The Farmer and His Hounds
A Farmer who lived remote from the city, was kept at home by the severity of the winter. Soon, his provisions were exhausted, and finally, he was compelled to kill his great black oxen.
On seeing this, his Hounds gathered together.
“If this man,” said they, “butchers such strong oxen as these, the mainstay of his house, do you think he will spare us? Let us make our escape!”
Keep away from the man who without hesitation does injury to everyone else. To avoid him is a matter of haste and necessity.
The Bear and His Mate
A Bear, in struggling with his Mate, used his claws with such violence that he tore her eyes out. He was immediately seized with such sorrow that he bit off his own claws.
A short time afterward, he conversed with her in a friendly manner in his cave.
“My dear,” he remarked to her, “for your sake, I have sacrificed my weapons of war.”
“What good,” said she, “is that to me, now that I am blind, and deprived by you of my precious eyes?”