Category Archives: AESOP TALES
79.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 on 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?”
❖ In avoiding one evil, care must be taken not to fall into another.
78.The Dancing Monkeys
A PRINCE had some monkeys trained to dance. Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers. The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them on the stage.
The monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) monkeys instead of actors. Pulling off their masks and tearing their robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancing spectacle thus came to an end amidst the laughter and ridicule of the audience.
77.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.”
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.”
❖ An abused and despised sheep cannot expose a crow’s first concerns unless the crow reveals them herself.
76.The Crow and the Serpent
A CROW in great want of food saw a serpent asleep in a sunny nook, and flying down, greedily seized him. The serpent, turning about, bit the crow with a mortal wound.
In the agony of death, the bird exclaimed:
“O unhappy Crow! Who have found in that which I deemed a happy windfall the source of my destruction.”
❖ Speed does not take heed .
