Category Archives: AESOP TALES
83.The Dog and the Shadow
It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more.
“BEWARE LEST YOU LOSE THE SUBSTANCE BY GRASPING AT THE SHADOW.”
82.The Dog and the Oyster
A DOG, used to eating eggs, saw an oyster and, opening his mouth to its widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg. Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his stomach, he said,
“I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything round must be an egg.”
❖ They who act without enough thought, will often fall into unsuspected danger.
81.The Dog and the Hare
A HOUND having started a hare on the hillside pursued her for some distance, at one time biting her with his teeth as if he would take her life, and at another fawning on her, as if in play with another dog. The hare said to him,
“I wish you would act sincerely by me, and show yourself in your true colors. If you are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on me?”
❖ No one can be a friend if you don’t know whether to trust or distrust him.
80.The Dog and the Cook
A RICH MAN gave a great feast, to which he invited many friends and acquaintances. His Dog availed himself of the occasion to invite a stranger Dog, a friend of his, saying,
“My master gives a feast, and there is always much food remaining; come and sup with me tonight.”
The dog thus invited went at the hour appointed, and seeing the preparations for so grand an entertainment, said in the joy of his heart,
“How glad I am that I came! I don’t often get such a chance as this. I will take care and eat enough to last me both today and tomorrow.”
While he was congratulating himself and wagging his tail to convey his pleasure to his friend, the cook saw him moving about among his dishes and, seizing him by his fore and hind paws, bundled him without ceremony out of the window. He fell with force on the ground and limped away, howling dreadfully. His yelling soon attracted other street dogs, who came up to him and asked how he had enjoyed his supper. He replied,
“Why, to tell you the truth, I drank so much wine that I remember nothing. I don’t know how I got out of the house.”
