The Fables of Æsop (Jacobs)/The Hare and the Tortoise
![The Hare & the Tortoise](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Page_162_title_from_The_Fables_of_%C3%86sop_%28Jacobs%29.png/220px-Page_162_title_from_The_Fables_of_%C3%86sop_%28Jacobs%29.png)
THE Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals. "I
have never yet been beaten," said he, "when I put forth my full speed. I challenge any
one here to race with me."
The Tortoise said quietly: "I accept your challenge."
"That is a good joke," said the Hare; "I could dance round you all the way."
"Keep your boasting till you've beaten," answered the Tortoise. "Shall we race?"
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Page_162_illustration_from_The_Fables_of_%C3%86sop_%28Jacobs%29.png)
So a course was fixed and a start was made. The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap. The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on, and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post and could not run up in time to save the race. Then said the Tortoise:
"Plodding wins the race."
![Finis](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Page_163_illustration_from_The_Fables_of_%C3%86sop_%28Jacobs%29.png/220px-Page_163_illustration_from_The_Fables_of_%C3%86sop_%28Jacobs%29.png)