BABYS' OWN AESOP

9

THE FOX & THE GRAPES

This Fox has a longing for grapes,

He jumps, but the bunch still escapes.

So he goes away sour;

And, tis said, to this hour

Declares that hes no taste for grapes.

THE GRAPES OF DISAPPOINTMENT ARE ALWAYS SOUR

10

THE COCK & THE PEARL

A rooster, while scratching for grain,

Found a Pearl. He just paused to explain

That a jewels no good

To a fowl wanting food,

And then kicked it aside with disdain.

IF HE ASK BREAD WILL YE GIVE HIM A STONE?

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB

A wolf, wanting lamb for his dinner,

Growled outLamb you wronged me, you sinner.

Bleated LambNay, not true!

Answered WolfThen twas Ewe

Ewe or lamb, you will serve for my dinner.

FRAUD AND VIOLENCE HAVE NO SCRUPLES

11

THE WIND & THE SUN

The Wind and the Sun had a bet,

The wayfarers cloak which should get:

Blew the Windthe cloak clung:

Shone the Sunthe cloak flung

Showed the Sun had the best of it yet.

TRUE STRENGTH IS NOT BLUSTER

12

KING LOG & KING STORK

The Frogs prayed to Jove for a king:

Not a log, but a livelier thing.

Jove sent them a Stork,

Who did royal work,

For he gobbled them up, did their king.

DONT HAVE KINGS

13

THE FRIGHTENED LION

A Bull Frog, according to rule,

Sat a-croak in his usual pool:

And he laughed in his heart

As a Lion did start

In a fright from the brink like a fool.

IMAGINARY FEARS ARE THE WORST

14

THE MOUSE & THE LION

A poor thing the Mouse was, and yet,

When the Lion got caught in a net,

All his strength was no use

Twas the poor little Mouse

Who nibbled him out of the net.

SMALL CAUSES MAY PRODUCE GREAT RESULTS

THE MARRIED MOUSE

So the Mouse had Miss Lion for bride;

Very great was his joy and his pride:

But it chanced that she put

On her husband her foot,

And the weight was too much, so he died.

ONE MAY BE TOO AMBITIOUS

15

HERCULES & THE WAGGONER

When the God saw the Waggoner kneel,

Crying, Hercules! Lift me my wheel

From the mud, where tis stuck!

He laughedNo such luck;

Set your shoulder yourself to the wheel.

THE GODS HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES

16

THE LAZY HOUSEMAIDS

Two Maids killed the Rooster whose warning

Awoke them too soon every morning:

But small were their gains,

For their Mistress took pains

To rouse them herself without warning.

LAZINESS IS ITS OWN PUNISHMENT

17

THE SNAKE & THE FILE

A Snake, in a fix, tried a File

For a dinner. Tis not worth your while,

Said the steel, dont mistake;

Im accustomed to take,

To gives not the way of a File.

WE MAY MEET OUR MATCH

THE FOX & THE CROW

Said sly Fox to the Crow with the cheese,

Let me hear your sweet voice, now do please!

And this Crow, being weak,

Cawed the bit from her beak

Music charms, said the Fox, and heres cheese!

BEWARE OF FLATTERERS

18

THE DOG IN THE MANGER

A Cow sought a mouthful of hay;

But a Dog in the manger there lay,

And he snapped out how now?

When most mildly, the Cow

Adventured a morsel to pray.

DONT BE SELFISH

THE FROG & THE BULL

Said the Frog, quite puffed up to the eyes,

Was this Bull about me as to size?

Rather bigger, frog-brother.

Puff, puff, said the other,

A Frog is a Bull if he tries!

BRAG IS NOT ALWAYS BELIEF

19

THE FOX & THE CRANE

You have heard how Sir Fox treated Crane:

With soup in a plate. When again

They dined, a long bottle

Just suited Cranes throttle;

And Sir Fox licked the outside in vain.

THERE ARE GAMES THAT TWO CAN PLAY AT

20

HORSE AND MAN

When the Horse first took Man on his back,

To help him the Stag to attack;

How little his dread,

As the enemy fled,

Man would make him his slave & his hack.

ADVANTAGES MAY BE DEARLY BOUGHT

THE ASS & THE ENEMY

Get up! let us flee from the Foe,

Said the Man: but the Ass said, Why so?

