“He is really quite a help to me,” said the Shepherd to himself; “and I have never seen him make the slightest effort to seize a sheep or a lamb.” So, having occasion to go to town one day, he left his flock in the care of the Wolf, whom he regarded as a guardian over them. But no sooner was the man gone, than the Wolf, seeing his opportunity, fell upon the Sheep and destroyed the greater part of them. “I have been rightly served,” said the Shepherd, on his return. “Why did I not know better than to trust my Sheep to their worst enemy? Soon or late, nature will show itself.” THE WOLF, THE FOX, AND THE APE A WOLF accused of theft a Fox, who utterly denied the charge, whereupon an Ape undertook to adjudge the matter in question. When each had fully stated his case, the Ape pronounced this sentence: “I am fully satisfied that you, Wolf, never lost what you claim.” Then turning to the Fox, he said, “And I believe you to have done that which you so stoutly deny.” THE BLIND MAN AND THE WHELP A BLIND Man was accustomed to distinguish different animals by touching them with his hands. The whelp of a wolf was brought him, with the request that he should feel it and tell what it was. Being in doubt, he said, “I do not quite know whether it is the cub of a fox or the whelp of a wolf; but this I know full well, that it would not be safe to admit it to the sheepfold.” THE SPENDTHRIFT AND THE SWALLOW A YOUNG man who had been a great spendthrift, and had run through all the money he had inherited, and even sold all his outer clothing except his cloak, saw a Swallow skimming over the meadows in the early springtime and twittering gayly. Believing that summer was really come, he sold his cloak also. The next day there happened to be a severe frost, and, shivering himself, he found the Swallow lying frozen and stiff upon the ground. “Unhappy bird,” he said, “had you not come before your time, I should not now be so wretched, and you might have escaped your fate. A single swallow does not make a summer.” THE BOAR AND THE FOX A BOAR stood whetting his tusks against a tree. “What do you mean,” asked a Fox, “by such warlike preparation? There is no enemy in sight.” “When the enemy is in sight,” said the Boar, “it is time to think of something else.” HERCULES AND THE WAGONER AS A WAGONER drove his wagon through a miry lane, the wheels stuck fast in the clay, so that the horses could proceed no further. The Man, without making the least effort to remedy the matter, fell upon his knees and began to call upon Hercules to come and help him out of his trouble. “Lazy fellow,” said Hercules, “lay your own shoulder to the wheel. Stir yourself and do what you can. Then, if you want aid from the gods, you shall have it. Remember the proverb, Heaven helps those who help themselves.” THE MULES AND THE ROBBERS