Fables and Parables (part 1)

A sample of "Fables and Parables", by Ignacy Krasicki Translated from Polish The Little Fish and the Pike Espying a worm in the water, the little fish Did greatly regret the worm could not become his dish. Up came a pike and made his preparations to dine; He swallowed both worm and hook, which he failed to divine. As the angler pulled ashore his magnificent prize, Quoth the little fish: "Sometimes good to be undersize." * The Master and His Dog The dog barked all night, kept the burglar at bay It got beaten for waking the master, next day. That night it slept soundly, did the burglar no harm; He burgled; the dog got caned for not raising alarm. * The Inkwell and the Pen The inkwell and pen disputed in the study nook Which of the two had written the newly composed book. The author rose and laughed out loud at all that he had heard, For the argument of ink and pen was really quite absurd * Bread and Sword As the bread lay next to the sword, the weapon demurred: "You would certainly show me more respect if you heard How by night and by day I conscientiously strive So that you may safely go on keeping men alive." "I know," said the bread, "the shape of your duty's course: You defend me less often than you take me by force." *The Humble Lion 'Tis bad at master's court to lie, and bad the truth to tell. Lion, intent on showing all that he was humble, Called for open reproaches. Said the fox: "Your great vice Is that you're too kind, too gracious, excessively nice." The sheep, seeing lion pleased by fox's rebuke, said: "You are a cruel, voracious tyrant." — and she was dead. * Compassion The sheep was busy praising wolf for all of his compassion; Hearing it, fox asked her: "How is that? And In what fashion?" "But it is true" exclaimed the sheep, "I owe him all I am. He's mild! Could've eaten me, but he just ate my lamb." -- Performed and Posted by Sonicsuns Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hiroshige_A_Shoal_of_Fishes_Fugu_Yellowtail.jpg