32.The Belly and the Members
THE MEMBERS of the body rebelled against the belly, and said,”Why should we be always engaged in administering to your wants, while you do nothing but rest and enjoy yourself in luxury?”
The members carried out their resolve and refused to assist the belly. The whole body quickly became debilitated, and the hands, feet, mouth, and eyes, when too late, repented of their folly.
❖ When the fox preaches, beware of your geese.
31.The Bee and Sir Success
A BEE – the queen of the hive – ascended to the House of Lords to present Sir Success some honey fresh from her combs. Sir Success, delighted with the offering of honey, promised to give whatever she should ask. She therefore said,
“Please give me a sting, that if any mortal shall approach to take my honey, I may kill him.”
Sir Success was much displeased, for he loved mankind, but could not refuse the request because of his promise. He thus answered the bee:
“You shall have your request, but it will be at the peril of your own life. For if you use your sting, it shall remain in the wound you make, and then you will die from the loss of it.”
❖ Evil wishes, like chickens, come home to roost.
30.The Beauty Contest
Jove had it proclaimed to all the animals of the forest that the one with the prettiest offspring would get a royal reward. The monkey came with the rest to the beauty contest and presented with all a mother’s tenderness a flat-nosed, hairless, ill-featured young monkey as a candidate. When she presented her son, those present laughed. She frankly said,
“I don’t know whether Jove will give the prize to my son or not. But this I know, that in the eyes of me his mother he is the dearest, handsomest, and most beautiful of all.”
❖ Where the dearest one is flat-nosed, expect a majority to be that as well.
29.The Bear and the Two Travellers
TWO MEN were travelling together, when a bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them climbed up quickly into a tree and hid himself in the branches. The other, seeing that he must be attacked, fell flat on the ground, and when the bear came up and felt him with his snout, and smelt him all over, he held his breath, and feigned to be dead as much as he could.
The bear soon left him, for it is said he will not touch a dead body. When he was quite gone, the other traveller climbed down from the tree, and jocularly asked his friend what it was the bear had whispered in his ear.
“He gave me this advice,” his companion replied. ‘Never travel with a friend who deserts you when danger approaches.'”
❖ Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
