Monthly Archives: September 2013
159.The Gnat and the Bull
A GNAT settled on the horn of a bull, and sat there a long time. Just as he was about to fly off, he made a buzzing noise, and asked of the bull if he would like him to go.
The bull replied, “I did not know you had come, and I shall not miss you when you go away.”
❖ Some men are of more consequence in their own eyes than in the eyes of their neighbors.
158.The Geese and the Cranes
THE GEESE and the cranes were feeding in the same meadow, when a birdcatcher came to ensnare them in his nets. The cranes, being light of wing, fled away at his approach; while the geese, being slower of flight and heavier in their bodies, were captured.
❖ Much overweight surely is harsh at times.
157.The Gamecocks and the Partridge
A MAN had two Gamecocks in his poultry-yard. One day by chance he found a tame partridge for sale. He bought it and brought it home to be reared with his Gamecocks. When the partridge was put into the poultry-yard, they struck at it and followed it about, so that the partridge became grievously troubled and supposed that he was thus evilly treated because he was a stranger. Not long afterwards he saw the cocks fighting together and not separating before one had well beaten the other. He then said to himself, “I shall no longer distress myself at being struck at by these gamecocks, when I see that they cannot even refrain from quarreling with each other.”
156.The Frogs’ Complaint against the Sun
ONCE ON A TIME, when the sun announced that he intended to take a wife, the frogs lifted up their voices in clamour to the sky. Jove got disturbed by the noise of their croaking, and asked why they complained so loudly. One of them said,
“The sun, now while he is single, parches up the marsh, and compels us to die miserably in our arid homes. What will be our future condition if he should beget other suns?”
❖ What suits one, may not always suit all others.
