Aesop's Fables - Aesop Slave (ebooks children's books free txt) 📗

The Ass and the Fox, having entered into a partnership together, went out intothe forest to hunt. They had not proceeded far, when they met a Lion. The Foxapproached the Lion and promised to contrive for him the capture of the Ass, if he would pledge his word that his own life should be spared. On his assuring him that he would not injure him, the Fox led the Ass to a deep pit, and contrived that he should fall into it. The Lion, seeing that the Ass was secured, immediately clutched the Fox, and then attacked the Ass at his leisure.

MORAL: Traitors must expect treachery

An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry. He put it on and went towards his native village. All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day. In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused. And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said:

"Ah, I knew you by your voice."

MORAL: Fine cloths may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool

The Lion and the Fox went hunting together. The Lion, on the advice of the Fox, sent a message to the Ass, proposing to make an alliance between their two families. The Ass came to the place of meeting, overjoyed at the prospect of a royal alliance. But when he came there the Lion simply pounced on the Ass, and said to the Fox: 

"Here is our dinner for to-day. Watch you here while I go and have a nap. Woe betide you if you touch my prey."  The Lion went away and the Fox waited; but finding that his master did not return, ventured to take out the brains of the Ass and ate them up. When the Lion came back he soon noticed the absence of the brains, and asked the Fox in a terrible voice: "What have you done with the brains?" "Brains, your Majesty! it had none, or it would never have fallen into your trap."

MORAL: Wit has always an answer ready

Text: the classic tales of aesop's fable
Images: The classic treasure of aesop's fable
Editing: Riteeka Rawat
Translation: Riteeka
Publication Date: 08-03-2015

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Of diverse origins, the stories associated with Aesop's name have descended to modern times through a number of sources. They continue to be reinterpreted in different verbal registers and in popular as well as artistic media.