MOORISH FABLES

    "While  watching    man in  all his phases,

    And seeing  that,   in  many    cases,

            He  acts    just    like    the brute   creation—

    I've    thought the lord    of  all these   races

    Of  no  less    failings    showed  the traces

            Than    do  his lieges  in  relation."

MOORISH FABLES

The Wagtail and the Jackal

At a time when the animals spoke, a Wagtail laid her eggs on the ground. The
little ones grew up. A Jackal and a Fox came to them. The Jackal said to the Fox:

"Swear to me that the Wagtail owes me a pound of butter."

The Fox swore to it. The Bird began to weep. A Greyhound came to her and
asked her what was the matter. She answered him:

"The Fox has calumniated me."

"Well," said the Hound, "put me in this sack of skin."

She put him in the sack. "Tie up the top well," said the Hound. When the Jackal
returned she said to him,

"Come and measure out the butter."

The Jackal advanced and unfastened the sack. He saw the Hound, who stretched