The Wolf and the Sheep
A Wolf, sorely wounded and bitten by dogs, lay sick and maimed in his lair.
Parched with thirst, he called to a Sheep who was passing and asked her to fetch
some water from a stream flowing close by. "For," he said, "if you will bring me
drink, sister, I will find means to provide myself with meat."
"Yes," said the Sheep, "but if I should bring you the draught, you would
doubtless make me provide the meat also."
Jupiter's Two Wallets
When Jupiter made Man, he gave him two Wallets; one for his neighbour's
faults, the other for his own. He threw them over the Man's shoulder, so that one
hung in front and the other behind.
The Man kept the one in front for his neighbour's faults, and the one behind for
his own; so that, while the first was always under his nose, it took some pains to
see the latter.
This custom, which began thus early, is not quite unknown at the present day.
The Satyr and the Traveller
A Satyr, ranging in the forest in winter, came across a Traveller, half starved
with the cold. He took pity on him and invited him to go to his cave. On their
way the Man kept blowing upon his fingers.
"Why do you do that?" said the Satyr, who had seen little of the world.
"To warm my hands, they are nearly frozen," replied the Man.
Arrived at the cave, the Satyr poured out a mess of smoking pottage and laid it
before the Traveller, who at once commenced blowing at it with all his might.
"What, blowing again!" cried the Satyr. "Is it not hot enough?"