A Lion, unable from old age and infirmities to provide himself with food by force, resolved to do so by trickery. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known.

The animals expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them.

After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was.

“I am not so well,” replied the Lion, “but why do you stand without? Pray enter within to talk with me.”

“No, thank you,” said the Fox. “I notice that there are many prints of feet entering your cave, but I see no trace of any returning.”

Moral: He is wise who is warned by the misfortunes of others.

A Miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily.

One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. The workman soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it.

The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to cry loudly. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said,

“Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and pretend that the gold is still lying there. It will have the same result; for when the gold was there, you didn’t really have it, because you did not make the slightest use of it.”

Moral: Use it or lose it.

A Goatherd had sought to bring back a stray goat to his flock. He whistled and sounded his horn in vain; the straggler paid no attention to the summons.

At last the Goatherd threw a stone, and breaking its horn, begged the Goat not to tell his master.

The Goat replied, “Why, you silly fellow, the horn will speak even though I be silent.”

Moral: Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hid.

A Raven saw a Swan and desired for himself the same beautiful plumage as the Swan had.

The Raven thought that the Swan’s splendid white color came from his washing in the water in which he swam. So the Raven left the altars in the neighborhood where he picked up his living, and took up residence in the lakes and pools.

But cleansing his feathers as often as he would, he could not change their color, and through want of food he died.

Moral: Incorrectly changing your habits won’t alter your nature.

A Pigeon, oppressed by extreme thirst, saw a cup of water painted on a signboard next to a road. Not realizing it was only a picture, she flew towards it with a loud whir and smashed against the signboard, jarring herself terribly.

Having broken her wings by the blow, she fell to the ground, and was caught by one of the bystanders.

Moral: Zeal should not outrun discretion.