“ A man may be brought into danger by a stranger’s advice.
THE EAGLES AND THE CROWS.
⁠An Eagle and a Crow, inhabitants of the same forest, happened to change nests: the consequence was that they nursed each other’s offspring for their own. The young Crows, being taught by their new parents the Eagles, soon learned to fly upwards, and soar through the clouds with ease. The poor Eaglets were not so fortunate under their new tutors. As soon as they were able to leave the rest, and go abroad, having no other example to imitate, they never attained to any thing beyond the habits of the Crows. ”

“ The Maids, looking upon this as a hardship, resolved to put a stop to the growing evil and so cut off the Cock’s head, thinking that they might afterwards lie securely in bed, and indulge themselves in their laziness. The careful mistress, however, soon frustrated their design. She immediately ordered a bell to be brought to her, which she regularly rung at midnight, and obliged her lazy maids to get out of their beds.
MORAL.
It is good to be industrious, for laziness is often punished with want. ”

“ A dishonest man will make an opportunity to cheat if he find not one.
THE HORSE AND THE LION.
⁠A Lion seeing a plump horse had a mind to eat a bit of him, but knew not bow to get at him. At last he gave himself out for a physician who could cure any malady incident to beasts—hoping by this means, to get an opportunity to execute his design. The horse, as if he suspected nothing, asked his advice regarding a thorn he had got in his foot. ”

“ A man who is fit one profession or trade, may be unfit for another.
THE EAGLE AND THE FOX.
⁠An Eagle, looking out for food to her young, picked up a Fox’s cub that lay basking in the sun. The aid Fox, coming home at the time, implored the Eagle, with tears, to spare her cub. The Eagle would not consent, but carried it off to her nest on the top of a high tree, thinking herself safe from the revenge of the Fox. ”

“ He that aims at too much, often loses all.
THE ASS AND THE LION HUNTING
⁠The Lion desired the Ass to hide in a thicket, and to bray in the most frightful manner possible. 'By this means,' says he, 'you will rouse all the beasts, while I stand at the outlets, and take them as hey are making off.” Accordingly the Ass brayed, and the timorous beasts scoured off, when the Lion, at his post, devoured them. ”

“ The dog, suspecting his design, would not be pacified by any such means. ‘Hark ye/ said he to the Thief, ‘if you intend to stop my mouth from barking for the good of my master, you are in a great mistake, for that sudden expression of kindness from you warns me to be on my guard, that you may not make any gain by my negligence. The Thief, seeing his scheme fail, sneaked off.
MORAL.
A sudden kindness pleases fools, but lays trains in vain for the wise. ”

“ Every one ought to be content to move in his own sphere.
THE OLD MAN AND HIS SONS.
⁠An Old Man had many sons, who, in disregard of their father’s authority, had many quarrels. At last, called them together, he took a short bundle of sticks and desired them, one by one, to try and break it. ”

“ Most of them went but the Fox was not among the number, upon which the Lion sends a Jackall to ask him why he never came to see him. "Why," replied the Fox, "I have been several times on my way to kiss his hand, but seeing the print of my fellow subjects' feet at his cave all pointing forwards, I dared not enter it." The Lion's illness was only a sham, the easier to devour the beasts.
MORAL.
When an enemy makes fine professions, we have need of caution. ”

“ At last the Crane, tempted with the reward, undertook the business, but first made the Wolf confirm his promise. So the Crane, venturing his long neck into the Wolf's throat, plucked out the bone, and expected the reward. The Wolf, turning his eyes disdainfully towards him, said, ‘I might have bit off your head when it was in my mouth, and yet you are not contented.’
MORAL.
He who trusts an unprincipled fellow may smart for his folly.
THE OLD WOMAN AND HER MAIDS.
⁠An Old Woman having about her a parcel of idle maids, obliged them to rise every morning at the cock crowing. ”

“ He ought to walk warily who has laid snares for his neighbour.
MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN.
⁠A Man felling a tree in a river aide, let his hatchet fall into the water, when Mercury, appeared unto him, and learning the matter, dived to the bottom, and brought up first a golden hatchet and then a silver one, but the man said neither of them were his. He then brought up the man’s own hatchet, which he took thankfully, and Mercury, pleased with his honesty, gave him the other two also. Another man hearing of this, went to cut there, and let his hatchet sink. ”

“ Addressing the Wolf, he said, ‘I am of opinion that you never lost the goods you sue for;' and to the Fox he said, ‘There is no question but that you have stolen what is laid to your charge, at least.' The court was dismissed with this public censure.
MORAL.
A bad character will turn out against you, but a good one is a fortune.
THE OLD MAN AND DEATH.
⁠A poor feeble Old Man, having gone to gather a few sticks, was crawling homeward with his bundle ”

“ It is a sad thing to be treated unkindly by the man you have served.
THE FOX AND THE SICK LION.
⁠It was reported that the Lion was sick, and the beasts were made to believe, that they could not make their court better than by visiting him. ”