1) The Bat and the Weasels

One day a bat was caught by a weasel. The bat asked the weasel to let him go, but the weasel refused, saying that he was an enemy of the birds. The bat assured the weasel that he wasn’t a bird, but a mouse, so the weasel let the bat go. Later, the bat was caught by a second weasel. The bat asked the weasel to let him go, but the weasel refused, saying that he was a mouse hunter.

2) The Fisherman Piping

A fisherman, who loved to play the flute, went to the seashore. He played several songs, hoping that the fish would dance into his net. After a while, the fisherman realized that his music was unsuccessful, so he cast his net far out into the ocean. When he hauled in his catch of fish, he saw them leaping in his net. He said, “How rude! When I played music, you wouldn’t dance, but now that I’ve stopped you dance happily.”

3) The Ants and the Grasshopper

Some ants were spending a beautiful winter’s morning drying grain that they had collected during the summer. A starving grasshopper passed by and begged the ants for some of their food. The ants replied, “Why didn’t you collect any food this past summer?” The grasshopper said, “I was too busy. I passed my time by singing.” The ants replied, “If you were foolish enough to sing all summer long, then you deserve to be hungry in the winter.”
 
4) The Dog and his Shadow

A dog was crossing over a river on a bridge with a piece of meat in his mouth when he saw his own reflection. He thought it was another dog, with a bigger piece of meat. He immediately let go of his own meat and attacked the other dog to get the larger piece of meat. When he realized that the other dog was just his reflection in the water, his own piece of meat had already floated down the river.

5) The donkey, the Fox, and the Lion

One day a donkey and a fox went into the forest together where they met a lion. The fox approached the lion and promised to help him capture the donkey if the lion promised not to harm the fox. The lion agreed, and so the fox led the donkey into a deep pit and arranged so that the donkey would fall right into it and be trapped. But as soon as the lion saw the donkey was safely secured for later, he immediately attacked the fox.
 
6) The Flies and the Honey-Pot

Several flies were attracted to a large overturned jar of honey in a housekeeper’s room. They landed in it and began eating it greedily. Their feet, however, became hopelessly stuck in honey and they discovered that they would never be able to fly away. As they were dying, they cried, “We are so foolish! We will pay with our lives for this mouthful of honey.”

7) The Man and the Lion

A man and a lion were traveling together through the forest. They argued about who had more strength and courage. As they were talking, they passed a stone statue which showed a lion being strangled by a man. The man said, “Look how strong humans are, and how we can even beat the king of the beasts!” The lion replied, “If we lions knew how to carve statues, surely you would see the man placed under the paw of the lion.”

8) The Dog in the Manger

A dog was lying in a manger, enjoying his nap in the warm hay. Some oxen approached the manger to eat some hay, but the dog growled and snapped at their noses. The oxen lamented, “What a selfish dog! He cannot even eat the hay himself, but he refuses to let those who can eat hay come close enough to have a bite.”

9) The Oxen and the Axle Trees

A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of Oxen. The oak trees groaned and creaked terribly as the wagon was passing by them. The oxen heard them and said, “Why do you make so much noise? We’re the ones doing all the work. Don’t complain so much or someone will come make a wagon out of you as well.”

10) The Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat

A young pig was in the barnyard with a sheep and a goat. One day the farmer entered the barnyard and grabbed the pig. The pig grunted and violently resisted. The sheep and goat laughed, saying, “The farmer often handles us, and we don’t fight back.” The pig replied, “Ah, but the farmer catches us for very different reasons! He only wants your wool and milk. But when he grabs me, he wants me for my meat.”

11) The Boy and the Marbles (nee Filberts)

A boy stuck his hand into a pitcher full of marbles. He grabbed as many as he could, but when he tried to pull out his hand, it got stuck at the opening of the pitcher. Unwilling to drop any of his marbles, he began to cry out in bitterness and disappointment. A bystander said to him, “If you could be satisfied with half of those marbles, you would easily be able to get your hand out.”

12) The Shepherd's Boy and the Wolf

A shepherd boy, who watched a flock of sheep just outside the village, thought it was funny to play pranks on the villagers. He would cry out, “Wolf! Wolf! Somebody help me!” Every time, the villagers would come running and the boy would roll in the grass laughing at them. One day a real wolf attacked the boy’s flock. But when the boy cried out this time, no one came running to help him.
 
13) The Kid and the Wolf

A small boy was standing on the roof of his house when he saw a wolf passing by. The boy immediately began to taunt and insult the wolf. The wolf scowled at the boy and replied through snarling teeth, “I hear your cursing, sir, but it is not you that teases me the most, but the roof on which you are standing.”
 
14) The Wolf and the Sheep

There once was a wolf who was lounging in his lair. He became hungry so he called to a sheep who was passing, and asked the sheep to fetch some water from a stream flowing nearby. The wolf said, “if you will bring me drink, I will find means to provide myself with meat.” “Yes,” said the sheep, “but if I brought you the water, you might decide I should also provide the meat.”
 
15) The Fisherman and His Nets

A young fisherman made a very successful throw of his net and ensnared a great haul of fish. Although the fish were strong, he managed to skillfully draw all of the large fish to the shore. But no matter how skilled he became, the fisherman could never prevent the smaller fish from falling back through the holes of his net and swimming back to sea.
 
16) The Hawk, the Kite, and the Pigeons

One day, a kite appeared in the sky and terrified a group of pigeons. They immediately called upon a hawk to defend them. He agreed without hesitation. Once they had accepted the hawk as a member of the group, the pigeons found that he wreaked more havoc and killed far more pigeons in a single day than the kite had through the course of a year.
 
17) The Lion and the Boar

In the heat of a summer day, a lion and a boar both became thirsty and stopped to take a drink from a small well. The two beasts fought for the opportunity to drink first, each prepared to take down the other. During a break in the fight, they saw some vultures waiting in the distance for the first victim. The lion and the boar immediately stopped quarreling to befriend one another so that neither became a meal for the birds.

18) The Ass, the Cock, and the Lion

A donkey and a rooster were in a barnyard together when a starving lion approached the spot. He was about to attack the donkey, when the rooster crowed loudly, and the lion fled as fast as he could. The donkey, observing the lion’s terror at the mere crowing of a rooster, gathered the courage to attack the lion, and galloped off in pursuit. The donkey hadn’t run very far when the lion turned around and tore him to pieces.

19) The Mice in Council

The mice summoned a council to decide how to warn each other of an approaching cat. Their best proposal was to tie a bell to the neck of the cat, so that the mice, warned by the sound of the ringing, might run away and hide themselves in their holes at the cat’s approach. However, when the mice debated who among them should tie the bell on the cat, not one mouse volunteered.

20) The Wolf and the Shepherds

A wolf passed by some shepherds as they ate their meal. He could smell that something delicious was cooking over the fire. Wandering closer, the wolf realized they were feasting on a thick leg of lamb. He approached the shepherds, scoffing at their hypocrisy. For if the wolf were to feed on the shepherd’s sheep, the men would immediately kill him.
  
21) The Oak and the Reeds

A large oak tree was lifted by the wind and tossed into a nearby stream. It fell next to some reeds and asked solemnly, “I wonder how you, so light and weak, are not entirely crushed by such strong winds.” The reeds replied, “You fight and resist the wind, so you are destroyed; we, on the other hand, bend before the breath of air and remain easily standing.”

22) The Wild Boar and the Fox

A wild boar stood under a tree and thrust his tusks against the rough bark. A passing fox asked the boar why he was sharpening his teeth when the forest was such a safe place. The boar replied, “I do so just in case; it would be quite inconvenient to have to sharpen my weapons at a time I need to use them.”

23) The Lion, the Bear, and the Fox

A lion and a bear seized a goat at the same moment and fought fiercely for it. After a while, the two laid down, tired from the battle, as the goat stood in the middle without a scratch. Meanwhile, a fox, who had been circling the commotion, snatched the goat and scampered off. Seeing this, the lion and bear sighed, “what a pity that we did all that fighting to give a fox a free dinner.”

24) The Farmer and the Fox

After several days of trying, a farmer finally captured the fox that had been raiding his poultry yard. Blind with rage, the farmer drenched the tail of the fox with oil, and set fire to it. The flaming fox broke free of the farmer’s angry clutches and tore through the fields of wheat. Although it was almost time for the wheat harvest, the farmer reaped nothing because his whole crop had been burned to the ground.

25) The Lion and the Hare

A lion stumbled upon a sleeping rabbit. As he went to seize his meal, a young horse trotted by, so instead, the lion started chasing the horse. The rabbit, startled by the noise, scurried away. After a long chase, the lion failed to catch the horse, and came back for the rabbit. Upon return, he found the rabbit had gone; he sighed to himself, “that’s what I get for letting go of what I had for something bigger.”

