young had taken shelter in a hollow at
its foot. The Cat resolved to destroy by her arts this chance-made
colony. She climbed to the nest of the Eagle, and said: "Destruction is
preparing for you, and for me too. The Wild Sow, whom you may see daily
digging up the earth, wishes to uproot the oak, that she may, on its
fall, seize our families as food." Then she crept down to the cave of
the Sow and said: "Your children are in great danger; for as soon as you
shall go out with your litter to find food, the Eagle is prepared to
pounce upon one of your little pigs." When night came, she went forth
with silent foot and obtained food for herself and her kittens; but,
feigning to be afraid, she kept a look-out all through the day.
Meanwhile, the Eagle, full of fear of the Sow, sat still on the
branches, and the Sow, terrified by the Eagle, did not dare to go out
from her cave; and thus they each, with their families, perished from
hunger.

Those who stir up enmities are not to be trusted.

The Peacock and the Magpie.

[Illustration]

The Birds once met together to choose a king; and, among others, the
Peacock was a candidate. Spreading his showy tail, and stalking up and
down with affected grandeur, he caught the eyes of the silly multitude
by his brilliant appearance, and was elected with acclamation. The
Magpie then stepped forth into the midst of the assembly, and thus
addressed the new king: "May it please your majesty, elect to permit a
humble admirer to propose a question. As our king, we put our lives and
fortunes in your hands. If, therefore, the Eagle, the Vulture, and the
Kite, should make a descent upon us, what means would you take for our
defense?" This pithy question opened the eyes of the Birds to the
weakness of their choice and they canceled the election.

The Two Goats.

[Illustration]

Two Goats started at the same moment, from opposite ends, to cross a
rude bridge that was only wide enough for one to cross at a time.
Meeting at the middle of the bridge, neither would give way to the
other. They locked horns and fought for the right of way, until they
both fell into the torrent below and were drowned.

The Dove and the Ant.

[Illustration]

An Ant went to the bank of a river to quench its thirst, and, being
carried away by the rush of the stream, was on the point of being
drowned. A Dove, sitting on a tree overhanging the water, plucked a
leaf, and let it fall into the