Select Fables: With Cuts

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S. Hodgson, 1820 - Fables - 332 pages
 

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Page 77 - One of them was for it ; urging that there was plenty of clear spring water, and no danger of being disturbed. " Well," says the other, " all this may be true ; and yet I cannot come into your opinion for my life ; for, if the water should happen to dry up here too, how should we get out again ? " The moral of this fable is intended to put us in mind to look before we leap.
Page 126 - After which, taking a very thick copse, he had the ill-fortune to be entangled by his horns in a thicket, where he was held fast till the hounds came in and pulled him down. Finding now how it was like to go with him, in the pangs of death he is said to have uttered these words : — " Unhappy creature that I am ! I am too late convinced, that what I prided myself in has been the cause of my undoing, and what I so much disliked was the only thing that could have saved me.
Page 217 - The north Wind began, and blew a very cold blast, accompanied with a sharp driving shower. But this, and whatever else he could do, instead of making the man quit his cloak, obliged him to gird it about his body as close as possible.
Page 119 - THE CROW AND THE PITCHER. A CROW, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a Pitcher, which he beheld at some distance.
Page 57 - tis true, but that is all : for we hold no sort of rank in the creation, and are utterly unnoticed by the world. Cursed obscurity ! Why was I not rather born a stag, to range at large, the pride and glory of some royal forest ? It happened, that in the midst of these unjust murmurs, a pack of hounds was heard in full cry after the very creature he was envying, who, being quite spent with the chase, was torn in pieces by the dogs in sight of our two Lizards. And is this the lordly stag, whose place...
Page 201 - ... the first that came in with him, and seized him by one of his haunches ; but his decayed and broken teeth not being able to keep their hold, the Deer escaped and threw him quite out. Upon which, his master, being in a great .passion, and going to strike him, the honest old creature is said to have barked out this apology : " Ah ! do not strike your poor old servant ; it is not my heart and inclination, but my strength and speed that fail me. If what I now am displeases, pray don't forget what...
Page 13 - By this fable we are cautioned to consider what any person is, before we make an attack upon him after any manner whatsoever : particularly how we let our tongues slip in censuring the actions of those who are, in the opinion of the world, not only of an unquestioned reputation, so that nobody will believe what we insinuate against them ; but of such an influence, upon account of their own veracity, that the least word from them would ruin our credit to all intents and purposes. If wit be the case,...
Page 209 - What a sorry poor drudge art thou," says he, " to bear that heavy yoke upon your neck, and go all day drawing a plough at your tail, to turn up the ground for your master ; but you are a wretched dull slave, and know no better, or else you would not do it.
Page 176 - This solemn league and covenant was kept as long as any thing of that kind can be kept, which was until each of the rebel members pined away to the skin and bone, and could hold out no longer. Then they found there was no doing without the Belly, and that, as idle and insignificant as he seemed, he contributed as much to the maintenance and welfare of all the other parts as they did to his.
Page 83 - ... into the water, and immediately sunk to the bottom. Being therefore in great distress for the loss of his tool, he sat down and bemoaned himself most lamentably. Upon this Mercury appeared to him, and being informed of the cause of his complaint, dived to the bottom of the river, and coming up again showed the man a golden hatchet, demanding if that were his. He denied that it was. Upon which Mercury dived a second time, and brought up a silver one.

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