Ep. 895 - The Frog that Wished to make Herself as Big as the Ox, and The Two Mules - French Fables
THE FROG THAT WISHED TO MAKE HERSELF AS BIG AS THE OX.
A Frog, no bigger than a pullet's egg, A fat Ox feeding in a meadow spied. The envious little creature blew and swelled; In vain to reach the big bull's bulk she tried. "Sister, now look! observe me close!" she cried. "Is this enough?"—"No!" "Tell me! now then see!" "No, no!" "Well, now I'm quite as big as he?" "You're scarcely bigger than you were at first!" One more tremendous puff—she grew so large—she burst. The whole world swarms with people not more wise: The tradesman's villa with the palace vies. Ambassadors your poorest Princelings send, And every Count has pages without end.
THE TWO MULES
Two Mules were journeying—one charged with oats, The other with a tax's golden fruit. This last betrayed that manner which denotes Excessive vanity in man or brute. Proudly self-conscious of his precious load, He paced, and loud his harness-bells resounded; When suddenly upon their lonely road, Both Mules and masters were by thieves surrounded. The money-bearer soon was put to death: "Is this the end that crowns my high career? Yon drudge," he murmured with his latest breath, "Escapes unhurt, while I must perish here!" "My friend," his fellow-traveller made reply, "Wealth cannot always at the poor man scoff. If you had been content to do as I, You'd not at present be so badly off."
