28.The Bear and the Hare
A BEAR boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. A hare who heard these words, said with a smile to the bear,
“If only you would eat the dead and not the living.”
❖ A fault confessed is half redressed.
27.The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts
A GREAT conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said: “Come with us”; but he said: “I am a Beast.” Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said: “Come with us”; but he said: “I am a Bird.” Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned against him and he had to fly away. He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces. “Ah,” said the Bat, “I see now,
“HE THAT IS NEITHER ONE THING NOR THE OTHER HAS NO FRIENDS.”
26.The Bat and the Weasel
A BAT fell on the ground and was caught by a weasel. The bat begged to be spared his life. The weasel refused, saying that he was by nature the enemy of all birds. The bat assured him that he was not a bird, but more like a mouse, and thus was set free.
Shortly afterwards the bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another weasel.
“Please, don’t eat me,” prayed the bat.
The weasel said that he had a special hostility to mice. The bat assured him, “I’m not really a mouse, as I fly like a bird. I have wings – see?” Thus he escaped a second time.
❖ It should be wise to turn circumstances to good account by smooth talk. At other times no talking helps.
25.The Bald Man and the Fly
A fly settled on the head of a bald man and bit him. In his eagerness to kill it, he hit himself a smart slap.
But the fly escaped, and said to him in derision, “You tried to kill me for just one little bite; what will you do to yourself now, for the heavy smack you have just given yourself?”
“Oh, for that blow I bear no grudge,” he replied, “for I never intended myself any harm; but as for you, you contemptible insect, who live by sucking human blood, I’d have borne a good deal more than that for the satisfaction of dashing the life out of you!”
“YOU WILL ONLY INJURE YOURSELF IF YOU TAKE NOTICE OF DESPICABLE ENEMIES.”