26) The Peasant and the Eagle

A wandering peasant came across an eagle who was bound by a trap. Admiring the bird, the peasant set him free. Later, the eagle saw the peasant asleep under an oak tree that was wavering dangerously in the wind. As the tree began to tumble over onto the peasant, the eagle darted in and snatched him, placing him safely in a meadow.

27) The Fox and the Leopard

One day, a fox and a leopard were bickering about who was the more handsome and attractive animal. In an attempt to outshine the fox, the leopard leaped into sunlight, presenting each decorative spot on his delicate fur. Watching this elaborate performance, the fox scoffed, “How foolish; for you are only decorated in body, yet I have a beautiful, decorated mind.”

28) The Hare and the Hound

A hound dog began chasing a rabbit through a field. After a long chase, the dog gave up, stopping to rest. A herd of goats passed by, mocking the dog, “The little one is the best runner of the two!” The dog breathlessly replied, “You have to realize the difference between us: I was only running for dinner, but he ran for his life.”

29) The Bull and the Lioness (and the Wild-Boar Hunter who isn’t in the story any more)

A bull was trudging through the prairie when he came upon a lion cub. The bull charged at the cub, killing the little cat. The lioness appeared and realized her son was gone. As she started to cry, the bull told her “Before you cry over your own loss, think of how many of my children would have died because of your cub.”

30) The Hen and the Golden Eggs

A man and a woman lived together in a cottage. Each day, one of their hens laid a single golden egg. Convinced that the hen must contain a great lump of gold on the inside, they killed it. When they realized it was no different on the inside than any other of their hens, they wept: The foolish pair ruined their everyday fortune with the hope of being rich all at once.
 
31) The Woman and Her Hen

A woman owned a healthy hen that gave her one egg every morning. The woman often wondered to herself how she might obtain two eggs every day instead of just one. Finally, determined to double her profit, she decided to give the hen twice as much food. From that day forward, the hen became fat and sluggish and never once laid another egg.

32) The Camel

When the man first saw the camel, he was so afraid of its large size that he ran away. After some time, seeing how gentle the beast was, the man gained enough courage to approach the camel. Soon afterwards, realizing the camel was not as terrifying as he thought, the man put reigns on the creature and used it to travel long distances.

33) The Bull and the Calf

A bull was heaving with all his might to squeeze himself through a narrow passage that led to his stall. A young calf came up and offered to go before the bull to show the way. “Save yourself the trouble,” said the bull, “I knew that way a long time ago, even before you were born. Just wait until you’re grown and this will be difficult for you, too.”
 
34) The Peacock and the Crane

A peacock, spreading his gorgeous tail, mocked a crane for being gray and ugly. The peacock laughed at the crane saying, “I’m so colorful, like a rainbow. You don’t even have a little color.” “True,” replied the crane, “but I can fly and sing, while you can only walk around on the ground without singing even a single note.”

35) The Hart and the Vine

A deer was running from a hunter and hid himself under the safety of a vine’s leaves. The hunter ran by the covered deer, unable to see him. Assuming danger had passed, the deer began to nibble on the leaves of the vine. The hunter heard the rustle of leaves, turned, and captured the deer. Too late the deer realized he should not have eaten the leaves that had protected him.

36) The Crow and the Pitcher

A clever crow, very thirsty from a summer’s day, came across a pitcher. Hoping to find a good source of water, he excitedly flew to the container. When he reached it, the crow realized the pitcher was too tall, and he could not reach the water. But the crow gathered as many stones as he could, dropping them into the pitcher, raising the water level high enough to drink.
 
37) The Walnut Tree

A large walnut tree rested along the side of the road and provided passersby with delicious walnuts every day. However, the travelers were so greedy that they began to break off the tree’s branches to get even more. After a few weeks, the poor walnut tree was so broken that it could no longer produce any food for the travelers.

38) The Kid and the Wolf

A boy walking along a path found himself being stalked by a hungry wolf. Realizing the severity of the situation, the boy turned to the wolf and said, “I know you want to eat me, but before you do, will you play me a song?” The wolf agreed. As the wolf played, the boy’s dogs came to rescue him. The wolf learned that day never to play with his food.

39) The Boy Bathing

A boy was swimming alone in a river when he suddenly got caught in a dangerous current. On the brink of drowning, the boy cried out to a passing traveler for help. However, instead of holding out his hand, the traveler scolded the boy for his reckless behavior. The boy cried once more, “Please help me now, and save your yelling for after I’m safely ashore!”

40) The Hawk and the Nightingale

A little bird sat on an oak, singing a song. A hawk swooped in and grabbed the little bird for lunch. The little bird begged, “Please let me go! I’m not as large as the other birds; those are the ones you should eat.” The hawk laughed and replied, “I would be crazy to let go of a perfectly fine meal for one that I can’t even see.”
 
41) The Fly and the Mule

A fly rested on the wooden axle of a cart and taunted the mule attached to it. “You’re so slow! Why don’t you go faster? I have half a mind to sting you,” threatened the fly. The mule was unfazed by the fly’s words, replying, “you don’t scare me, little bug. The only one I listen to is the man who holds the reigns.”
 
42) The Crow and Mercury

A crow was trapped in a cage and promised to repay any man that helped him escape. However, when a man did release him, the crow forgot his promise and flew off. Not long after, the crow found himself in another trap. The man’s wife passed by and the bird begged for her help, promising her a favor in return. The woman replied, “Why would I help you if you have already broken the promise you made to my husband?”

43) The Two Men Who Were Enemies

Two men who were enemies sailed along a stream in different boats. As they sailed, the stream became narrower. The men looked ahead and realized that the stream would only fit one boat. As it became more difficult to sail, the first man jumped to the second man’s boat saying, “if we sail together in one boat, we can both ride along this stream at the same time.”

44) The Wolf and the Lion

Roaming by the mountainside at sundown, a wolf saw his own shadow stretched along the path. He paused to admire its immense size, thinking to himself, “Why should I be afraid of a lion, when I am actually quite large and intimidating?” While he indulged in his proud thoughts, a lion leapt out and ate the wolf for dinner. The wolf realized too late that he should not have become so arrogant.

45) The Fox and the Lion

A fox was walking through the forest when he saw a lion trapped in a cage. He taunted and mocked the lion for his imprisonment. The lion sat in silence, ignoring the fox’s insults. As the fox went on, a sudden, strong burst of wind came through and lifted the cage off the lion and onto the fox. The lion smiled and walked freely along his path as the fox sat bitterly in his new prison.

46) The Two Bags

According to legend, each man is born into the world with two bags hanging from his neck. Each bag is filled with faults. The bag hanging in the front is filled with the faults of a man’s neighbors, while the bag in the back is filled with a man’s own faults. Hence, it is easier to see the mistakes of others, while a man is often blind to his own failures.

47) The Hen and the Swallow

A hen found the eggs of a poisonous snake. She decided to sit on the eggs and keep them warm until they hatched. A bird, seeing what the hen had done, exclaimed, “what were you thinking? When those baby snakes hatch, they’ll grow and hurt all of us—even you!” Yet, when the snakes hatched and grew, they thanked the hen and slithered off to another forest to eat.

48) The Partridge and the Fowler

A bird catcher came upon an eagle, ready to capture it. The eagle earnestly begged the bird catcher to let him go and said, “Please don’t capture me. If you let me go, I’ll trick other eagles to fly by for you and you can capture more than one.” The bird catcher sneered and replied, “Now I am definitely going to capture you because you are so willing to sacrifice your friends and family for your own life.”

49) The Travelers and the Tree

Two travelers, worn out by the heat of the summer sun, laid out underneath the wide branches of a tree. As they rested in the shade, one of the travelers said, “What a useless tree; it doesn’t have fruit, and therefore serves no purpose.” The tree interrupted the man, “You are so ungrateful! Look at yourselves now resting under my shade; now tell me who is useless!”

50) The Olive-Tree and the Fig-Tree

The olive tree laughed at the fig tree because the fig tree shed its leaves in winter while the olive tree was green all year long. Winter came, and snow fell on the two trees. Because the olive tree had branches full of leaves, snow rested on its limbs. After a pile of snow gathered on the olive tree, the branches snapped under the pressure of the snow. Meanwhile, the fig tree, with its fallen leaves, held no snow and avoided injury.

51) The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea

A shipwrecked man was tossed onto the beach of an island. He crawled up to the shoreline and fell asleep, faint from exhaustion. When he awoke, he looked out to the ocean and complained to it, “You look so calm and kind, but when men like me go out to sail, you’re so rough and destructive!” The sea replied, “Don’t blame me; blame the winds. I am calm, but when the winds blow, they create waves and make me dangerous.”
 
