Keep away from the man who without hesitation does injury to everyone else. To avoid him is a matter of haste and necessity. THE BEAR AND HIS MATE A Bear, in struggling with his Mate, used his claws with such violence that he tore her eyes out. He was immediately seized with such sorrow that he bit off his own claws. A short time afterward, he conversed with her in a friendly manner in his cave. “My dear,” he remarked to her, “for your sake, I have sacrificed my weapons of war.” “What good,” said she, “is that to me, now that I am blind, and deprived by you of my precious eyes?” Repentance cannot repair an injury once inflicted. THE EEL AND THE SERPENT The Eel and the Serpent were talking together. “Why is it,” said the Eel, “that I, although I undoubtedly resemble you, in every point, am hunted by men, while they leave you in peace?” “Because, if they caught me, they would do it to their cost.” No one attacks the person who always repays an injury. THE SAILORS IN DISTRESS A ship at sea was caught in a violent tempest. The crew, seeing her on the point of foundering, began to address their prayers, some to one saint, some to another, imploring them to intercede with the Almighty, that the suppliants might be delivered in their extremity. While they thus poured out their prayers the Captain remained unmoved. “Fools!” he said at length, “before your patron saints have time to carry their prayers to God, and he has given them a hearing, all of those on board this ship will be drowned. Let us address our prayers directly to the Most High, and implore his help!” In obedience to the suggestion of their Captain, the Sailors cried out aloud to God himself, and were saved. When a man of brains and intelligence wishes to ask a favor of the great, he avoids addressing subordinates. THE FATHER AND SON A certain Father had a Son of extremely bad habits. “He who abandons himself to vicious irregularities, and wanders from the straight path,” he said to him, “gains nothing but shame and disgrace.” It was thus he used to speak to him plainly, and give him good counsel and advice. “These,” answered the Son, “are words empty and irrational!” “Alas,” cried the Father, “can I listen to such words!” “When you consider,” went on the Son, “that I have continued deaf to the admonitions of the most famous preachers, who are always talking of virtue to me, do you think I could listen to you?” He whose natural disposition is coarse and vicious would not give up his criminal and debauched way of life, even if Plato, or the very angels of paradise, appealed to him. THE POET AND THE CLOWN A certain countryman, who was engaged in sowing his field, saw a man of letters, who was also a Poet, approaching: “Sir,” said the Clown to him, “how can you study, as you do, in solitude?” “I am a Poet,” replied the other; “at first I studied in company with others, but now I go on in my education alone.”