ASS AND THE LION HUNTING.

The Lion took a fancy to hunt in company with the Ass; and, to
make him the more useful, gave him instructions to hide himself
in a thicket, and then to bray in the most frightful manner that
he could possibly contrive. "By this means," says he, "you will
rouse all the beasts within hearing of you, while I stand at the
outlets and take them as they are making off." This was done; and
the stratagem took effect accordingly. The Ass brayed most
hideously, and the timorous beasts, not knowing what to make of
it, began to scour off as fast as they could; when the Lion, who
was posted at a convenient place, seized and devoured them as he
pleased.

Having got his belly full, he called out to the Ass, and bid him
leave off braying, as he had had enough. Upon this the lop-eared
brute came out of his ambush, and, approaching the Lion, asked
him, with an air of conceit, "how he liked his performance."
"Prodigiously," says he; "you did it so well, that I protest, had
I not known your nature and temper, I might have been frightened
myself."

MORAL.

Boastful cowards may impose upon those who do not know them, but
are held to be only ridiculous by those who do. Pompous persons
who would wish themselves thought perfect Lions, when known are
mostly found arrant Asses.

FABLE LIX.

THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

A WOLF clothing himself in the skin of a Sheep, and getting in
among the flock, by this means took the opportunity to devour
many of them. At last, the Shepherd discovered him, and cunningly
fastened a rope about his neck, tying him up to a tree which
stood hard by.

Some other Shepherds happening to pass that way, and observing
what he was about, drew near, and expressed their wonder at it.
"What," says one of them, "Brother, do you hang Sheep?" "No,"
replies the other; "I hang a Wolf whenever I catch him, though in
the habit and garb of Sheep." Then he showed them their mistake,
and they applauded the justice of the execution.

MORAL.

Those who try to seem what they are not will not always thereby
escape the punishment of what they are.

FABLE LX.

THE TWO BEES.

On a fine morning in May, two Bees set forward in quest of honey;
the one, wise and temperate; the other, careless and extravagant.
They soon arrived at a garden enriched with aromatic herbs, the
most fragrant flowers, and the most delicious fruits. They
regaled themselves for a time on the vario