--- title: Aesop’s Fables, part 12 — Three hundred Aesop’s fables · full text with trees description: Aesop’s Fables, part 12, «Three hundred Aesop’s fables» by Aesop: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The Spendthrift and the Swallow --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Three hundred Aesop’s fables](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/) / Aesop’s Fables, part 12 # Aesop’s Fables, part 12 Aesop’s Fables, part 12 of «Three hundred Aesop’s fables» by Aesop: the whole text, 139 sentences and 2728 words. Every sentence has its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself; 1 of them are in the tales treebank and were checked by a teacher model. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/page/2/) - [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/1/) — The Spendthrift and the Swallow - [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/2/) — A YOUNG MAN, a great spendthrift, had run through all his patrimony and had but one good cloak left. - [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/3/) — One day he happened to see a Swallow, which had appeared before its season, skimming along a pool and twittering gaily. - [4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/4/) — He supposed that summer had come, and went and sold his cloak. - [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/5/) — Not many days later, winter set in again with renewed frost and cold. - [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/6/) — When he found the unfortunate Swallow lifeless on the ground, he said, “Unhappy bird! what have you done? - [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/7/) — By thus appearing before the springtime you have not only killed yourself, but you have wrought my destruction also.” - [8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/8/) — The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner - [9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/9/) — A TRUMPETER, bravely leading on the soldiers, was captured by the enemy. - [10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/10/) — He cried out to his captors, “Pray spare me, and do not take my life without cause or without inquiry. - [11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/11/) — I have not slain a single man of your troop. - [12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/12/) — I have no arms, and carry nothing but this one brass trumpet.” - [13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/13/) — “That is the very reason for which you should be put to death,” they said; “for, while you do not fight yourself, your trumpet stirs all the others to battle.” - [14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/14/) — The Owl and the Birds - [15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/15/) — AN OWL, in her wisdom, counseled the Birds that when the acorn first began to sprout, to pull it all up out of the ground and not allow it to grow. - [16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/16/) — She said acorns would produce mistletoe, from which an irremediable poison, the bird-lime, would be extracted and by which they would be captured. - [17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/17/) — The Owl next advised them to pluck up the seed of the flax, which men had sown, as it was a plant which boded no good to them. - [18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/18/) — And, lastly, the Owl, seeing an archer approach, predicted that this man, being on foot, would contrive darts armed with feathers which would fly faster than the wings of the Birds themselves. - [19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/19/) — The Birds gave no credence to these warning words, but considered the Owl to be beside herself and said that she was mad. - [20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/20/) — But afterwards, finding her words were true, they wondered at her knowledge and deemed her to be the wisest of birds. - [21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/21/) — Hence it is that when she appears they look to her as knowing all things, while she no longer gives them advice, but in solitude laments their past folly. - [22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/22/) — The Goods and the Ills - [23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/23/) — ALL the Goods were once driven out by the Ills from that common share which they each had in the affairs of mankind; for the Ills by reason of their numbers had prevailed to possess the earth. - [24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/24/) — The Goods wafted themselves to heaven and asked for a righteous vengeance on their persecutors. - [25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/25/) — They entreated Jupiter that they might no longer be associated with the Ills, as they had nothing in common and could not live together, but were engaged in unceasing warfare; and that an indissoluble law might be laid down for their future protection. - [26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/26/) — Jupiter granted their request and decreed that henceforth the Ills should visit the earth in company with each other, but that the Goods should one by one enter the habitations of men. - [27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/27/) — Hence it arises that Ills abound, for they come not one by one, but in troops, and by no means singly: while the Goods proceed from Jupiter, and are given, not alike to all, but singly, and separately; and one by one to those who are able to discern them. - [28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/28/) — The Ass in the Lion’s Skin - [29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/29/) — AN ASS, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in the forest and amused himself by frightening all the foolish animals he met in his wanderings. - [30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/30/) — At last coming upon a Fox, he tried to frighten him also, but the Fox no sooner heard the sound of