latter is, in the eyes of the former, a hog.'
XXXVIII.
The king of tortoises desiring to pay a visit of ceremony to a neighbouring monarch, feared that in his absence his idle subjects might get up a revolution, and that whoever might be left at the head of the State would usurp the throne. So calling his subjects about him, he addressed them thus:
'I am about to leave our beloved country for a long period, and desire to leave the sceptre in the hands of him who is most truly a tortoise. I decree that you shall set out from yonder distant tree, and pass round it. Whoever shall get back last shall be appointed Regent.'
So the population set out for the goal, and the king for his destination. Before the race was decided, his Majesty had made the journey and returned. But he found the throne occupied by a subject, who at once secured by violence what he had won by guile.
Certain usurpers are too conscientious to retain kingly power unless the rightful monarch be dead; and these are the most dangerous sort.
XXXIX.
A spaniel at the point of death requested a mastiff friend to eat him.
'It would soothe my last moments,' said he, 'to know that when I am no longer of any importance to myself I may still be useful to you.'
'Much obliged, I am sure,' replied his friend; 'I think you mean well, but you should know that my appetite is not so depraved as to relish dog.'
Perhaps it is for a similar reason we abstain from cannibalism.
XL.
A cloud was passing across the face of the sun, when the latter expostulated with him.
'Why,' said the sun, 'when you have so much space to float in, should you be casting your cold shadow upon me?'
After a moment's reflection, the cloud made answer thus:
'I certainly had no intention of giving offence by my presence, and as for my shadow, don't you think you have made a trifling mistake?-not a gigantic or absurd mistake, but merely one that would disgrace an idiot.'
At this the great luminary was furious, and fell so hotly upon him that in a few minutes there was nothing of him left.
It is very foolish to bandy words with a cloud if you happen to be the sun.
XLI.
A rabbit travelling leisurely along the highway was seen, at some distance, by a duck, who had just come out of the water.
'Well, I declare!' said she, 'if I could not walk without limping in that ridiculous way, I'd stay at home. Why, he's a spectacle!'
'Did you ever see such an ungainly beast as that duck!' said the rabbit to himself. 'If I waddled like that I should go out only at night.'
MORAL, BY A KANGAROO.-People who are ungraceful of gait are always intolerant of mind.
XLII.
A fox who dwelt in the upper chamber of an abandoned watch-tower, where he practised all manner of magic, had by means of his art subjected all other animals to his will. One day he assembled a great multitude of them below his window, and commanded that each should appear in his presence, and all who could not teach him some important truth should be thrown off the walls and dashed to pieces. Upon hearing this they were all stricken with grief, and began to lament their hard fate most piteously.
'How,' said they, 'shall we, who are unskilled in magic, unread in philosophy, and untaught in the secrets of the stars-who have neither wit, eloquence, nor song-how shall we essay to teach wisdom to the wise?'
Nevertheless, they were compelled to make the attempt. After many had failed and been dispatched, another fox arrived on the ground, and learning the condition of affairs, scampered slyly up the steps, and whispered something in the ear of the cat, who was about entering the tower. So the latter stuck her head in at the door, and shrieked:
'Pullets with a southern exposure ripen earliest, and have yellow legs.'
At this the magician was so delighted that he dissolved the spell and let them all go free.
XLIII.
One evening a jackass, passing between a village and a hill, looked over the latter and saw the faint light of the rising moon.
'Ho-ho, Master Redface!' said he, 'so you are climbing up the other side to point out my long ears to the villagers, are you? I'll just meet you at the top, and set my heels into your insolent old lantern.'
So he scrambled painfully up to the crest, and stood outlined against the broad disc of the unconscious luminary, more conspicuously a jackass than ever before.
XLIV.
A bear wishing to rob a beehive, laid himself down in front of it, and overturned it with his paw.
'Now,' said he, 'I will lie perfectly still and let the bees sting me until they are exhausted and powerless; their honey may then be obtained without opposition.'
And it was so obtained, but by a fresh bear, the other being dead.
This narrative exhibits one aspect of the 'Fabian policy.'
XLV.
