Belphagor part 1
Niccolo Macchiavelli (1464-1527)Macchiavelli is best known to the world as author of a famous book on statecraft, entitled The Prince, and of a History of Florence. Like many of the remarkable men of his...
The Shipwreck of Simonides 1
Phaedrus (15 B.C.?—55 A.D.?)It was the chief distinction of this writer to have collected the Fables of Jesop (or whoever it was who wrote Alsop` works) and rewritten them for the Romans. His collection...
The Matron of Ephesus 2
MaidservantBut she was ill-pleased by such commonplace consolation, and smote her breast more violently than ever, tearing out her hair and throwing it upon the body before her. Still, the young soldier did not...
The Jackal 2
The rest of the jackals, seeing him of such a fine complexion, prostrated themselves before him, and said: “According as Your Highness commands!” By this step he made himself honored by his own relations,...
The Haunted House 2
IntermingleOn being thus left to himself, he marked the spot with some grass and leaves which he plucked. Next day he applied to the magistrates, and urged them to have the spot in question...
The Dove and the Crow 1
The Dove And The Crow (Anonymous: 2nd Century B.C. or later)It is thought that the collection of fables now known as the Panchatantra had assumed definite shape at least as early as the Sixth...
The Ass in the Lion` Skin 1
Ancient IndiaSanskrit is the classical language of the Hindus of ancient India. Practically the whole of that extraordinary literature which began with the Vedas and culminated some time before the close of the Middle...
Orpheus and Eurydice 1
Ovid (43 B.C.—18 A.D.?)Publius Ovidius Naso, better known to readers of English as Ovid, was born not far from Rome, and spent the latter part of his life in exile. The Metamorphoses, his most...
The Country Mouse and the Town Mouse 2
A mouse, you know, does not live forever. So come with me and Ill show you life and the town.” Overpowered with such fine words and so polished a manner, the Country Mouse assented;...
King Rhampsinitus and the Thief 2
King`s treasuryThe daughter did as her father willed, whereon the thief, who was well aware of the king` motive, felt a desire to outdo him m craft and cunning. Accordingly he contrived the following...
