ado made a meal of him.

Watching this the Pack-Ass said "It is no use being your own master unless you can stand up for yourself."


The Fox and the Grasshopper
A Grasshopper sat chirping in the branches of a tree. A Fox heard her, and, thinking what a dainty morsel she would make, he tried to get her down by a trick.

Standing below in full view of her, the Fox praised the Grasshopper's song in the most flattering terms, and begged her to descend, saying he would like to make the acquaintance of the owner of so beautiful a voice.

But she was not to be taken in, and replied, "You are very much mistaken, my dear sir, if you imagine I am going to come down: I keep well out of the way of you and your kind ever since the day when I saw numbers of grasshoppers' wings strewn about the entrance to a fox's earth."


The Dog and the Wolf
A Dog was lying in the sun before a farmyard gate when a Wolf pounced upon him and was just going to eat him up; but he begged for his life and said, "You see how thin I am and what a wretched meal I should make you now: but if you will only wait a few days my master is going to give a feast. All the rich scraps and pickings will fall to me and I shall get nice and fat: then will be the time for you to eat me."

The Wolf thought this was a very good plan and went away. Some time afterwards he came to the farmyard again, and found the Dog lying out of reach on the stable roof. "Come down," he called, "and be eaten: you remember our agreement?"

But the Dog said coolly, "My friend, if ever you catch me lying down by the gate there again, don't you wait for any feast."


The Eagle and the Beetle
An Eagle was chasing a Hare, which was running for dear life and was at her wits' end to know where to turn for help.

The Hare spied a Beetle, and begged it to aid her. So when the Eagle came up the Beetle warned her not to touch the hare, which was under its protection. But the Eagle never noticed the Beetle because it was so small, seized the hare and ate her up.

The Beetle never forgot this, and used to keep an eye on the Eagle's nest, and whenever the Eagle laid an egg it climbed up and rolled it out of the nest and broke it.


The Swan
The Swan is said to sing but once in its life - when it knows that it is about to die.

A certain man, who had heard of the song of the Swan, one day saw one of these birds for sale in the market, and bought it and took it home with him. A few days later he had some friends to dinner, and produced the Swan, and bade it sing for their entertainment: but the Swan remained silent.

In course of time, when the Swan was growing old, it became aware of its approaching end and broke into a sweet, sad song.

When its owner heard it, he said angrily, "If the creature only sings when it is about to die, what a fool I was that day I wanted to hear its song! I ought to have wrung its neck instead of merely inviting it to sing."


The Stag and the Lion
A Stag was chased by the hounds, and took refuge in a cave, where he hoped to be safe from his pursuers. Unfortunately the cave contained a Lion, to whom he fell an easy prey.

The Stag cried out "I am saved from the power of the dogs only to fall into the clutches of a Lion."


The Apple of Discord
Hercules was once traveling along a narrow road when he saw lying on the ground in front of him what appeared to be an apple, and as he passed he stamped upon it with his heel.

To his astonishment, instead of being crushed it doubled in size; and, on his attacking it again and smiting it with his club, it swelled up to an enormous size and blocked up the whole road. Upon this he dropped his club, and stood looking at it in amazement. Just then Minerva appeared, and said to him, "Leave it alone, my friend."

"That which you see before you is the apple of discord: if you do not meddle with it, it remains small as it was at first, but if you resort to violence it swells into the thing you see."


 

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