will entice many Partridges to you in recompense for your
mercy to me." The Fowler replied, "I shall now with less scruple take
your life, because you are willing to save it at the cost of betraying
your friends and relations."

The Flea and the Man

A MAN, very much annoyed with a Flea, caught him at last, and said, "Who
are you who dare to feed on my limbs, and to cost me so much trouble in
catching you?" The Flea replied, "O my dear sir, pray spare my life,
and destroy me not, for I cannot possibly do you much harm." The Man,
laughing, replied, "Now you shall certainly die by mine own hands, for
no evil, whether it be small or large, ought to be tolerated."

The Thieves and the Cock

SOME THIEVES broke into a house and found nothing but a Cock, whom they
stole, and got off as fast as they could. Upon arriving at home they
prepared to kill the Cock, who thus pleaded for his life: "Pray spare
me; I am very serviceable to men. I wake them up in the night to their
work." "That is the very reason why we must the more kill you," they
replied; "for when you wake your neighbors, you entirely put an end to
our business."

The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.

The Dog and the Cook

A RICH MAN gave a great feast, to which he invited many friends and
acquaintances. His Dog availed himself of the occasion to invite a
stranger Dog, a friend of his, saying, "My master gives a feast, and
there is always much food remaining; come and sup with me tonight." The
Dog thus invited went at the hour appointed, and seeing the preparations
for so grand an entertainment, said in the joy of his heart, "How glad
I am that I came! I do not often get such a chance as this. I will take
care and eat enough to last me both today and tomorrow." While he was
congratulating himself and wagging his tail to convey his pleasure to
his friend, the Cook saw him moving about among his dishes and, seizing
him by his fore and hind paws, bundled him without ceremony out of the
window. He fell with force upon the ground and limped away, howling
dreadfully. His yelling soon attracted other street dogs, who came up
to him and inquired how he had enjoyed his supper. He replied, "Why, to
tell you the truth, I drank so much wine that I remember nothing. I do
not know how I got out of the house."

The Travelers and the Plane-Tree

TWO TRAVELERS, worn out by the heat of the summer's sun, laid themselves