Will they double my load,

Or my blows? Then, by goad,

And by stirrup, Ive no cause to go.

YOUR REASONS ARE NOT MINE

21

THE FOX & THE MOSQUITOES

Being plagued with Mosquitoes one day,

Said old Fox, pray dont send them away,

For a hungrier swarm

Would work me more harm;

I had rather the full ones should stay.

THERE WERE POLITICIANS IN ĆSOPS TIME

THE FOX & THE LION

The first time the Fox had a sight

Of the Lion, he most died of fright;

When he next met his eye,

Fox felt just a bit shy;

But the nextquite at ease, & polite.

FAMILIARITY DESTROYS FEAR

22

THE MISER & HIS GOLD

He buried his Gold in a hole.

One saw, and the treasure he stole.

Said another, What matter?

Dont raise such a clatter,

You can still go & sit by the hole.

USE ALONE GIVES VALUE

THE GOLDEN EGGS

A golden Egg, one every day,

That simpletons Goose used to lay;

So he killed the poor thing,

Swifter fortune to bring,

And dined off his fortune that day.

GREED OVEREACHES ITSELF

23

THE MAN THAT PLEASED NONE

Through the town this good Man & his Son

Strove to ride as to please everyone:

Self, Son, or both tried,

Then the Ass had a ride;

While the world, at their efforts, poked fun.

YOU CANNOT HOPE TO PLEASE ALLDONT TRY

24

THE OAK & THE REEDS

Giant Oak, in his strength & his scorn

Of the winds, by the roots was uptorn:

But slim Reeds at his side,

The fierce gale did outride,

Since, by bending the burden was borne.

BEND, NOT BREAK

THE FIR & THE BRAMBLE

The Fir-tree looked down on the Bramble.

Poor thing, only able to scramble

About on the ground.

Just then an axe sound

Made the Fir wish himself but a Bramble.

PRIDE OF PLACE HAS ITS DISADVANTAGES

25

THE TREES & THE WOODMAN

The Trees ask of Man what he lacks;

One bit, just to handle my axe?

All he askswell and good:

But he cuts down the wood,

So well does he handle his axe!

GIVE ME AN INCH & ILL TAKE AN ELL

26

THE HART & THE VINE

A Hart by the hunters pursued,

Safely hid in a Vine, till he chewed

The sweet tender green,

And, through shaking leaves seen,

He was slain by his ingratitude.

SPARE YOUR BENEFACTORS

27

THE MAN & THE SNAKE

In pity he brought the poor Snake

To be warmed at his fire. A mistake!

For the ungrateful thing

Wife & children would sting.

I have known some as bad as the Snake.

BEWARE HOW YOU ENTERTAIN TRAITORS

28

THE FOX & THE MASK

A Fox with his foot on a Mask,

Thus took the fair semblance to task;

Youre a real handsome face;

But what part of your case

Are your brains in, good Sir! let me ask?

MASKS ARE THE FACES OF SHAMS

29

THE ASS IN THE LIONS SKIN

What pranks I shall play! thought the Ass,

In this skin for a Lion to pass;

But he left one ear out,

And a hiding, no doubt,

Lion hadon the skin of an Ass!

IMPOSTERS GENERALLY FORGET SOMETHING

30

THE LION & THE STATVE

On a Statueking Lion dethroned,

Showing conqueror Man,Lion frowned.

If a Lion, you know,

Had been sculptor, hed show

Lion rampant, and Man on the ground.

THE STORY DEPENDS ON THE TELLER

31

THE BOASTER

In the house, in the market, the streets,

Everywhere he was boasting his feats;

Till one said, with a sneer,

Let us see it done here!

Whats so oft done with ease, one repeats.

DEEDS NOT WORDS

32

THE VAIN JACKDAW

Fine feathers, Jack thought, make fine fowls;

Ill be envied of bats & of owls:

But the peacocks proud eyes

Saw through his disguise,

And Jack fled the assembly of fowls.

BORROWED PLUMES ARE SOON DISCOVERED

33

THE PEACOCKS COMPLAINT

The Peacock considered it wrong

That he had not the nightingales song;

So to Juno he went,

She replied, Be content

With thy having, & hold thy fools tongue!

DO NOT QUARREL WITH NATURE

34

THE TWO JARS

Never fear! said The Brass to the Clay

Of two Jars that the flood bore away:

Keep you close to my side!

