fantastic fables-第20节
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services to a passing Miller。
〃No；〃 said the patriotic Miller； 〃I will employ no one who deserts
his position in the hour of danger。 It is sweet to die for one's
country。〃
Something in the sentiment sounded familiar； and； looking at the
Miller more closely the War…horse recognised his master in
disguise。
The Dog and the Reflection
A DOG passing over a stream on a plank saw his reflection in the
water。
〃You ugly brute！〃 he cried； 〃how dare you look at me in that
insolent way。〃
He made a grab in the water； and； getting hold of what he supposed
was the other dog's lip； lifted out a fine piece of meat which a
butcher's boy had dropped into the stream。
The Man and the Fish…horn
A TRUTHFUL Man； finding a musical instrument in the road； asked the
name of it； and was told that it was a fish…horn。 The next time he
went fishing he set his nets and blew the fish…horn all day to
charm the fish into them； but at nightfall there were not only no
fish in his nets； but none along that part of the coast。 Meeting a
friend while on his way home he was asked what luck he had had。
〃Well；〃 said the Truthful Man； 〃the weather is not right for
fishing； but it's a red…letter day for music。〃
The Hare and the Tortoise
A HARE having ridiculed the slow movements of a Tortoise； was
challenged by the latter to run a race； a Fox to go to the goal and
be the judge。 They got off well together； the hare at the top of
her speed； the Tortoise； who had no other intention than making his
antagonist exert herself； going very leisurely。 After sauntering
along for some time he discovered the Hare by the wayside；
apparently asleep； and seeing a chance to win pushed on as fast as
he could； arriving at the goal hours afterward； suffering from
extreme fatigue and claiming the victory。
〃Not so；〃 said the Fox； 〃the Hare was here long ago； and went back
to cheer you on your way。〃
Hercules and the Carter
A CARTER was driving a waggon loaded with a merchant's goods； when
the wheels stuck in a rut。 Thereupon he began to pray to Hercules；
without other exertion。
〃Indolent fellow！〃 said Hercules； 〃you ask me to help you； but will
not help yourself。〃
So the Carter helped himself to so many of the most valuable goods
that the horses easily ran away with the remainder。
The Lion and the Bull
A LION wishing to lure a Bull to a place where it would be safe to
attack him； said： 〃My friend； I have killed a fine sheep； will you
come with me and partake of the mutton？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 said the Bull； 〃as soon as you have refreshed
yourself a little for the journey。 Pray have some grass。〃
The Man and his Goose
〃SEE these valuable golden eggs；〃 said a Man that owned a Goose。
〃Surely a Goose which can lay such eggs as those must have a gold
mine inside her。〃
So he killed the Goose and cut her open； but found that she was
just like any other goose。 Moreover； on examining the eggs that
she had laid he found they were just like any other eggs。
The Wolf and the Feeding Goat
A WOLF saw a Goat feeding at the summit of a rock； where he could
not get at her。
〃Why do you stay up there in that sterile place and go hungry？〃
said the Wolf。 〃Down here where I am the broken…bottle vine cometh
up as a flower； the celluloid collar blossoms as the rose； and the
tin…can tree brings forth after its kind。〃
〃That is true； no doubt；〃 said the Goat； 〃but how about the circus…
poster crop？ I hear that it failed this year down there。〃
The Wolf； perceiving that he was being chaffed； went away and
resumed his duties at the doors of the poor。
Jupiter and the Birds
JUPITER commanded all the birds to appear before him； so that he
might choose the most beautiful to be their king。 The ugly
jackdaw； collecting all the fine feathers which had fallen from the
other birds； attached them to his own body and appeared at the
examination； looking very gay。 The other birds； recognising their
own borrowed plumage； indignantly protested； and began to strip
him。
〃Hold！〃 said Jupiter； 〃this self…made bird has more sense than any
of you。 He is your king。〃
The Lion and the Mouse
A LION who had caught a Mouse was about to kill him； when the Mouse
said：
〃If you will spare my life； I will do as much for you some day。〃
The Lion； good…naturedly let him go。 It happened shortly
afterwards that the Lion was caught by some hunters and bound with
cords。 The Mouse； passing that way； and seeing that his benefactor
was helpless； gnawed off his tail。
The Old Man and His Sons
AN Old Man； afflicted with a family of contentious Sons； brought in
a bundle of sticks and asked the young men to break it。 After
repeated efforts they confessed that it could not be done。
〃Behold；〃 said the Old Man； 〃the advantage of unity； as long as
these sticks are in alliance they are invincible； but observe how
feeble they are individually。〃
Pulling a single stick from the bundle； he broke it easily upon the
head of the eldest Son； and this he repeated until all had been
served。
The Crab and His Son
A LOGICAL Crab said to his Son； 〃Why do you not walk straight
forward？ Your sidelong gait is singularly ungraceful。〃
〃Why don't you walk straight forward yourself；〃 said the Son。
〃Erring youth；〃 replied the Logical Crab； 〃you are introducing new
and irrelevant matter。〃
The North Wind and the Sun
THE Sun and the North Wind disputed which was the more powerful；
and agreed that he should be declared victor who could the sooner
strip a traveller of his clothes。 So they waited until a traveller
came by。 But the traveller had been indiscreet enough to stay over
night at a summer hotel； and had no clothes。
The Mountain and the Mouse
A MOUNTAIN was in labour； and the people of seven cities had
assembled to watch its movements and hear its groans。 While they
waited in breathless expectancy out came a Mouse。
〃Oh； what a baby！〃 they cried in derision。
〃I may be a baby；〃 said the Mouse； gravely； as he passed outward
through the forest of shins； 〃but I know tolerably well how to
diagnose a volcano。〃
The Bellamy and the Members
THE Members of a body of Socialists rose in insurrection against
their Bellamy。
〃Why；〃 said they； 〃should we be all the time tucking you out with
food when you do nothing to tuck us out？〃
So； resolving to take no further action； they went away； and
looking backward had the satisfaction to see the Bellamy compelled
to sell his own book。
OLD SAWS WITH NEW TEETH
CERTAIN ANCIENT FABLES APPLIED TO
THE LIFE OF OUR TIMES
The Wolf and the Crane
A RICH Man wanted to tell a certain lie； but the lie was of such
monstrous size that it stuck in his throat； so he employed an
Editor to write it out and publish it in his paper as an editorial。
But when the Editor presented his bill； the Rich Man said：
〃Be content … is it nothing that I refrained from advising you
about investments？〃
The Lion and the Mouse
A JUDGE was awakened by the noise of a lawyer prosecuting a Thief。
Rising in wrath he was about to sentence the Thief to life
imprisonment when the latter said：
〃I beg that you will set me free； and I will some day requite your
kindness。〃
Pleased and flattered to be bribed； although by nothing but an
empty promise； the Judge let him go。 Soon afterward he found that
it was more than an empty promise； for； having become a Thief； he
was himself set free by the other； who had become a Judge。
The Hares and the Frogs
THE Members of a Legislature； being told that they were the meanest
thieves in the world； resolved to commit suicide。 So they bought
shrouds； and laying them in a convenient place prepared to cut
their throats。 While they were grinding their razors some Tramps
passing that way stole the shrouds。
〃Let us live； my friends；〃 said one of the Legislators t
