80.The Dog and the Cook
A RICH MAN gave a great feast, to which he invited many friends and acquaintances. His Dog availed himself of the occasion to invite a stranger Dog, a friend of his, saying,
“My master gives a feast, and there is always much food remaining; come and sup with me tonight.”
The dog thus invited went at the hour appointed, and seeing the preparations for so grand an entertainment, said in the joy of his heart,
“How glad I am that I came! I don’t often get such a chance as this. I will take care and eat enough to last me both today and tomorrow.”
While he was congratulating himself and wagging his tail to convey his pleasure to his friend, the cook saw him moving about among his dishes and, seizing him by his fore and hind paws, bundled him without ceremony out of the window. He fell with force on the ground and limped away, howling dreadfully. His yelling soon attracted other street dogs, who came up to him and asked how he had enjoyed his supper. He replied,
“Why, to tell you the truth, I drank so much wine that I remember nothing. I don’t know how I got out of the house.”
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.