52) The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller

A man burned charcoal in his home to earn his living. One day he met his friend who was a seamstress, and asked her to marry him. The man said that he had loved her from a distance since they were children. Her pale complexion turned red from embarrassment. She replied , “The marriage is impossible as far as I’m concerned, for whatever I should stitch on my loom, you would immediately soil with your foul charcoal.” 
 
53) The Wolf and the Crane

A wolf had a piece of bone stuck in his throat and hired a swan to stick her head into his mouth and grab the bone. The wolf promised the swan a fair sum of money to perform this task. The swan grabbed hold of the bone, and extracted it. When she asked for her payment the wolf said, “Wasn’t it good enough payment that you safely took your head from my throat? Pray that I don’t eat you tomorrow.”

54) The Traveler and His Dog

A traveler was about to leave home for a long journey when he saw his dog standing at the door and stretching his legs. The traveler asked angrily, “Why do you waste so much time stretching? The sun is almost up and everything is ready but you.” The dog wagged his tail and replied, “O, master! I am quite ready; I was trying to wait for you.”

55) The Camel and Jupiter

A camel caught sight of a bull and envied him for his horns, which symbolized honor and power. The camel went to the god Jupiter and began to whine about his plain appearance. Jupiter was annoyed that the camel was dissatisfied with his own size and might, so he denied the camel’s request. Not only this, but in his anger, Jupiter shrunk the camel’s ears to the size of a date.

56) The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble

A pomegranate tree and an apple tree had a fight over who had the highest rank in their grove. The pomegranate tree said, “Your fruit is no match for mine.” The apple tree replied, “The top of my branches are filled with beautiful blossoms.” A weed from the neighboring plot of land overhead and said, “Please stop arguing in front of a poor wretch like me. I can’t ever hope to be as beautiful or bountiful as either of you.”
  
57) The Farmer and the Snake

On a winter day, a farmer caught sight of a snake who was frozen from the cold. The snake was covered in scales with no fur to help it stay warm, so the farmer took pity on the snake. The farmer placed the snake by the fire and its pulse began to quicken once more. The snake then turned around and bit the farmer in the neck. The farmer realized he shouldn’t have helped someone whose soul was evil.

58) The Thieves and the Cock

Some thieves broke into a house, finding nothing but a rooster. They stole it and tried to race off as fast as they could go. When the thieves arrived home, they planned to stick the rooster in a box and send him far away. “Please keep me,” the rooster begged, “I can perch on your bedpost and wake you up in the night so that you may work.” The men replied, “that is exactly why we have to send you away!”

59) The Flea and the Man


A man was annoyed with a flea that was flying around the top of his head and crawling on his skin. The man finally caught the flea and yelled, “who do you think you are, that you might cause me so much trouble?” The flea replied, “Don’t be rash sir! I can’t possibly do you too much harm.” The man laughed and replied, “It is only fair that I destroy you for no evil, large or small, should be tolerated.”

60) The Swallow and the Crow

The duck and the crow had an argument about their feathers. Each one thought they had a better pelt of feathers than the other. They kept arguing until the crow eventually put an end to the argument by saying, “Your feathers might be the most beautiful in the spring, but mine protect me from the cold in the winter. Just count them and you’ll find them to be more numerous than your own.”

61) The Wolf and the Lion

A wolf went to steal a lamb from a barn and began to haul away his dinner to his lair. A lion met the wolf in the path, seized the lamb from the wolf, and left the wolf dinnerless. Standing at a safe distance from the lion, the wolf exclaimed, “Why don’t you just take a piece of the lamb rather than the whole thing?” The lion replied, “Why take one shoe when you can take a pair?”

62) The Thirsty Pigeon

A pigeon had just made a long journey. He was faint from exhaustion and thirsty from his flight. Just as he was about to get home, he saw a cup of water painted on a billboard. Thinking the cup was real, he flew toward it and hit the billboard. Having crushed his bill, he fell and landed in the palm of a bystander’s outstretched hand. The pigeon feebly tried to coo his thanks while the bystander began to heal him. 
 
63) The Fox and the Bramble

A fox was climbing a tall mountain when he lost his footing and caught hold of a thorn bush for safety. After pricking the soles of his feet, he blamed the thorn bush for his misfortune. “I went to you for help but instead you decided to stick me with a sharp thorn! Now I have blood on my beautiful fur.” cried the fox. The thorn bush replied, “You should count your blessings that I helped save your life.”

64) The Lion and the Eagle

A hawk, who loved to sail high in the sky, swooped down from his flight and offered a lion an alliance. Both would benefit from the hawk’s kind offer: the hawk would spot the prey and the lion could capture it for them. The lion replied, “I don’t have a problem with your idea, but I cannot help but be skeptical when you can fly away and leave this deal whenever you want.”

65) Truth and the Traveler

A man traveling in the desert saw a sole figure loom in the distance. He soon came across a woman who looked terribly sad. He asked her, “Who are you? From which city do you hail?” The woman replied, “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Truth. I am out here because I am not easy for everyone to accept. I must wait a long time before some people find me and welcome me.”

66) The Ass and the Horse

A deer asked a horse if she could spare him a small jar of food. “Yes,” said the horse; “if anything is left after what I’m eating now, I’ll give it to you, since I am a higher rank than you. Also, if you come back in a week, I’ll give you a pound of barley.” The deer replied, “If you won’t give me food now, I doubt you will ever give me any at all.”

67) The Lark Burying Her Father

The first fowl was created before the earth itself. On the date that her father died, she could wrap him in her wings but had nowhere to bury him. So the gods presented her with an Earth. Grateful for the gesture, the bird took it upon herself to watch over the Earth. Noticing that the sun made the Earth unbearably hot, the bird flapped her wings, full of power and might, and a cooling breeze began to blow over the land.

68) The Crow and the Serpent

A crow was flying above the mountains, when he spotted a snake asleep in the sun. Greedy and desperate for food, he flew down and seized the snake by its tail. The snake, alarmed, turned and bit a hole in the crow’s wing. Very hurt, the crow realized what he had thought had been a good idea, turned out to be a rash one because of his greedy nature. 


69) The Gnat and the Bull

A gnat took his perch on the horn of a bull, relaxing for a long while. Just as the gnat was ready to go, he made a small buzzing sound and asked the bull, “Do you want me to leave?” The bull shrugged and replied, “You are so light that I didn’t know you were here; I won’t miss you when you’re gone.”
 
70) The Cat and the Rooster

A cat caught a rooster, and began thinking of fair excuses for eating him. The cat first accused the rooster of being a nuisance due to his loud and insistent crow in the early morning. The rooster replied that this was the case so that mankind might rise in time to begin a day’s work. The cat said, “You make a good point, but I still have to eat”—and ate the rooster on the spot.
 
71) The Lion in Love

A lion demanded a lumberjack give him his dear daughter’s hand in marriage. The lumberjack’s heart began to race with fear, but he wasn’t willing to give the lion his daughter. So the lumberjack began to stall and told the lion that if he could extract his teeth and file down his claws, the lumberjack’s daughter would be his. The lion agreed. When the toothless, clawless lion returned for the daughter, the lumberjack killed the lion with a log. 

72) The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Once upon a time, a wolf disguised himself as a sheep so he could catch his prey more easily. Encased in a veil of sheep skin, the wolf deceived the shepherd and was herded into the barn with the rest of the sheep. The wolf wanted to wait until morning to attack, but the shepherd returned that night to get some meat. He mistook the wolf for a sheep and decided to slay him for dinner. 

73) The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox

A lion and a fox fell asleep in a hole in the side of a hill. A mouse ran over the lion’s tail into the fox’s lap and woke them both up from their nap. The lion got up and scoured the place from the front to rear for the little mouse. Hours later, the lion and the fox began to hunt for dinner. The lion’s search began to take its toll and he was too tired to catch anything.

74) The Wolves and the Sheep

Some clever wolves said to a flock of sheep, “Why should there be so much pain and animosity between us? The team of dogs that keep watch over you and your plot are very rude. Whenever we approach to greet you, they bark and attack us. If only you could tell them to take the day off, then we could truly work toward peace and friendship.” The sheep were easily fooled and dismissed the dogs, and the wolves immediately attacked.

75) The Belly and the Members

Every cell of the body came together to rebel against those of the stomach saying, “Why should we be working so hard to earn our living so that you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor?” The body refused to assist the stomach any longer. A week later, the cells were in so much pain due to a lack of nutrients that they begged the stomach to forgive them.

76) The Shepherd and the Wolf

 A shepherd once found a baby wolf near a creek and raised it as his own. After a while, the shepherd taught the young wolf to plot and steal lambs from the neighboring flocks. The wolf, after proving to be a successful student, told the shepherd, “Since you have taught me so well, you must keep a close count of your whole flock, otherwise you will lose some of your own sheep.”

