316.The Travellers and the Plane-Tree
TWO TRAVELERS, worn out by the heat of the summer’s sun, laid themselves down at noon under the wide-spreading branches of a plane-tree. As they rested under its shade, one of the travelers said to the other,
“What a singularly useless tree is the plane! It bears no fruit, and is not of the least service to man.”
The plane-tree, interrupting him, said,
“You! ungrateful fellows! Do you, while receiving benefits from me and resting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless, and unprofitable?”
❖ Some men underrate their best blessings.
315.The Traveller and His Dog
A TRAVELER about to set out on a journey saw his dog stand at the door stretching himself. He asked him sharply:
“Why do you stand there gaping? Everything is ready but you, so come with me instantly.”
The dog, wagging his tail, replied:
“Master! I am quite ready; it is you for whom I am waiting.”
❖ The loiterer often blames delay on his more active friend.
314.The Traveller and Fortune
A TRAVELER wearied from a long journey lay down, overcome with fatigue, on the very brink of a deep well. Just as he was about to fall into the water, Dame fortune, it is said, appeared to him and waking him from his slumber thus addressed him:
“Good Sir, pray wake up: for if you fall into the well, the blame will be thrown on me, and I shall get an ill name among mortals; for I find that men are sure to impute their calamities to me, however much by their own folly they have really brought them on themselves.”
❖ Everyone hopes more or less to be the master of his own fate.
313.The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
A COUNTRY MOUSE invited a town mouse, an intimate friend, to pay him a visit and take part of his country fare. As they were on the bare ploughlands, eating there wheat-stocks and roots pulled up from the hedgerow, the town mouse said to his friend,
“You live here the life of the ants, while in my house is the horn of plenty. I am surrounded by every luxury, and if you will come with me, as I wish you would, you shall have an ample share of my dainties.”
The country mouse was easily persuaded, and returned to town with his friend. On his arrival, the town mouse placed before him bread, barley, beans, dried figs, honey, raisins, and, last of all, brought a dainty piece of cheese from a basket. The country mouse, being much delighted at the sight of such good cheer, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms and lamented his own hard fate.
Just as they were beginning to eat, someone opened the door, and they both ran off squeaking, as fast as they could, to a hole so narrow that two could only find room in it by squeezing. They had scarcely begun their repast again when someone else entered to take something out of a cupboard, whereupon the two mice, more frightened than before, ran away and hid themselves. At last the country mouse, almost famished, said to his friend:
