THE ASS AND THE HORSE.
An Ass besought a Horse to spare him a small portion of his feed. "Yes," said he; "if any remains out of what I am now eating I will give it you, for the sake of my own superior dignity; and if you will come when I shall reach my own stall in the evening, I will give you a little sack full of barley." The Ass replied: "Thank you. I can't think that you, who refuse me a little matter now, will by and by confer on me a greater benefit."
THE CROW AND THE SHEEP.
A troublesome Crow seated herself on the back of a Sheep. The Sheep, much against his will, carried her backward and forward for a long time, and at last said, "If you had treated a dog in this way, you would have had your deserts from his sharp teeth." To this the Crow replied, "I despise the weak, and yield to the strong. I know whom I may bully, and whom I must flatter; and I thus prolong my life to a good old age."
THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLE.
A Fox, mounting a hedge, when he was about to fall caught hold of a Bramble. Having pricked and grievously torn the soles of his feet, he accused the Bramble, because, when he had fled to her for assistance, she had used him worse than the hedge itself. The Bramble, interrupting him, said, "But you really must have been out of your senses to fasten yourself on me, who am myself always accustomed to fasten upon others."