But the porcelain replied,

Ill be smashed if beside you I stay.

OUR FRIEND OUR ENEMY

THE TWO CRABS

So awkward, so shambling a gait!

Mrs Crab did her daughter berate,

Who rejoined, It is true

I am backward; but you

Needed lessons in walking quite late.

LOOK AT HOME

35

BROTHER & SISTER

Twin children: the Girl, she was plain;

The Brother was handsome & vain;

Let him brag of his looks,

Father said; mind your books!

The best beauty is bred in the brain.

HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES

36

THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL

Said Fox, minus tail in a trap,

My friends! heres a lucky mishap:

Give your tails a short lease!

But the foxes werent geese,

And none followed the fashion of trap.

YET SOME FASHIONS HAVE NO BETTER REASON

37

THE DOG & THE SHADOW

His image the Dog did not know,

Or his bones, in the ponds painted show:

Tother dog, so he thought

Has got more than he ought,

So he snapped, & his dinner saw go!

GREED IS SOMETIMES CAUGHT BY ITS OWN BAIT

38

THE CROW & THE PITCHER

How the cunning old Crow got his drink

When twas low in the pitcher, just think!

Dont say that he spilled it!

With pebbles he filled it,

Till the water rose up to the brink.

USE YOUR WITS

THE EAGLE AND THE CROW

The Eagle flew off with a lamb;

Then the Crow thought to lift an old ram,

In his eaglish conceit,

The wool tangled his feet,

And the shepherd laid hold of the sham.

BEWARE OF OVERRATING YOUR OWN POWERS

39

THE BLIND DOE

A poor half-blind Doe her one eye

Kept shoreward, all danger to spy,

As she fed by the sea,

Poor innocent! she

Was shot from a boat passing by.

WATCH ON ALL SIDES

40

THE GEESE & THE CRANES

The Geese joined the Cranes in some wheat;

All was well, till, disturbed at their treat,

Light-winged, the Cranes fled,

But the slow Geese, well fed,

Couldnt rise, and were caught in retreat.

BEWARE OF ENTERPRIZES WHERE THE RISKS ARE NOT EQUAL

41

THE TRUMPETER TAKEN PRISONER

A Trumpeter, prisoner made,

Hoped his life would be spared when he said

Hed no part in the fight,

But they answered himRight,

But what of the music you made?

SONGS MAY SERVE A CAUSE AS WELL AS SWORDS

42

HOT AND COLD

When to warm his cold fingers man blew,

And again, but to cool the hot stew;

Simple Satyr, unused

To mans ways, felt confused,

When the same mouth blew hot & cold too!

ĆSOP AIMED AT DOUBLE DEALING

43

NEITHER BEAST NOR BIRD

A Beast he would be, or a bird,

As might suit, thought the Bat: but he erred.

When the battle was done,

He found that no one

Would take him for friend at his word.

BETWEEN TWO STOOLS YOU MAY COME TO THE GROUND

44

THE STAG IN THE OX STALL

Safe enough lay the poor hunted Deer

In the ox-stall, with nothing to fear

From the careless-eyed men:

Till the Master came; then

There was no hiding-place for the Deer.

AN EYE IS KEEN IN ITS OWN INTEREST

THE DEER & THE LION

From the hounds the swift Deer sped away,

To his cave, where in past times he lay

Well concealed; unaware

Of a Lion couched there,

For a spring that soon made him his prey.

FATE CAN MEET AS WELL AS FOLLOW

45

THE LION IN LOVE

Though the Lion in love let them draw

All his teeth, and pare down every claw,

Hed no bride for his pains,

For they beat out his brains

Ere he set on his maiden a paw.

OUR VERY MEANS MAY DEFEAT OUR ENDS

46

THE CAT AND VENUS

Might his Cat be a woman, he said:

Venus changed her: the couple were wed:

But a mouse in her sight

Metamorphosed her quite,

And for bride, a cat found he instead.

NATURE WILL OUT

MICE IN COUNCIL

Against Cat sat a Council of Mice.

Every Mouse came out prompt with advice;

And a bell on Cats throat

Would have met a round vote,

Had the bell-hanger not been so nice.

