hed himself on a high branch, while the Dog found a
bed at the foot of the tree. When morning dawned, the Cock, as usual,
crowed very loudly. A Fox, hearing the sound, and wishing to make a
breakfast on him, came and stood under the branches, saying how
earnestly he desired to make the acquaintance of the owner of so sweet a
voice.

"If you will admit me," said he, "I should very much like to spend the
day with you."

The Cock said: "Sir, do me the favor to go round and wake up my porter,
that he may open the door, and let you in." On the Fox approaching the
tree, the Dog sprang out and caught him and quickly tore him in pieces.

[Illustration]

Those who try to entrap others are often caught by their own schemes.

The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk.

[Illustration]

A Mouse, by an unlucky chance, formed an intimate acquaintance with a
Frog. The Frog one day, intent on mischief, bound the foot of the Mouse
tightly to his own. Thus joined together, the Frog led his friend toward
the pool in which he lived, until he reached the very brink, when
suddenly jumping in, he dragged the Mouse in with him. The Frog enjoyed
the water amazingly, and swam croaking about as if he had done a
meritorious action. The unhappy Mouse was soon suffocated with the
water, and his dead body floated about on the surface, tied to the foot
of the Frog. A Hawk observed it, and, pouncing upon it, carried it up
aloft. The Frog, being still fastened to the leg of the Mouse, was also
carried off a prisoner, and was eaten by the Hawk.

Harm hatch, harm catch.

The Dog and the Oyster.

A Dog, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster, and opening his mouth to its
widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to
be an egg. Soon afterwards suffering great pain in his stomach, he said:
"I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything
round must be an egg."

Who acts in haste repents at leisure.

The Wolf and the Shepherds.

A Wolf passing by, saw some shepherds in a hut eating for their dinner a
haunch of mutton. Approaching them, he said: "What a clamor you would
raise, if I were to do as you are doing!"

Men are too apt to condemn in others the very things they practice
themselves.

The Hares and the Frogs.

[Illustration]

The Hares, oppressed with a sense of their own exceeding timidity, and
weary of the perpetual alarm to which they were exposed, with one accor