The Man and the Serpent

The Man and the Serpent

A Countryman's son by accident trod upon a Serpent's tail,

which turned and bit him so that he died. The father in a rage

got his axe, and pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail.

So the Serpent in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's

cattle and caused him severe loss. Well, the Farmer thought it

best to make it up with the Serpent, and brought food and honey to

the mouth of its lair, and said to it: "Let's forget and forgive;

perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on my

cattle, but surely I was right in trying to revenge him; now that

we are both satisfied why should not we be friends again?"

"No, no," said the Serpent; "take away your gifts; you can

never forget the death of your son, nor I the loss of my tail."

Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.

The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a

visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this

cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily

welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to

offer, but he offered them freely. The Town Mouse rather turned

up his long nose at this country fare, and said: "I cannot

understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as

this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the

country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. When

you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever

have stood a country life." No sooner said than done: the two

mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's

residence late at night. "You will want some refreshment after

our long journey," said the polite Town Mouse, and took his friend

into the grand dining-room. There they found the remains of a

fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes

and all that was nice. Suddenly they heard growling and barking.

"What is that?" said the Country Mouse. "It is only the dogs of

the house," answered the other. "Only!" said the Country Mouse.

"I do not like that music at my dinner." Just at that moment the

door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to

scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, Cousin," said the Country

Mouse, "What! going so soon?" said the other. "Yes," he replied;

"Better beans and bacon in peace

than cakes and ale in fear."

The Fox and the Crow

A Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its

beak and settle on a branch of a tree. "That's for me, as I am a

Fox," said Master Reynard, and he walked up to the foot of the

tree. "Good-day, Mistress Crow," he cried. "How well you are

looking to-day: how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye. I

feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as

your figure does; let me hear but one song from you that I may

greet you as the Queen of Birds." The Crow lifted up her head and

began to caw her best, but the moment she opened her mouth the

piece of cheese fell to the ground, only to be snapped up by

Master Fox. "That will do," said he. "That was all I wanted. In

exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the

future

."Do not trust flatterers."

The Sick Lion

A Lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto death

at the mouth of his cave, gasping for breath. The animals, his

subjects, came round him and drew nearer as he grew more and more

helpless. When they saw him on the point of death they thought to

themselves: "Now is the time to pay off old grudges." So the Boar

came up and drove at him with his tusks; then a Bull gored him

with his horns; still the Lion lay helpless before them: so the

Ass, feeling quite safe from danger, came up, and turning his tail

to the Lion kicked up his heels into his face. "This is a double

death," growled the Lion.

Only cowards insult dying majesty.

The Ass and the Lapdog

A Farmer one day came to the stables to see to his beasts of

burden: among them was his favourite Ass, that was always well fed

and often carried his master. With the Farmer came his Lapdog,

who danced about and licked his hand and frisked about as happy as

could be. The Farmer felt in his pocket, gave the Lapdog some

dainty food, and sat down while he gave his orders to his

servants. The Lapdog jumped into his master's lap, and lay there

blinking while the Farmer stroked his ears. The Ass, seeing this,

broke loose from his halter and commenced prancing about in

imitation of the Lapdog. The Farmer could not hold his sides with

laughter, so the Ass went up to him, and putting his feet upon the

Farmer's shoulder attempted to climb into his lap. The Farmer's

servants rushed up with sticks and pitchforks and soon taught the

Ass that

.Clumsy jesting is no joke.