‘Those who trust ere they try, They will grieve ere they die.’” The poor goat put his head up, and said, “True, I see too late that I have lent you a stick to break my own head with.” [Illustration: The Goat and the Fox in the Well.--Page 66. _Æsop._] THE APE, THE WOLF, AND THE FOX. A wolf one day brought a fox up to the Bench for theft. The ape, who was the judge, knew well that both were knaves; so he said, “I know you well of old, my friends; and as I wish to be just, I shall lay the same fine on both of you: on you, Sir Wolf, for you have no right to bring the charge; and on you, Sir Fox, for there can be no doubt that the charge is a true one.” Set a thief to catch a thief. THE FOX AND THE CAT. [Illustration] A fox and a cat once met on a heath, and had a long chat on things of state. The fox said, “Let the war turn out as bad as it may, it is all one to me, for I have lots of plans by which to save my life. But now, pray tell me, puss, if the foe should come, what course do you mean to take?” “Nay,” says the cat, “I have but one shift, and if that will not do, I am lost.” Just then a pack of hounds came on them in full cry. Puss, by the help of her one trick, ran up a tree, from the top branch of which she saw that the fox, who had not the skill to get out of sight, was torn to death by the hounds. “Great boast, small roast,” quoth the cat, “but he plays well that wins.” Illustration: The Fox and the Cat.--Page 67. _Æsop._] THE MULES AND THE THIEVES. Two mules were once on the road, one of which had bags of gold on his back, and rang his bells with a proud toss of the neck, as if he felt vain of his load; and one took but sacks of grain, and hung down his head as he trod the way. They had not gone far, when three thieves, who lay in wait for them in a wood close by, ran out, took the bags of gold from off the back of the mule, and put him to death, as well as the men with him. But the mule who was the drudge stood quite safe, and said he should count the scorn in which he was held as so much gain, for he was best off in the end. THE BALD KNIGHT. In the good old times there was a brave knight who had lost all his hair, and wore a wig. As he rode in the hunt a gust of wind blew his wig off, and a loud laugh rang forth from those who saw his bald pate. When the knight found his wig was in the air, he, of course, felt much put out, for it was his false hair that made him look young; but he thought the best way to pass it off would be to take the laugh in his own hands; so he said, “How could I hope to keep strange hair on my head, when my own would not stay there!” He must stoop that has a low door. THE WAR HORSE.