Fables Debating

8/10/2019 Fables Debating

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The Buffoon and the Countryman

At a country fair there was a Buffoon who made all the people laugh by imitating the cries of various

animals. He finished off by squeaking so like a pig that the spectators thought that he had a porker

concealed about him. But a Countryman who stood by said: "Call that a pig s squeak! Nothing like it.

You give me till tomorrow and I will show you what it's like." The audience laughed, but next day,

sure enough, the Countryman appeared on the stage, and putting his head down squealed so

hideously that the spectators hissed and threw stones at him to make him stop. "You fools!" he cried,

"see what you have been hissing," and held up a little pig whose ear he had been pinching to make him

utter the squeals.

Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.

The King's Son and the Painted Lion

A KING, whose only son was fond of martial exercises, had a dream in which he was warned that his

son would be killed by a lion. Afraid the dream should prove true, he built for his son a pleasant

palace and adorned its walls for his amusement with all kinds of life-sized animals, among which wasthe picture of a lion. When the young Prince saw this, his grief at being thus confined burst out afresh,

and, standing near the lion, he said: "O you most detestable of animals! through a lying dream of my

father's, which he saw in his sleep, I am shut up on your account in this palace as if I had been a girl:

what shall I now do to you?' With these words he stretched out his hands toward a thorn-tree,

meaning to cut a stick from its branches so that he might beat the lion. But one of the tree's prickles

pierced his finger and caused great pain and inflammation, so that the Young Prince fell down in a

fainting fit. A violent fever suddenly set in, from which he died not many days later.

We had better bear our troubles bravely than try to escape them.

The Man and His Two Wives

In the old days, when men were allowed to have many wives, a middle-aged Man had one wife that

was old and one that was young; each loved him very much, and desired to see him like herself. Now

the Man's hair was turning grey, which the young Wife did not like, as it made him look too old for her

husband. So every night she used to comb his hair and pick out the white ones. But the elder Wife

saw her husband growing grey with great pleasure, for she did not like to be mistaken for his mother.

So every morning she used to arrange his hair and pick out as many of the black ones as she could.

The consequence was the Man soon found himself entirely bald.

Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield.

The Man and the Serpent

A Countryman's son by accident trod upon a Serpent's tail, which turned and bit him so that he died.

The father in a rage got his axe, and pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail. So the Serpent in

revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's cattle and caused him severe loss. Well, the Farmer

thought it best to make it up with the Serpent, and brought food and honey to the mouth of its lair, and

said to it: "Let's forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on

my cattle, but surely I was right in trying to revenge him; now that we are both satisfied why should

not we be friends again?""No, no," said the Serpent; "take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son, nor I the

loss of my tail."

Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.


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The Mice and the Weasels

THE WEASELS and the Mice waged a perpetual war with each other, in which much blood was shed.

The Weasels were always the victors. The Mice thought that the cause of their frequent defeats was

that they had no leaders set apart from the general army to command them, and that they were

exposed to dangers from lack of discipline. They therefore chose as leaders Mice that were most

renowned for their family descent, strength, and counsel, as well as those most noted for their courage

in the fight, so that they might be better marshaled in battle array and formed into troops, regiments,

and battalions. When all this was done, and the army disciplined, and the herald Mouse had duly

proclaimed war by challenging the Weasels, the newly chosen generals bound their heads with

straws, that they might be more conspicuous to all their troops. Scarcely had the battle begun, when a

great rout overwhelmed the Mice, who scampered off as fast as they could to their holes. The

generals, not being able to get in on account of the ornaments on their heads, were all captured and

eaten by the Weasels.

The more honor the more danger.

The Lion and the Mouse

Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him; this soon wakenedthe Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him. "Pardon, O

King," cried the little Mouse: "forgive me this time, I shall never forget it: who knows but what I may

be able to do you a turn some of these days?" The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being

able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go. Some time after the Lion was caught in a

trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in

search of a waggon to carry him on. Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad

plight in which the Lion was, went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of

the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse.

