Some wasps and partridges, pressed by thirst, came to a farmer, to ask him for a drink, promising, in exchange for a little water, to render him a service, the partridges by digging his vineyard, and the wasps by going round it to drive off thieves with their stings. The farmer replied, "But I have two oxen who do everything for me without promising anything: it is better, then, that I should give to them than to you."
*Promises of service are worthless when they bring harm instead of help.
Nº 246The Boys and the ButcherTwo boys were buying meat at the same stall. Seeing the butcher busy on the other side, one of them stole some offal and dropped it into the other's…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 12The Weasel and the CockA weasel caught a cock and looked for some plausible excuse to eat him. She charged him with annoying people by crowing at night and robbing them of…Read the fable →