77) The Heifer and the Ox

A cow saw an Ox harnessed to a plow, and tormented him by reminding him of his harsh role of forced labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, the owner released the Ox from his yoke, but took hold of the cow with a cord and led him to the top of the altar to be slain for the occasion. The Ox observed and said with a smile: "Your carefree way of living reflected your future as a sacrifice."

78) The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice

A kind swallow, returning from a long journey, built herself a nest in the rear wall of a courthouse. She laid seven eggs and had seven young birds. A Serpent, gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall, spotted the prey and ate the young birds. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, mourned and exclaimed: "This is supposed to be a fair and just place, yet I have been wronged."

79) The Man Bitten by a Dog

A man was bitten by a dog and developed a foul smelling rash. He searched for someone who could heal him and found a friend who said, "If you want to be cured, take a scrap of steak, dip it in the blood from your wound, and give the meat to the Dog that bit you." The Man laughed at this advice and said, "Why? If I do, it would be like inviting every Dog in town to bite me."

80) The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar

A young belle found a box with an empty jar in it that had once held a precious wine. The jar still retained the liquid’s sweet smell. She greedily placed the jar under her nose and sniffed several times. She said, “The wine must have been delicious! I wish I could have tasted it, for it is far better than mine!” Then she realized that although she had no wine, she had a perfectly good jar.

81) The Shepherd and the Sea

A shepherd’s son watched his sheep on the shore. The sea was very calm, so he decided to sell his flock, invest in a load of fruit, and set sail to trade at a local market. However, a large thunderstorm struck, and the man was forced to bail water and throw his fruit overboard to stay afloat. A passing sailor observed the tumultuous surf and claimed, “The sea has demanded the fruit and it will not be refused.”

82) The Wolf and the Housedog

A wolf caught sight of a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about his neck. The wolf asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet forced him to tow that heavy piece of wood wherever he went. "My master," he replied. Then the Wolf said: "I pray that none of my friends find themselves in that sort of situation because the weight of this collar isn’t worth what he is providing you for food."

83) The Rivers and the Sea

One day, all of the rivers and creeks joined together in protest against the ocean. They said, "We are some of the clearest and sweetest water you can find on earth, but when our waters flow into you, they become salty, foul, and filled with waste." The ocean, thinking that the waterways intended to plot against him, said, "Then stop flowing into my surf, and your waters will no longer become spoiled."


84) The Jackdaw and the Fox

A very hungry hawk flew along a creek, desperate for food. He sat himself on the branch of a beech tree, which happened to produce fruit entirely out of season. The bird decided to wait in hopes that the fruit would ripen. A fox saw the hawk and suggested, “You’re fooling yourself, bird. If you waste time waiting for the fruit to come to you, you’ll never get a meal.”

85) The Ass in the Lion's Skin

A donkey put on a fur suit of a lion and walked around the forest. The donkey roamed around and amused himself by scaring any other foolish animals he would meet. The lion-suited donkey came across a hare and tried to frighten him. However, the hare was not fooled by this spell, for it heard the whine of the donkey and knew there was no lion.

86) The Quack Frog

A frog came from his camp in the marsh and proclaimed to all of the beasts in the forest that he was a learned physician, very skilled and practiced in the use of drugs. The frog told the animals, “I have come to sell medicine that will cure your pain and disease.” A fox saw the frog’s limp and wrinkled skin and asked, “How can you pretend to heal others when you can’t even take care of yourself?”

87) The Two Travelers and the Axe

Two men walked along a creek, but stopped when they came across a pool. One man stopped, picked up an axe, and said, “I have found an axe made from a log.” The other said “Do not say ‘I’. ‘We’ found an axe.” A few moments later, the owner of the axe tore across a nearby bridge. “We must flee!” said the man who had picked up the axe. The second man replied, “On second thought, stick to saying ‘I’.”

88) The Hunter and the Woodman

A weak and cowardly hunter searched for the tracks of a lion. The hunter crossed a worn-down bridge and asked a nearby lumberjack if he had seen any trace of the lion’s footprints or knew where the lion resided. The man replied, “Yes, I will bring you to him right now.” The hunter’s pulse rose. He grew pale and faint, shook his head and squeaked, “No, thank you. It is only his tracks I’m looking for, not the lion himself.”

89) The Lion in a Farmyard

A lion walked into a farmyard. The farmer, in hopes of catching him, shut the gate. When the lion realized he was trapped, he went on a rampage and began to slay all of the fowl, sheep and oxen. The farmer, terrified for his life, grew faint and let the lion flee. The farmer grieved for his lost livestock, yet his dear wife merely shrugged, “Serves you right for trying to control a beast whose roar alone makes you quiver.”

90) The Monkey and the Fishermen

A monkey sat in a beech tree observing some fishermen, who were casting their nets into a river. After a while, the fisherman went home for dinner, leaving the ropes draped on a large rock along a nearby creek. The monkey descended from the treetops and tried to copy the fishermen. He clumsily entangled himself in the cords and drowned. With his last breath he spoke, “Serves me right, since I have never fished a day in my life.”


91) The Cat and the Mice

A clever cat was put in charge of a house that was infested with mice. The cat made her way around the house, snatching up every mouse in view. Fearful, the mice retreated to their holes. The cat, no longer able to capture her prey, jumped on top of a table to play dead. One mouse took a peek from its hole, saw the cat’s tail and stated, “I wouldn’t come near you even if you were cooking in an oven.”

92) The Mouse and the Bull

A mouse scurried up to a bull and bit him on the heel. Angered, the rash bull thundered toward the mouse, but the mouse slipped into its hole safely. Though the bull crashed into the walls with his horns, he couldn’t uncover the mouse. The bull then fell fast asleep by the hole. Creeping out, the mouse bit the bull on the toe and sneered, “The great don’t always prevail; it’s sometimes those who are weak who are the smartest.”

93) The Oaks and Jupiter

The pine trees complained, “It is not fair! We have no purpose living each day, for among all the trees, we get chopped the most! Even more than fir trees!” A woodsman overheard the trees and told them, “you should be thankful for your misfortune, since you have the most beautiful bark and are perfect for making pillars and posts, you prove yourself the most useful among the trees. Otherwise, you would not be chopped and put up for sale.”

94) The Lamp

A lamp drenched in oil, sent a great flare into the night. The lamp bragged that it shed more light than the powerful sun. Then, with one small burst of air, the poor lamp was immediately put out. The lamp’s owner lit it again, and said, “be happy, but do not brag; remember that the sun does not blow out or need to be relit.”

95) The Trees and the Axe

A man traveled to the forest in the rain and asked the trees to provide him a log for the handle for his axe. The trees granted the man with a little fir tree. Using the young tree’s bark to build a handle for his axe, the man chopped down the rest of the forest. An old pine grieved for the loss of the other trees, since they should not have offered up someone else’s wood for the man’s weapon.

96) The Crab and the Fox

A crab, forgetting its home on the beach, sat down to rest in the sun of a lush meadow. Soon after, a fox trotted by and saw the misplaced crab. The fox was so hungry that he pounced on the crab from the rear without a second thought. As the fox’s jaws began to close, the crab began to whine, “I deserve this end. What business do I have on land when my kind belong on the seashore?”

97) The Fox and the Grapes

A famished deer caught sight of a cluster of ripe black grapes hanging from the top of a vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get at them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them. At last she turned to leave, hiding her disappointment and saying: "These Grapes are sour, and not as ripe as I thought."

98) The Boys and the Frogs

Some boys were playing near a pool when they spotted a number of frogs in the water. They began to pelt the frogs with stones for fun. The boys managed to slay several of them, when one of the frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: "Pray stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us weak frogs."

99) The Two Frogs

Two frogs dwelt in the same pool. When the creek feeding the pool dried up under the summer sun, they were forced to leave and find another home. As they went past a deep well.  One of the Frogs said to the other, "Let us make our home in this well: it will furnish us with shelter and food." The other replied, "But suppose the water should fail us. How might we get out from so great a depth?"

100) The Doe and the Lion

A deer hard pressed by a team of hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a lean lion. The Lion concealed himself upon seeing his prey approach, but when the deer was safe within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to bits. "It is not fair! Oh woe is me,” exclaimed the deer, "I have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the mouth of a wild beast?"

101) The Shipwrecked Man and the Sea

A shipwrecked man was tossed onto the shore of an island. He crawled up to the shoreline and fell asleep, tired from exhaustion. When he awoke, he looked out to the ocean and complained to it, “You look so calm and gentle, but when men like me go out to sea, you’re so choppy and destructive!” The sea replied, “Don’t blame me; blame the winds. I am calm, but when the winds gust, they create waves and make me dangerous.” 

