The Camel had hardly planted his forefeet within the tent when he spoke
again:
"Master," he said, "I keep the tent open by standing here. I think I
ought to go wholly within."
"Yes, come in," said the Man. "There is hardly room for us both, but I
do not want to keep you out in the cold."
So the Camel crowded into the tent, but he was no sooner inside than he
said: "You were right when you said that there was hardly room for us
both. I think it would be better for you to stand outside and so give
me a chance to turn around and lie down."
Then, without more ado, he rudely pushed the Man out at the door, and
took the whole tent for himself.
The Flies and the Honey-pot
A jar of Honey having been upset in a housekeeper's room, a number of
Flies were attracted by its sweetness, and placing their feet in it ate
it greedily.
Their feet, however, became so smeared with the Honey that they could
not use their wings, nor release themselves, and so were suffocated.
Just as they were expiring, they exclaimed, "O foolish creatures that
we are; for the sake of a little pleasure we have destroyed ourselves!"
The Spectacles
Jupiter, one day, enjoying himself over a bowl of nectar, and in a
merry humour, determined to make mankind a present.
Momus was appointed to convey it, who, mounted on a rapid car, was
presently on earth. "Come hither," said he, "ye happy mortals; great
Jupiter has opened for your benefit his all-gracious hands. 'Tis true
he made you somewhat short-sighted, but, to remedy that inconvenience,
behold now he has favoured you!"
So saying, he opened his portmanteau, when an infinite number of
spectacles tumbled out, and were picked up by the crowd with all the
eagerness imaginable. There were enough for all, for every man had his
pair.
But it was soon found that these spectacles did not represent objects
to all mankind alike; for one pair was purple, another blue; one was
white and another black; some of the glasses were red, some green, and
some yellow. In short, there were all manner of colours, and every
shade of colour. However, notwithstanding this diversity, every man
was charmed with his own, as believing it the best, and enjoyed in
opinion all the satisfaction of truth.
The Bear and the Fowls
A Bear, who was bred in the savage desert, wished to see the world, and
he travelled from forest to forest, and from one kingdom to another,
making many profound observations on his way.
One day he came by accident into a farmer's yard, where he saw a number
of Fowls standing to drink by the side of a pool. Observing that after
every sip they turned up their heads toward the sky, he could not
forbear inquiring the reason of so peculiar a ceremony.
They told him that it was by way of returning thanks to Heaven for the
benefits they received; and was indeed an ancient and religious custom,
which they could not, with a safe conscience, or without impiety, omit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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