Pagina 192 van 274

One morning a Mule, who had too much to eat and too little to do,

began to think himself a very fine fellow indeed, and frisked

about saying, "My father was undoubtedly a high-spirited horse

and I take after him entirely." But very soon afterwards he was

put into the harness and compelled to go a very long way with a

heavy load behind him. At the end of the day, exhausted by his

unusual exertions, he said dejectedly to himself, "I must have

been mistaken about my father; he can only have been an ass after

all."

THE HOUND AND THE FOX

A Hound, roaming in the forest, spied a lion, and being well used

to lesser game, gave chase, thinking he would make a fine quarry.

Presently the lion perceived that he was being pursued; so,

stopping short, he rounded on his pursuer and gave a loud roar.

The Hound immediately turned tail and fled. A Fox, seeing him

running away, jeered at him and said, "Ho! ho! There goes the

coward who chased a lion and ran away the moment he roared!"