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Category: Fables

  • Hercules and the Wagoner (Hercules and the Carter)

    A wagoner (cart driver) was driving a heavily loaded cart along a muddy country road. The wheels sank axle-deep, and the cart stuck fast in the mire. The more the horses strained, the deeper the wheels sank. When the wagoner realized he was truly bogged, he panicked and fell to his knees, praying loudly to…

  • Mercury and the Woodman

    A poor woodman was felling a tree on a riverbank when his axe slipped from his hands and sank into the deep water. Dismayed, for the axe was his only means of livelihood, he sat down and wept. Hearing his cries, the god Mercury (the fleet-footed messenger of the gods, known for cleverness and also…

  • The Two Travelers and the Bear

    Two friends are walking together through a forest when suddenly a ferocious bear crashes through the bushes in front of them. The first traveler, thinking only of his own safety, quickly scrambles up a tree, hiding in the branches. The second traveler, slower to react, finds himself alone facing the bear. With no time to…

  • The Fox and the Goat

    A thirsty fox climbs down into a well to drink, but then cannot climb back out. A passing goat sees the fox down in the well and asks if the water is good. The cunning fox quickly plots escape and replies enthusiastically, “The water is excellent, the best I’ve ever tasted! Come down, friend, and…

  • The Belly and the Members

    In this fable (which carries a political allegory), the body parts of a human—hands, feet, mouth, teeth, and so on—grow discontented with the stomach (the belly). They feel that they do all the work—collecting food, chewing, transporting—while the lazy belly sits idle in the middle, taking all the nourishment they provide. In their resentment, the…

  • The Frogs Who Desired a King

    In a certain marshy pond, the frogs lived free and, it must be said, somewhat chaotically. They croaked and cavorted as they pleased, but eventually some frogs complained that they lacked a proper ruler to establish order and dignity among them. So they petitioned Zeus, the king of the gods, to send them a king.…

  • The Oak and the Reed

    By a riverside stands a mighty oak tree, proud and unyielding, next to a cluster of slender reeds that bow and flutter with each breeze. The oak boasts of its great strength and firmly rooted stability, sneering at the flexible reeds for bending meekly to even a slight wind. The reeds reply, “Do not worry…

  • The Wolf and the Crane

    A greedy wolf devours his prey so ravenously that a bone becomes lodged in his throat, causing him great pain and the fear of choking. In need of help, the wolf seeks out a crane with a long neck and beak, and promises, “Oh, kind friend, I’ll reward you richly if you use your slender…

  • The Miller, His Son, and the Donkey

    A miller and his young son set out to town with their donkey to sell it at the market. As they walk alongside the donkey, not riding it, they first pass some villagers who scoff: “What fools, trudging on foot when they have a donkey that could carry them!” Hearing this, the miller decides to…

  • The Milkmaid and Her Pail

    A milkmaid walking to market balances a pail of fresh milk on her head. As she goes, she indulges in grand daydreams about the chain of success this milk will bring. “With the money I get from this milk,” she thinks, “I’ll buy some hens. They will lay eggs, and soon I’ll have a fine…

  • The Farmer and the Snake (The Frozen Serpent)

    On a cold winter’s day, a kind-hearted farmer comes across a snake stiff and half-dead with cold. Moved with pity, the farmer lifts the frozen serpent and places it in his bosom (or brings it home by the hearth) to warm it back to life. Revived by the warmth, the snake immediately bites the farmer…

  • The Dog in the Manger

    In an old stable, a dog finds a manger full of hay where the oxen feed. Being neither hungry for hay nor in need of the manger, the dog nevertheless curls up atop the pile of feed, claiming it as his resting spot. When the tired, hungry oxen return from plowing and approach the manger…

  • The Donkey in the Lion’s Skin

    A vain and foolish donkey finds a discarded lion’s hide. Draping the lion’s skin over himself, the donkey imagines he can now pass as the king of beasts. Indeed, as he walks through the fields, other animals and even people flee in terror, believing a fierce lion is on the prowl. Enjoying this newfound respect…

  • The Lion’s Share

    A lion joins a partnership with other animals—often a fox, a wolf, and a smaller beast like a jackal or ass—to hunt. Together, they succeed in bringing down a large prey (such as a stag). When it comes time to divide the meat, the lion arrogantly assigns himself the first portion because he is king;…

  • Belling the Cat (The Mice in Council)

    A community of mice is terrorized by a marauding house cat that pounces on them stealthily. Desperate to find a solution, the mice convene a council to discuss how to protect themselves. Many ideas are debated. Finally, a young mouse proposes a bold plan: hang a bell around the cat’s neck. That way, the bell…

  • The Bundle of Sticks (The Old Man and His Sons)

    An aging father with several quarrelsome sons seeks to teach them a final lesson before he dies. He gathers his sons and sets a bundle of sticks (or in some versions, a bundle of arrows) before them. He first asks each son to try to break the bundle when it’s tightly bound together. Despite their…

  • Androcles and the Lion

    Set in classical times, this story (often included in Aesop’s corpus though of later origin) tells of Androcles, a fugitive slave in ancient Rome, and a lion. Androcles escapes his cruel master and flees into the wilderness. There, he encounters a lion in pain, groaning and unable to walk. Instead of fleeing, Androcles bravely approaches…

  • The Dog and its Reflection

    The 17th-century engraver Wenceslaus Hollar depicts the greedy dog dropping its real bone while lunging at the illusion in the water. A dog crossing a stream with a piece of meat in its jaws looks down and sees what appears to be another dog in the water, carrying a larger piece of meat. Not realizing…

  • The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

    A town mouse, accustomed to the luxuries and bustle of urban living, once visited his cousin, a country mouse, who lived a simpler life in the fields. The country mouse humbly served rustic fare—plain grains and acorns. Finding this provincial meal and quiet life dull, the town mouse boasted of the refined delicacies and sophistication…

  • The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs

    A poor farmer and his wife possess an extraordinary goose that lays a solid gold egg each day. Initially, this marvel brings them steady wealth. But greed soon overtakes prudence: impatient to have all the treasure at once, the couple decides to kill the goose and cut it open, believing it must contain a great…

  • The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

    A cunning wolf, unable to catch enough prey due to vigilant shepherds, devises a deceit: it dons the fleece of a sheep to blend into the flock. Disguised as one of the herd, the predatory wolf can prowl among the sheep without alarming them. Yet the ruse proves its own undoing—accounts differ on the ending.…