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 Rh THE PANTHER AND THE SHEPHERDS

PANTHER, by some mischance, fell into a pit. The Shepherds discovered him, and threw sticks at him, and pelted him with stones, while some of them, moved with compassion towards one about to die even though no one should hurt him, threw in some food to prolong his life. At night they returned home, not dreaming of any danger, but supposing that on the morrow they should find him dead. The Panther, however, when he had recruited his feeble strength, freed himself with a sudden bound from the pit, and hastened home with rapid steps to his den. After a few days he came forth and slaughtered the cattle, and, killing the Shepherds who had attacked him, raged with angry fury. Then they who had spared his life, fearing for their safety, surrendered to him their flocks, and begged only for their lives; to whom the Panther made this reply: "I remember alike those who sought my life with stones, and those who gave me food—lay aside, therefore, your fears. I return as an enemy only to those who injured me."

(Phædrus, Fables, Vol. III, No. 2; Townsend's translation.)

THE MONKEY'S FACE

NE day a Man was passing by a butcher's shop, when he happened to see the body of a Monkey hanging there among the other kinds of meat and game. Out of curiosity, he stopped and asked the butcher if he could tell him what Monkey tasted like. The butcher replied jokingly, "The best way to judge of any one's tastes is from the expression of the face!"