Little friends may prove great friends.

The Mischievous Dog

A DOG used to run up quietly to the heels of everyone he met, and to bite them without notice. His

master suspended a bell about his neck so that the Dog might give notice of his presence wherever he

went. Thinking it a mark of distinction, the Dog grew proud of his bell and went tinkling it all over the

marketplace. One day an old hound said to him: Why do you make such an exhibition of yourself?

That bell that you carry is not, believe me, any order of merit, but on the contrary a mark of disgrace, a

public notice to all men to avoid you as an ill mannered dog."

Notoriety is often mistaken for fame.

The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk

A MOUSE who always lived on the land, by an unlucky chance formed an intimate acquaintance with a

Frog, who lived for the most part in the water. The Frog, one day intent on mischief, bound the foot of

the Mouse tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog first of all led his friend the Mouse to the

meadow where they were accustomed to find their food. After this, he gradually led him towards the

pool in which he lived, until reaching the very brink, he suddenly jumped in, dragging the Mouse with

him. The Frog enjoyed the water amazingly, and swam croaking about, as if he had done a good deed.

The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated by the water, and his dead body floated about on the surface,

tied to the foot of the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it with his talons, carried it aloft.

The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also carried off a prisoner, and was eaten bythe Hawk.

Harm hatch, harm catch.


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The Silkworm and Spider

Having received an order for twenty yards of silk from Princess Lioness, the Silkworm sat down at

her loom and worked away with zeal. A Spider soon came around and asked to hire a web-room near

by. The Silkworm acceded, and the Spider commenced her task and worked so rapidly that in a short

time the web was finished. "Just look at it," she said, "and see how grand and delicate it is. You cannot

but acknowledge that I'm a much better worker than you. See how quickly I perform my labors."

"Yes," answered the Silkworm, "but hush up, for you bother me. Your labors are designed only as base

traps, and are destroyed whenever they are seen, and brushed away as useless dirt; while mine are

stored away, as ornaments of Royalty."

"True art is thoughtful, delights and endures."

The Fox and the Grapes

One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just

ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch. "Just the thing to quench

my thirst," quoth he. Drawing back a few paces, he took a run and a jump, and just missed the bunch.Turning round again with a One, Two, Three, he jumped up, but with no greater success. Again

and again he tried after the tempting morsel, but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his

nose in the air, saying: "I am sure they are sour."

It is easy to despise what you cannot get.

The Goose With the Golden Eggs

One day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering.

When he took it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because he

thought a trick had been played upon him. But he took it home on second thoughts, and soon found to

his delight that it was an egg of pure gold. Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon

became rich by selling his eggs. As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the

gold the Goose could give, he killed it and opened it only to find nothing.

Greed oft o'er reaches itself.

The Nurse and the Wolf

"Be quiet now," said an old Nurse to a child sitting on her lap. "If you make that noise again I willthrow you to the Wolf."

Now it chanced that a Wolf was passing close under the window as this was said. So he crouched

down by the side of the house and waited. "I am in good luck to-day," thought he. "It is sure to cry

soon, and a daintier morsel I haven't had for many a long day." So he waited, and he waited, and he

waited, till at last the child began to cry, and the Wolf came forward before the window, and looked up

to the Nurse, wagging his tail. But all the Nurse did was to shut down the window and call for help,

and the dogs of the house came rushing out. "Ah," said the Wolf as he galloped away,

"Enemies promises were made to be broken."


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The Frogs and the Well

Two Frogs lived together in a marsh. But one hot summer the marsh dried up, and they left it to look

for another place to live in: for frogs like damp places if they can get them. By and by they came to a

deep well, and one of them looked down into it, and said to the other, "This looks a nice cool place. Let

us jump in and settle here."

But the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied, "Not so fast, my friend. Supposing this

well dried up like the marsh, how should we get out again?"

