A pig that had joined a flock of sheep was grazing with them. One day the shepherd seized it; whereupon it began to squeal and struggle. When the sheep blamed it for squealing, saying, "He's forever laying hold of us, and we don't squeal," it retorted, "But when he lays hold of you and of me, it isn't with the same end in view; for you, it's for your wool or your milk that he takes you; but me, it's for my flesh."
Those have good reason to cry out who stand to lose, not their money, but their life.
Nº 2The Statue SellerA man carved a wooden statue of the god Hermes and took it to the market, but no buyer came near. Hoping to attract one, he began to call out that he…Read the fable →
Nº 10The Athenian DebtorIn Athens a debtor, pressed by his creditor to pay, first begged for more time, pleading hardship. When that failed, he brought out the one sow he…Read the fable →
Nº 27The Fisherman who Stirred the WaterA fisherman was fishing in a river. He had stretched his nets across, barring the current from bank to bank; then, tying a stone to a flax cord, he…Read the fable →