Page:An argosy of fables.djvu/338

 274 The astonished Philosopher left the Armenian standing there and hurried home to consult his wife. "In Heaven's name, good wife," he said, "light the lamp and count my teeth, for I am anxious to know how many I have." The Philosopher's wife counted his teeth, and then said, "Indeed, husband, I find that you have thirty-two teeth, neither more nor less."

The Philosopher hurried back to find his friend the Armenian, and asked him, "Pray tell me, how did you know how many teeth I have?"

"Good master," replied the Armenian, "I judged the number of your teeth from my own."

Just as the Armenian knew the number of the Philosopher's teeth, so may we know from our own faults the faults of others, since all men have the same faults in common.

(Fables de Vartan.)

THE TWO KINGS AT WAR

CERTAIN King, who was the hero of his century, had declared war on one of his neighbours. The enemy, who were poor in resources, and had not been able to make the necessary preparations, were at a loss how to defend themselves. Accordingly, their King sent a spy to meet the advancing host. This spy, watching from a distance, saw advancing an innumerable host of soldiers armed with lances. Straightway he turned his horse and galloped back to his sovereign. "Lord," he said, "you are going to be attacked by an army as vast as a fortune, for I have seen so many lances advancing