76. The Kid and the Wolf
A KID standing on the roof of a house, out of harm's way, saw a Wolf passing by and immediately began to taunt and revile him.
The Wolf, looking up, said, "Sirrah! I hear thee: yet it is not thou who mockest me, but the roof on which thou art standing."
Time and place often give the advantage to the weak over the strong.
77. The Ox and the Frog
AN OX drinking at a pool trod on a brood of young frogs and crushed one of them to death.
The Mother coming up, and missing one of her sons, inquired of his brothers what had become of him.
"He is dead, dear Mother; for just now a very huge beast with four great feet came to the pool and crushed him to death with his cloven heel." The Frog, puffing herself out, inquired, "if the beast was as big as that in size." "Cease, Mother, to puff yourself out," said her son, "and do not be angry; for you would, I assure you, sooner burst than successfully imitate the hugeness of that monster."
78. The Shepherd and the Wolf
A SHEPHERD once found the whelp of a Wolf and brought it up, and after a while taught it to steal lambs from the neighboring flocks.
The Wolf, having shown himself an apt pupil, said to the Shepherd, "Since you have taught me to steal, you must keep a sharp lookout, or you will lose some of your own flock." |
