A Dog lay in a manger and by his growling and snapping prevented the oxen from eating the hay that had been placed for them[1]. “What a selfish Dog!” said one of them to his companions; “He cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can.”
Moral of the story: Let other people enjoy the things you don’t.
[1] Rabies?
Some cranes made their feeding grounds on some plowlands newly sown with wheat. For a long time the Farmer, brandishing an empty sling, chased them away by the terror he inspired; but when the birds found that the sling was only swung in the air, they ceased to take any notice of it and would not move. The Farmer, on seeing this, charged his sling with stones, and killed a great number. The remaining birds at once forsook his fields, crying to each other, “It is time for us to be off to Liliput[1]: for this man is no longer content to scare us, but begins to show us in earnest what he can do.”
Moral of the story: If words suffice not, blows will follow.
[1] I think this just means, “off to somewhere else” because Liliput is a misspelling of a place in England, and Aesop was Greek. European cranes currently migrate from Scandinavia to Spain, but maybe they flew to different destinations back in Aesop’s day.
I will now attempt to climb out of this informational rabbit hole I seem to have fallen down.
A Man and a Lion traveled together through the forest.[1] They soon began to boast of their respective superiority to each other in strength and prowess. As they were disputing, they passed a statue carved in stone, which represented “a Lion strangled by a Man.” The traveler pointed to it and said: “See there! How strong we are, and how we prevail over even the king of beasts.” The Lion replied: “This statue was made by one of you men. If we Lions knew how to erect statues, you would see the Man placed under the paw of the Lion.”
Moral of the story: The hero of the story depends on who tells it.
[1] So far in the Aesop Universe, lions and men usually hunt and kill each other. But here, they go camping and talk about art. The heart wants what the heart wants, I guess.
A number of Flies were attracted to a jar of honey which had been overturned in a housekeeper’s room[1], and placing their feet in it, ate greedily. Their feet, however, became so smeared with the honey that they could not use their wings, nor release themselves, and were suffocated. Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, “O foolish creatures that we are, for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves.”
Moral of the story: Pleasure bought with pains hurts.
[1] That mess was no accident. It’s a trap!
A Tortoise, lazily basking in the sun, complained to the sea-birds of her hard fate, that no one would teach her to fly. An Eagle, hovering near, heard her lamentation and demanded what reward she would give him if he would take her aloft and float her in the air. “I will give you,” she said, “all the riches of the Red Sea.” “I will teach you to fly then,” said the Eagle; and taking her up in his talons he carried her almost to the clouds suddenly he let her go, and she fell on a lofty mountain, dashing her shell to pieces.[1] The Tortoise exclaimed in the moment of death: “I have deserved my present fate; for what had I to do with wings and clouds, who can with difficulty move about on the earth?’
Moral of the story: Be careful what you wish for.
[1] Great bedtime story for kids who don’t have enough nightmares.
The Ass and the Fox, having entered into partnership together for their mutual protection[1], went out into the forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far when they met a Lion. The Fox, seeing imminent danger, approached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass if the Lion would pledge his word not to harm the Fox. Then, upon assuring the Ass that he would not be injured, the Fox led him to a deep pit and arranged that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and attacked the Ass at his leisure[2].
Moral of the story: The real ass the one who doesn’t keep his word.
[1] Sounds like a mafia deal.
[2] This last bit reads like dirty talk.
A Mountain was once greatly agitated. Loud groans and noises were heard, and crowds of people came from all parts to see what was the matter.[1] While they were assembled in anxious expectation of some terrible calamity, out came a Mouse.
[1] I hate this fable. Sure, a mouse came out first. But you know what came out next? Lava. So much lava.
Moral of the story: Don’t make much ado about nothing.
The Swallow and the Crow had a contention[1] about their plumage. The Crow put an end to the dispute by saying, “Your feathers are all very well in the spring, but mine protect me against the winter.”
[1] Were they arguing about whose feathers were prettier, or more durable, or what? Aesop, I need more to work with here.
Moral of the story: Dress for the occasion.
A Bear boasted very much of his philanthropy, saying that of all animals he was the most tender in his regard for man, for he had such respect for him that he would not even touch his dead body. A Fox[1] hearing these words said with a smile to the Bear, “Oh, but you would eat the living and not the dead.”
[1] Foxes are the annoying hecklers of the Aesop Universe.
Moral of the story: What you don’t bother with says as much about you as what you do.
A young fawn once said to his Mother, “You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns[1] as a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?” She smiled, and said: “I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can.”
[1] Female deer don’t grow antlers. So I’m guessing this fawn has been kidnapped and is being raised by the male abductor.
Charting Aesop: Stories With Questionable Morals 