whom he has attacked." On this,
he who had fought with the Robber made answer, "I only wish that you
had helped me just now, even if it had been only with those words, for I
should have been the more encouraged, believing them to be true; but now
put up your sword in its sheath and hold your equally useless tongue,
till you can deceive others who do not know you. I, indeed, who have
experienced with what speed you run away, know right well that no
dependence can be placed on your valor."

The Trees Under the Protection of the Gods

THE GODS, according to an ancient legend, made choice of certain trees
to be under their special protection. Jupiter chose the oak, Venus the
myrtle, Apollo the laurel, Cybele the pine, and Hercules the poplar.
Minerva, wondering why they had preferred trees not yielding fruit,
inquired the reason for their choice. Jupiter replied, "It is lest we
should seem to covet the honor for the fruit." But said Minerva, "Let
anyone say what he will the olive is more dear to me on account of its
fruit." Then said Jupiter, "My daughter, you are rightly called wise;
for unless what we do is useful, the glory of it is vain."

The Mother and the Wolf

A FAMISHED WOLF was prowling about in the morning in search of food. As
he passed the door of a cottage built in the forest, he heard a Mother
say to her child, "Be quiet, or I will throw you out of the window, and
the Wolf shall eat you." The Wolf sat all day waiting at the door. In
the evening he heard the same woman fondling her child and saying: "You
are quiet now, and if the Wolf should come, we will kill him." The Wolf,
hearing these words, went home, gasping with cold and hunger. When he
reached his den, Mistress Wolf inquired of him why he returned wearied
and supperless, so contrary to his wont. He replied: "Why, forsooth! use
I gave credence to the words of a woman!"

The Ass and the Horse

AN ASS besought a Horse to spare him a small portion of his feed. "Yes,"
said the Horse; "if any remains out of what I am now eating I will give
it you for the sake of my own superior dignity, and if you will come
when I reach my own stall in the evening, I will give you a little sack
full of barley." The Ass replied, "Thank you. But I can't think that
you, who refuse me a little matter now, will by and by confer on me a
greater benefit."

Truth and the Traveler

A WAYFARING MAN, traveling in the desert, met a woman standing alone