102) The Charcoal-Burner And The Fuller

A man burns charcoal in his home to make his living. One day he met his friend who was a seamstress, and asked her to marry him. The man said that he had loved her from a distance since they were children. Her white complexion turned red from embarrassment. She replied , “The marriage is impossible as far as I’m concerned, for whatever I should stitch on my machine, you would immediately ruin with your dirty charcoal.” 

103) The Wolf and the Crane

A wolf had a shard of bone stuck in his throat and hired a swan to put her head into his mouth and grab the bone. The wolf promised the swan a good sum of money to perform this task. The swan grabbed the bone, and extracted it. When she asked for her payment the wolf said, “Wasn’t it good enough payment that you safely took your head from my throat? Hope that I don’t eat you tomorrow.”

104) The Traveler and His Dog

A traveler was about to depart home for a long journey when he saw his dog standing at the door and stretching his legs. The traveler asked angrily, “Why do you spend so much time stretching? The time is almost up and everything is ready but you.” The dog wagged his bottom and replied, “O, master! I am quite ready; I was trying to delay for you.” 

105) The Camel and Jupiter

A camel caught view of a bull and envied him for his horns, which symbolized honor and power. The camel went to the god Jupiter and began to complain about his homely appearance. Jupiter was annoyed that the camel was dissatisfied with his own size and strength, so he denied the camel’s request. Not only this, but in his anger, Jupiter shrunk the camel’s ears to the size of a fig.

106) The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble

A pomegranate tree and an apple tree had a fight over who had the highest position in their grove. The pomegranate tree said, “Your fruit is no competition for me.” The apple tree replied, “The tips of my branches are filled with beautiful blossoms.” A weed from the neighboring square of land overhead and said, “Please stop arguing in front of a poor creature like me. I can’t ever hope to be as beautiful or bountiful as either of you.” 
 
107) The Farmer and the Snake

On a winter day, a farmer caught view of a snake who was frozen from the cold. The snake was covered in scales with no hair to help it stay warm, so the farmer took pity on the snake. The farmer placed the snake by the fire and its heartbeat began to quicken once more. The snake then turned around and bit the farmer in the neck. The farmer realized he shouldn’t have helped someone whose spirit was evil. 

108) The Thieves and the Cock

Some thieves broke into a house, finding nothing but a rooster. They stole it and tried to run off as fast as they could go. When the thieves arrived home, they planned to put the rooster in a cage and send him far away. “Please keep me,” the rooster begged, “I can sit on your bedpost and rouse you up in the morning so you may work.” The men replied, “that is exactly why we have to send you away!” 

109) The Flea and the Man

A man was annoyed with a bug that was flying around the crown of his head and crawling on his skin. The man finally caught the bug and yelled, “who do you think you are, that you can cause me so much trouble?” The bug replied, “Don’t be silly sir! I can’t possibly do you much harm.” The man laughed and replied, “It is only right that I destroy you for no evil, large or small, should be tolerated.”

110) The Swallow and the Crow

The goose and the raven had an argument about their feathers. Each one thought that he had a better coat of feathers than the other. They kept arguing until the raven eventually put an end to the argument by saying, “Your feathers may be the most beautiful in the spring, but these protect me from the cold in the winter. Just observe them and you will find them to be more numerous than your own.” 

111) The Wolf and the Lion

A wolf went to take a lamb from the barn and began to drag away his dinner to his lair. A lion met the wolf in the path, seized the lamb from the wolf, and left the wolf dinnerless. Standing at a safe distance from the lion, the wolf exclaimed, “Why don’t you just take a chunk of the lamb rather than the entire thing?” The lion replied, “Why take one shoe when you can take a couple?” 

112) The Thirsty Pigeon

A pigeon had just made a long journey. He was feeble from exhaustion and thirsty from his flight. Just as he was about to get home, he saw a cup of water painted on a billboard. Thinking the cup was real, he flew towards it and hit the billboard. Having crushed his beak, he fell and landed in the middle of a bystander’s outstretched hand. The pigeon feebly tried to warble his thanks while the bystander began to cure him.
 
113) The Fox and the Bramble

A fox was climbing a tall mountain when he lost his footing and caught grip of a thorn bush for safety. After pricking the bottoms of his feet, he blamed the thorn bush for his misfortune. “I went to you for help but instead you prick me with a sharp thorn! Now I have blood on my beautiful coat.” cried the fox. The thorn bush replied, “You should recognize your blessings that I helped save your life.”

114) The Lion and the Eagle

An eagle, who loved to fly high in the sky, swooped down from his flight and offered a lion an alliance. Both would benefit from the eagle’s generous offer: the eagle would spot the target and the lion could capture it for them. The lion replied, “I don’t have a problem with your idea, but I cannot help but be skeptical when you can fly away and abandon this deal whenever you want.” 

115) Truth and the Traveler

A man traveling in the desert saw a solitary figure standing in the distance. He soon came across a woman who looked terribly sad. He asked her, “Who are you? From which city do you come?” The woman replied, “It’s nice to see you. My name is Truth. I am out here because I am not easy for everyone to accept. I must stay a long time before some people find me and welcome me.” 

116) The Ass and the Horse

An antelope asked a horse if she could spare him a small bite of food. “Yes,” said the horse; “if anything is left after what I’m eating now, I’ll give it to you, since I am a higher class than you. Also, if you come back in a month, I’ll give you a barrel of barley.” The antelope replied, “If you won’t give me food now, I doubt you will ever give me any at all.” 

117) The Lark Burying Her Father

The first bird was created before the earth itself. On the day that her father died, she could fold him in her wings but had nowhere to bury him. So the gods presented her with an Earth. Grateful for the gesture, the bird took it upon herself to watch over Earth. Noticing that the dawn made the Earth unbearably hot, the bird flapped her wings, full of power and strength, and a cooling breeze began to sweep over the land.

118) The Bird and the Serpent

A raven was flying above the mountains, when he spotted a snake asleep in the grass. Greedy and desperate for food, he flew down and seized the snake by its belly. The snake, alarmed, turned and bit a gash in the raven’s wing. Very hurt, the raven realized that what he thought was a good idea, turned out to be a foolish one because of his greedy nature. 

119) The Gnat and the Bull

A gnat took his place on the horn of a bull, relaxing for a long while. Just as the gnat was ready to go, he made a small buzzing noise and asked the bull, “Do you want me to go?” The bull shrugged and replied, “You are so small that I didn’t know you were here; I won’t notice you when you’re gone.”

120) The Cat and the Rooster

A cat caught a rooster, and began thinking of good excuses for eating him. The cat first accused the rooster of being a nuisance because of his loud and insistent cry in the early morning. The rooster replied that this was so mankind may rise in time to begin the day’s work. The cat said, “You make a good point, but I still have to eat”—and ate the rooster on the spot.

121) The Lion in Love

A lion demanded a lumberjack give him his beloved daughter’s hand in marriage. The lumberjack’s heart began to quiver with fear, but he wasn’t willing to give the lion his daughter. So the lumberjack began to dawdle and told the lion that if he could extract his teeth and shave down his claws, the lumberjack’s daughter would be his. The lion agreed. When the toothless, clawless lion returned for the daughter, the lumberjack killed the lion with an axe. 

122) The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Once upon a time, a wolf disguised himself as a sheep so he could catch his victims more easily. Encased in a disguise of sheepskin, the wolf deceived the shepherd and was herded into the barn with the rest of the sheep. The wolf wanted to delay until morning to attack, but the shepherd returned that night to get some food. He mistook the wolf for a sheep and decided to slaughter him for dinner. 

123) The Lion, the Mouse, and the Fox

A lion and a fox fell asleep in a cave in the side of a hill. A mouse ran over the lion’s foot into the fox’s paw and woke them both up from their nap. The lion got up and scoured the place from the front to back for the little mouse. Hours later, the lion and the fox began to hunt for dinner. The lion’s search began to take its price and he was too tired to catch anything.

124) The Wolves and the Sheep

Some clever wolves said to a flock of sheep, “Why should there be such hatred and animosity between us? The group of dogs that keep watch over you and your flock are very rude. Whenever we approach to greet you, they growl and attack us. If only you could tell them to take the day off, then we could truly work toward harmony and friendship.” The sheep were easily fooled and dismissed the dogs, and the wolves immediately attacked.

125) The Belly and the Members

Every cell of the body came together to rebel against those of the stomach saying, “Why should we be working so hard to make our living so that you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor?” The body refused to assist the stomach any longer. A month later, the cells were in so much agony because of a lack of nutrients that they begged the stomach to forgive them. 

