Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/118

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76
CLASSICAL FABLES

pointed and mortified, thought it was now high time to be going home, and, hungry as a wolf indeed, muttered as he went along: "This comes of heeding people who say one thing and mean another!"

(Fable 275 Halm; Thomas James' translation.)


THE MULE

A MULE that had grown fat and wanton on too good an allowance of corn, was one day jumping and kicking about, and at length, cocking up her tail, exclaimed, "My dam was a Racer, and I am quite as good as ever she was." But being soon knocked up with her galloping and frisking, she remembered all at once that her sire was an Ass.

Every truth has two sides; it is well to look at both, before we commit ourselves to either.

(Fable 157 Halm; Thomas James' translation.)


THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERDS

A WOLF looking into a hut and seeing some Shepherds comfortably regaling themselves on a joint of mutton—"A pretty row," said he, "would these men have made if they had caught me at such a supper!"

Men are too apt to condemn in others the very things that they practise themselves.

(Fable 282 Halm; Thomas James' translation.)