Sayfa 237 / 274

A Stag was chased by the hounds, and took refuge in a cave, where

he hoped to be safe from his pursuers. Unfortunately the cave

contained a Lion, to whom he fell an easy prey. "Unhappy that I

am," he cried, "I am saved from the power of the dogs only to

fall into the clutches of a Lion."

Out of the frying-pan into the fire.

THE IMPOSTOR

A certain man fell ill, and, being in a very bad way, he made a

vow that he would sacrifice a hundred oxen to the gods if they

would grant him a return to health. Wishing to see how he would

keep his vow, they caused him to recover in a short time. Now, he

hadn't an ox in the world, so he made a hundred little oxen out

of tallow and offered them up on an altar, at the same time

saying, "Ye gods, I call you to witness that I have discharged my

vow." The gods determined to be even with him, so they sent him a

dream, in which he was bidden to go to the sea-shore and fetch a

hundred crowns which he was to find there. Hastening in great

excitement to the shore, he fell in with a band of robbers, who

seized him and carried him off to sell as a slave: and when they

sold him a hundred crowns was the sum he fetched.