his voice than he exclaimed, “I might possibly have been frightened myself, if I had not heard your bray.” - [31](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/31/) — The Sparrow and the Hare - [32](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/32/) — A HARE pounced upon by an eagle sobbed very much and uttered cries like a child. - [33](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/33/) — A Sparrow upbraided her and said, “Where now is thy remarkable swiftness of foot? - [34](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/34/) — Why were your feet so slow?” - [35](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/35/) — While the Sparrow was thus speaking, a hawk suddenly seized him and killed him. - [36](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/36/) — The Hare was comforted in her death, and expiring said, “Ah! you who so lately, when you supposed yourself safe, exulted over my calamity, have now reason to deplore a similar misfortune.” - [37](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/37/) — The Flea and the Ox - [38](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/38/) — A FLEA thus questioned an Ox: “What ails you, that being so huge and strong, you submit to the wrongs you receive from men and slave for them day by day, while I, being so small a creature, mercilessly feed on their flesh and drink their blood without stint?” - [39](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/39/) — The Ox replied: “I do not wish to be ungrateful, for I am loved and well cared for by men, and they often pat my head and shoulders.” - [40](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/40/) — “Woe’s me!” said the flea; “this very patting which you like, whenever it happens to me, brings with it my inevitable destruction.” - [41](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/41/) — The Ass and His Purchaser - [42](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/42/) — A MAN wished to purchase an Ass, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. - [43](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/43/) — He took the Ass home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Asses, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. - [44](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/44/) — Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. - [45](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/45/) — On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, “I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion.” - [46](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/46/) — A man is known by the company he keeps. - [47](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/47/) — The Dove and the Crow - [48](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/48/) — A DOVE shut up in a cage was boasting of the large number of young ones which she had hatched. - [49](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/49/) — A Crow hearing her, said: “My good friend, cease from this unseasonable boasting. - [50](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/50/) — The larger the number of your family, the greater your cause of sorrow, in seeing them shut up in this prison-house.” - [51](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/51/) — The Man and the Satyr - [52](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/52/) — A MAN and a Satyr once drank together in token of a bond of alliance being formed between them. - [53](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/53/) — One very cold wintry day, as they talked, the Man put his fingers to his mouth and blew on them. - [54](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/54/) — When the Satyr asked the reason for this, he told him that he did it to warm his hands because they were so cold. - [55](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/55/) — Later on in the day they sat down to eat, and the food prepared was quite scalding. - [56](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/56/) — The Man raised one of the dishes a little towards his mouth and blew in it. - [57](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/57/) — When the Satyr again inquired the reason, he said that he did it to cool the meat, which was too hot. — checked by a teacher - [58](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/58/) — “I can no longer consider you as a friend,” said the Satyr, “a fellow who with the same breath blows hot and cold.” - [59](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/59/) — Jupiter, Neptune, Minerva, and Momus - [60](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/60/) — ACCORDING to an ancient legend, the first man was made by Jupiter, the first bull by Neptune, and the first house by Minerva. - [61](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/61/) — On the completion of their labours, a dispute arose as to which had made the most perfect work. - [62](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/62/) — They agreed to appoint Momus as judge, and to abide by his decision. - [63](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/63/) — Momus, however, being very envious of the handicraft of each, found fault with all. - [64](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/64/) — He first blamed the work of Neptune because he had not made the horns of the bull below his eyes, so he might better see where to strike. - [65](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/65/) — He then condemned the work of Jupiter, because he had not placed the heart of man on the outside, that everyone might read the thoughts of the evil disposed and take precautions against the intended mischief. - [66](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/66/) — And, lastly, he inveighed against Minerva because she had not contrived iron wheels in the foundation of her house, so its inhabitants might more easily remove if a neighbor proved unpleasant. - [67](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/67/) — Jupiter, indignant at such inveterate faultfinding, drove