The Talking Beasts: A Book of Fable Wisdom

A Wren had built its nest on the side of a road. When the eggs were hatched, a Camel passed that way. The little Wrens saw it and said to their father when he returned from the...

"Now, friends, can you not see that this place and this food all belong to the Master? We eat the food and go wherever we like. We take your food only after you have finished. I...

As soon as he had heard this, he dragged the bag along and thus brought it and leaned it against a tree, and caused it to stand in an inclined position; then having gone to the...

Now it happened that sometime afterward the Lion was caught in a net laid by some hunters, and, unable to free himself, made the forest resound with his roars. The Mouse, recogn...

In a certain forest, there once dwelt a Hermit whose name was Maha-tapa. One day seeing a young Mouse fall from the mouth of a crow near his hermitage, out of compassion be took...

In a similar way I have sometimes seen other embarrassed people set straight their affairs. Take a look at them as they dash away. They have all got on Trishka's caftan.

So one night he tied up to the ceiling of a room a parcel containing peas mixed with diamonds, and let in two men, one of whom believed in luck and the other in human effort alo...

A certain Man who had bought a Blackamoor said he was convinced that it was all nonsense about black being the natural colour of his skin. "He has been dirty in his habits," sai...

"Not so fast, I beseech ye, friends," replied the Monkey; "we owe justice to ourselves as well as to you. What remains is due to me in right of my office."

They, having received intelligence of the victory of the Lion, and his overpowering might, said: "O unfortunate! thy place is now in the possession of a Lion such that from terr...

For Eastern princes, long ago, These fables, grave and gay, Were written as a friendly guide On life's perplexing way. When Rumour came to court and news Of such a book was hear...

The Traveller then asked where was the bracelet; and the Tiger, having held out his paw, showed it to him and said, "Look at it, it is a golden bracelet." "How shall I place con...

Sly Bertrand and Ratto in company sat, (The one was a Monkey, the other a Cat,) Co-servants and lodgers: More mischievous codgers Ne'er mess'd from a platter, since platters wer...

A Grasshopper gay Sang the summer away, And found herself poor By the winter's first roar. Of meat or of bread, Not a morsel she had! So a-begging she went, To her neighbour the...

Along the road an Ass and Dog One master following, did jog. Their master slept: meanwhile, the Ass Applied his nippers to the grass, Much pleased in such a place to stop, Thoug...

A Bear with whom a Piedmontese Had voyaged from the Polar seas, And by whose strange unwieldy gambols He earned a living in his rambles, One day, upon his hind legs set, Began t...

An Oyster cast upon the shore Was heard, though never heard before, Complaining in a speech well worded, And worthy thus to be recorded: "Ah, hapless wretch comdemn'd to dwell F...