Fables Flashcards
The Ass and the Charger
An Ass congratulated a Horse on being so ungrudgingly and carefully provided for, while he himself had scarcely enough to eat, nor even that without hard work.
But when war broke out, the heavy armed soldier mounted the Horse, and rushed into the very midst of the enemy, and the Horse, being wounded, fell dead on the battle-field.
Then the Ass, seeing all these things, changed his mind, and commiserated the Horse, saying: “How much more fortunate am I than a charger. I can remain at home in safety while he is exposed to all the perils of war.”
Moral of Aesop’s Fable:
“Be not hasty to envy the condition of others”
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”
“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”
“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity
cMoral of Aesop’s Fable:
“It is best to prepare for the days of necessity”
The Bat, the Birds and the Beasts
A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts. When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join. The Birds that passed his perch said:
“Come with us”; but he said: “I am a Beast.”
Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said:
“Come with us”; but he said:
“I am a Bird.”
Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place, so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings, but they all turned
against him and he had to fly away.
He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces.
“Ah,” said the Bat, “I see now, He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.”
Moral of Aesop’s Fable:
“He that is neither one thing nor the other
has no friends.”
The Bundle of Sticks
An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice.
He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son:
“Break it.”
The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break the Bundle.
The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful.
“Untie the faggots,” said the father, “and each of you take a stick.”
When they had done so, he called out to them:
“Now, break,” and each stick was easily broken. “You see my meaning,” said their father.
Moral of Aesop’s Fable:
“Union gives strength”
