登陆注册
38751200000009

第9章

The Heifer and the OxA HEIFER saw an Ox hard at work harnessed to a plow, and tormented him with reflections on his unhappy fate in being compelled to labor. Shortly afterwards, at the harvest festival, the owner released the Ox from his yoke, but bound the Heifer with cords and led him away to the altar to be slain in honor of the occasion. The Ox saw what was being done, and said with a smile to the Heifer: "For this you were allowed to live in idleness, because you were presently to be sacrificed."The Swallow, the Serpent, and the Court of JusticeA SWALLOW, returning from abroad and especially fond of dwelling with men, built herself a nest in the wall of a Court of Justice and there hatched seven young birds. A Serpent gliding past the nest from its hole in the wall ate up the young unfledged nestlings. The Swallow, finding her nest empty, lamented greatly and exclaimed: "Woe to me a stranger! that in this place where all others' rights are protected, I alone should suffer wrong."The Thief and His MotherA BOY stole a lesson-book from one of his schoolfellows and took it home to his Mother. She not only abstained from beating him, but encouraged him. He next time stole a cloak and brought it to her, and she again commended him. The Youth, advanced to *****hood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value. At last he was caught in the very act, and having his hands bound behind him, was led away to the place of public execution. His Mother followed in the crowd and violently beat her breast in sorrow, whereupon the young man said, "I wish to say something to my Mother in her ear." She came close to him, and he quickly seized her ear with his teeth and bit it off. The Mother upbraided him as an unnatural child, whereon he replied, "Ah! if you had beaten me when I first stole and brought to you that lesson-book, I should not have come to this, nor have been thus led to a disgraceful death."The Old Man and DeathAN OLD MAN was employed in cutting wood in the forest, and, in carrying the faggots to the city for sale one day, became very wearied with his long journey. He sat down by the wayside, and throwing down his load, besought "Death" to come. "Death"immediately appeared in answer to his summons and asked for what reason he had called him. The Old Man hurriedly replied, "That, lifting up the load, you may place it again upon my shoulders."The Fir-Tree and the BrambleA FIR-TREE said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses."The Bramble answered: 'You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree."Better poverty without care, than riches with.

The Mouse, the Frog, and the HawkA 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 by the Hawk.

Harm hatch, harm catch.

The Man Bitten by a DogA MAN who had been bitten by a Dog went about in quest of someone who might heal him. A friend, meeting him and learning what he wanted, said, "If you would be cured, take a piece of bread, and dip it in the blood from your wound, and go and give it to the Dog that bit you." The Man who had been bitten laughed at this advice and said, "Why? If I should do so, it would be as if Ishould beg every Dog in the town to bite me."Benefits bestowed upon the evil-disposed increase their means of injuring you.

The Two PotsA RIVER carried down in its stream two Pots, one made of earthenware and the other of brass. The Earthen Pot said to the Brass Pot, "Pray keep at a distance and do not come near me, for if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall be broken in pieces, and besides, I by no means wish to come near you."Equals make the best friends.

The Wolf and the SheepA WOLF, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in his lair. Being in want of food, he called to a Sheep who was passing, and asked him to fetch some water from a stream flowing close beside him. "For," he said, "if you will bring me drink, Iwill find means to provide myself with meat." "Yes," said the Sheep, "if I should bring you the draught, you would doubtless make me provide the meat also."Hypocritical speeches are easily seen through.

The AethiopTHE PURCHASER of a black servant was persuaded that the color of his skin arose from dirt contracted through the neglect of his former masters. On bringing him home he resorted to every means of cleaning, and subjected the man to incessant scrubbings. The servant caught a severe cold, but he never changed his color or complexion.

What's bred in the bone will stick to the flesh.

