Page:Three hundred Aesop's fables (Townshend).djvu/194

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188
The Fables of Æsop.

THE FROGS' COMPLAINT AGAINST THE SUN.

Once upon a time, when the Sun announced his intention to take a wife, the Frogs lifted up their voices in clamour to the sky. Jupiter, disturbed by the noise of their croaking, inquired the cause of their complaint. One of them said, "The Sun, now while he is single, parches up the marsh, and compels us to die miserably in our arid homes; what will be our future condition if he should beget other suns?"


THE BRAZIER AND HIS DOG.

A Brazier had a little Dog, which was a great favourite with his master, and his constant companion. While he hammered away at his metals, the Dog slept; but when, on the other hand, he went to dinner, and began to eat, the Dog woke up, and wagged his tail, as if he would ask for a share of his meal. His master one day, pretending to be angry, and shaking his stick at him, said, "You wretched little sluggard! what shall I do to you? While I am hammering on the anvil, you sleep on the mat; and when I begin to eat after my toil, you wake up, and wag your tail for food. Do you not know that labour is the source of every blessing, and that none but those who work are entitled to eat?"