Aesopica

The Fables of Aesop

A collection of brief tales on human nature.

The most popular fables

A tortoise plods along a dirt path while the hare sleeps in the shade of an olive tree, among misty hills

Nº 352The Tortoise and the HareThe tortoise and the hare were arguing over which was the faster. So they fixed a day and a place, and parted. The hare, trusting in her natural…Read the fable →

A red fox on a rocky ledge lifts its muzzle towards a bunch of grapes hanging from a vine

Nº 32The Fox and the GrapesA hungry fox saw bunches of grapes hanging from a vine and tried to reach them; but when he could not, he went off, saying to himself, "They are sour…Read the fable →

A black crow on an olive branch drops a piece of cheese; below, a fox waits with its muzzle raised

Nº 165The Crow and the FoxA crow had stolen a piece of meat and perched in a tree. A fox saw him and, wanting the meat for himself, stood below and praised the crow's elegant…Read the fable →

A cicada at the mouth of a drystone wall watches a line of ants carrying grain across a frosted slab

Nº 336The Ants and the CicadaIt was winter, and the ants were drying out their grain, which had got wet. A hungry cicada asked them for something to eat. The ants said, "Why…Read the fable →

A wolf looks down from a rocky bank at a lamb drinking further downstream, in the same mist-wrapped brook

Nº 221The Wolf and the LambA wolf, seeing a lamb drinking at a river, wanted some plausible pretext to devour him. So, although he himself was upstream, he accused the lamb of…Read the fable →

A lion crouched beneath a tree is caught in a rope net; a small grey mouse gnaws at it beside his paw

Nº 206The Lion and the Grateful MouseA lion was sleeping when a mouse ran across his body. The lion woke, caught him, and was about to eat him, but the mouse begged to be let go,…Read the fable →

A traveller seen from behind pulls his cloak tight along a path, between gusts of wind on the left and the low sun on the right

Nº 73The North Wind and the SunThe North Wind and the Sun were disputing which of them was the stronger. They agreed to award the prize to whichever could strip a traveller of his…Read the fable →

A kneeling man holds his hands over a dead hen laid on a cloth; beside them, an overturned basket and a golden egg

Nº 287The Hen with the Golden EggsA man had a fine hen that laid golden eggs. Believing she had a lump of gold inside her, he killed her, and found her just like any other hen. He had…Read the fable →

Two mice dash away from a stone table laid with figs, chickpeas and honeycomb as a sandalled foot appears in the doorway

Nº 243The Country Mouse and the Town MouseA country mouse had a house mouse for a friend. Invited by his friend, the house mouse hurried off to dine in the country. But since there was…Read the fable →

A dog with a piece of meat in its mouth leans from a small stone bridge towards its own reflection in the water

Nº 185The Dog Carrying MeatA dog was crossing a river with a piece of meat in his mouth. Seeing his own reflection in the water, he took it for another dog carrying a bigger…Read the fable →