GOOD MORNING POU!
We continue our series on Aesop’s Fables.
Aesop, circa 1755. Cambridge, U.K.; Fitzwilliam Museum. (Photo Credit: The Root.com)
The Lion and the Mouse
A lion was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Rising up angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mouse begged for his life, saying:
“If you would only spare me, I would be sure to repay your kindness.”
The Lion laughed and let him go. It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught in a hunter’s net, and could not free himself. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth, and set him free. He said:
“You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, never expecting to receive from me any repayment of your favor; now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to help a Lion.”
MORAL: There are times when even the weak can help the strong.
Emoprogs, take note:
The North Wind and the Sun
The North Wind and the Sun disputed as to which was the most powerful. They agreed that the one who could first strip a traveling man of his clothes should be declared the victor.
The North Wind first tried his power and blew with all his might, but the harder his blasts, the closer the Traveler wrapped his cloak around him, until at last, giving up all hope of victory, the Wind called upon the Sun to see what he could do.
The Sun suddenly shone out with all his warmth. The Traveler no sooner felt his gentle rays than he took off one piece of clothing after another, and at last, fairly overcome with heat, undressed and bathed in a stream that lay in his path.
MORAL: Persuasion is better than Force.
The City Mouse and the Country Mouse
A Country Mouse invited a City Mouse, an close friend, to pay him a visit and enjoy his country food.
As they were on the bare plowlands, eating their wheat-stocks and roots pulled up from a row of bushes, the City Mouse said to his friend,
“You live here the life of the ants, while my house is the horn of plenty. I am surrounded by every luxury, and if you will come with me, as I wish you would, you shall have a good share of my delicious food.”
The Country Mouse was easily persuaded, and returned to the city with his friend.
On his arrival, the City Mouse placed before him bread, barley, beans, dried figs, honey, raisins, and, last of all, brought a delicious piece of cheese from a basket. The Country Mouse, being much delighted at the sight of such good food, expressed his satisfaction in warm terms and felt sad for his own hard fate.
Just as they were beginning to eat, someone opened the door, and they both ran off squeaking, as fast as they could, to a hole so narrow that two could only find room in it by squeezing. They had barely come back again when someone else entered to take something out of a cupboard, whereupon the two Mice, more frightened than before, ran away and hid themselves.
At last the Country Mouse, almost starved, said to his friend:
“Although you have prepared for me so delicious a feast, I must leave you to enjoy it by yourself. It is surrounded by too many dangers to please me. I prefer my bare plowlands and roots from the bushes, where I can live in safety, and without fear.”
MORAL: Poverty with safety is better than plenty with danger.