THE BEST POLICY OFTEN TURNS ON AN IF

47

THE HEN AND THE FOX

The Hen roosted high on her perch;

Hungry Fox down below, on the search,

Coaxed her hard to descend

She replied, Most dear friend!

I feel more secure on my perch.

BEWARE OF INTERESTED FRIENDSHIPS

THE CAT AND THE FOX

The Fox said I can play, when it fits,

Many wiles that with man make me quits.

But my tricks up a tree!

Said the Cat, safe to see

Clever Fox hunted out of his wits.

TRUST TO SKILL RATHER THAN WIT

48

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE

Twas a race between Tortoise and Hare,

Puss was sure shed so much time to spare,

That she lay down to sleep,

And let old Thick-shell creep

To the winning post first!You may stare.

PERSISTENCE BEATS IMPULSE

THE HARES AND THE FROGS

Timid Hares, from the trumpeting wind,

Fled as swift as the fear in their mind;

Till in fright from their fear,

From the green sedges near,

Leaping Frogs left their terror behind.

OUR OWN ARE NOT THE ONLY TROUBLES

49

PORCUPINE, SNAKE, & COMPANY

Going shares with the Snakes, Porcupine

Saidthe best of the bargain is mine:

Nor would he back down,

When the snake would disown

The agreement his quills made them sign.

HASTY PARTNERSHIPS MAY BE REPENTED OF

THE BEAR & THE BEES

Their honey Ill have when I please;

Who cares for such small things as Bees?

Said the Bear; but the stings

Of these very small things

Left him not very much at his ease.

THE WEAKEST UNITED MAY BE STRONG TO AVENGE

50

THE BUNDLE OF STICKS

To his sons, who fell out, father spake:

This Bundle of Sticks you cant break;

Take them singly, with ease,

You may break as you please,

So, dissension your strength will unmake.

STRENGTH IS IN UNITY

51

THE FARMERS TREASURE

Dig deeply, my Sons! through this field!

Theres a Treasurehe died: unrevealed

The spot where twas laid,

They dug as he bade;

And the Treasure was found in the yield.

PRODUCTIVE LABOUR IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF WEALTH

52

THE COCK, THE ASS & THE LION

The Ass gave a horrible bray,

Cock crowed; Lion scampered away;

Ass judged he was scared

By the bray, and so dared

To pursue; Lion ate him they say.

DONT TAKE ALL THE CREDIT TO YOURSELF

THE ASS AND THE LAP DOG

How Master that little Dog pets!

Thinks the Ass; & with jealousy frets,

So he climbs Masters knees,

Hoping dog-like to please,

And a drubbing is all that he gets.

ASSES MUST NOT EXPECT TO BE FONDLED

53

FORTVNE AND THE BOY

A Boy heedless slept by the well

By Dame Fortune awaked, truth to tell,

Said she, Hadst been drowned,

Twould have surely been found

This by Fortune, not Folly befel.

FORTUNE IS NOT ANSWERABLE FOR OUR WANT OF FORESIGHT

54

THE UNGRATEFUL WOLF

To the Wolf, from whose throat Dr Crane

Drew the bone, his long bill made it plain

He expected his fee:

Snarled WolfFiddle de dee,

Be thankful your heads out again.

SOME CHARACTERS HAVE NO SENSE OF OBLIGATION

THE FISHERMAN & THE FISH

Prayed the Fish, as the Fisherman took

Him, a poor little mite, from his hook,

Let me go! Im so small.

He replied, Not at all!

Youre the biggest, perhaps in the brook.

A LITTLE CERTAINTY IS BETTER THAN A GREAT CHANCE

55

THE HERDSMANS VOWS

A Kid vowed to Jove, so might he

Find his herd, & his herd did he see

Soon, of lions the prey:

Then twasGet me away,

And a goat of the best take for fee.

HOW OFTEN WOULD WE MEND OUR WISHES!

THE HORSE AND THE ASS

Overladen the Ass was. The Horse

Wouldnt help; but had time for remorse

When the Ass lay dead there;

For he then had to bear

Both the load of the Ass & his corse.

GRUDGE NOT HELP!

56

THE ASS & THE SICK LION

Crafty Lion,perhaps with the gout,

Kept his cave; where, to solve any doubt,

Many visitors go:

But the Ass, he said No!

They go in, but Ive seen none come out.

REASON FROM RESULTS

THE END