244.The Monkeys and Their Mother
THE MONKEY, it is said, has two young ones at each birth. The mother fondles one and nurtures it with the greatest affection and care, but hates and neglects the other.
It happened once that the young one which was caressed and loved was smothered by the too great affection of the mother, while the despised one was nurtured and reared in spite of the neglect to which it was exposed.
❖ The best intentions will not always ensure success.
243.The Monkey and the Fishermen
A MONKEY perched on a lofty tree saw some fishermen casting their nets into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. The fishermen after a while gave up fishing, and on going home to dinner left their nets on the bank. The monkey, who is the most imitative of animals, descended from the treetop and endeavoured to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and drowned.
With his last breath he said to himself,
“I deserved what I got; for what business had I who had never handled a net to try and catch fish?”
242.The Monkey and the Dolphin
A SAILOR, bound on a long voyage, took with him a monkey to amuse him while on shipboard. As he sailed off the coast of Greece, a violent tempest arose in which the ship was wrecked and he, his monkey, and all the crew were obliged to swim for their lives.
A dolphin saw the monkey contending with the waves, and supposing him to be a man (whom he is always said to befriend), came and placed himself under him, to convey him on his back in safety to the shore.
When the dolphin arrived with his burden in sight of land not far from Athens, he asked the monkey if he were an Athenian. The latter replied that he was, and that he was descended from one of the most noble families in that city. The dolphin then asked if he knew the Piraeus (the famous harbour of Athens). Supposing that a man was meant, the monkey answered that he knew him very well and that he was an intimate friend.
The dolphin, indignant at these falsehoods, dipped the monkey under the water and drowned him.
241.The Monkey and the Camel
THE BEASTS of the forest gave a splendid entertainment at which the monkey stood up and danced. Having vastly delighted the assembly, he sat down amidst universal applause.
The camel, envious of the praises bestowed on the monkey and desiring to divert to himself the favour of the guests, proposed to stand up in his turn and dance for their amusement. He moved about in so utterly ridiculous a manner that the beasts, in a fit of indignation, set on him with clubs and drove him out of the assembly.
❖ It is absurd to ape our betters.
