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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 he’s no taste for grapes.
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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 jewel’s no
good To a fowl wanting
food, And then kicked it aside with disdain.
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IF HE ASK BREAD WILL YE GIVE HIM A STONE?
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB
A wolf, wanting lamb for his dinner, Growled out—“Lamb you wronged
me, you sinner.” Bleated Lamb—“Nay, not
true!” Answered Wolf—“Then ’twas
Ewe— Ewe or lamb, you will serve for my dinner.”
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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 Wind—the cloak
clung: Shone the Sun—the cloak
flung Showed the Sun had the best of it yet.
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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.
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DON’T 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 laughed—“No such
luck; Set your shoulder yourself to the wheel.”
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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.
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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, “don’t
mistake; I’m accustomed to take, To give’s not the
way of a File.”
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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 here’s cheese!”
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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.
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DON’T 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!”
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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 Crane’s
throttle; And Sir Fox licked the outside in vain.
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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.
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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, I’ve no cause to go.”
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YOUR REASONS ARE NOT MINE
21
THE FOX & THE MOSQUITOES
Being plagued with Mosquitoes one day, Said old Fox, “pray don’t
send them away, For a hungrier
swarm Would work me more
harm; I had rather the full ones should stay.”
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THERE WERE POLITICIANS IN ĆSOP’S 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 next—quite at ease, & polite.
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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? Don’t raise such a
clatter, You can still go & sit by the hole.”
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USE ALONE GIVES VALUE
THE GOLDEN EGGS
A golden Egg, one every day, That simpleton’s Goose used to
lay; So he killed the poor
thing, Swifter fortune to
bring, And dined off his fortune that day.
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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.
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YOU CANNOT HOPE TO PLEASE ALL—DON’T 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.
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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.
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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 asks—well and
good: But he cuts down the
wood, So well does he handle his axe!
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“GIVE ME AN INCH & I’LL 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.
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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.
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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; “You’re a real handsome
face; But what part of your
case Are your brains in, good Sir! let me ask?”
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MASKS ARE THE FACES OF SHAMS
29
THE ASS IN THE LION’S 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” had—on the skin of an Ass!
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IMPOSTERS GENERALLY FORGET SOMETHING
30
THE LION & THE STATVE
On a Statue—king Lion dethroned, Showing conqueror Man,—Lion
frowned. “If a Lion, you
know, Had been sculptor, he’d
show Lion rampant, and Man on the ground.”
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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! What’s so oft done with ease, one repeats.”
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DEEDS NOT WORDS
32
THE VAIN JACKDAW
“Fine feathers,” Jack thought, “make fine fowls; I’ll be envied of
bats & of owls:” But the peacocks’
proud eyes Saw through his
disguise, And Jack fled the assembly of fowls.
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BORROWED PLUMES ARE SOON DISCOVERED
33
THE PEACOCK’S COMPLAINT
The Peacock considered it wrong That he had not the nightingale’s
song; So to Juno he went,
She replied, “Be content With
thy having, & hold thy fool’s tongue!”
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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, “I’ll be smashed if beside you I stay.”
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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.”
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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.”
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HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES
36
THE FOX WITHOUT A TAIL
Said Fox, minus tail in a trap, “My friends! here’s a lucky
mishap: Give your tails a short
lease!” But the foxes weren’t
geese, And none followed the fashion of trap.
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YET SOME FASHIONS HAVE NO BETTER REASON
37
THE DOG & THE SHADOW
His image the Dog did not know, Or his bone’s, in the pond’s
painted show: “T’other dog,” so he
thought “Has got more than he
ought,” So he snapped, & his dinner saw go!
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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! Don’t say that he
spilled it! With pebbles he
filled it, Till the water rose up to the brink.
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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.
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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.
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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, Couldn’t rise, and were caught in retreat.
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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 He’d no part in the
fight, But they answered
him—“Right, But what of the music you made?”
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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 man’s ways, felt
confused, When the same mouth blew hot & cold too!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, He’d no bride for his
pains, For they beat out his
brains Ere he set on his maiden a paw.
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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.
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NATURE WILL OUT
MICE IN COUNCIL
Against Cat sat a Council of Mice. Every Mouse came out prompt with
advice; And a bell on Cat’s
throat Would have met a round
vote, Had the bell-hanger not been so nice.
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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.”
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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 trick’s up a
tree!” Said the Cat, safe to
see Clever Fox hunted out of his wits.
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TRUST TO SKILL RATHER THAN WIT
48
THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
’Twas a race between Tortoise and Hare, Puss was sure she’d 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.
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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.
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OUR OWN ARE NOT THE ONLY TROUBLES
49
PORCUPINE, SNAKE, & COMPANY
Going shares with the Snakes, Porcupine Said—“the best of the
bargain is mine:” Nor would he back
down, When the snake would
disown The agreement his quills made them sign.
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HASTY PARTNERSHIPS MAY BE REPENTED OF
THE BEAR & THE BEES
“Their honey I’ll 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.
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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
can’t break; Take them singly, with
ease, You may break as you
please, So, dissension your strength will unmake.”
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STRENGTH IS IN UNITY
51
THE FARMER’S TREASURE
“Dig deeply, my Sons! through this field! There’s a Treasure”—he
died: unrevealed The spot where ’twas
laid, They dug as he
bade; And the Treasure was found in the yield.
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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.
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DON’T 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 Master’s
knees, Hoping dog-like to
please, And a drubbing is all that he gets.
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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.”
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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 Wolf—“Fiddle de
dee, Be thankful your head’s out again.”
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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! I’m so
small.” He replied, “Not at
all! You’re the biggest, perhaps in the brook.”
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A LITTLE CERTAINTY IS BETTER THAN A GREAT CHANCE
55
THE HERDSMAN’S VOWS
A Kid vowed to Jove, so might he Find his herd, & his herd did
he see Soon, of lions the
prey: Then ’twas—“Get me
away, And a goat of the best take for fee.”
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HOW OFTEN WOULD WE MEND OUR WISHES!
THE HORSE AND THE ASS
Overladen the Ass was. The Horse Wouldn’t 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.
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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 I’ve seen none come out.”
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REASON FROM RESULTS
THE END
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