d
therefore man in his middle age is fond of work, devoted to labor, and
resolute to amass wealth and to husband his resources. The end of life
was reserved for the Dog, wherefore the old man is often snappish,
irritable, hard to please, and selfish, tolerant only of his own
household, but averse to strangers and to all who do not administer to
his comfort or to his necessities.

The Apes and the Two Travelers

TWO MEN, one who always spoke the truth and the other who told nothing
but lies, were traveling together and by chance came to the land of
Apes. One of the Apes, who had raised himself to be king, commanded them
to be seized and brought before him, that he might know what was said of
him among men. He ordered at the same time that all the Apes be arranged
in a long row on his right hand and on his left, and that a throne be
placed for him, as was the custom among men. After these preparations
he signified that the two men should be brought before him, and greeted
them with this salutation: "What sort of a king do I seem to you to be,
O strangers?" The Lying Traveler replied, "You seem to me a most mighty
king." "And what is your estimate of those you see around me?" "These,"
he made answer, "are worthy companions of yourself, fit at least to be
ambassadors and leaders of armies." The Ape and all his court, gratified
with the lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to the
flatterer. On this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, "If so
great a reward be given for a lie, with what gift may not I be rewarded,
if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?" The Ape quickly turned
to him. "And pray how do I and these my friends around me seem to you?"
"Thou art," he said, "a most excellent Ape, and all these thy companions
after thy example are excellent Apes too." The King of the Apes, enraged
at hearing these truths, gave him over to the teeth and claws of his
companions.

The Wolf and the Shepherd

A WOLF followed a flock of sheep for a long time and did not attempt
to injure one of them. The Shepherd at first stood on his guard against
him, as against an enemy, and kept a strict watch over his movements.
But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and
did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to
look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of
evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city,
he left