126) The Shepherd and the Wolf

A shepherd once found a baby wolf near a river and raised it as his own. After a while, the shepherd taught the young wolf to scheme and seize lambs from the neighboring flocks. The wolf, after proving to be a successful student, told the shepherd, “Since you have taught me so well, you must keep a close tally of your entire flock, otherwise you will lose some of your own sheep.” 

127) The Heifer and the Ox

A cow saw an Ox harnessed to a plow, and tormented him by reminding him of his harsh position of forced labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, the owner released the Ox from his burden, but took command of the cow with a rope and led him to the front of the altar to be slain for the occasion. The Ox observed and said with a smile: "Your carefree way of living reflected your future as a sacrifice."

128) The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of Justice

A gentle swallow, returning from a long journey, built herself a nest in the back wall of a courthouse. She laid seven eggs and had seven young birds. A Serpent, gliding past the nest from its lair in the wall, spotted the nest and ate the young birds. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, mourned and exclaimed: "This is supposed to be a honest and just place, yet I have been wronged ."

129) The Man Bitten by a Dog

A man was bitten by a dog and developed a rotten smelling wound. He searched for someone who could cure him and found a friend who said, "If you want to be cured, take a scrap of food, dip it in the blood from your wound, and give the food to the Dog that bit you." The Man laughed at this advice and said, "Why? If I do, it would be like inviting every Dog in town to bite me." 

130) The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar

A young woman found a container with an empty cup in it that had once held a precious juice. The cup still retained the liquid’s sweet smell. She greedily placed the cup under her nose and sniffed several times. She said, “The juice must have been delicious! I wish I could have tasted it, for it is far better than my own!” Then she realized that although she had no juice, she had a perfectly good cup. 

131) The Shepherd and the Sea

A shepherd’s child watched his sheep on the shore. The sea was very calm, so he decided to trade his flock, invest in a load of fruit, and set off to trade at a local market. However, a large thunderstorm struck, and the man was forced to scoop water and throw his fruit overboard to stay afloat. A passing sailor observed the tumultuous waves and claimed, “The sea has demanded the fruit and it will not be refused.”

132) The Wolf and the Housedog

A wolf caught view of a big well-fed Mastiff with a wooden collar about his neck. The wolf asked him who it was that fed him so well and yet forced him to lug that heavy chunk of wood wherever he went. "My master," he replied. Then the Wolf said: "I hope that none of my friends find themselves in that sort of situation because the burden of this collar isn’t worth what he is providing you for food." 

133) The Rivers and the Sea

One day, all of the rivers and streams joined together in protest against the ocean. They said, "We are some of the clearest and sweetest water you can find on earth, but when our waters flow into you, they become salty, dirty, and filled with garbage." The ocean, thinking that the waterways intended to conspire against him, said "Then stop flowing into my waves, and your waters will no longer become spoiled." 

134) The Jackdaw and the Fox

A very hungry eagle flew along a river, desperate for food. He sat himself on the branch of an oak tree, which happened to produce fruit entirely out of season. The bird decided to rest in hopes that the fruit would ripen. A fox saw the eagle and suggested, “You’re fooling yourself, bird. If you spend time waiting for the fruit to come to you, you’ll never get a meal.”

135) The Ass in the Lion's Skin

A donkey put on a furry suit of a lion and walked around the forest. The donkey roamed around and amused himself by scaring any other foolish animals he would encounter. The lion-suited donkey came across a rabbit and tried to frighten him. However, the rabbit was not fooled by this trick, for it heard the bray of the donkey and knew there was no lion.

136) The Quack Frog

A frog came from his nest in the marsh and proclaimed to all of the beasts in the forest that he was a learned physician, very skilled and practiced in the use of drugs. The frog told the animals, “I have come to peddle medicine that will cure your suffering and disease.” A fox saw the frog’s spotted and wrinkled skin and asked, “How can you pretend to cure others when you can’t even take care of yourself?”

137) The Two Travelers and the Axe

Two men walked along a stream, but stopped when they came across a pond. One man stopped, picked up an axe, and said, “I have found an axe made from a tree.” The other said “Do not say ‘I’. ‘We’ found an axe.” A few moments later, the owner of the axe tore across a nearby bridge. “We must run!” said the man who had picked up the axe. The second man replied, “On second thought, keep to saying ‘I’.”

138) The Hunter and the Woodman

A feeble and cowardly hunter searched for the tracks of a lion. The hunter crossed a worn-down overpass and asked a nearby lumberjack if he had seen any trace of the lion’s footprints or knew where the lion resided. The man replied, “Yes, I will bring you to him right now.” The hunter’s heartbeat rose. He grew pallid and dizzy, shook his head and squeaked, “No, thank you. It is only his tracks I’m looking for, not the lion himself.”

139) The Lion in a Farmyard

A lion walked into a farmyard. The farmer, in hopes of catching him, shut the gate. When the lion realized he was trapped, he went on a rampage and began to slaughter all of the chickens, sheep and oxen. The farmer, terrified for his life, grew pallid and let the lion escape. The farmer grieved for his lost livestock, yet his beloved wife merely shrugged, “Serves you right for trying to control a beast whose roar alone makes you quiver.”

140) The Monkey and the Fishermen

A monkey sat in an oak tree observing some fishermen, who were casting their traps into a river. After a while, the fisherman went home for dinner, leaving the ropes draped on a large stone along a nearby river. The monkey descended from the treetops and tried to copy the fishermen. He clumsily entangled himself in the ropes and drowned. With his last breath he spoke, “Serves me right, since I have never fished a day in my life.”

141) The Cat and the Mice

A clever cat was put in charge of a house that was infested with mice. The cat made her way around the house, snatching up every mouse in view. Fearful, the mice retreated to their burrows. The cat, no longer able to capture her food, jumped onto a table to play dead. One mouse took a look from its burrow, saw the cat’s whiskers and stated, “I wouldn’t come near you even if you were cooking in an oven.”

142) The Mouse and the Bull

A mouse scurried up to a bull and bit him on the foot. Angered, the reckless bull thundered toward the mouse, but the mouse slipped into its burrow safely. Though the bull crashed into the walls with his horns, he couldn’t uncover the mouse. The bull then fell fast asleep by the burrow. Creeping out, the mouse bit the bull on the foot and sneered, “The great don’t always prevail; it’s sometimes those who are small who are the smartest.”

143) The Oaks and Jupiter

The oak trees complained, “It is not just! We have no purpose living each day, for among all the trees, we get chopped the most! Even more than birch trees!” A woodsman overheard the trees and told them, “you should be thankful for your misfortune, since you have the most beautiful wood and are perfect for making pillars and posts, you prove yourself the most useful among the trees. Otherwise, you would not be chopped and put up for purchase.”

144) The Lamp

A lamp drenched in oil, sent a great spark into the night. The lamp bragged that it shed more radiance than the powerful stars. Then, with one small burst of wind, the poor lamp was immediately put out. The lamp’s owner lit it again, and said, “be happy, but do not brag; remember that the stars do not go out or need to be relit.”

145) The Trees and the Axe

A man traveled to the forest in the snow and asked the trees to provide him a branch for the handle for his axe. The trees granted the man with a little birch tree. Using the young tree’s wood to build a handle for his axe, the man chopped down the rest of the forest. An old oak grieved for the loss of the other trees, since they should not have offered up someone else’s wood for the man’s weapon.

146) The Crab and the Fox

A crab, forgetting its home on the shore, sat down to rest in the grass of a lush meadow. Soon after, a fox trotted by and saw the misplaced crab. The fox was so hungry that he pounced on the crab from the back without a second thought. As the fox’s jaws began to close, the crab began to lament, “I deserve this end. What business do I have on land when my breed belong on the seashore?”

147) The Fox and the Grapes

A famished fox caught view of a cluster of ripe black grapes hanging from the end of a vine. She resorted to all her tricks to get them, but wearied herself in vain, for she could not reach them. At last she turned to go, hiding her disappointment and saying: "These Grapes are bad, and not ripe as I thought."

148) The Boys and the Frogs

Some boys were playing near a pond when they spotted a number of frogs in the water. They began to hit the frogs with stones for fun. The boys managed to kill several of them, when one of the frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: "Please stop, my boys: what is sport to you, is death to us frail frogs."

149) The Two Frogs

Two frogs dwelt in the same pond. When the stream feeding the pond dried up under the summer warmth, they were forced to go find another home. As they went past a deep well, one of the Frogs said to the other, "Let us make our home in this well: it will furnish us with shelter and food." The other replied, "But suppose the water should fail us. How would we get out from so great a depth?"

150) The Doe and the Lion

A doe hard pressed by a group of hunters sought refuge in a cave belonging to a skinny lion. The Lion concealed himself upon seeing his target approach, but when the doe was safe within the cave, sprang upon her and tore her to bits. "It is not just! Oh woe is me" exclaimed the Doe, "I have escaped from man, only to throw myself into the mouth of a wild beast?"

