Æsop. (Sixth century B.C.) Fables.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| The Frog and the Ox |
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| “OH Father,” said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool, “I have seen such a terrible monster! It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two.” | 1 |
| “Tush, child, tush,” said the old Frog, “that was only Farmer White’s Ox. It isn’t so big either; he may be a little bit taller than I, but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see.” So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out. “Was he as big as that?” asked he. | 2 |
| “Oh, much bigger than that,” said the young Frog. | 3 |
| Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that. | 4 |
| “Bigger, father, bigger,” was the reply. | 5 |
So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said: “I’m sure the Ox is not as big as—” But at this moment he burst.
| | “SELF-CONCEIT MAY LEAD TO SELF-DESTRUCTION.” |
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