"Look before you leap."

The Dog and the Wolf

A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing

by. "Ah, Cousin," said the Dog.

"I knew how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work

steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?"

"I would have no objection," said the Wolf, "if I could only get a place.""I will easily arrange that for you," said the Dog; "come with me to my master and you shall share my

work."

So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together. On the way there the Wolf noticed that the

hair on a certain part of the Dog's neck was very much worn away, so he asked him how that

had come about.

"Oh, it is nothing," said the Dog. "That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me

chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it."

"Is that all?" said the Wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."

Better starve free than be a fat slave.

The Bear and the Two Travelers

TWO MEN were traveling together, when a Bear suddenly met them on their path. One of them

climbed up quickly into a tree and concealed 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 the appearance of death 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 Traveler descended from the tree, and jocularly inquired of 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 at the approach of danger."

Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.

The Crow and the Pitcher

A CROW perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it with delight. When he

reached it, he discovered to his grief that it contained so little water that he could not possibly get at it.

He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts were in vain. At last he

collected as many stones as he could carry and dropped them one by one with his beak into the

pitcher, until he brought the water within his reach and thus saved his life.

Necessity is the mother of invention.


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The Dancing Monkeys

A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance. Being naturally great mimics of men's actions, they

showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as

well as any of the courtiers. The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion

a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.

The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys

instead of actors. Pulling off their masks and tearing their robes, they fought with one another for the

nuts. The dancing spectacle thus came to an end amidst the laughter and ridicule of the audience.

-"Not everything you see is what it appears to be."

The Ant and the Chrysalis

An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food came across a Chrysalis that was very

near its time of change. The Chrysalis moved its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the Ant,

who then saw for the first time that it was alive. "Poor, pitiable animal!" cried the Ant disdainfully.

"What a sad fate is yours!

While I can run hither and thither, at my pleasure, and, if I wish, ascend the tallest tree, you lieimprisoned here in your shell, with power only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail." The Chrysalis

heard all this, but did not try to make any reply. A few days after, when the Ant passed that way again,

nothing but the shell remained.

Wondering what had become of its contents, he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by the

gorgeous wings of a beautiful Butterfly.

"Behold in me," said the Butterfly, "your much-pitied friend! Boast now of your powers to run and

climb as long as you can get me to listen." So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, borne along

and aloft on the summer breeze, was soon lost to the sight of the Ant forever.

"Appearances are deceptive."

The Ass and his Purchaser

A man who wanted to buy an Ass went to market, and, coming across a likely-looking beast, arranged

with the owner that he should be allowed to take him home on trial to see what he was like. When he

reached home, he put him into his stable along with the other asses. The newcomer took a look round,

and immediately went and chose a place next to the laziest and greediest beast in the stable. When the

master saw this he put a halter on him at once, and led him off and handed him over to his owner

again. The latter was a good deal surprised to seem him back so soon, and said, "Why, do you mean to

say you have tested him already?" "I don't want to put him through any more tests," replied the other."I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself."

"A man is known by the company he keeps."

The Bald Man and the Fly

A FLY bit the bare head of a Bald Man who, endeavoring to destroy it, gave himself a heavy slap.

Escaping, the Fly said mockingly, "You who have wished to revenge, even with death, the Prick of a

tiny insect, see what you have done to yourself to add insult to injury?' The Bald Man replied, "I can

easily make peace with myself, because I know there was no intention to hurt. But you, an ill-favoredand contemptible insect who delights in sucking human blood, I wish that I could have killed you even

if I had incurred a heavier penalty."

[Revenge will hurt the avenger]


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The Hare and the Tortoise

The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I have never yet been beaten,"

said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any one here to race with me."

The Tortoise said quietly, "I accept your challenge."

"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way."

"Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?"

So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon

stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on

and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-

post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said the Tortoise:

"Plodding wins the race."

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