ule carrying the
treasure walked with head erect, and tossed up and down the bells
fastened to his neck. His companion followed with quiet and easy step.
All on a sudden Robbers rushed from their hiding-places upon them, and
in the scuffle with their owners wounded the Mule carrying the treasure,
which they greedily seized upon, while they took no notice of the grain.
The Mule which had been wounded bewailed his misfortunes. The other
replied: "I am glad that I was thought so little of, for I have lost
nothing, nor am I hurt with any wound."

The conspicuous run the greatest risk.

The Lion and the Three Bulls.

[Illustration]

Three Bulls for a long time pastured together. A Lion lay in ambush in
the hope of making them his prey, but was afraid to attack them whilst
they kept together. Having at last by guileful speeches succeeded in
separating them, he attacked them without fear, as they fed alone, and
feasted on them one by one at his own leisure.

In union is strength.

The Dog and the Shadow.

[Illustration]

A Dog, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his
mouth, saw his own shadow in the water, and took it for another Dog,
with a piece of meat double his own in size. He therefore let go his
own, and fiercely attacked the other Dog, to get his larger piece from
him. He thus lost both--that which he grasped at in the water, because
it was a shadow and his own, because the stream swept it away.

It is not wise to be too greedy.

[Illustration]

The Ants and the Grasshopper.

The Ants were employing a fine winter's day in drying grain collected in
the summer time. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and
earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him: "Why did
you not treasure up food during the summer?" He replied: "I had not
leisure; I passed the days in singing." They then said: "If you were
foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed
in the winter."

Idleness brings want.

The Thirsty Pigeon.

A Pigeon, oppressed by excessive thirst, saw a goblet of water painted
on a sign-board. Not supposing it to be only a picture, she flew toward
it with a loud whirr, and unwittingly dashed against the sign-board and
jarred herself terribly. Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell
to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

Zeal should not outrun discretion.

The Flies and th