A wolf, whose gettings from the flocks Began to be but few, Bethought himself to play the foxIn character quite new. A shepherd’s hat and coat he took, A cudgel for a crook, Nor e’en the pipe forgot: And more to seem what he was not, Himself upon his hat…
The Lion and the Ass Hunting
The king of animals, with royal grace, Would celebrate his birthday in the chase. ‘Twas not with bow and arrows, To slay some wretched sparrows; The lion hunts the wild boar of the wood, The antlered deer and stags, the fat and good. This time, the king, t’ insure success,…
The Wolf Accusing the Fox
A wolf, affirming his belief That he had suffer’d by a thief, Brought up his neighbour fox — Of whom it was by all confess’d, His character was not the best — To fill the prisoner’s box. As judge between these vermin, A monkey graced the ermine; And truly other…
The Thieves and the Ass
Two thieves, pursuing their profession, Had of a donkey got possession, Whereon a strife arose, Which went from words to blows. The question was, to sell, or not to sell; But while our sturdy champions fought it well, Another thief, who chanced to pass, With ready wit rode off the…
The Grasshopper and the Ant
A grasshopper gay Sang the summer away, And found herself poor By the winter’s first roar. Of meat or of bread, Not a morsel she had! So a-begging she went, To her neighbour the ant, For the loan of some wheat, Which would serve her to eat, Till the season…
The Acorn and the Pumpkin
God’s works are good. This truth to prove Around the world I need not move; I do it by the nearest pumpkin. “This fruit so large, on vine so small,” Surveying once, exclaim’d a bumpkin — “What could He mean who made us all? He’s left this pumpkin out of…
Why the Cats & Dogs are Enemies
In ancient times there lived an old gray-haired man by the river’s bank where the ferry-boats land. He was poor but honest, and being childless, and compelled to earn his own food, he kept a little wine-shop, which, small though it was, possessed quite a local reputation, for the aged…
Beauty of Form and Beauty of Mind
There was once a sculptor, named Alfred, who having won the large gold medal and obtained a travelling scholarship, went to Italy, and then came back to his native land. He was young at that time—indeed, he is young still, although he is ten years older than he was then….
The Conceited Apple-Branch
It was the month of May. The wind still blew cold; but from bush and tree, field and flower, came the welcome sound, “Spring is come.” Wild-flowers in profusion covered the hedges. Under the little apple-tree, Spring seemed busy, and told his tale from one of the branches which hung…
Anne Lisbeth
Anne Lisbeth was a beautiful young woman, with a red and white complexion, glittering white teeth, and clear soft eyes; and her footstep was light in the dance, but her mind was lighter still. She had a little child, not at all pretty; so he was put out to be…