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

Bat and the Weasels

A BAT who fell upon the ground was caught by a Weasel. The Bat pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying that all weasels were by nature the enemy of all birds and he was no exception.

The Bat assured the Weasel that he was not a bird, but a mouse and was promptly set free, with the Weasel apologizing for his mistake.

Shortly afterwards the Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whom he likewise entreated not to eat him.

The second Weasel said that he had a long standing feud with mice and hated all mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse, but a bat and escaped for a second time.

Moral: Use your circumstances to your advantage.

posted in Miscellaneous | 14 Suggested Morals

Horse and the Groom

A GROOM used to spend all day, every day in currycombing and rubbing down his Horse, but at the same time stole the horse’s oats and sold them for his own profit.

“Think about it!” said the Horse, “if you really want me to be in good condition, you should groom me less, and feed me more.”

Moral: Spend your time on what will give you the results you want.

posted in Miscellaneous, People | 12 Suggested Morals

The Boys and the Frogs

Some boys, playing near a pond, saw a number of Frogs in the water and began to throw stones at them.

After the Boys had killed several of the Frogs, one of the Frogs, lifting his head out of the water, cried out: “Please stop, boys: what is sport to you, is death to us.”

Moral: Be aware of the effect of your actions upon others.

posted in Miscellaneous, People | 5 Suggested Morals

The Frogs and their King

The Frogs, grieved at having no established Ruler, sent ambassadors to Zeus, the King of the gods, asking him to give them a King.

Zeus, knowing their simplicity, cast down a huge log into the lake. The Frogs were terrified at the splash that went with the fall of the log and hid themselves in the depths of the pool.

But as soon as they realized that the huge log was motionless, they swam again to the top of the water, got over their fears, climbed up, and began squatting on the log in contempt.

After some time, the Frogs began to think themselves ill-treated in the appointment of so useless a Ruler, and sent a second deputation to Zeus to pray that he would set over them another sovereign.

Zeus then gave the Frogs an Eel to govern them.

When the Frogs discovered that the Eel had an easy good nature, they sent yet a third time to Zeus to beg him to choose for them still another King.

Zeus, displeased with all their complaints, sent a Heron, who attacked and ate the Frogs day by day until there were none left to croak upon the lake.

Moral: Be content with what you’ve got.

posted in Miscellaneous | 4 Suggested Morals

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