Pagina 149 van 274

A Fly sat on one of the shafts of a cart and said to the Mule who

was pulling it, "How slow you are! Do mend your pace, or I shall

have to use my sting as a goad." The Mule was not in the least

disturbed. "Behind me, in the cart," said he, "sits my master. He

holds the reins, and flicks me with his whip, and him I obey, but

I don't want any of your impertinence. I know when I may dawdle

and when I may not."

THE COCK AND THE JEWEL

A Cock, scratching the ground for something to eat, turned up a

Jewel that had by chance been dropped there. "Ho!" said he, "a

fine thing you are, no doubt, and, had your owner found you,

great would his joy have been. But for me! give me a single grain

of corn before all the jewels in the world."

THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHERD