Aesop's Fables

The Eagle and The Kite

THE EAGLE AND THE KITEAn Eagle sat high in the branches of a great Oak. She seemed very sad and drooping for an Eagle. A Kite saw her."Why do you look so woebegone?" asked the Kite."I want to get…

The Flies and The Honey

THE FLIES AND THE HONEYA jar of honey was upset and the sticky sweetness flowed out on the table. The sweet smell of the honey soon brought a large number of Flies buzzing around. They did not wait…

The Mother and The Wolf

THE MOTHER AND THE WOLFEarly one morning a hungry Wolf was prowling around a cottage at the edge of a village, when he heard a child crying in the house. Then he heard the Mother's voice say:"Hush,…

The Fox and The Monkey

THE FOX AND THE MONKEYAt a great meeting of the Animals, who had gathered to elect a new ruler, the Monkey was asked to dance. This he did so well, with a thousand funny capers and grimaces, that the…

The Porcupine And The Snakes

THE PORCUPINE AND THE SNAKESA Porcupine was looking for a good home. At last he found a little sheltered cave, where lived a family of Snakes. He asked them to let him share the cave with them, and…

Two Travelers and A Bear

Two Travelers and A BearTwo Men were traveling in company through a forest, when, all at once, a huge Bear crashed out of the brush near them.One of the Men, thinking of his own safety, climbed a…

The Fox and The Pheasants

THE FOX AND THE PHEASANTSOne moonlight evening as Master Fox was taking his usual stroll in the woods, he saw a number of Pheasants perched quite out of his reach on a limb of a tall old tree. The…

The Old Lion

THE OLD LIONALion had grown very old. His teeth were worn away. His limbs could no longer bear him, and the King of Beasts was very pitiful indeed as he lay gasping on the ground, about to die.Where…

The Boy and The Nettle

THE BOY AND THE NETTLEA Boy, stung by a Nettle, ran home crying, to get his mother to blow on the hurt and kiss it."Son," said the Boy's mother, when she had comforted him, "the next time you come…

The Cat and The Fox

THE CAT AND THE FOXOnce a Cat and a Fox were traveling together. As they went along, picking up provisions on the way—a stray mouse here, a fat chicken there—they began an argument to while away the…

The Rose and The Butterfly

A Butterfly once fell in love with a beautiful Rose. The Rose was not indifferent, for the Butterfly's wings were powdered in a charming pattern of gold and silver. And so, when he fluttered near and…

The Mischievous Dog

There was once a Dog who was so ill-natured and mischievous that his Master had to fasten a heavy wooden clog about his neck to keep him from annoying visitors and neighbors. But the Dog seemed to be…

The Fox without a Tail

THE FOX WITHOUT A TAILA Fox that had been caught in a trap, succeeded at last, after much painful tugging, in getting away. But he had to leave his beautiful bushy tail behind him.For a long time he…

The Quack Toad

THE QUACK TOADAn old Toad once informed all his neighbors that he was a learned doctor. In fact he could cure anything. The Fox heard the news and hurried to see the Toad. He looked the Toad over…

The Bat and The Weasels

THE BAT AND THE WEASELSA Bat blundered into the nest of a Weasel, who ran up to catch and eat him. The Bat begged for his life, but the Weasel would not listen."You are a Mouse," he said, "and I am a…

The Fox and The Hedgehog

THE FOX AND THE HEDGEHOGA Fox, swimming across a river, was barely able to reach the bank, where he lay bruised and exhausted from his struggle with the swift current. Soon a swarm of blood-sucking…

The Wolf and The House Dog

THE WOLF AND THE HOUSE DOGThere was once a Wolf who got very little to eat because the Dogs of the village were so wide awake and watchful. He was really nothing but skin and bones, and it made him…

The Miser

THE MISERA Miser had buried his gold in a secret place in his garden. Every day he went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it piece by piece to make sure it was all there. He made so many…

The Milkmaid and Her Pail

The Ass and The Lap Dog