him from his office of judge, and expelled him from the mansions of Olympus. - [68](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/68/) — The Eagle and the Jackdaw - [69](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/69/) — AN EAGLE, flying down from his perch on a lofty rock, seized upon a lamb and carried him aloft in his talons. - [70](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/70/) — A Jackdaw, who witnessed the capture of the lamb, was stirred with envy and determined to emulate the strength and flight of the Eagle. - [71](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/71/) — He flew around with a great whir of his wings and settled upon a large ram, with the intention of carrying him off, but his claws became entangled in the ram’s fleece and he was not able to release himself, although he fluttered with his feathers as much as he could. - [72](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/72/) — The shepherd, seeing what had happened, ran up and caught him. - [73](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/73/) — He at once clipped the Jackdaw’s wings, and taking him home at night, gave him to his children. - [74](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/74/) — On their saying, “Father, what kind of bird is it?” he replied, “To my certain knowledge he is a Daw; but he would like you to think an Eagle.” - [75](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/75/) — The Eagle and the Fox - [76](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/76/) — AN EAGLE and a Fox formed an intimate friendship and decided to live near each other. - [77](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/77/) — The Eagle built her nest in the branches of a tall tree, while the Fox crept into the underwood and there produced her young. - [78](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/78/) — Not long after they had agreed upon this plan, the Eagle, being in want of provision for her young ones, swooped down while the Fox was out, seized upon one of the little cubs, and feasted herself and her brood. - [79](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/79/) — The Fox on her return, discovered what had happened, but was less grieved for the death of her young than for her inability to avenge them. - [80](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/80/) — A just retribution, however, quickly fell upon the Eagle. - [81](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/81/) — While hovering near an altar, on which some villagers were sacrificing a goat, she suddenly seized a piece of the flesh, and carried it, along with a burning cinder, to her nest. - [82](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/82/) — A strong breeze soon fanned the spark into a flame, and the eaglets, as yet unfledged and helpless, were roasted in their nest and dropped down dead at the bottom of the tree. - [83](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/83/) — There, in the sight of the Eagle, the Fox gobbled them up. - [84](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/84/) — The Two Bags - [85](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/85/) — EVERY MAN, according to an ancient legend, is born into the world with two bags suspended from his neck all bag in front full of his neighbors’ faults, and a large bag behind filled with his own faults. - [86](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/86/) — Hence it is that men are quick to see the faults of others, and yet are often blind to their own failings. - [87](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/87/) — The Bitch and Her Whelps - [88](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/88/) — A BITCH, ready to whelp, earnestly begged a shepherd for a place where she might litter. - [89](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/89/) — When her request was granted, she besought permission to rear her puppies in the same spot. - [90](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/90/) — The shepherd again consented. - [91](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/91/) — But at last the Bitch, protected by the bodyguard of her Whelps, who had now grown up and were able to defend themselves, asserted her exclusive right to the place and would not permit the shepherd to approach. - [92](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/92/) — The Stag at the Pool - [93](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/93/) — A STAG overpowered by heat came to a spring to drink. - [94](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/94/) — Seeing his own shadow reflected in the water, he greatly admired the size and variety of his horns, but felt angry with himself for having such slender and weak feet. - [95](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/95/) — While he was thus contemplating himself, a Lion appeared at the pool and crouched to spring upon him. - [96](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/96/) — The Stag immediately took to flight, and exerting his utmost speed, as long as the plain was smooth and open kept himself easily at a safe distance from the Lion. - [97](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/97/) — But entering a wood he became entangled by his horns, and the Lion quickly came up to him and caught him. - [98](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/98/) — When too late, he thus reproached himself: “Woe is me! - [99](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/99/) — How I have deceived myself! - [100](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/100/) — These feet which would have saved me I despised, and I gloried in these antlers which have proved my destruction.” **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/14/page/2/) - ← previous: [Aesop’s Fables, part 11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/13/) - next →: [Aesop’s Fables, part 13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/15/) - ↑ back to [Three hundred Aesop’s fables](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg21/)