151) The Rose and the Amaranth

A magical, everlasting flower bud was planted near a rose tree. The magic flower began to chat with the tree, “roses are very beautiful and smell lovely; I’m so jealous!” The rose replied, “Yes, but I only last for a single season. If no one picks me from the tree, I will perish. But you never fade - that is what makes you the most beautiful.”

152) The Rooster and the Jewel

A rooster was pacing through the forest looking for food when he found a precious stone. He said, “If my owner, who is a hick, had found you, she would have taken you and cherished your worth and beauty, but I have found you. I have no use for you. I would rather have one bean or bug for a meal than all the jewels in the world.” 

153) The Thrush and the Fowler

A bird fed on the berries of a nearby tree. A bird-catcher observed the bird and immediately planned to capture her. He snuck up from behind and snatched her in his net. Only then, realizing the whole thing was a con, did the bird realize that she was foolish for taking more than she needed.  The bird then said, “I deserve to become a human’s pet and rot in a cage for the rest of my life.” 

154) Hercules and the Peasant

A peasant was driving a carriage along a country road when the tire of his carriage got stuck in a rut. The peasant took one look at his carriage and cried out for Hercules to come help him so that he could continue along his route. Hercules arrived and said, “Have you tried to move the carriage yet? Put your back into it, my friend. Never ask me to help until you have done your best to help yourself already.” 

155) The Ass and the Charger

A donkey coveted the rich life of a well-fed horse. The donkey, himself, had almost nothing to eat and worked just as hard as the horse. However, when a raging war broke out, a soldier chose to take the well-fed horse and ride into battle. The horse fell wounded and the donkey, hearing the moan of the fallen horse, changed his mind and no longer envied the boon horse. 

156) The Mole and His Mother

A mole, blind from birth, said to his mother, “I can see!” In order to prove that he was wrong, his mother placed a flower bud in front of her son and asked, “What is this?” The young mole said, “That is a bead.” His mother said, “My son, I am afraid that you are not only blind, but you have also lost your sense of smell.” 

157) The Viper and the File

A very hungry lion entered the workshop of a young lad in a fuss.  The lion looked for anything or anyone that could possibly spare some food. He looked to a nearby vacuum, and asked the vacuum if he had anything that the lion could eat. The vacuum laughed and replied, “do you really think you will get a meal from something whose only purpose is to suck up items, but never returns them?” 

158) The Dog and the Oyster

A wolf pup was accustomed to eating eggs each morning. He was walking on a sand dune along the shoreline, when he came upon an oyster. The pup approached an oyster, mistaking it for an egg. The pup opened his mouth, and swallowed the oyster. Soon afterwards, the pup had horrible pains in his gut. The pup thought, “serves me right for thinking everything round is an egg.” 

159) The Raven and the goose

A raven saw a goose and was jealous of her beautiful feathers, for her feathers were as extravagant as fine white lace.  The raven thought the goose’s vibrant white color came from allowing her feathers to soak in the waters she swam in. So the raven left his home and took up residence in the lakes and pools where he could wade all day. He cleaned his feathers as often as he could, but they never changed color.

160) The Crow and the Sheep 

A very bothersome crow seated herself on the fluffy back of a sheep to ride around the farmyard. The sheep, against his will, carried her back and forth throughout the day. After a week, the sheep said, “If you had treated a dog like this, he would have had you for lunch.” The crow replied, “I don’t like the weak, but I admire the strong; I know who to bully and who to flatter.” 

161) The Goat and the shepherd

A shepherd wanted to bring back a stray goat to the herd. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain, but the goat paid no heed to the shepherd. At last, the shepherd threw a stone and broke the goat’s horn. The shepherd begged the goat not to tell his master, the farmer, about the incident. The goat replied, “You foolish man, I shall not become a liar, as the missing horn will speak for itself.” 

162) The Lion and the Fox

A fox befriended a lion, agreeing to be the lion’s partner. The two animals would work together in order to get a meal; the fox would hone in on the food and the lion would pounce on it. The fox soon became jealous of the lion’s pouncing abilities and left the lion to capture food on his own. The next day, the fox tried to capture a goat by himself and became prey to a huntsman and his kin. 

163) The Manslayer 

A young lad committed a crime and was being chased by the victim’s father. Upon reaching a river, the murderer spotted a lion on the bank. Frightened by the large cat, the lad climbed a tree. In the branches of the tree, the lad found a snake and, again afraid that the snake would mar him, jumped into the river, where a crocodile had him for dinner. So, the earth, air, and water all refused to shelter a con man. 

164) The Trees Under the Protection of the Gods

The gods chose certain plants to keep under special protection so that they would not rot. Jupiter chose the oak tree, Venus the lily pad, Apollo the rose, Cybele the succulent, and Hercules the aster. Minerva asked why they chose plants that don’t produce fruit. She said, “The olive tree is the best because of its fruit.” Jupiter said, “You’re wise, for nothing we do will matter unless it’s useful to someone.” 

165) The Dogs and the Hides

Some dogs were extremely hungry after a long journey and longed for something to eat. The dogs weakly stumbled along until they approached a river. In the river, the dogs saw some fresh meat.  However, the meat was too far to wade to and there was no boat. So the dogs decided to drink the river dry to reach their goal. However, after they drank, they were too full to eat the meat. 

166) The Bald Man and the Fly

One day, the hum of a fly was bothering a man. The fly landed upon the head of the man and bit him through his hair. The man flung his hand through the air to take a hack at the fly. The fly swiftly flew away, and the man accidentally smacked himself firmly on the head. The fly buzzed in circles and mocked the man, “Look what happened to you when you went for revenge; you only hurt yourself!” 

167) The Lioness

The animals were making a fuss about who deserved the most credit for producing the highest number of children in one birth. They all rushed into the Lion’s den and asked the Queen Lioness to chat so that she may settle the dispute about the number of kin. “And you,” they said, “how many children do you have at birth?” The lioness laughed and said, “Well, I only have one, but that one is a healthy, strong, purebred lion.” 

168) The Sick Stag

A deer with a bum leg lay down in a quiet corner of a pasture. The deer’s companions came in great numbers to express their sympathies, and each one helped themselves to a jot of grass surrounding the deer until it was as barren as a sand dune. When the deer died, it wasn’t because of his affliction, but because of a lack of food within reach. 

169) The Seagull and the Kite

A seagull having bolted down too large a cod burst its deep gullet-bag.  The seagull winced at the pain and flew to a sand dune near the shoreline where he could lay down to die. A Kite saw him and began to jeer: “You richly deserve your fate; for a bird of the air has no business to seek its food from the sea." 

170) The Man and His Two Sweethearts

A man, whose hair had begun to turn gray, was dating two women at the same time. One was young dame and the other was an old hag. The elder, ashamed to be dating a younger man, made a point to pull out some of his black hairs. The younger, not wishing to become the wife of an old man, began pulling out his grey hairs. Soon enough, the man found himself to be completely bald.

171) The Fighting Roosters and the Eagle

Two roosters were viciously fighting one another for the right to rule the barnyard. At last, one was victorious. The winner flew to the top of the barn and began to jeer and crow over his new territory. An eagle sailing through the air saw this and pounced, sending the victorious rooster to his doom. Then, the eagle carried the victorious rooster away in his beak, and the defeated rooster claimed the barnyard in his absence. 

172) Jupiter and the Monkey

The king made an announcement to the animals of the forest and promised a royal reward to the one with the handsomest child. The Monkey presented her son, a flat-nosed, hairless, young Monkey. A general din greeted her on the presentation of her kin. She firmly said, "I don’t know if the king will allot the prize to my son, but this I do know, that in my eyes, he is the dearest, handsomest, and most beautiful tot of all." 

173) The Crab and Its Mother

A crab and her son were going to comb the seashore when the mother asked, “Why do you pace side to side? It is more attractive and efficient to walk forward.” The young crab replied, “I would gladly walk straight mother if you will show me how.” The mother tried but failed to walk in the proper fashion and could no longer fault her kin for the way he walked, for it was the same way she walked as well. 

174) The Old Man and Death

An old hick had a job cutting wood in the forest. One day he was carrying a bundle of wood on his route to the city when he became very tired. He sat down by the road, threw down his load, and begged "Death" to come, for he had lost his will to live. "Death" immediately appeared and asked the hick why he had called him. The hick hurriedly replied, "That you may place this load again upon my shoulders." 

175) The Fir-Tree and the Bramble

Once there was a tall and beautiful fir-tree. The tree began to jeer to a nearby shrub, "You are useful for nothing at all; while I am frequently used for roofs and houses." The shrub answered: "You poor creature, think of the axes and saws which are about to hack you down so that you may be sold for cash. Don’t you wish that you had grown up a shrub, not a Fir-Tree."

