d flight of the Eagle. He flew round with a great whirr
of his wings, and settled upon a large sheep, with the intention of
carrying it off, but his claws becoming entangled in its fleece, he was
unable to release himself, although he fluttered with his feathers as
much as he could. The shepherd, seeing what had happened, ran up and
caught him. He at once clipped his wings, and, taking him home at night,
gave him to his children.

We should not permit our ambition to lead us beyond the limits of our
power.

The Three Tradesmen.

A great city was besieged, and its inhabitants were called together to
consider the best means of protecting it from the enemy. A Bricklayer
present earnestly recommended bricks, as affording the best materials
for an effectual resistance. A Carpenter, with equal energy, proposed
timber, as providing a preferable method of defense. Upon which a
Currier stood up, and said: "Sirs, I differ from you altogether; there
is no material for resistance equal to a covering of hides; and nothing
so good as leather."

Every man for his trade.

The Dancing Monkeys.

A Prince had some Monkeys trained to dance. Being naturally great mimics
of men's actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils; and when
arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of
the courtiers. The spectacle was often repeated with great applause,
till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket
a handful of nuts, and threw them upon the stage. The Monkeys, at the
sight of the nuts, forgot their dancing, and became (as indeed they
were) Monkeys instead of actors, and pulling off their masks and tearing
their robes, they fought with one another for the nuts. The dancing
spectacle thus came to an end, amidst the laughter and ridicule of the
audience.

They who assume a character will betray themselves by their actions.

The Ass and the Grasshopper.

An Ass, having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted;
and desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of
food they lived on, to give them such beautiful voices. They replied:
"The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a
short time died of hunger.

Where one may live, another may starve.

The Ass in the Lion's Skin.

[Illustration]

An Ass, having put on the Lion's skin, roamed about in the forest, and
amused himself by frightening all