Showing posts with label Fable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fable. Show all posts

Wednesday, 14 May 2025

Wednesday's Good Reading: "The Fisherman Piping" by Aesop (translated into English)

 

  A fisherman skilled in music took his flute and his nets to the seashore. Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes in the hope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of their own accord dance into his net, which he had placed below. At last, having long waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net into the sea, made an excellent haul of fish. When he saw them leaping about in the net upon the rock he said: "O you most perverse creatures, when I piped you would not dance, but now that I have ceased you do so merrily."

Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Wednesday's Good Reading: "The Fisher and the Little Fish" by Aesop (translated into English)

 

It happened that a Fisher, after fishing all day, caught only a little fish. "Pray, let me go, master," said the Fish. "I am much too small for your eating just now. If you put me back into the river I shall soon grow, then you can make a fine meal off me."

"Nay, nay, my little Fish," said the Fisher, "I have you now. I may not catch you hereafter."

 A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect.

Saturday, 21 December 2024

Saturday's Good Reading: "The Fisher" by Aesop (translated into English)

 

A Fisher once took his bagpipes to the bank of a river, and played upon them with the hope of aking the fish rise; but never a one put his nose out of the water. So he cast his net into the river and soon drew it forth filled with fish.  Then he took his bagpipes again, and, as he played, the fish leapt up in the net. "Ah, you dance now when I play," said he.  "Yes," said an old Fish: "When you are in a man's power you must do as he bids you."

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Wednesday's Good Reading: "Les Loups et les Brebis" by Jean de la Fontaine (in French)

    “Après mille ans et plus de guerre déclarée,  
    Les Loups firent la paix avecque les Brebis,  
    C’était apparemment le bien des deux partis:  
    Car, si les Loups mangeaient mainte bête égarée,  
    Les Bergers de leur peau se faisaint maints habits.  
    Jamais de liberté, ni pour les pâturages,  
    Ni d’autre part pour les carnages:  
    Ils ne pouvaient jouir qu’en tremblant de leurs biens.  
    La paix se conclut donc; on donne des otages:  
    Les Loups, leurs Louveteaux; et les Brebis, leurs Chiens.  

    L’echange en étant fait aux formes ordinaires,  
    Et réglé par des commissaires.  
    Au bout de quelque temps que messieurs les Louvats  
    Se virent loups parfaits et friands de tuerie,  
    Ils vous prennent le temps que dans la bergerie  
    Messieurs les Bergers n’étaient pas,  
    Étranglent la moitié des Agneaux les plus gras,  
    Les emportent aux dents, dans les bois se retirent.  
    Ils avaient averti leurs gens secrètement.  
    Les Chiens, qui, sur leur foi, reposaient surement,  
    Furent étranglés, en dormant,  
    Cela fut sitôt fait qu’à peine ils le sentirent;  
    Tout fut mis en morceaux; un seul n’en échappa.  

    Nous pouvons conclure de là  
    Qu’il faut faire aux méchants guerre continuelle.  
    La paix est fort bonne de soi;  
    J’en conviens: mais de quoi sert-elle  
    Avec des ennemis sans foi?”

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

Wednesday's Good Reading: "The Fir-Tree and the Bramble" by Aesop (translated into English)

      A Fir-Tree said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." The Bramble answered:  'You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree."  

Better poverty without care, than riches with.

Saturday, 5 October 2024

Saturday's Good Reading: “The Fir-Tree and the Bramble” by Aesop (translated into English).

         A Fir-Tree said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." The Bramble answered: 'You poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wish that you had grown up a Bramble, not a Fir-Tree."  

Better poverty without care, than riches with.

Wednesday, 7 August 2024

Wednesday's Good Reading: “Os Lobos e as Ovelhas” by Charles de La Fontaine (translated into Portuguese)

 

"Depois de mil anos e mais de guerra declarada,

Os lobos fizeram a paz com as ovelhas.

Era, aparentemente, a felicidade dos dois partidos: 

Pois, se os lobos comiam muita rês extraviada, 

Os pastores, da pele deles, para si faziam muitos trajes. 

Jamais havia liberdade, nem para as pastagens, 

Nem, de outro lado, para as carnificinas: 

Não podiam usufruir de seus bens senão tremendo. 

A paz se concluiu, portanto; trocam-se os reféns: 

Os lobos entregam seus lobinhos; e as ovelhas, seus carneirinhos.

 

Sendo a troca feita nas formas habituais, 

E ajustada por comissários. 

Ao fim de algum tempo, quando os senhores lobinhos 

Se viram lobos perfeitos e ávidos de matança, 

Valem-se do tempo em que, no redil, 

Os senhores pastores não se achavam,

Estrangulam metade dos cordeiros mais gordos 

Agarram-nos com os dentes e se retiram para os bosques.

Haviam eles avisado sua gente secretamente. 

Os carneiros, que, sob a palavra deles, repousavam confiadamente, 

Foram estrangulados dormindo. 

Foi isto feito tão rapidamente, que eles mal sentiram; 

Foram todos feitos em pedaços; nem um só escapou.

 

Podemos concluir disto 

Que é preciso fazer aos maus guerra contínua. 

A paz é bastante boa em si mesma; 

Concordo; mas de que serve ela 

Com inimigos sem palavra?”

Saturday, 27 July 2024

Saturday's Good Reading: “The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle” by Aesop (translated into English).

 

Two game cocks were fiercely fighting for the mastery of the farmyard. One at last put the other to flight. The vanquished Cock skulked away and hid himself in a quiet corner, while the conqueror, flying up to a high wall, flapped his wings and crowed exultingly with all his might. An Eagle sailing through the air pounced upon him and carried him off in his talons. The vanquished Cock immediately came out of his corner, and ruled henceforth with undisputed mastery. 

                                                               Pride goes before destruction.

Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Wednesday Good Reading: "The Fawn and His Mother " by Aesop (translated into English)

 

A young Fawn once said to his Mother, "You are larger than a dog, and swifter, and more used to running, and you have your horns as a defense; why, then, O Mother! do the hounds frighten you so?" She smiled, and said: "I know full well, my son, that all you say is true. I have the advantages you mention, but when I hear even the bark of a single dog I feel ready to faint, and fly away as fast as I can."

                           No arguments will give courage to the coward.