Monthly Archives: September 2013
167.The Hare and the Hound
A HOUND started a hare from his lair, but after a long run, gave up the chase. A bird seeing him stop, mocked him, saying “The little one is the best runner of the two.”
The hound replied:
“You do not see the difference between us. I was only running for a dinner, but he for his life.” Then the hound caught the bird for dinner.
❖ Unpopular (hound) reforms may be most needed.
166.The Grasshopper and the Owl
AN OWL, used to feed at night and to sleep during the day, was greatly disturbed by the noise of a grasshopper and earnestly asked her to stop chirping. The grasshopper refused that, and chirped louder and louder the more the owl begged. When she saw that she could get no redress and that her words were despised, the owl attacked the chatterer by a stratagem.
“Since I cannot sleep,” she said, “on account of your song which, believe me, is sweet as the lyre of Sir Apollo, I shall indulge myself in drinking nectar I have been given. If you do not dislike it, come to me and we will drink it together.”
The grasshopper, who was thirsty, and pleased with the praise of her voice, eagerly flew up. The owl came forth from her hollow, seized her, and put her to death.
❖ Behind much sweet talk can be a deadly sting.
165.The Goose That Laid 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, imagining 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.
% Much wants more and loses all.
164.The Goods and the Ills
ALL the goods were once driven out by the ills from that common share which they each had in the affairs of mankind; for the ills by reason of their numbers had prevailed to possess the earth.
The goods wafted themselves to heaven and asked for a righteous vengeance on their persecutors. They begged Sir Success that they might no longer be associated with the ills, as they had nothing in common and could not live together, but were engaged in unceasing warfare; and that an indissoluble law might be laid down for their future protection.
Sir Success granted their request and decreed that henceforth the ills should visit the earth in company with each other, but that the goods should one by one enter the habitations of men.
Hence it arises that ills abound, for they come not one by one, but in troops, and by no means singly: while the goods proceed from Sir Success, and are given, not alike to all, but singly, and separately; and one by one to those who are able to discern them.
❖ Good one is detectable by the vision of the heart.
