[ Fable XXIV.]
THE FROG AND THE OX.
The needy man, while affecting to imitate the powerful, comes to ruin.
Once on a time, a Frog espied an Ox in a meadow, and moved with envy at his vast bulk, puffed out her wrinkled skin, and then asked her young ones whether she was bigger than the Ox. They said “No.” Again, with still greater efforts, she distended her skin, and in like manner enquired which was the bigger:[I.23] they said: “The Ox.” At last, while, full of indignation, she tried, with all her might, to puff herself out, she burst her body on the spot.
[ Fable XXV.]
THE DOG AND THE CROCODILE.
Those who give bad advice to discreet persons, both lose their pains, and are laughed to scorn.
It has been related,[I.24] that Dogs drink at the river Nile running along, that they may not be seized by the Crocodiles. Accordingly, a Dog having begun to drink while running along, a Crocodile thus addressed him: “Lap as leisurely as you like; drink on; come nearer, and don’t be afraid,” said he. The other replied: “Egad, I would do so with all my heart, did I not know that you are eager for my flesh.”
[ Fable XXVI.]
THE FOX AND THE STORK.
Harm should be done to no man; but if any one do an injury, this Fable shows that he may be visited with a like return.
A Fox is said to have given a Stork the first invitation to a banquet, and to have placed before her some thin broth in a flat dish, of which the hungry Stork could in no way get a taste. Having invited the Fox in return, she set before him a narrow-mouthed jar,[I.25] full of minced meat:[I.26] and, thrusting her beak into it, satisfied herself, while she tormented her guest with hunger; who, after having in vain licked the neck of the jar, as we have heard, thus addressed the foreign bird:[I.27] “Every one is bound to bear patiently the results of his own example.”