The Willow and the Magpie bird
The hapless willow, finding that she could not enjoy the pleasure of seeing her slender branches grow or attain to the height she wished, or point to the sky, by reason of the vine and whatever other trees that grew near, but was always maimed and lopped and spoiled,...
The Nut and the Crow
A nut, having been carried by a crow to the top of a tall campanile and released by falling into a chink from the mortal grip of its beak, it prayed the wall by the grace bestowed on it by God in allowing it to be so high and thick, and to own such fine bells and of...
The Chestnut and the Fig tree
The chesnut, seeing a man upon the fig-tree, bending its boughs down and pulling off the ripe fruits, which he put into his open mouth destroying and crushing them with his hard teeth, it tossed its long boughs and with a noisy rustle exclaimed: “O fig! how much...
The Privet and the Blackbird
The privet feeling its tender boughs loaded with young fruit, pricked by the sharp claws and beak of the insolent blackbird, complained to the blackbird with pitious remonstrance entreating her that since she stole its delicious fruits she should not deprive it of the...
The Fire and the Stone
The flint on being struck by the steel marvelled greatly and said to it in a stern voice, ‘What arrogance prompts you to annoy me? Trouble me not, for you have chosen me by mistake; I have never done harm to any one.’ To which the steel made the answer, ‘If you will...
