FABLE XIII. THE WEASEL AND THE MICE. A WEASEL, who was so much worn out with age that she was not nimble enough to pursue the Mice as usual, rolled herself over and over in a heap of bran, and then dropped down carelessly in a dark corner. A thoughtless Mouse, supposing her to be what she seemed, leaped upon her with an eager spring, and was torn to pieces in an instant. A second met with the same fate; and after him, a third; but at last, after several others had been thus destroyed, out popped an old Mouse, who, by her caution, had escaped many a snare and many a trap, and perceiving at a distance what kind of a feast her crafty enemy had prepared for her, Ha! ha!' said she, 'and there you may lie for me, till the bran upon your back grows musty.' MORAL. Though an artful person may easily impose on the unwary, yet when once he ventures to try his craft upon those who have seen the world, he is commonly laughed at for his pains. FABLE XIV. THE FLY AND THE MULE. A CONCEITED Fly, who sat upon the shaft of a carriage, thus insulted the Mule that drew it: 'What a lazy beast you are!' said she; 'won't you move your legs a little faster? Take care, then, that I do not pinch your skin for you with my pointed sting.'-'Thou trifling insect!' said the Mule, 'whatever thou canst say is beneath my notice. The person I am afraid of is he who sits upon the box, and checks my speed with the foaming reins. Away, then, with your trifling insolence; for I know when to hasten, and when to slacken my pace, without being directed by such an impotent being as you are.' MORAL. This fable is levelled against those frivolous mortals who affect to give directions without skill, and to threaten without having the power to perform. FABLE XV. THE STAG AND THE OXEN. As A YOUNG Stag, who had been chased from the depths of the forest, and was straining every limb to escape the fury of his pursuers, was so far blinded by his fears as to make up to the nearest farm, and run for shelter into the cow-house. he was crouching in the farthest corner of it among the straw,'What do you mean, poor wretch!' said an honest Ox, 'thus to run into the very jaws of death, and venture your life under the roof of a man ?'- - Nay,' cried the Stag, in a most suppliant posture, 'only excuse my rudeness for a few hours, and then, as soon as the coast is clear, I'll make the best of my way home again.' The returning night soon succeeded the day, and in came the herdsman with a bundle of fodder, but he did not discover the trembling fugitive. All the rest of the servants came afterwards in their turns, and passed and repassed without seeing him. Even the bailiff himself came into the stall, and saw no more than the others: so that the Stag, with a heart full of joy, began to thank the Oxen for their friendly silence, and for giving him house-room when he stood in so much need of it. Alas!' said one of them, we wish you as well as you do yourself; but if the man who has a hundred eyes should H |