Aesop Fables

Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat

Aesop Fables

Fidy Says

Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat

A young Pig was shut up in a yard with a Goat and a Sheep. On one occasion when the shepherd laid hold of him, the Pig grunted and squeaked and resisted violently.

The Sheep and the Goat complained of his distressing cries, saying, “He often handles us, and we do not cry out.”

To this the Piglet replied, “Your handling and mine are very different things. He catches you only for your wool, or your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very life.”

Moral: Don’t complain about something you cannot understand.

posted in Goat, Miscellaneous | 5 Suggested Morals

The Goatherd and the Wild Goats

A Goatherd, driving his flock from their pasture at eventide, found some Wild Goats mingled among them, and shut them up in a cave together with his own for the night.

The next day it snowed very hard, so that the Goatherd could not take the herd to their usual feeding places, but was obliged to keep them inside the cave. He gave his own goats just enough food to keep them alive, but fed the wild goats more abundantly, hoping that by doing so, they would stay with him and join his herd.

When the snow thawed, the Goatherd led them all out to feed, and the Wild Goats scampered away as fast as they could to the mountains. The Goatherd scolded them for their ingratitude in leaving him, when during the storm he had taken more care of them than of his own herd.

One of the Wild Goats, turning about, said to him: “That is the very reason why we are so cautious; for if you yesterday treated us better than the Goats you have had so long, it is plain also that if others came after us, you would in the same manner prefer them to ourselves.”

Moral: Don’t sacrifice old friends for new ones.

posted in Goat, People | 8 Suggested Morals

The Piglet, the Sheep and the Goat

A young Pig was shut up in a fold-yard with a Goat and a Sheep.

One time, when the shepherd grabbed the Pig, he grunted and squeaked and resisted violently.

The Sheep and the Goat complained of his distressing cries, saying, “The shepherd often handles us, and we do not cry out.”

To this the Pig replied, “Your handling and mine are very different things. He catches you only for your wool, or your milk, but he lays hold on me for my very life.”

Moral: Don’t compare another’s troubles to your own.

posted in Goat, Miscellaneous | 5 Suggested Morals

The Goat and the Goatherd

A Goatherd had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons.

At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master.

The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak even though I be silent.”

Moral: Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.

posted in Goat, People | 3 Suggested Morals

The Fox and the Goat

A Fox one day fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape. A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well, and seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good.

Concealing his sad plight under a happy face, the Fox gave lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraging the Goat to come down.

The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down. As the Goat started to drink, the Fox told him of the difficulty they were both in and suggested a scheme for their common escape.

“If,” said the Fox, “you place your front feet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and escape, and will help you out afterwards.”

The Goat readily agreed and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat’s horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and made off as fast as he could.

When the Goat told him off for breaking his promise, the Fox turned around and cried out, “You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had worked out the way up, nor have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape.”

Moral: Look before you leap.

posted in Fox, Goat | 8 Suggested Morals

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