THE DOG AND THE SHADOW
A DOG, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh
in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water and took it
for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his
own in size. He immediately let go of his own, and fiercely
attacked the other Dog to get his larger piece from him.
He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water,
because it was a shadow; and his own, because the stream
swept it away.
The Apes and the Two Travelers
TWO MEN, one who always spoke the truth and the other
who told nothing but lies, were traveling together and by
chance came to the land of Apes. One of the Apes, who had
raised himself to be king, commanded them to be seized
and brought before him, that he might know what was
said of him among men. He ordered at the same time that
all the Apes be arranged in a long row on his right hand
and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him, as was
the custom among men. After these preparations he signified
that the two men should be brought before him, and
greeted them with this salutation: “What sort of a king do
I seem to you to be, O strangers?”
The Lying Traveler replied, “You seem to me a most mighty king.”
“And what is your estimate of those you see around me?”
“These,” he made answer, “are worthy companions of yourself,
fit at least to be ambassadors and leaders of armies.”
The Ape and all his court, gratified with the lie, commanded
that a handsome present be given to the flatterer.
On this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, “If
so great a reward be given for a lie, with what gift may not
I be rewarded, if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?”
The Ape quickly turned to him. “And pray how do I and
these my friends around me seem to you?”
“Thou art,” he said, “a most excellent Ape, and all these
thy companions after thy example are excellent Apes too.”
The King of the Apes, enraged at hearing these truths,
gave him over to the teeth and claws of his companions.