The Fisherman and His NetsA FISHERMAN, engaged in his calling, made a very successful cast and captured a great haul of fish. He managed by a skillful handling of his net to retain all the large fish and to draw them to the shore; but he could not prevent the smaller fish from falling back through the meshes of the net into the sea.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 快穿宿主被拐跑啦

    快穿宿主被拐跑啦

    【无脑,快穿】鹿哟哟被坑人系统骗过来拯救世界了。QAQ亚麻色卷发的男孩子,微笑着说“哟哟,我给你糖,不要走喔”冰冷校草摩擦着她的手腕“敢走?腿给你打断”学校的小霸王抱着她“你敢走,老子这就死给你看!”倾国倾城的美人卧榻之侧,勾着她的小指“阿哟~来睡觉……”对此,怂哟只想回家找麻麻:呜呜呜,好阔怕QAQ我只是一个宝宝呀……【不喜勿喷呐】
  • 主神已死有事烧纸

    主神已死有事烧纸

    “亲,乃的节操掉了哦~”“亲,乃的节操又掉了耶~”“亲,乃的节操已经掉没了哟~”“啊~~知道了啦,节操有什么用啊,能吃么?所以掉就掉吧~~”“亲,那样的话奖励点数也会跟着一起掉的啦~~”“……我发誓要做一个绝世好轮回者,节操什么的表示从来没有掉过,一直是节操满满的说~~”于是乎,这个就是某个倒霉的家伙被腹黑的某神拉倒了某世界冒险的故事……
  • 丐启新生

    丐启新生

    谁说土著一定会被穿越者占据灵魂?这是一个土著乞丐吞噬了穿越者的灵魂,改变自己人生的故事。
  • 溺宠小凤妃:妖君,爱上瘾

    溺宠小凤妃:妖君,爱上瘾

    佛说世间万物皆缘来因果,凤颜身上封印无数,生与死,她选择生,踏上漫漫修仙路。因为她,狐九寂被迫与她共生一体,化身红狐,日夜相伴,因为狐九寂,她与上古神袛伏涯相识,做了一场痴梦,在梦醒的那日,她记得,她满身都是妖艳的红色,被封印在幽冥寒棺之中,魂消魄散……欢迎小可爱们加扣扣群:415119042
  • 一人一狗闯异界

    一人一狗闯异界

    宅男玩网络游戏猝死,带着系统穿越异界。开局一条狗,患难见真情!且看陈小天如何过关斩……哦,不,抱紧主角的大腿……
  • 邪王求娶:小小魔女大混乱

    邪王求娶:小小魔女大混乱

    杀手神医穿越。美目睁,风云起。看贺兰姐妹如何翻手为云,覆手为雨。亲们大家好,我是新手,是因为盆友的推荐,来试一下的。如果那里写的不好,请留言给我哦!我不会写穿越前的,亲们凑合看吧。(本文是讲述一对姐妹云蝶和梦蝶的故事,内容就是穿越希望大家喜欢)
  • 灵武邪君

    灵武邪君

    药王之王凌羽,倾一世之力,炼九品灵丹,竟被所救之人围杀,死后重生于沧月城林家公子,林殇之身。这一世他将缔造属于自己的神话!
  • 妃本惊鸿舞

    妃本惊鸿舞

    江湖事江湖了,本是大魔头夜孤影行事的规则,奈何规则总有被打破的一天。风起云涌的江湖,诡谲万千的朝堂,两边的事故的频生,到底是人为还是意外?不得已为之的她只能亲自出手……讨论群:834790299
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 陆少宠妻有点甜

    陆少宠妻有点甜

    【有钱有颜家世好的商界巨鳄vs无父无母爱披马甲的隐藏大佬】小宠文……母胎单身二十五年的陆经年自从遇到顾西北,只有三个字可以形容:无下限……——婚后某天刘特助火急火燎的跑到陆总裁办公室道:陆少、陆少不好了,少夫人跟郭家小公子打起来了!淡然如水的陆总裁微微抬眸淡定道:结果呢?刘特助颇为自豪道:当然是夫人单方面殴打郭小公子!少夫人一个左勾拳,再来一招擒拿手把郭小公子打的鼻青脸肿,躺在地上半天起不来,这不郭家不愿意了,吵着闹着要讨公道。话落只见陆总裁一派优雅的拿起外套边往门外走边掏出手机拨通电话对电话那头的人柔声道:跟你说过多少次,打架不要用手,力的作用是相互的,你手有没有伤着。刘特助:……