Aesop's Fables - Illustrated in Black and White By Nora Fry

By Aesop and Nora Fry

A delightful collection of Aesop's Fables densely illustrated in black and white by the humorous and delightful drawings of Nora Fry. Pook Press celebrates the great Golden Age of Illustration in children's literature. Many of the earliest children's books, particularly those dating back to the 1850s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Pook Press are working to republish these classic works in high quality editions, using the original text and artwork so these works can delight another generation of children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Apr 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781444659894

Aesop

Aesop was a Greek fabulist and storyteller credited with a number of fables now collectively known as Aesop's Fables.

Book preview

The Wolf and the Lamb

AS a wolf was drinking at the head of a running brook he saw a stray lamb paddling at some distance down the stream. Having made up his mind to eat her for his supper, he wondered what excuse he could make for a quarrel.

Villain! said he, running up to her, how dare you spoil the water that I am drinking?

Indeed, said the lamb humbly, I do not see how I can spoil the water, since it runs from you to me, not from me to you.

That is all very well, replied the wolf; it is but a year since you called me many nasty names!

Oh, sir, said the lamb, trembling, a year ago I was not born!

Well, replied the wolf, if it was not you, it was your father, and that is all the same; but it is no use trying to talk me out of my supper; and without another word he fell upon the poor helpless lamb and tore her to pieces.

The tyrant will always find an excuse when he would injure the innocent.

The Leopard and the Fox

ONE day a leopard, feeling very proud of his beautiful spots, went so far as to ask himself why even the lion should be thought greater than he, who had so rare a skin. Indeed, so proud did he become that he made up his mind to have nothing to do with other beasts of the forest.

This, of course, was soon noticed, and the fox, feeling very hurt and annoyed, went boldly up to the leopard and told him that he was foolish in having such a good opinion of himself.

You may think yourself very fine, said Reynard, but, depend upon it, people value a bright brain far more than a handsome body.

Beauty is only skin-deep.

The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion

THE ass and the fox entered into partnership together to protect each other, and swore eternal friendship. Soon after they went a-hunting, but before they had gone far a lion crossed their path. The fox saw the lion first, and, pointing him out to the ass, said, We must make terms with this lion and get him to be friendly with us. So saying, he went boldly up to the lion and offered to help him secure the ass, provided that his own life should be spared. The lion was quite willing to promise this, whereupon the fox induced the ass to follow him to a deep pit, into which he managed to push him. As soon as the lion saw that the ass was secured he sprang upon the fox and made a meal of him, leaving the ass to be eaten at his leisure.

Those who betray their friends must not expect others to keep faith with them.

The Fox and the Goat

ONE day a fox fell into a well, and wondered for a long time how he could get out again. At last a goat came along, and, feeling very thirsty, he asked Reynard if the water was good and if there was plenty of it.

The fox now saw his chance, and, pretending that he was swimming for pleasure, replied, Yes, come down, my friend; the water is so nice that I cannot drink enough of it, and there is plenty for both of us.

So the goat jumped in without a thought, and the artful fox, making use of his friend’s horns, quickly sprang out.

Then when he was safely on top of the well he coolly remarked to the poor goat, Had you half as much brains as you have beard, you would have looked before you leaped.

Think before you act.

The Wolf and the