Three Hundred Æsop's Fables/The Wasps, the Partridges, and the Farmer

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search

London: George Routledge and Sons, pages 148–149

THE WASPS, THE PARTRIDGES, AND THE FARMER.

The Wasps and the Partridges, overcome with thirst, came to a Farmer and besought him to give them some water to drink. They promised amply to repay him the favour which they asked. The Partridges declared that they would dig around his vines, and make them produce finer grapes. The Wasps said that they would keep guard and drive off thieves with their stings. The Farmer, interrupting them, said: "I have already two oxen, who, without making any promises, do all these things. It is surely better for me to give the water to them than to you."