Obtionfusca

A Lion used to prowl about a field in which Four Oxen used to dwell.  Many a time he tried to attack them;  but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them.  At last, however, they fell a-quarreling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field.  Then the Lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.

Two Pots had been left on the bank of a river, one of brass, and one of earthenware.  When the tide rose they both floated off down the stream.  Now the earthenware pot tried its best to keep aloof from the brass one, which cried out: "Fear nothing, friend, I will not strike you."

"But I may come in contact with you," said the other, "if I come to close; and whether I hit you, or you hit me, I shall suffer for it."

An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry.  He put it on and went towards his native village.  All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day.  In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him, and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling for the fright he had caused.  And shortly afterwords a Fox came up to him and said: "Ah, I knew you by your voice."

One fine day two Crabs came out from their home to take a stroll on the sand.  "Child," said the mother, "you are walking very ungracefully.  You should accustom yourself, to walking straight forward without twisting from side to side."

"Pray mother," said the young one, "do but set the example yourself, and I will follow you."

A Tortoise desired to change its place of residence, so he asked an Eagle to carry him to his new home, promising her a rich reward for her trouble.  The Eagle agreed and seizing the Tortoise by the shell with her talons soared aloft.  On their way they met a Crow, who said to the Eagle: "Tortoise is good eating."  "The shell is too hard," said the Eagle in reply.  "The rocks will soon crack the shell," was the Crow's answer; and the Eagle, taking the hint, let fall the Tortoise on a sharp rock, and the two birds made a hearty meal of the Tortoise.