130. The Wild Boar and the Fox



A WILD BOAR stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the trunk.

A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his teeth when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound.

He replied, "I do it advisedly; for it would never do to have to sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be using them."





131. The Lion in a Farmyard



A LION entered a farmyard.

The Farmer, wishing to catch him, shut the gate. When the Lion found that he could not escape, he flew upon the sheep and killed them, and then attacked the oxen.

The Farmer, beginning to be alarmed for his own safety, opened the gate and released the Lion. On his departure the Farmer grievously lamented the destruction of his sheep and oxen, but his wife, who had been a spectator to all that took place, said,

"On my word, you are rightly served, for how could you for a moment think of shutting up a Lion along with you in your farmyard when you know that you shake in your shoes if you only hear his roar at a distance?'





132. Mercury and the Sculptor



MERCURY ONCE DETERMINED to learn in what esteem he was held among mortals.

For this purpose he assumed the character of a man and visited in this disguise a Sculptor's studio having looked at various statues, he demanded the price of two figures of Jupiter and Juno. When the sum at which they were valued was named, he pointed to a figure of himself, saying to the Sculptor, "You will certainly want much more for this, as it is the statue of the Messenger of the Gods, and author of all your gain."

The Sculptor replied, "Well, if you will buy these, I'll fling you that into the bargain."
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