176) The Two Pots

Two pots were floating down a mighty river at a hasty pace. One was made of clay and the other was made of brass. The clay pot said to the brass pot, "Please pay heed to keep a good distance between us and do not come near me. You are made with a strong metal, and I am only made of dirt. If you touch me at all, I will shatter into pieces." 

177) The Two Dogs

A man had two pet dogs . He had a hound who was trained to hunt and a house-dog whom he taught to watch the house since he was a pup. After a good hunt, he always fed the house-dog well. The Hound approached his companion saying, "It is hard to do all of this work, while you bum off of my findings." The house-dog replied, "blame my master, who has taught me to depend on the labor of others." 

178) The Widow and the Sheep

A poor sheep owner only had one sheep. When it was time to shear the sheep for its fleece, the owner took it upon herself to collect the wool. However, she was unskilled with the shears and cut it’s skin during the chore. The sheep, crying in pain, said: “What good is my blood to your wool? If you want gore there is a butcher. Otherwise, take me to a shearer who has taken the time to hone their skills.” 

179) The Eagle and the Arrow

An eagle was so caught up in tracking a cod in the river that he failed to notice an archer creeping up behind him. The archer shot the eagle straight through the gut. The eagle looked down and saw his feathers begin to soak with blood. He then realized that the plumage on the arrow was from another eagle. He said, “I not only have to grieve my death but the death of a friend as well.” 

180) The Dove and the Crow

A dove was shut up in a cage and bragged to the crows about the large number of kin she had hatched. A crow observed the dove and all of her offspring and replied, “Your bragging is unnecessary, dove. The more children you have, the sadder you will be, since they will be sent to their doom in the same cage you are.” 

181) The Flea and the Ox

A flea once asked an ox, “what makes you slave for these men, when you’re so huge and strong? I’m small and weak and manage to suck on the blood of men who enslave you with no problem.” The ox replied, “I can’t complain because the men I slave for care for me and pet my head.” The flea said, “Well, if I received that petting, I would be a flattened bug.” 

182) The Sparrow and the Hare

An eagle caught an unsuspecting rabbit in its beak. The rabbit cried at its fate, while a nearby sparrow began to jeer, “now where is that fast pace of yours?” While the sparrow scoffed at the rabbit, a hawk flew by and swept up the sparrow. The rabbit spoke to the sparrow, “you decided your own fate by not worrying about your own problems!” 

183) The Birds, the Beasts, and the Bat

The birds challenged the beasts to a war. A bat, uncertain of what the outcome of the fight would be, often switched sides during the battle depending on which side was the strongest during that week of the war. The war lasted months and was full of blood and gore.  When peace was finally established, neither the beasts nor the birds wanted the bat to stay with them since the bat had proved to be a liar.

184) The Dog's House

During the cold days of the winter season, a wolf pup curled up in the smallest space he could find, promising himself he would build a house for shelter. However, when the summer days rolled in, he lay asleep and stretched out as far as he could to soak up the sun’s rays. At that moment, the wolf pup realized his great size and decided that it would not be an easy or necessary chore to build such a house. 

185) The Wasps, the Partridges, and the Farmer

The wasps and birds were thirsty when they passed a farmer who lived in a hick town. They begged for water and promised to repay him. The birds promised to dig a rut around his vines for better grapes, and the wasps declared they would sting any threats. The farmer replied, “I already have oxen who do all of my work without having to make promises to any type of bug or bird. I would rather give them my water.” 

186) The Dogs and the Fox

Two dogs meandered along a route in the forest. As they wandered on the path, the dogs came across the skin of a lion that had succumbed to rot. They ran up to the skin and promptly shred it with their canine teeth. A nearby fox heard the fuss, saw the dogs and cautioned, “If that lion was alive, you would soon find out that his claws are stronger than your teeth.” 

187) The Geese and the Cranes

The geese and the cranes were feeding in the same meadow. One day, a very determined lad began to hone in on the birds to capture them with his nets. The cranes, with their lightweight wings, fluttered away upon his approach and escaped the lad’s nets. The geese were heavier and had a much slower pace; they could not fly away quickly and were imprisoned in the bird catcher’s nets. 

188) The Playful Ass

A donkey climbed up onto the roof of a building and began to dance on a bike. While dancing, he broke some of the tile roofing; so the owner went up after him, quickly drove him down, and began to hack him in the gut with a thick wooden bat. The donkey said, "Well, I saw a monkey do this very thing yesterday, and you all laughed merrily, as if it caused you great amusement." 

189) The Dolphins, the Whales, and the Sprat

The dolphins and whales were engaged in a fierce war with one another. At the height of the battle, a small cod popped his head out of the waves to wade and said he would help to reconcile their differences. One of the dolphins replied with a jeer, “We would rather be destroyed in our own battle than accept help from a creature like you.” 

190) The Ass Carrying the Image

A donkey walked along his delivery route through the city with a sacred painting on his back. As he passed down main street, a crowd bowed reverently before the painting. The donkey began to slow his pace.  Thinking the crowd was lowering their heads in his own honor, the donkey paused and stood tall with pride. A passerby, seeing the donkey bask in the mistaken glory, said, “you crazy animal! In what world would men worship a donkey?” 

191) The Old Lion

A sick lion began to tire and lay on the ground. A boar ran toward him and avenged a long-remembered injury by stabbing the lion with his tusks. Soon after, a bull stabbed the lion with his horns. When a donkey saw the beast, he lifted his heels and began to mar the lion. The lion said, “I have tolerated insults from the brave, but to endure such treatment from you cowards is worse than the doom of death itself.” 

192) The Bull and the Goat

A lion was once in hot pursuit of a bull. The bull ducked into a cave to hide from the dangerous beast. Upon entering, the bull was rammed in the gut by an irritable goat, sharply attacking him with his horns. The bull whispered, “Hit me as much as you want, because I only fear the lion, but if you don’t stop making noise, the lion will discover us both.” 

193) The Dancing Monkeys

A prince trained some monkeys to bike. Being the great mimics they were, the monkeys proved to be quite talented bikers. When the prince dressed the monkeys as men, they imitated human bikers almost perfectly. The crowd applauded, pleased with the performance until a hick threw a handful of nuts onto the main stage. As much as they seemed like men, the monkeys could not resist, and pounced on the food, ruining the performance. 

194) The Traveler and Fortune

A traveler, weak from his week long journey, lay down overwhelmed with fatigue. Draped on the rim of a deep well, he tipped closer and closer to the depths of the pit. Madame Fortune, so the story goes, appeared before his exhaustion pleading “Wake up, wake up! If you fall, I will take the blame for this disaster, for men give me a bad name for their own mistakes.” 

195) The Bald Knight

A bald knight, wearing a wig, decided to ride his horse into the forest to hunt. A sharp breath of air snatched the wig from the knight’s head. His companions broke into a bout of laughter at the sight. The light-hearted knight joined in the joke adding, “How could I expect any of this hair to stay on my head, when the hairs have left the very head they grew on?!” 

196) The Crow and the Raven

A crow was very jealous of the owl. For when travelers heard the owl’s hoot, they took the bird as a good omen. The crow flew into the branches of a nearby tree, cawing at the travelers who passed below on their route. The travelers paused, hearing the bird’s cry, but one man turned to another and said, “keep going; it’s no omen of doom, just a mere crow.” 

197) The Swan and the Goose

A man bought a goose and a swan at the market. He kept one to eat as the main dish at his table and the other as a pet for the sake of its song. One night when it was very dark he went to kill the goose but caught the Swan instead. The Swan, threatened with death, broke into a bout of song and thus made himself known by his voice, and preserved his life by his melody. 

198) The Fox and the Mask

A fox entered the house of an actor and began to comb through all of his belongings.  The fox came upon a mask, which was an admirable imitation of a human head. The fox placed his paws on it and said, "What a beautiful head with gorgeous long hair! Yet it is not worth any cash, as it entirely lacks brains." 

199) The Lion and the Three Bulls

Three bulls ate together in a beautiful pasture. Unbeknownst to the bulls, a lion lay in a nearby rut with the goal of ambushing the bulls and making them his prey.  However, the lion was afraid to attack the bulls while they stayed together. After succeeding in separating the bulls, the lion attacked them without fear as they fed alone, and feasted on them one by one at his own leisure until his gut was full. 

200) The Swollen Fox

A hungry fox found some bread and bean stew in the forest and crept into the hollow of an oak tree to eat. However, the fox became so full that he could not get out. He began to moan and lament his fate when another fox heard his cries. This fox said, "Ah, you will have to remain there, my friend, until you become such as you were when you crept in, and then you will easily get out."