The beaver is a four-footed animal that lives in ponds. Its prized parts are said to serve to cure certain illnesses. So when it is discovered and pursued in order to have them cut off, since it knows why it is being pursued, it flees for a certain distance and uses the swiftness of its feet to keep itself whole; but when it sees itself about to be caught, it cuts off those parts, throws them away, and thus saves its life.
Among people too, those are wise who, attacked on account of their riches, sacrifice them rather than risk their lives.
Nº 6The Eagle with Clipped Wings and the FoxA man caught an eagle, clipped its wings, and turned it loose in his poultry yard to live among the hens; the bird hung its head and would not eat,…Read the fable →
Nº 8The Nightingale and the HawkA nightingale was singing high in an oak when a hungry hawk swooped and seized her. Facing death, she begged him to let her go, pleading that she was…Read the fable →
Nº 9The Nightingale and the SwallowA swallow urged the nightingale to come and nest under the eaves of houses, among people, as she herself did. But the nightingale refused, saying…Read the fable →